[Blood Diary Entry]
I looked back at the crumbled bench, where the oldest and probably most powerful vampire—besides me—had met his end.
It was a bittersweet feeling…
On one hand, I was thrilled that I managed to break my evolutionary chains. But on the other hand, I was somewhat sad for Caine's passing…
He was maybe one of the few who could stand shoulder to shoulder with me, and perhaps even understand the burdens Sol'Vahr had left me with.
Speaking of…
I don't know exactly what he did, but I feel the distinction between me and my past lives is clearer now. I can feel the shift in my instincts and even how the memories inside my blood play out.
I breathe in relief. The weight of some of my biggest worries was now gone, just like that, in what I could only describe as a magic trick.
The sad part was how Caine truly died…
He used his body to improve mine, fusing his every cell onto mine, with the intent of not making me a hybrid of mine and his bloodlines, but instead a new and unique one. Granting me the strengths of both, but the only 'weaknesses' I had were the ones from Higher Vampires, if you could even call them weaknesses.
Though I am unsure if I can still be slain by normal Higher Vampires or if only the ones descended from me would hold that capability. But that was something I had no way—or intention—to test out.
As for his soul… Well, he used every part of it to my own benefit.
His experience and the rest of his memories were burned in order to break my chains. And the rest of his 'unburdened' soul, fused onto mine, which granted me not only the Disciplines his bloodline was known for, but also the purified versions of his curses.
I still wonder if this makes me a biblical enemy.
Time will tell.
And the total destruction of Caine's soul meant only one thing.
He would not be granted access to the afterlife in any shape or form. Be it Heaven or Hell. Only oblivion awaits him.
I suspect that this was by design, as I can see him not wanting to prolong his eternity, either in torment or peace, but choosing to end it for good.
The mark on my shoulder was the one thing I wish I could do without, but even after some bouts of self-mutilation, it's still there.
I guess I'll have to grow used to it—and prepare myself for the scolding mother is sure to give me.
The rest of my changes are welcome, though.
Overall, they make me a bit more mature, which is a relief since, despite my being a kid, I don't truly feel like one. It's like my mind and body are way out of tune. Also, every time I looked in the mirror, I would be reminded of how much Caine helped me tonight.
As for my new set of powers.
These are a headache of their own.
12 new disciplines, all awaiting for me to master and develop them, alongside me having to think of the best ways to make use of the blessings I now possess. As if my studies on Blood Magic and the Turning Ritual weren't enough…
Bloody hell.
I'll just figure something out as I go.
I shrug my shoulders and make way towards our hotel with hurried steps.
Beneficial as it was, being bathed in black blood isn't exactly a pleasant or hygienic experience.
And I was keen on taking a proper shower, perhaps even a long bath…
Food for thought.
As I made my way through the streets and corners of Chicago, quite a few people stopped to gawk at me.
I was always kind of a good-looking kid, but now, after maturing a bit and gaining an improvement in my overall looks, I was slowly becoming an unfair existence.
That is both good and bad for my ego…
Hope I don't turn into a narcissistic prick. But I bet, neither Rebekah nor Mom would stand for it, and I would surely earn the beating of a lifetime if I started acting like that.
Reassuring—I guess.
Arriving in our room, I ditched my clothes and sealed them in a bag, for whenever we went to a laundry store.
I happily whistled as I went to the bathroom.
Guessing I had some good time before the ladies came back, I took a shower to rinse myself off before going for a soak in the bathtub.
The warm water soothed the last remnants of tension, steam curling softly around me.
The warm water relaxed my tense muscles, which were still a bit sore from the previous transformation. While they would settle after a few hours and I would go back to a peak state, this made the process quicker and more pleasant.
My physiology was always of great interest, even in past lives, as it would maintain itself in an optimal state with minimal needs for outside resources. Relying mostly on the energy my blood produces.
As for where that blood energy comes from? Well, it can come from sleep and eating, but there are also some unusual sources, like breathing or even moving my body.
But there are also another sources which Sol'Vahr had never been able to identify, as even if he stood motionless and stopped breathing, he still was provided with enough energy to keep himself healthy. He did theorize that this came from two separate sources.
One of which came from the ambient itself, as we absorbed passively thermal or kinetic energy from nature.
The second came from our unique souls, which were quite potent by themselves, and due to a soul's self-sustaining ecosystem, we even managed to produce some surplus that would be channeled by our bodies.
An interesting thing he noticed was that in this state of suspended animation, we stopped growing stronger at the same pace as we do otherwise. Growth slows down to a crawl when we are like that.
My thoughts wandered from the way my body worked to the powers I obtained tonight.
A few interesting ideas popped here or there, and I became excited to try them out, but now was neither the time nor the place.
Eventually, I felt I had had enough and left the bathtub, draining the excess water.
I dried my body and started putting on some clothes.
But just as I was going to put on my shirt, the door to the room opened, and I heard a shrill, angry scream.
Here it comes…
"What the hell, Darian?!" Mom screamed.