The next morning, when John woke up from his sleep, he did not immediately get out of the bed. He laid there for a few minutes, a warm, fuzzy feeling lingering as he thought about last night's kiss. "Wow, who would have thought that a nerd like me would get a kiss from a beautiful girl," he thought, the memory bringing a genuine smile to his face.
Then, he heard a sound at the door.
Knock knock
"Come in," John said happily, the cheer evident in his voice.
The vampire maid Haven came into his room and, as usual, carried a glass of blood as his breakfast. Her face was professional and expressionless. "Good morning, Young Master John, how are you feeling this morning?"
John smiled brightly. "As a matter-of-fact, Haven, I feel very happy! How are you feeling on this lovely morning?"
Haven's face remained neutral. "This one does not feel anything at the moment, thank you for asking, Young Master. Here is your glass of blood."
John took the glass from the tray. "Bummer, thought you'd be happy this morning." He then drank all the blood in the glass. Slurp. "Aaah, that was nice." John placed the glass back on the tray. "Thank you, Haven."
John went to the bathroom to wash himself. When he got back to his room, someone far more significant was already waiting for him.
"Hello, John, how are you?"
John's face lit up. "Hello, Grandma!" He ran up to his grandmother, Anna, and gave her a tight hug. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you for so long."
Anna had a warm smile on her face as she returned the hug. "Oh John, you know that I am sometimes very busy. How is training going?"
"I am becoming very strong, Grandma, thanks to Aunt Reina! I don't wanna brag but ya boy got some moves, no cap."
"Hahahahaha," Anna couldn't help but laugh at his youthful confidence. "Really? So you are Mr. Super Vampire now?"
John scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. "Well, I wouldn't go that far, Grandma."
"Come, John, I have something important to tell you." Both took a seat next to each other on John's bed. "So, what's up, Grandma?"
Anna shifted the conversation carefully. "Well, I came here to say that your grandfather is going to a business meeting tomorrow, and I would very much appreciate it if you can accompany him."
John's excitement immediately deflated. He let his head drop, the disappointment evident. "I don't think Grandpa would like me to go with him. He does not like me very much. I think Grandma should maybe ask someone else."
Anna felt a pang of sadness when she heard how genuine his pain was. "Listen, John dear," she said, lifting his head gently with her hand. She then touched his cheek and spoke in a soft and tender voice. "Your grandfather likes you very much; it is just that he does not know it yet. You are the son of his favorite and only daughter. He loves her, and in time, he will love you also, but it takes time. If you go with him tomorrow, you two can start to build a connection."
This argument, coming from Anna, made John feel a little better. "Really?" he asked, a flicker of hope returning to his eyes.
Anna smiled warmly. "Of course, my dear."
"Thank you, Grandma, I love you," John said, giving Anna another heartfelt hug. She could feel how happy he was to have this opportunity. John then kissed Anna on the cheek, cementing her victory in sending him on the trip.
Deep within Anna, she felt a surge of triumph, knowing her plan to send John with Leonidas was secured. Her thoughts then turned to her grandson's abilities. "John dear, Reina told me that when you were fighting the prisoners she observed that you have tremendously improved in your combat skills and you used some techniques that she hasn't seen before. Where did you get this knowledge from, if I might ask?"
John had a huge smile on his face, proud to share his secret. He then took his laptop out of his storage ring.
Anna raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Is this device one of the so-called technologies in your home world, John?"
"Yes, Grandma," John replied, turning his laptop on with two distinct sounds.
Click
Click
"Look here, Grandma," John said, pivoting the screen toward her. He showed Anna a collection of videos, including a self-defense tutorial and several choreographed fight scenes from action movies. "I watched and practiced some of these moves when I do my training in private."
Anna was amazed by the fluid movements in the movie action scenes. "They move very slowly compared to our kind, but their fight is beautifully choreographed. Is this what you have been practicing in private, John?"
"Yeah, I have been practicing some of the moves I see, and I tried using some of it when I sparred with the prisoner Russel during our matches."
Anna then chuckled softly, a knowing pride in her eyes. "You are smart and becoming strong, John, but you still have a long way to go. This world of ours is sometimes very cruel, so it is important for you to improve yourself."
"But it is so difficult, Grandma," John admitted, his previous confidence fading as he worried about his limits. "I have only been fighting humans so far. I cannot even imagine how powerful vampires are if we had to fight seriously. I just don't believe it is possible for me." He lowered his head, suddenly feeling small.
Anna immediately squatted down to look John in his eyes, her expression intense and sincere. "Listen, John, you are my grandson. Just believe in me who believes in you."
John snickered at her dramatic, encouraging words and gave his grandmother a fierce hug. "Thank you, Grandma."
====
(On a secret location)
Carlos Decker was in a clandestine meeting with the leader of the mercenary group called The Storming Hornets. The man before him, Kilo, was imposing: bald with a huge, unmistakable tattoo of a hornet dominating the center of his head.
"Thank you for taking the job, Mr. Kilo. If tomorrow's job is successful, then I will let you know when we are going to attack Leonidas's castle. However, for the meantime, I want you and your men to stay put and wait for my orders."
In normal circumstances, Kilo's men would not stand a chance against the veteran vampire knights of the Crimson family. However, what gave them the terrifying advantage in this upcoming battle was that they were in possession of armour, buff potions, and weapons that made them compete with the best of the best. Kilo lived by the simple, brutal motto: with great risks comes great rewards.
When Decker first approached him about this job, Kilo initially thought that Decker was a crazy man with a death wish. But when Decker calmly laid out his plan and, more importantly, demonstrated his new, terrifying powers, Kilo saw that they might actually stand a chance against one of the biggest noble families in the country.
Decker was sitting by a table, his gaze fixed on the vial of venom that was the key to defeating Leonidas. "Listen, Kilo, after we kill the Crimsons you can have everything. All I want is revenge and to take everything from him, just as he took everything from me."
Kilo, who was busy drinking wine from his cup, looked pointedly at the vial in Decker's hand. "I am not going to lie, doing this mission is making me afraid. I mean, we are talking about fucking Leonidas, the legendary vampire who can annihilate whole fucking armies on his own. But I am no coward; I live for this shit."
Decker put the vial back into his pocket, a cold certainty in his eyes. "I am impressed. You and your men are the only mercenary group who took on this mission. All the others declined. They say it is a suicide mission, but I assure you that we can win, as long as my real body stays alive of course."
Decker then stood up from the table, signaling the meeting was over. "After our victory, you will be the richest and most wanted man in this country. I suggest you leave as quickly as possible, otherwise if the King of the vampires finds out, then you all are doomed."
Kilo was shocked, setting his cup down hard. "How so?"
"I did some research and found out that the King owes Leonidas for some favor he did in the past, and they also go way back. The King will come after you and your group, so I suggest you make preparations to escape this country before the day comes when we attack the castle."
Kilo nodded his head, his mercenary mind already calculating the risk. "Thank you for the tip. I will immediately contact some people that can help me and my men escape this country as soon as possible."
They both stood up and shook each other's hand. Kilo then poured wine into another cup for Decker. "Listen, we have to make a toast." Kilo held his cup high.
"Cheers, to the end of the Crimson family," Kilo said.
Decker grinned from ear to ear, the monstrous satisfaction evident on his face. "To the end of Leonidas Crimson."