Chapter 39-Activate
The next morning, when John woke up from his sleep, he decided to stay in bed for a few minutes and think about what was going to happen later that day. He felt a nervous anticipation about the trip. He thought about what he was going to talk about with his grandfather and what clothes he was going to wear. He felt nervous, as he did not want to make his difficult relationship with his grandfather any worse.
Suddenly, thoughts of his life on Earth surfaced. "I wonder how Mom and Dad are doing back on Earth; I miss them so much," he thought, a pang of homesickness hitting him.
John then got out of bed and headed for the door. Just when he opened it, the vampire maid Rebecca was standing there. "Ah!" John was surprised by Rebecca's sudden appearance.
"My apologies, Young Master, I was just about to open the door to deliver your breakfast," Rebecca said, holding a tray with a glass of blood.
"No, it's fine, Rebecca, how are you?" John asked while taking the glass of blood from the tray she was holding.
After John quickly drank the blood from the glass, he looked at Rebecca for a moment and saw that her hairstyle was different; she had a lovely-looking half-bun hairstyle.
"I am doing fine, Young Master, thank you for asking."
John smiled. "I am glad, Rebecca." John placed the empty glass back on the tray and was about to walk to the bathroom. As they were both about to go their separate ways, John called out to her.
"Rebecca!" he called out, and Rebecca looked back at him.
"You look really pretty today," he said, giving her a genuine smile, and then continued to walk to the bathroom.
While John was walking, Rebecca continued to stare at his back for a while. "Young Master is so sweet," a faint, genuine smile appeared on her face as she walked off to continue her daily duties.
John then arrived at the bathroom. He took out the soap from his storage ring and washed himself. After drying himself with the towel, he quickly changed by retrieving his clothes from his storage ring. He decided to wear a blue skinny jean, black sneakers, a white oversized T-shirt, and a black jacket—a clear style statement from his home world.
He came back to his room and waited there for a few hours before his grandmother knocked on the door.
Knock knock
"Come in."
Anna opened the door and saw John sitting on the bed. "Oh my, are you wearing clothes from Earth, John?"
"Yes, Grandma," John said while fiddling with his hands, still a little nervous about the grand trip.
Anna saw that John was nervous and decided to sit next to him. John immediately looked at her. "Grandma, can I call my parents when I come back? I miss them very much."
She then touched his hand. "Certainly, my dear. In fact, they are going to come visit us next month! Your mother said that your dad is excited to introduce you to his family."
"Really? I cannot wait until next month then!" John was thrilled. He then thought of the other side of his parentage and looked at his grandmother with worry. "Grandma, do you think my father's side of the family is going to hate me, just as Grandpa does, because I am part vampire?"
Anna did not know what to say to John, knowing that the werewolves did not usually like to be with vampires. She shielded him from the harsh truth. "Grandma is sure your father's side of the family will accept you, and if they don't, then Grandma will always be here for you."
This genuine assurance made John feel very happy, giving him the mental fortitude he needed for the day ahead.
A quiet knock interrupted the final moments of John and Anna's conversation.
Knock knock
"You may enter, Elena dear," Anna said smoothly, already knowing who was there.
Elena opened the door and performed a deep, practiced bow for the family matriarch. "Greetings, My Lady."
Anna giggled lightly, waving a dismissive hand. "You are probably here for John. I will give you some privacy, but don't talk too long; it is almost time for John to leave." With a meaningful glance at John, Anna left the room, pulling the door closed behind her.
John stood up immediately and walked to Elena, pulling her into a tight hug. She did not know why, but every time John hugged her, she felt a profound sense of surprise; a person of his nobility had no reason to show this kind of open affection to those below them.
After they separated, they both sat on the bed next to each other, the small space feeling intimate.
"If I may ask, where is Young Master going to?" Elena asked softly.
"Well, Grandpa is going on a business meeting somewhere, and Grandma asked me to go with him to improve our relationship, as he doesn't like me very much," John admitted, his voice deflated.
Elena gently touched his shoulder. "Why does the Lord not like you, Young Master? You are very talented and special."
John gave her a forced, sad smile. "It is something I cannot tell you just yet."
"Of course, Young Master, forgive me for asking," she replied, her eyes filled with understanding.
"Don't worry. I will tell you another time. I just hope you won't hate me as well once you know," he said, the old fear of judgment surfacing.
She instantly grabbed his hand, her touch cool and firm. "Young Master, I will never hate you. Remember, you saved my life." Elena's simple, steadfast words made John's heart soar. They sat there for a few minutes, simply enjoying the quiet comfort of each other's company, before they heard another knock on the door.
Elena went to open it. One of the other maids was standing there, having come to deliver a message. Elena looked back at John, her voice heavy with reluctance. "Young Master, it is time for you to leave."
John walked up to her and gave her one last, deep hug. "See you soon. When I come back, I want us to watch a movie together, okay?"
Elena nodded, her eyes wide with promise. "Okay."
John then headed outside. Carlos Decker had arrived in a large, luxurious carriage and was already waiting. John stood by the carriage door for a few minutes, waiting for his grandfather.
Leonidas and Anna finally emerged together. When Leonidas caught sight of John waiting patiently by the carriage, he shot him a single look of unadulterated contempt. John instantly felt a wave of sadness, seeing the disappointment and irritation so clearly reflected in his grandfather's powerful face.
Decker, ever the polished host, gave a respectful bow. "Greetings, My Lord, greetings, My Lady. I brought the best carriage I could find to make this journey as comfortable as possible."
"Good job, Decker, let us depart as soon as possible," Leonidas commanded, his voice tight.
"My Lord, my client said that it will take a few days to finalize the contract, but he has arranged a luxury place where My Lord can stay. He hopes that this will not disappoint My Lord."
Leonidas felt a surge of irritation; he wanted to return quickly. However, the promise of the deal benefiting his family greatly was too important to risk. "No problem," he conceded.
Anna stepped forward, her smile warm. "Perfect. Take your time, my dear." She then looked directly at John and gave him a tiny, conspiratorial wink, confirming her protective maneuvering had worked. She then turned back to Decker, her voice calm and firm. "Decker, my grandson is going to accompany you as well. I hope that is not a problem."
Decker was only momentarily hesitant. His original plan involved only Leonidas, but a swift calculation told him the boy was an easily manageable variable. He didn't truly care, as everyone in that carriage would eventually die anyway. He forced a wide, gracious smile at Anna. "Certainly, My Lady, the Young Master is always welcome. Please," he said, gesturing dramatically for both the Lord and the young vampire to enter the luxurious carriage.
The heavy door closed with a muted thud, and the carriage immediately set off. It drove at a shocking pace for nearly five hours. You might have thought the large vehicle was too heavy to move so quickly, but it was not pulled by ordinary horses. Instead, it was harnessed to Yellow Belly Bay Horses. This distinct breed possessed incredible speed and raw power and was exclusively used by the wealthy nobility for long-distance travel. These horses were significantly bigger than normal horses and, most importantly, stored water inside specialized bellies, allowing them to travel for many hours without needing to stop to drink or rest.
Inside the opulent cabin, the atmosphere was suffocating. Leonidas sat across from John, an imposing, silent monolith. Carlos Decker would occasionally initiate conversation with the Patriarch, but Leonidas always replied in short, dismissive answers. John, feeling the chilling indifference from his grandfather, mostly looked out the window at the swiftly passing world or took short, restless naps.
After another hour passed, Decker glanced discreetly at his pocket watch. "It's almost time," he thought, a cold thrill running through him.
John, feeling a sudden surge of bravery and needing to break the unbearable silence, looked at his grandfather, who had his eyes closed and his arms folded across the leather seat. John hesitated for a moment. "Grandpa, I have a question."
Leonidas did not even open his eyes. His voice was a flat, cold command. "Do not call me grandpa and do not ask me any questions."
Decker's inner voice, observing the exchange, bristled with synthetic empathy. "Damn, what is wrong with this guy? I wonder why he does not like his own grandson. Every other time I came to his home, he was never like this with his other grandchildren." The thought was a cynical justification for the imminent betrayal.
Decker then cleared his throat, pushing the plot forward. "Excuse me, My Lord, would you care for some lemon rose tea?"
Leonidas finally opened his eyes, the deep red momentarily glinting in the dim carriage light. "Certainly."
Decker then looked at John, his smile professionally inviting. "Would you also want some tea, Young Master?"
John, feeling deeply hurt and sad by his grandfather's latest rejection, shook his head. "No, thank you, sir."
"Are you sure? This is very good tea; it will make you feel better," Decker pressed, still smiling at the boy.
Leonidas interjected sharply. "Leave the boy, he said no."
"Yes, My Lord," Decker replied, bowing his head slightly. He poured the steaming tea into an elegant cup and presented it to Leonidas.
After another hour of silence, the carriage slowed slightly, pulling off the main road.
Leonidas spoke, his patience clearly exhausted. "Decker, how long before we arrive at our destination?"
Decker's polished demeanor finally cracked, replaced by a triumphant, predatory grin. "We are here, My Lord."
He raised his hand slightly, then snapped his fingers with an audible crack.
"Activate!"