Elena and Haven, who were still enjoying their lunch break in the peaceful upper section of the library, settled into a relaxed and pleasant conversation. They shared good memories from their past human lives—a rare, light-hearted communion between two women who had experienced profound loss and change. This light-hearted exchange was quickly becoming the foundation of a quiet friendship.
"So, Elena, if I may ask," Haven began, stirring her teacup. "What is the relationship between you and young master John? Everybody in the castle says that you two are in love."
Elena lightly blushed, the warmth rising swiftly to her cheeks. "There is nothing between young master John and I. However, I believe that young master John will one day become too great and will eventually forget about me."
Haven smiled, a rare, gentle expression on the usually placid vampire maid's face. "You are wrong, Elena. Young master John is very smitten about you, and everyone in the castle can see it." Haven then pointed at Elena's gold bracelet. "I believe young master John bought you that expensive bracelet, am I right? I think that is a very clear indication that young master John cares about you very much."
Joy began to fill Elena's heart as she thought about the evening John had gifted her the bracelet. She then touched the golden sunshine necklace that her mother had given her. "I wanted to give young master this necklace, but I was a little hesitant, as this is the last gift that my mother gave me when she was alive. However, I have changed my mind. I will gift young master John this gold necklace when he comes back."
Haven gently touched Elena's hand—an uncommon gesture of warmth. "You are very lucky, Elena. I have been on a few trips to other places with my Lady, and I have seen many young masters in my lifetime, and most of them are vile and evil to their own kind." Haven's gaze grew thoughtful. "And although young master John is above us in status, he treats us very nicely. I think he will become a great lord if he chooses so, and I would be more than happy to work for such a lord."
"Me too," Elena replied, her voice soft with agreement.
They both sat for a few more minutes in the library, talking about random things, the light, hopeful conversation a welcome counterpoint to the impending darkness, before resuming their daily work.
====
[2 days left]
"Boy, boy, wake up."
John heard a faint but familiar voice calling to him. He slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurring. After a few seconds, everything began to clear, and the first thing he noticed was his grandfather, Leonidas, looking straight at him.
John was confused. He remembered Leonidas couldn't move his body except his head. "How did you get here, old man? I thought you couldn't move your body."
Leonidas looked down at his own hands, slowly flexing his fingers up and down—a small, but monumental gesture. "I do not know what happened. Maybe it is because of the antidote you gave me, but just a few hours ago, I felt my arms moving again. I still cannot move my legs, and I also do not have any energy to use most of my abilities." Leonidas pushed himself closer with his restored arms. "However, I have enough energy to move my arms to crawl over here. Now get up so we can think of a plan to escape this cave."
John's hybrid healing factor had not fully repaired his internal injuries; he still had minor fractures in his face, and every movement caused a surge of internal pain. However, he had enough energy to get onto his feet. He retrieved a bottle of blood from his storage ring and started to drink it in small, painful portions, feeling a sharp ache in his throat with every sip.
He then offered the bottle to his grandfather. "Here. I don't think your body is going to reject the blood now that you can move your arms."
Leonidas looked at the bottle offered to him before slowly reaching out a hand to grab it. His skin was paler than usual, his red hair messy, and his expensive clothes tattered. He poured a little of the cold, delicious blood into his mouth, feeling the instant, revitalizing sensation on his tongue. He finished the entire bottle in a few deep swallows. "I never thought that I would be this lucky to drink blood again," he thought, a strange gratitude settling over him.
He tossed the empty bottle aside and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "How are we going to escape?" Leonidas asked John, his voice regaining a fraction of its former power.
"I don't think the lightning stone I used earlier against the troll will be enough to destroy the huge boulder, and I probably only have two chances to use it before the lightning energy in the stone is totally depleted. Let's first go to the entrance and see what we can do."
John hoisted Leonidas onto his back, wincing internally as the combined weight strained his recovering body. "We only have two days left before Decker attacks the castle; we have to hurry and get out of here."
When they reached the cave's original entrance, John gently placed Leonidas down near the huge boulder that was blocking their exit. John then stood before the immense rock and closed his eyes for a few minutes, channeling his focus inward.
Leonidas observed John carefully. "He is trying to gather energy, but he does not know how to do it effectively. I could teach him, but it will take more than two days," he thought, the urgency of their timeline a heavy weight on his conscience.
John slowly opened his eyes, placing both hands on the boulder with great determination and resolve. He could feel the rough, cold surface of the rock against his skin. He started to push with all his might, bracing his feet against the cave floor. But despite his best efforts, the boulder did not move an inch.
After four hours, John tried again. He planted his feet firmly, took a deep breath, and placed his hands on the rough surface once more. He summoned every ounce of his strength—physical and hybrid—and began to exert force against it. John grunted, his face contorted with effort. "Aaaah, come on…Move!"
A huge amount of sweat started to drip down his forehead as John put his entire being into pushing the boulder forward. He could feel his muscles growing tense and raw, but the rock remained utterly motionless.
After a few more hours, all hope began to bleed out of him. He remained standing there, both hands still resting on the boulder, but his head was hanging down. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and tears began to fall silently to the ground. John felt a suffocating mix of anger, sadness, and frustration at his lack of power.
John tried even harder. After hours of draining failure, his vision tunneled. His left eye began to turn red, and raw, unfamiliar power surged throughout his body as he channeled his deepest energy into a final, desperate attempt to move this seemingly immovable object. However, no matter how much John tried, the huge boulder remained firmly planted on the ground. John's muscles ached and screamed in protest, but he refused to give up.
He looked at Leonidas, tears of utter frustration stinging his eyes.
"I can't do it; I am a failure," John whispered, defeat finally crushing him.
Leonidas looked into John's eyes, and he could feel the immense, suffocating weight of the boy's despair. "Are you going to give up, boy? Are you going to allow your loved ones to die without doing anything about it, or are you going to try and move this boulder out of the way?"
Leonidas looked John directly in the eyes. "Become angrier, boy. Use the emotions you are feeling now as fuel and move this goddamn boulder out of the way so we can save the people we love!"
John understood his grandfather; however, he had already given everything he had. The boulder simply wouldn't budge. "But I gave my everything just now! This boulder is too heavy, I can't…I just can't," John cried, gritting his teeth until his jaw ached.
Leonidas knew deep inside that this was truly an impossible task for the boy. He knew John was not strong enough and was still in the process of learning and developing as a young vampire. Even though Leonidas knew that John's current physical effort was futile, he still had hope in the boy, as there was literally nobody else he could depend on. He had to try one last, desperate motivational push.
"Boy," he called out to John. Leonidas and John looked each other straight in the eye.
John could see Leonidas's eyes glistening; he could see his grandfather fighting the tears that wanted to roll down his cheeks—a powerful sign of the ancient vampire's own despair and dependence. "Are you going to let Decker win?"
"Never!" John roared, the sound echoing his utter fury.
John then felt his heart hammering loudly within his chest. The faces and voices of all his loved ones—Anna, Elena, his parents—echoed throughout his mind. As the surge of pure, desperate emotion peaked, his right eye's iris started to flicker blue.
"Ggrrrrrrr."
Leonidas was shocked; he could feel the strange, wild energy surge through the air. "Where is this strange power coming from? Is this the werewolf side of the boy?" he thought. He looked at John in amazement, yet he also felt great fear, as John gave off the aura of a primal, dangerous animal. From Leonidas's perspective, it was like the boy was being possessed; he did not know if John was going to attack him, for which he would not be able to defend himself. Thus, he decided to not make a sound and only opt to observe the boy from where he was sitting.
John then started to push the boulder again, but the rock refused to budge and stood firmly in place, indifferent to his efforts. However, Leonidas could see that the boy still had a reserve of physical strength to release. John gave a primal roar of pure anger; his claws extended, digging deep into the rough, gritty surface of the boulder. John's muscles slightly bulged and became bigger; thick, swollen veins started to reveal themselves as he pushed harder against the unyielding stone; and his left eye also started to flicker, unconsciously summoning more of his inner power.
The boulder then started to yield with each small step John took, and slowly, inch by agonizing inch, the massive rock began to slide forward.
Leonidas could not believe the sheer, impossible force he was witnessing. "My dear daughter, what have you created?" he thought, the question echoing the immense shock and awe he felt as he watched John defeat the physical limits of their prison.
John pushed with one last surge of strength, expending every final fiber of his being. The huge boulder was moved just enough for them to escape. Leonidas could see the small exit and a sliver of silver daylight—a beacon of freedom in the eternal darkness.
John then collapsed to his knees, utterly spent. He breathed heavily, ragged breaths catching in his throat, for a few moments before falling down to the floor unconscious.
Leonidas quickly, desperately, crawled over the cold stone floor to where the boy was lying. He looked at John with a profound mixture of awe, guilt, and gratitude. "You did good, boy."