36 Three and Rising

--Eira POV--

I stand in the middle of the small obsidian platform of my god space and watch the blood flow from my slit palm into Aponi's open mouth. Aponi's pale body regains some of its colors as the wound on her leg begins to close.

Next, I open her vest and pull up her shirt, exposing her chest. My face turns hot, **cough** 'Alright. Just need to carve the symbol.'

I extend my nail and begin to carve the symbol of the Goddess of Blood into Aponi's chest just over her heart. After finishing, I again open the wound on my palm and allow the blood to mix with Aponi's own. Into the carving, I pump a little mana and a small amount of essence that the system miraculously let me borrow without charging me. With a faint glimmer, the symbol lights up with a glow, and the carving closes. What's left is a red faintly glowing tattoo.

This symbol is a guarantee and reminder of the deal I made with Aponi. Basically, if I ever deem it necessary, it will send a current into her heart, causing it to stop. That being said, it's not something I hope ever to use. With Callista's inheritance, I naturally have quite the soft spot for all members of the blood race.

'Callista spent hundreds of thousands of years, mostly alone before the blood race came along. She adored all the people of the blood race...but I'd be stupid not to have a guarantee. Anyways it shouldn't be necessary; her mentality should also change somewhat along with her race. Not to Eden's extent, but enough.'

I use <Anaylze> on Aponi.

Name: Aponi Williams

Gender: Female

Race: Vampire

Level: 1

Health: 100/100

Mana: 30/30

Strength: 9

Endurance: 11

Agility: 11

Intellect: 3

Constitution: 10

Talents: Death's Harvest

Skills: -

Titles: -

"Oh. What's this? <Analyze> Death's Harvest."

{Name: Death's Harvest

Grade: C

Details: Plucked from the edge of death by consuming the blood of a Goddess, this talent was awakened. Absorb the flesh of a corpse to regenerate your own body and health. The time of absorption depends on the severity of the wound and the quality of the corpse. Note: The user of this ability must have a natural affinity for death.}

'I can't believe it! How lucky, and it seems really useful, but I am surprised the grade is so low? I assume it's because you have to have a corpse handy to use it...anyways, I should probably get back before she wakes up.'

With that thought, I close up Aponi's shirt and pick up her body and exit my god space. I find myself back in the restroom, where I dragged Aponi after she lost consciousness.

I walk out of the restroom carrying Aponi's body and make my way toward Eden, "Good news Eden. I prayed to the Goddess, and now you have a new sister."

Eden's eyes widen, and she looks at Aponi, "...sister?"

I notice Edens's odd expression and raise an eyebrow, "Does it feel a bit strange when you look at her now?"

Eden nods, "It feels like, I don't know, she just seems familiar somehow."

"Yes, that's typically how it is between blood races. There used to be a common saying in the past, 'The blood binds us together'. Particularly popular among Vampires who, as you know, used to call themselves the Vampire Family...hey wait, did you not feel that way about me?"

"No, I do, but when I look at you, it feels different, almost...sacred. I assume it's because of my mission from the Goddess."

"Yep! I'm sure that's it. Anyways no more thinking about that. Hey, what time is it?"

Eden takes out her phone, "It's almost 11:00 at night."

Eden's words cause me some anxiety, "What?! We've been down here too long; we need to get back to the bridge."

Eden blinks a couple of times, "Oh, yeah. I was supposed to go back after leading these guys here. I forgot."

I suppress my urge to yell and turn toward the others, "Okay, listen, I'm going to turn your chains into collars. If anyone tries anything, the collars will kill you on the spot, so don't try anything. Oh, and Mr.Manure, you get in the back. I don't want you anywhere near me."

"Hmph, I didn't want to be near you, anyways."

"Did you say something?" I ask with a smile.

His eyes move to the ground, "...No."

"Eden, watch your, smelly old Uncle or whatever."

"He's not really my uncle, that was just his nickname."

I ignore Edens's words, "Whatever. Here carry Aponi. Try not to bump her head into any walls if you can avoid it."

We leave the room and make our way down the hallways. The howling of the Crawlers fill the halls; something seems to be irritating them. With caution, we approach the bridge, and when we finally make it, I can faintly hear the sound of gunfire on the other side of the door. I punch in the code and push the heavy door open, and what welcomes me is a surprise.

Bullet holes litter the windows and walls of the bridge. I glance around the room, finding the bodies of a few of the crew bleeding heavily on the ground. I turn my eyes back toward the window where a helicopter is floating in the air. I can faintly make out a small flicker before a loud noise feels my ears.

**Bang!**

A new hole is made in the window of the bridge, and a small gleam of moonlight shines through. A huge force assaults my gut, and I stumble backward, bumping into Eden. I look down at my abdomen to find a hole in my stomach.

"Eira!" Eden yells.

Blood leaks from the edges of my mouth, "Idiots! All of you get down!" Eden acts quickly and drops to the floor along with Aponi's body, and I follow immediately. All three of us promptly take cover behind a desk.

**Bang!**

Another bullet flies through the window; one of the soldier's chest is penetrated, and blood erupts from his chest.

'Well...that's why I didn't bother to learn their names.'

Bryan and the remaining soldiers run to the body and start trying to treat him "What are they doing!? Those bastards they shot Sam!"

'Great now, I know his name.'

Using my blood magic, I seal the wound, but I can feel that the damage is not small.

'Status.'

Name: Eira Callista

Gender: Female

Race: Vampire {Pseudo True God}

Level: 3 (0/50)

Health: 201/330 {-Bleed}

Mana: 33/150

Strength: 18

Endurance: 18

Agility: 19

Intellect: 15

Constitution: 33

Talents: Paranormal

Skills: Intermediate Blood Magic; Novice Scythe

Titles: Heir of Blood

Essence: -155

'This is so frustrating! Ugh, the system is screwing me, charging me for almost everything! I should be a higher level than this after all the work I've done...also, more importantly, I am in so much pain! Wow!'

I laugh and cough up some blood, "Seems they really wanted to kill me. Must not have appreciated the gift I sent them."

"What the hell did you do?" Bryan asks.

"Oh, nothing much. Just don't worry about that right now. Now tell...Eh?"

I feel a prick and look down at my arm to find Aponi, with her eyes shut, biting and attempting to suck my blood.

"So good, mommy," she mutters.

"Stop biting me right now I swear I'll slap those tiny baby fangs of yours right out of your mouth, so help me if I drop below 50% health there'll be hell to pay!"

"Wha..." Aponi opens her eyes, revealing two blood-red irises.

She turns her eyes upward and looks into mine and then looks down at my arm. Her eyes grow big, and she jerks her head up, "What was I doing? Why did I do that? What's that delicious smell?"

Aponi swings her head around, looking for the smell and finds the body of the dead soldier, "Sam!? What happened who killed Sam?"

"Please just relax and stop asking so many questions, just think," I say to her.

"...Oh yeah. I almost died, but what happened to Sam? Did you stab him?"

"No, it wasn't me this time. Those people in the helicopter shot him"

Aponi looks at me, and her face shows anxiety, "Wait! Did they shoot you? Are you okay?"

She rushes to my side and starts looking at my wounds with frantic concern.

Bryan looks at Aponi, "Aponi! What are you doing who cares about that girl? We'd be better off if she died. In fact, how is she even still alive?!"

"Shut up! I care I don't want her to die!" Aponi shouts.

"Why?!"

"Because...wait, why do I care?"

Reaching out, I turn Aponi's face toward mine inadvertently smearing blood near her mouth, "It's because we're family, and don't worry, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in pain right now, but I'll be fine. Our bodies are much less fragile than any modern humans."

**Bang!**

The edge of the desk we are hiding behind explodes under the high powered gunfire.

"More importantly, can you tell me who these people are?"

"...Yeah, it's probably Echo team." Aponi answers as she subconsciously licks the blood near her mouth.

"Is it normal for a helicopter to fly this close when firing?"

"No, they're probably only flying so close because they have to. Lucky for them, the moon seems particularly bright tonight, but shooting at night is difficult...if we turn off the fluorescent lights, it would be a lot harder for them to see us."

Bryan looks at us, "Aponi! Stop helping her."

"Hey, shut up, or I'll choke you out right here and now!" I shout and cough up some more blood.

"Eira, are you really okay," Eden asks.

"Yes, but if you don't mind, please turn off the lights, and I'll deal with the helicopter."

Eden gives me a complicated look, "Okay, but...Eira, you know you don't have to do everything alone?"

"I'll keep that in mind, but right now, I do."

Eden flips the lights, and I slowly begin to crawl toward the window.