~ Chapter Six: Nosy Vampire ~

Lucia hadn't heard a sound from Sabina that could've warned her she was coming back. In fact, as Lucia tried to adjust her hearing she still couldn't hear her heartbeat like she was able to do earlier this morning.

"Before you snoop around my house, sweep properly! You're terrible at this!" Sabina stood at the end of the hallway with the broom in her hand, eyebrows raised, and a stern expression painting her face.

"Why is it I can't hear you like I did before?" Lucia ignored the dissaproval that practically radiated off of the witch. All day she had grown used the noises of the house, even Spell's own breathing while she was in the library.

Sabina scoffed, "That's what you're deciding to focus on here?"

Lucia stared at Sabina impatiently and Sabina let out a sigh, "I can't have a nosy little vampire in my house with the ability to hear everything a witch does. I cast a warding spell on the necklace I wear."

Sabina pulled the charm of the necklace she was wearing up from underneath her clothing for Lucia to see. Immediately, her head started buzzing, as if to tell her she was in danger.

Lucia, without thinking, took a step back. Her two-colored eyes narrowed in on the strange symbol that seemed to be a type of star enclosed by a circle.

Sabina chuckled, "I bet your head is hurting, isn't it?"

Lucia nodded. She wasn't so much in pain as she was annoyed by the alertness her head was giving her. "What is that symbol? I think I've seen it before."

"The symbol itself won't have an affect on you, its the spell that's doing the damage. However, it is a magic charm

A pentagram," Sabina answered.

A pentagram. Now Lucia recognized the symbol. From her lessons with Tutor Zex, magic was well-known in the four countries that shared one continent; many people admired those with magical gifts. In Varis, the same as in Heisiff, magic was much less common than in their southern neighbor, Baxia, where magic flourished. In Varis, one in seventy-five would have the ability to use magic, whereas in Baxia, one in fifteen had the gift. However, in Ruvinia, magic was fairly rare, only one in three-hundred had such abilities. The agreed upon symbol of magic was represented by a pentagram throughout the four large countries.

According to Tutor Zex, and the various soldiers filled with grief that served the palace, magic varies throughout location; although, there is never a lack of creatures in any of the countries. Demons and horrendous, haunting monsters were said to inhibit areas less populated by magic, yet rumors spread around Varis, and even to the ears of the royal maids, creatures were becoming smarter and blending in with humans. Luckily, Lucia had never seen one of those rumored creatures due to her life held up in the castle.

Tutor Zex had explained to Lucia that magic and creatures worked hand in hand; those with magic more often than not became mages for their country to protect people from beasts. Even if magicians didn't work for their country as fighting mages, everyone with the affinity for magic still had to sign their name with the Magistry to be taxed and submitted into the system; something that drove Tutor Zex crazy, because he himself is a mage and despises taxes.

When Lucia had asked her tutor what would happen if someone with magic didn't sign up with the Magistry, Zex quickly labeled them an outlaw and traitors to all four countries. Apparently, just as they did with her, everyone at the age of eight was tested by their country no matter social class or gender to see if they had even a slight affinity for magical gifts. Lucia didn't understand much of the business of magic because unlike her father and brother, she never had an affinity for it. Her younger half-siblings, the twins, would be tested this very year, something she selfishly hoped they would fail as she did.

When she had been tested personally by a government official and Tutor Zex, it was one of the rare times her father, King Killian, had come to see her. As her drop of blood pricked from the tip of her finger fell into the special conconction that tested for magic, it stayed the same solid white solution. That day Lucia had personally watched as the last bit of care her father had for her, faded out.

Coming back to her senses and straying her gaze away from the amulet, Lucia realized she should be apologizing. "I'm sorry for exploring your house without your permission, I got curious."

Sabina seemed taken back by Lucia's genuine apology but quickly regained composure. "As you should be girl! Well, it doesn't matter, it's an old house that you'll be cleaning anyway. Speaking of which, you're terrible of sweeping, do it again."

Lucia sighed and took the broom Sabina held out to her reluctantly, then got to work. This time Sabina watched her every little move while sweeping the kitchen, pointing to the smallest pieces of dirt or scraps she might have missed.

"Alright, alright, I suppose that's enough . .." Sabina sighed. "Come here, since you're obviously not getting any better at it."

Lucia listened to Sabina and came over to her side after putting the broom back.

"Little monster, I need your blood," Sabina had picked up a small knife she had been using to cut herbs earlier and Lucia instictually took a step back. "Remember that your sum will go down when you take part in my research."

"B-by how much?" Lucia was still suspicious. At this point Spells had eagerly joined in on the bout and seemed to be grinning with his small cat mouth.

"As much as I allow, child! This deal, is simply out of the mercy of my heart, nothing more," Sabina's tone wasn't vicious, in the last couple hours Lucia had been with Sabina she started to pick up on how sharp she was with her words and tone, although never purposefully mean.

Sabina released another sigh as she watched Lucia's eyes that held disappointment. "When I told you who I was, you right awat recognized my title. As such, I'm quite famous in this city; my potions are held in the highest reguard and your pure vampiric blood will allow me to make new, higher quality potions. Money will flow in and you'll get your own cut by your debt going down."

Lucia thought about Sabina's words. It was quite refreshing that Sabina didn't try to decieve her or forcefully take Lucia's blood like she could. If the Red Witch really wanted to, Sabina could do anything she wanted to Lucia and the former princess couldn't do a damn thing.

"Is that where you went? To sell potions?" Lucia asked then.

"Never you mind, nosy child," Sabina shook her head and waved the question off.

"So my blood is useful because I'm a pure-blooded vampire?" Lucia decided not to push on Sabina's whereabouts and instead wanted to confirm the witch's words.

"Correct. Your blood is valuable in many ways, little monster. Pure blooded vampires, like yourself, are almost never head of. Regular vampires, those turned by pure bloods or got themselves cursed by petty witches or demons, are creatures that have been hunted down and killed. The rare amount of vampires left are all in hiding, most are trying to figure out how to procreate but without being a pure blood its impossible."

"Is it true that vampires are dead? Did I die. Lucia started to panic.

Sabina shook her head, "Created vampires, by pure-bloods, have to die inorder to become a vampire in the first place. You are a living, breathing, pureblooded vampire. It's exactly because of your ancestors, and like the very first King to this despicable kingdom Varis, you are a pure blood. You too will be able to reproduce when you grow older as well.

"So I'm pureblooded because I'm alive?" Lucia asked to confirm.

Sabina shook her head, "Partly, yes; but also no. You're alive because you're pureblooded. You're pureblooded because the curse of vampirism was passed down to you, little monster. You have the blood of your ancestor, the true king, running in your blood more closely than the rest of your family. If you did not, you would have truly been dead when you were brought to me."

Truthfully, Lucia was still confused and with the subjects of children and such a new concept as pure blooded vampires were thrown at her, she was becoming quite bewildered. One thing was quite obvious, if she hadn't of been a pure-blood, the Queen's punishment would have killed her. These thoughts made Lucia's blood boil in rage.

Sabina laughed, not seeing the change in Lucis's attitude, "You'll come to understand as you grow."

Another question came to Lucia's mind which she spat out without thinking. "Am I immortal like those books say?"

Sabina lifted an eyebrow, "Been reading my books, have you?"

Lucia blushed in embarrassment, looking to the floor. "When I was organizing your library, a couple books caught my interest, but I only read one!"

Sabina rolled her eyes, "You can read whatever you want in the library, truthfully I've read them too many times, so make use of them if you can. Well, all except for the magic books. Don't mix yourself up with them, child."

Lucia grinned with the idea of getting to read. While she was disappointed that she wasn't allowed to read the magic books, she'd still be able to explore to her heart's content the different languaged books and teach herself along with the guided novels.

Reading and practicing with the sword had been her greatest joy while pent up in the castle. While she couldn't practice with the sword anymore, she was greatful to read again.

Sabina watched the delight on Lucia's face and found her own lips lifting into a small small. She quickly erased such evidence but Lucia had caught every second of it's appearance.

"To answer your question, truthfully I do not know. In terms of ageing, pure-bloods cease to age when the body believes it has maximized it's potential. Yet what kills you? Maybe a stake to the heart like the first King of Varis," Sabina found humor in the dreadful topic and let out a laugh before changing the direction back to the matter of Lucia's blood. "Since I bothered wasting my time answering silly questions: Hand. Now." Sabina ordered.

To Lucia's surprise, her left hand moved on its own and onto Sabina's palm who had a wicked smile and let out a chuckle. "Magic bonds are such useful little things. Like I was answering your clueless self before, your pure blood has many, many more perks child, tricks only you can use."

While Lucia thought about Sabina's clue, the witch dragged the blade diagonally down Lucia's hand. The contracted servant wanted to pull away, tears threatening to pour out as she grimaced from the pain, but Sabina kept hold of her hand, so Lucia just closed her eyes instead.

"Well would you look at that," Sabina's voice was filled with amusement. Lucia finally opened her eyes again and stared down at her hand that held no signs of being recently cut. All that remained was a small pool of her own blood where Lucia had felt her hand being cut.

"You just cut my hand, what happened?" Lucia asked, stunned.

"I didn't think your healing powers would kick in so fast," Sabina pulled Lucia's hand over a small cauldron and let the blood pour into it.

"Healing powers? I didn't use any powers though-"

"Little monster, your vampiric abilities kicked in for you. Your flesh wound was healed automatically. Actually, the same thing happened when you got severely sick; your abilities kicked in and it's what saved you."

Lucia had taken back her hand and started to further examine it. She was still amazed to find not a single trace left that she had been cut. This was just one of her power!

"What else can I do?" Lucia quickly asked.

Sabina chuckled, "Now, now, don't get too impatient. I do believe I told you to figure that out for yourself though," Sabina answered.

Lucia sighed and nodded. Sabina had said such a thing. Another questioned popped up in her head. "Would I be killed if someone found out I was a vampire?"

Sabina handed over a small handkerchief for Lucia to wipe the traces of blood on her hand while she thought about her answer. "There's a division apart of the Magistry who's soul job is to hunt down monsters reported. They're different from the battle mages that claim to protect the kingdom and are instead almost like bounty hunters. If there was even a whisper about a vampire, it would get back to them and they'd hunt down and kill you. Either that, or you'll be tested on like a lab rat with no little deal like you have going on with me."

Lucia felt sick as struggled to swallow her own saliva. She would be hunted down and killed! They would really treat her as a monster. . .

"Listen, you're brand new at vampirism but it's quite obvious your body has already begun getting acclimated to your new way of life. As you are right now, you're no where nearly as powerful as that wretched Vampire King in your family, not even close to your own father yet."

Lucia could hear Sabina's silent warnings, to get powerful. Without power and control, she's useless, unable to fight for herself, let alone her despicable father.

Lucia felt more determined to learn how to control her power and to become as powerful as she could. Sylvia's image still plagued her thoughts, there was so much to fight for!

"Well enough of all of this, go out and explore or something. Just don't be annoying," Sabina waved Lucia away and returned to her work at her kitchen counter.

Lucia quite liked the idea of being able to explore, but the sun had already set and it was getting late. Deciding to wait till tomorrow, she scooped up Spells against his will and returned to the recently organized library to read.