While Elena was resting, feeling the profound exhaustion of healing and the weight of their new secret, John, Carmilla, and Thomas left the room. They headed straight for the kitchen, as John felt an insistent, almost raw hunger gnawing at his stomach. It was a deep, bone-aching craving that demanded more than just a quick drink of blood.
As they walked through the grand, torch lit castle corridors, the conversation remained light and wholesome. They talked about trivial things, laughing at each other's old stories. John felt a warmth he had not realized he missed, simply hanging out with his family in a moment free from the shadow of danger.
"Thomas, tell John about that time when you were nine and you pissed your pants when you first saw a Wyvern in Nolan town," Carmilla teased, stifling a giggle behind her hand.
Thomas felt a spike of embarrassment but quickly recovered. "Carmilla, do not let me tell John about that time you had a crush on Daniel Bean, the one with the ridiculously fluffy hair."
Carmilla gasped and rushed to Thomas, covering his mouth with her hand as her face turned a bright shade of red. "Don't you dare, Thomas!"
Thomas quickly moved her hand aside, a smirk playing on his lips. "Then don't you start with me either! I know plenty of secrets about you!"
John laughed, a genuine, hearty sound that felt good in his chest. "Guys, let's stop this. We are almost at the kitchen. Let's walk a little faster, I am very hungry for some meat."
As they turned the final corner, Carmilla gave John a curious, lingering look. "John, you are a vampire. Why do you want meat so badly? We usually just drink blood for energy."
John paused for a moment, the shift in his own metabolism still surprising him. He could not explain the craving for solid protein that felt like it was coming from his very soul. "No reason… I just like to eat meat with blood. Chewing the meat and drinking blood is delicious for me. Let's not worry about it."
Carmilla narrowed her eyes. She had a feeling that John was not telling her something, but seeing his distraction caused by his hunger, she chose to ignore her thoughts for now.
They arrived at the vast, high ceilinged castle kitchen. It was a hive of activity. One of the chefs was busy preparing a hearty stew for the human workers and servants, while another was draining blood from several large, elegant carcasses into massive silver bowls.
John stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as he pointed at one of the bowls. The liquid flowing into it was not red. It was a thick, shimmering silver that looked like liquid moonlight.
"Wait," John said, his voice filled with wonder. "What kind of thing is that? Why is the blood silver?"
The head chef looked up, offering a respectful bow. "That is a Unicorn, Young Master. Their blood is infused with pure magical essence, which gives it that celestial glow and a flavor that is truly beyond compare. For us vampires, it is a supreme delicacy. Because we do not possess Mana, we cannot truly harness the magical properties within the blood. We drink it for the exquisite taste alone."
Ronald, the chef, lowered his voice slightly. "However, this creature is the source of much of the Crimson wealth. While the family keeps a portion for the cellar, the rest is stored and sold to the wealthiest humans or sent to high stakes auctions. To a human who wishes to live an extra century, or a wizard seeking to brew a legendary potion, this silver liquid is worth more than its weight in gold."
"Wow that's dope, not gonna lie." John looked at the shimmering silver pools, realizing he was looking at a fortune in liquid form.
"Very few ever get to taste it," Carmilla added, looking at the carcass with a mix of reverence and greed. "It is usually reserved for the high lords or sold to keep the castle running in luxury."
John's gaze shifted from the silver bowls to the counter where pieces of raw meat were laid out. His eyes fixed on a glistening, heavy organ that seemed to pulse with a faint light. He instinctively licked his lips. "Is that the Unicorn's heart?" John asked, his voice low and eager.
"It certainly is, Young Master," the chef replied smoothly. He was a thin man with short dark hair and a thin lined mustache. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am known as Ronald, one of the chefs here in the Crimson Castle. Is Master interested in eating the heart?"
John was transported back to the dark, survival driven cave where he had ripped into the bear's raw flesh. It was a moment of untamed power. The hunger for meat was suddenly overwhelming.
"Yes," John said, leaning over the counter. "Pass me dem heart."
Ronald, a professional who had seen strange appetites, still blinked once in surprise. He did not expect the young heir to eat such a rare delicacy raw. "Is Master sure I must not cook it?"
John shook his head emphatically, his focus entirely on the silver nectar marbling the meat. "Nah, give that to me raw."
"But it is cold raw meat, John, it would not taste good," Thomas said, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "And that silver blood is meant to be refined and sipped from a crystal glass. You are treating a legendary treasure like a common snack."
Ronald placed the heart on a white plate and slid it across the counter. "Well, not all vampires are the same, Master Thomas. As long as vampires get their daily dose of blood, the vampire body will function pretty normally like a human being. However, most vampires do not eat raw meat. Most would prefer their food cooked, like how the humans eat their food."
John did not care about the discussion anymore; he was too hungry. He took the heart from the white plate with his bare hands and started to bite and chew with savage concentration. The raw flesh, still marbled with shimmering silver nectar and warm with remnants of the creature's life, tasted incredible. It was a burst of wild, earthy flavors that satisfied a hunger deeper than anything ordinary blood could quench.
"So Ronald," John said, gesturing to the mess on his face. "What is so good about unicorn blood besides its taste?"
"That is a great question, Young Master. Well, a Unicorn's blood can prolong a person's lifespan, but because we vampires are already immortal, we do not need that benefit. However, it can cleanse and revitalize the blood in a person's body. This is very beneficial for a vampire's growth, especially the young ones. Furthermore, we do not use all of it; some of the blood is put into vials to be traded or sold."
As John chewed through the tough muscle, something caught his eye as he looked up at the remains of the carcass. "By the way, Ronald, what about the Unicorn's horn? What do you guys do with it?"
After swallowing another large bite, John looked at his silver stained fingers. "And could you give me something to wipe this off? I do not think my cousins want me tracking silver starlight all over the castle."
"Of course, Young Master," Ronald replied, handing him a warm, damp linen cloth.
As John scrubbed at his skin, feeling a faint magical heat as the stubborn silver fluid finally came away, Ronald continued the conversation. "Another great question, Young Master John," he said as he stepped back to the counter where the spiral horn lay. He picked it up and walked over to John. "The horn of a Unicorn is very special for people who practice magic. They use it to craft powerful wands. Since most vampires cannot perform magic, we sell the horn at a high price in an auction or contact wizards directly."
John looked at the horn with newfound respect. "Where do you even find these things?"
"The Crimsons actually have their own private stock," Ronald explained with professional pride. "We breed them right here on the estate. They are kept in a specialized facility deep underground, directly beneath the barn where the horse stables are. They are strictly separated from the regular horses and are carefully cared for by dedicated vampire employees. It is a delicate operation, as their environment must be kept perfect to maintain the quality of their silver blood."
"Can I touch it?" John asked, taking a final bite of the heart.
"Most certainly, Young Master John." Ronald carefully handed the horn to him.
The moment John made contact with the bone white surface, he felt something surge into his hands. It was a cool, subtle energy that was hard to explain, vibrating against his skin. "Is this magic that I am feeling?"
"Yes, Master," Ronald confirmed. "Unicorns gather magic through their horns. It is the heart of their power."
"John, let me also touch it," Carmilla asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. John handed her the horn. "Wow, this is sort of tingly in my hands. Do you also want to touch it, Thomas?"
Thomas shook his head immediately, still looking at the silver blood on John's face with a mix of disgust and disbelief. "No, I will pass."
John was amazed. "Damn, the Crimsons probably make a lot of money."
"Yes, but we have other ways that we make income, which is not for me to discuss right now," Ronald said diplomatically.
John nodded. "I understand. Can I have some more meat and blood to drink, Ronald?"
"Certainly, Young Master John."
After John ate his fill and wiped the remaining blood from his mouth, he felt the urgent need to follow up on his own agenda. "Guys, I have to go somewhere," he told his cousins.
"Sure, we are going horse riding at the back, come join us if you're finished," Carmilla said, giving him a curious glance as she and Thomas walked out.
John quickly thanked the chef for the food and left the kitchen. He headed straight for the Armory. When he arrived, he saw a familiar face he had not seen for a while. "Porto! My man, howzit goin?"
Porto gave a light bow. "Greetings, Young Master John. How may I be of service?"
Porto, the sturdy man who maintained the castle weapons, gave a light bow. "Greetings, Young Master John. How may I be of service?"
John stepped forward and gripped Porto's hand with genuine sincerity. "I came here because I wanted to thank you for recommending that fixed blade knife and the dagger to me. Those were incredibly useful when I was out in the forest."
John's words clearly moved the man, and Porto beamed with a sense of quiet pride. "Thank you, Young Master. I hope I can be even more useful for Master in the future."
"Well, you already have been, Porto. Tell me, have you heard about what happened to me and Elena in the forest?"
"Yes, Young Master. The tale of what happened has spread throughout the Crimson Castle, and all of us admire Young Master very much."
John could not help feeling a swell of satisfaction at being admired. He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "What do you mean, Porto? Talk to me."
"Young Master is admired for not leaving the maid, Elena, to die in the forest," Porto explained, his voice full of respect. "She is a common servant, and her status is nowhere near that of Young Master. Yet, you risked your own life and brought her home, even with the help of Master Caden. On top of that, Young Master survived the pursuit of a werewolf at the age of fourteen. Even though there are many exceptional individuals who can easily defeat such a creature, you are still a novice who has only recently unlocked your powers. To survive that at your age is a feat the staff will not soon forget."
John grinned, practically puffing out his chest with pride. "Wow, Porto. I really am awesome, am I?"
"Yes, Young Master John. Very much so."
John cleared his throat, his expression shifting as he adopted a more serious, focused tone. "I appreciate the honesty, Porto. On the subject of the forest, I realized something during that fight. I have heard that a werewolf's bite is poisonous to a vampire, and that the castle keeps antidotes for such things. I want to be prepared if I ever encounter one again, so I would like you to provide me with an antidote, just for safety reasons."
John kept his face calm, masking his true intent. By securing a conventional cure, he would have a perfect excuse to use if he ever had to "save" someone again, ensuring that no one would ever suspect the truth about his own blood.
"Of course, Young Master. It is a wise precaution for an heir to take. Please follow me."
Porto led John away from the weapons display, moving with a purposeful stride toward the back of the Armory. They passed through a heavy door that opened into a quiet hallway, which eventually led them into a new space: the Alchemy Room. Everything was neatly ordered, with each cabinet sporting a small sign above it to indicate exactly what was contained within.
Porto led John to a section clearly labeled Antidotes. He opened a polished wooden cabinet and retrieved a small vial filled with a thick, grayish liquid. He presented it to John with a steady hand. "Here, Master. I believe this is what you are looking for. This solution is specifically crafted to neutralize and heal the venom from a werewolf bite."
John took the vial from Porto and smiled, inspecting the murky liquid. This was exactly what he needed to ensure his secret remained safe. Instead of tucking it into his clothes, he tapped the vial against his storage ring. In a faint shimmer of light, the antidote vanished into the ring's pocket dimension.
Before leaving, John leaned against one of the cabinets and chatted with Porto for a moment. He cracked a few jokes about the forest, admitting with a grin that he almost pissed his pants when the werewolf first lunged at him. Porto let out a rare, hearty laugh at the image of the young heir's panic. John then went on to describe how Caden had appeared out of nowhere, coming in like a total superhero to save the day, which Porto nodded to with deep respect. It was a brief moment of genuine connection that made the butler feel like more than just an employee.
John finally pushed off the cabinet and gave Porto a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Porto, thank you for helping me. You are the man, you know that right?"
"No, Master, it is an honor to serve you," Porto replied, his voice humble but his face glowing with pride from the interaction.
"Okay, Porto, I gotta bounce. Enjoy your day."
"I am here if Young Master needs anything," Porto said, bowing lightly as John gave a casual wave and made his exit.
With the antidote secured, John immediately headed toward Reina's room. His mind was racing with his next set of questions, and the energy from the unicorn heart was still buzzing through his system. When he reached her door, he gave a few firm knocks and heard her muffled reply from within.
"Come in."
John entered the room and found Reina sitting in front of her vanity mirror. She was focused on her reflection, her hand moving rhythmically as she brushed her long, silky black hair. The room was elegant and quiet, providing a stark contrast to the rough, metallic world of the Armory he had just left.
"Hello, Aunt Reina."
Reina turned her head, her fingers working skillfully as she tied her hair into a neat ponytail. She looked at him through the mirror before turning fully to face him. "John, what can I do for you?"
John looked down while scratching his head, a sudden wave of shyness washing over him that stood in stark contrast to his earlier bravado with Porto. "Well, I came here to say thank you."
Reina stood up and walked toward John, her expression softened by a look of genuine relief. "Thank you for what, John?"
John took a step forward and wrapped Reina in a sincere hug. "Thank you for helping me. I would have never survived out there in the forest without your training."
Reina was a little startled by the sudden embrace, her body tensing for a split second before she relaxed. A soft, warm expression came over her face, and she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "You do not need to thank me, John. You worked hard and did what was necessary to survive. I am just thankful that you came back. I was very worried about you."
After pulling back from the hug, John cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Aunt Reina, do you maybe know where Caden is? I have not had the chance to thank him personally yet."
Reina looked up at him and smiled mysteriously, her eyes twinkling with a secret. "Then you should look behind you, John."
When John turned his head, he saw a tall, imposing figure standing silently by the door as if he had been part of the shadows themselves.
Caden smiled, his calm presence filling the room. "Greetings, John."