Elena and Haven were still enjoying their lunch break in the peaceful upper section of the library. They settled into a relaxed and pleasant conversation. They shared good memories from the times when they were still human. It was a rare and light moment for two women who had experienced so much loss and change. This simple exchange was quickly becoming the foundation of a quiet friendship.
"So, Elena, if I may ask," Haven began, stirring her teacup slowly. "What is the relationship between you and young master John? Everybody in the castle says that you two are in love."
Elena felt a light blush spread across her face. The warmth rose quickly 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. I think he will eventually forget about me." He is meant for big things, and I am just a maid in this big house.
Haven smiled. It was a rare and gentle expression on the face of the usually calm vampire maid. "You are wrong, Elena. Young master John is very smitten with you, and everyone in the castle can see it." Haven then pointed at the gold bracelet on Elena's wrist. "I believe young master John bought you that expensive bracelet, am I right? I think that is a very clear sign that young master John cares about you very much."
Joy began to fill Elena's heart as she thought about the evening John had given her the bracelet. She then reached up and touched the golden sunshine necklace that her mother, Eve, had given her. "I wanted to give young master this necklace, but I was a little worried. This is the last gift that my mother gave me when she was alive. However, I have changed my mind. I will give young master John this gold necklace when he comes back." It is the only way to make sure he stays connected to me.
Haven reached out and gently touched Elena's hand. It was an uncommon act of warmth in the cold castle. "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. 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 to be one, and I would be more than happy to work for such a lord."
"Me too," Elena replied. Her voice was soft with agreement.
They both sat for a few more minutes in the library. They talked about random things. The light and hopeful conversation was a welcome change from the darkness of the past. After a short rest, they stood up and resumed their daily work.
====
[2 days left]
"Boy, boy, wake up."
John heard a faint but familiar voice calling to him through the heavy silence of the cave. He slowly opened his eyes, but his vision was a blurry mess. After a few seconds, the world began to clear. The first thing he noticed was his grandfather, Leonidas, looking straight at him.
John was very confused. He remembered that Leonidas could not move his body except for his head. "How did you get here, old man? I thought you could not move your body."
Leonidas looked down at his own hands. He slowly flexed his fingers up and down. It was a small move, but it was very important. "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 using only 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 yet. He still had minor fractures in his face, and every movement he made caused a surge of sharp pain deep inside him. However, he found enough energy to get onto his feet. He retrieved a bottle of blood from his storage ring. He started to drink it in small, painful portions. He felt a sharp ache in his throat with every single sip he took.
He then offered the bottle to his grandfather. "Here. I do not 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 much paler than usual, and his red hair was messy and full of dirt. He was wearing a white long sleeve shirt that was now tattered and stained with the grime of the cavern floor. The white fabric was torn at the elbows from his effort to crawl across the jagged stone. He poured a little of the cold, delicious blood into his mouth. He felt the instant, fresh 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 feeling of gratitude settled over him as the strength began to return to his body.
Leonidas 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 was regaining a small fraction of its former power.
"I do not think the lightning stone I used earlier against the troll will be enough to destroy the huge boulder. I probably only have two chances to use it before the lightning energy in the stone is totally gone. Let us first go to the entrance and see what we can do," John said.
John hoisted Leonidas onto his back. He winced internally as the combined weight strained his recovering body. His muscles, still healing from the troll's attack, felt like they were being pulled apart. "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. He tried to channel his focus inward, searching for any spark of power he had left.
Leonidas observed John carefully. He sat against the wall in his tattered white long sleeve shirt, his pale face reflecting the dim light. 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 was a heavy weight on his conscience.
John slowly opened his eyes. He placed 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 of resting and trying, 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, both physical and hybrid, and began to push as hard as he could. John grunted, his face twisted 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, his breath coming in ragged gasps. But the rock remained utterly still, mocking his strength.
After a few more hours, all hope began to bleed out of him. John remained standing there with both hands still resting on the boulder, but his head was hanging down in defeat. His clothes were soaked through with sweat, and silent tears began to fall to the cold ground. John felt a heavy mix of anger, sadness, and frustration because he was not strong enough. He felt like a weak insect trying to move a mountain, and the weight of the world was crushing him.
John tried even harder. After hours of failure, his vision began to tunnel until he could only see the grey stone. His left eye started to turn a deep, glowing red. Raw and unfamiliar power surged throughout his body as he channeled his deepest energy into one last, desperate attempt to move the 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 until his body was trembling with exhaustion.
He looked at Leonidas, his eyes stinging with tears of total frustration. "I cannot do it. I am a failure," John whispered. The feeling of defeat was finally crushing his spirit.
Leonidas looked into John's eyes. He could feel the heavy and 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, his own gaze sharp and demanding even in his weakened state. "Become angrier, boy. Use the emotions you are feeling right now as fuel. Move this goddamn boulder out of the way so we can save the people we love!"
John understood what his grandfather was saying, but he had already given everything he had left. The boulder simply would not budge. "But I gave my everything just now! This boulder is too heavy. I cannot. I just cannot," John cried. He gritted his teeth so hard that his jaw began to ache from the pressure.
Leonidas knew deep inside that this was truly an impossible task for the boy. He knew John was not strong enough yet and was still in the middle of learning how to be a vampire. Even though Leonidas knew that John's physical effort would probably not work, he still had hope. There was nobody else he could depend on in this dark cave. He had to try one last, desperate push to see if the boy could break his limits.
"Boy," he called out to John. Leonidas and John looked each other straight in the eye.
John could see the eyes of Leonidas glistening. He could see his grandfather fighting back the tears that wanted to roll down his cheeks. This was a powerful sign of how much the ancient vampire was struggling and how much he needed John to succeed. "Are you going to let Decker win?"
"Never!" John roared. The sound showed his total fury.
John felt his heart hammering loudly inside his chest. The faces and voices of all his loved ones echoed in his mind. He thought of Lady Anna, Elena, and his parents. He also thought of the many others who lived in the Crimson Castle. As his emotions reached a peak, the iris of his right eye started to flicker with a bright blue light.
"Ggrrrrrrr."
Leonidas was shocked. He could feel a strange and wild energy surging through the air. Where is this strange power coming from? Is this the werewolf side of the boy? he thought. He looked at John with amazement, but he also felt a great fear. John gave off the aura of a savage, dangerous animal. To Leonidas, it looked like the boy was being possessed. He did not know if John was going to attack him, and he knew he could not defend himself. He decided to stay perfectly quiet and only watch the boy from where he was sitting.
John started to push the boulder again. At first, the rock did not move and stayed firmly in place. But Leonidas could see that the boy still had a reserve of physical strength to release. John gave a savage roar of pure anger. His claws grew long and dug deep into the rough, gritty surface of the boulder. John's muscles grew bigger and bulged. Thick and swollen veins appeared on his skin as he pushed harder against the unyielding stone. His left eye also started to flicker, calling on even more of his inner power.
Then, the boulder started to yield. With each small step John took, the massive rock began to slide forward inch by agonizing inch.
Leonidas could not believe the impossible force he was seeing. My dear daughter, what have you created? he thought. He felt shock and awe as he watched John break the physical limits of their prison.
John pushed with one last surge of strength. He used every final bit of his energy. The huge boulder moved just enough for them to escape. Leonidas could see the small exit and a sliver of silver daylight. It was a beacon of freedom in the eternal darkness of the cave.
John fell to his knees, completely spent. He took deep and ragged breaths that caught in his throat for a few moments. Then, he fell to the floor unconscious.
Leonidas quickly and desperately crawled over the cold stone floor to where the boy was lying. He looked at John with a mix of awe, guilt, and gratitude. "You did good, boy."