62 – Support

Everyone was quite relieved to see me up and about again.

This included not only the sparse staff or guards we crossed paths with on my way to the study, but also my visitors Lars and Theodore. The doctor insisted on various measures like feeling my temperature and heartbeat.

“You are a bit cool and your heart is beating slowly. Are you sure you feel all right?” The old man was clearly worried.

“I’m fine, thank you for your concern.”

“I inspected your sleeping form and was shocked by what I found. You were in a near corpse-like state, Lord Steelheart. My relief at your recovery is immense, I must say. May I inquire what caused this unnatural sleep?”

Lars also perked up at that question. Obviously, the person he was tasked with guarding suddenly falling unconscious for days on end wasn’t a great experience for a bodyguard. Such situations where he couldn’t do anything to help were just piling up in recent times.

I considered what to say. I remembered instructing Mia to say it was a side effect of my body strengthening magic. Which was true, in a way. Since my body was strengthened by the magic that turned me into a vampire. I just didn’t know how believable it was as an answer.

Also, the more I revealed here, the more help I could potentially receive. However, more of my secrets getting out carried an accompanying risk. Especially in Lars’ case, since he was officially still my father’s man. It was quite possible that anything I said here would be reported straight to the duke. A possibility I would rather avoid, for obvious reasons.

But I need more blood. Who could better help me with that than the manor’s doctor? Is bloodletting still a practiced medical procedure here?

My main issue, I realized, is that I don’t know how blood magic is seen in this world. In a lot of Earth fiction, it was stigmatized as evil, its practitioners purged. Obviously, that was an outcome I’d rather avoid. How likely is it that humans would be tolerant of magic involving that precious life-juice?

I’ll stick to vague answers for now. Revealing more later is easy, unrevealing something is hard. Technically, I had the option of erasing someone’s memory with influence, but the efficacy of that was still untested. I wasn’t even sure I could affect Lars in the first place. Theodore’s keen mind might also present an obstacle, since willpower was a factor.

Better to be safe than sorry. Bit of a weird thing to think after I just told Anders, but still.

“As Mia has probably already told you, the magic I am empowered by appears to have this drawback. I didn’t know that before, so I couldn’t provide advance warning. Now that I’ve experienced it, I hope I’ll be able to notice the signs sooner, so preparations can be made.”

Theodore nodded, but I could tell Lars wasn’t entirely convinced. Not that I believed the doctor took what I said at face-value, either, he was just less obvious about it.

“Suffice it to say, I am not in any danger. However, it is likely I will go to sleep in this manner again some time in the future. I do not know when.”

They both appeared to accept this. At least for now.

“Lars, tell me truthfully – have you reported this to my father?”

“I–” The knight looked a bit put on the spot. He quickly regained his composure. “I have not yet. I might need to, since this matter concerns your safety and thus my job.”

“I would request that you do not. I know I don’t have the authority to forbid it, but please at least consider my opinion in this. As you said, this impacts your job as my bodyguard. In the sense that it is a massive weakness of mine to sometimes be entirely helpless for days at a time. As such, this is something I cannot afford to have spread to the family. They’re already trying to get at me as it is, tossing more fuel on the fire is not a smart move.”

“Hmm.” Lars grunted in thought.

“No matter how secure whatever means of communication you have with my father is, you already told me you couldn’t be sure only the duke himself received your messages. While I believe father would not spread this matter around, can the same really be said of all his butlers, stewards or aides? Even a single person could compromise this secret, in turn putting my life at greater risk and making your job harder. I do not think father would want that, do you?”

“I see your point,” Lars sighed. “Still, it feels wrong to withhold information like this from the duke.”

“I understand, but what could he really do with this knowledge? Any efforts to help me would definitely be opposed by multiple factions in the family. The mere act of trying could expose some weakness in my position, or even his, if worse comes to worst. In essence, you would be burdening my father with worries he can’t do anything about without making the situation worse. From what I know, he is already more than busy enough.

“And don’t forget that your own appointment to my side was already met with copious opposition. There are many of my siblings who would relish the chance to hurt me in any way possible. So, I can only ask you keep this matter a secret for the time being. If I ever return to the main family estate, I can tell father in person then.”

“Alright, you’ve convinced me. You can stop arguing already.” The knight was almost laughing. His eyes were still serious though. He knew as well as I did that what I said was true. Better, probably, since Kalin had been a child back when he still lived among his relatives.

Theodore raised his hands in a placating manner when I looked over at him. “You don’t need to convince me. I don’t talk to people outside the manor much in the first place. And I know well who my wagon is hitched to. If you will forgive the turn of phrase.”

“Thank you,” I said, nodding to both of them.

I wasn’t kidding when I said this was a big weakness. Having to consume blood and avoid sunlight were both issues that could be circumvented without too many complications if I just planned properly. This unpredictable – at least so far – pattern of being entirely helpless for days on end was more dangerous by far, if anyone found out about it.

It wouldn’t take much for an assassin to kill me if I couldn’t fight back at all, regeneration or no. So I needed to gather loyal people to my side who could protect me during those times.

And maybe build a magically reinforced bunker underground to sleep in, ideally with a preserved supply of blood on tap. You know, life goals. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to even begin on either part of that, so it was a bit of a pipe dream for now.

Something to keep in mind for the future, when I was more magically educated.

Another thing I just thought of was that any people I turned into vampires would probably have the same issue. There was no reason to believe I was an exception in this matter. I could only hope our sleep times wouldn’t line up, so that at least one of us was awake to protect the other.

“Since this matter is dealt with for now, I think we can end this meeting. Unless either of your has anything more to add?” They both crossed gazes and shrugged after a moment’s consideration.

“Good. Then, I wish you a good night, Lars. Theodore, I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me on your preparations for the imminent visitors.”

Lars saluted and left the room. I followed the doctor out into the hall and over to the infirmary. For the next few minutes, he rattled off various herbs and concoctions he’d stocked up on, in case one of Lenora’s attendants came down with a rare fever or whatever.

I did try to listen attentively, but my mind was having trouble focusing over my hunger.

After a while, Theodore stopped his explanations and turned to look at me. “I can tell this was just an excuse to speak to me in private. So, go on, what can I do for you?”

“I…” Damn is it hard to decide what to reveal. I’ll have to say something if I want results though.

“You must know that this is a matter that cannot leave this room under any circumstances. It’s a matter of life and death for everyone at this manor, though most of all me. Swear you won’t reveal what I’m about to say to anyone, no matter who they are.”

The doctor’s eyebrows raised. He readjusted his glasses to get a better look at me. “Well that’s concerning. I cannot give such an oath without knowing at least something of this matter. For example, I will not be an accomplice to treason. Not that I suspect you of anything like that, Lord Steelheart.” Theodore bowed a little with an appeasing smile after that statement.

“That’s reasonable, I guess. I can assure you it is nothing even approaching treason. It’s a secret about myself, it’s just that others would be caught up in the mess it’d cause, if revealed. Call it a medical issue if you will.”

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“If what you say is true, then I swear to keep this secret of yours. Am I correct in assuming it has some relation to your prolonged sleep?”

I sighed. “Yes, that’s correct. My condition has changed in some important ways. My newly awakened magic has influenced me, as you might have already guessed based on the unprecedented strength I’ve displayed recently. It comes with some drawbacks too though, among them that long sleep. That’s not what this is about, though.”

Locking eyes with the old man, I did my best to gauge his reaction to my words. He wasn’t all too surprised so far, or Theodore was a much better actor than expected.

“The much bigger issue – and what I might need your help with – is another effect. My body consumes my blood over time. The only way to replenish it is to ingest that of others. I’m not sure what will happen if I ever truly run out, but death is a likely possibility. You can see why I’d rather keep this a secret, for multiple reasons.”