1. Back to home.

Dear sir, we are arriving at our destination. - The tall owner of white hair unhurriedly opened his eyes. The sailor who had woken him up, deep down, marveled at the color of the man's irises. Subtly amethyst and sometimes violet. They seemed different every time.

Thanks. - He replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed he occupied.

We should be there within the hour. Sorry to ask, but these tattoos, what do they mean? - He asked, pointing to three images on the man's right hand. The first one depicted a broken column. The second was just above it and resembled a heart, and the third seemed to run away from the others, and depicted some kind of flying lizard.

This is a reminder of my mistakes.

Oh, sorry. You must have lost someone important. - He clenched his left hand at the height of the heart tattoo.

To make it so simple.... I will change my clothes and go out on deck. - The somewhat abashed sailor nodded and left the passenger cabin. He, in turn, pulled from his suitcase dark cloth pants and a linen shirt. He washed and changed into them, and as he left the room he took his black coat and suitcase with him.

According to the sailor's words, the ship arrived at the port after less than an hour. The white-haired traveler was the first to disembark and immediately headed toward the nearest tavern. As it was moments before noon, only the owners and their children were bustling around inside. The mustachioed, bald host immediately recognized the newcomer.

Nat! There you are at last! - She called out, and the white-haired man smiled slightly. He walked closer to hug an old acquaintance.

It's been a long time for Anthony. Hi Beatrice.

Hello Nathaniel. Good to see you.

You too. - The woman stared with her beer eyes at her former acquaintance, and he could sense the pressure building up. - I have a feeling that you don't like my presence here.

I still remember how we parted ways last time. - She replied dryly.

Give him a break, Bea! He had his own things to do!

Yes, yes. - She replied, rolling her eyes and returning to her duties.

Sit down! - The host called out, indicating a seat at one of the tables. The newcomer nodded and sat down at the table with the host. - I read a letter from you. Are you sure?

Eh... unfortunately, I have reason to believe it.

But you know that she will be twenty years old?

I understand it perfectly. - The interested housekeeper sat down with them.

Go about your business, Bea. This is a matter between men.

And so you will tell me, old drunkard! Well, what was it about, a vampire from seven pains? - The newcomer sighed heavily.

Alice's daughter, Anastasia, is most likely my child, too. - The woman opened her eyes wide. - Before you start barraging me with questions, let me answer. Yes, we had sex when we were still all traveling together. We were good at hiding it. Yes, we made love and yes, a vampire with a human should not be able to have children.

Then how the hell! - She called out hitting the table.

I don't know. I really don't know. The only thing that came to mind, and what my clan's Hag suggested to me, was that Alicia is to some extent a hybrid.

Ghy, but what does all this have to do with it? You fucked up from us twenty years ago!

Bea! I already told you something!

Shut the fuck up! That's what he did! He left some flimsy note and fucked off! - Nathaniel closed his eyes, taking in the bitter words from his old friend.

It was better for all of us this way. - He said after a long moment. - For now, you don't need to know the details. Just believe that it allowed all of us to live a peaceful life.

But...

Silence Beatrice. - Said her husband in a firm voice, thanks to which the woman closed her mouth. - Explain to me why you are so afraid? What you wrote in the letter was damn chaotic.

I know, forgive me. There is a woman living in my clan. We call her Princess, although with nobility she doesn't get her way. We protect her because she has a certain useful skill. She can predict when the clan's existence is threatened, and that's the problem. She sensed something years ago. I left confident that I would be the cause of the Elder Blood's downfall. I returned home then. The Princess's visions stopped, until last month. She again sensed impending doom, and again in the same place. Damn, she was the one who told me I was having a baby. She sensed a growing power in Anastasia. I contacted Alicia, and she only confirmed to me that she had a daughter with that name.

The catch. Are you going to take your daughter to the land of vampires?

No. She wants to make sure she lives the life she wants.

Are you serious? - A surprised woman asked.

It has been decided for me many times in my too long life. She wants at least my daughter to have a choice. However, in order for that to happen, I have to meet with her and block her spontaneous awakening. - He closed his eyes to have an image in front of them when it was decided for him what kind of life she would have. - Let, at least she has the opportunity to remain human.

Wait a minute! You were the one who could not be a vampire!

The Elder Blood has its own rules. Someday I may explain them to you, but for now it is enough to know that we are born "human." Only later do we decide whether we want to awaken or prefer to remain mortal.

Mhm, but something stinks to me here. What do you want to do to this girl!

Clever as always. If she chooses the life of a mortal, he wants to take her power and lock her deep in the bowels of the Bloodriven castle. - The irritated woman bit her lips.

I will help you, my friend, as much as I can, but know that Alicia was furious.

I know, reading the letter from her, I felt with what contempt she wrote me back. She despises me.

And you are surprised at her!

Keep quiet Bea!

Eh... - The newcomer began, supporting his head with both hands. - You will not understand this, Beatrice. I had to leave. I had to protect her... Not only that, but I had to give her a better life.... - The woman was surprised when her interlocutor's tears began to drip onto the table. She wanted to look into his eyes, but he successfully hid them with his fingers. - If I hadn't left... if I had stayed even one day longer.... I could not hurt her.... I couldn't succumb to my own heart! I was to tell her that all I wanted was for her to reject humanity! Was I to beg her to become a monster like me because I loved her so much?!

Nat... - She began quietly, looking into the weeping face of her former friend.

I am a fucking vampire! A murderer and a monster! Well how could I beg.... How...? I chose her happiness. Not my own. Never again... never.

Nat, she would do it for you. - His friend replied. - She loved you that way too.

You don't know that! Besides, I could have killed her during the transformation! I had no right to beg! I had no right to risk her life and the safety of my species.

Every man has the right to fight and risk for his beloved. You see, we fight a lot, and we have a pretty good family. - He patted his friend on the shoulder. - Maybe I'm a weak romantic, but I'm sure that if Alicia had known, then she would have chosen you.

Now that's it anyway....

Noooo.... not necessarily.

What?

Rumor has it that she never consummated her marriage. - Surprised, he straightened up. - Maybe, but that's just a drunkard's bullshit, he continued waiting.

For twenty years?

Pfi, I would wait for my Beatrice even a thousand years! - The woman, embarrassed, reddened her face. - Don't shake your pants vampire, and when you see her again, tell her everything you were supposed to say twenty years ago.

You are great.

Ahaha! I know that!

Nat... I'm sorry. I didn't know how you felt...

I never said that. Vampires are full of contradictions, Beatrice. Very often we have to choose things we don't want. Unfortunately we have to think thousands of years ahead, and my love for Alice.... Is taboo in my environment. It is not decent for a vampire aristocrat to love a human woman. It's like spitting in the face of my ancestors. At least that's what some of the elders think.

All right, but what if she is the hybrid? Then can you get away with it?

I wish it was that simple, but it will make things a little easier. Let's leave out what the two of us need to discuss, etc. The elders will then clear me of breaking the taboo. I will then regain the rights due to me as a member of the clan's core, and with this I will have the opportunity to present it to the more important members of the clan. If they accept her and support my request, she will be brought before the assembly of the vampire aristocracy. There, a decision will be made whether she would become a pureblood vampire. If so, I would have to take her as my wife and personally transform her, thereby risking the lives of both of us. It is unfortunate that the transformation of a hybrid is much more complicated. Only after that could I say that we were done.

Heck, it couldn't have been more complicated?

It did, especially since we already have a child. Luck will be if he is a pure-blooded vampire, but not awakened. Then a lot of such foolishness can be avoided.

All right, all right. Nat, I'm taking you to see Alicia. You have a lot to discuss! - Nathaniel sighed heavily, but nodded. He left his luggage with Beatrice, and himself went with Anthony to the local stable.