The Principal’s Office…
“Argh!” Aether groaned in pain, his left cheek throbbing as his eyes fluttered open. “Damn it… I didn’t expect her to poison me just by touching me.” He winced, the burning sensation on his cheek still lingering, “I need to be more careful around her…”.
Aether slowly pushed himself up from the sofa, confused as to why he was lying there in the first place… instead of infirmary!
“Blood?” His confusion deepened as he saw the walls splattered with crimson stains and bits of flesh, ‘What the hell happened here?’ he thought.
“You’re finally awake… thank goodness”
She walked over to him, her expression softer than usual, concern written across her face. Gently, she reached out and touched his cheek, her fingers brushing over the wound.
“Ouch…” Aether winced at the sting.
“Does it still hurt?” she asked, her voice laced with genuine worry.
Aether blinked, surprised by the Principal’s unusually tender behavior.
Normally, she’d be break him further, probably poking at his injuries just to see if he’d yelp in pain.
The Principal’s blank stare didn’t falter, though her eyes twitched with annoyance. She let out a sigh, shaking her head. “You almost died, and yet… Sigh.” Her frustration was clear, but she didn’t push it further.
Aether was about to toss another teasing remark when something caught his eye behind her, and he paused mid-sentence.
Lia, however, remained firm, her arms crossed and her expression still grumpy. She wasn’t going to let her mother off that easily, holding onto her resolve with all her might.
“I won’t forgive you that easily!” Lia shot back, though the slight quiver in her voice showed just how torn she was.
Both Aether and the Principal twitched at the sight.
“Is she… for real?” Aether asked, half in disbelief.
The Principal shook her head, clearly used to this by now. “Believe me, that bitch is worse than you think,” she muttered, then turned to Aether with a more serious expression,
Aether! You better stay away from that bitch! Don’t be fooled by her act, she bitchest bitchy that I’ve ever seen!!””
However, the Principal noticed something in Aether’s expression that made her frown. He was still watching Mary with a small smirk playing on his lips, ‘He’s not going to listen to me, is he?’ she thought with frustration, though there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
She sighed again, a wry smile forming despite herself.
Even Mary, who was still clinging to her grumpy daughter, shot a glance in Aether’s direction. Her eyes narrowed as she caught the way he was staring at her, like she was his prey. She grinned, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
Aether didn’t reply, just stared at her with a calm, unreadable expression.
Lia, overhearing the threat, snapped out of her sulking and turned to see Aether fully awake. “Aether!” she exclaimed, breaking free from her mother’s embrace and rushing over to him.
“My babyyyyyy!!!” Mary wailed, reaching out but unable to stop Lia from leaving her side.
Lia stood in front of Aether, her face flushed with relief. “A-Are you alright?” she asked, her hands trembling slightly as she resisted the urge to hug him, quickly glancing over her shoulder at her mother, who was still glaring at Aether.
Lia sighed before taking Aether out of the Principal’s office room.
“Don’t leave me, my babyyyyyyy!!” Mary cried out again, about to follow them when the Principal stepped in her way, blocking her path with a stern expression.
Mary clicked her tongue, her expression hardening as her gaze darkened.
Her gaze bore into the Principal, frustration lacing her voice, “You kept him alive?” she asked, her tone sharp with annoyance. “Just finish him off already. It’s not like we need your precious help to sustain the Empire.”
The Principal’s brow furrowed, her patience wearing thin. “I will,” she replied coldly, “but not before I get answers to the questions I asked.”
Mary crossed her arms, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “As I said, those assassins weren’t from us. They’ve been wiped from the Empire’s registry, and as for the weird doors, guns artifacts you’re so obsessed with? I haven’t the faintest clue what you’re talking about.”
The Principal’s expression grew steely. Her voice was low but dangerous as she leaned forward slightly, “Mary, I’ll ask you one last time. If you don’t answer me…” She motioned to the room, the walls splattered with the blood from their earlier fight. “…You know what happens next, don’t you?”
BOOOMMMMMMM!!!
In a swift movement, the Principal grabbed the professor and slammed him into Mary with bone-crushing force. His body crumbled between them, turning into nothing more than meat paste splattered across the floor.
“Pity,” the Principal echoed, her voice cold.
The professor never knew what hit him, his life snuffed out in an instant. But neither Mary nor the Principal spared him another glance, their attention returning solely to one another.
The Principal stepped closer, eyes narrowing. “Why are you here, Mary? And more importantly, why was there a sudden interest in Aether? I find that… curious? or something else?” Her voice hinted with suspicion.
The Principal snorted, “You really think I wouldn’t notice? I know you better than anyone, Mary. You never play with your prey. You’re not one to draw things out. When you want someone dead, you finish them off without hesitation. But with Aether… you didn’t even try to use your powers on him. Why?”
Mary’s grin faltered slightly, but her eyes gleamed with amusement. “Tsk, you always know how to ruin my fun. It’s frustrating!… Anyhow, I am just checking something… something more than your normal eyes could see! He perfectly fits the assumptions… so ” she spat before her body dissolved into blood-red particles, swirling around the Principal in a vortex-like storm. Her voice echoed ominously through the whirlwind. “If you want answers… then come and get them!”
The Principal grinned softly,
Meanwhile, Lia was clinging to Aether, hugging him tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.
“I’m really sorry, Aether!” she said, her voice trembling. She squeezed him as if afraid he might disappear, “My family… we’re always like this. They might be a bit… strange, but they only want to protect me. Please… forgive my mother. Please…” Lia pleaded, her voice soft, almost desperate.
Aether sighed, glancing down at her. Though part of him wanted to tell her that he would one day break her Mother’s bones, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Instead, he thought, ‘Sometimes showing forgiveness puts you above…’ It wasn’t the best reason, but it would do for now.
“Since I have a great heart, I’ll let this slide, Lia,” Aether said, patting her back gently.
Lia pulled back, a soft smile breaking through her tear-streaked face. She wiped her eyes quickly before her mother could see and turned the situation into even more chaos.
“Are you alright, First? Why did you hurt Kai?” Aether asked with a concerned tone.
Lia’s face flushed with embarrassment, “Did you see that? I… I didn’t mean to lose control, but…” Her expression darkened, her anger resurfacing as she clenched her fists. “Kai really pissed me off!” Her voice trembled, the mere thought of him reigniting her fury.
Recalling Kai’s actions, Lia’s face twisted with renewed anger.
Aether quickly grabbed her hand, knowing full well that any more escalation could lead to real trouble.
‘Lia, no! If you go now, you’ll literally kill him!’ he thought, but aloud, he chose a different approach, “Wait! Before you do anything, what’s this ‘Crimson Elixir of the Null’? What does that mean?” he asked, trying to divert her attention.
Lia stopped mid-step, frowning at him in surprise, “…The Crimson Elixir of the Null? It’s a rare blood, Aether. One of the rarest in existence, actually. It’s said to be the purest and most irresistible blood for vampires. Most humans with that blood don’t live long because they’re hunted down… Why do you ask?” she said, her voice laced with curiosity.
Aether’s eyes widened slightly as her words sank in, ‘Could it be… Rh-Null blood?’ he thought.
