Chapter 27: Rulers
Once we got inside the long, black car awaiting us, Charlotte and I took the back seat, with the man and another woman taking the front seats. Charlotte and I couldn't hear or see the others however, and once we started moving, Charlotte sighed heavily.
The man brought up Charlotte's mother, telling me to ask her about it, but as I look at her as we're sitting next to one another, I can't help but feel like she doesn't want to talk about it.
"I guess I should tell you more about me, huh. Since we'll be working together from now on." But it was Charlotte who broke the silence between us. It's true that I want to learn more about her, but I didn't want it to be forced...
"You don't have to tell me anything."
"No, I should. It'll help clear up some things in the future." But despite trying to ease her worries, she continues.
"Lisa told you about how I'm a ruling class vampire, right?"
"You heard us?" She was fighting that man yet she could still hear that small conversation I had with Lisa?"
"Yeah... Honestly, I don't really want to talk about that, but it's better if you know now." I choose to remain silent, not looking away for a moment as I wait for Charlotte.
"As far as we know, there are two different kinds of vampires. Vampires like me, which we call 'Ruling Class' vampires, and the 'Common' vampires." She then proceeds to grow out one of her fingernails before cutting into one of her fingertips, drawing out a drop of her blood. I was confused as to why she'd hurt herself, but I chose to remain silent and let her continue.
"This here is essentially proof that I'm a ruling class vampire."
"What do you mean? Because you can bleed?"
"Exactly. Normal, or common vampires actually don't have blood. And the vast majority of them can't control blood like this." The drop of blood on her finger then starts to float up from her finger, now hovering in mid-air.
"It's because of this that I managed to get to where I am now. But I wouldn't have been able to without my mom."
"Is your mother also a ruling class?"
"Yes. But people regard her more highly since she's part of the first generation. My auntie and I are what's known as the second generation." Wait, her auntie? The pink haired woman in the other world?
"Your aunt's a vampire too?"
"Hehe, yeah. Although she's been around for much longer than me, so I still look up to her."
Okay, so Charlotte and her auntie are ruling class vampires, part of the second generation. Her mother is the first...
"But then why did the man say that he'd die when it came to your mother?"
"Well, like I said she's part of the first generation. Which means that she was directly turned into a vampire by the Matriarch. Think of it like the mother of the ruling class vampires. My mom is basically the daughter of the Matriarch, so displeasing her would not be ideal."
Okay, I think I'm beginning to understand.
"So the man is afraid of upsetting this Matriarch?"
"Well, that too, but my mom you could say is very strong. She could probably kill that man in a matter of seconds." Would that mean that there's a significant power difference between the first generation and the second generation of ruling vampires?
"But you see..." Suddenly, Charlotte's mood clouds over as the little smile she had before has vanished. "I wasn't always like this, being a ruling class vampire."
"Your mother is one though?" I question her, finding something off about all of this. Charlottes expression however, remains the same.
"Yes. But I'm what you'd say, adopted."
"Huh?"
"Growing up, at a very early age, my parents were killed by a gang of murderers." My body freezes over by her words as I can't find the strength to question how she has separate parents. "I still remember them trying to protect me, shielding with all the magic they had. That was when I felt their blood splatter all over me. I don't remember too much of what happened after that, and when I felt a hand get placed on top of my head, it was then that I met my mom that I know today." So I'm guessing that's what adopted means? So she had parents that were killed, but was taken in by the mom she has now? It sort of reminds me of Charlotte and I in a way...
"Everything all went dark soon after I opened my eyes, but when I came to, I once again saw her. Apparently I was on the brink of death and she saved me by turning my body into what it is now."
"Turned?" Once again, another term I do not understand.
"Ah, right. Vampires expand their family by turning others into vampires by injecting their venom inside. It's actually illegal for vampires to do this without consent, so my mom technically broke the law. But considering who she is, everyone let it slide."
"Is that why the man was harsh with you?"
"Hehe, you're quite sharp you know." She finally looks my way, wearing a soft smile on her face. "My guess is it does play a part in it, as I was just handed incredible power which some people can only dream of having. But it's thanks to this power that I was able to get you out, Shiro." Her hand gently holds my own as a warm feeling spreads through my chest. I feel even happier that Charlotte told me about her past, even if it was a bit depressing. But seeing her smile at me like this, I can't help but respond in kind.
"Thank you, Charlotte, for telling me."
"Hehe. It's okay. I feel better now that I've finally told you about me."
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