[Before the fall of Az'Talon...]
Location: Ma'at (The Immortal City)
Twenty years later...
"Rio, you son of a barbarian's toe jam!" Evelyn shouted.
Rio laughed as he hovered over the fallen and exhausted woman.
"I told you that you would have to catch me if you wanted to hear more!"
"I cannot fly!" She roared. "Why do you have to act like a child?!"
The two of them were used to playing games. They had developed a bond over the decades. Rio had put himself in charge of educating Evelyn and their lessons always had games to them.
"Technically I am. I'm only one thousand six hundred and seventeen!"
Evelyn lay on her back and started laughing while Rio threw his head back and joined in the fun.
Many could not understand the relationship between the two and no one dared try.
The lower vampires did not question their superiors while those on Rio's level, Purebloods, did not care.
The Pureblood vampires had an unspoken rule. It was simple but clearly understood. If it does no harm it is always best to mind your own business.
"Evelyn," Rio broke the happy mood as his tone turned serious, "let me make you a vampire."
Evelyn let out a heavy sigh. She stood up and looked at her friend and shook her head. "Rio, I have told you this before. The answer is no."
The Pureblood gently landed on the marble floor of his pristine palace's hallway.
"You would live longer. Barbarians only live three hundred years at most! You are already close to a hundred and twenty and everyday I see the signs of you aging."
"You are exaggerating, Rio." Her tone seemed maternal but also had some finality to it.
This was not the first time they had had this conversation. She began to walk to the courtyard.
"It is not an exaggeration and you know it. I can see your body maturing but it is also dying. You take care of yourself but you will not live forever."
"Wow, you really know how to charm a woman! I may not live forever but neither will you. I am happy as I am. Can you not accept that?"
"I will live much longer than you. So no I cannot accept it!"
"Why not?" Evelyn asked seemingly taking the conversation lightly as she entered the courtyard full of marble statues of vampires and other creatures whose time had long since passed.
"Because I have never watched a friend die and you are the only one I have ever had! For my sanity, I do not wish to lose you to time especially when I have the cure!"
It was true. Rio had been a massive loner. His massive palace was cleaned weekly by maids who came and went.
The Pureblood preferred isolation and quiet. He spent most of his time in the garden, his laboratory or in the library before he met Evelyn.
The only reason they met was because he was conducting research and found himself lacking a book he needed to complete it.
Usually a vampire would send someone to get the book or order it but Rio had no one around him. He chose to go to the Imperial Library himself the day they met.
"Rio, vampirism is not a cure."
"What is it then? What is so bad about it when there are countless people out there who would claw their way for the Gift I am offering?"
This was not an exaggeration either. To grow their numbers, the Elderborns had breed with and Gifted mortal races.
Breeding created the limited Purebloods, turning created the ordinary vampires while different processes and evolution filled the gaps inbetween.
Now the process could depend on which vampire of which rank shared their blood with you and not just breeding and Gifting.
The ability to turn mortals was a privileged ability of Highborns and above.
Elderborns made Purebloods
Purebloods made Truebloods
Truebloods made Highborns
Then Highborns made the majority of shorter lived vampires.
Purebloods were forbidden from granting their blood without the express permission of their Lords which were the Dukes.
Evelyn read it was some silly rule about maintaining the desirability and the sanctity of the Nobility but it was possible for Purebloods to order vampires beneath them to Gift a mortal.
"Even if I agreed and you ordered one of your 'Cousins' to perform a 'Gifting', you would still watch me die! I would be a Highborn and you would still be a Pureblood!"
Rio bit his lower lip as if unwilling to speak. "I do not intend for you to become a Highborn."
'Of course not.' Evelyn thought.
A mortal being turned from mortal to Highborn was an unexplainable leap in social status.
"My point was that even if you set me up for the highest possible status I could attain from you, I would still die before you. What will be the difference between now and then? Would you be bored of me by then?"
"I said I did not intend for you to become a Highborn because I intend for you to become a Pureblood."
Rio's voice was clear but Evelyn still felt like she had misheard him.
"No...now I know you must be joking. There are rules! You do not have the authority or the power...not even a Duke...only an...no!"
"Only an Elderborn can. Yes."
"Rio, what you are saying is unprecedented. Going from the lowest chaste to vampire nobility. It does not happen!" The barbarian protested.
"But it did happen. When the Elderborns were granted the Gift they passed their Gift on as well. The rules you speak of have expectations. I can do this for you. We can be equals in this utopia!" Rio stated.
"Utopia? Equals?" Evelyn repeated but not because she was considering the ludicrous offer. Her tone was purely disgusted. "I thought we were already equals, Rio. I thought we were friends."
"That is not what I meant, Evelyn and you know it!"
"Let me tell you something about this 'utopia' you so d*mn well cherish. It's revolting." She looked Rio right in the eyes despite him being taller and more intimidating. "The Crimson Empire is broken! It is no where near being a utopia!"
Rio's eyes flared. They radiated rage and frustration. No one dared say these things. No one dared question him!