Chapter 8 - Dual Cultivation

"What the heck was that?" Ezra couldn't help but ask as they speed walked to the elevator. "How are you guys creating weapons out of nothing? Why can't I do it too?"

Olivia's wings folded back into her back and Genesis' axe disappeared with a flash, making them look like disheveled but normal people, albeit too good looking.

He glanced around the quiet hallway. The neighbors were all in their apartments. "How did everyone not hear the fight? I could have sworn the building was shaking."

"That's the purpose of the black zone." Olivia jammed the elevator button and they had to watch as the elevator ascended to their floor. "It isolates a surrounding area, allowing vampires to fight without exposing themselves to the world. Sound, light, motion, nothing enters and nothing leaves. We had to cut our way out."

"Damn it!" Ezra swore. "That Sarah's not a Count, is she? If this is how dangerous Genesis' trouble is, how are we supposed to take care of Olivia's trouble?"

"That's why we turned you isn't it?" Genesis grunted as her flesh bubbled, a new arm growing like a time lapse video.

Ding!

The elevator arrived and they piled in.

"If you expect me to fight your battles for you, count me out. I'm not dying for anyone when my eternity barely just began."

"Of course not." Genesis scoffed. "As you are, Sarah would rip you to shreds in a second."

Ezra wanted to protest out of manly pride but even he couldn't deny it. He wasn't a full vampire yet.

"You almost got ripped to shreds yourself." Olivia told Genesis like she was talking about the weather. "We don't need you to fight for us. Only your existence solves half of our problems."

"My existence?" Ezra was confused. What the heck are they talking about? Only God can do that, right? Am I God?

"First things first, you have to understand that vampire covens can only be formed with at least one male." Olivia lectured. "And male vampires are hard to find."

"What do you mean?" Ezra frowned. "How hard could it be? Just find a dude and bite him."

"It's not that easy. Due to the Y chromosome present in the male gene, the vampire virus has a hard time turning men into vampires. Biting any man you see is more likely to cause his death."

"Wait a minute." Ezra turned to her in realization. "Do you mean I almost died? What the fuck?"

"No, idiot." Genesis interjected. "There are some genetic markers in the blood of some men that indicate that they'll survive the turning. You are one of those men."

Ding!

The elevator opened to show the underground parking lot of the high-rise building. They followed as Olivia led the way. "She's right. Vampires who are trying to form a coven have to sneak into hospitals and find men with those markers themselves. Or pay others to do it. That's how we found you."

They got to a black sleek hover car from a famous brand. "Damn it." Olivia paused glancing up at something only she could see. "Sarah's out of the black zone. Let's get out of here. I used up most of my vitality creating that."

"Get in." Olivia entered the driver's seat and Genesis entered the passenger side. Ezra took a moment to admire the car before sitting at the back.

"Male vampires are not only valued for how rare they are but also because of the incredible benefits they bring to their coven."

"Benefits?"

"Sex." Genesis grinned. "Not ordinary sex but powerful sex."

Ezra's eyebrows climbed higher on his forehead. Okay. I like what I'm hearing.

"As vampires are undead creatures, we do not produce our own vitality and that's why we consume blood." Olivia explained as she began driving. "However, when a male vampire and female vampire engage in sexual intercourse, it allows us to create more vitality than we could get from just drinking blood."

"That's one of the reasons why your existence will grant us a reprieve. Having a new coven will make Count Griffin's power base increase. Due to this, he'll have to stop the fight between Sarah and Genesis. Male vampires are hard to come by after all. No one wants you to be collateral damage."

"As for me, having a male vampire will let me accumulate vitality rapidly. This would let me bridge the gap in power between me and the hunters Count Solomon would be sending after me."

Does this mean what I think it means? Accumulate vitality rapidly? Sexual intercourse? Sign me up!

"The only reason I'm still alive is because Count Solomon is unwilling to tell Count Griffin what I stole. As I am currently under Griffin's protection, he can't hand me over to Solomon without a good reason. If he does, he'll lose the trust of his subordinates and no Count wants that."

So you did steal it! Ezra took a minute to digest the information he just heard.

The hover car zoomed through the streets of First City, the lights of the various holographic adverts painting their faces as they zoomed towards their destination. He could see the various ads endorsing Itachi Yaiba as mayor.

Itachi Yaiba, richest man in First City and a mayoral candidate. A known supporter of self-driving cars. Self-driving cars have been outlawed in the Republic due to the rampant hacking by criminals.

"Come to think of it, where are we going?"

"The City Lord's domain."

"City Lord?"

Olivia glanced at him through the windshield mirror, her iris spinning rapidly in her eyes. "The three Counts are under the control of the City Lord. The City Lord rules over all vampires in the city. We need to go there to make you a legal vampire."

"What do you mean legal vampire? I'm already a vampire, aren't I?"

"All vampires are required by law to register under the City Lord in the city where they are turned. Failure to do so will result in death. No exceptions. We do have a grace period of seven days to complete your registration but as you can see, we don't have the time."

What the heck? What have I gotten myself into? Vampires need to be registered? This wasn't the life of luxury and freedom I was envisioning.

At that moment, a police siren went off for a second and a police hover car appeared behind them.

"It's the human police."

"Let's ignore them." Genesis suggested.

"We can't. Remember the Law of Secrecy." Olivia sighed. "Glamour." Both women's features began to change. Their eyes turned an identical blue. "Here." Genesis passed him dark sunglasses and he wore them, hiding his red eyes from view. I can't wait for my own superpowers.

The hover car slowed to a stop inside a lonely tunnel and the police car parked behind them. A police officer stepped out of the car in his crisp white uniform and walked towards them.

"License and registration please." The officer bent his waist to peer into the car. With his white cap restraining his blonde hair and dark sunglasses on his handsome face, he looked like an actor from a blockbuster cop movie. Who wears sunglasses at night? Not that I'm one to talk.

Olivia produced the necessary documents. The picture in her license had blue eyes like she did now. The officer examined the documents before returning them. "May I see your IDs?" He asked.

"Officer?"

The officer pushed down his sunglasses revealing red iris spinning lazily. "May I see your IDs? Your vampire IDs."

Well, shit.