CHAPTER 7: Bleeding

**AKIHIRO**

“AKIHIRO!”

They called me, but I had no time to chat as I could smell her blood from afar. If I can, then what more are those low-life vampires around the town that cannot control their blood lust.

“Find me Leah and make sure she doesn’t have anything to do with this or else…I will not forgive her.”

Before I could reach the woods, I saw a group of low-life vampires running towards her direction. I made a swift move as I pulled their heart out of their chest and started burning them with fire. Pureblood vampires can control the four elements, but not all pureblood are lucky enough to be connected by it. Only those with whom believed to be sired with witches of old times.

I smelled rotten corpse which means low-life vampires are marching towards us. Alicia needs to heal as soon as possible but I couldn’t find her because vampires kept on attacking us.

“I’ll make way,” Hades said. “You know you cannot just use your powers!” He reminded me. “Don’t do anything reckless or it will be difficult because of the council.”

I wish I can listen to him, but I have to think about it if Alicia’s life is on the end, especially now that it’s only the low-life vampires, but even half-blooded vampires are running towards her.

“Damn! My father will surely hear about this.” I cursed as I immediately ran towards her direction. She seems to be moving and covering her blood as it’s slowly fainting.

Before one of the vampires approached him, I pulled him.

“Young Master…” He was terrified to see the smirk in my face. “Uh, you’re here.”

“Of course, you aren’t the only one who can smell. Now, tell me…who did this?” I tightened the grip on his neck. “Tell me or I will have your heart!”

“I don’t know, Young Master. I just smelled her blood and I was drawn to it…I cannot control and–ouch!” He screamed when I bended his arms.

“Lie to me again and you will surely see hell.” I warned him, with my crimson eyes and my fangs ready to devour him. “You are not from here, yet you know how to call me…which mean you belong to someone’s group.” I checked his body for crest but I saw that he has burned in his back.

“I am sorry. I really don’t know anything!” He pleaded, but my patience exceeded so I pulled his heart from his chest.

Hades appeared after a second, “Alicia already left the woods. And, our men cleared the vampires roaming around.”

“Is she alright? What happened to her? Why did she bleed?” I was already frustrated. “How about Leah? Is she the one who planned on this?”

“It seems not. When I checked her location, she was spending time with her family. And, from what I heard it was an accident. Alicia was seen holding a cutter as she was cutting something…and she accidentally cut herself. She was staying at the bleachers near the woods…so her blood immediately reached the vampires.” Hades explained.

“Thanks, dude.” I nodded at him. “I’lll go and check her. Let me know if something happens again.”

I was about to go to Alicia’s face when a group of vampires appeared in front of me.

I sighed when they said, “Your grandfather demands your presence.”

The vampire guards are lining up outside the huge door where my grandfather resides. They all bowed to me and opened the door.

I smelled cigarettes and strawberries as I went inside. My grandfather was sitting on his swivel chair while eating some strawberries. The man poured him a glass of blood before leaving us.

The light outside the huge window at his back is the only one giving us the ability to see each other. And, in that...his crimson eyes glowed.

"Grandfather..." I greeted him.

"Akihiro." He plainly said. "Do you have something to tell me?"

It's a tricky question that will either kill or save Alicia. But, lying will make it worse as I am sure he could sense it.

"There's some commotion a while ago where a girl was bleeding. The whole---"

"I am aware. I even thought of tasting the blood. Have you tasted it, Akihiro?" He smirked.

I remained calm even though my blood was already boiling inside due to his remark.

"I haven't, Grandfather. And, it seems inappropriate to do so." I bowed my head. "We've been living using animal blood and blood from the hospital blood bank, and drinking her blood will make me break the rules."

"You are next in line for the throne after your father, Akihiro." My grandfather grinned at me. "Breaking the rules is nothing as you can make them."

"Grandfather, I just prevent the vampires from drinking her blood, especially that it will be difficult for the low-life to have it. They will surely turn into abomination and it will ruin our peace between humans."

"Is that the only reason, Akihiro?" He eyed me. "Or was it something else?"

"Nothing, Grandfather." I bowed my head.

"Then, you wouldn't say a thing if I kill her, right?"

"You cannot do that, grandfather!" There was a sudden change in my tone that amused him. I cleared my throat. "What I mean is that...she isn't doing a thing."

"Indeed, she isn't doing a thing. But, she is a threat. With her blood, our enemies can build an army that will end the world. So, it's better for us to actually kill her before they can have her!"

"I beg to disagree, Grandfather? Why not just keep an eye on her as she will be an asset to us in the future? We can use her...and it would be a waste if we kill her now—"

"You know it's not a waste when I can just drain her blood after killing her." My grandfather reasoned out.

"But, it won't be unlimited, grandfather. You will soon lose supply when you can have her under your wings." I said, trying to save her as much as I can.

"She's rare. And, there's only a few of her kind left." I added.

My grandfather stared at me. He was like that for another minute until he rested his back on his chair.

"Keep an eye on her, but I am warning you...if she learned about us, I have no choice but to kill her."

I thought it would be okay as I was able to convince my grandfather. Nothing unusual also happened the next few days, and she still seemed normal to me until she pierced a dagger inside me…and the wounds started to heal right before her widened eyes.