Chapter 32 Blood Lessons

Chapter 32 Blood Lessons
Patricia entered the chambers as Lucy stood in the room, slightly frazzled by his sudden departure. The maid looked confused, but never commented on it, though. Instead, she began to draw Lucy’s bath. 

Sapphira arrived with some items a few minutes later. When the vampire walked in, Lucy noticed that she paused slightly, her eyes widening. When she made eye contact with Lucy, she regained her composure and carried out her tasks. 

Lucy was quickly bathed and dressed for bed as the sun started to rise. It still felt odd, but she figured it would always feel odd.

Slipping under the covers, she fell into a deep sleep. She slept until she was awakened. Hazily opening her eyes, she was stunned to see Patricia standing over her with a worried expression on her face. 

“Thank heavens, my lady.” Patrica said, her hand on her chest, “I knocked for several minutes and you did not answer.”

Lucy sat up, looking around. The sky was a deep black, telling her she had slept for some time. 

“I must have been more tired than I realized,” she mumbled, trying to adjust her eyes as Patricia lit candles. 

“The lady Bethias has requested that you join her in the library after you break your fast,” Patricia said after she had completed her task, not wanting to overwhelm her lady right after she had awakened. 

“Lady Bethias?”

“Yes, she sent word, so I came to help prepare you to meet her, unless you would prefer to decline.” Patricia looked at her with eyes that implored her not to cancel. 

Lucy waved her off. “No, I’ll go help me get ready.”

Her hair was styled into a simple bun at the base of her skull as she threw on a simple frock dress. She did not primp and make long preparations to see Bethias. 

Sapphira arrived as Lucy was finishing getting dressed. As Patricia buttoned the back of the dress, Lucy ate a piece of toast and finished her tea. 

She grabbed her locket on her way out. Her comfortable shoes made it easier for her to make haste. 

Since neither Lucy nor Patrica knew the way to the library, they relied on the vampire to guide them. 

The grand oak doors greeted them upon arrival. There were intricate carvings on the face, just as there were throughout the palace. 

The footman opened the doors at their approach. To Lucy, they looked heavy, but the vampires did not appear to be overexerted. 

The inside was already light with books as far as the eye could see. The labyrinth had several levels, each accessible by staircases leading to the top. 

There was a glass ceiling at the very top, and Lucy thought she might make out a telescope, as if for star-gazing. She had only read about them in books, but she was slightly interested in perhaps trying it herself. 

In the middle of the room, a table had books covering every inch of the wooden surface. Next to it stood Bethias. Her face warm with a smile, “I’m happy you could join me.”

The vampire met Lucy in the middle, reaching her arms out to her. As Lucy assumed, she was dressed simply but, as always, radiated elegance. 

“Thank you for your invitation,” Lucy said, returning her hug. 

“No need to thank me; besides, this will all be yours soon enough.” Lucy almost gaped at her. She had always felt that her position would be ceremonial at best, holding no actual power or authority. 

Lucy looked around as Bethias continued, “ Anyway, I thought it would be good if you were to learn some of the history. 

“I would like that very much,” Lucy said eagerly, her attention snapping back to the vampire. 

“Then let us not delay. Come, this way, I’ve prepared some books for us to start with.” Bethias said her voice changed into a serious tone. 

Lucy dismissed the maids, as there were plenty of footmen to attend to their needs if any were to arise. 

Bethias was the most patient tutor she ever had. The ones her stepmother had procured for her had little patience or little care. 

The vampire went slowly, hoping the human would understand. They started with the basics. Bethias took a deep breath as she carefully chose her words. 

“Vampires require blood to survive. The blood can come from many sources.” She said it unapologetically, something Lucy appreciated. She made a note on the piece of parchment Bethias had given her. Finally, she would get some answers. 

“But human is preferred.” That Sapphira had already confirmed for her. 

“Yes. I should tell you that at one point, blood slaves were a common practice.” Bethias said, giving her more details. 

“How long ago?” Lucy asked, hoping for an answer. 

“Hundreds of years,” Bethias sneered. 

“Oh,” Lucy said, upbeat, thinking she might have said five or ten years ago. That was so far in the past for Lucy that it was ancient history. 

“But there are vampires who remember the days of slaves.” The look on Bethias’ face told Lucy that not only did some remember but that they missed them. 

“Were you around in those times?” This vampire fascinated Lucy as she was constantly learning new things about her. 

“Yes,” Bethias answered straightforwardly and without hesitation.

“How did it end?”

“Many vampires came to see their slaves as souls deserving to live free. Some chose to stay with their masters while others opted to return to the safety of the human lands. Over generations, the population of humans dwindled till the last of them died off.” 

“Is the treaty meant to bring back the humans?” Lucy wondered if Kunlun would soon have other human residents. 

“No. We will get to the purpose of the treaty, but for now, I would prefer to stick to the history, as the treaty will make more sense with the background information.”

Lucy nodded to Bethias’s explanation of the different types of blood. They were still on the topic of blood when the midnight clock chimed. 

“I think that will be enough for today,” Bethias said, seemingly sensing how tired Lucy had become. She had stifled a yawn for some time but did not wish to stop. 

Lucy wanted to protest, but decided against it.

As they walked towards the door, Bethias turned, remembering a detail. “One of the vampires responsible for freeing the humans was actually Lord Garrick. He played a major role.”

Lucy just gaped. She could not believe it. At their first meeting, he looked at her as if she was beneath him, and now she hears he was revolutionary. Shocking.