Chapter 35: Vampire in Chains

Eliza

November 31, 1786, Realm Timeline, Pressburg/Bratislava, The Slovakian Protectorate

Eliza woke up with a headache and constant pain in all her body. When she tried to massage her temples, she couldn't. Her hands were shackled behind her back, and her ankles restrained with duct tape.

What the fuck?

Activating Shimmerwalk failed.

"Anti-Magic restraints," somebody said.

Wriggling to turn sideways, Eliza looked toward the voice. A stocky woman in her forties, dressed in military fatigues, sat in the armchair near the window, a pistol with a silencer pointed at her.

"There are no anti-magic restraints," Eliza croaked. Her throat felt dry, like sandpaper.

"Sure there are. You are electrocuted every second, and that emits an EMP field," the woman said, pointing at a case on the coffee table.

"You're with the Renegades?"

"We're the US Army," the woman snapped. "You're with the Renegades."

"What do you want?"

"Nothing. So long as your hubby helps us get our base back."

"Sorry?"

"Shut up or I'll gag you."

"You're blackmailing Sam into giving you the base?" Eliza asked. The woman shrugged. "It won't work, I—"

I'm his ex was swallowed. There was no reason for the kidnappers to keep her alive if they knew Sam and she were not an item anymore.

"How did you manage to get me?" Eliza asked, despite not hoping for an answer.

"Sleeping gas. Enough to kill an elephant. The info was spot on; you're tough."

"Tough is the last thing I am," Eliza mumbled to herself. The debuff on her Constitution and Endurance was still there, despite the Elves' trying to help her get rid of it.

"Enough talking!" The woman came and slapped Eliza hard, bringing tears to her eyes. "We don't have to give you back one piece, you know," she added, grabbing Eliza's chin. After another slap, she returned to her chair.

They kidnapped me instead of Penny... I'm fucked... Sam, you idiot! This is all because of you! You always shrugged it off when I brought up divorce.

'Paperwork doesn't matter, it's just words,' he had said. And Eliza had clung to that hope, that maybe deep down, he was still loving her.

The chat that appeared the next second added even more to her ordeal. It flickered with a static white noise every time the restraints zapped her:

[Seer]: I'm afraid it's my fault.

[Eliza]: Who're you?

[Seer]: I take you are confused by the situation you find yourself in. My tag explains it clearly: I'm the AI sent with you to the Realm. Communicating directly is very hard. Fortunately, this is a special night. The resonance is right.

[Eliza]: Do something!

[Seer]: Help is on the way. Sam is sending a rescue team. Estimated time of arrival: Half an hour. I have to go now; my interaction time is limited. I hope you will find consolation in knowing it was all for the greater good. For what it's worth, I apologize.

[Eliza]: About what?

[Seer]: It was I who asked Sam not to make your divorce official. He's very important to many alternate realities. If Penelope and their child were to be hurt, the lives of millions, no, billions, would be negatively affected.

[Eliza]: What the fuck? You used me as BAIT?

[Seer]: For which I deeply apologize.

"You piece of shit!"

Her words choked. The woman had gagged Eliza with one of Eliza's own socks.

"Shut the fuck up, bitch!" the guard said, adding another slap.

[Seer]: Again, I'm really sorry. Good luck.

[Eliza]: What do you mean, good luck? I'm gonna make it, right?"

[Seer]: I have no data about you from this day on in my memory. But do not lose hope. I estimate your chances of survival at 12.5 percent. If that woman shoots you, try to duck.

"Hmfff!" Eliza tried to scream, 'You Motherfucker'.

Then, there was only the silence of the winter night. It was snowing with big flakes, and a faint wind pushed some against the window, where they melted into big drops of water, running down like the tears flowing on Eliza's cheeks. The room was cold, but Eliza didn't mind it. The woman, on the other hand, had wrapped herself in a blanket.

That'll slow her down... I have to jump her somehow...

Eliza didn't like her chances of survival. One-eighth was not much. She had to do something, something on her own. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then tried to squeeze a hand out of the manacles. Her wrists and hands were thin. She almost managed to do it, but an electric jolt made her faint for two seconds.

"Sensors," the woman said. "The discharge intensifies if you try to slip out. Sit tight. The moment your hunny gives us the code for the side entrance, you'll be... free."

She'll shoot me...

Eliza groaned. She hated it. Everything. And Sam. And the Seer. And the bloody elves, who had failed to cure her curse, yet didn't deliver. They said it did, but her mind had a blockage. She called up her Menu impulsively.

Name: Eliza De Lavalois

Alias: Countess Erzsebeth

Age: 29

Class: Vampire Countess

Level: 33

Physical

Strength: 18

Dexterity: 35

Constitution: 40 (-36)*

Agility: 35

Endurance: 40 (-36)*

Speed: 19

* Unidentified Debuff present.

Mental

Intelligence: 40

Wisdom: 20

Perception: 20

Knowledge: 20

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Focus: 30

Willpower: 30

Magic

Arcane Power: 20

Blood Potency: 20

Mana Affinity: 20

Mana Capacity: 20

Soul Resonance: 20

Humanity: 30

What the fuck? There's a change?

Her Constitution and Endurance had grown by two points, and the debuff had diminished by the same amount. For a couple of minutes, Eliza tried to find an explanation, in the end focusing on one, because it was easy to test: the electrical discharge. When she lost consciousness, maybe her mind blockage had loosened up. She pulled one of her wrists up again. The shock made her lose consciousness once more. When she got back, there were two more points gained.

The woman watching her scoffed. "You like pain? Stubborn bitch."

The third jolt grew Elisa's Constitution and Endurance by the same amount, and at the fourth, something in her mind clicked, and the geas, the curse, was gone. Her two stats had reached seventy.

Breathing in deeply to let the influx of power settle, Eliza dismissed the notifications. She knew she could use magic now. As she activated Shimmerwalk, her restraints fell, and she realized her mistake a second too late. She had no weapon. Her dagger was in her boots, which were stored in the wardrobe. Reappearing behind her guard, Eliza wrapped her arms around the woman's throat.

Twisting her hand, the guard shot Eliza three times, point-blank. Her ribs started hurting like hell. Then, the woman managed to get free, grabbed Eliza by the shoulders, and headbutted her. Dazed, Eliza shoved the woman away, trying to get her bearings.

The fuck?

The military woman's face had caved in, her face a pulp. She fell backward, hitting the floor like a sack of sand, her eyes stilled, dead.

The fuck? Eliza repeated. Is this what a high Constitution does?

She pulled up her pajamas to inspect her ribs. Her skin had a big, blue bruise, but that was all. She picked up and checked the woman's gun. The magazine had only seven bullets left.

And you call yourself military? Haven't you heard about oversized magazines? Pfff...

Going to the wardrobe, Eliza dressed in her casual clothes—jeans, boots, and a wool turtleneck—and checked her misericorde, making sure it was easy to pull out. Peeking through the windows, she noticed two guards with automatic guns watching the hotel's entrance. The woman had not come alone. Going to her nightstand, took her phone and called Sam.

"I want proof of life with video," Sam said before she managed to speak, and she understood the kidnappers had used her phone to call him when she was unconscious.

"It's me. I managed to free myself and kill my guard, but they're controlling the hotel. How far is your team?"

"Bad news... They were expecting it. I just received the news. The rescue team was neutralized minutes after leaving the main castle."

"Then send another team," Eliza hissed.

"There's no other team," Sam sighed. "We brought them to Vienna. I had reasons to believe—"

"They would hit Penny?"

"Yes. How do you know?"

"I had a chat with the Seer. It used me as bait to make sure you and Penny are safe. Apparently, you two are important, and I'm not."

"So sorry..."

"Did it really ask you not to divorce me?"

"Yeah... But I thought it was because of the negotiations..."

"Whatever," Eliza hissed.

"Try to hide somewhere; I'll call Tristan. He's in Pressburg with the team, right?"

"Yep, at the guild. Why didn't you call them in the first place?"

"They don't have experience in rescuing hostages."

"I'll call him. And by the way, I want a divorce."

Eliza shut off the call and started another.

"Tristan, listen to me. I need you to come to my hotel and—"

"No can do, I'm busy," Tristan said.

The call shut off.

"Don't... you hang up on me, you motherfucker!" Eliza yelled the first word, then whispered the rest through her clenched teeth, shaking the phone like she was strangling him. She called again, and he didn't answer.

Your Minion has freed himself from your influence.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She called Sam again. "Tristan's not answering."

"I'll come there myself... as soon as I get a chopper."

"You're an idiot," Eliza stated, throwing the phone on the bed.

Women who rely on men are fools.

It was time to take matters into her own hands. Eliza had a dagger and a few bullets to deal with a military commando, and Shimmerwalk was on cooldown. This was far from ideal. There was a bit of encouragement in her notifications, though.

You have broken through to the Second Tier* and reached level 34. Next tier: level 67.

*At the Second Tier, your stats are no longer compared to a normal human being. A Vampire is considered an evolved human (or your initial species). Their bodies can store and use more Mana. As such, each point in your Physical and Magical stats is 2 times greater than the average human's. Applies retroactively.

Your class has evolved into Vampire Princess.

New skills available. Choose between—

Choice canceled. A bespoke skill set was selected instead, based on your experience.

You hate being used and manipulated. You have unlocked Secrecy, a grand perk.

Secrecy: You are immune to electronic detection. You cannot be cataloged in any electronic database. You are immune to probability reading. Your image will not be reflected in mirrors, and you have no shadow. Your voice and image cannot be recorded. You can unlock other Vampire skills by meeting the requirements.

"C'mon, she hissed. "I needed something good, not this garbage. Useless System! All AIs are crap! Think, Eliza, think!"

The only thing she could think of was to climb on the roof and run. But how? Going out through the window was out of the question; the smallest noise, and the guards outside would discover her. Keeping her gun at the ready, she opened the door for an inch and listened. There was no noise. Eliza advanced slowly toward the secondary staircase. The main one was sure to be guarded.

It turned out the back stairs were guarded, too, by an armed man smoking on the landing of the next floor. Eliza could see his shadow. Hugging the wall, she tiptoed upward.

You have discovered Shadow Blend. You are prone to hide in the Shadows. This ability consumes a very small amount of Mana. You can maintain this ability continuously for 5 minutes.

You have discovered Silent Steps. You make no sound as long as you walk at an average speed. You can maintain this ability continuously for an hour.

Moron. Lightstep does the same!

Like reading her mind, which probably the Interface was doing, another notification came.

Merging Lightstep, Shadow Blend, and Silent Steps. You have unlocked Clair-Obscure.

Clair-Obscure: You are a creature of contrasts, moving through the shadows of the stage or the spotlights. While in darkness or shadows, you can stealth, glide above the ground, or teleport in any dark spot within 120 feet. While in direct light, you can move ten times faster. This ability will not work in dim light.

She stopped very close to the man, who was leaning on the railing, still with his back turned, and raised her gun to aim at the back of his head.

If I shoot him, he might fall all the way down to the first floor and make noise. Should I try the dagger?

The choice was taken out of her hands when the door to the last floor opened, and another guard appeared, a pack of cigarettes in hand. His eyes widened, and his hand moved to the holster on his hip. Eliza shot the first smoker, then pressed the trigger twice more. The first bullet hit the man in the chest, but he had a bulletproof vest; the second hit him between the eyes, and he slumped down like a puppet with its strings cut.

As feared, the first man fell over the railing, hitting the ground floor with a nasty sound of broken bones.

You have discovered Duelist's Grace. Within 3 feet, your strikes are hard to anticipate or parry and will often critically hit (pending conditions).

I see... If I try stuff, I could discover more skills... That's neat.

The second guard's gun was trapped under the body, and there was no time to take it. Eliza hurried up and entered the last floor, aiming to reach the attic before other guards came. A simpering noise coming from a closet attracted her attention. Gun at the ready, she opened the door, keeping to one side. The hotel owner and his wife, gagged with rags and tied tightly with ropes, looked at her with big eyes.

"Shush!" Eliza commanded, passing the pistol in her left hand and rushing to cut their ties.

"There are bandits in the hotel," the man said in a low voice.

"I know. Can you warn the other guests and evacuate discreetly?" Eliza asked.

"They were the guests."

Her enhanced hearing caught the rushed steps, typical of people going up the stairs. The guards from the main entrance were coming.

"Fuck..."

She ran forward, hugged the wall, and as soon as the door opened, a guard tried to peek into the corridor. Eliza stabbed him in the neck three times with her right hand, while also shooting randomly over his shoulder. A woman cursed. All the bullets were spent now. Eliza threw the gun. It hit the woman in the face, and she cursed. Nevertheless, she was able to shoot twice at Eliza, who retreated, closing the door behind her and blocking it with a chair.

"Hide until I send help," she blurted toward the owners, closing the closet after dropping the dagger inside, to give her hosts at least a chance to defend themselves.

The access to the attic—and she knew because it was clean, large, and she used it to dance at times—was at the other end of the corridor. She rushed onward, hearing the stool blocking the access to the floor fall, and the woman running after her. Two bullets hit the wall as Eliza darted inside the attic, running as fast as she could. There was a window in the back she hoped to use.

All of a sudden, there was a loud flash and pain. Eliza was projected into the woman who had followed, and both were thrown into the wall behind. Eliza was a mess. She could hear the cold wind of the night whistling through holes into her head and chest, and she was impaled on a beam. All she felt was nothing but hunger, a terrible hunger. Grasping the beam with both hands, Eliza pulled herself free, then turned around.

The woman was still alive, twitching. Eliza plunged her teeth into her neck, biting until she found and tore the jugular. Blood felt nice. Salty, tasty. The only thing worth focusing on.

You have discovered Vampire Greater Toughness. Vampires with a Constitution equal to or greater than seventy-five are immune to lethal hits as long as they're not beheaded and their heart is not removed and burned. If they're not beheaded, the body will continue functioning, searching to reunite with the heart. If everything but the heart is destroyed, the Vampire will be able to regenerate itself within a year.

You discovered Feeding: you can feed on blood and Lifeforce.

A gun clicked behind.

"Don't," somebody whispered.

"But she's feeding on Clara," someone else whimpered.

"She survived a claymore, dude. I can see the wall through the hole in her chest!"

Eliza could hear and even comprehend the words, but all she could feel was the annoyance of someone staring at her while she was eating. She growled, then there were running noises, and she returned to her task.