I didn't breathe.
Or rather I Couldn't.
Not when my hands were shaking like I was holding a live bomb, and in a way… I was.
This scrap of paper, crisp, clean, impossibly mundane held numbers that could flip the entire trajectory of my pathetic life upside down.
Multiple pairs of digits, scribbled down in neat ink, each one corresponding to a phase of the moon. Each one holding the promise of goddamn nine hundred billion dollars.
Not millions.
But billions!
The air around me suddenly felt heavier. The world sharper. But Traumerei's smug smile blurred in my peripheral vision as all my focus zeroed in on the impossible truth I was holding.
I could barely swallow.
"You're kidding."
I muttered in shocked.
My legs tensed like I might bolt from the chair, and run out of this velvet room and check a news site, or maybe scream into the void of the night like a madan, or maybe just collapse. Well either way, I gripped the paper tighter. My fingers crinkled the edge of it.
"Breathe, Theodore."
Traumerei said, her voice smooth as soft silk, yet unhurried.
"You look like you've just seen your own funeral."
"I....
My throat tightened, mostly lost for words at this moment.
"Ahhh... Sorry!"
I said as I try to calm down. But I soon began to question even further.
"I don't understand."
I said, breathless, as I was stumbling my words.
"Why...how...ahh! Is this even legal?"
Traumerei gave a light laugh, almost pitying.
"Legality is just a speed bump for people without the right connections. You're with me now. That means the road is wide open."
My hands ran through my hair, tugging at the roots.
"You said this was a merger. That we did share thoughts, right?"
"If we allow it."
She confirmed.
"Then tell me, honestly."
I said, stopping to stare her dead in the eyes.
"Why me?"
"Hmmm... Are you assuming that I intentionally choose you."
"Ha you didn't?!"
I asked a little surprised.
To which she responded to me saying as such.
"Sorry but no, I wasn't the one that chose you Theodore. I am prisoner of this ring meaning my actions to affect the real world from inside this place is ever so limited."
"The one that chose you Theodore Williams is not me, but rather the ring itself. Given they are only two ways the ring chooses, one way is that it is passed down from user to user."
"Or... If a new user is not chosen within a 100 years of the last users death, the ring will automatically choose someone who is a direct descendant of Cain... And given I did not choose you, that can only means one thing."
Traumerei explained as her words hung in the air like smoke, thick with implication. I blinked at them, lips parting, but no words came out right away.
But soon I catch on.
"Wait... you're saying I'm...
"A descendant of Cain... Then yes, like I said I did not choose you, the ring did. Although I must say as the years go by Cains bloodline is dwindling."
"The last time I check, those from his direct family tree could hardly be counted on a single hand. By now I would have think that all who is of his blood would long be dead by now, but it would seem that I was wrong."
I leaned back in the chair, feeling like someone had just yanked the ground out from under me. My hand instinctively went to the ring again.
"Cain ha? Who would have thought?"
"So what does being apart of Cain family tree even entails for me?"
Traumerei smiled at this as she said.
"... I did said earlier that ring help my become a founding vampire right?"
Asked Traumerei getting my attention. As I asked her a little confused about this vampire thing as I asked.
"Yeah you did, but sorry if I sound dumb here...um but what does being a founding vampire has to do with Cain. Or rather what even is a founding vampire?"
"Hahaha… Curious now, are we? I figured you would be."
She said, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Well, since you asked so nicely, let me give you the rundown."
"A Founding Vampire is any vampire who was granted the right to create a clan by Cain himself. It's not a title you inherit, it's a title you're given. And guess what? That shiny ring on your finger? It means you've got Cain's personal seal of approval."
"The moment you slipped it on, the transformation began. Little by little, the ring will start turning you into one of us. Not just any bloodsucker, mind you, but a founder. A progenitor... A monster with pedigree."
"...Wait really?!"
I asked a little surprised by this news.
"Yes, the wish is one thing, but there's something else you need to know, you're already starting to change. Slowly, yes, but steadily as well. The ring doesn't just sit pretty on your finger, it's rewriting you. But don't go thinking vampirism means you're dead. It's not that simple, although one clan does have that trait of their bodies being dead yet active. They are more on supernatural side of things though."
She waved a hand as if brushing off the pop culture clichés.
Causing my to respond, as I say to her.
"Clan... Ahh I see... Can you explain how those work too as well."
I asked with much curiosity, and Traumerei seem more than willing to comply.
"I am getting to that sweetheart."
She bluntly said as she continued.
"You see Mr. Williams becoming a vampire is a coin toss between genetics or the supernatural. It's a transformation, not a death sentence as many would think. It is a process that can take you through either path of the coin. But as you turn your body will start developing unique traits, seemingly at random. These traits or mutations as we call them? They come with perks, and drawbacks alike. Each vampire clan has its own distinct flavor, its own curse hidden inside the gift they attained."
She leaned forward, voice dropping as she began to list them off like old gossip.
And I of course listen intently.
"Take the Tepes clan, for example. The sun? Yeah, that weakness is real but only for them most vampires can walk in the sun. But for them sunlight will kill them outright. But in exchange, they're the greatest shapeshifters in vampire history."
"They can regenerate from almost anything as a result of this trait, illness, injuries, even fatal wounds, so long as they stay out of the sun. Their cells are unstable though, hyper-reactive. Even the tiniest bit of solar radiation causes their bodies to break down that's why the sun is so dangerous to them."
She smirked, almost fondly.
"Then there's the Ergos clan. Their gift? Seduction. They can produce powerful pheromones, strong enough to entrance nearly any living creature. The older they get, the more potent, and refined those pheromones become. They age backwards, in a sense, slowing down the longer they live. Some could, theoretically, live for millions of years."
"But don't expect them to win any brawls. They're not built for combat. Their flaw is psychological obsession. Ergos vampires can become fixated, worshipping people or objects with cult-like intensity."
Traumerei said to me as she gave me a playful shrug.
"And then there is my clan, the Blackheart lineage. Our trait is alchemical in nature. We can manipulate our own blood and the blood of others, turning it into any chemical compound we can imagine. My blood alone has acted as a universal solvent, a deadly poison, I once made a elixir that turned led to gold. I've created entire mineral veins with just a few drops. In my prime, I could turn blood into weapons, as well."
She said with a prideful glare in her eyes. Only for her to quickly change her attitude as she explained her clan weakness with much annoyance.
"But our strength has a cost. Blood, once used, doesn't come back sadly. We burn through it as fire would paper, and like a fully burn paper there is no restoring it so once we use our blood it is permanently gone. But this is were or flaw comes in, immense hunger."
"That insatiable thirst you here vampires typically have? Well that is our doing. We made the world fear bloodsuckers, and it became a common misconception among humans. But that aside we also remain physically youthful, but our lifespans are also kind of long when compare to other Vampire"
"We can easily live for 3000-5000 years, give or take as other if not most vampire typically has the same lifespan as a human. Unless you are from a clan that has perks that give you immortality."
Explained Traumerei, and as I listen I could not help but be amazed although I honestly thought all vampires suck blood, and are immortal. But it would seem that is not the case.
But back on the topic of the topic I more unless what clan are.
But I also wanted to ask.
"I get that founding vampire are basically family heads, but what make them more special from others in their clan?"
"…Hmmm. We're kind of running out of time here."
She muttered to me, glancing off to the side.
"Hell, but since we're already talking about abilities, I might as well throw this in now."
She turned back toward me, her voice casual, but her eyes watching me like a hawk.
"Founding vampires usually have a supernatural ability granted by Cain himself. Or in our case, the ring gave us that title, so it counts. Technically when we get an ability via a wish."
There was a pause, and then she added with a shrug,
"To be honest, I already know what your power is, because I used my power to looked into the future prior to our meeting."
That made me blink in suprise as I shouted.
"Wait What?"
She smirked.
"I peeked into the future."
I stared at her.
"Wait so you can see the future?"
"Yup. That's part of my ability."
She said, like she was admitting to cheating on a test.
"It's expensive to look that far, though. Nearly wiped out my secret stash doing it. I'm not made of infinite resources, you know... My ability kind of use money to operate, although it's flaws are heavy but it once made me a very feared individual. Either way, my abilities is kind of what's going to help you, originally I wanted you to take vow now but we will do that the next time we meet. Either way though Mr.William your starting to wake up."
Said Traumerei as she pointed at me. And it was that sole action of hers that made me look at my own left hand, and I was surprised to see I was starting fading in and out of existence.
"...Wait but I still have so many questions."
"And bet you do Mr. William, but sadly our time is up... Enjoy your new life, I will check in let say after you settle down... Bye-bye now."
With those words, my world went black, then a light came into view, and when everything fall into place I wake up sweating heavily, as I looked up at my apartment ceiling.