Chapter 265: Not your average vampire
Back on the island at night, Blake and the others had made their move from the volcano and were now prepared to leave the island.
As the boat cut through the waves, leaving the haunting shores of the island behind, Blake stood at the stern, looking back at the fading landmass. He recalled all the events - how Elena had manipulated and used him, the senseless killing of innocent islanders, watching his friends fall to her madness, and his own death that paradoxically led to his dark rebirth.
As the island disappeared from view, Blake closed his eyes, reflecting on how he had trusted Elena's lies and facade. Anger welled up inside him, crimson tears flowing from his eyes. But he forced himself to take deep breaths to calm down. Slowly, the bloody tears subsided.
Blake realized then that his new abilities seemed linked to his emotional state. If he could remain composed, he could control the manifestations of his vampiric powers, like the eerie bloody tear phenomenon.
Reggie approached and told Blake they needed to disguise his appearance before reaching the mainland to avoid drawing unwanted attention. That being that he was currently a man that should be behind bars. He gave Blake a large hooded coat and wide-brimmed hat to conceal himself.
Reggie mentioned they already had a place they would settle in for sometime till they could figure out their next move.
As Blake donned the concealing garments, they noticed with surprise that the sleeves fitted his new, larger physique perfectly. The old Blake wasn't as big as Reggie but currently he was.
It reminded Blake just how much his body had transformed along with gaining these strange new powers.
****
Under cover of night, the group disembarked and swiftly made their way through winding alleyways to a nondescript safe house Reggie's brothers maintained in the city. Once inside, Reggie explained they could lie low here for the time being as they planned their next moves.
The safe house which was nestled discreetly in a dimly lit alleyway, its exterior blending seamlessly with the surrounding buildings. A small, unassuming door concealed its entrance, marked only by a faded emblem etched into the wood.
Inside, the safe house was surprisingly spacious, with high ceilings and an air of quiet secrecy. The main room served as a makeshift living area, furnished with a few worn but comfortable sofas and chairs arranged around a low coffee table. A dimly glowing lantern cast a warm, amber light, casting long shadows across the room.
A modest kitchenette occupied one corner, equipped with a small stove, refrigerator, and basic cooking utensils. The shelves were stocked with provisions to last them for a while, including canned goods, dry rations, and bottles of water.
A narrow staircase led up to the second floor, where the bedrooms were located. Each room was simple yet cozy, with a sturdy bed, a small desk, and a small wardrobe for storing clothes and belongings. Faded curtains covered the windows, providing a modicum of privacy and shielding the occupants from prying eyes outside.
In the living room, Reggie's hand fell heavily on Blake's shoulder, his expression etched with concern as he pulled him aside from the rest of the group. There was a weightiness to his demeanor, a gravity that spoke volumes of the seriousness of the situation.
"Blake," Reggie began, his voice low and somber, "we need to talk about what happened back there. Your transformation... it's unlike anything we've ever seen before."
Blake met Reggie's gaze with a steady resolve, "I know it's a lot to take in, Reggie. But trust me, I'm still me. I'm in control, and I intend to use these new powers to do what the old me never could, fight back, for me, for Rose, for everyone!."
Reggie nodded solemnly, his brow furrowed with worry. "I understand, Blake. But we can't afford to be reckless. We need a solid plan if we're going to stand any chance against someone as powerful as Elena."
After a moment of silent contemplation, Reggie and his brothers informed Blake of their need to step outside. They urged him to stay put, their concern evident as they voiced their fears of leaving him unattended in his current state.
Once outside the house, the trio huddled together, their voices barely above a whisper as they debated their next course of action.
Reggie's brow furrowed in concern as he glanced between his brothers. "We need to find Rose," he murmured, his voice tense with urgency. "We can't afford to waste any time."
Gunther nodded in agreement, his expression grim. "Agreed. But where do we start looking? We don't even know if she's still at Ancroft or if she's already made her way to the vampire city."
Randal chimed in, his voice low and thoughtful. "We could split up and check both places. Divide and conquer."
Reggie considered the suggestion for a moment before shaking his head. "No, it's too risky. We can't leave Blake alone, especially not in his current state. We need to stick together."
The trio fell into a tense silence as they weighed their options, the urgency of their mission weighing heavily on their minds. Finally, Reggie spoke up again. "Let's focus on locating Rose first. We'll figure out the rest as we go."
With Rose's whereabouts uncertain, they knew they needed to locate her as soon as possible. But with Blake's unpredictable transformation weighing heavily on their minds, they hesitated to leave him alone for too long.
"We can't risk leaving him unsupervised," Reggie murmured, his gaze flickering back to the cave entrance where Blake waited. "Not with the way he's been acting. We need to keep a close eye on him until we understand what's happening."
His brothers nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring Reggie's unease. They knew they were facing a threat unlike any they had encountered before, and Blake's transformation only added to the urgency of their situation.
They were immensely concerned about Blake's highly unusual vampire transformation and feared what he could do if left unsupervised, as he seemed increasingly volatile and unpredictable. Reggie and his brothers agreed they needed to keep a very close watch on Blake until they better understood this new form he had taken, one unlike any vampire they had ever encountered before...