Veins Blue

Blue veins imbedded in the tavern beat and pulsed as if alive. They must have produced heat because snow melted when it touched them. At a closer inspection the blue came from a cloudy substance floating through tubes. The pulsing kept rhythm with the music within. At a distance they looked like blue worms wrapped around and imbedded in a chunk of disembodied flesh.

The tavern deserved its name. It looked like a block of flesh fell from some stone giant and continued to live. The tavern wasn't symmetrical. In some places parts of the tavern were ground down. Even the veins failed to keep a pattern with how the jumbled about the building they were.

Music caressed my ears filled with intimate lyrics and the passion of rock. On occasion the voices of rowdy tavern patrons joined the songs. Teens, men, and women entered and left the tavern filling the air with dozens of conversations. Nearly a hundred had entered and left as the carriage pulled up.

"Are there no other taverns in Gendry?" I asked.

Sid weighed my words. "There are some smaller taverns in the city. Gendry is reported to host a population of a little over 300,000. Most live in the workers complexes or commute from close villages. This town is known to produce good steel. When treated with a chemical and enchantment process called Arondight the steel becomes immune to rust, winter, and can even pierce dragon scales. Its why the blades protect this town ferociously. We'll probably run into some knights of the blades in the tavern." Sid said.

"I think we should separate when we get inside. No offense but you look rather conspicuous." I said.

Sid paused and looked me up and down. "You're just looking for an excuse to cheat on your wife." Sid accused.

"She's probably in bed with Mariana Silva right now. I don't think she'll mind if I sleep with some random girl." I said.

Sid tightened his robe before looking back at me. "You won't have any inquisitorial protections inside. If you get into trouble, you're on your own." He said before handing me a small pouch filled with jingling coins. "You can't exactly mingle without coin." Priest Margos said.

"I'll be on my best behavior; I haven't forgotten about the mission." I winked at the priest. "There has to be other witnesses inside." I said.

Job Changed

Job: Womanizer

It felt strange changing to this job like putting on an old suit that I never got to wear. I had basically an entire night to do whatever I wanted.

I broke off from Sid and approached the building. People stared as I approached. The music rumbled down to my bones as I walked towards the entrance. I wanted to move with it and a strange desire to sing alone almost overtook me. After a quick system check I noticed a slight tampering with my aura. There was something not quite benign about the music. I filed the fact away for leverage later. The real question is how I prove it and show that I have proof.

A hand gripped my shoulder. I turned my head to see a blond-haired man a couple of heads shorter than me. He was dressed in a silk doublet and had the physique of a knight. A friendly smile appeared on his face though strained around the edges. There was an air of worry in the air of coming violence.

The feeling of violence settled on my skin and boiled my blood in preparation. My aura began to wake up and the man's eyes widened.

"Hey buddy knock it off we aren't on duty. We're all here to have a good time but there is a line, and you have to follow it." The man said. I turned my head to see a few men of similar stature and build as the blonde. They waited at the back of the line while people were slowly led in.

Some of the ladies looked me over while the men next to them tensed up. They could feel the fight too but maybe I'd been confused. Perhaps I'd been in the wrong heading straight for the door.

No one batted an eye at my priest friend. Sid walked on through without a single person stopping him. He turned back and waved before snickering at me and heading inside. My lips set in a line. This was very embarrassing.

I let out a sigh and walked to the back of the line led by the blonde-haired man. Several men and a few women chuckled at my expense.

After a moment the blonde man spoke. "You seem to be fresh out of training. I'm guessing you're from a smaller order. My names Robert Glove and I'm Chevalier or a knight 2nd class of the blades. What's your name, rank and order?" He asked.

"My name is Jacob, I'm not a knight, and I have no order." I said.

Robert gave me a pensive look. "That aura was something else. I could tell it wasn't even the tip of the iceberg. Mages don't need to wait in line to enter the Veins Blue. They also don't carry such large swords. From the taint coming off your blade I'd swear you're a warlock." I nodded slowly.

His eyes widened and the other knights seemed just as shocked. "How are you alive and not a burnt-out husk serving a demon?" he asked. "There is no safe way to become a warlock."

"I was lucky enough to break even. Then I got the fuck away from demons and never looked back." I said.

Robert nodded his head. "But you said you're a warlock not that you were a warlock. What demon are you still consorting with?" Robert asked.

I raised my hand and tapped the pommel of my blade. "It's a demonic blade. Think of it as a reach around the rules." I said.

Robert shook his head. "Well let's hope that's the case. I'd hate to have to hunt you down for colluding with demons. But you stepped out of the carriage with an inquisition priest. I'm sure you're not a danger." We settled into silence while the line moved slowly. "Could you use a wingman?" Robert asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm not interested in that kind of threeway." I said.

"Few are, listen I got dressed and came to this tavern to do one thing." A smile full of charisma flashed across the blonde man's face. "I'm going to fuck a vampire." Robert said.

For a moment I stood there stunned. Perhaps, I'd found a kindred spirit after all. "It isn't easy. I heard they're really strong and cold." I said.

There was a light in Robert's eyes. "As a knight, I can't be dissuaded from trying new things. If her heart is cold I'll heat it with mine, if it's difficult I'll preserver, and if she is strong I'll show her what true strength is all about. For three years I trained with no downtime only fight after fight. I've cleansed villages of vampire and werewolf incursions. Now I'm going to find a beautiful vampire noble and wreck her pussy." Robert said.

"It seems we have similar goals. Though, I'd be just as satisfied with a normal vampire." I said.

"I heard a rumor about your ill-fated journey here. The 1rst knight sent a letter to our commander but I'm not sure if a squad will be sent to hunt down the beast. Hunting a monster from the south is difficult for those unused to it." Robert said.

"It caught us by surprise. Our Inquisitor killed it only for the monster to spew spores all over camp when it died. I'd say fire is the best weapon against such a creature. A bunch of mages with fireball would work best. But you aren't here to talk about work, are you?" I asked.

Robert put on a cheerier face. "No, are you sure you won't be my wingman. We both plan to stalk a dangerous breed of woman." I closed my eyes and thought about it. Getting laid was only a secondary goal. My main goal was to find out for information about Victor. Having a knight as a wingman might enhance that goal.

I'd look a little less conspicuous with him with me. "Alright," I said.

"I can't wait to get in. Veins Blue has the best drinks. There's Rose, do you think she's offering free samples." I turned my head to see two teens between sixteen and twenty. Something was off about them.

Terry Spring lvl15 Green Planet Human

Job: Chemical Engineer lvl30

Bill Wiggle lvl14 Green Planet Human

Job: Metal Fabricator lvl42

Besides their higher job levels, I couldn't detect anything wrong with them. I couldn't sense any changes in their aura. Neither produced aura at all. They smelled weird. It was a sweet scent like ripening fruit. For all I knew it could have been the cologne they were both loaded down with it. Teenagers were universally the same. I remembered a few of my hosts pouring gallons of body spray on themselves when it was available to impress the local girls.

Still that sweet scent just hidden under the cologne wasn't human. I scanned my mental image of them for fang marks, but their clothes could be hiding them. For now, it let it go it wasn't my main concern.

Rose appeared with some red colored drinks. "They're on the house for the blades." A dark-haired girl with chocolate brown eyes said. She had a round face and a large bust. Her hips swayed side to side with the music playing.

I took the offered glass and downed it in one gulp. There was a sweet taste and a tiny hint of copper to it. Blood! It hit me then that I'd just consumed vampire blood with the cocktail. Was that how they had people streaming in and out? Did a little vampire blood added to the cocktail ensure customers kept coming back? Or did it have something to do with Victor? Had I just stumbled upon my answer?

Robert took the glass from my hand and handed it back to the waitress. She quickly scampered off after that.

"Is something bothering you?" Robert asked.

Currently, I had no proof. "Yes, but it can wait." People weren't spontaneously turning into vampires and they weren't offering their blood either. It might not even be vampire blood. The copper could be anything else. There was also a good chance that everyone knew vampire blood was in the drinks. But if I said anything now, it could cause a panic.

We entered the tavern to a rush of music and moving bodies. In the low blue lights within the tavern men and women danced and ground upon each other. Drinks were drained and stacked up into massive towers balancing on tables. A teen with golden skin danced on a table her top was off and her dark nippled titties bounced while she moved. She danced and moved shaking her hips to the beat of the music.

Robert cleared a path through the dance floor to the bar. There surrounded by three dozen men was a lady with raven black hair, glowing green eyes, and a look of indifference. A man beside her was chattering about something while other boasted of their deeds. Some laid out boxes of jewelry to her while others simply basked in her presence.

Isla Alma lvl82 Noble Vampire

Rank: Knight

Cultivation: Foundry stage 1

Job: Death Knight lvl150

When our eyes met her lips quirked up a little. I felt drawn out into the open. Fighting her here wasn't what I wanted, and she knew that.

"Bad luck we'll never even talk to her with that crowd." Robert said.

"What are you talking about we have all night and I'm sure they'll leave after she feeds on them?" I heard a tiny gasp from the Isla. It was too low for anyone to hear over the music.

"Why would she feed upon them all?" Robert asked.

"Maybe she's the gluttonous type. There are other women here let's find some appetizers before we make any attempts at her." I looked around until I spotted a fuming vampire sitting all alone. "I found my target do you have someone in mind?" I asked.

"There is a blonde who's been giving me looks. I don't think she's a noble probably a dhampir. Well, I'll know soon enough. Let's meet back here in an hour or two."