Finding the inevitable

Eyeing the man named Xeruz, Szeina found herself the only one left to talk to him.

Granola was reluctant to leave her with the man, but on Szeina's insistence, she walked outside with Queedor and Neyandro tagging along.

"You know, you look too young to be my grandfather." Szeina commented, watching Xeruz.

"People say that age is just a number. For our kind that could be taken literally."

Szeina scoffed.

"Are you trying to be philosophical with me right now?"

Xeruz looked at Szeina and smiled.

"I'm more than meets the eye, dear child. I've been alive for a thousand years. The world we live in, I witnessed it evolve from the past up to the present. I know it's not easy to grasp this all of a sudden." Xeruz paused to catch his breath.

"When I granted Granola to care for you, I was hoping that she'd at least prepare you for what's coming. I am quite disappointed that none of those things transpired."

"It's not her fault." Szeina insisted.

"You're right. It's not entirely her fault. Queedor should have done his part as well. You and that boy, Neyandro, shouldn't have been kept in the dark. It would have helped you in the situations that you have been in. Don't tell me that what you've experienced didn't scare you at all. I know it has. We could have avoided that if Granola did her job."

Szeina knew she had no more say in that. Xeruz has a point. If she and Neyandro knew what they were up against, they might have helped instead of cowering on the side, helpless to do anything.

She had to run for her life and thought she was going to die at the hands of that monster.

Wanting to change the topic, Szeina squinted her eyes at Xeruz.

"You said you're a thousand years old. Does that make you a vampire, then?"

"Partly. But not entirely. In my blood, a quarter is part werewolf. You can say that I'm a breed of both half breeds. But instead of falling under any of their names, our ancestors chose to make a new one. Warrior-hunters."

"Vampires. Werewolves, and now Warrior-hunters?" Szeina shook her head. "They are nothing but myths. Folklore."

"Ah, human tales. They are quite fascinating. But still a little odd with the truth. What mortals know about us, it's only based on what they have seen, or at least what they were permitted to see and learn. The rest is still a mystery."

"So you're saying that it's partly a lie?"

Xeruz chuckled.

"No. Not necessarily. They got the ageing part right, at least. Vampires and werewolves have almost similar patterns. For the wolves, though, they can die because of old age. Vampires, however, can live for decades."

"How is it even possible for vampires to breed? I mean, fertility stopped for them, correct?"

"Yes."

"Then, what happens? How are children born into their bloodline?"

"The body works in mysterious ways. Most vampires, as humans would tell, are born by turning. A mortal dies and comes back to life as an immortal after drinking the blood of a vampire, his entire physique thriving on that potent blood. The children, however, especially between purebred vampires, are rare. Very, very rare, Szeina. When it does happen, the child is revered. It is the purest of the pure. No taint of any other blood running in his veins. It's almost impossible. But, in bizarre circumstances. It can happen."

"Does that mean it hasn't happened yet?"

Xeruz looked at Szeina. He stared at her without blinking and as if he was reading her soul.

"It has."

"Whoa. Is he or she still alive? Where is he?"

It was at this time that the door burst open, saving Xeruz from needing to answer Szeina's query.

Another unfamiliar face walked into the room. Compared to Xeruz, though, this person didn't demand the same authority which Xeruz seems to ensue.

Coming towards Xeruz, the newcomer merely acknowledged Szeina with a quick bow. He then proceeded to report to Xeruz.

"Forgive me for my intrusion, but I have tragic news."

"It's quite alright." Xeruz replied. He turned to Szeina and smiled at her warmly. "Let's continue this discussion some other time."

Shifting his focus on the other person in the room, Xeruz gestured for the door.

"Perhaps let's talk about this in my office."

"Yes."

Taking their leave, Szeina watched them retreat and wondered what that urgent matter was all about.

With them gone, Granola and Neyandro rejoined Szeina. Queedor idly followed behind them.

The tears almost came immediately. Szeina reached out to hug Granola. She didn't care about the pain it was going to cause her. All she wanted to do was squeeze her family tight.

She was too relieved to find that they were alive and not dead. Her days of crying over the uncertainty, not knowing where they were, was over.

Granola held Szeina close. She was being careful not to crush her too hard, all too aware that her body was very fragile.

"I thought you were dead." She sobbed. Granola stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry." She carefully pulled back and wiped Szeina's tears away. "I was supposed to come back. We were, but the police got there first. I'm sorry."

"What happened anyway? My memory of it is a little hazy. I could only remember glimpses, but not its entirety."

Granola got hold of Szeina's hands in hers. She stared right into her eyes.

"It doesn't matter. What happened has happened. The important thing right now is that you're here. We're here. You're safe."

"Where is here?"

"Ah," Queedor stepped in, his face lighting up a little. "Welcome to Academia North, Szeina."

Szeina opened her mouth, catching Neyandro's gaze. He shrugged and shook his head.

"I know nothing. You and I are in the same boat."

Szeina turned an accusatory look towards Queedor.

"All this time, is this where you've been? This is your work?"

"There's nowhere else I would be. For our kind, this is the safest place for us."

Szeina held up her hand. She was still uncertain if she was hearing things correctly.

"Whoa, whoa. Back up a bit." She looked at Granola and then back at Queedor. "If this is the safest place, as you claimed, why was I not here, nor Neyandro, from the beginning? Why were we outside instead of here?"

"That's… a long story."

Szeina folded her arms across her chest.

"We have quite the time. The two of you better start talking. Now."