Vampire

"Huh?"

"I said someone cursed you but it wasn't that strong so it won't probably kill you," he said.

Wait! I'm cursed? Is he trolling me or something? I don't feel anything out of place though. Well, maybe except for a few broken bones every here and there with my fall earlier. But aside from that, I feel completely normal.

"You got cursed, Mr. Jack? Since when?" Ethan asked.

How the heck would I know? I wasn't even aware I was cursed in the first place!

I looked at the man at the very end of the long table. He was playing with his dark wavy hair as he stared at me with his blood-red irises. I was searching for any signs of him bluffing but I couldn't. Besides, he doesn't have a reason to lie to me like that so I have no reason to doubt what he said as well. It's just that…

"I can help you," he suddenly said.

"Excuse me?"

"I said I can help you," he repeated.

Did I hear it right? He will really help me remove the curse?

"You can do that?" I asked — not wanting to give myself a false sense of hope.

"A skill of that level is just child's play. Probably a beginner," he said.

Looking at him, he doesn't seem to be only putting on airs. I hope so.

But let's say that he will really do that for me, I don't think it will be free of charge. Besides, free things are the most expensive of all.

"What do you want in return?" I asked all while hoping at the back of my head that it wouldn't be something troublesome or straight-up impossible.

He seemed to be hesitating by the way that his mouth would open only for it to close the next second. As if he was unsure if he should say what was on his mind.

"Blood," he finally said.

"Yes?"

"Give me some of your blood. You're a human, right? I haven't taken some in hundreds of years," he said in a straight face. "Also, consider it as a payment for disturbing my slumber." he added.

"You drink blood?" I blurted out.

"Of course! Where'd you heard a vampire who doesn't drink blood?"

A vampire? He's a vampire?

But now that he mentioned that. I only noticed it now but he has two small fangs protruding at both corners of his lips. Not to mention that his skin was abnormally pale. A vampire. A legit vampire.

"What? Deal or nah?" he asked. Making me realize that I have been staring at him for a while without saying anything.

"Deal!" I immediately said.

Though the idea about someone drinking my blood is a tad creepy, the thought that I've been cursed without me noticing at all far more horrified me. Besides, I don't think that giving a little bit of my blood would do me any harm. Well, of course, if he doesn't suck me dry that is.

He grinned for the first time when he heard my response. "Follow me," he said as he stood. But then I remembered my other dire situation. The reason why I wanted to arrive here as soon as possible.

"Excuse me, uhh… Uhm, I'm Jack, how can I address you?" I asked. I was supposed to ask him if he knows how to fix a few broken bones of a human body but then I realized I didn't know how to call him.

He seemed to be thinking as he brought his hand to his chin. "You can call me Vlad," he finally said.

"You're changing names again? Last week you said your name was Nathaniel, 30 years old. How old will you be this time?" Ethan chimed in. I only noticed it now, but Ethan seems to be so nonchalant when facing this vampire. While everyone in the room looked like they had constipation with the looks on their faces.

"Hmm… Then, from now on, you will be calling me Vlad," he said after thinking about it for a while. He then looked at me, urging me to continue what I was about to say. I noticed Ethan scoffing at him. What's the deal with this guy?

"Uhh… Mr. Vlad, do you know how to fix some broken bones?" I finally asked.