The Madman of the Woods | ONC 2024 Shortlist | Vampire Romantasy | Supernatural

14 Blood Trials, part 2

Trigger warning is still in effect.

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River was right. It was Lailoken's responsibility to be the living proof that she belonged not only to the oldest living bloodline, but also, why the Lailoken line was famous to start with. It wasn't luck that allowed him to live as long. He was no ordinary vampire.

"Seriously?" River asked, her smile growing. "You'll do it?"

"I will."

She squealed and hugged him around the neck. "Thank you so much, grandsire. I owe you a big favor. Anything you ask. And I'll totally take care of you after. You're invited to my family's den, and you may stay as long as you'd like."

"I'd like that. Maybe you'll help me fight for my woods?"

"Anything you want."

Josie said, "I still don't know what you two are talking about."

"You'll see," River said, grinning widely.

"Let's not waste the night," Lailoken said, rubbing his hands together. He approached Philip Leonardo who was chatting with his son. "Excuse me, you wouldn't have an age spiral in the area, would you?"

Philip Leonardo's eyes grew large. "An age spiral?"

"To prove my identity."

"You still insist on being an ancient?" He measured him from his flip-flop-wearing feet to his head and rolled his eyes. "Be my guest. This should be entertaining." He laughed, then clapped twice and announced. "Everyone, may I have your attention?" When the conversations paused, he continued. "For our final entertainment, our guest, presumably Lailoken, the blood bearer himself, would like to use our age spiral. Let the blood trials continue!"

The guests responded with delight and started moving away from the center of the room to stand at the sidelines. Servants politely ushered Lailoken and River to follow suit. The trees whispered too, getting just as hyped up.

River whispered, "He holds these trials here all the time. He just loves proving to everyone that they're nowhere close to being as old as he is. And he likes seeing others bleed."

"Don't we all..." Lailoken said. A commotion nearby caught his attention.

"Keep your fangs to yourself," Josie complained, moving closer toward him.

That vampire Banshee was right in her face, brandishing her fangs threateningly. "You should have left while you had the chance."

Lailoken sped to her in a blink of an eye and grabbed her wrist. "Don't you dare touch her. She's under my protection."

Banshee grinned devilishly as she stepped backward with her hands raised.

"Thanks," Josie said, hugging herself. "I hope this trial will be as fast as the first one."

"I wish," he murmured. He'd forgotten about Josie. The blood trial was bound to knock him out, leaving her without protection. He turned to River. "Watch over her when I'm unable."

"Yes, grandsire." She nodded respectfully and stood by Josie's side.

Meanwhile, the servants rolled up the floor covering, revealing white marble beneath it. A transparent tube was embedded into the tiles, forming the shape of a giant spiral. Year markers were engraved in gold. The ones closer to the center delineated every decade, while the ones further down only tracked centuries. Lailoken sighed at the sight. It wasn't his first time taking part in that blood trial, but it was bound to be worse than the last one. The older he was, the more brutal the process became.