“Okay, now those fuckers, I’ve come across before. Way too many times.”
Harlow never appreciated being in a fight, only for the asshole he’d been punching to turn into some random ass animal mid-swing.
Foxx giggled. “Yeah, Zabier is said to have spread his line far and wide. So, not surprising you have run into a lot of them.
“The next is the youngest brother, Naos. His line is the Bloodline of Healers.” Foxx frowned. “He is one of the ones lost to us.”
“Someone killed him?” Well, someone had to have. Vampires did not die of old age.
“Yes…his four currently still living siblings.”
“They killed their own brother?” Not that Harlow cared. But generally speaking, he’d assumed killing your sibling would be looked down on in most societies.
“They killed both him and the sister who was the beginning of the Illusionist Bloodline. So first, let me explain the Healer Bloodline. The younger ones can sense and pinpoint what is causing someone to get sick. The older can heal most diseases and wounds, or they can kill using those diseases and injuries against us. Daydric once told me that Naos was the kindest of them all. But like his younger sister, Zita, of the Illusionist line, he fell to darkness and madness. How to explain the Bloodline of Illusionist…” Foxx paused before saying, “So, as you know, vampires have the ability to control minds for a limited amount of time, but they can also project a mental haze. It’s connected to mind control, but it’s considered a minor illusion. Not elaborate, but useful. It’s like projecting static that confuses the senses for a little while. Depending on how old they are, they can even use it on young vampires. But as a hunter, you know that how well it works depends on the strength of the one it’s being used on. For those of the Illusionist Bloodline, it goes further. It’s more perfect, harder to break, and harder to detect. For the younger of that bloodline, the haze is more like an expert painting that is being projected. Like with most of our powers, they won’t work on those older than them, or if they do, it’s in a limited capacity. The older of the line can create fake worlds, and manipulate others into believing it is reality. Even for the strongest minds, it’s hard to break, regardless if you recognize you are trapped in one or not. It can be quite dangerous.”
Harlow grunted. “I’m pretty sure I ran across some vampires of the Illusionist Bloodline before, but none very strong. I’m not sure of the Healer line.”
“Yes, well, with the Illusionist line, those stronger abilities usually don’t manifest until the vampires are past their seven hundredth year. Though I think this is more because the knowledge of how to train and become stronger in the bloodline was lost with the death of Zita. Unlike Naos, who was open with his abilities, and trained all who came to him… She kept her secrets close to her, so most of it was lost when she died.”
“So, what exactly did they do to end up dead?” he asked, even though he really didn’t care.
“They lost their minds. Started murdering humans, vampires, and other paranormals en masse. They tried to essentially become living Gods. From the stories I've heard, it was violent and destructive. They were beings of great powers. They had powers that I’m sure no one of their lines will ever fully come into. It was too dangerous to let them continue on living as they were.”
“So, they took them out?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s all very informative… Is that it?”
“Those are the bloodlines. What else do you want to know? Or I suppose, what else don’t you know about vampires?” Foxx paused, obviously trying to think about what Harlow wouldn’t know. “So, not too deep, but you probably don’t know this one. Blood can taste different depending on how we drink it. Though bagged blood is really like water. Warm it up, chill it, let it sit at room temp… All that doesn’t necessarily change what it is, or how it tastes too much. But it’s different when it’s blood from the source.”
Well, Foxx was correct. He didn’t know much about their blood consumption, besides that they did in fact drink blood. Then again, why would he? One didn’t usually sit down and talk to the people they were trying to kill about the taste of their food.
“People taste different?”
“They do! That difference is lost when the blood is bagged. But when it’s directly from the vein, there are many different flavors to be had. For instance, diabetics taste sweet. While someone who is terminally ill, or very sick, their blood is often more bitter.”
Harlow head cocked. “You can tell when someone is sick? It’s not just the Healer line?”
“Tasting the sickness is different from what the Healer line can do. They can see the illness or wounds. We can just taste that something is wrong. Depending on if we know what someone with say cancer tastes like, we may be able to pinpoint what type of disease someone has, but it’s not as exact and easily done. It happens to be a very closely kept ability. I’m sure you can understand why.”
“There were calls demanding you all be dissected and studied, early into your reveal to the world. I doubt I have to venture far into that notion as to why you all keep certain things to yourselves. Probably why the full extent of the vampire’s bloodlines is also not widely known.”
There had even been companies who had started studies…lots of lawsuits and criminal matters had come out of that. Not too much could be done though. Since, at the time when it happened, paranormals had no rights.
“Pretty much. No offense, but some humans think their lives are worth more than our freedoms.”
“Right. Good thing I don’t have an altruistic bone in my body. And I don’t really care how many you could help with your abilities.”
Foxx laughed. “If you did, it wouldn’t exactly go with the whole psychopath thing, would it?”
“So, Tony did tell you about that possibility. I assumed he would. And you hinted at knowing, but I wasn’t sure, considering you decided to let me live with you…for now.”
“He may have mentioned it.”
It was odd to him that Foxx hadn’t wanted a new partner, and that he continued to flirt while letting him live in his condo. Who would let a possible psychopath live with them? “Do you have a death wish?”
Foxx sputtered. “I-I don’t! Why do people keep thinking that?!”
