24.3

March 2, 2070, at 1943

Seattle, Inner City District, Broadmoor

“I can only imagine the cost,” Crystal murmured, her voice a delicate blend of silk and shadows. Standing statuesque in the center of a room adorned with Victorian elegance, she was the epitome of vampiric grace. The room, part of Nadja Daviar’s Seattle holdings, shimmered with reflections of a blood elf’s well-endowed form in the surrounding mirrors. Attending to Crystal was a tailor whose exquisite craftsmanship was as renowned as her eccentric nature.

“{The cost is equivalent to a few minutes of my time.}” Nadja stated through the communication earpiece given to Crystal earlier. The enchanted device was the first item handed to her after the VTOL landed at Seattle’s Daviar Mansion. Combined with a compact receiver and transmitter, it was a standard earpiece design. The magi-tech comms device fitted seamlessly to her blood elf-pointed ears, attaching with barely a whisper of clinging shadow. However, what set it apart was not its bog basic features but the magical “look-elsewhere” charm of the bejeweled item, which discreetly diverted casual curiosity.

Crystal’s glowing crimson eyes studied the dress taking shape around her in the mirrors. The tailor, a diminutive woman with nimble fingers, worked magic with fabric and thread. The dress, a fusion of reds and blacks, seemed alive, pulsating with the essence of the night. Its unmistakably enchanted fabric is captured at a glance with its mesmerizing allure. “{Thank you for informing me of the value of your attention.}” Crystal sub-vocalized.

“{I’m bored. Watching you get civilized takes a fraction of my attention and is amusing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone as uncomfortable at a fitting in my life.}” Nadja stated in an amused tone.

“{She keeps using an array of sharp objects faster than I wield my sword. What gonk wouldn’t be nervous if they had any sense!}” Crystal replied. In service to her Patron, Crystal gained the freedom unbound by time’s caress. Yet, in the presence of this nameless tailor, known for her sharp tools and even sharper tongue, Crystal felt an unusual twinge of apprehension. It was probably just hunger. It wasn’t like she was nervous. Vampires didn’t get anxious. “Needles are just smaller swords, right?” Crystal thought as she controlled a flinch.

“{Such a big baby, aren’t needles used to draw blood?” Nadja teased.

“{I wouldn’t know; I’m always out cold when the doc is working.}” Crystal admitted. It wasn’t like anyone wanted to stay awake for a ripper to work on them. That would be unhinged and a good cyber-psycho indicator in her book.

The tailor worked in a focused silence with her raven hair and piercing blue eyes. Her reputation for serving the supernatural elite was unmatched. Crystal hadn’t asked any questions, not that she was even given the time to, attributing the expert’s care to the fact that her employer was wealthier than most countries. Research in the Matrix had shown the seamstress’s known creations were more than mere garments; they were powerful statements, artifacts of allure capable of altering destinies. And given the steep price, they certainly should be.

“{Black and red are certainly excellent colors.}” Nadja said with appreciation. “{As expected of a Blood Elf.}”

Crystal nodded, “{Black and blue for you, according to the pictures I’ve checked on the Matrix. Do you think it’s just natural that those associated with blood and death gravitate towards it?}”

“{I doubt it. There isn’t any cosmic law in place. Probably.}” Nadja said. “{If there were, it wouldn’t surprise me, though. As your Patron stated, Laws are woven throughout reality. What would that even be called? The Law of Color? Heh.}”

As the tailor perfected the dress’s hem, Crystal’s mind drifted to the time of her transformation – a whirlwind of agreement, ecstasy, and the subtle thirst that followed. The dress nearing completion was a testament to the tailor’s skill. Adorned with intricate embroidered red designs and a slit skirt of flowing abyss-black silk, it was a garment fit for a royal court, exuding power and seduction in equal measure. Replicating it through blood magic would be a formidable challenge.

“You’ll be the envy of the ball,” the tailor stated, her voice laced with pride and disdain. “But remember, the wearer makes the true statement, not just the dress.” The tailor sniffed as she looked at Crystal’s sword belt. She seemed offended at the weapon, as if it had done the seamstress wrong in some manner.

Crystal nodded at the woman, her expression a mask of unreadable poise. The upcoming midnight ball would be a pivotal event in the supernatural realm. It was more than a mere social gathering. For all that attended, it was an arena of political maneuvering, where alliances were formed, and betrayals were as common as the glittering smiles. For Nadja, it was an opportunity to reinforce her influence among Seattle’s socialites. Crystal clearly understood her role as Nadja’s bodyguard – she was to be the silent protector, the one to handle any underhanded schemes discreetly. To do that, she would require greater power. Some attending could paste her current form as a bloody smear on ebony wood panel walls.

After the tailor’s departure, Crystal disrobed with casual indifference. While the dress was a masterpiece, it was still not an inherent part of her. Drenching herself in woven blood and mimicking the form would be better than losing function. Now, it was time to prepare. She sent a quick message through the Matrix, informing Nadja of her need to prepare before the witching hour arrived.

With her employer thus aware, Crystal looked around, staring intensely at her mirror reflections. With an application of blood-imbued mana sight, the mirrors revealed more than her physical form; they showed the vast potential for growth in her powers. The realization that her blood magic held untapped potential filled her with exhilaration and resolve. She took a deep breath for luck before delving deep into her inner essence.

Her mind sank into the darkness of meditation as the physical world departed from her senses. When she opened her eyes again, she stood once more on the endless lake of liquid life. As before, her hair fell past her ankles, drinking deep of the fluid she stood upon.

However, this time, there was another nearby. Crystal’s eyes narrowed as she squinted at the radiant form of her Patron, who floated aimlessly in a languid pose, suspended mid-air above an endless lake of red mere armlengths below.

“Finally. I was wondering when you’d get here.” Eve said, looking half-awake. “You have questions, and I have answers. Limited ones to keep the cost down. I won’t be going into debt with Kudzu to satisfy your curiosity after all. The fact that you came here shows you partially understand what you lack, which is better than most. Go ahead, ask.”

“How many?” Crystal asked, unconcerned about how her Patron was present.

“Three. No more, no less. That previous question won’t count toward the total; I’m not some riddling cat-lion crossbreed trying to squeeze out from a deal.” Eve stated as she started a slow circle around Crystal’s standing form.

“Three questions to gain more power.” Crystal thought nervously. It would have to be enough because she would make it count.

“What in this specific place can I do that would give me enough power to survive a dragon like the one Nadja served?” Crystal asked after taking care to phrase her question as best as she knew.

“Very good.” Eve said with a devious smile, continuing, “What lies underneath is not blood, but the Law of Blood.” The words only partially made sense, but even the little she understood made Crystal’s heart race.

“What is the best sword I can gain, in your opinion?” Crystal asked, trying to learn how she could upgrade her current weapon.

“Use your imagination. You have all the qualities of both a vampire and an elf. Not all swords, including my gift, are…real.” Eve said as her form dimmed like a suppressed light bulb before blazing with silver light as she glared at the liquid underneath.

“In your view, what is the best boost to gaining a quick increase in power without costing me future returns,” Crystal asked for her third and final question.

“Drink deep,” Eve said before her form fizzled like sparkling silver soda and vanished.

Crystal sighed. It felt like she had wasted her questions, but they were the best she could think of immediately. Looking at the crimson ocean beneath, her eyes narrowed. Bending down, the vampire cupped her hands and scooped some of the blood up. Tilting her head back, Crystal gulped the liquid down.

The world twisted as Crystal’s mind expanded beyond the limits of her body. Within minutes, the concept of a ‘blood sword’ took shape in her thoughts – a weapon not of steel and runes but of will and magic. Understanding dawned that her deadliest weapon was the Law of Blood, now more potent than ever. The law taught effortlessly the intricate nuances of blood magic to harness its full potential. While wielding a sword might bring triumphant joy, the same token applied to her crimson knowledge. The Law of Blood whispered promises of untapped depths and uncharted powers.

A mere gulp had done this much to increase her powers, and Crystal’s eyes lit up. A vampire’s thirst was always present, the endless gnawing hunger without surcease. “Surely just a few more sips wouldn’t go amiss?” Crystal thought.

Using her control, she pulled a thin streamer of blood up, letting it flow into her mouth. The taste of the crimson fluid was as if every delicious thing she had ever consumed had been pared down to its barest essence. The world around Crystal dimmed, the vibrant ocean of life fading to a monochrome gray as the lifeblood surged through her. She felt the very nature of the universe bending towards her as if gravity had warped, strange noises akin to the secret whispers of the dead and the damned echoing in her ears.

As the liquid anima coursed through her veins, Crystal realized her folly. The power was too much, too intoxicating. Shadows lengthened, curling around her like possessive lovers, whispering of ancient pacts and forbidden knowledge.

The Law of Blood was not a mere tool to be wielded; it was a living, breathing entity with desires and demands. Crystal had become a conduit for something far older and more dangerous than she had imagined. The air around her crackled with power, the taste of iron heavy on her tongue.

Figures emerged from the shadows, their forms blurred and shifting, remnants of those who had once dared to master the Law of Blood and failed. They were the forgotten, the consumed, their voices a cacophony of warnings and wails. Crystal stood at the crossroads of infinity, caught between the allure of ultimate power and the abyss that awaited should she falter.

Before she was completely obliterated, there was a sparkling snap. Silver lightning lit up the world, blinding Crystal’s senses before she was severed from the encompassing flood. The next thing she knew, she was kneeling on the stilled crimson ocean, tiny sparkles of silver lightning flickering around her.

Crystal grimaced as her body was covered with burned patches of skin that looked like someone had taken a blowtorch to her body. In the moments it took her flesh to heal, she became aware of something else in her mind demanding attention. Closing her eyes and looking inward, a red glow in the darkness appeared. As she approached, a rotating dodecahedron shimmered with the color of red anima.

After several moments of examination, two runes were found on one of the dodecahedron’s sides. Crystal focused, and the entire object halted, moving the runes closer for observation.

“Elemental. Sword.” Crystal said as the meaning of the runes was translated into her mind without effort. Opening her eyes, confusion could be seen swimming within them. There wasn’t any chance to learn more, though, as she was suddenly thrust out of the mental landscape.

The sensation of a cold marble floor greeted Crystal as she snapped fully awake. Rising from it, she took stock by glancing at her status.

Level Sixteen

Name: V (Crystal Moss)

Age: D

Race: Blood Elemental

Attribute Points: 15
Skill Points: 10

Warlock-Fighter Level: 16

2,100/9,100 TNL 17

Attribute and Skills

Body 12

• Blood Elemental Form (Annihilation) • Regenerative Might - The elemental’s ability to regenerate intensifies with access to more of their element. All previous bonuses remain. (6)

• Bloody Bones (Athletics) • Skeleton of Blood - The elemental gains a skeletal form from crystallized blood. All previous bonuses remain. (6)

Coolness 12

• Icy Blood (Cold-Blooded) • Bloodborne – The elemental grows emotionally detached from those they do not meet regularly. (1)

• Shadow Blooded (Ninjitsu) • Unseen Menace - The elemental’s physical and mystical detectability diminishes to mortal and immortal senses. (12)

Intelligence 12

• Crimson Insight (Breach) • Bloodbearers - The elemental’s capacity to process information accelerates. (0)

• Crimson Memory (Quickhacking) • Dark Custodians - The elemental’s ability to retain memories strengthens. (10)

Reflexes 12

• Fluid Grace (Assault) • Artful Execution - Death becomes an art form, with the elemental’s physical manifestations as the carving tools. (12)

• Sword Dance (Blades) • Blade Ballet - Death transforms into art, and blades become the maestro's baton. (12)

• Hemalurgy (Handguns) • Essence Drain - Death takes an artistic turn, and life drainage is the epitome. (0)

Technical Ability 12

• Blood Rites (Crafting) • Hematological Rituals - The path to unyielding power, escalating through practice. (3)

• Arcane Engineering (Engineering) • Blood Mana Theory - The road to limitless knowledge, progressing with practice. (3)

Blood Elemental Effects:

Heightened Senses

Divine Shadow Shroud

Eldritch Invocation Slots (7/7):

Shadow Armor
Beast Tongue

Gift of the Depths

Inauguration of the Chainpact
Misty Visions

Repelling Blast

Many Faces

Weapon: Blood Athame (+3 Bonuses for Sharpening)

Forms (Dark Blood-blade): Dagger, Short Gladius, Rapier, Two-Handed Longsword

Cantrips: Clean, Prestidigitation, On/Off, Eldritch Blast(240 ft, 3 Beams)
1rst Level Spells: Disguise Self (Shadow Touched, Illusion School), Comprehend Languages (Fey Touched, Divination School)

2nd Level Spell: Invisibility (Shadow Touched, Illusion), Misty Step (Fey Touched, Conjuration)

Feats: Spell Sniper (Doubles Cast Range, Cover Penetration), Shadow Touched (Grants Disguise Self, Invisibility), Fey Touched (Grants Comprehend Languages, Misty Step)

Otherworldly Patron Bonuses changed to Eldritch Passives:

6th Level Rune Eyes (Gained)

10th Level One with all Shadows (Gained)

13th Level Otherworld Leap (Gained)

Otherworldly Arcanum Bonuses changed to Eldritch Passives:

11th Devil Sight (Gained)

13th Eldritch Spear (Gained)

15th Chain Master’s Whisper

17th Grave Whispering

Magical Training Human Bonus Feat, Lighting Reflexes, Single Weapon Fighting Fighter Bonus Feat

Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons

Slicing Blow

Knight's Training

Improved Single Weapon Fighting

Weapon Specialization: Slashing

Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing

Improved Critical: Slashing

Tactical Combatant

Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing, Precision

Greater Single Weapon Fighting

Offhand Versatility

It took a moment to process there had been significant changes to her status as a result of her recent foray. Even as she read the changes, her eyes drifted back to the symbol for age; out of all the alterations, that was the one that gave her the highest sense of disorientation.

“Fifteen Attributes and Ten Skill points, and now I’m not a vampire but an elemental, whatever that means. My cyberdeck is gone, along with all the programs too.” Crystal thought in dismay as she stared at her status. The only thing that didn’t show any change was the strange bonuses she’d been given, such as Offhand Versatility or Slicing Blow. It seemed the Law of Blood could not extend its reach into something granted by whatever her Patron had negotiated with for those.

After witnessing the Law, thinking there was something above such an entity was disturbing. Crystal sighed after considering her current status. There was no other way to say it; she had gotten lazy. Content to sit on her laurels unchallenged like a corpo exec, consoling herself that she was saving for a rainy day. That wasn’t what her Patron wanted to see. That meant changes were in order. The distribution of power would change to use what existed firmly.

Crystal didn’t think keeping a reserve was wrong, but clearly, this wasn’t a reserve. It was a massive waste of potential. “If I have to make a change in the middle of a battle and can’t adapt to it fast enough, what is the point?” the blood elemental thought as she sighed at the reflecting mirrors around her.

No, it’s better to allocate now. It wasn’t a party they were heading to; it was a battlefield. Crystal took a thoughtful expression while looking over her options. “Blood Magic?” Crystal thought. She had been making do with her sword and alchemy to date. Pure hemalurgy was quite a bit different than merely moving the liquid around. A whip made of blood wouldn’t penetrate magical defenses unless it were also imbued with blood magic, anima, in other words.

On the other hand, she was uniquely positioned to boost one attribute to maximum and another to just under it. With a thought, Body became nineteen, while Reflex became twenty. The idea of magic enticed her, pushing Hemalurgy to ten. At first, there didn’t appear to be any effect, a marked difference from previous times. She chalked it up to her new status as an elemental. Yet, they moved slowly when Crystal looked at the reflections around her.

Even as the realization occurred, a tempered flood of information poured into her mind. Devouring a portion of the Law of Blood came with risks, actual, but rewards as well. What had been cobbled information and barely understood concepts were now rock-solid foundations and mastered additions to her arsenal. Droplets of blood rippled in a ring around Crystal, pulled from her supply. With a thought, they shot down into the marble like sniper bullets from a corp’s hit squad.

“Nice,” Crystal said as her eyes gleamed.

Summoning her dark-blood dagger, she let it drop from her hands. The dagger moved gradually before plunging into the marble floor below. Crystal gave a wide-eyed manic grin, which short-circuited when she heard, “I hope you have a good reason for vandalizing my flooring?”

“I can explain; there’s a logical reason for this,” Crystal replied to Nadja, who had entered unheard. Dismay struck as she realized that the slower speed of things around her extended to everything.

After several garbled communication attempts, Nadja eventually understood the problem. A new earpiece arrived ten minutes later, showing the resources that only a wealthy individual could command.

Placing the new earpiece on and discarding the old one, Crystal could listen to everyday speech again. “It’s a bit pricey, but essentially casts a derivative of Haste on your perceptions regarding speech. It won’t affect your combat perceptions, though.” Nadja said with a casual dismissal. “Now explain your logical reason for murdering the marble.”

“Seeing your lips move out of sync with what I hear is very weird. Creepy.” Crystal said with a slight shudder. There was just something off about the effect. “Regarding the floor, I got a little carried away testing a new boost to my powers. Apologies. I have a small amount of funds; how much would it take to repair?”

Nadja shrugged as she looked at Crystal before narrowing her eyes. “A new boost in power? I see. Without the assurance of a contract with your Patron, I couldn’t tell you are the same person.”

Crystal began forming the dress from an earlier piece by piece even as she asked, “What are you talking about?” It wasn’t like she could explain her race had changed. That would lead to unsavory questions, no matter how much of an ally Nadja might be.

Nadja turned, gesturing to follow her finery, displaying a corporate gleam. Crystal kept pace with the banshee as they passed through multiple corridors. It only took a glance at one of the grandfather clock timepieces to understand. The banshee hadn’t come to collect her earlier than planned. Instead, several hours had passed.

Even as they moved, many individuals joined them like a parade of shadows. Crystal realized these were Nadja’s regular entourage. She hadn’t met them before but carefully cataloged their mortal forms.

“Mortal forms?” Crystal thought as she realized her body recorded the people around her with senses other than the usual six. Elementals weren’t content with a basic view of the world, the former vampire learned with an eye roll.

Upon reaching the VTOL hangar, the entourage split like a well-oiled machine. Crystal followed Nadja into the same VTOL as before while several other vehicles lifted behind their ascent.

“I haven’t introduced you to the others for security reasons. All they know is you are an elite bodyguard from Tir Na Nog on loan due to a favor.” Nadja said as her hair shifted to a wheat blonde and her eyes took on the skein of frozen sea ice.

Crystal nodded as her hair lengthened, spilling down to her lower back in an ever-lightening crimson shimmer. At the same time, her eyes grew multiple sclera rings alternating from crimson to abyss black. “Understood. Is there a particular agenda you would like me to assist with?”

Nadja’s eyes flickered with confusion before clearing as she said, “Your boost in power. It allows you to protect me without being nearby?” The dead elf’s leap in logic was incredible, instantly showcasing what had made her a powerhouse.

Crystal didn’t bother replying, merely holding up her right palm. A crimson ring perfectly sized for the banshee appeared. Nadja removed the ring, examining it with her magical senses. “It absorbs damage? No, it transfers it. Back to…you? That wouldn’t work unless…” The banshee’s eyes narrowed as she slipped the ring on, clearly intending to test it. Producing a dagger from somewhere within her dress, Crystal watched nonpulsed as it was thrust into a non-lethal area on Nadja’s torso.

It was like watching someone put a knife into the water. As soon as Najda removed the dagger, her skin appeared no different from before. Her dress seamlessly repaired itself, and she tucked the dagger away. Crystal had no clue exactly how the magic worked, but she knew it transferred the damage to her body.

The display demonstrated that non-magical, purely physical weaponry was obsolete.

“That wasn’t regeneration,” Nadja said with a glint in her eyes. “You didn’t even take damage; there’s no scent of blood, and unless your nerve endings are dead, you felt no pain either.”

For a brief instance, Crystal felt like an eccentric ripper-doc was staring at her. Then, the sensation faded. “No wonder the contract with your Patron is so thorough if she can grant such things,” Nadja said, looking out the tinted window at the approaching Space Needle.

Even as her employer looked towards the historic landmark now under corporate control, Crystal eyed the above-gathering clouds. It seemed that even in another world, Seattle’s infamous rain existed without care for the concerns of mere mortals.