Chrissy POV

  I opened my eyes, and I had no idea how long I’ve been meditating. I could see sunlight, peaking through the windows and my legs ached. I quickly got to my feet and looked around, seeing that no one was here, inside the kitchen. It was obvious that I have been meditating for hours, and yet, I haven’t found out anything about the orb and why it was sending nightmares. I sighed, I knew this was going to be tiresome.

  ‘Why is everyone outside?’ I could sense everyone, including Vivian, outside. I quickly headed out the front door and I could see everyone sitting around a wooden table. There was a large trampoline and a thin plyboard standing up right and a few lying to the side.

  “Why are all of you outside?” I asked confused, they were normally inside this early in the morning

  “Oh good you’re awake, I told you she would wake up as soon as the spirit root candle burned out.” Alaric said and I wondered why he sounded so happy and what the hell was a spirit root candle.

  “Yeah well, it’s her first time trying to connect with her magical energy. Of course she wouldn’t be able to continue without some external aid.” Grandma said while looking at Alaric and he looked away. I could tell he was pissed off about something, but I’m not sure what.

  “What are you guys talking?” I couldn’t help, but ask

  “Nothing, so how was it your meditation? Did you connect to your magical energy?” Grandma asked

  “Yes, kind of. I mean I saw something, but I’m not sure I connected to it.” I said thoughtfully

  “Explain to us what happened in detail.” Vivian said calmly, I wanted to ask why she was acting so weird last night, but now wasn’t the time. Now was the time to figure out what exactly was going on with me.

  “Well, when I closed my eyes I was sinking in darkness and when I opened it again, I found myself somewhere. I was surrounded by this dense mist, it was almost solid to the touch. It kind of looked like the Aurora Borealis, switching between different colors, it was really beautiful. I followed my instincts through the mist and found this small crimson red orb about the size of a bowling ball with cracks all over it. It-”

  “Fuck.” I heard mutter under his breath before I could finish what I was saying. I could see a somber look on everyone’s face.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Honey, that crimson orb is your core and it’s damaged.” Mom said sorrowfully. It looked like she’s on the verge of tears.

  “What exactly is my core?” I asked, it’s the first time I’ve heard them mention something like that.

  “Your core is like your heart, where all your magic power is stored and distributed around your body. The core is what makes supernaturals different from humans, it contains what would be considered our essence, our lifeblood. If our core is destroyed then we could die or become crippled and slowly die.” Mom said

  “And since mine is cracked, I’m closer to that reality. So I might die at any moment, but I feel fine, in fact, I feel better than I have in my entire life. How can I just die when I finally-” I said and I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks and my mom came forward and gave me a hug.

  “It’s not hopeless you know, their are ways to strengthen and heal your core.” Vivian said and I looked at her.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, strengthening her core could kill her and to heal her core she would need a blood demon or if the damage is too severe, a blood devil. The only blood devil we know of is lady Lamagra. Do you know a blood demon?” Grandpa scoffed angrily

  “I just might.” Vivian said and everyone looked at her in surprise

  “Since when do you have demon friends?” Alaric asked

  “It’s complicated. They aren’t exactly the type to just grant favors, no demon is I guess. But don’t worry, if things get too bad then I should be able to convince them to help.” Vivian said

  “Who is this demon exactly?” Grandpa asked

  “I can’t tell you that.” She answered and grandpa looked at her furiously

  “If you want, I could give you their address and you go ask them yourself.” She said with a glare and grandpa backed off. I’ve heard about how fiercesome demons, they say one can take out an entire city if they felt like it and spread their power over an entire country if they were strong enough. A few demons appeared during the blood wars, and messed with the flow of battle, making it even more chaotic and bloody. They didn’t fight on any particular side and, according to my grandfather, they only messed with them for amusement. Not fighting for any side, but their own pleasure. Most of them were killed by the Blood Red Commander and Thunder Witch of the East, another helsing, during the war. Preventing even more casualties. Devils were even more powerful, they had the power to create entire races of supernaturals, and could destroy an entire country with their power. Despite that, only four races of supernatural were created by their will, vampires included.

  “Chrissy, you mentioned that you saw mist surrounding your core?” Vivian said, obviously trying to change the mood

  “Y-yes, I saw thick mist surrounding my core. I could tell it wasn’t mine, it was Victor’s.” I said, wiping the tears from my mind and removing myself from my mother’s embrace

  “How do you know it’s his?” Mom asked, furrowing her brows

  “It just, felt like him I guess. As soon as I made contact with it, it felt like him.” I said

  “So he has potent magical energy. He could be using a charm to make himself smell and seem human. That would explain why their wasn’t a trail when I went to that alley, he could have erased it with magic.” Dad said

  “That’s not good, Chrissy, you were saying something before you were interrupted?” Vivian asked and I thought for a second before I remembered

  “Oh yeah, I heard this low shrill shriek from the blood core. When I touched it, the images of the nightmares I’ve been having for the past few years flashed through my mind.” I said and Vivian thought for a second

  “It’s probably trying to warn you or tell you about something.” Grandma answered

  “Yeah, that I’m going to die.” I said gloomily

  “Not necessarily, you said the dreams were always contradicting, like opposites fighting each other, making you feel horrible. Maybe it has something to do with your contrasting existence of being half human, half vampire.” Vivian said

  “So you’re saying that contrasting nature is giving me nightmares?” I asked blandly

  “I think so, but what exactly that means for you I’m not so sure. You haven’t had anymore nightmares since you fed off Victor right, maybe something is happening inside your body. Maybe your cracked core doesn’t mean you’re dying, but that it’s finally on the track to becoming a true halfling.” Vivian said and I felt hopeful once more. Maybe I’m going to become something great, something amazing, something stronger than a mere vampire.

  “Or it could just mean she’s dying?” Alaric said, throwing cold water on my dreams