“Soooo what are you girls doing?”

  Violet turns her head to me. She looks spent. She will need to drink soon. Qorth rubs her back and they separate. I hold my blood skin out to her. She shakes her head.

  “I fear I will spend it in tears.”

  That shocks me. I was so used to feeling her emotions. She looks annoyed at me. Then huffs out a laugh.

  “Thats just fuckin’ great.”

  I tilt my head at her. Not understanding.

  “Ya I bet you don't. Red, are you able to feel my emotions through our soul?”

  “No, but you already told me you broke our empathy.”

  “Ya well, I was feeling yours until my crying session.”

  Qorth looks at Violet with her head skewed. “What are you implying, My Lady.”

  This causes another sigh from Violet.

  “Red, drink enough to restore yourself. I'm sure I would simply cry it out again.”

  “Are you sure that's wise…I…” I begin to panic.

  Another flick meets my forehead.

  “You're a Vampire, yes, but you understand consequences, right?”

  I nod.

  “Then don't starve your babies, drink till you live again.”

  “Fine.”

  I bring the bloodskin to my lips. The lakes are low but I pull them into the skin as I drink. Slowly, I savor the mounting bliss. I feel my organs begin to awake. I take a shuddering breath, my lungs that were shriveled expanding again. I look at my sister who just motions me to get on with it. I drink more. The lakes are getting close to where my sister left them at my revival. I pull the skin away. Violet hugs me from behind. I smile, I was able to stop.

  I feel Qorth's happiness at my accomplishment…and my sister's melancholy. I can feel their emotions again… I start to shake. She whispers to me.

  “Seems I didn't do a good enough job ridding ourselves of our ability to care for others.”

  “You wouldn't be Sara otherwise.”

  “You still consider me Sara after what I have done. You saw the notification. She was worth zero exp. A fitting end to someone who had an aura of worthlessness.”

  My sister trembling steadies my own. I rub her back. I look at her.

  7 46 Vampire Voiceless Soul Tender Priestess, Voiceless Adventurer, Matriarch

  “You see our notification, yes? Only Sara Maxwell Magdeline bears the title [Voiceless], it's her unique title.”

  Our soul thrums as Violet trembles further.

  “But my body…”

  “Was just meat, we are more than that, Sara, even before our changes. We have a soul Tapestry, do we not?”

  Violet huffed out a sigh.

  “We haven't even gotten around to seeing it.”

  “I think we've been afraid too.”

  “Still cowards.”

  I laugh at that.

  “Sorry, I drank our lake low.”

  “I'll take another nip from Delores.”

  “You're going to feel bad about it when you're breathing, Violet.”

  “I hate that I think you're right about that.”

  “I hate that we die every time we sleep, I'm going to think real hard at [Vampiric Blood Kinesis] to give us sleeping movements. Can't be wasting all this blood.”

  “I will do the same, Red. You think I should ask her instead?”

  “You're becoming a terrible [Attendant] Violet, asking such from the mistress.”

  She looks annoyed at that. She pushes me away and turns to Qorth.

  “Well seems I fucked up Qorth, I still have empathy but only when satiated. So very Vampire of us, the thirstier we are, the less we care where we take it from.”

  Qorth actually brightens at that. Then starts to laugh.

  “It is only natural for the starving to care little for where their next meal comes from.”

  Violet smiles at that, “I suppose so.” She turns to me, “Red, ready to finish what we started before we were so rudely interrupted.”

  I smile, “Sure.”

  Level raised to 8

  Strength raised to 434

  Agility raised to 439

  Perception raised to 466

  Constitution raised to 437

  Presence raised to 542

  Mental Fortitude raised to 597

  Intelligence raised to 696

  Soul raised to 696

  You tied your supplicants closer to you

  Remaining soul 5

  Remaining soul 69

  Remaining soul 817

  You have fully subsumed a Supplicant, she waits for your blood. Any soul day she receives will feed you a year of her memories.

  The soul burn was immense, it is all I feel, fuck sister burned us terribly before. When I become lucid again, I direct my thoughts to Barbain.

  When is Beatrice next soul day?

  In seven months, why?

  Will the pregnancy come to term or will I eat a year of her memories. My body trembles at the implications. It doesn't even say where it will take her memories.

  Mother?

  -Our latest level up took Beatrice last piece of her spare soul, her next soul day will feed us a year of her memories. Red panicking about it.

  And you're not?

  -Word of warning dear, we lose our empathy the more undead we are. Don't let yourself get too low.

  Systems, right. Talking to Beatrice... she is alright with losing a year…

  She puts my desires above her own.

  -Red, miscarriages are common among elves, it doesn't affect their tapestry. Barbain are you somewhere private? We are doing this now.

  Yes, mother…

  I pale.

  “You will need to feed her, I don't have enough at the moment, Red.”

  “We could wait a day then, you should be the one to free her.”

  She shakes her head, “I'll lose my nerve and just keep delaying.”

  That won't do. I grabbed her face over her mouth and pushed my blood to her lips. Her eyes look annoyed as the blood flows into her. She gives in after a moment of absorbing through her skin and starts to drink in earnest. We are distinct enough to be able to feed off each other. I pale as her body wakes up. I don't feel the bliss from this but she does. The joy I feel from her fades as I die, not because she is not enjoying this but because I've lost my empathy. It's not a perfect transfer, my body nears empty before she is fully restored. I let go. She takes a shuddering breath.

  “Damn it, I can feel your emotions again. Why'd you go and waste blood like that? You got a fucking fixation with me devouring you.”

  I roll my eyes, “Because she is your [Supplicant] Violet, you claimed her. It's only right that you turn her. Would you please close your entrance, sister.”

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  She does with a pout, I pull Beatrice to us. She is barely showing. Barbain follows in after, her rose still ultra violet. Her color is healthy. Still alive. Xena is sleeping on her hump.

  “Mistress, I refuse. I am more than willing to lose a year of memories.”

  I ignore her, “[Supplicant] Beatrice Livarnna, do you wish to be as damned as us and revel in blood, to share my bliss and become a true daughter?”

  The question posed, she struggles with it. To lie to us. To put our wishes before her own. But this was a question I have asked of her soul. She cannot resist her own wishes in this, not with the weight of my soul forcing her to answer. Her own illusion of her other mind pops onto her shoulder. They both look at Violet.

  “Systems, we do [Matriarch], I can't stand being left behind by Bar Bar.”

  My life eyes light up as Violet embraces her. The blood flows and feeds Beatrice her first bit of bliss.

  “I thought you were the one who was alive.” Barbain comes up next to me.

  “I fed Violet my blood so she could have this moment with Beatrice.”

  She nods at that, “So Red and Violet, huh?”

  I smile.

  You have gained [Vampress Matriarch] Basic 4

  Gain 10 exp

  -----

  This is a daily reminder: You have 16 unallocated stat points

  Beatrice was rather annoyed that we won't tier her till after she comes to term. She only quieted down when Barbain explained that she would definitely lose the baby if she attempted it. The cheeky brat addressed me as mistress after she became our daughter, laughing at my consternation. I think I will progress Barbain further just to spite her.

  “Your hands are back to being cold again, Violet.”

  “Apologies mistress.”

  My body died when I went to sleep, mistress.

  She pulls her hair to the side and presents her neck to me.

  I can't very well have you looking like death warmed over.

  I don't make a move towards her. She quirks an eyebrow.

  Found out that I have empathy after all, I felt bitter at myself for taking from you after my body was revived enough. I will not repeat such foolishness now that I know the consequences.

  I already knew that. You shed a tear after you took from me yesterday. Now then bite down, you are to be presentable at all times, Sara.

  “Of course my mistress, I seem to have forgotten myself.”

  -----

  You have gained [Vampiric Blood Kinesis] Apprentice 1

  Apprentice - Your blood no longer ages, it awaits your use forever, sustainer magic has no effect on you, you can only get more blood by drinking it, this skill now improves your conversion rate on level

  Gain 4 exp

  My soul seized at that…immortal…

  -... Just our blood.

  Wait, so it's just forever there?

  -And we just lost a way to make more…two ways.

  Mother is going to kill us.

  -Luckily you're already dead, Red.

  I roll my eyes, seriously.

  This is my fault isn't it?

  -Maybe, but then again I kinda cracked our system. Maybe it's my fault.

  I grumble at the thought. Before I could complain further, I noticed the guild master and Sir Ujan enter the conference room. I swap my clothing for my new smaller purple suit. I turn to Qorth.

  “Sir Ujan is here, would you like to see your former instructor?”

  She sputters before getting herself collected, “I don't think that is wise, my Lady, I was discharged from the order due to my dereliction of duty.”

  “Your duty was to be my aide-de-camp. That I avoided you is not your fault. Come let him see how magnificent you are.”

  Her torso is clad in mithril armor, simple Tibyder robes cover her legs with the cabling over her abdomen, in light blue.

  “I still consider you my personal knight, aide-de-camp Qorth.”

  “Very well, let us meet with ‘fool who needed coaching on giving apologies’.”

  I will us both to the conference room.

  “-have no way of… apologies you're here [Priestess].” Sir Ujan sees Qorth, takes a moment, then continues. “Qorth it is good to see you again.”

  “Good to see you as well, Sir.”

  “Gentlemen, is there something you need of me? It's not time yet for my guild dues.”

  Guild master Peter looks to Sir Ujan. Guess this is the marshal's show.

  “The knights would like to hold the tournament of choosing inside your dungeon.”

  What? I take a moment to recover.

  “My understanding is that this event has nobility from all corners of the Queendom attending. Do you truly trust me with holding so many important people inside the dungeon?”

  “From my understanding Lady Magdeline, the only reason you have not joined the ranks of nobility yourself is you desire anonymity till you are older. Attempting to harm your Queendom future peers would certainly ruin such goals.”

  Peter looks from the knight to me. His eyes grow larger. I chuckle, he speaks of anonymity while saying my family name.

  “Alright so the knights are willing to trust me. But why here?”

  “Most of our knights in training are currently here already. Your dungeon is capable of creating the tournament grounds. It has two entrances which will allow some separation for commoners and nobility. And most importantly as a martial contest, your ability to prevent fatal injuries is most welcome.”

  I wonder how they know I can form a second entrance, mother, the viscount, or just plain assumption due to our behaviours. They certainly could have noted my leaving the static entrance but not returning to it. Doesn't matter. Seems I have some leverage though.

  The truth Qorth, tug my soul if you wish to rejoin the knights.

  A moment's hesitation. Nothing. I go to give my assent to Sir Ujan when she tugs my soul. I smile.

  “I am willing to accommodate the tournament on one condition. I want Qorth reinstated as a knight in training.”

  “Qorth was discharged after failing her duties, Lady Magdeline.”

  “Her duties were to me, which she did everything she could to maintain communication with me. I was a rather hard person to reach a few months ago, Sir Ujan.”

  Peter is shocked further but Sir Ujan just nods. He knows I am rather stubborn.

  “I will take your request to the [Marques].”

  “I hope for a favorable decision then, Sir Ujan.”

  I willed Qorth and myself back to my smithy.

  “Do you truly think they will reinstate me, my Lady.”

  “Guess it depends on how much they want this tournament held here. I am hoping that asking for something will make them think they can demand more of me.”

  “Why would you want that?”

  “Trust is easier with leverage, so long as they can deny your reinstatement they don't have to threaten me with something else. I have a reason to play nice. You saw how Sir Ujan brought up my future ennoblement. Leverage.”

  -----

  “Your tea, my mistress.”

  I take my position behind the mistress.

  “I don't see why you allow your [Attendant] to bleach their hair, Delores”

  Why have you remained? Red usually shows up at midday.

  You pointed out that I needed to be presentable, my sister suffers the same issue I do. Our reserves are low at the moment so it is better to just have one of us serving you through the day. I can't have you providing for my needs every day afterall.

  “This is actually Red's sister, Violet.”

  “You're not very good at nicknames, Delores. What is her name?”

  The mistress turns to me, “I am also Sara, miss.”

  “Now I feel as if I am being pranked. Is there a rash of poor namers in your father's demesne?"

  Jasmine looks at Hischurl, even as she makes her jest.

  “She believes what she says, my Lady.”

  “Truly a calamity of poor namers then. So twin [Attendants] serve you but I have only ever seen one. And they both have been injured in such a way that it has reduced their height to the same point. And both are named Sara. This must be a prank.”

  Delores is enjoying this too much.

  Do send Red tomorrow, if you can. Jasmine will only be more confused.

  As you wish.

  -----

  Awwww baby mithril rabbits. I move the warren to the first instance. It's a forest region with trents. The ramp down here is from the island at the very diminished blood lake. Wonder when mommy number two will give birth. The other two females are pregnant. I move the two males to the second and third instance. Hop hop hop. Pity Qorth can't play with these. They are quite aggressive, they tolerate me in that they don't but I am faster than they are.

  O Charles' group made it to the cells. I appear there as my smith form. They are taken by surprise by my pincers and tail.

  “Greetings.”

  “Ah fuck, why does it look like you got busy with a scorpion.” Charles rears back.

  “Makes it easier to hold metal.”

  “Why the tail?” Harold.

  “Intimidation.”

  “It works.” Dillon

  “So any new commission you wish done?”

  I have seed ready to place Leacea's hand … she is looking above my head with wide eyes. Is she seeing my tapestry? Damn. Her eyes pan down to me. I can't kill her with so many witnesses. She mumbles to herself.

  “Why do you have a tapestry and the threads of elves in it? You have titles like a person does what's going on.”

  Her eyes glow green as she tries to peer into me. My life core drops a quarter before she gives up.

  “Do you want life bandages or not.”

  “No.” She leaves.

  “Elf where are you going, we have a flower to pluck.” Harold yells towards the retreating Elf.

  When the rest of the party proceeds down, I teleport to the Elf.

  “Stay away from me devourer. Do you wish to add a third elf to your soul?”

  “Not particularly. What is your opinion on hybrids.”

  My soul eyes catch the geas flare on her as she attacks me.

  “Stop.”

  She does.

  “Answer my next few questions.”

  She stares blankly with a creepy smile on her face, “What is your opinion on hybrids.”

  “I have had to drown three of my own babies through my various larks, I cried every time.”

  I watch the geas struggle on her soul.

  “Do you despise the geas on your soul?”

  “Every Elf does. I am no different.”

  I pull her to me and gouge out the part of her soul that holds that fucking geas. She screams.

  You have gained [Soul Etching] Advanced 2

  Gain 160 exp

  I move back as I remove the mental mana from her. She snaps to a moment later.

  “What have you done…”

  “I made it so you won't drown your hybrid babies anymore.”

  “Until I die again. That bleeding geas is applied to every Elf soul at birth. She is going to have felt that. She'll know I am free and send someone to kill me. To put me back into the cycle. When I am born again they will know you. Then they will find you devourer.”

  “And do what, I'm a dungeon.”

  She laughs, “Do you think yourself invincible? You have a soul don't you? A devourer who thinks she can't be eaten.”

  I pale at that, which spurs more laughter from her.

  “So fundamentally you can't be found.”

  “And so we are back to where you devour me.” She takes a fighting stance again.

  “Two options, I kill you and rip your tapestry, or I change your race.”

  “Taking my memories will not save you, I would be easily traced back to here after I was born again. My party would have put a missing healer notice up. They would still find you.”

  She has yet to relax her stance.

  “You have yet to acknowledge option two.”

  “It's absurd, you think you can force my soul to be anything but an Elf.”

  “I have a few ways to do so, do you want to be a cat girl?”

  She barks a laugh at that.

  “Why the hell not, should you manage to actually change me? I will be most impressed. A fine lark indeed.”

  I walk up to her and give her a seed. She quirks an eyebrow. I just wave her off. I know I will hate this later. She swallows the seed. I will it into her heart as it sprouts. Her screams are immense. I change her ears and give her a tail. She feels them. Then it looks as if she is hearing something.

  “What is a Tibyder?”

  Shit did the…

  Vampress Matriarch - your bliss is yours to share

  Basic - you may communicate with the souls that hold a part of your soul

  Vampire - blood is your only sustenance

  Basic - your curse resist levels when others do

  Apprentice - your blood freely given will etch you daughters

  Competent - Your daughters are never truly gone, birth them anew when you are ready

  Intermediate - Not all of your people need to blessed to be your daughters, spread the gloriousness of the Tibyder

  Advanced - You can bestow the the Supplicant title with but a drop of your blood

  Fucking skill changed. Make more cat girls it said, now it’s spread the gloriousness of the Tibyder.

  “A cat girl with eight spider legs and a kaboose. You're going to need to eat a lot of food.”

  She starts laughing at that.

  “O that will be a grand lark indeed, you need not deceive me to go along with this.”

  I scrunched down a start kneeding my hands, “The skill changed on me. It used to be about cat girls when I used to only have two legs.”

  Or thought I had two legs…the skill etched based on my assumptions? I was drinking at the time. I should review my skills sometime. See if anything else changed. That it changed after the fact is annoying. Where was my notification on that system?

  The soon to be many leg Leacea is waving her hand in my face.

  “Sorry, I got stuck on a tangent.”

  “I said it's all well and good to be a ummm Tibyder but once I die my tapestry will be available to be born as an Elf again.”

  “Tibyder can be reborn as well.”

  She looks at herself with life eyes.

  “They have fucking elf ovaries… you're insane. She is going to hunt every last one of you and expunge your race.”

  “You keep saying ‘she’.”

  “And I'm going to keep doing so lest she hears this conversation. You seem rather stupid so if you want to die that much faster I can say it.”

  “We’re in an instance of a dungeon.”

  “I have more geas on me than the one you gouged out, fool.”

  “And my only way of seeing them is when they activate, damn.”