The Crimson Reaper-Chapter 56: Let’s Move Out

The old house had gotten more lively than a few hours ago.

It was surrounded by sounds of laughing and playing children as they ran around.

Luciel slowly opened his eyes, being woken up because of the noise, but what he saw next brought a smile to his face.

Helen was there in the middle of the living room, playing with the kids who kept running around her.

’Glad I picked her.’ Luciel chuckled, not taking his eyes off his better half, feeling happy just by seeing her like this.

"Oh! Luci, you awake, come and join us!" She called out to her husband once she noticed him staring in her direction.

For a moment, Helen was taken aback after seeing his crimson eyes, but the uncomfortable feeling went away soon after. It would take a little time to get adjusted to this new change.

"I would, but I have something to do. Wake up Melisa and inform the others, that we are heading out soon." Luciel announced, staring outside through a broken door. The sun was almost set and it was time for the creatures of the night to take over.

"I’ll be back soon, so get ready." He added and walked out, wanting to get some peace. He could feel an annoying tingling sensation on his exposed skin due to the weak sun rays that were still out.

Luciel climbed up onto the roof where no one would be able to disturb him and sat down, starting to meditate.

Before heading toward the shelter, he wanted to see if something inside his body might have changed because when he drank Helen’s blood, he could feel something else inside it.

Slowly breathing in and out, filling his lungs with air, Luciel started to focus on the familiar, warm feeling of Qi inside his body. It felt stronger than ever.

He started to circulate it, spreading it evenly, feeling a powerful force going around his being. He noticed that the more he would do this, the easier it would become, slowly starting to feel like second nature.

"Yin gives a form, while yang gives a spark," Luciel repeated Nosferatu’s teachings. He didn’t approve of the old vampire, but whatever he was telling him seemed to be working.

Luciel tried to engrave the last words he told him into his head. He still didn’t understand what he meant by that, but it seemed to be something that would follow him along his journey.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to empty his mind, focusing on only finding his Yin for now. It was a cool sensation, followed by the feeling of being in the vast, open space with nothing inside it.

While in a deep state, Luciel could feel a gentle breeze of wind against his face, and the sound of crickets and owls. His senses as a vampire were already well developed, but this right now felt otherworldly. It wasn’t as distracting as someone would think, quite the opposite. It was more like being connected with nature.

Luciel continued to focus on the feeling of quietness inside his mind while slowly changing his breathing style, actively lengthening the inhale and forcefully exhaling, doing just as he thought.

After some time, slowly but subtly, he felt how his body temperature started to increase, his muscles tensing as the shift started to happen.

He started to become more aware of his arms, hands, legs, and feet while something was prompting him to go into action. It felt like something was burning inside his body, like the sun scorching his skin, it was at the same time painful and energizing.

Luciel could feel it, two energies mixed together that kept circulating. It felt like his body was gradually switching from one state to another.

Snapping his eyes open, Luciel slowly got up while still holding the feeling of this new energy that he hadn’t had a chance to experience till now.

He got in the low stance, raising both of his fists in slow motion, punching the air with a force to be reckoned with. Luciel could feed a powerful force behind each attack that wasn’t there before.

All of this felt similar to his previous training, proving that Nosferatu stayed true to his promise.

Luciel made a slow motion with his hands before shifting his balance, sending out a kick stronger than ever before while focusing on the fiery passion to get stronger, more powerful, a force to be reckoned with.

He wanted to protect those that he considered his loved ones while helping those who had been wronged. Being on the weak side of things when he was younger and throughout his life, he was and experienced the injustice brought by those with wealth and/or power made him feel sick.

Becoming a vampire started to seem more and more like an opportunity than a curse, especially now with Helen staying by his side.

Luciel continued to focus, thinking about his future goals to the point that he lost track of time as he was being locked in the state of feeling alive, full of energy.

"Luciel?"

He heard a voice that echoed through his mind but didn’t pay attention until he heard it again, slowly stopping and opening his eyes.

’Looks like that old relic spared with me with a purpose.’ Luciel clenched and relaxed his fist a few times as he felt the energy going dormant again.

"Luciel, ready to go?" Helen tilted her head, wondering what her husband had been doing all this time. It looked like he was training, but this fighting style wasn’t something that he would usually use. It made her wonder what might have happened to cause the sudden shift.

"It’s time?" He asked, jumping down in front of her, and giving her a small smooch on her face.

"Yeah, everyone is ready, you are the last one. We got worried for a second that you weren’t feeling well, but here you are, striking the air." Helen sounded slightly annoyed as she put her hands on her waist, sending him a glare.

He insisted that they start heading out as soon as possible, but here he was, being late, at least it seemed like some sort of training rather than just wasting time.

"Sorry, I lost track of time." He patted her head, but he didn’t feel guilty about being late. It was a quality time from which he gained a lot.

"Do you still have anything to do? Or we can go?" Helen asked, still being irritated. This wasn’t like her husband at all!

Luciel glanced behind her and saw how everyone was already in front of the cars, waiting for his majesty to arrive.

"I just have to pick up my sword and then we can go." He said to her and left inside the house to attach the weapon to his belt before joining with the rest of the party that was already ready.

Scarlet and Alex were in their cars, and they managed to squeeze five children in each, but unfortunately, Marta and three more kids, along with George, Dash, Luciel, and Helen would need to go by foot, exposed to the danger that was lurking behind every corner.

Not wanting to separate, Scarlet drove her car in front, going slowly as much as she could while Alex was doing the same behind the group that was at the canter.

In the meantime, Luciel was staying on guard, trying to detect any danger that might approach them with Melisa doing the same with her ability.

"You know, having two vampires sure is useful." Dash punched George slightly in the ribs, wanting to lighten up the mood a little.

"As much as I hate to say it, I must agree," George replied with his focus on Luciel, unlike Helen, he couldn’t see him as the same person anymore.

Luciel ignored the talk that the two were having while still trying to focus on his surroundings, but suddenly, Melisa stopped in her tracks and he followed soon after.

"I hear footsteps." Melisa looked toward Luciel, waiting for more information since she could only rely on one sense. She didn’t say it immediately since she wasn’t sure and didn’t want to alert the others just yet, but she could hear groaning sounds as well.

"And I smell rotten chicken in the air." He added, earning confused looks from everyone but Melisa who knew what Luciel meant by this.

"Zombies!" They both raised their voices, alerting the rest.