A Bar a Vampire and the Apocalypse

Making my way into the bar full of children I looked for the red head or someone that could tell me where she was. Looking around I found Trevor teaching some kids how to play chess so I made my way over to him dodging kids as I did. Tapping on his shoulder he looked over to me and he smirked.

“Done already I was betting you would be out there for at least another hour. Guess I owe Ana 5 bucks.” Trevor said. I shook my head.

“Really you guys made bets on how long I would be out there answering questions. Sigh. Whatever, hey did you see the red head that I had Alex bring back here. Come to think of it, I should have pointed him to bring her somewhere else.” Trevor laughed.

“Yeah I know where she is. Seeing as you wanted to talk to her and you did not do so with anyone else we thought her important. I hope you don't mind but we had Camron bring her up to your living room up stairs. She has been keeping her company.”

I both did mind and did not at the same time. I mean short of bringing her into the down stairs office which would not be very welcoming there was nowhere else with all the kids around. But it is my home.

“Yeah that's fine. It was the best option. I’m going up there if you need something, come up but make sure to knock first.” Trevor gave me a side-long look and nodded. Once again I made my way through the sea of kids. It did bring me quite the bit of joy seeing all the kids running around and playing together. The best part being it looked like none of the kids were being left out or bullied. Once I got to the door that led towards the stairs to my home I looked around the scene before me and smiled and felt the twinge of sadness as well. Shaking it off I turned around and went to go meet the red haired mystery that I found.

Opening the door that leads into my living room I found Cameron working on something while talking to the smiling redhead on my couch. I walked over and joined them sitting next to the red head. They both stopped talking when I sat down with them. Cameron was the first to talk.

“How did the town hall go Vivi?” She asked

“It went quite well at least so far, there was a bit of a hiccup with a group of misinformed fools but otherwise it went well. I hope those I left out there are doing well.” I then turned back to my guest and said. “My name is Viviana but you can call me Vivi. What is your name?”

The girl shrank back on the couch a bit and said. “Erin miss.”

“None of this miss business, call me Vivi please.”

“Yes Vivi.” She squealed.

“Cameron, mind giving us some privacy and please lock the door on your way out.” Cameron gave me an odd look then looked at Erin and said “It was a pleasure meeting you Erin.”

“You as well Cameron.'' They shook hands and she left, locking the door on her way out. I turned back to Erin, closed my eyes and took a deep breather. Letting my breath out, I made eye contact with Erin. Her eyes grew wide and she curled herself in the corner of the couch.

“I knew something felt off about you.” Erin had a total look of horror in her eyes now.

“It's rather almost impossible for someone of my skill level to tell if there is magic being used when there are a lot of people around. It also seems that the system makes it even harder to tell. But with just us in the room it is clear. So what are you young one?”

It seemed that there was still room in her face to show more fear as well she looked even more terrified. Shaking my head I got up off the couch and asked. “Do you want anything to drink? I got water, I can put on a cup of coffee, I also got a variety of sodas.”

She did not answer me so I just got her a cup of water and put it on the coffee table in front of her and got myself a sprite. I then pulled up one of my dining room chairs and sat across from her putting the coffee table between us. I sat there for a while waiting for her to calm down a bit before I continued talking.

“Don’t worry I'm not going to hurt you or try and make you use your gifts in any way against your will.” I let those words settle over her for some time. Looking over at her I found her rather pretty. She had a cute face framed by her crimson red hair. It was rather hard to see her figure between her being curled up and the baggy clothes she was wearing. But still she was beautiful.

Seeing she was still not talking I got up and walked around a bit. Standing up on stage made my legs rather stiff. Stretching a bit I spoke again.

“What brought you here?” She seemed to finally relaxed a bit and spoke.

“Well it seemed like a good idea to get some more information. I can get a lot of information online but being here in person gives a different form of information.”

I nodded. I wholeheartedly agree. There is something different about being there for speech and delivery of information that just reading it online does not get across. But that was not what I was looking for.

“True but that was not what I meant. My guess is you are some form of fay and I know for a fact that most fay with few exceptions do not like cities and the like. So what brings you to the supercity that is southern California?”

She looked at me with a face of suspicion. “What do you know of fay.”

“Much much more than you child.” I said.

Seeming to get a bit of resolve she shot back. “I doubt that. You don't look much older than me and it's clear you are not one or you would be able to tell. Unless you are are are….” Her resolve crumbled once again. Her mind leading her in the direction of the other long lived beings. Dragons, succubus, Phoenixs, Kitsune, some Yokai, mermaids, vampires. There are quite a number more that are long lived or immortal that take a human form or look human but these are some of the more common ones.

She then asked me in a trembling voice. “What are you?”

I laughed and said “That was my question. Don't you think it's rude to ask me that before you answer yourself? Even then I will not be telling you. Enough people know what I am I don't need anymore knowing at least not yet.”

That did not seem to calm her down. Sighing I just started babbling.

“You know it's nice not being the only one who is not a human here. There is a certain level of kin ship even if we are not the both fay let alone the same kind. Erin, I have been around a long time. How long I will keep that a secret for now. But to put it in perspective the only fay royalty I have not met is the king and queen, I have meet every dragon that is still alive that held the title of king or queen, I have meet all the incubus dukes and all the succubus duchess, I have even meet the phoenix lord.

So yeah I have been around a while and met a lot of people. You tend to pick up on the ability to know who is not human after a while. Though those that are older are both harder and easier to tell. Does not make sense right? Well it's because even though they have had centuries to learn how to blend in. If they are away from humans too long they will sometimes slip up while trying to blend in. Then there is also the fact that if they are old enough it does not matter how good they are at suppressing their power you can tell they are a powerful being.”

Erin’s fear partly shifted to awe as I spoke.

“I don't know how old you are as you can clearly tell it's hard to know with people like us. Shoot I look like I could be in college still. But that is both the curse and blessing I guess. Immortality, an elusive thing so many kings and emperors strived to achieve but yet they still failed. But is it worth it? Is life worth living if there is no end goal?” I looked off into the distance for a while. This was not the first time I had thought about this. When you are as old as me it is a rather common thing to think of. But in the last thirty years or so it has not been something that came to mind. This is due to the fact there is so much to take up my attention anymore. Video games, movies, shows, books, crafts and learning. The modern era has pushed many of these thoughts aside. After a moment of silence Erin broke the silence.

“What are those in the fay court like?” she asked. I looked over to her and smiled

“The closest thing I could compare to the fay court is the animal kingdom. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some are powerful individuals, while others show their might in groups. Some are stern and stalwart while others seem to be hyper active squires that drank a gallon of coffee and snorted a line of cocaine.” Erin giggled at the last part.

“I can imagine it. What was the phoenix lord like? I have only heard stories of him. Not even my grandfather knows of anyone who knows of anyone who has met him.”

Smiling fondly, I remembered back to the time I met one of the greatest beings that walk or in this case fly on the earth.

“I was visiting with the Mother of the current Dragon king when a red bird that could fit in your palm came hopping in the cave she called home. We both looked at the bird that had made its way into the cave. To say that it was stunning was an understatement. Anything with even the slightest bit of self preservation would know not to come into the cave. So to see this little bird come in was to say the least surprising.

The dragon I was talking with narrowed her eyes at it then groaned. She then breathed out a massive jet of fire at the small bird. I was understandably scared. I asked her after she was done why she did that. She turned to me, opened her mouth then looked up at the top of my head and growled ‘stupid old bird’. I then put my hand up to my forehead and the little red bird jumped off my head and onto my hand. It then started to chirp in that could only be considered laughter.

It then jumped off my hand and gilded next to us. Before it even hit the ground it had transformed into a jolly older looking man with Fiery red hair with a couple streaks of gray in it. He was all smiles and jokes with the elder dragon. She looked annoyed but still had a slight smile. When he turned to me he looked me in the eyes and I could not just see but feel the age and wisdom in his silver eyes. He then told me something I would never forget. ‘Young one, do not fear for the future for what has happened to you in the past. Things are always changing, nothing truly repeats so do not fear to try again.’

The warmth in his words filled in way that is indescribable. The funny part of what he told me was at that point in my life I was already considered an elder of my people. But the fact that he knew what had troubled me in the way he did was both terrifying and awe inspiring.”

The look of amazement in Erin's eyes was palpable. Not many can claim to have met the Phoenix lord. There are only a few other beings that are more elusive than the Phoenix lord. For example if you are not a fay it is almost impossible to meet the king and queen of the fay. Before they died the original Vampire progenitors were rather elusive as well. The only one I had met was the one that turned me.

“That is amazing you knew not only the elder dragon Esmeralda but were having a meeting with her that was crashed by the Phoenix lord!”

“Yeah meeting.” I said rubbing my neck. Luckily for me Erin did not pick up on my comment.

“What you did to those thugs was not from the power given by the system was it? That was all you.”

“Perspective one.” I said jokingly “Well I have gained a class and some levels in it. I also used a couple of said skills, speaking of skills…” I open the notifications I pushed off.

(You have been offered the skill Queen to Be (Advanced) Do you want to take up your empty general skill slot?)

I said no, I still don’t want to be a queen.

Presence of an Ancient (Epic) Has leveled up 6→10

Well I guess using it on so many people power leveled the skill a bit. I also wonder if that thing I did with my voice had anything to do with it as well. Shaking my head I turned back to Erin.

“So are you going to tell me what you are? Or are we going to sit here for another hour?” I said looking her in the eyes. She withered slightly under my gaze and spoke.

“Please.” was all she said and I yielded.

“Sigh Fine, I won't force it out of you. But with that being said, are you by yourself here or do you have family nearby.” She shook her head and said.

“Just me, I also don’t know of any others like us around here.”

“Okay well just know you are safe here. Also if you think you can help out but don't want others to know what you can do come to me I will keep your secrets and keep you safe.”

Erin smiled, got up and hugged me, took a shaky breath and thanked me. I hugged her back and patted her back.