Saturday November 5th, 2018

  Hinata and Alli pushed off dealing with the Greenhouse for another day. Everyone was still tried from the day before and nobody was sure how Arisah would react when she woke up. They kept her sedated for almost two days. Hinata’s hope is that she will be through most of her withdrawal-like symptoms by then.

  But the truth is Hinata just isn’t sure what to do. For some Dryads absorbing the vitality of sentient beings is like hard drugs. It is an addiction so serious that you need to constantly be vigilant. For others it is like caffeine. You might get sick for a few days, but you will be fine.

  So, on Saturday morning Hinata, Alli, Rocco, Luna, Aiko and Helo all head to the Greenhouse for the first time since the fighting ended. Nobody in the party has even seen what kind of damage there is. They just know that on Thursday night the battled headed that direction as everyone attempted to enter the Greenhouse.

  So, walking through the hole where the front door used to be, the group walks into the destroyed front yard and heads to the right. The front yard all the way to the wall is a crater filled, overturned mess. As they walk further to the right, things don’t get much better.

  “I expected things to be better. We didn’t even fight over here.” Luna says to the group. She was contacted the day before by the Kashiwagi lawyers. Luna was asked to help write down all the damage. So, as she walks around, she has a clipboard out and is taking notes.

  “We still set almost a hundred traps over here and the fighting came this way, even without us.” Rocco is the voice of reason as he takes in the destroyed garden.

  “Rocco has a point.” Aiko says from her place by Hinata. Whenever they walk together Aiko naturally takes her place a step behind and to Hinata’s side.

  “Yes. But not THIS much of a point.” Alli gestures to the wonton destruction around them.

  As the group comes up to the Greenhouse, they can see that the entire structure is even worse off than the house. There are holes in all four walls, the glass panels that make up the roof are all shattered, and the inside looks like an overgrown forest mixed with a battle ground. The only place that appears untouched is the center of the large building. Instead of looking battle worn, it is overgrown with plants.

  “Well, what we really came here for is to check on the people that Arisah was keeping captive while we were fighting.” Hinata says while leading the group inside. They slowly maneuver their way through the mess until they reach the northern wall. There they find lines of unconscious people that are being kept unconscious using some kind of drug from the flowers, at the same time the vines that are keeping them bound also work to drain them of their vitality.

  Studying the people trapped in the vines, Helo is the first to speak. Using his own unique senses, he can see the vitality draining from the captives. “They appear to be losing body mass.”

  Helo traces a hand down one of the vines. The vine continues down to the ground, then it runs toward the center of the room. There Helo has no idea what is happening only that the vitality seems to be gathering. Telling his party members what he can see Hinata is the first to speak.

  “Hahhhhh. That is the beauty and the horror of what we can do.” Hinata looks at the mess of bodies and vines sadly. “Creating something like this is surprisingly easy with the right bloodline, skills and knowledge. But it is the knowledge of how to do it that makes most of Dryad’s peaceful people. Usually, one of my people must go through some kind of traumatizing event to enter the front lines willingly.”

  “But doing this.” Hinata gestures around. “We already have the bloodline and skills. All we need is knowledge. Arisah has been messing around with plants like Venus-flytraps. It didn’t take long before she was able to modify her seeds to instinctively react to people. That is why the Greenhouse attacked the intruders without her impute and without being a true monster. Based on what Helo said, she is storing vitality to supercharge the plants built in defense mechanism.”

  “Wow…” Aiko looks around slightly nervously. Even Luna steps just a little closer to Rocco.

  “That is terrifying.” Luna says from around Rocco.

  Resting his hand on his sword Rocco looks around. “Should we start cutting?”

  “NO!” Hinata holds out her hands. “Killing intent might be the mechanism that sets it off. The plants are docile right now, Arisah wasn’t so far that she set the plants to attack us. We are safe.”

  The party proceeds to slowly check each of the walls. The northern, eastern, and southern walls are lined with over two-hundred people. Each person is losing body mass as their bodies fight to restore their vitality.

  Turning toward the center of the Greenhouse Hinata speaks up. “Well. It is time to check the center.”

  Slowly the group walks forward until they reach the mass of vines, plant stems, and flowers. Each member stares cautiously at the flowers as they pass them by. Just waiting to see some kind of poison get spat out.

  Only, nothing happens. Moving slowly, they reach the center of the Greenhouse. Once there everyone stares around blankly. Except for Hinata and Helo.

  Infront of them there is a massive bulb of syrup like liquid. To Luna, Aiko, Rocco, and Alli it just looks like a massive seed pod. But to Hinata and Helo it is the core of the Greenhouse. Hinata stares in awe and horror at the atrocity that Arisah created. But Helo steps forward as his bloodline and instincts roar to the surface of his mind.

  Noramlly his instincts are just background noise, but in this moment all he can feel is an instinctive greed to TAKE what is in front of him. More than that Helo starts to think that because he wants it, it’s already HIS.

  Shaking his head Helo tries to fight the stray thoughts. But each second, he takes another unconscious step closer to what HIS to consume. “NO!” Helo shouts as he throws himself backward with the last bit of his conscious mind.

  “Helo! Are you okay?” Alli asks while hovering over him.

  “Help.” Helo reaches out with a shaky hand while his body starts to sweat from the strain. “I can’t be here.” At the same time in his head Helo’s thoughts take a dark turn. What if we just keep the batteries in place, the vitality will be some much stronger than.

  Moving quickly Rocco hoists Helo to his feet and starts to walk him out of the Greenhouse. All the while Alli is fluttering around him asking what’s wrong.

  “Enough!” Helo yells as his aura flares to life around him in a swirl of darkness.

  Beside him Alli makes an “EEP!” noise and Helo can hear her stumbling back.

  Taking a slow deep breath the shaking in Helo’s hands slowly comes to a stop. Looking up he can see Alli looking at him with tears in her eyes. At the same time Rocco’s hand is on his blade and Hinata just looks disappointed. Helo can’t see Aiko and Luna, but he wouldn’t be surprised if they looked at him just like Hinata.

  Taking another breath, Helo looks at Alli in her tear-filled eyes. “I’m sorry.” He says seriously. “I don’t know what came over me. I… I thought I had things under control. But the last few days have come to show me that I don’t even know what I’m dealing with.”

  “With your bloodline?” Hinata asks, Helo just nods slowly. Like a cautious animal.

  Helo takes a step back from everyone. “I… I need to go.” Turning around, the last thing Helo sees is Alli’s tears as he enters the house and goes directly for his room.

  A few hours later, sitting on the broken couches around the table that Kristen left for the group. Every except Helo and Arisah are sitting down for a meeting.

  “So, you said he started walking forward like he was in a daze and threw himself back?” Carl asks to clarify. “Then we should destroy it.”

  Rurgrim, Cody, Luna, and Gabi nod in agreement.

  Alli wants to agree with them. She did not like what that pod thing did to Helo. But at the same time, she knows what Hinata is thinking.

  The party looks to Hinata and she sighs. “I don’t know what to do. But first we need Arisah and Helo’s opinion.”

  Gabi stands up to argue, but a look from Hinata has her sitting back down.

  “I know what you’re going to say.” Hinata looks around the group. “It was Arisah’s bloodline that started this mess. If Helo’s bloodline wants it so badly, he shouldn’t get it.” Some people in the group nod, but Alli shakes her head.

  “If his bloodline wanted it, it must be good for him.” She says quietly. She still hasn’t fully recovered from Helo’s outburst. But she doesn’t want to hold him back.

  “I agree, Alli.” Rocco says from his place in the circle of couches.

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  “Before we even decide we need to wake Arisah up.” Hinata says to the party while standing.

  Turning Hinata leads everyone down the southern wing of the mansion. That wing houses all the party members’ quarters. There Arisah is lying within her bed. On the bedside table there are several vials. One of the vials is filled with an almost clear liquid. Several have a green liquid, and two are empty.

  Reaching for the clear one Hinata says to the party. “The green vial will keep someone at our tier sedated for a day, the clear one wakes them up.”

  A few of the members stare with curiosity. Normally concoctions like this are kept under lock and key. But Hinata can get her hands on them easily.

  Pouring the liquid down Arisah’s throat Hinata steps back. It takes a few seconds, but Arisah’s slow breathing picks up. Then after ten seconds she slowly opens her eyes. Looking around Arisah seems to be out of it for a few seconds. Then her eyes meet Hinata’s.

  Arisah’s doesn’t even acknowledge anyone else. As the only other Dryad in the room, Hinata is the one that Arisah is talking to. “I did something horrible!” She shouts as her eyes start to mist over, then she full on cries.

  “I know… I know… But now we can work to make you better.” Hinata says while stepping forward to hold Arisha in a hug. Looking up Hinata can see Alli aggressively pushing everyone from the room as Arisah cries.

  It took a while for Hinata to meet back up with her party members. But when she did night had fallen. Only as she left Arisah’s room to grab some dinner she wasn’t alone. Arisah joined her as well. There they found most of the party sitting around on their tablets, watching the cracked TV and chatting. The only one missing is still Helo.

  In the last few hours Arisah learned about all that happened and even got clued into what they found at the center of the Greenhouse. Arisah was also told what her punishment would be. Rebuilding the garden around the entire house and house arrest. They need to make sure that Arisah doesn’t get any cravings.

  “Alright everyone!” Hinata says as she steps into the living area. “We will be cutting our captives free in the morning.”

  The moment is awkward as Hinata voices it as some kind of grand declaration. Luna claps, but most of the party just shrugs. To them, the people that are being used as batteries deserve it. They are thieves. If anything, they should stay there for the rest of the weekend.

  Focusing on what he calls his core Helo sends his consciousness into his body and to the place that his energy gathers. Here he can see the pathways branching out to his body as energy flows down channels like a mix of his circulatory and nervous systems system.

  His physical energy flows like his circulatory system, but it has the same responsive nature as his nervous system. At the same time his mental energy branches through his body like his nervous system but at the same time it has the flow of the circulatory system.

  He can see why they are like that. The two energies are closer to the systems that govern his physical body. Or well, the physical bodies of normal humans. By this point Helo’s own body is starting to adapt to his affinity. His red physical energy flows with some golden flakes and his purple mental energy has black streaks within it.

  But that is not what Helo is here to see. What he is focusing on is the energy that doesn’t come from his spirit, through his mind, to his core. Or the energy that comes from his cells, through his body, and to his core. But the energy that comes directly from his heart.

  Focusing on his heart Helo can tell that things have changed a lot since the first time he looked for his bloodline energy. At first his bloodline was completely sealed off, then once Helo unlocked his aura, his bloodline energy started seeping out.

  He wasn’t able to actively use it until his gained the skill ‘Bloodline Awakening’. From that point on his bloodline became something more. It was no longer trapped and sealed away. It was a part of him, changing him into what he was literally born to be. His body struggled to adapt, and his mind struggled with the new emotions but over time, and with enormous amounts of resources. Helo is finally adapted enough to his own bloodline to use it without hurting himself.

  Now when he looks toward his heart Helo can see that the seal keeping his bloodline contained has loosened its restrictions, it hasn’t weakened, Helo is nowhere near powerful enough to weaken the seal. A part of Helo assumes that the restrictions placed on his bloodline come from his necklace, A Mother’s First Gift, A Father’s First Lesson.

  The first place that he saw his awakening percentage was in the necklace’s description. But it moved to his status shortly after. So, Helo isn’t sure if the seal has more to do with his tier and the necklace’s own advancement, or with the work he has put into adapting to his bloodline.

  Maybe it is both. One thing he does know is that if one-hundred percent of his bloodline was unleashed, he would probably die. So whatever reason his bloodline is sealed and slowly awakening, he appreciates it. He still remembers the stories that Akira told him about how he burned his own spirit due to his bloodline’s Foxfire being more powerful than his own resistance.

  So, studying the energy Helo watches as the energy in his bloodline flows out from where it is sealed and seems to enter two specific areas. Following the golden vitality of his bloodline, Helo can see as it enters the golden motes of energy contained within his physical energy. Following the dark willful energy of his bloodline it enters his spirit and mixes with the black streaks within it.

  Even with twenty-four percent of his bloodline unlocked, his personal energies are only about three percent changed. Helo is excited for the day when he no longer creates physical energy, or what people call stamina. But when his body runs on pure vitality. The same for his mind and the dark energy that is contained within.

  But Helo isn’t meditating to explore how his unsealed bloodline energies mix with his body. He wants to find out why his bloodline surged forth within his earlier. He lashed out at his friends and had no control as he reached for the pod of vitality.

  Resting his consciousness within his core area, Helo looks around at the flowing lines of red, purple, gold and black. It is beautiful, and comfortable to be here. But he is here for a purpose.

  Closing out all outside sensations Helo lets his mind wander back to the thing he has been doing his best not to think about. The pod of vitality. As soon as he lets the memory of the overwhelming amount of vitality enter his mind, Helo can feel his body start to move without his impute. His instincts, especially when it comes to the pod are strong enough to move his unconscious body.

  That bewilders Helo. Trying to feel why Helo is surprised to find that most of the desire comes from his dark attunement. It takes a while to sort through what he is feeling, but he can tell that while his body wants the nourishment that it would provide. Like how other individuals with bloodlines would feel toward a treasure that can help them.

  It is his dark attunement that is barely felt until it reared its head, hungering for vitality. Specifically, vitality from sentient beings.

  It’s the curse. Helo finally realizes. There is just so much he doesn’t know. His parents, his race, why he was cursed, or what kind of curse. The only thing Helo can extrapolate at this time is that the curse seems to be one the feeds on vitality and nullifies energies.

  Floating in his core space, Helo relaxes as he can see his energies flowing through him. I thought the curse was integrated into me. But some parts of it are still alive, some evil desire to feast on others. That must be why the system thought I was a vampire. It must be why I have vampire like cravings when I’m hungry.

  Helo’s eyes jolt awake. “Knock. Knock. Knock.”

  Looking toward the door he can hear Alli speaking. “Helo? Can I come in.”

  For a second Helo wants to tell her to leave. He feels ashamed of what he did and he doesn’t want to own up to his actions. But hearing Alli’s racing heart on the other side Helo knows that telling her to leave will just make things worse.

  Standing up from his place on the floor of his room, Helo is surprised to find that he is a sweaty mess. When did this happen?

  Scrunching his nose Helo opens the door. “Hey.” He says sheepishly. “Come on in.” Letting Alli inside Helo closes the door behind her and heads toward his bathroom. “I have to rinse of quick.”

  Then he is gone, leaving Alli slightly confused and even more nervous.

  A few minutes later Helo is back out with his usual baggy clothes on. “So?”

  “So?” They both say at the same time.

  “You go first.” Helo says just as Alli is about to open her mouth. “Wait. I will.” Helo holds up a hand.

  Stepping forward Helo wraps Alli in a hug. Holding the young woman to his chest Helo says. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen, my bloodline… No. I shouldn’t use that excuse. I’m sorry.”

  Alli pulls back with some tears falling down her cheek. “You won’t use that excuse, but I will do it for you. Bloodlines are tricky and can make people react out of character. I knew you were struggling and instead of supporting you, I was buzzing around you. So, I guess I’m sorry too, for overreacting.”

  Hugging Helo again the two of them stay like that for a few minutes. Then Alli pulls away and plops on Helo’s bed. “So, the ywoke up Arisah.”

  Alli goes on to tell Helo about how they woke her up and what happened. Then she tells him about their discussion about what to do with the pod. When she mentions destroying it a deep rumble echoes out from Helo’s chest.

  Fighting down the surge of desire mixed with a healthy dose of bloodlust; Helo clenches his fist and looks down. Alli smiles slightly at Helo’s control and continues explaining things to him.

  By the time they are done both Helo and Alli are dozing off in his bed.

  The next morning Hinata wakes Helo up far more abruptly than usual. He used to getting up before her, but lately, due to his sleeping habits she has been waking him up. Normally she knocks politely and then sweetly wakes him up.

  Feeling a pillow hit him in the face Helo jolts up only to get stuck halfway and fall back down. Looking toward his trapped arm, Helo finds it caught in Alli’s pincer like grip. Looking toward where the pillow came from Helo can see Hinata doing her best to look proper are respectable.

  But he can tell by the way she is glaring at Alli, Helo, and the pillow that she threw that she is slightly upset. “Ah. Morning.” Helo says awkwardly.

  “Mhmmmmm. Five more minutes.” Alli mumbles out before snuggles onto Helo’s arm even tighter.

  This causes Helo to wince. His endurance is low compared to his immense vitality. Alli could break his arm, it would heal quickly, but it would still hurt. Looking back at Hinata she looks slightly less annoyed after watching his wince.

  “We are going to be cutting the people free. Due to Arisah’s unknown levels of addiction, I wanted you to help.” Hinata says to him.

  Blinking slowly Helo’s tried mind tries to sort through everything she said. “Me?” He asks after a few seconds.

  “Yes. While due to my Dryad race, I can slightly feel the vitality in nature. My Kitsune bloodline has always been my stronger suit. When it comes to the vitality in people, even more than Arisah, you can feel it the best. So, I want you there to make sure that Arisah doesn’t fall into temptation.” Hinata explains to him.

  Helo can’t find any fault with what she said so he starts to extract his arm from Alli’s surprisingly soft body. While doing so Helo has to struggle internally against the desire to keep the captives stored longer to strengthen the pod of vitality. Thankfully, at the same time he struggles not to feel Alli up, so it overpowers his desire for more strength.

  Pulling his had free Helo rinses off quickly and follows Alli through the house and to the front living area. Looking around at the destroyed space Helo asks. “When are they going to start fixing everything?”

  “They said at the start of the work week. So tomorrow.” Hinata says while walking toward Rocco and Arisah.

  Speaking to the group Hinata says. “So, Arisah will free the captives. Helo and I will make sure she doesn’t do anything dumb.”

  The insinuation that she would do something dumb causes Arisah to pout. She wants to lash out. Most people with addictions or mental problems tend not to like help, at least not right away. But her bloodline’s gentle nature works in her favor. Looking away Arisah doesn’t say anything.

  “Rocco will take each captive as they are freed and bring the to the front yard. Oh.” Hinata perks up. “We will need Aiko.” Turning back into the house Hinata dashes off to get Aiko.

  Coming back a few minutes later Hinata continues like she never left. “Aiko will do whatever healing needs to be done.” Getting nods of agreement all around Hinata leads her four party members toward the Greenhouse.

  In her head Hinata is thinking. I hope none of them are permanently injured. They deserve it for invading my house. But Daddy will be so upset if the lawyers have more work to do.