Page 99 of A Silent Prodigy for the Lycan Princess

“Was that all just a test?” Aurelia asks, annoyed.

“Yes.” Alexander grins.

She and I exchange a gaze. I don’t need a mind link to know she isn’t a fan of him, just like me.

“So, what do you have?” Alexander asks, skillfully ignoring our displeasure—or maybe he just really doesn’t care.

“For the greater good.” I sigh, trying to remind myself of why I am here, before taking the folder we prepared out of my bag and handing it to him. Aurelia and I take turns explaining to him what’s going on and what his brother Silas believes is happening. Alexander first looks aloof, like it doesn’t bother him, but the more we talk, the more serious his expression turns. He starts skimming the folder, his eyes pinned to the photos of the bodies we took and the ones we received from Marius.

“AB negative,” he mutters. “Unbelievable.”

“Does it make sense to you that vampires would target people with that blood group?” I ask.

“There is just something about AB negative,” Alexander admits. “Something alluring. Their plasma is like a drug.”

“Plasma?” Arden asks. “Wait a moment, vampires consume plasma!? That’s such a complicated process and definitely not easy to create!”

“It’s not just that,” Alexander explains. “Consuming plasma is not allowed anymore because it makes us addicted. It wasn’t always forbidden, but one of my brothers…” His voice trails off. “That’s a story for another time. If I had to choose one blood group with the most amazing plasma, it would be AB negative. I don’t know the reason for it, but maybe because AB plasma is universal and can be given to any patient. That, and the fact that AB negative is so rare probably turns it into the drug it is.”

As if on cue my phone lights up with a message from Gustave, who is also working today until lunch. I stare at it, my eyes widening at what I am reading. “Alexander,” I say, barely able to keep my nerves in check. “One of my co-workers just sent me a message, and I wonder if you can make something out of it.”

“What did he say?” Alexander asks.

“Some of our victims had genetical or chronic diseases or addictions. Not everything is something major, and it could be a coincidence, but can this be a pattern?”

Alexander stares at us. “What type of illnesses or addictions?”

“Two girls, one of which we believe is actually still in the hand of the kidnappers, have lupus. Three of the victims had a massive iron deficiency. One guy suffered from pneumonia. Three, maybe even four, had drug problems. One was an alcoholic.”

Alexander balls his hands into fist, before relaxing them.

“So, it is a pattern,” Aurelia concludes.

“If you were able to retrace the auctions,” Alexander says. “Which is probably impossible, you would find out that the wolves with illnesses in their childhood are selling particularly well, even if they aren’t ill anymore once their wolf spirits awaken. For us vampires, the illness still lingers in the blood, as if it has a memory.”

“What?” Aurelia asks, shocked.

“It truly depends on who buys these people,” Alexander says. “Let me start with the basics. From a vampire’s perspective, I can tell you there is a reason we only sire humans. Their blood works the best for us. Sucking blood from a werewolf is nothing I’d do personally because it…” his voice trails off.

“Hurts you?”

“No,” he says. “Imagine it more like a human taking drugs. Worst case, you can get addicted to supernatural blood as a vampire, or you will at least get dependent on it. I would only ever drink from a supernatural being if they were my mate. Vampires strive for control, though. We deem it below us to lose control. It also diminishes our own powers. Every addiction comes at a price, and vampires are no different.”

I nod. “Makes sense.”

“So, as for why they buy victims from the dark net, it is like you concluded. It’s to see them passing. Seeing the life leave their bodies. It’s a game for them.” He frowns. “I’m not happy about what I’m hearing today,” he adds.

“What about their illnesses or addictions?” Aurelia asks.

Alexander furrows his brows. “Full-blooded vampires are immortal. We are not prone to falling sick or having any bodily weaknesses. But if we drink of a person who is sick, for a short period of time it gives us the possibility to experience what they do.”

“Are you saying that if you drink of a cancer patient, then you experience their symptoms?” I ask.

“Yes,” Alexander says. “Transience and sickness are something we don’t have any relation to,” he pauses. “It’s a kick for them. Together with the fact that it’s AB negative blood, the drugs they give the victims, like Silas concluded, they are basically enhancing the experience.”

“That’s just… crazy,” Aurelia mutters.

“It is,” Alexander says, his eyes glinting in anger. “I’m not happy. Just like the werewolves, we strive to stay anonymous. We have rules we follow to keep our society running, important rules. It’s to protect us but also the other beings around us. This here,” he takes the folder “is atrocious and a disgrace to what we are. And the worst, it’s not low-ranked vampires doing that. It has to be full-blooded ones because no one else would be that bored and that crazy.”