Page 98 of Bitten Vampire

“Beginning assay… now.”

They don’t have to restrain me physically. Dread does that job.

The needle glints. I try not to focus on it as it approaches, and I hold my breath. Pressure at the inner corner of my eye, then pain, sharp and lancing. My eye floods with tears, the ceiling blurring grey and white.

“Steady,” Dayna murmurs. “Do not resist; resistance corrupts the magic.”

The pain shifts, deepening, a spectral tug as though something ancient is being siphoned through a straw. Heat pulses, then a flash—fangs, red eyes, the Grand Master’s face, then darkness. The needle withdraws; vision doubles, steadies.

“There it is,” Dayna says softly, holding a vial up to the camera. The fluid inside is white, threaded with dark burgundy. “The Grand Master’s signature.”

“Match confirmed,” Lander says, voice flat.

The relief I feel makes me want to sink into the floor.

But we are not done yet.

“Winifred Crowsdale, do you acknowledge you understand the nature and evidentiary use of a Hematic Lineage Assay as defined in Protocol HL-3, and do you consent to proceed?”

“I do.”

“Commencing draw… now.” She informs the camera.

Dayna unwraps another sterile packet: a rune-etched blood-collection needle, sturdy enough to pierce vampire skin. She professionally draws three glass tubes of blood from the vein in my elbow.

I don’t know what they will find in my blood—human, vampire, or some mixture of the two. House’s magic? I’m reaching. They are searching for lineage, yet I was turned by magic. This is not going to work.

She sets out a silver-rimmed obsidian bowl and murmurs a spell. Blue light shimmers across the surface, and when she tips in three drops of blood, it smokes, blooming into runic geometry.

Dayna studies the forming glyphs. “Marker pattern… ancient. Primary vector: Elder Signature Three. Cross-checking?—”

Above the bowl, a ghost-sigil sharpens into focus and locks in place with an audible click of magic—then it shatters. Bowl and sigil explode together; I throw up an arm to shield my face from flying obsidian shards.

“Match inconclusive,” Lander says, wearing a thin, satisfied smile.

I don’t know what the council will do with an inconclusive blood test. Anything that makes Lander smile is bad.

“The Ethereal Memory Assay and Hematic Lineage Assay is complete,” Dayna announces, her voice clear. “Chain-of-Custody Seal CS-8842 remains intact. All recordings will be duplicated to Ministry Vault Theta under Accord Code 902.1. Preliminary finding: the Grand Master’s signature within the Ethereal Memory. Hematic Lineage inconclusive. ‘Sealed Pending Council Review.’ This record is closed.”

Dayna seals the samples in a lock-box, signs and wards it, then signals for Lander to switch off the camera.

“Has that ever happened before?” I ask her, brushing black shards from my sleeves and torso.

“No. Either your lineage sigil isn’t in the Vampirical Council’s records, or your blood was so magically potent it overwhelmed the test.”

“This is what happens when a wizard’s house meddles with illegal magic,” Lander mutters as he packs up.

“Lander, drop it,” Dayna scolds.

“I’m not denying that the Grand Master murdered her; clearly, he did, according to the eye juice results. But hedidn’t turn her. Her precious house did, and the Vampirical Council, along with the Ministry of Magic, won’t let that stand. They’ll kill you to keep the secret. Face it: you’re screwed.” He grabs an armful of gear, steps out of the circle, and leaves the room.

Dayna gathers her things. “You will have to excuse my brother, he takes his work very seriously. He’s seen the worst of people and magic, and now he spots corruption even where none exists.” She smiles sadly. “That’s everything. I’m sorry it was uncomfortable. You might be dizzy for up to an hour. The Ethereal Memory is magically draining.”

“Thank you for coming.”

“You are welcome.” She squeezes my forearm. “I can’t imagine how hard this has been. I thought about what I’d want if I were turned into a vampire, and the answer is simple: information. All derivatives can be incredibly tight-lipped about everything, and it must be terrifying. I’ve brought a few magic books that might be of interest.” She produces a small stack.

“Thank you, that is very kind of you. I have been wanting to find out more.”