"This isn't your nature. I'm simply showing you what we're capable of. So you understand who you're dealing with."
She took a step back and raised her hand again. The mist around her swirled, and both daggers slowly dissolved into the air, returning to her Luft.
Anna swayed slightly but quickly straightened up.
"See?" she said with a tired smile.
"Even something this simple takes strength. Now imagine me creating something bigger than two small daggers."
"A sword, a shield, even armor. Or something that could kill a hundred vampires."
She looked Ethan straight in the eyes.
"You need this information because one day you'll have to fight Gerard. I'm sure you'll go against him. The better you understand our power, the greater your chances of survival."
Ethan stared at his empty hand where the dagger had been just moments ago.
She stood up and took a small step to the side so Ethan could see and hear her better. The basement was quiet, with only the faint hum of the lamp on the ceiling and the muffled noise of the others somewhere far behind the walls.
"It all starts with the turning," Anna continued.
"The first stage is the Newly Turned. This is when we are at our strongest. For the first twenty-four hours after the transformation, enormous life energy surges through you. You are stronger than any adult vampire, faster, more resilient."
"Your body still remembers what it means to be alive and uses that memory to its fullest. Many newly turned feel like gods in that moment."
"But it doesn't last long, a day, maybe a day and a half. Then the energy fades, and you move to the next stage."
She paused, giving Ethan time to process.
"Next comes the Ghoul stage. It's… a transitional phase."
"You are no longer human, but not yet a true vampire. You're stronger than an ordinary mortal, but Luft, our shadow power, is still unavailable. Not everyone gets to move beyond this. Some remain ghouls forever."
"They live in darkness, drink blood, cannot regain their humanity, and cannot move like we do."
"They are… incomplete."
Anna gave a slight smirk, but there was no humor in it.
"And then, if you survive and gain strength, you become a true vampire. That's when you can use Luft, turn into shadow, move unnoticed, and slip through small gaps."
She stepped closer to Ethan and looked him directly in the eyes.
"And this is where it gets really interesting. We can fight each other. It's not just about killing, we can take the souls of those we defeat. Every soul absorbed makes you stronger."
"The more souls you take, the more powerful you become. Power, knowledge, everything passes to the victor. The strongest among us can even seize the right of Alpha from one of the clans."
"Become the new leader of their bloodline. There are very few such vampires."
Anna fell silent for a second, giving Ethan time to digest her words.
"And then there are the Lords," she continued more quietly. "Ancient beings. A vampire or turned who has accumulated so much power that they can command thousands."
"Even the first vampires respect their strength. It's on a completely different level. But you rarely encounter them. They don't like to show themselves."
She paused and looked at Ethan with a hint of bitterness.
"There are also those who failed to walk this path with dignity. If a person loses their mind during the turning and cannot control their bloodlust,if there was too much darkness in them from the start, they turn into a Wendigo."
Anna pronounced the word with clear disgust.
"You've already seen the Wendigos. They are vampires who cannot have their own bloodline. Mindless, blind creatures that resemble giant bats."
"They live in the darkest places, sewers, abandoned cities… there might even be a couple in this basement. They cannot use Luft."
"They just devour everything in their path. And if you become one of them… that will be the end."
She fell silent. The basement became very quiet again.
Ethan stood motionless, gripping his weapon tightly.
"So…" he said finally, his voice hoarse.
"If by some chance I do get turned… I could become one of them? A Wendigo?"
Anna looked at him and smiled.
"Yes," she answered honestly.
"If you lose control. If the darkness inside you wins and you fail to keep it in check."
"Then yes. You'll become what even we vampires consider a curse and fear."
She stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't think that will happen, right?"
Ethan nodded.
"Of course not. I swear I'll get revenge. Gerard will regret ever getting involved in my life," said Ethan, his wild gaze fixed on a single point.
She stared at him for a long time, carefully, as if deciding how much truth he could handle right now.
"There's one more thing you need to know," she said at last. Her voice was low, almost thin.
"Gerard's true goal isn't just to kill you, Ethan. He wants to take what is inside that weapon."
She pointed at his weapon.
Ethan froze. The weapon in his hand trembled slightly.
"What do you mean?" he asked hoarsely.
Anna stepped closer. Her eyes were deadly serious.
"Gerard found out that you've become the Cursed One. This thing isn't just a weapon, it's a real prison of souls."
"He doesn't want to kill you just to eliminate a threat. He wants to claim all those souls… and looking at him, I think he won't be able to hold on much longer…"