Jett frowned, his gaze drifted towards the window, he was lost in thought.

  "This Black Hand…they sound pretty bad. If they're still around after all this time, they must be really good at staying hidden."

  He looked back at Myrna, a new idea formed in his mind.

  "Could they be…responsible for other supernatural stuff? Like, those creatures that are exposing themselves to humans? The Gloom Goblin - Volkov - even Murk, in a way?"

  Myrna's violet eyes narrowed - surprise crossed her face.

  "That is…a possibility I had not considered."

  She tapped a finger thoughtfully on the table.

  "While their primary focus has been political and the elimination of the Obrenovi? line, their methods have often been…unconventional."

  She paused, considering the implications.

  "Creating chaos - sowing discord - and exposing the supernatural world could certainly achieve that. It would destabilize human society - create fear and distrust. In such an environment, their own operations could thrive."

  Myrna looked at Jett, her expression became serious.

  "It is a dangerous thought, Jett. If the Black Hand is indeed behind these recent exposures…it would mean their agenda is far broader, and far more dangerous, than we initially believed."

  Jett swallowed hard. "Great. Just great. So, now I have to worry about ancient vampire politics - and a centuries old secret society that might be trying to unleash monsters on the world."

  He paused, with worried expression on his face.

  "So..what are the chances of the Black Hand discovering me? Targeting me?"

  Myrna's violet eyes studied him intently.

  "The chances are not insignificant, Jett. Several factors increase your potential risk."

  She began to list them off, ticking them on her fingers.

  "Firstly, your connection to Renja. She is a known target of the Black Hand. Anyone associated with her - especially someone who has been turned by her - could be seen as an extension of her influence, or a potential vulnerability."

  "Secondly," she continued:

  "Your unique nature as a newly awakened Veschar. The Black Hand has historically sought to eliminate all remnants of the Obrenovi? lineage. Your emergence would likely be of great interest to them."

  Myrna paused, her gaze became even more intense.

  "Thirdly - your involvement in the recent supernatural events. You encountered a Gloom Goblin - you fought a Gargoyle…these incidents may have already drawn unwanted attention. If the Black Hand is indeed monitoring supernatural activity, your name and your unusual circumstances may already be on their radar."

  She leaned back against her chair.

  "Finally, your scent. As I mentioned - it is unique. It is possible that it could be identified by those with the right sensory capabilities. Individuals within the Black Hand - or those they employ - might be able to track you."

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  Jett stared at her, his face turned pale.

  "So, you're saying there's a pretty good chance I'm on their hit list?"

  Myrna sighed.

  "It is a possibility we must consider, Jett. The Black Hand is thorough and ruthless. If they perceive you as a threat - or as a means to get to Renja, they will not hesitate to act."

  Jett's mind was racing. The weight of everything he had learned in the past few days was starting to feel overwhelming. He looked at Myrna, his expression was serious.

  "If there's a chance this Black Hand is going to come after me…should I be focusing on training with Brenda? Like, making that my top priority? And maybe - trying to get more experience fighting these monsters? So I don't just get completely wiped out if they show up?"

  Myrna nodded slowly.

  "That would be a wise course of action, Jett. Training with Brenda will be invaluable in learning to control your new abilities - developing combat skills - and gaining practical experience will all undoubtedly be beneficial."

  She paused, considering her words:

  "You are now part of a world where danger is very real. Learning to defend yourself - to understand the threats you face - these are no longer optional. They are essential for your survival."

  Myrna paused for a moment, and continued:

  "Brenda is a capable teacher. Listen to her - learn from her. And if you encounter other supernatural beings - observe them, learn from those experiences as well. Knowledge and skill are your greatest assets."

  He stood up, feeling a bit more grounded than he had all day.

  "Thank you, Myrna," he said. "This has been a lot. But I think I understand a little better now."

  He paused, then a thought struck him.

  "Before I go - is there anything else I should know? Like, vampire 101 stuff? Any rules or things that all vampires just know?"

  Myrna considered his question for a moment.

  "There are certain…understandings within our world, yes."

  She began to explain.

  "Even though Veschars have a greater resilience to sunlight than most vampire lineages - prolonged exposure can still cause harm - as you have experienced. The burning sensation will lessen as you grow stronger - but it is wise to avoid extended periods in direct sunlight, especially during the brightest hours."

  She continued:

  "And secondly, while you may not crave blood constantly - you will likely experience periods of heightened hunger - particularly after exertion, or when your abilities are developing. It is discourteous, to say the least, to feed indiscriminately from humans. The Night Court has ways of managing this, and it is expected that all vampires within our territory adhere to these guidelines."

  Jett frowned.

  "So, no random neck biting?"

  Myrna's lips twitched.

  "Precisely. There are resources available if you find yourself in need. And as a Veschar, you may find that your dietary needs differ from other vampires. Observe your own reactions - your own cravings."

  She paused.

  "Finally, discretion is paramount. The human world must remain unaware of our existence. Do not reveal your true nature to humans unless absolutely necessary - and even then - exercise extreme caution. Exposure can lead to fear - panic - and…unwanted attention from organizations like the Black Hand, or even more…zealous human groups."

  Myrna looked at him intently.

  "These are basic tenets, Jett. Remember them."

  Jett nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed but also grateful for the information.

  "Okay," he said.

  "No sunbathing - discreet feeding - and keep the whole vampire thing on the down-low. Got it."

  He paused, then a thought struck him—his brow furrowed.

  "Hey, Brenda mentioned that Somatic thing hours ago, when that voice popped into my head. She said it was a 'Path' for developing my physical abilities. Are there…any other Paths?"

  Myrna nodded slowly.

  "Yes, Jett, there are others. Somatic is the path of physical augmentation and combat mastery - as you have experienced. But there are those who focus on the mind - the Noetic Path - which encompasses mental and psychic abilities such as telepathy and even mind control."

  She paused, her gaze became slightly distant.

  "Then there is the Chthonic Path - the manipulation of the environment and the darker energies that flow beneath the surface of the world. And finally - the Anima Path - which deals with the very essence of life force, allowing for abilities like healing and decay."

  Jett stared, his mind was buzzing with the possibilities.

  "Telepathy? Mind control? That's…intense."

  Myrna's expression turned serious.

  "Indeed. But understand this, it is theoretically possible to learn aspects of all the Paths - but true mastery takes time. Decades - even centuries of dedicated practice are often required to truly harness the power of a single Path."

  She looked at him intently.

  "Do not think that you can simply dabble in everything at once. Focus on what is most pressing—what will aid your immediate survival. For now - Brenda's guidance on the Somatic Path is the most prudent course."

  Jett nodded, absorbing Myrna's warning.

  "Focus on Somatic for now. Got it."

  He thanked Myrna again - and he gave Garfield one last pet before heading out of Pawsitively Purrfect.

  As he hopped back on his bike - the cool night air felt refreshing against his skin. The streetlights were starting to flicker on, illuminating the street. He started pedaling, his mind was still buzzing with everything he had just learned.

  'Vampire politics, secret societies..and different Paths of power…'

  It was like the world had suddenly expanded tenfold, revealing a hidden layer beneath the mundane reality he had always known.

  'Somatic physical mastery. That makes sense for right now. I definitely need to learn how to not get punched through walls.'

  But then his thoughts drifted to Myrna's description of the other Paths.

  'Noetic Path - telepathy, mind control. Imagine being able to know what people are thinking. Or even influencing them. That could be incredibly useful—and maybe a little fun.'

  A mischievous grin flickered across his face.

  Chthonic sounded seriously powerful. He imagined being able to manipulate the very earth around himself. Or wielding dark energy like some kind of superhero.

  As for Anima—healing, decay. That was a heavy one. The power over life itself. That felt…important and profound.

  A wave of ambition washed over him. Why just focus on one Path? Why not master them all? It would take time, centuries maybe, but…imagine the possibilities. A master of body, mind, earth, and life force.

  His thoughts grew bolder.

  'Maybe—maybe I could become someone important in this world. Not just some random pizza delivery guy turned vampire. Maybe I could become known. Respected. Feared, even?'

  His gaze lifted to the city skyline while pedaling, the lights shined like distant stars.

  'And not just in the supernatural world. If I could master these abilities…maybe I could even make a name for myself in the human world too. A mysterious figure with incredible powers - someone people always talked about.'

  He chuckled to himself, a thrill ran through him.

  'Yeah. Jett - master of all Paths. Savior of the supernatural…or maybe just a really good fighter—who can also read minds and control plants. Either way - it beats delivering lukewarm pepperoni.'