"Aren't you a feisty one?" His eyes had suddenly taken a darker shade. "And, why is that if I may ask? No one has ever presented me with this absurd notion before." His curiosity was seeping through every pore.
"Contract is only about blood, and you can have that once I sign it but it doesn't involve intimacy. So, I want to be clear on that part beforehand." Her reply was short and curt as she maintained eye contact with him watching his expressions intently.
"My, 'why' part of the question was left unanswered, care to elaborate?" He wasn't going to back down until she gave him a proper answer.
"Because I don't want to and I don't have to. Why do you care so much, don't you have plenty of girls for that?" Her response made him chuckle as if she had said something extremely funny.
"Well, I have plenty for blood too, so why would I need you only for that?" He was testing her patience as he stood there looking all seductive eyeing her up and down.
"You tell me as you are the one hiring new ones and then dragged me and only me from the bunch." She knew her blood was special and he couldn't resist her, so she wanted to have a little bit of free will before she got trapped in his clutches.
"Because I don't have someone like you." He took his time to formulate his reply, did she just render him speechless for a while?
"So, basically you need me."
"Maybe," he smiled that devilish smile. "Then that's my only condition," she replied defiantly.
"Good luck with your endeavour but no one can resist me. Let's see how long you last." His tone played on the verge of sarcasm. How full of himself was he?
"We will see," she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of having an upper hand.
"Sit," he pointed with his long fingers towards the chair. Once she was seated he continued:
"Carios will give you the contract soon. Read it carefully before signing. If you don't want to sign it, then you are free to leave. But, we will keep a close eye on you if you leave for our security purposes. If you sign it, then you can't leave for the allocated time. Plus, I and I alone can drink your blood, you are not to offer it to anyone else. The rest of the details are in the contract."
That velvety tone was back as if he was breathing down her neck, the air in the room seemed to be charged as she felt goosebumps just hearing him talk. Was he really offering her a way out? Will they actually let her go if she wanted to? Highly doubtful, vampires were the most treacherous creatures alive.
"Ok," her reply was short and precise which made him arc his right eyebrow at her.
"No, snarky comeback?" He was curious once again while she just stared at him. Was he trying to charm her? He was notorious for his charms and it had taken her quite a while to finally track him down.
Meanwhile, the door opened and their staring contest was disrupted. Carios walked in carrying a black folder with golden handwriting. "Sire, the contract," as he slightly bowed and handed him the folder. He took it casually and asked: "How is the party going?"
"It's in full swing and everyone is waiting for you," Carios replied with the utmost respect.
"I will be there shortly." Carios bowed and left closing the door behind him.
He sauntered over and stood inches apart in front of her and extended the black folder toward her. She took it without glancing up at him so he strode back to his previous position and continued observing her as she opened the black folder and began to read the contract.
"The contract had the following clauses:
1. You can't have any intimate relationships outside. No boyfriends, no husbands, and no, one nightstand.
2. Only Xiran has the right to your blood.
3. You cannot leave the premises without Xiran's permission.
4. Phones and any other form of electric devices are strictly forbidden to be used.
5. You will be paid monthly according to your performance.
6. Stay away from other vampires, especially those related to Xiran.
I, of sound body and mind, bind my blood to Xiran for one year. He will be the sole proprietor of it. Failing to comply with any of the clauses will either result in punishment or termination of the contract."
She looked up at Xiran once she finished reading the contract. "Punishment? What kind of punishment? Do you torture people?" Her voice didn't break at the questions, instead, she was as calm as a lake's surface on a summer day.
He smirked at her question: "No torture, but it's up to me to decide the punishment."
"So, you just kill them?" Her next question got him by surprise.
"I am not a butcher and what's fun in dead people when you can enjoy so much more when they are alive." He crossed his arms against his chest and tilted his head seductively at her. 'Why does he have to look at me like that?' She thought, feeling a bit uneasy from his constant gazes and seductive postures.
"What if I have a boyfriend?" She wasn't done with her questions.
"You would need to break up with him." He replied ever so calmly.
"But I am not going to be intimate with you." Her defiance showed in her words. "Doesn't matter, as long as you are bound to me, no one else can have you either. Having regrets?" His lips curled up in a seductive smile which brightened up his eyes.
"No, just getting my facts in line to see what I can or can't do with my time with you." She didn't break eye contact with him.
"Really?" He took a step toward her.
"Yes," she gulped hard seeing him get closer to her. As he approached closer, her heartbeat suddenly picked up. He stopped a few inches away from her face, slid his hand into his pocket and took out a golden pen.
"Sign?" as he extended the pen toward her which she took without hesitation. He intently watched her as she opened the pen with her right hand and suddenly plunged its metallic nib into the thumb of her left hand. His eyes grew wide and his mouth flew open at her action. What the hell was she doing?