Episode 4
"Oh yeah, that reminds me...What are you doing here? " Vincent asked as he noticed the book Renee had left open on the desk. His eyes caught the title, and he moved closer to take a better look.
"Hmm? The Study of Vampire? " Vincent read aloud, his voice filled with curiosity. He turned his head to look at her, his grin widening. "Renee...You know that you can ask me anything about vampires!! That's my specialty. "
Before Renee could react, Vincent stepped even closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. With a mischievous smile, he slapped the wall beside her, trapping her between it and himself. The shift in atmosphere was immediate; a deathly aura began to surround her, sharp and icy.
Renee's eyes narrowed, her body tense as she locked her gaze with him. But before she could speak, Vincent sniffed the air, his expression shifting as he focused on something faint but alluring.
He turned his attention to her hand, pointing at her index finger with a sharp look of concern. "Renee, why is your index finger bleeding? "
Renee glanced down at her finger, startled. She hadn't noticed the blood before, but sure enough, there it was, a small cut on her fingertip. Maybe it had happened while walking through the garden. Before she could respond, Vincent reached out, gently taking her finger in his hand.
Without a second of hesitation, he brought her finger to his mouth and licked the blood away. Renee's eyes widened in disbelief, her face flushed with anger.
'What the hell are you doing? ' she hissed.
Vincent seemed unfazed, still smiling as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. But before Renee could pull her hand away, she felt something strange. The wound closed almost instantly, the bleeding stopping as if it had never happened. Renee stared at her finger, her mind racing.
"That's one of a vampire's abilities, " Vincent explained, his tone full of pride. "I can heal wounds! " He beamed at her, clearly pleased with his little demonstration, eager for some praise.
But Renee was too caught up in her thoughts to respond. She noticed something else. A thin, red string was now visible from her pinky finger, trailing all the way to Vincent's pinky. It was as if the two were connected by an invisible thread, one that she could feel despite its faint presence.
She tried to touch the string, her fingers brushing against it. It was real. The string wasn't a trick of her mind—it was tangible. She met Vincent's eyes, her heart pounding. He had noticed it too.
With a soft chuckle, Vincent grabbed both of her hands, locking his fingers with hers. "Now that we've made a Master-Servant contract, " he said, his voice surprisingly gentle but firm, "You are my Master, and I'm your Servant. Our souls will be bound through all of life. "
Renee's pulse quickened, the weight of his words sinking in. 'What?! ' she protested. But before she could even make a move, Vincent tightened his grip, intertwining their fingers even more securely.
"That means, " he continued, his voice low and teasing, "You can't leave this mansion. Well, unless I give you permission to leave though...Anyways, this will be your home now. " His smile widened, satisfied with the result of his actions.
Renee glared at him, her chest tight with a mix of anger and confusion. This wasn't what she had agreed to. But there was something in Vincent's expression that unsettled her, something oddly familiar. Despite the anger boiling inside her, a part of her couldn't shake the strange pull she felt toward him.
"Hmm? " Vincent tilted his head, his grin turning almost smug. "You didn't resist me. Does that mean—"
Before he could finish, Renee acted without thinking. She threw a punch, landing it squarely on his chest. The force sent Vincent stumbling backward, his hands hitting the floor as he tried to regain his balance.
Renee quickly snatched the book from the desk, not wanting to waste another moment in this uncomfortable situation. She bolted toward the door, flinging it open and rushing down the hallway. Her heart was racing, her mind in turmoil. She couldn't let this happen. She didn't know how, but she would find a way to break this contract.
As she passed a window, she paused for a moment, looking out at the moonlit sky. Her gaze was distant, her thoughts swirling around the red string that now connected her to Vincent. She couldn't explain it, but something about it felt like more than just magic. It felt like fate.
With a determined sigh, she made her way back to her room, unwilling to look back at the strange bond that now held her captive.
---
Meanwhile, in the Observatory Room, Vincent had curled into a ball on the floor, his body trembling slightly. His usual confidence had vanished, replaced by an almost childlike vulnerability.
"Something's wrong, young master? " Isaac's voice broke the silence, his footsteps echoing through the large room as he entered.
Vincent's head snapped up, his eyes wide with a mixture of embarrassment and sadness. "Renee… punched me…" he sobbed, his voice muffled as he curled tighter into himself.
Isaac raised an eyebrow, concern crossing his usually stoic face. "What did you do to her this time? " he asked, walking over to kneel beside Vincent. "Yesterday, you told her you were a vampire. Now, don't tell me you did something foolish again "
Vincent sniffled, trying to compose himself but failing. "I…made a contract with her…" he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.
Isaac sighed, rubbing his temples. "You do things too quickly, " he muttered under his breath. He glanced at Vincent, his eyes sharp. "Did you bite her? "
"No, " Vincent responded, shaking his head. "I just licked her wound on her index finger. I didn't bite her! " His voice held a note of defensiveness, though the soft whine in his tone suggested he was unsure of his actions.
Isaac raised an eyebrow but nodded slowly. "Well, at least you still have some self-control. " He helped Vincent to his feet. "Now, come on. Let's get you to bed before you make any more rash decisions. " He gently lifted Vincent's arm over his shoulder, guiding him out of the Observatory.
"Mind reminding me how old you're supposed to be? " Isaac asked with a tired sigh, looking at Vincent's pouty expression as they walked down the hall toward Vincent's room.
Vincent shot him a playful grin. "I'm centuries old, Isaac. You know that. "
Isaac didn't respond, his only answer a long sigh as they continued their walk.
---
The next morning, Renee wake up early, still feeling unsettled. She stretched her arms, her eyes immediately falling on her hand. The red string was still there, visible against her skin, an unshakable reminder of the events from the previous night. So, it wasn't a dream, she thought bitterly. This is real.
Before she could dwell further on it, she heard a knock at the door.
"Pardon my intrusion, my lady..." Isaac's voice drifted in from the hallway.
Renee quickly reached for the bell beside her bed and rang it, giving Isaac permission to enter. When the door opened, she was almost relieved to see him. Does he know about Vincent being a vampire? she wondered. Wait...is Isaac a vampire too?
Without a word, Renee grabbed the book and wrote her question: 'Are you a vampire too? '
Isaac looked at her curiously before responding with a simple nod. "Well, yes, of course...But rest assured, all the residents here won't hurt you," he reassured her. "Vampires here are bound by a strict code. It's taboo to harm you."
Renee nodded, still uncertain, and quickly wrote another question: Isaac spoke, make her come back to reality. "So, do you believe that young master is a vampire? "
She hesitated for a moment, she quickly wrote in the book: 'I don't know. Things are moving too quickly. My brain can't even keep up with this. And this string… it won't disappear at all. '
He paused before continuing, his words slow and deliberate: "I know this is a lot to take in. The string, though, only you and young master can see it. A vampire can't see it, and neither can I. "
Renee stared at the page, confused and frustrated. 'Is there a way to break this contract? '
Isaac looked at her, meeting her gaze with a sigh as he nodded at her question. "There is a way...If you wish to break the contract, you can't let Vincent drink your blood for three months. "
Renee's eyes narrowed at the thought. 'Of course, I won't let him drink my blood. Who is stupid enough to do that? ' She felt a flush of anger at the idea. How could he force her into such a position?
Isaac sighed deeply. "Well, you will if you fall deep into this magic..." He closed his eyes, his tone almost weary.
Renee's brow furrowed in confusion. 'What kind of magic is it? ' she asked, moving closer to Isaac.
Isaac leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if speaking a secret. "The magic of love…" he said quietly, raising a finger to his lips, signaling for her to keep it quiet.
Renee recoiled, her face flushed with irritation. She could feel the annoyance building inside her. Magic of love? she repeated, almost laughing bitterly. 'How convenient…'
But Isaac only smiled slightly, his expression unreadable.