The bloodthirsty intent slowly faded from the wooden ballroom. The sound of the now melodic song, played by a symphony of violins combined with the low and high notes of the piano, filled the air. A low hum from an old man added a feeling of satisfaction. The cold, rusty skeleton hand resting on Cassie's hip was the only thing she could focus on during the Count's long speech.
"The feeling's gone."
Cassie's face twisted in discomfort as she placed a hand on her chest. A tight, uneasy sensation coursed through her body.
"I want it back..."
Even if it was the intent of death, Cassie craved it more than the repulsive feeling of having this old man's decaying body so close to her.
"It reeks…"
The smell was nauseating. The old man reeked, but it wasn't the same scent from their travels through the Red Coral Labyrinth. Even that stench was more bearable.
"Wood…"
Cassie frowned, gripping her dress tightly. The uncomfortable scent of wood—either burned or freshly cut—filled her nostrils, making her gag slightly. She swallowed hard as the song continued, and the old man's words followed.
"Shall we greet the guests, Miss Cassie?"
"Don't call me that," she snapped, glaring in his direction. Though she couldn't see him, she could hear his breath and feel his movements. Mentally calculating his gestures, she could predict his next words with precision, thanks to her ability to see three seconds into the future.
'He'll grab my left wrist.'
As expected, the man glared at her retort and gripped her left wrist harshly.
"You insolent girl. You need me to connect at the Chain Islands' gateway," he snarled, tightening his grip as Cassie hissed in pain.
"I'm letting you off the hook for now because you know about the illegal transactions. But you're just a mere awakened with a bit of fame. Don't think for a second you have power over me. I control your life now, and you'd better keep that in mind."
Cassie turned her blind eyes in his direction, gazing into the abyss she constantly saw. A smirk formed on her lips as her eyes moved upward, causing the old man to flinch. His grip trembled.
"D-do you actually see?"
Taking his question as confirmation that her eyes unnerved him, Cassie uttered the words that would seal his fate.
"My life is bound by a red string of fate, entrusted to a man who loathes me to death."
She stepped closer to the old man, and he instinctively backed away.
"Touch me again. Insult me again. Threaten me again, and you'll make him more and more jealous."
The man shuddered at her words and the devilish smile that curved on her face.
"I sold my life to him the moment I took his. And I bet, even if his mind doesn't know it yet, his heart will beat a thousand times faster when someone makes me suffer."
The grip on her wrist tightened, and though she knew the pain was coming, it didn't lessen the sting.
"Is that so?" The man scoffed arrogantly. "Let's see if this man dares raise a hand against me."
Cassie frowned. His arrogance reminded her of the Gulag. Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled.
"Where are we going?"
"To the stairs. We're going to dance, in front of everyone."
"Wha—?"
Cassie's face twisted in horror.
"Dance? I don't know how to dance! I don't want to dance with him… what is he planning?"
The old man's hands gripped her shoulders, and she heard his whisper in her ear.
"One step forward."
Cassie's lips tightened, her eyes shutting as she reluctantly complied.
---
Aiko observed the scene from afar, her disbelief clear. The moment Cassie appeared on the upper floor, Sunny's killing intent surged like nothing she'd ever seen. For the past few minutes, during Count Il Vachmount's cringe-worthy speech, she, Kai, and Seishan (who had appeared out of nowhere) had to restrain Sunny from causing a scene.
'Jeez... What's wrong with him? He went from a man who could intimidate with his presence to someone acting on instinct.'
Aiko frowned at Sunny, now somewhat calmer.
"Oi, dumbass—"
Sunny glared at her, then sighed, looking away. Was he feeling guilty? Aiko certainly hoped so, for bringing them trouble.
"What?"
"Have you started crushing on Cassie because Nephis is away?"
Kai's eyes widened as he quickly glanced at Sunny, then back at Aiko.
"Aiko!"
"What? Look at him, acting like someone who had his property stolen."
Kai gulped at Aiko's words. To be fair, Sunny was acting strangely. The moment he saw Cassie with the Count, he summoned his Midnight Shard and was ready to strike. Luckily, Kai acted quickly to restrain him, while Seishan and the unknown woman blocked the view of onlookers.
"No… she's right," Sunny muttered.
Aiko smirked at his agreement as the symphony of violins and a rusty piano began to fill the ballroom. She glanced at the Count, who was guiding Cassie down the spiral staircase toward the center of the ballroom. Aiko's face twisted in disgust. The Count's hands were wrapped around Cassie's waist, and they had started to dance.
'Now that I think about it… I don't like how he's touching her.'
For a brief moment, Aiko sympathized with Sunny's earlier outburst.
"Kai."
Aiko turned as Sunny approached her idol boyfriend.
"Do you mind if I have a dance round with her?"
Aiko and Kai froze at Sunny's words, followed by a teasing 'oooh~' from Seishan.
"W-what?"
"It would be strange to approach them directly, right?"
Aiko stepped back instinctively, pleading with Kai.
"Uh… K-Kai, you won't let your girlfriend dance with another man… right?"
Kai glanced at Aiko, then back at Sunny.
"I can't… Sunny, I don't know what's going on, but… sorry."
Badump
Aiko's heart skipped a beat at Kai's brave words.
'I'll make sure to reward him later tonight.'
As her mind wandered into intimate territory, Seishan chimed in.
"Oh my~? If you need a partner, I'm right here. What do you s—"
"Deal, let's dance," Sunny interrupted abruptly.
Aiko, Kai, and even Seishan were surprised by his sudden answer.
'Wasn't he afraid of her?'
Aiko glanced at Kai for confirmation, but his expression was just as confused as hers.
Sunny took Seishan's hand without any formal gesture and led her toward the dance floor. Despite his abruptness, Seishan was smiling.
'That vampire probably just wants to see a show.'
Aiko nodded to herself, praying that this night would end soon.
---
Cassie tried to focus on the song, not on the man she was dancing with, but her thoughts were racing with anger and worry.
'Left foot.'
'Shut up.'
'Right foot.'
'Don't touch me.'
'Pirouette.'
'Let me go!'
Losing her composure, Cassie misstepped, and the man's hands slipped away. She was falling.
Cassie closed her eyes and yelped, but she bumped into someone.
"Ah… I'm sor—"
Soft hands, not large like a man's but not small like a child's, gently corrected her fall. Her head rested against his shoulder, and instinctively, she slipped her other hand under his arm and grasped his opposite shoulder for support. Her mind froze for a moment, then calmed. A soft, sad smile appeared on her face as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. One of his hands slid from her back to her waist. The touch was unsteady, inexperienced—but it wasn't unpleasant. It was a hell she didn't mind.
In that moment, killing intent filled the room. The music abruptly stopped, and the murmurs of the guests became audible. But none of that mattered.
"You came…" Cassie muttered softly into the man's neck. His hand tightened on her waist. She liked it. Whether it was a sign of hate or disgust, she liked it.
"You called," a cold voice whispered in her ear, making her grin.
Sunny was holding her. Whether it was out of disgust, jealousy, or hatred, she didn't know. But he was doing it. After months of planning and scheming for her goal, she could finally take a second to rest.
"Mhm!"
Cassie nodded at his words, basking in the rare moment of comfort from one of her only friends.
"I'm sorry, Count," Sunny's voice echoed through the room. "I would like to dance with this lady."
Everyone froze at Sunny's words—the Count, the guests, Seishan, Aiko, Jet, and Kai.
Cassie's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Eh?"
'A dance… with the one he hates?'