I'm Not Your Sister
Clank. The heavy metallic sound rang out the moment I tried to move. Pitch-black darkness where I couldn't see an inch ahead, the cold stone floor against my legs, thick iron chains binding my limbs. And crucially, the unnaturally sharp sensation of fangs in my mouth.
This is possession.
Understanding and accepting the situation wasn't hard. Lucky for me, I'm a modern guy familiar with subculture. If this were just a plain old kidnapping, that would be the real shock.
"…Flora… Alberich."
I took a deep breath and let the name slip from my lips. Sure enough, it wasn't my voice. A cracked, childish girl's voice, hoarse from disuse.
I was certain now. I had become the Mad Vampire, Flora Alberich.
How much time had passed since I came to? The heavy iron door creaked open, and faint candlelight flooded in. I slowly raised my head.
"You're here."
This was my first time seeing her in the flesh. Yet I knew at a glance. Carsella Alberich.
The character I'd poured six years of my life into, just to see her happy. The woman I'd only ever seen on a screen was now standing before me, holding a candle.
Our eyes met. The candlestick in Carsella's hand trembled faintly. She stared into my eyes for a long moment before carefully setting it down on the floor with shaking hands.
"…You're being so docile today. Is it because the method I tried yesterday worked, or is it just a whim? Either way, I'm glad to see some change."
Her voice strained for composure, but the tremor was plain as day.
"Doesn't it hurt? I padded the chains with cloth, but I'm always worried it might."
She kept talking even without a response, as if she didn't expect one. But her eyes never left mine.
I drew a deep breath. Carsella was a fan favorite. Beautiful looks and a tragic backstory—classic winning combo. No surprise there were plenty of fanfics about possessing Flora Alberich to save her.
"…Flora?"
Every time I'd read those, I'd wondered: What would I do in that situation?
The answer was always the same.
"Carsella… Alberich."
I forced the words out through vocal cords stiff from years of neglect.
"I'm… not your sister."
It would've been easy to lie. Flora Alberich was originally just a soulless shell—no original owner to speak of. So why not take the easy path? Because I didn't want to deceive Carsella.
"……!"
I heard her sharp intake of breath.
"You… spoke."
Carsella, who had been holding her breath and blinking in shock, finally opened her mouth.
"And your first words are a declaration of independence."
She composed herself faster than I'd expected. If not for her trembling eyes and fingertips, I might've bought the calm act.
Carsella approached slowly. I instinctively tried to back away, but all I got was another clank of chains.
"I've imagined this situation plenty of times—quite vividly, in fact. The moment I speak to you, and you answer back."
"…So I'm telling you, I'm not Flora Alberich."
"I get what you're trying to say. But Flora? That's not as big a deal as you think. What matters is that you're responding to me."
Was it not sinking in yet? Or was she just pretending not to hear? As I puzzled over how to make her understand, Carsella smiled softly.
"Hmm, this is tricky."
She looked down at me and gently stroked my cheek.
"I've always wondered how I'd act if we ever had a real conversation. In my imaginings, I was always the poised, cool, dignified big sister. But right now… I'm far less dignified than in any of those fantasies."
"…Hey, maybe stop getting lost in your own world and talk to me properly?"
"You can keep using casual speech with me."
"No, that's not it."
"How sad."
I couldn't keep up. What the hell was Carsella thinking? Come to think of it, I didn't really know her personality well. Carsella was a boss character. No romance route with her, no deep player dialogues.
"Flora, I'll start by removing the chains, so don't be startled."
Carsella reached out and began unfastening the chains around my body. One by one, they clattered to the floor.
Carsella offered me blood, but I refused. Instead, I drank some water. We needed to talk, after all.
"It's like looking at someone in denial about reality."
"…Yeah."
I averted my eyes at her words. Guilty as charged.
"It's not pleasant to be doubted by a loved one. Tell me, Flora. I'm listening properly."
Why was Carsella the one comforting and coaxing me? I'd imagined this possession scenario before, but usually, she'd deny reality or resent me—and I'd be the one consoling her.
"I'm not Flora Alberich."
"I see. So what should I call you, then?"
"…That's it?"
Carsella pondered for a moment, stroking her chin with a finger.
"Sorry. I can't guess what reaction you want, so I can only answer honestly."
She gave an awkward smile, and I scratched my head.
"…I lived in a completely different world."
"I see."
"And I was a guy."
"Oh dear, is the body change uncomfortable?"
"Right now, your sister's body has a total stranger's soul inside it."
"Yes, I understand perfectly."
And… that was it. No follow-up. Carsella still wore her benevolent smile, simply wiping water from my lips as she waited for my next words.
Don't make me say it. This is your cue to react.
I glared at her openly, and Carsella blinked in confusion.
"We seem to have a difference in perspective."
"Difference in perspective…?"
"Flora. The only reason you define yourself as not-Flora is because you have memories of living as someone else, right?"
"Y-Yeah…?"
"Does that really prove you're not Flora?"
"Doesn't it?"
"I don't think so."
Carsella said. She took a deep breath and gently swept back her hair. Her relaxed demeanor looked like pure acting.
"Of course, I don't have the perfect answer either."
She continued.
"But Flora, possession isn't that simple."
"Yeah…."
"It's usually what decrepit, ugly dark mages do to steal young bodies. They hunt for a compatible soul wavelength, and even then, they sacrifice dozens or hundreds to suppress rejection and side effects."
"…No rejection means high chance I'm the real Flora?"
"Smart girl."
"Could just be luck."
"Maybe. Like I said, I don't know the truth."
Carsella extended her still-trembling hand and cautiously stroked my cheek. It was unbelievably tender and warm.
"Whatever life you lived before, whatever you call yourself. To me, you're just 'Flora Alberich.' My little sister."
She smiled brightly and rose. Gone was the tremor and awkwardness; she now exuded the dignity of a Vampire Lord.
"Well then, time to end this long basement stay. Now that you've regained your reason, no need to keep you locked away."
"……Right now?"
"Of course. I can't leave my precious sister in a place like this."
"You kept me here just fine until now."
"……."
Carsella froze. I knew why. Sunlight triggers fits, so basement it was. Loose, and she'd eat her own flesh, so chains it was.
With Carsella struck dumb, I spoke first.
"Let's get out for now?"
"Y-Yes. That sounds good."
She cleared her throat with a light cough. Up close, her face was a bit red.
"Wait just a moment. I'll lift the seal and come back."
Carsella walked gracefully toward the iron door. Before leaving, she glanced back wistfully several times, then waved elegantly and vanished.
Thud.
The heavy door shut, leaving me alone. I stared blankly at the wall, replaying the conversation. She'd taken my possession reveal so casually. Kinda deflating, but also reassuring.
Alright, out first, then we start.
Five minutes. Ten. An hour.
…Why hasn't she come back?
As anxiety crept in, the door creaked open.
"Took longer than expected to lift the seal?"
I walked toward the door and saw Carsella. Gone was her majestic air; her shoulders slumped, looking somehow cowed.
"C-Carsella? What happened?"
"…It failed."
"What?"
I blurted without thinking.
"W-Well… I realized the basement's seal barrier can't be undone by my authority alone…."
I blinked. This was new lore.
"When we first set up the seal, a few friends lent their power…."
"Can't release without them?"
"…Yeah."
Carsella avoided my gaze, offering only an awkward smile.