The Vampire Commotion - Part 2
"You're going to be my slave for a whole week, Serina!"
"Do you have a death wish?"
"Huh? Did you forget about our bet?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about?"
Serina played dumb, pretending she had no idea what I was saying. She strode ahead with an innocent look on her face. That swaying ass of hers was really starting to piss me off. How shameless. I needed to teach her a lesson.
I raised my hand and smacked her right on that plump cheek. Slap. A crisp, lively sound rang out—the unmistakable noise of flesh meeting flesh.
"Ouch! Are... are you crazy?"
Serina whipped around, radiating pure killing intent. How dare this slave girl look her master straight in the eye?
"Listen up, you wench. Starting today, you're my slave. Act like it."
"Allen. Did you eat something weird? Or do you have some kind of hidden backup?"
"I don't, you wench. You said you'd obey my every word. So why are you talking back like this?"
It felt like macho blood was running through my veins. Yelling at her like this gave me a thrill. Hah... There was something euphoric about calling Serina a wench.
"Talking back? You must not value your life."
Serina's shoulders trembled as she extended her claws.
"Hey! Stop that! Hey! Put those claws away. P-put them down right now."
"...I'm speechless. This is ridiculous."
She advanced with her claws sharpened. They looked even sharper than usual today.
"S-Serina. It was a bet. P-put them away. You promised."
"I said I'd do anything. Who said you could treat me like this?"
"N-no... I thought you'd like it. I'm sorry. Just put them away and we can talk."
Even after barely escaping death, I wanted to do it again. The thrill... it was electrifying...!
"Serina..."
"What?"
"Just now, I felt a shiver run through my whole body."
"What kind of shiver?"
"Can't I give you orders for just a week?"
"What? Have you lost your mind?"
"No... not anything too extreme... but we did make a bet. And your obedient side is just so lovable..."
"Love? What is that?"
"Uh... well... love is when your feelings for someone grow so strong that you wouldn't mind giving your life for them?"
"That's what love is?"
"Yeah. I think that's what I'm feeling."
"Really? You feel love toward me?"
"Yeah. It feels like something just stood right up."
"Stood up? Don't use that word. It's weird."
"Why not? Standing up is good, isn't it?"
"Stop it! I said I don't like it. It makes my whole body feel itchy. I hate it."
"Okay..."
"Still... that love thing sounds pretty nice."
"Right! You need love if you want to get married."
"Really? If I give you orders, you'll want to marry me?"
"Y-yeah... that's right. Men like obedient women."
"Is that so? Then it's only for one week?"
"Yep. Just one week."
"But if you touch my body without permission or anything like that, forget about obedience—I'll tear your body to shreds. So you'd better be careful."
"Whoa... why so scary? I won't do that..."
"When you slapped my butt earlier, it was incredibly unpleasant."
"I'm sorry..."
"Good. Now I feel like taking a walk."
"There's a nice place for walking nearby. Follow me."
"Okay."
Beyond the market square was a place called the park. My father had loved flowers. So there were spots decorated with tulips and all kinds of other blooms. There were also stone statues carved into human shapes here.
"Serina. Give me your hand."
"Okay."
She trotted after me and took my hand. When she was like this, she really was the perfect woman. I glanced up and down at her for a moment. If only she weren't a witch... If only she didn't have that rotten personality... What a shame. That elegant neckline... I wanted to lick it.
"What are you looking at?"
"Huh? Oh... I was just thinking your neckline is really beautiful, Serina."
"My neckline?"
"Yeah. Tie your hair up so I can see it better."
"U-understood."
Serina tried to tie her hair but couldn't find anything suitable. I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out the string I'd used to tie money. I handed it to her.
"Like this?"
"Oh... that's sexy."
"Sex... y?"
"Yeah. When something draws you in, we call it sexy."
"You're drawn to me?"
"Yeah. I'm fucking horny for you."
"What's the difference between drawn and horny?"
"Ah... I mean drawn. Sorry, sorry, I misspoke."
Serina tilted her head, looking puzzled. As we walked around the park, we stopped in front of one of the statues. Serina pointed at it.
"Allen. Look at that."
"Hm? What about it?"
"Why are that man and woman pressing their mouths together?"
"Ah. That's called a kiss."
"A kiss? What does that mean?"
"Well... it's something people who love each other do. You do it when you're in love."
"You have to press your mouths together if you love someone?"
"Yes. It's essential for sharing deep connection."
"Pressing mouths together creates a connection?"
"Of course. There are other things you need to connect on too, though."
"Other... Stop. I don't want to know any more."
"Uh... okay."
"But... does doing that connection thing feel good?"
"I've never done it before, so..."
"Then it would be your first time?"
"I... guess so?"
"First... first... It would be my first time too..."
"What?"
"Never mind. Being each other's first seems nice."
"Right? Haha..."
"Hmm... Then should we do that too?"
"Eh? Haha... M-maybe someday?"
"I see... So you have to do it if you're in love... The word 'kiss' is kind of cute."
"They say you should kiss three times a day if you're in love."
"Three times a day?"
"Is that too much?"
"No. It's too little."
After saying that, the witch got embarrassed and started acting coy. We walked hand in hand, fidgeting our fingers together, feeling a strange, thrilling tension in the quiet silence. The moment our eyes met, it was like sparks flew and we quickly let go of each other's hands.
"Ahem... Serina. Let's sit over there."
"O-okay..."
I went first and brushed the stone bench with my palm, worried there might be dust.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing. Don't mention it."
Serina sat down gracefully, smoothing her dress. I plopped down beside her. The sun was slowly setting.
"Hand."
At my command, Serina obediently offered her hand, placing it gently over mine. She even interlaced our fingers without being told.
"I didn't tell you to interlace them..."
"I don't care. I want to."
"...Good girl."
Then she rested her head on my shoulder.
"I didn't tell you to lean on me..."
"I don't care. I want to."
"...That's good too."
We stayed like that without saying a word. I liked this silence. Every breath. Every tiny movement. Every glance. For a moment, the thought crossed my mind that marrying a witch might not be so bad. I even wondered what it would be like if we did. Part of me worried I'd end up as her house husband, but another part thought that might not be so terrible. If Serina would just act this feminine sometimes... And maybe a child who looked like her. A child with her appearance... but my personality. That might be nice...
"What are you thinking about?"
"Huh? Nothing. Just spacing out."
"I was thinking about marriage."
"What...?"
My heart pounded wildly. Was the witch serious...? Or was she just using me? Was I nothing but a sacrifice to help her reach her Complete Form? Or was I wrong?
Noticing my wavering gaze, Serina asked again.
"Are you anxious?"
"About what...?"
"You just look anxious."
"I... I guess I am a little."
More than that, she was way too close. Every time her breath brushed my cheek, it felt like my heart would explode. I worried I might actually stop breathing. The witch's lips. They were so red... Why were they that red? And so full. They looked moist... What would a kiss feel like...? When I finally looked up from her lips, Serina seemed to have been staring at mine too, and our eyes met as she lifted her gaze. Her eyes trembled, as if the eye contact had flustered her.
If we were going to kiss, now was the moment... It felt like I should lean in first. We were slowly drawing closer. Our noses were about to touch, our cheeks nearly brushing—
"Lord Allen! Lady Serina!"
"Lord Alleeeen! It's an emergency!"
"Lady Serina! Something terrible has happened!"
The shouts of knights echoed toward us. We jerked apart in a panic.
"Ahem..."
We both awkwardly straightened our clothes. In the distance, four armed knights came running.
"W-what's going on?"
"Lord Allen, it's terrible."
"What? What happened?"
"L-Lord Lucas has been taken."
"What? Explain it properly so I can understand."
"That vampire leader appeared, grabbed the lord, and dragged him away."
"What? Did they break through the gates?"
"No. It had wings!"
"Wings?"
"Yes. After looking at the vampire corpses, wings suddenly sprouted from its back."
"And then?"
"It flew up into the sky and carried off the lord and several knights."
"Where did it take them?"
"It dragged them into the forest on the opposite side. We need to hurry."
"Let's go. Serina, come on."
We rushed toward the castle gates. There wasn't a moment to lose. If we were too late, Lucas's life could be in danger. This urgent situation—what the hell was going on?
"Allen. Get on my back."
"Huh?"
"I said get on."
Serina stopped and spoke to me. This wasn't like her... When I just stood there blankly, she spoke again.
"Lucas is in danger. The master should go save him."
"Uh... yeah, that's true."
"It'll be faster if I run."
"Alright."
It was my first time being carried by a woman. Well, first time since my mother, I guess. I couldn't really remember, but the warm, secure feeling was exactly the same. I felt like a child again. Ugh... goo goo? I kind of wanted milk too. For real.