2.2 : PACT.

"Yes, that sounded pretty tense. Are you alright?"

"For now, I don't know for how long though. You should start searching for a worthy replacement."

"I'll look at it when the said situation would occur."

"You're not taking it seriously."

"Anyway, red or purple? Which one should I choose?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"I'm asking about which dress should I choose? We're supposed to meet, right?"

"I don't see how that and this are related in any way."

"So? Do you want me to just show up without any clothes at your place? Pervert!"

"If you're done accusing me, could you just go away and stop pestering me?"

Hmm...Purple or Red, uh? Personally, though, I would like to assume that blue is the color she feels at home.

"Aight, Blue it is!"

"Could you stop reading my mind? Honestly..."

"4 PM! Don't forget. If you're late, it'll be the end for you."

"It's still 11:40 in the morning. Why did you have to consult me with such a trivial matter if we're meeting at 4 in the evening?"

"How inconsiderate of you! It's not that easy for us women to go out on a weekend, you know!"

"Alright! I hope you have fun with your friends and boyfriend."

"Wait, what do you mean by boyf..."

I abruptly ended the link we both shared just now. I stared at the bracelet on my wrist. The stone reflected a bright light. Honestly, what was she thinking? Handing over something so precious. It hasn't been more than 24 hours.

**********

The previous night,

"You have a strange habit of showing up to a man's place late at night, don't you?"

"What are you implying?"

"Nothing."

"Anyway, I have something important to tell you."

"Feel free to do so. The stage is all yours."

"Seeing this side of you is making me uncomfortable."

"Can't help it. I can't just restrict us to minimal conversations, so I have to improvise and do something out of character."

"Well, I do pity you."

"So, partner? What brings you all the way to this place, especially on a Friday night? Couldn't you resist this mere mortal's blood, that you showed up putting yourself in a risky situation?"

I could sense a cold stare with the intention to kill. Maybe Vampires can't handle a joke? Or maybe it's just the royals. Anyway, she cracked her knuckles. I'm done for. Time to write my last will, and die an unnatural death.

"Anyway, I...I..."

"You're confessing to me? I'm pleased by this gesture."

"Urgh! Let me talk."

"Fine."

"The thing is when I asked you to be my partner...."

"Yeah, when you asked me to be your partner?"

"There's something I forgot to mention."

"You forgot to mention something? And what might that be?"

The thing is if she were to say it in with a cold demeanor as she had at the start, I wouldn't have bothered whatever be the task. But now, because she's speaking in such a way, I'm not sure what to expect or how to even talk to her anymore.

"Pa...ct!"

"Oi! Speak up, will you? Are you suddenly trying to be polite as you're one step closer to being coronated as the queen?"

"No, that's not it. Till now, I was being a little too arrogant and ignorant of you, since you were oblivious of the stuff that transpired, and how you got yourself involved in this situation, unknowingly. I thought I could gain the lead in the relationship we both shared. But after spending some time with you, I started to understand that isn't the case."

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"Anyway, regarding the fact why I'm here, there seem to be some complications in the relationship we both share."

"Complications?" We both were just munching some popcorn before things started to take a turn for the worse, at least for me. That's what I felt was waiting from the other end now.

"That day, when you offered yourself to let me take your blood, it meant that you were willing to offer up your life to me."

"And?"

"When there's such a relationship between the donor and the recipient, a bond is formed. To solidify this very bond, a pact must be created. And that's the dilemma of the whole situation we're in right now."

"I don't see what's the problem here?"

"When we sign the pact, we are a pair, depending on the nature of the contract. The usual contract states that if I, the master shall perish in any unforeseeable conditions, then you, my partner shall die with me. But the contrary doesn't hold true. So, if you die, then I can replace you."

"Well, that's fucked up. So, in the end, I'm more of a knight than a partner?"

"Yes, but there's an exception. Since you've saved my life before the pact was formed, there can be a special kind, where we both would be equals. So if one dies, it can either be such that the other person dies, but of his or her own free will. But, if the other participant can't make the decision, the person who's supposedly going to perish can decide."

"And here I was expecting that you would some complicated medical terms, and confuse me and then betray me in the end, all for power and lust. Looks like I've been watching too many TV dramas."

"Huh? Betray you? Why would I?"

"You may be Emily in this world. But in hindsight, you're supposedly using an alias or just a part of your name here, which means you're only showing everyone a part of yourself. Don't you think I should have a contingency plan of my own, should I ever be betrayed?"

"So, you're going to take me down with you?"

"Well, that's a possibility. Can't rule that out."

"Fine then, let's go."

"Where?"

"The ritual site."

"We're doing it now?"

"Make sure you decide."

THERE'S NO TURNING BACK!