I opened my blurry eyes, while my head hurt like hell with my limbs aching as if I was left out in the cold weather outside, naked and wet. The first thing I recognized was a white ceiling, though this does not make sense. My ceiling is white, but not this unnatural witheness.
The next thing I noticed was that I could not move. I was bound to a comfy bed with mana infused chain like things. Not even lifting my head was an option, just turning it. Then, I realized that I had no morning wood and I felt weak and lethargic as if I just donated a lot of blood. How do I know how it feels like? I used to donate it for a meal in exchange. My blood type was always in demand, 0- they said.
As I laid there on the bed, I wondered where I messed up to be in this situation. The last thing I remembered was being in the shower searching for shampoo. Idly wondering if Ters and the egg are well, I passed time waiting for something to happen.
Which it eventually did, as the door opened and a nurse came in. She saw me awake and instantly turned around, leaving me staring blankly at the spot she used to come in. "What the hell!"
15 minutes later the door opened again. My pupils almost dilated in fear when I saw who stepped into the room. Her reputation is so fearsome after all. An early 30s year old alluring woman with an unnerving smile and a scroll in hand entered followed by my last target, Alice Ilyren.
Seeing her fine again, I was shocked. I even infused my mana to ensure that if my bullet was not enough, which it most definitely would not be enough, the mana would do the rest. But more importantly, I was currently bound on a bed unable to do anything and before me stands the mother of my recent target. I would be able to beat Alice Ilyren in a 1vs1 ambush, but forget about her mother. She is truly a frigthening monster. I am completely and utterly fucked up.
Realizing this fact, I sighed and turned my head back to look at the ceiling, resigning myself to whatever fate may befall on me. It was bound to happen one day. But I did not think it would be now.
"Oh? You already gave up before I even told you what will happen with you after your attempted murder on my daugther?" I felt shivers running down my spine when I heard Vivana saying this in that strange, innuendos tone.
"You see, I considered killing you on the spot the moment I got my hands on you. Though my magnamious persona has a reputation to maintain and I managed to restrain myself with difficulty. I decided to spare your patethic human life which is so easy to extinguish in favor of Alice. The choice is yours in how you will be treated in the foreseeable future. Either, you sign a soulbound contract with Alice where you will have at least some modicum of freedom, or you will recieve near the same level of treatment as a lesser vampire in our family."
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I am kind of surprised that I did not get killed by her hand considering her reputation as the mad vampire duchess. Though my options are bleak, to say the least. Being treated like a lesser vampire might sound good for those not knowing, as it looks like being a family member of a strong family, but it is the opposite. It is like being treated like the omega in the werewolf tribe. Abused for the enjoyment of the stronger ones. Only getting leftovers of meals. Not the meals of your family members no no. The leftovers of those meals are given to their pets and then you get the leftovers of the pets. That is your meal while being regularly drained of your blood for livestock animals.
Knowing this, people would likely choose the soulbound contract, but it is mostly just as bad. Not going to lie, there are good contracts, however you want to define good, but they are made between equals.
Not in situations like these, where one party is immobolized. The most obvious flaw or boon, considering how you view it of the soulbound contract is if you violate one of the terms, you will experience excrutiating pain even if your nerves are fried. It is a pain that targets your very existence.
A small idea of how I could get out of this situation shot through my head, and I acted on it.
"Miss Vivana Ilyren.", I spoke slowly as to collect my thoughts and to notice any hints at her own thoughts. "Are you not afraid of being reported for planning an illegal use of a soulbound contract?"
"No plaintiff, no judge. You will not even get the chance to report it. Besides you are more likely to get arrested and executed before they are finished with sorting through all of your crimes. Now do not give me that look, Mr. Zerdas, killer of Prince Nolan of our kingdom, killer of the pope, poisoner of villages. Do you want me to stop listing your doings and titles? I can go on all day long."
"Where do I have to sign?" "Excellent, right here."
Before signing, I gave the contract a short look. It looked simple enough.
1. If Mr. Zerdas is not in the near vicinity of Alice Ilyren for an extended period of time, he will slowly experience increasing pain that can lead to death.
2. If Mr. Zerdas is for Ms. Alice Ilyrens death or permanent disability in any way responsible, either through action or inaction, he will experience being skinned, torched and eaten alive but not death.
3. This contract will be active immediately upon being signed.
I did not have the energy to argue with Vivana about the end of the contract. I doubted they did not have the ingredients necessary for breaking this contract and once my service is done for whatever they need me, they will release me. Or not. Then I will have to search for the ingredients myself.
Alice already signed it, so once I signed my side, I felt and saw golden black colored chains wrapping around me and Alice before tightening and disappearing. Though I noticed a tatoo of golden black chains appearing on my whole left arm. They burned themself into me. I noted that Alice and Vivana visibly relaxed upon seeing the contract activate.
"You will knock on the Ilyren estate tomorrow morning at 08:00 am for your first work day. There we will decide what exactly you will do." Leaving this statement hanging in the air, a satisfied Vivana took Alice by the hand and went out of the room.