The Eternal Gambit

"Does that mean I will become your servant?" 

Alvin could not help but feel a bit conflicted inside, 'Do I really have to let go of my freedom just to live? But…' his gaze fell on him that was trembling ever so slightly, since when have I started fearing death?'

"If it was before I would have made you my Pais— a servant who lived and died for me."Elara replied honestly. She noticed the slight tremor in Alvin's body, though his face remained calm

"Before?" With his mind being as calm as ever, Alvin caught the main point in her words.

Elara nodded softly, "I have decided to make some changes to the ritual just for you." She pressed the emphasis on the last words to make him understand that she was taking unnecessary steps to save his life.

She could have simply made him her servant by saying that she had no other way to save him but instead she was being transparent to him about it.

And Alvin understood these things as well, "I really appreciate that I truly do." 

Elara nodded, satisfied by his gratitude, but her smile held a warning, "Don't be happy too soon. In exchange for the second chance at life…" Elara put a serious look on her face, staring at Alvin with a deep look in her eyes that made him feel like his thoughts lay bare before her.

Despite the calmness, Alvin felt himself a bit tense at this moment. 'Here it comes! Is she finally going to tell me what she wants in exchange for my life?' 

Time seemed to have slowed down for Alvin, all the voices in the background faded, he could only hear the voice of his own breathing.

Elara kept staring at him and asked, "…Are you willing to swear your loyalty to me?"

Alvin blinked.

Confused what she meant by those words.

Oh, was it any different than being her servant but then he thought deeply about it. 

'Why would she ask this if she is not going to make me her servant?' He wondered, a frown appeared on his face.

As if seeing through his thoughts Elara clarified, "From this day onwards, you will be living with me, vampires have no place in the human world. At this moment in my life, I need people whom I can trust by my side. Not as a servant or a subordinate but as a partner whom I can leave my back to."

Alvin was caught off guard by her words. It would be a lie if he said he knew she might ask something like this. All he wanted was to live, but now he found himself in a web of complex vampire problems.

Since he somewhat understood that Elara was some kind of nobility among vampires, he knew the dangers around were in no shortage. Being affiliated with her meant he would have to take on these unnecessary dangers.

But… 

Now that there was a way before him to survive, he felt a bit conflicted with how to proceed from here on. Alvin relaxed his body and closed his eyes, allowing his thoughts to wander.

He felt like he was drifting into a dark void with no one there but him. Suddenly, an aged voice reached his ears.

'Why did you do that kid?' The voice trembled in anger, 'No matter what reason you had, promise me something…' 

The voice trailed off, and Alvin opened his eyes, his gaze was filled with a newfound purpose and clarity. 

He looked at the patiently waiting Elara in the eye and said, "For me, loyalty is like a rope." He raised his hand towards the woman, and she looked at it with a curious look in her eyes. "Two people holding each end. If you are willing to hold onto yours, I will never let go— even if it means dying with it in my hand."

"You are willing to save me, that alone makes me indebted to you. After today, you will be my benefactor. And I am not the kind of person who bites the hand that feeds me."

Elara's gaze altered between his eyes and his hand, still hovering in the air. The next moment her lips curled up into a sweet smile, she moved forward and took his hand, holding it tightly.

"I am glad to hear that," she said. "And don't worry about me letting go of this rope of yours." Alvin looked at Elara with a confused look on his face as she continued, "This ritual we are about to perform on you will…"

Her voice drifted in the air but Alvin felt each word that left her mouth bearing weight on his heart. He opened his mouth a few times but no word came out of his mouth.

After staring at the now silent Elara for a few seconds he uttered, "Very well, I am willing."

Elara smiled in relief, hearing his response, an unknown tension lingering on her body suddenly dispersed.

Alvin, on the other hand, stared at the starry sky without blinking, Elara had shattered several myths about vampires and other things for him. In just a single night, his whole world had flipped upside down. 

Vampires were incomparably powerful compared to humans. Alvin saw it firsthand when Elara crushed the steel railing of the helipad with nothing but her bare hands to express her annoyance earlier.

He stared, mouth slightly open. If this is just a fraction of what vampires can do… then what are the strongest ones like?

He looked at the moon for a few seconds until something clicked in his mind, "why are we even here?"

He got so lost in the flow of their conversation that he even forgot about this.

"That place was already in ruins, and the local authorities had sent their force to the scene," Elara explained, watching a look of disdain forming on Alvin's face.

Alvin clicked his tongue, "They sure took their sweet time." As if thinking of something, a fierce glint flashed through his eyes before it faded. 'No, even if they had earlier, nothing would have changed. But… even then, I cannot help but get angry at them.'

Alvin was feeling a wave of emotional roller coaster, going from feeling anger, hatred and all other kinds of emotion to nerving stillness. In the end he gave up, thinking much about it.

"When can we start? I am dying here." He looked at Elara and made a joke to lighten his mood.

Elara replied. "Just a bit more, someone is bringing some things we need for the ritual. Even if you die before we can start, you will be turned by the ritual on time." Joking back with him.

"Not creepy at all," Alvin replied with a dry chuckle.