Chapter V: The Deal with the Vampire Prince

Akira looked at Leon with a suspicious look. Her expression from earlier with trust changed drastically to distrust and anger towards him. The vampire prince in front of her—who is supposedly living in the Riparian zone. 

Her intuition is correct that vampires can somewhat escape the zone. Her heart suddenly thumps from anxiety, albeit faint. Akira also thought and was wary that Leon might be responsible for the women missing in the city. 

‘Is he a vampire pervert who mates with humans?’ 

‘Should I just kill him?’ Akira grinned at her evil thoughts. It's perfect timing for her; a prince who will be the next king of the vampires getting killed by a human is enough to entice her. 

‘A pact without a leader is bound to collapse anyway.’

But what stopped her killing instinct was the image of her grandfather. 

‘Damn it!’

Akira took a deep breath and looked at Leon, “You said you have a deal with me? Before I hear it, let me ask you a question.”

“Alright.” Leon agreed, which made Akira flustered. She’s expecting a ‘no’ from him, but thinking that he agreed without questioning her makes her confused. But that also could be a mask to get her, so she shook the confusion away and took her chance.

Akira crossed her arms, “How could you escape the zone? Did the vampires find a way? Tell me.”

“There is no path to escape.”

A frown was immediately visible on Akira’s face. She didn’t expect that answer, or maybe she didn’t expect an honest response from him all along. A feigned sneer escaped her mouth as she brushed her hair. ‘What do I expect from a vampire like him?’

“You don’t seem to believe me,” Leon commented.

Akira responded, “Why would I? You speak of no truth.” There was no hint of a lie in her words. Only conviction remains as she is sure that Leon is speaking of nonsense. Her idea of vampires telling the truth didn’t exist in her beliefs. So, what’s the point in asking?

“I jumped---” Leon was about to speak when Akira didn’t give him a chance. 

“Nevermind. So, what was the deal you were spouting? Make it short; I don’t have the leisure to entertain the likes of you.” Akira said with a cold expression. She wants the conversation between them to end quickly and go home. Since she has discovered nothing happened between them besides the kiss, there’s no need to feel guilty. And, she had also decided to marry him; seeing his face once is enough to remember him—no, she doesn’t even want to remember him again.

Leon’s face grew dimmer, but to Akira’s perspective, it was an angry expression, “Let’s get married, milady.”

“That’s it? You know, we’re really getting married.” She responded as she crossed her arms. She let out a sigh, disappointment visible on her face. She thought there’d be more of the deal this vampire crown prince was talking about.

Akira stared at Leon. Their eyes met—Akira with contempt in her eyes and Leon with mixed emotions—longing, worries, and desires. 

Leon clenched his fist, biting his lower lip, “I know your plans, milady. You want the vampire's downfall, right?” 

Akira's eyes widened, hearing what Leon had spoken of. Her heart started to beat anxiously as to why the vampire prince could know of her plans. Only a few people know of her desire for the vampire’s downfall, and she still doesn’t talk about any of her plans. So, why does the prince know her plan, or does he really know it, or is he just pretending?

“Hey, vamp. I don't have such ridiculous thoughts.” She lied while not breaking her gaze at Leon. She’s trying to figure him out, like a lion awaiting its prey. But in her situation, is she still the predator, or has she become the prey?

Leon smirked, “Why don’t we sit first and talk…peacefully?”

Leon walked past her and swiftly sat on the sofa in the living room. Akira sighed and followed along since they wouldn’t be able to talk in the dining room because of the mess that she did.

Akira sat on the sofa across from Leon.

“Shall we start our conversation again?” Leon asked.

‘Just this one time….’ Akira said in her thoughts when she leaned. She’s trying to restrain her urge to fight Leon in any possible way and convince herself that her current situation will only happen once.

Leon crossed his arms, “The deal I wanted to propose was for us not to back away from our marriage.”

“It is an arranged marriage, vamp.” Akira corrected him.

Leon sighed, followed by a small chuckle, “Alright. So, as you know, there was never a human who has entered the Riparian zone that comes out alive, right?”

Akira, with a grimacing face, nodded her head. It’s true, and that is what is bothering her mind. She had wanted to meet the previous human who had entered the zone as the bride of the past kings, but unfortunately, the records said they all died. There were no records of why they died, no offspring, and no witness to step in.

“I will help you safely get in and out of the zone whenever you want,” Leon remarked with a serious expression. Akira was shocked to hear that statement coming from the vampire prince. A vampire helping a human like her? It sure repulses her.

Akira nervously chuckled. She didn’t expect that at all. How can the vampire prince know that she seeks something that can guarantee her safety upon her arrival at the zone? Although her plan is risky, deep inside Akira, she doesn’t want to get killed by having her blood sucked dry. “Hey, vamp, are you playing with me? Are you having fun?”

“I’m dead serious, Akira.” 

Akira gritted her teeth as she clenched her fist. Her heart goes again—wildly beating just because he called her name for the first time. 

“I-I don’t trust you,” Akira said, holding her breath for some time, trying to calm her racing heart. “We are going to get married anyway. There is no need for us to make a deal. A-and I am the next leader of my clan; having me get killed in that zone will put the kinds of you in a tight spot—a war might happen again. Don’t you think so?”

Akira bit her lower lip. She had to add a little lie—she didn’t even know if her position would matter in that zone. For vampires who only have their eyes on blood, blood, and blood—would her position protect her once she stepped into their territory? Even she, one of the city's strong individuals, can't guarantee her life.

“There are thousands of vampires awaiting you in there,” Leon said in a serious tone as he shut his eyes for a second. “But with me, I can guarantee your---”

“Stop, stop! I don’t want to hear more than that.” Akira cut him off. She already knew what he would say, and that scared her. Every word coming out of his mouth sends Akira these unexplainable feelings. 

She took a deep breath, “I don’t care if you know of my plans or not, and I also don’t care about your deal—I’m not interested. I can just proceed with my plan as it is.” 

“If I tell you who killed those women, will you change your mind?” Leon asked desperately, seeping into his clear blue eyes, staring at Akira.

Akira smiled dryly, “Didn't your kind do it?”

Silence took over them for a while. Leon wasn't able to answer as he was taken aback. The vampires were responsible for those women's deaths, but there was more of it. Something more vicious.

“I guess that's the end of our conversation. I wonder why you would… approach me for this deal when you won't benefit from me.” Akira said as she got up from her seat, an exasperated laugh escaping her mouth.

Leon's clear blue eyes darken, intensely gazing at Akira. “Who said that I won't benefit from this deal?” he hissed, “It will benefit me the most.”

Akira met his intense gaze, sending unwelcome feelings to her body—again, she raised her brow—confused about what Leon might be talking about. What benefit will it be? She's curious. She's never been curious her entire life— it's her first. He's the first.

“Your… blood.” His voice lowered as if trying to be careful.

“What?”

“I want your blood, milady.”

Her eyes are wide open; anger is vivid on Akira's face. Leon wants her blood. The blood she despised the most was the curse that she believed in. She had to hold her breath for a second, trying to compose her usual calm poise. There was a faint smile on her face. 

“I won’t make a deal with you then,” Akira spat out and had to look away. She felt her face blush red, trying to restrain her unwelcome tears. Her only weakness is her blood—nothing can make her feel different emotions but the topic of her blood. 

Her blood—their blood is the sole reason why her parents and siblings died, and she’s the only one left aside from her grandfather. She believed that her blood was the curse that took away her family—her everything.

“In exchange for your blood, I’ll give you three chances to kill me during our deal,” Leon added with a serious tone. He lowered his gaze, avoiding making eye contact with Akira as he fiddled with his fingers. 

After hearing what Leon had said, Akira turned her gaze to Leon.

“What did you say?”

“You have three chances to kill me during our deal in exchange for your blood every time I seek it,” Leon said again and smiled momentarily.

It made Akira return to her seat. She clasped her hands together and leaned into the table. The deal is now making her interested. ‘Three chances…’ 

Akira's eyes glistened and a wicked smile formed on her beautiful and alluring lips, “It's a deal then, Vamp. Let's make the contract right away.”

Akira imagines and is done plotting her plan—to make use of Leon. 

Leon softly smiled, “That's good then.”

The two proceeded in writing the terms of the contract. On a white sheet of paper and ink beside Leon, he wrote:

[Party A, Leon: Party B, Akira]

[Both parties shall enter the contractual marriage.

Party A shall protect Party B during their contract at all costs.

Lastly, party B shall give her blood to party A in exchange for protecting her. Hence, party A has given three chances to party B to kill him.]

Leon gave his pen to Akira, “Your signature.”

Without hesitation, Akira signed the contract with a satisfied smile on her face. She's excited to see where their deal ends and the pride in her blazing eyes couldn't be hidden. 

As soon as she signed, Leon took the contract. “I'll give you the copy.”

Akira stood up, “There's no need.”

She faced Leon who was now staring at her, “Let's not meet again— I mean, let's meet on the day of our marriage.”

Leon's brow raised, “We'll have to meet from time to time.”

“Why's that?”

“Have you forgotten? Your blood.” Akira stopped and realized it then. Her forehead drew a line, she was displeased. But that was written in the contract. She couldn't avoid it even if she wanted to. 

“Alright. But I'll be the one to come to you, no buts.” She remarked. 

Leon just nodded and proceeded with Akira's firm decision. 

Silence rose between them once again. Akira, who couldn't take the silence, stood from her seat and decided to leave.

“Where are you going?” Leon asked.

Without looking back, Akira replied, “Home.”

“How?”

Akira's brow raised and finally looked back at Leon. “By car...wait, do you even have a car?”

Small chuckles escaped Leon's mouth, “I just got out of the zone, do you expect me to have a car?”

Akira massaged her temple, “Then how did we get here?”

“I,” Leon pointed at himself and then pointed at her, “carried you.”

Akira froze from her spot followed by shaking her head in disbelief, “This won't do, I'll back out from our deal.”

“I'll just carry you again,” Leon added as if he never heard Akira.

“I might as well kill you right now.” Akira angrily said and rolled her eyes. 

Leon shrugged it off and smiled, “For a human, you're easily irritated,” 

“For a vampire, you're so irritating.”

Akira walked out of Leon's house. When she got out, what greeted her was a warm but fresh wind. She looked around and saw that there were vast trees everywhere, she could also hear the sound of water nearby.

“Just where the hell am I?” She muttered to herself unbelievably.

“We are in the province of Raikan city. My land.” Leon said and sneaked into Akira's behind. 

Akira backed away instantly, she didn't notice his presence at all. Her brows furrowed.

“A vampire owning a human's land huh?” Akira responded and looked at Leon's house. It is made from wood and the window is made of glass. It is old since there were spiderwebs evident everywhere. Some veins cover half of the house as well as untrimmed grass. There are holes in some places but that didn't ruin the class and simplicity of the house.

‘His house...it means he used to live here.’

“Why would you even set up a house in the middle of nowhere? You could've lived in the city.” Akira said in an irritated voice. 

“Is that an invitation to me to live near your house? In the center of the city?” Leon playfully said that making Akira roll her eyes. 

“Why would I even bother talking to the likes of you,” Akira whispered. She looked at her clothes and realized that her things weren't with her. 

She was about to go back inside when Leon got out of the house carrying her things. 

“I could lend some help,” Leon said and lifted the sling bag in his hand. 

Instead of being grateful, Akira snatched her things away as if she was displeased. “I don't need your help.”

Akira gets her phone and calls someone. Their talk didn't last, it was just exchanging sentences that you wouldn't even bother to consider a conversation.

When the call ended, they both stood there. Without talking to each other. Minutes had passed and during those times, Akira could feel Leon's gaze boring into her back. 

But she didn't look back because she was afraid to meet his cold blue eyes.