I raised my hand slowly, almost unconsciously, the weight of everything that had just been said pressing down on my shoulders like a wet coat I couldn't shake off.
My eyes drifted to my left hand, to the middle finger specifically, where the damned ring resides.
A coffin-shaped ring that refuse to come off.
The same one I had slipped on earlier today without thinking.
I even tried pulling it off with great force but it did not budge. As a result I was planning to hit up a jeweler in the morning to get the damn thing cut off.
Now?
Now I couldn't stop staring at it.
The red gemstone embedded in the center pulsed faintly.
Soon my attention went back to Traumeri as I said.
"So…
I murmured, lifting my head to look at her.
"That's where you are... Like for real?"
I asked Traumeri who sat across from me still smirking mischievously, as she nodded her head in confirmation.
However I was stubborn, or was in denial, as I refuted these claims by saying.
"This is ridiculous. There is no way vampire's are real."
I muttered in denial.
And continued by saying.
"This has to be a dream. A really twisted, overproduced fever dream."
But Traumeri beg to differ as she gestured her hands while saying.
"If this were a dream."
She said gently.
"Do you really think it would be this detailed? This consistent... Lucid dreams are life like, but they are not this life like at all."
She argued, and she was right, I feel no different when I am actually awake.
As such I swallowed hard.
I've had vivid dreams before, albeit not lucid, however still vivid as hell.
But not like this. I could feel the heat in the room. The ache in my spine. And I can even smell the incense clinging to the air.
So yeah, this felt all to real indeed.
I didn't answer.
I didn't need to.
Something told me she already knew that I am starting to accept reality, as such she began elaborate further.
"Lucid dreams can't simulate every sense. Not like this. Not unless you've dipped into another layer of consciousness altogether."
She said while tilting her head, her golden eyes glowing faintly. "
"And that is not what this is either."
"You are more inside another realm that operates like a dream, so what's talking to me right now is not your mind, but rather your soul... This place is more akin to a personal or private afterlife of sorts."
"Wait What... REALLY?!"
I said and asked in shocked at the news.
"Yes really."
Hearing this I looked back down at the ring. Still stuck to my finger. And more afraid than ever as as I said.
"... I thought shit like this only exist in novels or anime."
I responded back.
To which Traumeri began to explain a little shedding some light to me on the topic of the supernatural.
"In a way we are, but that is mostly a form of protection. Given that Arbitration typically loves to distorted truth of our existence by making us fictional to reality perception. Using stories to their advantage they make sure we on the supernatural side of things stay just that. A myth, a legend, mere folklore. In a way the supernatural hides in plane sight as a result of this tactic."
She made herself clear at this moment.
"I see...
I said.
"So I guess vampire's are indeed real."
Traumerei laughed out mockingly at my suprise, as she replied back saying.
"My dear boy, there are many things in this world that are real. But hidden. Tucked away in the shadows of conspiracy...buried under bureaucracy and blood pacts. Vampires are merely one branch of a very old myth."
At these words I raised an eyebrow, and began to question further... saying as such.
"Wait are you saying there's, what, a supernatural United Nations or something?"
She chuckled again
"Hehehe... you are quit close, but no. What you are referring to, is what we call the Arbitration. A group composed and lead by powerful and influential supernatural individuals known as the Arbiters. An ancient council of neutral parties who enforce the Veil Laws. These laws keep things...well hehehe...civil between supernatural beings. Like humans we supernatural beings also have to follow certain laws that allows us to maintain balance among the humans. This way we can stay safe from hunters or other notorious groups that want to harm, or use our kind for their own means."
"And when these laws are broken, well let's just say the consequences are dire."
Traumerei explain to which I began to speak, asking as such...
"Why haven't I heard of any of this before?"
"Because you're human. And humans are intentionally kept ignorant. A blissful ignorance."
She sighed, brushing a strand of her raven-black hair behind her ear.
"But that's not something you need to worry about. Not yet. First, we have to deal with something more… immediate."
There was something in her tone that made my stomach tighten again.
"…What do you mean immediate?"
She leaned forward, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Well for starters, you might have accidentally killed yourself, you're going to die, Theodore."
When I heard this my heart dropped into my stomach as I shouted out in surprised horror.
"…What?!"
"NONONONOOO...what do you mean I'm going to die?"
"I mean precisely that. You are going to die."
I stood up so fast the chair nearly tipped behind me.
"Bullshit! What kind of sick game is this?"
She didn't flinch, rather she responded back saying.
"There is no game Mr. William, I merley speak the truth."
"Then how?"
I demanded.
"Why?"
I protest.
Her gaze dropped to my hand again, causing me to tense up, as I have a feeling what she was about to explain to me was not something I was going to like.
"The moment you placed that ring on your finger… you became its master."
The ring.
Again with the damn ring.
She gestured toward it, eyes flickering with something between reverence and disdain.
"That fine peice of ancient jewelry is called The Ring of Promise. An artifact unlike any other in this world. It is one of ten divine weapons of power that currently exist in our world. It was a weapon said to be crafted in the time before recorded history."
Traumerei said as she began to explain further about the rings origin.
"The ring was made by Cain, the first murderer, the bearer of the Fourth Sin of mankind: The sin of Greed."
She explained to me, as I listen carefully.
"You see Mr. William this ring has the power to grants a single wish of it's current master. Any wish at that. The price, however, will be equal to the wish that was made as it follows the rule of equivalent exchange."
She folded her hands neatly atop the desk.
"You, Theodore, made a wish the moment you put it on...even if you didn't say it out loud. It recognized your pain. Your longing. Your desperation. It accepted your desires, and your desire for a better life."
My thoughts raced at these words as I made up my face and said.
"But I didn't ask for anything!"
However Traumerei familiar with how the ring works explain further.
"You did."
She said softly.
"You wished to start over. For a different life. For a second chance."
My breath caught.
"Wait...wait... You mean to tell me that I fucked my own self over when I said I wish I had a second chance at life."
"That was enough to grant a wish."
"Yap...The ring heard you. And now the price must be paid...
"...Wait if you know that why didn't stop me?"
I asked in confusion, however what Traumeri said next shocked me.
"...Why would I, and beside the ring works best when it reads your desires on a more emotional level. Wishes granted by it are not perfect either, each wish has a flaw or price that is needed to be paid. Now as much as I would love to explain everything I know about the Ring of Promise. I am afraid or meeting is coming to an end... However I think I can help you, if you agree to help me of course."
Traumerei explanation cause me to panic as I asked.
"And how do you plan on doing that?"
At these words she smiled and said back to me, clasping her hands together in the process.
"Simple, I just need you to repeat after me."
"...Wait...wait.. and what will that accomplished?"
I asked a little confused by her weird request.
And Traumeri replied back to me saying as such.
"... I will tell you after you come back here tomorrow, just follow me if you want to live."
"Or would you rather me tell you what your ability is first. You see my ability also allows me to see what other people abilities are as well... and I must say. The unique power you receive is quite the power indeed, unless you fear death that is."
Traumerei asked me her smile never leaving her face. Something about this exchange did not set right with me. I could tell I was being used by this crazy woman, it was clear as day, and despite her being subtle about it.
I could not help but wonder if this was exactly how she wanted me to feel, it was a weird feeling, I somehow fell like this woman has planned everything from me meeting her to now.
"So Mr. William do you want to know what your power is?"
"..."
I remain silent, still unsure on how to answer this.
But she was not as patient as she said.
"It's now or never...time is ticking."
With this I sighed, and just nodded while saying.
"Please enlightened me?"
"...Hmmm good boy... Now listen carefully now ok... your ability is related to time, it's a power that can be used infinitely without end...however it might as well be a one-time use. It takes away 60 years worth of your life for each use to send your memories through space and time about 1 day back into the past, or towards the future. If you had a longer lifespan this power could have been extremely powerful."
"However here is the catch, no matter your destination, you will die regardless as you will live per as long as your remaining lifespan dictates. So let's say you used 60 years to activate this power of yours. And you have 4 years left, you will die the moment your clock reaches 0. It's a power that uses lifespan as a sacrifice to send your memories through time and space."
Traumerei explain to me making me panic as I said.
"Wait isn't this just a useless power then?"
I asked, and she replied.
"Yes it is indeed a useless power to have typically speaking. But it's a power that can be quite terrifying in the wrong hands, if the person in question is right for it that is... In the hands of a human it can only do so much with your species short lifespan."
Said Traumerei.
"And Mr. William I will cut to the chase. If you decide to work with me, listen to what I have to say, and take my advice. Me and you as a team could achieve many great things. Your power allows for insane versatility, and my power is just what you need to conquer your ability unique limitation."
"So with that said... I just need you repeat after me."
"So what do you say, if you will work with me, I can offer you riches, woman, and power like no other. And just so we have trusting relationship. I am willing to offer up 50% of my soul to you, if you also offer up 50% as well. So what will it be?"