I stared at her with a shocked expression. Because with all honesty, I have no way to respond to this.
Or rather I don't know how to respond to what she said.
All I could do in that moment was looked at her, and repeat back what she said to me.
"Fifty percent of my soul?"
Traumerei was still smiling at me, I could also see she was amused by my reaction.
I was no genius, not in the slightest but deals were one has to sign with their soul in the mist of it are typically a no brainier to not accept for obvious reasons.
As such it was a deal that should be avoided.
But now I sat here, with an offer were I must give her half of my soul, and she will do the same as well in return.
But what kind of devil gives back what they are trying to take to begin with.
And if she was lying, she was doing it with the casual confidence of a world-class CEO selling me a dream...and a noose, that was for sure.
I looked down at my hand again looking at the ring on my finger. It glimmered beautifully, I dare say it was as beautiful as the woman before me.
However... Can I trust a complete stranger?
Can I trust this vampire?
These questions plague me greatly at this moment as I don't know anything. And it was because I don't know anything I am an easy target to manipulate, hell I know I am being manipulated right now.
However being tempted like this.
Do I really care...when one is this deep into poverty, and is miserable with their life. And has nothing to lose. It easy to make a descsion as the mind will tend to drift into the darker aspects of success, if they know it was available and equally achievable.
And I won't lie, I am desperate for a better life. I won't even sugar coat it, I am not an honorable person at all.
But still trade half my soul for half of hers.
"I mean...
I started, trying to laugh it off.
"What the hell does that even mean? Split my soul? Is this some kind of vampire prenup?"
I asked aloud jokingly but I was more scared than anything else.
Seeing how I behave at this moment. Traumerei began to chuckled at me as she responded back to me saying, albeit in a much more relaxed manner than before.
"No, darling. Think of it less like a contract... and more like a merger."
Her smile widened.
"A merger."
Familiar with term, but only because I have heard it once, in reality my dumbass has no idea what that was in practice.
And Traumeri seem to know this as she began to explain. What sharing our souls will entail for the most part.
"Yeah like merger.... Imagine two companies coming together. Assets are shared. Influence overlaps. You're still independent, but no major decision goes unnoticed by the other. That's what this is."
She leaned forward, her fingers steepled together like she was about to deliver a pitch to a boardroom.
"You give me access to your soul, and in return, you get access to mine, this allow us to do many things, for example we both will know what the other is thinking if we allow it or course. You see I am offering more than just partnership, Theodore. I'm offering to you an investment. My time, my power, my protection. In exchange for a... minor shareholding, if you will... And I don't mean that literally, what I really want is just one thing from, and that I will explain the next time you come back here."
She said staying firm on her words. I know instantly it was not worth to pester her about, not yet atleast. As such I blinked, and responded to her explanation saying as such.
"That's the most capitalist way to explain a soul pact I've ever heard... And I have read alot of webnovels before."
Her grin turned sharper at my words. As she merely stretch while saying, her bust bouncing as a result.
"Well you see Mr. William, a vampire I am indeed, but before that, I was a businesswoman first and foremost."
"As such I take station of being very seriously."
Said Traumerei.
Meanwhile I sat back, feeling the leather of the chair groan under my weight. My head felt too heavy for my shoulders, and none of this was computing fast enough. Magic rings, ancient sins, supernatural UNs, souls as stock options?
And yet…
It didn't feel fake.
"Still this is so much process."
But thinking more deeper, this would be a good opportunity to get my life back on track and beyond just that.
However I was also scared to just randomly jump into this supernatural world.
But at the same I did not want to die either.
For that reason, I raise my hand and asked.
"Let me guess."
I muttered, eyes still on the ring.
"There's no way to take this off, is there?"
"Nope."
She said cheerfully.
"Not unless you're dead of course."
My heart sank the moment she confirmed those words.
Great... Just great.
I inwardly said.
My frustration starting to build up as a result. Traumerei sensing this, began to rise from her seat.
As she stood up, and walked over to me, and her ass bouncing with each stride. Her heels echoing with each step she took towards me.
And from behind, she embrace me while rubbing my shoulders, while saying.
"Come on relax, this isn't a bad thing you know if anything this will be more beneficial to you as is to me... What I'm asking for, Mr. William, requires more than trust. It demands belief. Faith. I'm not asking you to hand over your soul completely, just... give me access. And in return, I'll give you what you've been craving."
She crouched next to me now, close enough that I could feel her large breast rubbing against me.
"You want a second chance. A new life. One where you're not clawing at the bottom for scraps. And I can give you all that and way more. But everything has a price, nothing in this world is free you know."
I swallowed.
"So what's yours?"
She tapped her temple with a manicured nail.
"One wish. That's all I want. In exchange for the keys to your new life, all you need to do is promise me a single wish. One I can claim... someday. When the time is right. Until then, consider me your silent partner."
I hesitated again. Because that was starting to become my default reaction to everything.
Still, she pressed on, voice and action even more seductive than before.
"Here's what I'll do for you, Mr. William. I know you're skeptical. I'd be disappointed if you weren't. But I'm a woman who likes to give the needy a taste of something small. Something sweet. Enough to make you curious, and enough to make them want to come back for more."
Traumerei bluntly admitted.
But it what she said next that got my attention.
"So out of kindness of my heart, I'll give you one gift right now. Wealth. Power. Fame. Women. Those were what I promise. For that reason let me gift you wealth."
".... Wealth?!...
"Mhm... Then after you see and taste that life first hand. I will summon you here again what do you say."
Traumerei said to me clearly trying to tempt me. And like a fish caught in a net. I folded at the chance of easy money.
"I am listening, but how much money are we talking here?"
And as if she was waiting for me to ask this question, she open her desk, and took out an envelope. It was blank but despite that she eager me to take it as she said.
"Well then Mr. William why do you open it. I think you will find me first gift quite promising."
And she was right, however at that moment I was not prepared for what I was about to see when I open this letter.
Shrkkkk!!
And as the sound of my tearing it open could be heard, I found a note. But when I saw it my soul felt like it was about to pass on
"...i-i-isnttt THIIIIISSSSS....
I shouted in shock, my words lost as it was reduced to mere stammering.
But Traumerei enjoying my reaction confirm my shock for me.
"That's right Mr.Willam that is the winning lottery number for the legendary Lunar Draw taking place tommarow at 8 P.M."
Said Traumerei as I look at the numbers in utter disbelief.
New Moon: 012
Waxing Crescent: 029
First Quarter: 999
Waxing Gibbous: 167
Full Moon: 220
Waning Gibbous: 005
Last Quarter: 377
Waning Crescent: 441