A dangerous wager
Chapter 1
'This can never end well.'
That was the thought that went through the heads of Nago and Gii, Rachel's two familiars. The setting was familiar. Rachel had been bored, and decided to go and… visit Ragna. He in return called her a stalker… and that was where shit had hit the fan.
"Stalker? You really think I would do such a common thing like stalking you? I took time out of my busy schedule to check up on you and this is how you treat me? You truly are a beast."
"WHATEVER. Busy schedule? All you do is sitting in that blasted garden drinking your stupid tea."
Nago groaned.
'He insulted the tea… this was not going to end well.'
"Drinking tea? You think all I spend my time doing is drinking tea?"
"And stalking me for the heck of it. What's the matter bunny leech? Can't handle the truth? Jealous of the idea that another woman will have a bite?"
"Are you insinuating that I… really Ragna do you really fancy yourself the center of the world? I hate to disappoint you but you couldn't be further away from the truth."
"THAT'S IT. I HAVE HAD IT. I RISK MY LIFE BUSTING MY ASS OFF, AND ALL YOU DO IS SITTING ON YOUR HIGH HORSE MAKING FUN OF ME, I AM SICK OF IT."
Rachel blinked and lifted a perfect eyebrow gently. "Oh. You think my life is an easy one do you?"
"Well DUH, all I ever see you do is sitting on your ass drinking that bloody tea."
Rachel's other eyebrow rose gently, before her face turned into a small grin.
"My dear Ragna… as you seem so sure of how easy my life seems to be, why don't you try it out for yourself?"
Ragna blinked, and a few seconds later Rachel had teleported them both back to her garden, sitting down in her chair gently.
"Valkenhayn" she called gently, her butler appearing at her side.
"Yes Madam Rachel?"
"I need you to get me a quill and a blank version of the evening tide contract."
Valkenhayn blinked, surprise written over his face. "Y-y-yes milady."
Rachel smiled as Valkenhayn disappeared and looked over to Ragna who was still scowling.
"All right Rabbit, what are you plotting?"
"Well" Rachel said smirking gently. "Given your… unruly behavior there can be no telling you to your face that you are mistaken in something… so I propose a little challenge."
Valkenhayn came back with a feathered quill pen and a parchment. Rachel took it gently and read out loud.
"Part A and Part B agree to change identities until one part admits defeat."
Rachel gave Ragna the parchment, Ragna continuing to read where Rachel had stopped.
"The losing Part will be obligated by this contract to be the other part's servant for a total of 672 hours. Signing this contract is binding, yada yada yada, small print… So you want us to change places?"
"Well I am not looking forward to spending time outside being all barbaric… but you have insulted me Ragna and I will not stand for it."
Ragna huffed. "So… I agree to this, end up in your shoes and wait for you to come back and admit defeat? I can do that."
"It's not going to be that easy Ragna… Taking my place also means taking over the observer role, as well as activating those dormant vampire genes I gave you when I saved your life. You sure you want to do this?"
"Just give me the damn quill." Ragna took the quill but looked around curious.
"Where is the ink?"
Rachel smiled and gently took the quill and pricked her own left index finger. "Ink has no value on a vampire contract Ragna" she said, signing her name, the blood halfway shining as she finished.
"Your turn" she said gently, giving Ragna the quill, gently licking away the blood slipping down her finger.
Ragna looked at Rachel carefully, seeing for the 2nd time in his life, her canine teeth growing slightly. He sighed and gently pricked his own finger signing his own name next to Rachel.
As soon as he lifted the quill from the parchment both he and Rachel glowed gently. Ragna felt his canine teeth throb, and his senses went haywire. He felt dizzy and had to sit on the ground, groaning gently.
"My god the human senses are far inferior than I thought."
Ragna opened his eyes and looked up to Rachel. He blinked in shock. Rachel was no longer a young girl, but had grown into a woman in her early twenties. Her hair, still long and blond, had grown and seemed spikier than normal. Quickly he looked down on himself, and quickly figured that he was still the same… thank god.
"Worried there Ragna?" Ragna looked up at Rachel who smiled impishly at him.
"No need to worry, the contract is simply laying out the terms. You are not a small boy right now because as a vampire you don't age as fast as a human, wich is why I usually look like a young girl."
Rachel sighed and looked down on herself, her dress having grown with her.
"Well this is not going to work… I need a change of clothes."
"Then go and get some" Ragna grumbled. Rachel turned to Valkenhayn who bowed gently and disappeared without a word.
"Are you going to sit on the ground all night?"
Ragna grumbled but rose gently shaking his head. "Man… my head is thumping like mad."
"You sure it's just your head?"
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?"
Rachel gently raised her hands in defense. "I meant no harm… only that your senses are heightened. It might be that you are hearing my pulse… the blood running through my veins… or it could just be your head that is more damaged than usual."
"Don't make me hurt you rabbit."
Valkenhayn came back again and gently gave Rachel a black shirt and skirt, as well as a pair of black shoes, comfortable for a long hiking trip.
"Thank you Valkenhayn" she said gently starting to drag lose the bow at her neck. H
"EY WOAH WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"
"Changing clothes" Rachel said gently. "What does it look like?"
"Don't you have a whole bloody mansion to dress up in?"
"Not at the moment I don't."
Ragna blinked. "What do you mean?"
"We changed places remember? All my powers, possessions, positions and various other items are at the moment yours… so no… I do not have a mansion to use for dressing myself… you can look now."
Ragna turned, seeing that Rachel had finished dressing, gently tying her shoelaces firmly into a knot.
"Now then a few things you should be aware of. As I said, this is all yours until you succumb to defeat. However if I come back and see that you have destroyed my rose garden I will make you wish that I never saved your life. Nago, Gii and Valkenhayn will help you with everything else if there is something you wonder about."
"All right… and you? Is there anything you need to know?"
"I have lived for a considerable long time Ragna… I know more about life than you… however I do need your jacket."
Ragna glowered but took off his jacket giving it to Rachel.
"Thank you" she said gently, donning it on, the jacket being just a little too big for her, the top lapels brushing against her cheeks.
"Now then" she said stepping up gently to Ragna, to pick up his sword. "I wish you good luck Ragna… and I hope to see you soon."
Rachel easily lifted up the sword letting it rest on her shoulder gently.
"Now I need you to send me back… I can't make portals right now."
"Well how the hell am I supposed to know how to open them?"
"Do you want me to show the… young lady out… sir?"
Ragna blinked as Valkenhayn spoke, the butler clearly not enjoying this as much as Rachel did.
"Huh? Oh… yeah, that would be nice."
Valkenhayn bowed gently.
"Any place in particular you had in mind?"
"Orient town of Kagutsuchi should work" Ragna said.
"As you wish." Rachel smiled as she felt a portal open and close.
She blinked once and she was in orient town.
She smiled gently. 'Right then… off to hide from the authorities… shouldn't be so hard.'
