(ENG) The Case Study of Vanijeanne

1. Say You Love Me (Complete Chapter)

"My head... what's... where am I?" When Vanitas opened his eyes everything around him was pitch black, for he had yet to adapt to the faraway presence of candlelight. The walls of his prison echoed and the interior smelled damp and musty.

Was he in the catacombs?

The human's arms were bound above his head, flush to the wall with steel-plated wrist cuffs. His feet barely touched the ground, his boots were nowhere to be found. Vanitas was terrified. Not only because of the state he was currently in, imprisoned and somewhat drunk, but because he was unable to recall anything from that evening.

I have to find a way to escape. At least this isn't Moreau's lab.

"You've awakened, Vanitas..."

A voice greeted him from a distance. One set of footsteps invited themselves in, prison keys tinkled with their distinctive sound. He heard a loud screech as the stranger approached him, and soon enough the cell door slammed shut behind them, confining the two within its walls.

The far-too-familiar scent that accompanied his captor immediately fogged his thoughts. "... Jeanne? Is that you?" His senses were still getting used to his surroundings and his head whirled, but that sweet scent couldn't belong to anyone else.

Pleasantly surprised, she replied, "Yes... Hope you've enjoyed your nap, Vanitas. We have many activities today."

Jeanne's speech sounded raspy, unnatural and out of character. Was this part of her role-playing, like the one she'd inhabited during their date a few weeks prior? Could it be?

She wore gigantic heels, so tall that she could easily reach Vanitas' neck in this current affair. The contours of a small toolbag lay at her feet—placed there early on by the masterminds behind this whole scheme. The black leather clothing she wore had been borrowed from the house of de Sade, the optimum match for her dominatrix performance; a long-sleeved and slender-fit, mid-length dress with open details showing her swelling cleavage. Leather gloves that served as accessories and black fishnet stockings secured by garter belts. Quite an unusual look for anyone to be seen with and she understood that, but it made her feel so sexy and powerful. In her duffel bag one could find candles, floggers, lotions and other novelties Lady Dominique had provided. The combination of thirst and excitement from having a restrained Vanitas was already causing her vision to wane.

"This ain't funny, Jeanne. I don't know how you kidnapped me in the first place but let me go and I'm willing to overlook this minor episode, alright?" Although he was furious at her, he couldn't help but think her cinnamon-jasmine fragrance didn't match the occasion.

In response, she laughed. "Funny? And who said I was joking?

"Oh Vanitas, you see? We've been playing cat and mouse for a while... and I'm done being the mouse." Jeanne waltzed closer to her poor victim, "we could call this a game of mouse... and lioness."

So that's what this was all about, then. Revenge. Vanitas let out a sigh of dismay. He recalled forcing a kiss on her once, which he figured was her way of settling the score. Once again he'd been betrayed by his confusing feelings towards the Bourreau, and as punishment he would have to brace himself for whatever came his way. He scoffed at her, 'Lioness'? Don't make me laugh. This isn't it, Jeanne. I know you that much."

Jeanne's fierce determination stared back at him. What did he mean by 'this isn't it'? "Then, do you want to see for yourself?"

Vanitas was pretty like a girl. Had gorgeous masculine traces meshed with delicate features, hypnotizing sapphire-blue eyes and silken raven locks extending through his back; a mouth so pink and soft it could belong to the most desired princess of a kingdom.