Overlord: When Human Meets Inhuman

Chapter 22: A very good (and beautiful) actress

I managed to tell her everything I needed to, in the space of less than an hour. I should give myself compliments. 

I decided not to wear my "battle outfit" to meet Shalltear in her room, I just wore some normal clothes and I put my trusty knife in my pocket. 

Just in case. 

"Good luck, friend. I'll see you tomorrow." Tuare says and smiles. 
"Thanks. But at this point, I don't think luck will be enough. Bye…" 
She waves and starts walking away, and I knock on Shalltear's door nervously. After a few minutes, she opens the door and I see she's wearing the same dress as usual, but her hair isn't tied. It's completely loose. 

"Oh, Mark! I'm sorry if I didn't have time to tie my hair, I took too much time to freshen up!" 

I think it's obvious she did it on purpose. 

"You think I untied my hair on purpose? Why in the world would I do that?" She asks with a giggle. 

Right, she can read my fucking mind. I gotta be careful. 

"I'm...nevermind. So why did you call me here?" I ask. 
"Come in and we'll talk about it." 

Okay…

There's some tea already poured in two cups, and some cookies on a table. And two chairs. 
"Have a seat." She says politely. 

I should try to relax a bit, I'm gonna accomplish even less if I'm nervous.

I sit down and take a deep breath, as Shalltear sits in front of me.
"I already put the sugar in, but do tell me if you want more or less."

Okay…this feels kinda fishy nonetheless.

I take a sip and realize the sugar quantity is perfect. And I also realize that as I think that, a pleased grin forms on the vampire's face. 
"It's great, thanks. So…" I start, making a gesture with my hand to  invite her to explain why she wanted me here.
"Right! So, I called you here because I wanted to talk to you seriously, face to face, with no obstacles." 

Hmm…I'm even more suspicious now.

"Alright...about what?" I ask. 
"Well...first of all, I'd like to sincerely apologize again for what happened yesterday. I acted stupidly and didn't think about your privacy, or your feelings." 

An apology...good way to start if you want to manipulate somebody.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm over that." I lie. 
"Good. I just wanted to make sure! Then...I'd tell you to stop frequenting Lupusregina." 

What? 

"Why?" 
"Because she has bad intentions...it's not the first time she does this. In my over 300 years of life, I can tell you I have some experience. And also because I'm telling you to." 

She wanted to sweeten the pill, didn't she? 

"Well...I'm sorry, but that's a no. I am free to frequent whoever I want. Plus, you're not my boss in my private life, even though you are in other contexts." I explain politely and I see a glimpse of anger in her eyes, for a millisecond. 
"I'm saying this for your own good, Mark." She says getting up and walking around the table until she's in front of me. 
"I know...but I can fend for myself. I appreciate the fact that you're worrying about me, truly I do. But I can handle the situation with her on my own." I answer and smile as I look up at her. 
"Mark...please...listen to me...I'm scared she'll hurt you…" 

Oh, now she's being flattering. Great. 

"Well, I'm not." I reply, shrugging casually. Shalltear opens her eyes wide and grabs my shirt's collar, with an angry and worried expression at the same time.
"Mark, listen to me! You're going to get yourself killed staying with her! I don't want to lose you, Mark…" 

Damn, she's good at acting. I mean I know she's acting, but she seems really convincing…

"I'm...Sh...I mean, boss, I'm fine. I can handle myself, alright? I don't need you…babysitting me." 
Shalltear at that shuts up and starts looking intensely into my eyes, still with her hands on my collar. 
"Um...boss?" I ask feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"Call me Shalltear. That's an order." She says seductively. 
"A-alright...Shalltear." I answer and gently move her hands off my collar.

But the problem is that she won't let go of my hands now.

"Good boy...now…" 

I'm so confused…
There! She did it again! That glimpse of I don't know what in her eyes! 

"N-now?" I ask and swallow. 

Her face is too close for comfort. 

"Now...I'm going to ask you a question, Mark. And you have to answer honestly." 
"A-alright…" 
She lays her hands on my shoulders, gripping them really tight, then she leans even closer. 

She smells like flowers…

"Do you think I'm beautiful, Mark?" 

Oh, fuck. 
And there's that I don't know what again. In her eyes.
What do I say? 

I shut up and keep my eyes fixated on hers. 
"Mark, you didn't answer me…" 

Dammit. 

I see a very pleased grin forming on Shalltear's face once again, and staying there. 
"Yes." I whisper, afraid of what's coming next. Shalltear bites her bottom lip, and she starts blushing, with a very seductive smile on her face. 
"Oh, do you? Well, I'm glad...because I think the same about you, Mark…" 

God, she's being so seductive. But I gotta resist. 

"Oh…d-do you...Shalltear?" 
Shalltear's smile grows even wider, and she puts a hand under my chin. 
"Good, you remembered. Now...answer this question as well. Honestly. Do you want me, Mark?" 

She's a bitch. And a clever one.

"N-no…" I whisper and swallow. 

My mouth is getting really dry. 

"Don't lie to me, Mark...or to yourself…" 
"I'm n-not lying…" I stutter and I see Shalltear's eyes lighting up for a second. 
"Yes you are. I'll ask you again. Do...you...want…me?"

What happens if I keep saying no? 

"Mark...answer me…" 

I need to resist...if I crumble once, it's over. 

"No. That's my answer." I say decidedly and I try to stand up, but she blocks me on my chair.
"Where do you think you're going? If you remember well, I told you to meet me here because there I was something I needed you to do." 

Well, I'm done for. 

"Wh-what?" I ask as I start sweating a bit. 
"I want you to give me a kiss. Can you do that for me, Mark? Do that for me. For your beautiful Shalltear…" 

Well...now I'm very done for. 

"B-but...I'm…" 
"But what, Mark? Stop playing, I know very well you're in love with me…" 

Oh, does she? Well, I'm not sure I myself do, but sure. 

"I'm...not. I don't love you, Shalltear." I say convinced and I start getting the feeling I'm saying the right things. 
"Then who?" She challenges me biting her bottom lip in a very seductive way. 

I didn't think about that. But at this point, a lie is good enough. She already thinks she's got me in her grasp, I know how she's like. She's not reading my mind now, also because she doesn't look me in the eye when she's doing it. Yeah, I'll just get away with a lie.

"It's Lupusregina that I love, not you." I say rudely and sprint out of her room without giving her time to react. I start running, running and running, without looking back. When I reach my room and run into Lupusregina in at the door I crumble on the ground on my back and let out a very long sigh of relief. 
"Tell me everything."