Kai was startled when Hein pushed him into a small room at the back of the horse stable. His body crashed roughly onto the ground. His hand hurt from hitting a metal object. But his eyes widened when Hein pulled the door shut.
"No!" Kai cried, scrambling toward the door. However, Hein had already closed it as tightly as possible. "P-please... open the door..."
Hein locked the door securely. He spoke through it. "If you mention my name once, you know what will happen," Hein threatened.
Hein looked around. The room was behind the stable; if Vlad didn't go out with the horse, no one usually came there. And Vlad usually came out at night.
It was enough to teach Kai a lesson.
His hatred ran deep. He had promised himself he would get that girl, work hard to sell himself for a high price, then run away to meet her wherever she was. But the girl had chosen a weak and useless slave like Kai.
When Vlad bought him, he tried to find the girl who had been sold to a brothel. But he found out she was no longer there. Many even said she had died at the hands of a customer.
His anger and disappointment—toward the girl, toward Kai—had piled up. He just needed an excuse to vent his pain.
He spat again, glaring at the room where Kai was locked up, then turned away without emotion in his eyes.
Kai paced inside. He tried to break down the door, but it was too thick. Though the room was spacious, the many items inside left little room to move. It seemed like a storage room for equipment, judging by the number of saddles.
"Please... anyone... help me..." Kai's voice was too low to be considered a cry for help.
He looked around. In broad daylight, the room was already dark; he couldn't imagine what it would be like at night. So accustomed was he to being punished that seeing the dark, cramped space made his heart race with trauma.
Kai grabbed a piece of metal, trying to hit the door, but another piece of metal blocked the front. After a few attempts to open it, he gave up; his body was too weak.
"Why... am I so weak..." he muttered, sliding to the floor and hugging his legs. His stomach growled. His body felt hot.
Kai grew increasingly worried as the room darkened. Eventually, he could see nothing at all. Panic set in.
"Help!!" he shouted, his voice rising. In his entire life, he had never shouted so loudly or with such force. At Omino, the trainer might have covered his mouth for a month because of it.
But now he was between life and death, in his mind. What if no one found him? The longer it went on, the worse the thoughts invading his head became.
"HELPPPP! PLEASEEE! A-ANYONE!!!" Kai felt his voice grow hoarse from shouting.
Was he going to die? He scratched at the door until his nails hurt. "Please help me..."
Kai felt his chest tighten.
He fell to his knees behind the door. He could feel the silence around him. He could hear his own heartbeat.
For a moment, there was no sound. Then a sound came from outside the door.
Kai was startled. He quickly stood up. "Anyone there?" he asked.
There was no answer. Only the sound of metal being lifted. Kai swallowed hard. Was it Hein? Or someone else?
Kai didn't know whether to be afraid or relieved, but he remained vigilant. However, the fact that someone was outside at that moment made him feel slightly better.
He backed away as the door opened inward. He was on his knees when the door swung open. He looked up, and his eyes widened when he saw who was standing in the doorway.
The man stood tall in his robe. His gray hair moved in the night breeze. His eyes were calm, and a smile graced his lips.
Vlad.
"My poor boy," he said, walking closer.
Kai swallowed hard. Of all the possibilities, the man's arrival was the last thing he expected. But he was very happy to see him again. His eyes sparkled with relief and joy.
Vlad looked at Kai, who appeared messy and pale—just like the night before. He stood, waiting.
"M-Master..." Kai approached happily. But Vlad stopped him, gesturing with his hand not to come closer.
Kai fell silent, confused. His emotions were mixed now.
"What did I command you to do?" Vlad said.
Kai swallowed hard. What did the man mean? A moment later, he remembered what the man had said the previous night.
His position—when he was in front of the man.
But because of his fear and panic, he had forgotten. He immediately took off his clothes and lowered his hands to the ground, bowing in fear.
"I-I'm sorry, Master..."
"It seems like you're waiting for me to cut off your legs," Vlad said.
Kai quickly looked up at Vlad, then shook his head in fear. "N-no, I-I'm sorry... Please don't cut my legs..."
Vlad smirked. "I always do whatever I say. If you forget again, no matter your condition, I won't give you another chance," he said.
Kai swallowed hard. The fear he had felt earlier vanished instantly, replaced by a deeper dread from Vlad's threat. Recalling Obi's words about how the man had ripped open the stomach of a slave who tried to escape, he was certain Vlad would really cut off his leg. The thought made him tremble. He reminded himself not to forget again.
Kai bowed his head deeply, regretting his foolishness. Then suddenly, Vlad lifted his body with both hands effortlessly.
Kai groaned in surprise.
"Who did it?" Vlad asked.
Kai felt Vlad's hands gripping his bare body. He stared at the man's handsome face, so close. But he couldn't answer the question.
He was afraid Hein would get into trouble.
Kai swallowed hard. "I... was suddenly locked up, Master." His heart pounded wildly. He had never lied before.
Vlad stared intently. "I know who it was, but I just want to know if you're being honest with me. I'm quite disappointed in you."
Vlad's words struck like lightning. Kai bowed his head. His face flushed red. What had he done?
"I-I'm sorry..."
"You know what will happen if you dare to lie to me," Vlad said.
Kai couldn't breathe. What would Vlad do to him?
He was startled when the man darted out of the room so quickly. Kai's eyes widened as he felt the cold wind on his body; he couldn't see anything—and suddenly they were in another room.
Kai took a deep breath. What was happening?
When he finally managed to breathe, he looked around in shock. He seemed to be in a dining room, with a long table in the center. And all the slaves were there.
When they saw Vlad arrive, they looked surprised. They immediately stood up, took off their clothes, and got on all fours beside the chairs they had just sat in.
They bowed their heads, watching Vlad enter with Kai in his arms.
"Every night you will be eating here with them. Seems you missed your first dinner," Vlad told Kai.
Kai nodded. He felt a tremor with every step Vlad took. Then the man lowered him beside the other slaves. Kai quickly positioned himself like the others.
No one dared to speak. Only Vlad's footsteps echoed as he walked to the end of the table and sat.
The servants stood around the room, watching Vlad. It was unusual for him to be in the dining room.
The atmosphere was tense, the air cold and piercing.
"Prepare my meal here," Vlad ordered calmly.
John cleared his throat, quickly scanning the slaves, searching for the one who was scheduled to be Vlad's meal today.
But Vlad stopped him. "I want that slave," Vlad said, pointing to the one bowing in the middle row.
Everyone tried to glance discreetly.
Hein.
Hein felt his blood boil in fear. He had been terrified when Vlad brought Kai in. But he had tried to stay calm. He told everyone Kai had gone for a walk and wouldn't return until nightfall. They were going to search for him after dinner—but Vlad had already brought him back.
Hein didn't know how Vlad had found Kai.
Hein crawled toward Vlad with nervous anticipation. He tried hard to stay calm.
Calm...
Upon reaching Vlad's side, the man quickly lifted him effortlessly. Then he placed him on his lap.
Hein's eyes widened in shock. He bowed his head.
"Calm down. Your blood will taste bland if you're scared," Vlad said with a smirk, caressing Hein's muscular arm.
Hein swallowed hard.