Simon felt the thick air of the VIP room pressing against his chest. The dark walls absorbed the light from the dim lamps, and the gaming table—with its roulette, dice, and cards—gleamed like a silent challenge.
Cassian, seated on the opposite side, watched him with a smile that revealed his blood-stained fangs. His eyes held a red glint, as if he were already savoring Simon's defeat.
"Ready to have some fun, rookie?" said Cassian, leaning forward with a confidence that pushed Simon's nerves to the edge.
"Let's start with something simple. Roulette. Red or black. You choose, I'll take the opposite. If I win, I get a taste of that fresh blood of yours. If you win… you get closer to your wish."
Simon clenched his fists under the table. 'Clara, this has to work,' he thought, recalling the Ghost System's mission: win a bet against Cassian to free Clara's soul. A faint whisper echoed in his mind, Clara's voice through the Ghost System: 'Don't fail me, Simon.'
He looked at the roulette, its polished surface reflecting the neon lights. 'Fifty percent chance. With the system, I can tip the scales.'
He activated the probability manipulation, a tingling warmth spreading through his veins as the system hummed. The Ghost System flickered in his vision:
[PROBABILITY MANIPULATION ACTIVATED: LEVEL 1 – 70% SUCCESS]
'Seventy percent. Not guaranteed, but it's something,' thought Simon, trying to stay calm.
"Red," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.
Cassian laughed, a deep sound that echoed in the room.
"Black, then." He spun the roulette with an elegant motion, and the ball began to bounce between the numbers.
Simon held his breath, his eyes fixed on the ball. The system's tingling intensified, as if nudging luck in his favor.
The ball slowed, hesitating between red and black, until it finally settled in a red slot. Simon let out a sigh, masking his relief.
'It worked. Barely.'
Cassian narrowed his eyes, his smile fading for a moment.
"Well, well, rookie. Some luck you've got," he said, his tone sharp. He leaned toward the roulette, as if searching for something amiss. "Something about that spin didn't sit right. Rematch?"
Simon felt a knot in his stomach. 'He noticed. Shit.' He forced a smile, shrugging. "Sure, why not? Let's make it quick."
Cassian's smile returned, but it was colder now, more calculating. "Dice, then. Simple. We each roll two. Highest number wins. Same stakes: your blood or your wish."
Simon nodded, though his mind was in chaos.
'Dice. I have no idea how to bet with these.' He picked up the dice, their weight cold in his hand. The Ghost System flickered:
[PROBABILITY MANIPULATION READY: 70% SUCCESS]
'Too many variables. This is risky,' he thought, but he had no choice. He activated the system, the tingling warmth surging again, and rolled the dice, which clattered noisily across the table.
A six and a five. Eleven. Not bad. He held his breath as Cassian rolled, his movements slow, almost mocking.
The vampire's dice fell: a four and a three. Seven.
Simon relaxed his shoulders, but Cassian slammed his palm on the table, making the dice jump.
"Twice in a row," he growled, his eyes glinting with suspicion. "Are you the luckiest guy alive, or are you doing something, rookie?"
Simon's heart leapt to his throat. 'He knows. Or at least he suspects.'
He let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "Just my day, I guess," replied Simon.
Cassian leaned back in his chair, his smile returning, but now it was sharp, dangerous.
"One more, rookie. Let's make this interesting." He grabbed the deck of cards and began shuffling with a precision that set Simon's nerves on edge. "Poker. Texas Hold'em. You know how to play, right?"
Simon felt a chill. 'Poker. Shit. This isn't just luck, it's strategy.'
He nodded slowly, trying to hide his panic. "Yeah, I know the basics."
Cassian smiled, his fangs gleaming under the light. A faint ripple of cold air seemed to pulse from him, making Simon's skin prickle. "Perfect. Let's see how long your 'luck' holds in a real game."
The Ghost System flickered:
[WARNING: PROBABILITY MANIPULATION LESS EFFECTIVE IN HIGH-STRATEGY GAMES. SUCCESS REDUCED TO 60%]
'Sixty percent? That's almost nothing!' thought Simon, as Cassian dealt the cards. 'Clara, I hope this is worth it.'
Cassian placed Simon's two cards in front of him: a two of hearts and a two of clubs. 'A pair of twos. Great. This is crap,' he thought, feeling sweat on his neck.
Cassian, with that unshakable smile, pushed ten chips to the center. "Let's start light, rookie."
Simon activated the probability manipulation, the tingling warmth weaker this time. 'If I want to win, I can't rely on this alone.'
The first three community cards appeared: a two of spades, a nine of hearts, and a king of diamonds. 'Three twos. Not bad, but not enough.'
Cassian tapped his fingers on the table, his gaze fixed on Simon.
"You know what this place is?" he said suddenly, his tone casual but laced with intensity. "A haven for those who don't fit in the outside world. Ghosts, vampires, things that don't even have names. They all come here to play, to bet their miseries." He laughed. "And you, rookie, with that fresh blood… you're like a dessert everyone wants a bite of."
Simon swallowed hard, trying to focus on the cards. "Sounds… cozy," he muttered, pushing ten chips to match.
Cassian laughed, throwing his head back.
"Cozy! I like your sense of humor. But watch out, the bets here aren't always money. Souls, blood, memories… everything has a price." He dealt the fourth card: a five of clubs. "I raise twenty," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
'He's toying with me,' thought Simon. The Ghost System hummed, but its warning remained clear: 60% success. 'I can't trust the cards. I have to make him fold.'
He looked at Cassian, noticing how he watched him, searching for a hint of weakness. Then he decided to take a risk. With a forced smile, he pushed forty chips to the center.
"I raise," he said, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach.
Cassian raised an eyebrow, his smile widening.
"Bold, rookie. I like it." He matched the bet and placed the final card: a ten of hearts. "All in," he said, pushing all his chips forward with a slow, almost theatrical motion. "Let's see what you've got."
Simon's heart raced. 'Three twos. Not enough against a flush or a straight.'
But the faint doubt in Cassian's eyes gave him an idea. 'He's suspicious. I can use that.'
He activated the Ghost System, the tingling now a faint buzz, not to change the cards, but to bolster his confidence. With a calm he didn't feel, he pushed all his chips forward.
"All in," he said, staring Cassian straight in the eyes.
The vampire let out a laugh, running a hand through his white hair.
"Well, damn, rookie! You've got guts." But his laughter faded as he studied Simon. "You know, something about you doesn't add up. Nobody wins this much by pure luck." He paused, tapping his fingers. Then, with a crooked smile, he tossed his cards face-down. "I fold. This time, I'll let you win."
Simon exhaled, relief mixing with adrenaline. 'It worked. I don't know how, but it worked.'
Cassian leaned back, crossing his arms. "Not bad, rookie. Not bad. This club rewards those who play their cards right, literally and figuratively." He leaned forward, his tone teasing. "But don't get cocky. Everyone here has secrets. Even Clara, with that soul of hers so… appetizing."
Simon clenched his fists.
"My wish," he said, his voice firm. "I want Clara's soul. Free it."
Cassian tilted his head, and his smile turned darker, more malicious.
Suddenly, an icy cold enveloped Simon, as if the air itself had solidified. His muscles locked, unable to move. Cassian's eyes glowed with an intense red, and a dark aura emanated from him, filling the room with an oppressive weight.
"Are you sure, rookie?" said Cassian, his voice low, almost a whisper. He stood and took a step toward Simon, his smile revealing his fangs in full. "I could give you power. More than you can imagine. I could even improve that little… system you're using." He paused, leaning until his face was inches from Simon's. "You think I didn't notice? That 'luck' of yours isn't natural. But I'm not mad. I'm intrigued."
Simon felt a chill, his mind in chaos. 'Shit. How long has he known?' Trapped by Cassian's vampiric power, he could barely murmur: "What… do you mean?"
Cassian laughed, a sound that echoed through the room.
"Think about it, rookie. Clara's soul… or something bigger. Much bigger." His eyes gleamed, and the cold immobilizing Simon intensified. "What do you choose?"