Even though he is taller than Eruina, Theo cannot help but feel small in front of her because of how dominant both her attitudes and the mystical aura surrounding her body are. That makes the taste in his mouth even more bitter when he sees her eyes shining cruelly.
"You said she would be our ally," Theo speaks in a concerned tone and Eruina laughs. "I said you would have goals in common, but…" Eruina licks her lips with a lustful smile, leaving Theo even more confused. "Seeing how you were all smiles dancing with her in the hall… maybe she is a bad influence after all."
"Bad influence?" Theo looks at Eruina with a confused expression, but she keeps that provocative smile. "Yeah, don't you remember our deal? I offered you the most powerful, intelligent, and beautiful witch this world has ever seen to turn all your fury and pain into revenge against your enemies…"
Theo sees Eruina speaking in a seductive tone while she caresses his face. "You can't see it, no one else can… But I saw it, even with that stupid seal containing your power, I saw a light around you, a light that shone brighter than the sun… so beautiful."
Eruina smiles with her eyes shining. "That was your flame burning inside you with your desire for revenge." She pauses and then makes a fake sad expression. "But what will all the plans I made for us be worth if you replace such a beautiful emotion with love? Maybe you would rather embark on a fairy tale with your new girlfriend instead of keeping our agreement…"
"I would never do that!" Theo responds quickly, and Eruina gives him a curious and slightly expectant look with her large, shining eyes. "Are you sure? Because I saw how happy you looked with her…"
"I don't understand. What is the problem here?" Theo asks, but Eruina seals his lips with her finger. "You know, I still remember when you told me that…" Eruina's gaze becomes even more cruel than before. "All you ever wanted was to avenge your dead parents, your house destroyed, your family reduced to ashes… and the worst part?"
Eruina smiles while bringing her lips close to Theo's ear to whisper. "You told me you couldn't sleep because every time you closed your eyes, you could hear your mother's final screams as she sacrificed her life for you. Now, tell me, Theo, did you hear your mother's screams yesterday while you slept drunk in your girlfriend's bed? Or did you forget her, too?"
When Theo hears Eruina talking about his mother like that, a heat fills his chest like an uncontrollable torrent. His flames burn through his veins, and his rage overwhelms his reason; his hands move on their own at a speed he did not even know he was capable of.
Woosh! He grabs Eruina by the neck and pushes her against the wall beside him, making a loud BAM echo along with her sweet moan. "Haan~!"
"I didn't forget," Theo says in a low tone while bringing his face closer to hers, looking into her eyes. "I didn't forget them." He has no idea how tightly he is gripping Eruina's neck, leaving her skin red in that area, but instead of a painful expression, she smiles even more at him.
"There it is… that light I told you about, it is shining around you like an unstoppable bonfire," Eruina comments with a hoarse voice, and only then does Theo loosen his grip around her neck. But before he removes his hand completely, she holds it around her neck. "Don't stop now. Let me enjoy it a little longer."
Theo tries to pull his hand back, but he cannot move it even a centimeter away from Eruina's neck, and she does not even seem to be trying hard. "Is this a game for you?" he asks, and she laughs. "Kukuku~" Then she kisses his lips again, and Theo feels that intense sweet taste of roses filling his mouth along with the freshness of mint.
Eruina kisses Theo until she gets tired, then she pulls back just a little, still keeping her lips lightly touching his. "Everything is a game to me, my little apprentice, but that is not the most important thing…" She pauses suggestively, and Theo is forced to ask. "And what is more important?"
"That I always win." She smiles confidently and holds his chin, keeping his face very close to hers, then she gives a few more kisses on his lips, leaving him even more confused. "Why are you doing this? Is it to show me something? I don't understand."
"You don't like it?" Eruina makes a curious expression, and Theo keeps looking at her with a neutral gaze. "I promised to obey you; that was our agreement. But you said I could ask questions…"
"Yes, I said that." Eruina laughs and keeps kissing Theo, who does not react. "But I didn't say I would answer all of them, fufufu~" She giggles charmingly, and Theo just sighs, then she smiles gently. "Don't make that face, I'm not torturing you, it's more like a reward."
Theo cannot deny that kissing a beautiful woman like Eruina should feel like a dream, but the way she does it while dominating him like a little puppy takes all the fun out of it. Yet, what worries him the most is the intentions behind her actions.
His serious expression is quite evident, and after a few more kisses, Eruina stops. "Alright, that's enough." She comments while stepping back, and Theo thinks out loud. "Enough for what?"
"For your girlfriend to understand the message." Eruina smiles maliciously, and Theo frowns. "Don't look at me like that, boy, I'm doing you a favor. The girl thinks you belong to her, but we both know that when the time comes, you will be mine in a way there is no turning back. And what do you think she will think of you when she finds out what you will give me in exchange for my help?"
Theo's expression becomes darker when he thinks about that. "And if she doesn't react well?" he asks in a concerned tone, but Eruina laughs. "Don't worry, I said I wouldn't hurt her, didn't I? But I need to get her used to the fact that she may be yours, but you can only be mine. Consider this as me being subtle and helping you keep your girlfriend in the long run."
"I suppose I don't get a say in that," Theo comments in a cold tone, and Eruina smiles charmingly before kissing his lips once more. "Do you have anything to complain about?"
He looks into her eyes for a few seconds, but when he thinks about how the flames of revenge burn inside his heart, he simply shakes his head, and Eruina smiles even more confidently. "Good. Now you should go back and join Nocthera before the end of the night."
"Why them?" Theo asks with a curious look. "I heard you don't have direct ties with any House anymore…" he comments, and she keeps a mysterious smile. "Nocthera has always been my home here in the Academy, and I have certainly been absent, but now we are going to bring the House of Mysteries back to its former glory. You will, actually."
"Understood." Theo nods, and Eruina moves closer to him, holding his face while smiling seductively. "Good boy." She kisses his lips and then the back of his right hand, making a purple butterfly symbol appear like a tattoo and then fade until it disappears completely.
Theo looks at his hand with a curious expression, and Eruina giggles. "I'm just opening a door for you, but the real challenge is something you will have to deal with on your own."
Before he can ask, she explains. "The students of Nocthera always play a small game at the beginning of the classes with rewards for the newcomers. This year, they found something far more valuable than old relics and dusty books… Something they wanted to save only for the veterans, but someone convinced them to keep the tradition."
"You want me to get it?" Theo asks, and Eruina laughs. "No, you fool, you want it, I guarantee it. But to win, you will have to defeat your opponents, and the girl will certainly want it too, so it is an excellent opportunity for you to show me that she will not be a problem between us."
"So it's a test…" Theo comments, and Eruina laughs. "Everything is a test, my good boy." She says and kisses him one last time before pushing him toward the wall that opens again, allowing Theo to step back into the corridor. He looks behind and sees the secret passage closing and Eruina staring at him with those large, mysterious eyes and licking her own lips.
Theo waits a few more seconds, and when he realizes he is alone, he lets out a relieved sigh. He brings his fingers to his mouth and lightly touches his lips before smelling them, and as expected, the characteristic perfume of Eruina overpowers any other scent.
"That woman!" Theo wants to be angry with Eruina, but at the same time, it is impossible not to feel so attracted to her. He knows she is just playing with him and, even worse, creating problems between him and Sarah, but what could he do? Without Eruina, he has nothing, not even a direction for his revenge, so even though he already likes Sarah a lot, Eruina is the one who has his loyalty.
Thinking about how to reconcile both women in his life does not seem to lead anywhere right now, so Theo composes himself and looks around, searching for some restroom or sink where he could wash his face. But before he sees anything useful, he sees Sarah appearing from a corridor with quick steps.
Sarah smiles when she sees Theo and runs toward him excitedly. "I didn't take long, right?" she asks in a gentle tone, and he shakes his head. "Was it supposed to be that quick?"
"Hehe~" Sarah giggles as she approaches him. "I wanted to come back quickly so we can register for Nocthera. Shall we?" She gets closer and extends her hand to Theo, who quickly takes it, but the moment he does, Sarah's expression completely changes, her gentle smile disappearing and giving way to a confused and concerned look.
"You already noticed?" Theo asks, and Sarah stares at him with a cold expression, making him feel a bitter taste in his mouth. Sarah does not respond, but she brings her face closer to his and smells his lips. "Roses and mint… like the first time we met."
"This…" Theo does not know what to say, and Sarah looks around, searching for something, or rather, someone. He only watches as she looks back at him, and her expression becomes gentle again. "You will explain it to me at some point?"
Theo nods, and Sarah smiles. "It doesn't have to be now, alright? I want to trust you, Theo, I really do." She says in a warm tone, and he smiles at her. "And I want to deserve your trust."
Theo's words make Sarah's smile become even brighter, then she holds his face and begins rubbing her fingers on his lips, leaving him confused. "What are you doing??"
Sarah rubs her fingers on Theo's lips and face, then kisses him intensely and even begins licking his lips and cheeks, making Theo laugh in confusion. "That tickles! Hahaha!"
Sarah looks at Theo, and he can see those small golden dots appearing inside her eyes. "Someone tried to mark you, I know. But it doesn't matter, I won't lose to her, whoever she is."