The lingering scent of blue cotton candy and the ghost of Maya's kiss still haunted Ethan's lips as he approached the silent, ivy-covered house on 4th Street. The transition from the sun-drenched pier to the shadowy world of the Vancour sisters felt like diving from a warm pool into an icy lake. He adjusted his jacket, feeling the Radiant Vitality bonus from the Box of Physicality still humming beneath his skin.
He didn't knock three times this time. He didn't have to. The door swung open before his hand reached the wood.
Sophia stood there, already transformed. She wore a deep crimson robe that flowed around her like wine, her eyes sparkling with that familiar, dangerous mischief. "The saint returns," she purred, stepping aside to let him in. "You look... different, Ethan. Did the world finally try to bite you, or did you find something worth fighting for?"
Inside, Isabella was seated on the velvet sofa, her medical journals pushed aside. She looked at Ethan with a mixture of professional scrutiny and a new, unspoken warmth. "You're late," she said softly, though there was no bite in her tone. "I thought you might have reconsidered."
"I'm here," Ethan said, his voice steady. He looked at the mahogany table where the gold-edged cards lay waiting. He checked his System.
[ Status Check ]
Confidence: 6 (Elevated)
Soul Essence: Pulsating
Current RP: 0
He knew he had no points to buy cheats. He had to rely on the raw Intelligence boost and the clarity the System had provided. He looked at Sophia. "I want to play. For real this time."
Sophia's heart skipped a visible beat. A flush of pure, greedy excitement rose to her cheeks. "Oh? The little bird wants to fly in a storm? What are the stakes, handsome?"
Ethan took a breath. He needed the rent. He needed the safety of his home to keep the light he had found with Maya alive. "If I win, I want one thousand dollars. Cash."
Isabella stood up abruptly, her face pale. She grabbed Ethan's arm, shaking it slightly. "Ethan, stop! You don't know what you're doing. My sister isn't just a player; she's a predator. She's been counting cards since she was six. You're throwing away your future!"
Ethan didn't pull away. He looked Isabella in the eyes—those sharp, grey eyes that were now filled with genuine fear for him. "Trust me, Isabella. I need this."
Sophia let out a low, throaty laugh. "A thousand dollars... a bold request for a boy with empty pockets. But a game needs two sides. If I win, Ethan... you belong to me for twenty-four hours. My personal servant. My shadow. My... helper. I have so many chores, and I find 'Saint Ethan' would look very interesting in an apron."
She leaned over the table, her gaze lingering on his face with an erotic intensity that made the air heavy. "Tastes and colors are not to be discussed, darling. That is my price."
"Deal," Ethan said.
Isabella groaned, realizing there was no stopping them. She took her place at the head of the table, her hands trembling as she picked up the deck. She began to shuffle—the sound like a deck of tiny guillotines.
The Game: 1000 Dollars vs. One Day of Service
The table was set. Isabella dealt the first cards.
Round 1:
Ethan's hand: King of Spades (10), 4 of Hearts. (Total: 14)
Sophia's face-up card: 8 of Clubs.
"Fourteen is a graveyard, Ethan," Sophia whispered, her eyes locked on his. "The deck is heavy with tens. One wrong move and you're mine."
Ethan closed his eyes for a split second. The System didn't give him the card, but it gave him the probability.
Percentage of low cards remaining: 42%.
"Hit," Ethan said.
Isabella dealt a 5 of Diamonds. (Total: 19).
"Stand," Ethan commanded.
Sophia flipped her hidden card: a 9. (Total: 17).
"The saint takes the lead," Sophia muttered, her competitive fire beginning to burn.
Round 2:
Ethan's hand: Ace of Hearts, 5 of Clubs. (Total: 6 or 16)
Sophia's face-up card: King of Diamonds (10).
Sophia smiled. "A ten for the house. You're in trouble."
Ethan felt a bead of sweat. If he stayed at 16, he'd likely lose. If he hit, he risked a bust. He looked at the way Sophia's finger tapped the table. It was a tell—she was confident.
"Hit."
Isabella dealt a 4 of Spades. (Total: 10 or 20).
"Stand."
Sophia revealed her hidden card: a Queen. (Total: 20).
Push. A tie. The tension in the room was suffocating.
The Deciding Hand:
Isabella's hands were shaking so much the cards nearly slipped. She dealt the final cards.
Ethan's hand: 9 of Diamonds, 2 of Clubs. (Total: 11).
Sophia's face-up card: 7 of Hearts.
Ethan's heart hammered. An eleven was the perfect 'Double Down' opportunity, but he didn't have the money to double. He had to hit.
System Prompt: High probability of a face card (10) approaching.
"Hit," Ethan said, his voice a low growl.
Isabella flipped the card: Jack of Hearts (10).
Total: 21.
Sophia's jaw dropped. She slowly turned over her cards: a 10 and a 9. Total: 19.
"I... I lost?" Sophia whispered, her eyes wide, staring at the Jack on the table as if it were a ghost. The greedy fire in her eyes was replaced by a look of stunned admiration. She looked at Ethan, truly seeing him now—not as a toy, but as a player.
"Yes!" Isabella screamed, the professional mask shattering. In a burst of pure, unadulterated relief, she lunged across the table and threw her arms around Ethan's neck. Before he could react, she pulled back and pressed a quick, fervent kiss to his cheek. "You did it! You actually beat her!"
Sophia leaned back, a slow, predatory smile returning to her lips. "I'm impressed, Ethan. Truly. Most men crumble under my gaze. You... you stood your ground. I want a rematch. Right now."
But Isabella didn't give her the chance. She grabbed the stack of cash Sophia had placed on the side of the table and seized Ethan's hand. "No! We're leaving before you find a way to trick him back into your web."
She pulled Ethan toward the door, her grip firm and warm. Behind them, Sophia called out, "I'll be waiting for that rematch, Saint Ethan! Don't think you're done with me yet!"
The night air outside was cool and refreshing. Isabella and Ethan walked down the quiet street, their hands still subconsciously entwined. The rush of the victory was still coursing through their veins.
"Thank you, Isabella," Ethan said, looking at the bundle of cash in his hand. $1000. It was more than enough for the rent. It was a lifeline. "I wouldn't have even known about this place if it wasn't for you."
Isabella stopped under a streetlamp, her face glowing with a soft, bashful light. "I shouldn't have taken you there. It was dangerous. But... seeing you handle her like that... it was incredible." She looked away, her voice turning shy. "Maybe... as a thank you for not becoming my sister's servant... would you like to grab dinner with me tomorrow? No cards. No anatomy books. Just... dinner?"
Ethan felt a warmth that surpassed any System reward. "I'd like that a lot, Isabella."
They parted ways with a soft wave. Ethan walked back to his apartment, his mind a whirlwind. In a single day, he had been kissed by Maya on a Ferris wheel and kissed on the cheek by a medical resident after a high-stakes gamble.
He climbed the stairs, entered his room, and collapsed onto his bed. He didn't turn on the computer. He didn't look at his phone. He just lay there in the dark, smiling at the ceiling.
"System," he whispered. "Show status."
[ STATUS WINDOW ]
Host: Ethan Thorne
Level: 1 (Exp: 85/100)
Charm: 12
Confidence: 6
Current Funds: $1,070.22
Active Links: * Maya Vance (Strong Romantic Interest)
Isabella V. (Emerging Connection)
Sophia V. (Dangerous Curiosity)
< You are walking between the sun and the shadows, Ethan. The Gardener has found his gold. But be careful... a garden with too many flowers requires a very steady hand. >
Ethan closed his eyes, the feeling of the two different kisses still lingering on his skin. He was no longer the boy who hid in the shadows. He was the man who owned the night.