vol. 1 chapter 5 - Put On the Miniskirt
Isabella silently handed over the dark crimson corseted gown.
Catherine’s fingertips traced the lace trim. “My little Degrienne, put it on.”
Degrienne raised her middle finger. “Over my dead body!”
Catherine sighed, the amusement fading from her crimson eyes. “My little Degrienne, do you really enjoy making me angry?”
Before her voice had fully fallen, she moved—snatching the loose bedsheet from Degrienne’s shoulders with a sharp tug.
“Ah—!”
Degrienne let out a startled cry, instinctively trying to cover herself.
But Catherine was faster. In the blink of an eye, she had stripped her down to nothing but her undergarments.
Her pale, delicate body was exposed to the chill of the room, and Degrienne trembled with # Nоvеlight # a mix of shame and fury, her fangs grinding audibly.
“Be good. Raise your arms.”
Like dressing a doll, Catherine forced the gown over her head with practiced ease.
The corset strings pulled tight in one brutal tug—Degrienne let out a muffled grunt, pain lancing through her ribs with crushing pressure.
But she bit down hard and refused to beg.
“So stubborn~”
Catherine chuckled softly, her fingers idly toying with the tightened laces at Degrienne’s waist.
“But you know, I suddenly feel… this dress isn’t quite right for you.”
She snapped her fingers, and instantly, a dark crimson vortex of magic flared into existence.
A swarm of tiny bats burst from the void, swirling furiously around Degrienne.
“What—!”
Before she could react, the bats scattered.
The gown she wore had transformed—now a shockingly short Gothic miniskirt.
So short it barely covered her thighs. The corset cut sharply into her slim waistline, emphasizing its curve.
The neckline was scandalously low, baring nearly her entire chest and collarbone.
Degrienne stood frozen, a chill creeping up her exposed skin and into her heart. Shame surged through her like a tidal wave.
“Now this—this is perfect~”
Catherine looked upon her handiwork with radiant satisfaction. “My little Degrienne was simply made for this kind of outfit.”
Degrienne clutched the hem of the skirt, her small fists trembling with humiliation.
She raised her head and spoke each word like a knife: “Catherine… I will kill you. One day.”
Catherine only laughed softly, her fingertips brushing Degrienne’s flushed cheek. “I’ll be waiting~”
She turned to retrieve a mirror. “Come, take a look at yourself now—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her brows arched sharply at the shattered mirror scattered across the floor.
In the shards, the silver-haired girl’s reflection was fragmented—warped and broken.
“Oh my…”
Catherine chuckled again. “My little pet’s got quite the temper.”
“I leave for a moment, and you go breaking things…”
Her voice was sweet, almost sing-song. And utterly terrifying.
Isabella, ever perceptive, sensed the rising pressure in the air. Her crimson eyes flickered.
She took two quiet steps back and bowed gracefully. “I shall excuse myself.”
Without another word, she slipped out and gently closed the door behind her.
Click.
The sound of the door locking made Degrienne flinch.
She backed up instinctively—right into the cold edge of the vanity.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
She could feel Catherine’s gaze coiling around her like a serpent—paralyzing.
Those crimson eyes had gone dark, nearly black, filled with unreadable, dangerous emotions.
“Did you know, naughty children…”
Catherine walked forward slowly, “must be punished~”
Degrienne defiantly lifted her head—but the moment her eyes met Catherine’s, she froze.
What she saw wasn’t rage. It was worse.
Something fanatical. Feverish. Hungry.
Catherine began unfastening her gloves, peeling them off with unsettling leisure.
Every second of the slow, deliberate motion wound Degrienne’s nerves tighter.
“I wanted to be gentle…”
Catherine sighed. “But you just keep pushing me…”
And suddenly Degrienne understood: this was the real Catherine.
Not the elegant lady in a red gown.
But the ancient monster beneath it—three thousand years old, and utterly bloodthirsty.
She instinctively tried to summon her lightning.
But her power—her magic—was gone. Suppressed by something stronger.
The electric arcs fizzled at her fingertips and vanished.
“Oh my my~”
Catherine’s voice rose in delighted surprise. “And here I thought it was far too soon—but my little Degrienne’s already begun to reform her power?”
She followed the faint trail of lightning—and without warning, brought Degrienne’s index finger to her lips.
Her fangs scraped lightly across the skin. Her crimson tongue lapped at the lingering current.
Zzzzt—
Tiny sparks danced between her teeth. Catherine’s eyes half-lidded in pleasure. “So weak… so pitiful…”
She released the finger with a wet pop, a strand of silver saliva trailing between them.
“But this angry little spark… Mmm~ It’s simply intoxicating.”
Degrienne couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.
Catherine’s madness left her breathless.
The vampire leaned in suddenly, her red lips brushing Degrienne’s pointed ear. “You know… the more you shine like this…”
“The more I want to stain you in black~”
“And now…” Catherine’s voice dropped into a murmur, chilling and seductive, “I need to show you what it means to be a good little girl.”
She scooped Degrienne up in her arms. The silver-haired girl was light as a feather.
With graceful steps, she walked toward the full-length mirror—still fractured from earlier.
Catherine’s pale fingers passed across its surface.
The spiderweb cracks melted away, leaving the mirror pristine once more.
“Look.”
She tilted Degrienne’s chin, forcing her to face their reflection.
Two figures in the mirror:
The same snow-white hair. The same blood-red eyes.
Even the subtle upturn at the corners of their eyes—identical.
“Don’t we look alike? Practically indistinguishable.”
Degrienne saw it all reflected back:
The obscene short skirt, the bare legs, the skin reddened by the corset’s tight grip… and her own crimson eyes, filled with unbearable shame.
Behind her, Catherine rested her cheek against Degrienne’s, like admiring a masterpiece.
“If we’re so alike…”
Catherine’s breath was hot against her skin. “Should you call me Mommy? Sister? Or… Master?”
Her fingertip gently traced Degrienne’s lips. “Choose whichever you like best.”
“You ancient hag,” Degrienne hissed, her voice barely above a whisper—but every syllable laced with venom.
Catherine’s eyes narrowed dangerously… then lit up with perverse delight. “Too bad. ‘Master’ it is.”
She sat down gracefully on the stool before the mirror.
“Now… your Master is going to punish a disobedient pet.”
Before Degrienne could react, she was bent over Catherine’s lap.
She kicked and squirmed, but her limbs were locked in place.
“Bad little pets need to be disciplined.”
Catherine’s voice floated down from above as she raised her hand high.
“One hundred strikes. Not a single one less.”
“And for each one…”
“You’ll say, ‘Thank you, Master, for the punishment’~”
Her palm hovered in the air.
Degrienne panicked. “Stop! You—”
Smack!
A sharp, crisp sound rang through the room.
“Ugh!”