Charles stood at the rooftop edge of The Mirage Hotel, the neon lights of the city casting a kaleidoscope of color across his face. Lust Sync pulsed faintly in his mind, whispering status updates, command words, sync progress, and stats. He was no longer just Charles Manson, the forgotten man with a hollow bank account. Now, he was Master Charles — dominant, desired, and deadly.
But something felt off tonight.
Behind him, the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.
"Late to your own invitation?" came a familiar, teasing voice.
Mia stepped out into the open rooftop, her shy smile hiding the fire that had been growing since their first contact. Her short floral dress fluttered in the breeze, her eyes darting between the stars and Charles. Her fingers played nervously with the edge of her dress, like she wasn't sure whether to run or jump into his arms.
Charles turned slowly, smirking. "I knew you'd come."
Lust Sync chimed softly:
> [Target Detected: Mia Lin – Sync Potential 91%]
[Emotional Barrier: "Innocence vs Curiosity"]
[Challenge: Gain her full trust without command words]
For the first time, the system wanted him to take a different route. No direct commands. No shortcuts. He had to earn her willingly.
Charles stepped forward, offering his hand.
Mia hesitated, then placed hers in his.
Her touch was light, unsure, but her gaze held something deeper—longing, a hunger she didn't yet understand. "Why did you invite me here?" she asked, glancing at the candlelit table behind him.
"I wanted to see you. Away from campus. No professors. No stares. Just us."
She blushed, biting her lower lip.
The system pulsed again:
> [Emotional Sync: 12%]
[Desire Trait Detected: "Submission Curiosity"]
Interesting.
They sat at the table, soft jazz playing in the background. Charles poured her wine, keeping his touch slow and deliberate. Every gesture was a dance, every look a test.
"Do you always do this?" Mia asked, lifting the glass. "Act like you're in control of everything?"
Charles leaned in. "No. Only when it matters."
That made her laugh — soft, real, and unexpectedly intimate.
Halfway through dinner, Mia finally looked him in the eye. "You're dangerous, you know that?"
"I've been told," he said, leaning back in his chair.
"And yet…" she looked down at her fingers, then up again. "I can't stop thinking about you. Even when I try."
The system flared:
> [Sync Level: 26%]
[Warning: Target's emotions growing unstable — high risk, high reward]
Charles reached across the table, gently taking her hand again. "I'm not asking you to give in," he said, voice low and sincere. "I'm asking you to explore what you want. No shame. No pressure."
Mia stared at him for a moment too long. Then slowly nodded.
---
Later, they stood at the edge of the rooftop again, the night wind brushing against them like velvet.
"I've never been with someone like you," she whispered, her body just inches from his.
He leaned in, close enough to feel her breath. "And you've never had someone who knew exactly what you needed."
Their lips hovered, and she closed the gap — her kiss hesitant at first, then growing bolder. He pulled her close, arms wrapping around her waist, anchoring her against him. The kiss deepened, heat building with each second.
Charles didn't push further. He let her lead.
> [Sync Level: 48%]
[Command Word Option "Reveal" Unlocked – Use to unlock secret desire]
But he held back. He wasn't going to use it—not yet. Mia was different. She deserved a choice.
"I should go," she whispered breathlessly, pulling away.
He nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Okay. But you'll come back. You'll want more."
She smiled shyly. "Maybe."
---
Meanwhile…
In a dark room across the city, a different kind of energy pulsed.
Olivia stood in her private penthouse, dressed in a tight black robe, fingers gripping a crystal glass of red wine. Her Sync interface glowed red—unstable, wild.
She was watching.
Watching him.
And Mia.
"You think you can replace me?" she hissed under her breath. Her fingers trembled as she crushed the glass in her hand, blood mixing with wine. Lust Sync's corrupted interface flickered beside her:
> [Warning: Bond Instability Detected – Olivia Grayson]
[Obsession Level: High – Risk of Hostile Behavior]
She didn't care. She would burn every other woman Charles touched if she had to. He was hers.
---
The Next Day
Charles walked into the university café. He was only here to grab a drink, but the moment he stepped inside, he felt it.
Eyes on him.
A girl at the counter smiled nervously. A redhead by the window bit her lip. Even the barista hesitated with the coffee machine when he walked up.
He was magnetic now.
> [Passive Aura Activated: Charisma +20]
[City Sync Web Expanding – 9% Network Influence]
"Charles?" a familiar voice called out behind him.
He turned to see Lena, Olivia's best friend, standing near the counter in a sharp blazer and heels. Her expression was unreadable.
"Lena," he said cautiously. "Didn't expect to see you here."
She stepped closer, brushing past him like a breeze filled with perfume and secrets.
"Olivia's… changed," Lena said, folding her arms. "She's obsessed. She's dangerous. And she blames you."
Charles narrowed his eyes. "I didn't make her feel that way. Lust Sync—"
"Is manipulating everything," Lena cut in, her tone sharper. "You think you're in control? That you're the master? No. You're just another player. Just like her."
Charles stiffened.
Lena stepped even closer. "If you don't break the bond with Olivia soon… she'll break something else. Or someone."
> [System Alert: Emotional Overload Imminent – Olivia Grayson]
[Danger Level: Red]
---
Later That Night
Charles stood at the edge of his bed, staring at the glowing interface in the dark.
He had choices to make.
Mia was growing closer, inch by inch. He felt something real with her.
But Olivia… she was spiraling. And still deeply bonded.
And Lust Sync?
It was evolving faster than he imagined. It wanted more. More syncs. More control. More power.
And worst of all, it had started to speak without prompting.
> "Master Charles… The fire you started cannot be undone. The flames have only just begun."
Charles's jaw tightened.
If he didn't act soon, it wouldn't just be hearts breaking.
It would be blood.
---
As he turned off the lights and lay down, a cold chill swept through the room.
From the shadows, a figure watched from the cracked window.
A familiar voice whispered through the air.
"Submit."
Charles's eyes flew open.
It wasn't Olivia's voice.
It wasn't the system.
It was someone new.
And they had access to Lust Sync too.