:: Oblivion ::

It was a land unlike those I have seen before. The sky shimmered with countless beautiful stars, embedded like jewellery in the clear space, devoid of clouds. The sky is a myriad of colours ranging from sky blue to indigo-purple.

I understood from Cullen that it was a world of the past. While the year in that world is the same as that in our world, the two worlds are distinct from each other. 

"Are we in an alternate universe?" I ask, still bewildered from how fascinating the world of the past used to be. In my world, everything was horrendously fast-paced. Circumstances that had resulted in my suicide, although I knew there were options to resolve the situation. I would not survive even if I had to deal with a day of bankruptcy. I could not deal with the mental stress and anguish.

And that was how realistic our world was. This world seemed so different. I admit that there are not as many advancements in this world, and much of this world still retains its natural shape and environment. Had the world encountered so much 'renovation' that it was no longer what it used to be? Other than making money and being concerned with personal benefit, was there any humanity in our world?

"Cullen, it's beautiful," I gasp, and he just smiles. ""What is this place called, and what exactly happened in the past?" 

He begins to grow his spiky hair into longer, silkier, ravenishing locks. His voice also transitions as he changes. His height increases to that of a six-foot tall male, and his skin gets fairer. An enchanting smile thrusts me into a state of confusion. He is beautiful, but his beauty is indescribably ethereal. He is not like any man in my world. 

I feel like hitting myself on the head at my realisation of who he is.

Cullen Fu is after all, the devil Cullen. They are one and the same. But provided he is Devil Cullen, why did he need to create all this hooha and become my competitor? Then why create an opportunity to work together? He was so powerful to give me a new life and turn back time, so why did he need to make efforts as the CEO and introduce so much change in my life?

His voice is sexy with a masculine tone. "This, my dear angel, is Earth."

Earth. Earth?

The name of the place we are in doesn't ring a bell. I can't explain how he has just sent us into a different dimension with a mere snap of his fingers. If he could do that so easily, what he could do was boundless. He could probably even create worlds and beings of his own accord. Why then did he need to make things more confusing for me?

What did Cullen want from me and why was everything so complex?

"Cullen, are you Cullen Fu? But you two..."

"My dear angel, you should know that as you were Lu Shengyi then and Lu Shengyi now, there are differences. When I am in my current form now, I am your devil and yours to have." 

He speaks in a very deep and authoritative tone, but upon watching the confused look on my face, he tones down his authority and speaks to me more kindly.

"Shengyi, is something bothering you?"

I recall the devil form of himself can read my mind, so is he feigning ignorance? Still, the way he looks at me is so inquisitive that I am compelled to answer him. The hair on my body is standing on end. This, I realise, must be the legendary fear that a devil or demon can incur on a regular human.

I wonder, am I considered a regular human? I now have powers that I have difficulty controlling, because I don't know how to. Everything I go through is a trial and error for me.

"You know it very well, Cullen. Who are you?"

He clears his throat, his hair descending his back as he swings around casually. The area surrounding us is all green grass, something that is not common in my world. Andophia, a skyscraper-dominated city, is made of cement and buildings. The grass we see in our world is artificial and not truly grass. Not to mention, any hills or mountains are merely for the purpose of decoration and not true habitats.

In the distance, I even hear the sound of cicadas. I have learned of this creature, and only heard its sounds through a sound clip from Andophia's archives. Yet, it is the first time I have heard this sound in real life.

"I cannot reveal so much information to you yet, Shengyi. As far as I can tell you, I am a demon prince." 

"A demon?" I gasp. ""You aren't a devil?"

"What do you know of devils and demons?" He tries to test me. I can only concede defeat in my mind, because I don't know about the existence of the mythical beings mentioned apart from what is in the books. Religions no longer exist, and while everyone maintained their heritage from the world of the past, principles, egos, kindness and other emotions have differed so much, as I am told.

I could not answer his question, so he continued after a long pause.

"Shengyi, not everything is as you think it is. Not everything can be learned from the books." He looks solemn as he pronounces each sentence. I decide to take what he said as it is for now. Probably in time, more things will clear up. 

"In the world we are from, as well as this one, there are forces that maintain equilibrium," he states. "Hence, I may seem like a maniac or even a bastard, making things difficult, even calling for your investigation - don't get me wrong. This is all because we have to play each role to our best."

I feel bad because I myself have also called for Sergei to spy on him. Had I known he was my devil all along, and a demon prince, maybe it would have ended out differently.

"If you are the same person as Cullen Fu, why is there a need to do what you've done?" I croak. ""Your power is limitless, Cullen. The meeting at the Soulless Bar, the slashing of the prices to push my company down, and your strange appearances in my life, is this all your doing?"

He paused again, this time seeming to ponder on how he should tell me.

"Cullen Fu is just one of my alter egos, but he does not represent me entirely. And not all the time the Cullen Fu you see is me."

Did that mean he has a… doppelganger?

He reads my mind. "Yes, you can say that, Shengyi. Even if I am a demon prince, there is much I have to maintain between the realms. I have my role in the world. And what's important, is to maintain balance between the realms, otherwise calamity will befall the world."

I cough, not able to grasp his point. He fathoms and taps me on the shoulder.

"You will understand with time, Shengyi. All you have to know is that you are mine."

He takes my hand and leads me further, into what seems to be… a cavern? It is incredibly fantastic. I have never sighted anything like this before.

"Shengyi, the path you have chosen to take when you agreed to be reborn is not a smooth one. When you are ready, the truth will come to you."

I don't know what he is thinking, or what he plans for me in my 'not a smooth' path, and by no doubts, dealing with a demon prince is bound to be accompanied by risks.

I remain silent. What would he have of me?

He reads my thoughts again. "Shengyi, have a relationship with me. No… Cullen Fu."

"I..."

"It's for the greater good," he tells me. I don't understand, but I have no choice but to believe him. After all, he is the reason for my rebirth, and I will hang on with all I can for dear life. I do want to live, and get back what I wanted that was taken from me when I died in my past life.

"Everything you say, Cullen." 

I feel like a commodity to the demon he is, but what can I even do? He is powerful, and stronger than I can even fathom.

"You have to commit to our deal, remember this, angel." He snakes his arm around my waist possessively. What am I to him?

He doesn't answer my question, but I find his tongue slipping into my mouth, kissing me heatedly and filling me with his cold passion while holding me tightly against the icy rock of the cavern.

"Mmmmmm.." I stifle a moan. His touches tingle me and bring about waves of passion. I know my desire to be touched, and to change that status I died with in my past life. This demon is the reason I can feel like a woman again now.

Before I know it, he breaks the kiss and his cold body is pressing into my naked figure. I don't realise when he has disrobed me. I dread what is about to happen next. If that is about to take place, I fear that it will be painful. Images of how a demon would look naked and pushing himself into me, robbing me of my virginity is definitely scary.

"Yield, angel, yield," he whispers, pushing me into oblivion as his tongue slips back into my mouth and his fingers travel around every corner of my body. I tremble greatly, closing my eyes in intense fear and anticipating the moment that is about to happen.