14. A Reason to Live

The news of people rescued from human traffickers made it into the newspaper. There was a page reserved to interview the victims. Adham was mentioned in the news but used a fake name to hide his identity. In the end, the knights received all the praise for saving everyone from the kidnappers. 

Everyone was shocked by the inhumane story and demanded justice for the victims. Unfortunately, the house was burnt down before further investigation took place. No one knew the cause of the fire. Any information about Paradise Star had gone as it did not exist.

Helena reformed her notes and wrote down new information in her book. Karl came into this world because Paradise Star summoned him. He roamed around to feed himself by making a contract with humans. The demon found Helena and wanted to feast on her soul. Yet, she died before he even made a move on her. Karl then sent her soul back to the past.

She wrote an additional memo about Paradise Star. The information she received from the information guild was accurate. The cult ran on human trafficking and had illegal firearm possession. She saw and experienced everything by herself. Helena shuddered when she recalled the memories of that day.

This info just gave her more headaches. She must face the cult while handling an upcoming problem. Spring was almost over. In a month, her sister was going to poison her mother. Helena must do something to prevent it from happening.

Helena opened a new page from her secret notes. When she was jolting down her strategy, someone knocked on her window. Helena was frowning. This was late at night, and the knock came from her balcony. She turned around and saw the damned demon waving his hand while smiling.

Helena ignored him. She should concentrate on her problems.

Helena remembered when her mother collapsed after drinking tea. She screamed and ordered the servants to call the doctor. It was futile because they could not save her mother's life on time. Helena was brokenhearted after her mother passed away. She mourned her death for a long time. 

Helena swore to save her mother in her second life. She gained an antidote for the poison and used it to save her mother. Since Helena had called the police early to investigate the case, Ethel could not dispose of the poison. She avoided the crime by blaming her maid. The maid was found guilty under the investigation and punished for something she never did.

The high society certainly was not stupid. A mere maid would get nothing from killing the Mistress of the House. It was clear who was the real culprit. This news tainted Ethel's reputation. Many noble ladies cut their relationship with her, while servants lost their trust in their master.

Nevertheless, Ethel still got support from some nobles and her father's love. Their father begged Helena to forgive her sister. Helena took this opportunity as a chance to gain the upper hand. She used his guilt as blackmailing material. He bought and did anything for Helena to compensate for her sister's misdeed.

Helena was successful with her plan in her second life. However, her mother grew terrified of the new Helena. The child she raised with love turned into a monster. She tortured servants and enjoyed watching people suffering. Helena and her mother grew apart on that timeline. 

Yet, she still protected her beloved daughter with her own life. She bought more time for Helena and Ethel to flee away. Helena remembered her mother's face before the sword plunged into her chest. Her expression was mixed with sorrow from losing her own life and slight happiness from protecting Helena. Helena's heart was aching when she saw it. It was one of the why she was reluctant to go through the evil path again. Helena wanted to be a daughter her mother could be proud of. 

Nevertheless, being kind in her first life led her nowhere. She wondered what action she must take to ensure her mother's safety this time. Helena could try the same method, but her father and the nobility would still protect Ethel. 

Helena was pouting. It was pretty unfair. That nuisance never went through a trial in both of her life. Helena wondered whether the situation remained the same if the role was reversed.

The knocking on the door got louder. Helena still ignored it and focused on her paper. She was surprised when the demon opened the door and entered her room. 

"Geez, how cruel. Don't just leave me hanging outside alone."

"How do you- The door is locked!"

"Seriously? I wiped out this family memory about me. Using my power to unlock the door is child's play. I might be weak, but I'm still a demon."

Helena frowned. She should have asked for another holy water. "What do you want?"

"Nothing. I'm just looking at the situation. The circumstances do not side with you, huh?" Karl leaned closer to her face. "You've been a very good girl recently, but… aren't you repeating your first life?"

Helena pushed the demon away. "No, this time is going to be different! I'm going to stay alive without dirtying my hand with blood!"

Karl chuckled, mocking her behaviour. "Reality is not pretty. Even in your second life, your sister never receive any punishment, right? What about now?"

The demon was right. Even if Helena's mother survived, her sister would still escape her crimes. The current Helena was powerless. She had no wealth, relation, or the strength to defend herself and her mother.

"It is impossible to survive without playing dirty. Perhaps this time, you will lose your head again."

Helena touched her neck. The memories of the guillotine appeared in her mind. She trembled in horror. Helena remembered her father hopelessly watching her punishment while Adham yelled and struggled to save her until the end.

Her face was full of dread. Karl smiled and pulled her into his arms. "You love dressing in expensive garments and wearing beautiful jewellery. You love spending money and showing off your wealth. You love to yell and beat up servants to death. You love seeing people suffer in agony."

Helena could not refute his words. The remembrances of her misdeed flashed through her eyes. Being a villainess was a gratifying experience. The taste of power was intoxicating. She had committed countless crimes without persecution and danced under people's misery. Everyone stared at her with fear in their eyes. 

"I. can. help."

His words were sweet as nectar. The temptation slowly lured Helena over. She did not need to think about her future. Helena only had to answer "yes" to fulfil her wish. Everything would be granted in exchange for her soul.

"Say it, Helena Blackmoore. Say it so I will never lose you to death again."

Helena's eyes widened at his words. 

He slapped Karl, causing the demon to yelp in pain. "Aw! What the hell?!"

Helena stood still in a daze, comprehending the mistake she almost created. "I know that voice and words..." She stepped back from Karl. "You-you're the last person I saw before my second death!"

"My, you still remember about that?" The demon smirked. "You have a good memory!"

"You left me to die!"

"What do you want me to do, saving you? Your soul was leaving your body. It's not worthy to be saved."

 Helena was stunned to hear his reason. A person who knocked on the death door could not make a contract. Helena was only a 'meal' for him. Karl did not understand why he should help her.

She took her weapon. "I am in this situation because of you!"

"Calm down! Also, put down the chair! We can talk about this."

"Don't make me laugh! You are not here to help. You want my soul!"

"But it's a mutual relationship, no?" He dodged her chair attack. "You get to be free from the living burden, and I get my full course meal."

A new intense feeling emerged from her heart. It was similar to resentment but different from her grudge to Ethel. Helena never felt this irritate to the level she wanted to smite the demon with her hand. She then realised why she was that upset.

This bastard was one of the reasons for her struggle.

The exasperation opened her eyes. This was a new type of hatred. She was too angry to be depressed, too mad to be sad and too furious to be anxious about her future. The fury gave her so much will to live. Helena dropped the chair and stopped her assault. She was cackling like a mad woman. 

How ironic. The tormenter of life had become her excuse to keep on.

The demon was perplexed by her emotional outburst. "Are you still sane? Crazy people are not tasty."

Helena glared at the demon with a new spark of emotion. Her lifeless eyes were now filled with so much life. Something inside her was burning like a flickering candle within the darkness. 

"I won't give up. I won't let you take my life away. I will live out of spite, so you will never get my soul!"

Karl was shocked to see she found a new reason to live. He hated that passionate gaze. This just meant making a contract with her would be more difficult. Helena saw a crack on his carefree face. There was slight anger upon his look. His cold eyes glinted with killing intent. He wanted to murder her on the spot but refrained from the action.

"Mark my word. Sooner or later, you won't have much choice but to give up."

"Keep dreaming! You failed twice!"

The demon glared at her. Helena was frightened for a moment. Fortunately, he did not do anything. The demon turned around and walked away from her. He jumped from the second floor and flew from that place.

Helena was relieved and slumped to her chair. She drove the demon away but left feeling worn out. Helena used all of her energy against the cursed creature. That girl did not even come up with a solution to her problem. 

Should she confront Ethel? No, she would be suspicious of Helena. Should she change the tea? No, Ethel would try to use the poison at different times. Should she take the poison and throw it out? Maybe, but Ethel could get another poison.

If only there were an incident in the house to suppress her step-sisters.

Incident?

Helena stood up. She just came up with the right idea.