12

This morning, as Erika was working at the presidential palace.

Her peace was disturbed when she heard the noise of a large crowd outside.

Looking through the glass window, she saw a demonstration. Perhaps it was the first time Erika had witnessed such an event firsthand while working inside the building—feeling safe in there, while outside, many people's hopes were left unfulfilled.

Of course, Erika was disturbed by the noise. But when she stepped out of her office, everyone else continued working as if nothing was happening outside.

She couldn't be like this. She needed peace—this kind of chaos made it hard for her to focus.

She preferred silence, absolute stillness. That was why she lived alone, even though her house was far too big for one person.

Erika went down to the basement, hoping the noise wouldn't disrupt her mind. Yet, just as she sought tranquility, another disturbance found her.

The cold air, the chilling aura—she was all too familiar with them.

"Maybe one day, I will escape this hell." Erika muttered, already aware of the presence behind her. A breath ghosted against her nape, accompanied by an unnatural heat around her body.

Adzriel chuckled. "Your hope that one day you might still escape Hell, my dear. You cling to the idea that there is still a chance for you to find a way out of your situation, don't you? But you are foolish to hold on to such false hope. You have sold your soul to me, binding yourself to my domain. There is no escape from your fate."

He moved, now standing before Erika, his hand reaching for her throat.

"Let go of me! You're choking me!" Erika struggled, but she was only a mortal—her strength was nothing compared to his.

"Your plea for me to release you, my dear. You truly dare to break free from my grasp? But I am the one in control here, not you. You are nothing more than my plaything, my puppet to torment and manipulate as I please." Adzriel's grip on her throat tightened, his eyes gleaming with cold hatred.

"I will not release you, not until I am satisfied with you." Erika shivered.

"I have suffered enough, standing in front of a fallen angel consumed by his own selfishness." Erika was still Erika—blunt and unyielding. Perhaps only through submission could she be tamed, Adzriel thought, smirking.

"Your accusation that I am a selfish fallen angel. You think you know the true story of my fall, don't you? You think you can judge me based on my actions and motives, but you know nothing of my true nature." Adzriel's grip on her throat tightened further, his voice cold and mocking.

"But remember this, my dear. I may have fallen from Heaven, but I have risen as the Ruler of Darkness. I am stronger than you can ever imagine."

"I am not accusing you. I am stating the truth—that you are, in fact, selfish." Erika snapped, frustrated that the demon continued to haunt her every moment.

"Your claim that you speak the truth. You truly believe you understand my fall and my nature more than I do, don't you? You think you can call me selfish, but you know nothing of the sacrifices I have made to obtain such power." Adzriel's grip tightened further, his eyes burning with pride and fury.

"I am the Ruler of Souls, the Prince of Darkness. I have achieved such heights through my power and ambition. Do not presume to understand me."

"You sacrificed nothing. You betrayed Him."

"Ah, your claim that I made no sacrifices, my dear. You think you know the true nature of my fall, foolish and arrogant little thing. You believe you understand the struggles and suffering I endured when I was cast out of Heaven." His grip became painfully tight, his eyes blazing with rage.

"Do not dare lecture me about sacrifice and my own actions. You know nothing of the conflict that raged within me before my fall." Adzriel's voice was deep, ominous.

"I know exactly what God tried to tell humanity about you. You simply deny it—because you embody all the sins of this world, even worse."

"Your accusation that I am a liar and a denier of the truth. You think you understand God's message to humanity about me, but you know nothing." His grip on Erika's throat was nearly crushing, his eyes burning with fury and menace.

"You think you comprehend the nature of sin and my corruption, yet you have no grasp of the burdens I carry."

"Acting like the most tormented being, when in reality, you are the one who ruined the entire universe because of your arrogance." Erika refused to back down, her hands clutching at her burning throat.

"Your accusation that I am responsible for throwing the universe into chaos because of my pride. You believe you understand the magnitude of the evil I have committed, but you know nothing of the battles and turmoil within me." Adzriel's grip loosened slightly, though his eyes still burned with anger and disgust.

"Yes, I may have been consumed by pride and arrogance, but my fall is far beyond what you can comprehend."

Erika took a deep breath, barely able to breathe at all.

"Get away from me, Adzriel. You almost broke my neck." She tried to pry his hand away.

"Ah, your plea for me to release you, my dear. You feel the pressure on your throat, don't you? Can you feel the pain, the discomfort caused by my grasp?" Adzriel's grip eased slightly, just enough for Erika to breathe more easily, but his hand remained on her.

"I did not intend to break your neck, my dear. But I do enjoy watching you in pain, watching you fear me." Adzriel chuckled.

"I already told you, I am not afraid of you. I only fear Him." Still stubborn, still in denial that she was bound to a demon.

"Your insistence that you do not fear me, my dear. You want to appear strong, defiant, don't you? But deep down, I know you are afraid—afraid of the torment I can inflict upon you."

His grip tightened slightly again, his eyes gleaming with a cold, cruel smile.

"You may claim you do not fear me, but I know the true fear within your heart is for the Almighty."

"Try it! If I die, I don't care." Erika challenged, daring to provoke him—though deep inside, Adzriel knew he feared harming her even a little.

"Ah, your challenge for me to try and kill you, my dear. You are so certain that you can defy me, even death itself, aren't you? But I will not kill you… not yet."

His grip on her throat nearly relaxed entirely, though his hand still rested there.

"No, my dear, I have other plans for you—plans that will make you suffer far more than death ever could." Adzriel smirked.