Devils on the Loose

Since it's her first day, Serianne decided to try the food at the school cafeteria. The place is a bit quiet because it's almost seven o'clock. Most people have gone home by now.

The first time she stepped onto the tile floor, holy, she was stunned. The place is like a dream. With chandeliers and pillars all over the place, the cafeteria looks like a VIP dining room after a big event.

Serianne goes with two plates of chicken curry, fruits, vegetables and rice. The day is tough and she is starving. She doesn't give a damn of the gazes pointing at her. All she wants is some peace and food.

She takes the food tray and notices Aiden sitting alone at a grand circular table, munching his food while staring at his phone. Without a second thought, she makes her way towards him and takes a spot at an empty chair across him.

Aiden spares her a glance, frowning over the quantity of the food she will be consuming. But it's none of his business so he just stays silent and stares back at his phone.

Serianne noticed his judgemental look just now and she knows what he is thinking. She glances over his plate and her eyes widen. Fruits, yogurt and salad? Really?

"Are you on diet?"

Aiden looks up over his glasses and raises an eyebrow. It's as if she just asked the most ridiculous question ever. "No? Why?"

"Um...nothing..."

This man is strange, she thought to herself. Maybe it's just his eating habit. No wonder he got a body of a builder.

Serianne focuses on her food. The fresh aroma of the chicken makes her drool, mixing with a smell of malice— malice?

'No way. There's a demon in cafeteria too?!'

She frantically looks around to find the source and once again, Aiden glances at her with confusion. She is a strange woman, he thought to himself. Aiden is not much of a talker and he's not the type to cause a scene.

"Your food is getting cold." He presses, annoyed when someone wasting the source of energy.

Serianne calms her tension body. Not now. Not yet. Perhaps it's okay as long as the demon is not causing trouble. She is tired. She wants to enjoy this solace first before going back to her hunting mode.

The silence is awkward. Serianne wants to lighten the mood by starting a light conversation with her new colleague and senior. Aiden doesn't say much during the meal. He only responses to Serianne with a few words. Though he doesn't show much interest, at least he's not ignoring her.

"The more I talk to him, the more I find him scary..." Serianne grumbles as she walks out of the building after the meals. He's nice to her even though his cold face says otherwise. The man is mysterious and radiates unsettling energy which she can't describe.

She looks over her shoulders, Aiden has already disappeared from her sight. "He didn't even offer me a ride home. I know he had a luxurious car. Not that it matters but still. That's not gentleman of him letting a woman walking home alone at night..." She shakes off the feeling. Aiden was already nice enough to spend his time to guide her for the whole day. She can't afford to ask for more.

Suddenly, she halts on her feet.

Devil.

She senses evil. Serianne straightens her body and keeps her feet steady. Even in the middle of a street, there's a devil lurking by. With serious eyes, she removes her cane from the cover.

That night, the sounds of blade and ripping flesh echoes through the dark alley, leaving a faint of scream and blood. The full moon casting over the place, adding to the creepy atmosphere.

It's 11 o'clock when Serianne got home. She was panting and breathing heavily. Her clothes are messy but she got rid of the blood. She grips her bag tightly and masks her straight face before opening the door.

"I'm home—"

She pauses as soon as she notices a man's shoes by the door. Oh no, not again...Cindy!

She shuts the door behind her and storms to the living room, finding Cindy and her boyfriend cuddling together on the couch. They act like as if Serianne doesn't exist, too busy with their own world.

"Ahem!" Serianne clears her throat loudly to gain their attention.

"Oh, Seri! Welcome home." Cindy greets casually as if nothing is happening. She is leaning into Kael's chest, enjoying the comfort despite Serianne's judgemental look.

"I told you not to bring a man into this house." Serianne sighs and puts her hands on hips. She's like a single mother who is disappointed in her daughter.

Cindy scoffs in protest. "What's the harm? It's just Kael. It's not like I'm bringing a stranger."

Kael chuckles and nods in agreement. He tilts his head. "Yep. It's been a while, Serianne. How have you been?" Kael has known Serianne since Cindy kept bringing him into the house since last week. It's annoying but at least he's a decent man. He doesn't look like he's the type to sleep around many girls so Serianne approves him.

"Just got a new job. It sucks." Serianne complains, remembering how tough it is to deal with those students.

Cindy laughs in amusement. "Well...you're dealing with people. Of course it's going to be a headache. But Aetheris Academy must be heavenly, right? Like you're in a palace."

"A palace? More like a hell." Serianne retorts. She strides to her room, not caring of the intimate act between the two lovebirds behind her. "I'm going to rest. You both keep it quiet."

She shuts the door. Her bedroom is small but at least it's comfy. It can only fits a single bed, a study desk, a closet and small drawer. She's grateful that she doesn't need to sleep on street. Or else, she would have file a complaint to the higher angels whom assign her in this deadly mission.

Seeing the familiar atmosphere of her room brings Serianne at peace. It looks normal but the room actually holds many secrets related to her angel identity. Papers with mysterious symbol are all over the wall. It's actually a gibberish symbol of a demon, her targets. The four red symbols are glowing on the wall, which are her main targets— the four demons kings— Mammon, Asmodeus, Satan and Lucifer.

She stares at the symbols with disgust and disdain, imagining it's their face she's staring at. They're the main reason why she's here in the first place. She has been searching for their trace since day one on earth but there's no luck. She only found normal demons. But one thing she knows and confident about. One of the four kings— Lucifer is hiding in the Aetheris Academy.

"Just you wait." She points her cane at Lucifer's symbol threateningly. "I swear I'll find you and when I do..."

She releases the sharp blade, glinting the metal surface against the light of her bedroom before thrusting the tip into the paper, tearing it apart.

A month later...

"Miss, what's the meaning of this sentence?" A top female student in the class asks her a question while she's writing words on the whiteboard. It's French Language and Serianne is more than happy to guide.

She's one of the polite students so Serianne has already memorized her face and name. The other students only give her a side-eyed for gaining the attention. Serianne retorts back with a glare, which scares them. She swears that if they even think of bullying the top student, she will not hesitate to lift her cane.

The bell rings, signaling the end of the first session. Serianne packs up her files in her bag.

"That's all for today. Don't forget to do the assignment I gave you."

"Thank you, Miss Seri." The class shouts in unison.

Finally, outside. Serianne takes a deep breath of fresh air. The class was suffocating thanks to the unruly students who kept bothering her. She sighs and lifts her bag over one shoulder.

After a month, she has gotten used to this lifestyle. Pack schedule of teaching for the day and hunting demons at night. If she is lucky, she can get home before twelve.

It's a peak time of lunch. She was thinking of grabbing some food in the cafeteria before sorting things out and preparing for the next class.

As she walks, she's passing by a classroom with a familiar deep voice.

"Aiden?"

This is Aiden's class and he's currently giving a lecture about calculus.

Now that she thinks again, she has never seen Aiden in his teaching mode before. She wonders what kind of teacher he is for the students. Is he strict? Is he scary or is he a kind and gentle teacher? Considering his personality, she can only assume that he is very strict.

Serianne tip toes and leans into the glass window to peep. She can see Aiden, standing in front of the class with rows of students at the back. The way he carries himself, his body language radiates aura of confidence and professionalism. He's the perfect embodiment of an educator.

She can understand why female students are obsessed with him. Despite his scary and strict nature, his teaching method is easy to understand and effective. There's no flaw on him. Aside from that, he also looks hot in the black suit and glasses. No one is yawning over his lecture.

"Hmph...the male and female students are all the same." Serianne grumbles under her breath. Suddenly, her senses tingle. She squints her eyes into the classroom and spots a malice aura at the back.

'Devil! One of his students is a devil?!'