Chapter 9
Selena sat at her desk, fingers twitching against the wooden surface as if they couldn't quite rest. The soft hum of the office lights overhead did little to settle the storm inside her mind. Her breath came shallow, her eyes glassy as the same scene replayed in her head again—and again.
Raziel.
The name alone made her heart beat in a rhythm it never had before. The moment flashed before her eyes—the explosion, the blinding light of the bazooka, and then him—his figure emerging from smoke and fire like a nightmare made flesh… or a fallen angel.
But that couldn't be. He wasn't a savior. He was a demon.
"A demon…" she whispered under her breath.
That word echoed like a curse in her thoughts. She had read enough, dug through myths and forums late at night—demons were emotionless, ruthless beings. They didn't save people. They didn't hesitate. They existed only to kill, devour, and destroy.
So why… why did he save me?
The more she tried to shove the thought away, to anchor herself in logic, the more that night refused to be forgotten. Raziel had thrown himself in front of her without hesitation. Like… a guardian. But not an angel.
A guardian demon?
The idea was absurd. Yet, she reached for her phone with trembling fingers, typing the words into the search bar with a quiet desperation.
Nothing.
All the results were what she expected. Myths. Warnings. "Demons are devoid of compassion." "Demons can mimic emotions to manipulate humans." "No such thing as a guardian demon."
She slumped back, eyes flickering with uncertainty.
"Am I losing it?" she muttered, gripping her temples.
The truth was inescapable. Raziel tried to kill her. And yet… she kept covering for him, kept finding excuses.
"It doesn't matter. Once I give him that crystal, it's over. We'll have no reason to see each other again."
As if trying to convince her own soul, she marched toward the storage room. Her footsteps echoed in the empty corridor. The door creaked open. She stepped inside.
Her eyes darted across the shelves, scanning every silver case, every labeled container.
Gone.
"But I placed it right here!" she whispered, panicked. Her hands scrambled through drawers and cabinets, until a strange shimmer caught her eye.
A faint, red light, reflecting off one of the silver storage panels.
Her breath hitched.
Instinct. Survival.
She dropped, rolling to the side just as a piercing whine split the air. A crimson dagger buried itself where her head had been a moment ago, vibrating violently.
She froze, heart pounding.
Then, slowly, a voice—smooth and poisonous—curled into her ears.
"I thought I'd have to wait a little longer," the man drawled. "But look at this. You created the perfect opportunity for me to kill you without lifting a finger."
Her blood ran cold.
She turned slowly to face him—a tall figure in a black overcoat, his smile a sickle of malice. His eyes glinted with murder.
Without a word, she bolted.
The room became a battlefield. Boxes tumbled. Metallic crates clanged to the floor. The scarlet dagger sang through the air again, slicing a deep gash across her mid-arm.
She screamed, stumbling back.
He lunged.
She crashed into a storage cabinet, gasping, pain flooding her senses. The man stood over her, licking the blood from the blade like it was wine.
"So sweet," he said. "Your blood sings for death."
Tears welled in her eyes, her vision blurring.
In that moment of sheer terror, only one name tore through her mind like lightning.
"Raziel!"
The name burst from her lips—desperate, raw, instinctual. She never thought she'd call out to him so soon. Never thought she'd need him like this.
But silence followed. No answer. No shadow. No salvation.
Her breath hitched, panic flooding her veins. The assassin lunged forward, his blade gleaming beneath the hospital light. Her legs refused to move. Her voice caught in her throat. She closed her eyes, bracing for the cold bite of steel—
But it never came.
Instead, there was silence… followed by a crunch so loud it echoed in her ears.
Selena's eyes snapped open—and there he was.
Raziel.
Standing before her like a wall of wrath, one hand gripping the assassin's wrist with such force the bone beneath cracked like brittle glass. His other hand hovered by his side, veins glowing faintly with ominous crimson light.
His eyes blazed a deep, seething red—like hellfire had taken root inside him.
And in a voice so low, so chilling it felt like death whispering through the air, he growl
"How Dare You."
The attacker struck out in panic, throwing a punch—but before it even came close, a sickening fwip echoed.
His arm was gone. Blood sprayed—only for it to be stopped mid-air by an unseen force.
No scream came.
Raziel's other hand was wrapped around the man's throat like a vise.
"You won't die quickly," he whispered.
And then the assassin's body convulsed. He thrashed wildly—until his veins glowed, and fire erupted from within. His insides began to burn, then incinerate, and yet no sound escaped. His mouth opened in a silent scream as he crumbled into black ash.
When it was over, the room fell still.
Raziel turned slowly, his expression softening as he knelt beside Selena.
"Are you hurt?"
She couldn't speak.
Tears fell freely, her body shaking. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him, clutching his chest as if she were drowning and he was the only thing keeping her afloat.
"I… I was so scared… Thank you…" she sobbed.
Raziel remained still for a second, then slowly raised his hand and gently patted her head. A breeze left his lips and swirled around her injured arm. In the blink of an eye, the wound closed—healed as if it had never been.
But Selena didn't even flinch. The exhaustion, the fear, the adrenaline—it was too much. Her head rested against him, eyes fluttering shut.
"Can you walk?" he asked softly.
She nodded weakly.
But the moment she tried to stand, her knees buckled.
He caught her.
Without hesitation, Raziel lifted her into his arms—bridal-style. His touch was firm, protective, like the world could fall apart and he would still hold her together.
"Wait…" she whispered, looking around.
"Where's the man…? The assassin…"
Her eyes widened.
The room was pristine.
No blood. No ash. No damage. Not even the red dagger.
It was like it never happened.
Raziel's face turned cold.
"Disposed."
With that, Raziel carried Selena effortlessly in his arms out of the now-pristine storage room.
"This... isn't proper," Selena muttered, her voice nearly inaudible as her face flushed red.
The hallway outside was bustling with staff and patients, and the moment Raziel stepped into the open corridor with Selena in his arms, all activity paused. A nurse froze mid-step, another dropped a clipboard. The crowd stared in stunned silence.
"Wait... isn't that Dr. Vale?" one nurse gasped, pointing with trembling fingers.
"Yeah, it is! And—wait—is that her boyfriend?" another gasped, barely containing her excitement.
Phones flashed as whispers turned into chaos.
Just then, Dr. Nathan—Selena's long-time admirer—pushed through the crowd like a knight ready to rescue a princess. His voice was full of disbelief and jealousy.
"Dr vale! What is going on? This man—he should put you down! I'll take care of you!"
But the moment he tried to reach them, Selena lifted her head slightly from Raziel's chest and shot him a glare so sharp it could slice metal.
Nathan froze. His breath hitched, and a dreamy blush spread across his cheeks.
"She's glaring at me... with those piercing eyes... it's like... I'm being scolded by Aphrodite herself," he whispered, dazed.
"...Hopeless," Raziel muttered under his breath, eyes narrowed at the babbling doctor.
Soon, they reached Selena's office. Raziel gently lowered her onto the couch like she was made of glass.
"Well... hm... hmm..." Selena stammered, awkwardly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her heartbeat hadn't slowed a bit.
This morning, he'd almost killed her.
Now, he'd saved her life.
"Thank you," she finally said, her voice soft but sincere.
Raziel nodded. No warmth, no acknowledgment—just a cold, indifferent nod.
Selena sighed inwardly. Back to being an arrogant mystery again, huh?
Then his eyes met hers, glowing faintly crimson again.
"Tell me... human—"
"Stop calling me that!" she snapped. "I have a name. It's Selena!"
"Hmm… alright, fine. Tell me, Se... Se... Selena," he said slowly like it was foreign on his tongue. "Why do you have so many people trying to kill you? First it was those men last night, now another assassin?"
She groaned. "I don't know! I don't attract assassins! It's not like I have a sign on my back that says 'please attempt murder'!"
He tilted his head, skeptical.
"Still," she muttered, "you can call me anything you want, just not human. It makes things... weird."
Raziel leaned back slightly, thinking. "Alright... what about... Human girl?"
"No."
"Petty fellow."
"Absolutely not!"
"Meat puppet?"
"What is wrong with you?"
He paused, then said with a completely straight face: "What about... Love?"
Her breath caught. Her eyes widened. "W-what?"
"I'll call you Love from now on."
He said it like it meant nothing—but for her, it was like a thunderclap in the heart.
"...Okay," she said shyly, cheeks flushed.
"It is decided," Raziel said with finality. "Now—care to explain your assassin magnetism?"
"I already told you," she grumbled. "I. Don't. Attract. Assassins."
But Raziel's eyes narrowed again.
---
Hours Later…
They stepped out of the hospital building—only to be blinded by a barrage of camera flashes.
Reporters swarmed around like vultures.
"What the hell..." Raziel muttered, shielding his eyes. "Why are they taking photos of us?"
"Is it true that you're Dr. Vale's boyfriend?!" one male reporter called out as the women around him remained speechless—too busy blushing at Raziel's face.
Raziel felt an ache grow in his temple. "Humans are so exhausting."
Teleporting would make this worse—especially with all the cameras.
He sighed and turned to Selena. "Hey... Love, care to handle this?"
"Love?!" one female reporter gasped, almost fainting. "He just called her Love?!"
"Clearly they're a couple again!" another cried. "They made up!"
Raziel blinked. "It's just a name." he thought.
Selena, calming her nerves, stepped forward. "To clarify: Last night's... disagreement was a misunderstanding. Emotions ran high, but we talked things out. What matters is that he was there for me today when I needed him most."
"But he embarra—!" a reporter began before Selena interrupted with a warm smile.
"Love is complicated," she said calmly. "But sometimes... it finds its way."
The crowd melted.
---
Elsewhere, in a shadowed building...
A heavy metallic phone rang. A scarred man with tattoos over every inch of his body exhaled smoke before nodding to his underling to hand him the phone.
"Yeah?" His voice was a low growl.
"Why isn't she dead yet?" a chilling voice asked on the other end. "I thought you were capable, Reaper."
Reaper's eyes narrowed. "No idea why she's still breathing... But I assure you, Dr. Vale won't see tomorrow."
"You better live up to your name," the voice warned before hanging up.
Reaper gritted his teeth. "Pathetic."
"Boss," his henchman said nervously, "we lost all contact with the men we sent..."
"If they're dead, they were weak," Reaper said without emotion. "Send Sniper and Butcher. This time, we do it clean."
"Yes, Boss."
Reaper flicked ash onto the floor, watching it burn a small hole into the dust.
"What kind of bodyguard can kill all six of my men..." he murmured." Anyway this ends tonight." He said dryly.
The car ride back home was wrapped in silence—but not the kind that felt empty. It was heavy, complicated, and laced with thoughts neither of them dared to voice.
Raziel sat in the passenger seat, his arms crossed and eyes focused out the window. The lights from the city passed over his face in glimmers, but none of them could illuminate the question he kept turning in his mind.
Why am I still here?
He had no obligation to stay. His mission was to find the gateway but now he is accompany the human girl.
Beside him, Selena was gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary, her cheeks still flushed from earlier. The word "Love" echoed again and again in her head like a broken record on repeat.
He called me that… twice… and with that same blank face as if it meant nothing to him!
She peeked at him from the corner of her eye, her heart thudding annoyingly loud. Was that just a joke to him? Or is there… something?
Raziel noticed. Of course, he did. He turned slowly toward her, catching her wide-eyed and mid-stare.
"…What is wrong, hu—" He caught himself and corrected coolly, "…Love?"
BOOM.
That one word caused a chain reaction in her system. Selena's eyes bulged, her heart misfired, and her foot nearly slipped off the brake. The car jerked forward, veering slightly toward a streetlight.
"Oh No—"
But before the world could spiral into chaos, Raziel calmly flicked two fingers, time stuttering around them as a layer of reality rewrote itself. The car froze inches away from collision and slowly, gracefully parked itself.
Selena gripped the steering wheel like her life depended on it, panting. "You…you saved me again."
Raziel just looked at her, resting his chin on his fist. "You humans and your fragile emotions. I say a word and suddenly we're defying death."
Selena wanted to scream. Or laugh. Or crawl into a hole. But she didn't do any of that. She drove the rest of the way home in mortified silence.
At the Mansion
They stepped into the grand but cold sitting room, dimly lit by the hallway chandelier. Raziel immediately sank into the couch like it owed him a favor, his eyes distant, thoughtful, unreadable.
"If you'd like... you can sleep in the guest bedroom," Selena offered shyly, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her blouse. A small part of her—foolish, hopeful—half-expected Raziel to reject the offer. Maybe say something absurd like "I'll sleep in your room instead."
But reality crushed that fleeting thought.
Raziel didn't even look at her. He lay sprawled across the couch, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, his expression unreadable. The silence between them stretched until it was unbearable.
"Are you... still here?" she asked softly.
He finally turned his head, his gaze cold and distant. "I've already saved you twice today," he said flatly. "I think that's more than enough. So, don't disturb me again."
Selena's chest tightened. Her fists clenched at her sides as she bit back the sting in her throat. There it was again. That jarring contrast. One moment he was holding her like she was something precious, the next he spoke like she was a burden he couldn't wait to drop.
It was as if Raziel had two souls—one that shielded her with his life, and another that looked at her like she was utterly insignificant.
"Suit yourself," she snapped, masking her pain with anger. Then she turned on her heel and stormed up the stairs, slamming the door behind her.
Raziel didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't care.
He kept his eyes on the ceiling, the glow in them dimming into silence.
"I need to find the gateway… soon," he muttered to himself.
---
Upstairs in Selena's Room
She changed into her favorite pajamas—pink with little blue clouds—but the comfort it once gave her felt foreign now.
She collapsed onto the bed but couldn't stop thinking. The word "Love" pulsed through her again and again, dragging along the memory of Raziel's stoic face when he said it.
"Why do I feel this way…?" she muttered, pressing a palm over her heart. Her cheeks burned and her lips trembled.
After minutes of fidgeting, she stood up. Maybe I should check on him. What if he's cold? Or—no! He said not to disturb him, remember?!
"Tch. Arrogant demon." She crossed her arms and turned, ready to throw her pillow at the wall—when the door creaked open slightly.
She froze.
"…Raziel?" she called, fear tiptoeing into her voice.
No answer.
Her breath slowed as her hand reached for the bedside lamp—and then she saw him.
He didn't say anything.
He simply walked in and pulled her into his arms in a firm, warm hug that melted every defense she had.
"Wha–What are you doing?!" she whispered, cheeks aflame.
"You said you protected me for a month," Raziel replied softly, voice lacking his usual edge. "So I'll do the same. I'll protect you for a month. No more. No less."
"A month?" she repeated, barely keeping her voice steady. "You make it sound like a… contract."
Raziel didn't reply. His hand gently brushed her hair, and with a strangely serene voice, he whispered, "Sleep now."
And like magic—or maybe something deeper—her body obeyed. Her mind slowed. Her fear vanished. In Raziel's arms, she drifted into sleep like a leaf on calm waters.
He slowly lowered her into bed and stood.
His red eyes lifted to the wide glass window. Outside, several sniper bullet was left suspended mid air as if they were floating.
Twenty of them.
Across the mansion, on a neighboring rooftop, the sniper shooter responsible stood frozen in panic, his hands trembling. The scope of his rifle was stop by an unseen force.
He had missed. All twenty shots.
And now…
Raziel's glowing red eyes met his from across the distance.
"…For now," Raziel muttered, turning toward the glass window. "I have business to handle."
To Be Continued…