My body stiffened the moment he talked. I exhaled slowly and followed his instructions, sitting down on the chair in front of him.
I raised my head and he propped his head in his hand, with his elbow placed on the white table. His eyes were carefully checking me, and I froze like I couldn't move while he was watching me so closely.
He was wearing a dark-blue costume, with the blazer placed nicely on the top of the chair, behind him, and the shirt's sleeves rolled a few times, as the weather was too warm for him to be wearing the costume properly. I gulped. Even though I knew that he was already hundreds of years or maybe thousands of years older than me, I couldn't stop myself from thinking that he got more mature, comparing the way he was dressing up back in high school. He could change so much probably in just a few seconds. A master of disguise.
Well, not bigger than Jessica, who could literally change her appearance through... well, magic?
"Is Jessica here as well?" I asked him, breaking the long silence.
He kept quiet for a bit and then shook his head, getting a grip on the cup of tea.
"No, she had to stay in the United Kingdom. There's a bit of a problem there."
"A... a problem?" I repeated, feeling how my heart was clenched by fear. My hunch was right.
"Nothing that you should be concerned about. There are a few demons doing illegal contracts. Germany and the UK are being monitored right now. Angels might get involved soon. Saving the dimensions didn't help corruption disappear. Our system is quite similar to the human one. More than you think."
I shivered involuntarily, listening to him talking about problems from all around the world. "So... making a contract with the devil is actually a real thing?" I asked, curious but horrified about such a thought.
"That's correct. I didn't have time to go back to hell and meditate as I was intending to." He continued, throwing me a bitter smile. "I would've stayed more time in the UK as well as Xsilia if more pressing matters wouldn't have appeared in the meantime."
I frowned, taking a sip from the teacup in front of me. "What happened?"
His expression darkened and his eyes were fixated on my face. "Lucifer is dead."
I froze, not understanding exactly what he meant. "...dead? Isn't he immortal?"
"That's correct. His very soul... has vanished."
I blinked slowly, putting the cup down and taking a few seconds to digest the information. "How?"
"Killed by the Demon Destroyer."
That was Caiden's sword! The one that Lucifer made me bring from the past, even though Caiden was always carrying it in secret...
"Who... who did that?" My throat suddenly went dry and I took another sip of the aromatic tea, trying to calm down.
"... we don't know exactly. I have a hunch, but it's not a pleasant one. If what I think is true, then... it might be more complicated than I thought. And you might get involved as well, as you have been 'touched' by me."
I took in a deep breath, watching him carefully. "How is me being 'touched' linked to the person... demon... whatever, who killed Lucifer?"
"Because we are talking about Kasho."
The blood froze in my veins and Caiden leaned back on the chair, throwing me a concerned expression.
"But... but he wouldn't remember me, right? It was... it was just an illusion."
"That's correct. We're talking about the real Kasho here, the one who I killed without a remorse hundred of years ago... but he, apparently, survived. I don't know how he managed to stay under the radar so far, but he made a move a few weeks ago by killing Lucifer and stealing the Demon Destroyer."
"And... why am I involved in this...?" I asked, even though I kinda knew the answer.
He sighed, drawing his body closer to the table and placing his hands on the table.
"That's, of course, because Kasho's main mission would be to take revenge on me. Even though he was the one betraying me, being put down by me might've made him hate me more than before. And, besides... if what the Kasho from the illusion said was true... well, let's just say he has a few reasons to hate me."
My body stiffened, watching him with a scared look.
My bad luck was supposed to go away, and it did, until now. But, suddenly, I was dragged once again in their supernatural affairs and I couldn't help but be dejected because my normal life was fluctuating, and the people close to me might get in danger like before.
"I received a report a week ago, stating that a few weird movements are going on in New York City. I knew you would be here, as I had a few demons watch your bad luck closely, to make sure that it would disappear completely. But... right after Lucifer's death news started circulating, the reports I used to get stopped. I sent someone else here, but what I got back... was a thread of black hair. It might seem like nothing to you, but, as demons, we can inflict our energy on anything. And the energy poured on that thread of hair... was, without a doubt, Kasho's."
I frowned, a cold shiver going down my spine.
Even though Caiden left, he still cared enough about his promise and even checked on me regularly. I was quite touched by his care, but that wasn't the time to point it out.
"Then why are you not sure if it's Kasho or not?" I asked him, not understanding why he said it was just a hunch.
"Because, whoever killed Lucifer, might just want to catch my attention, for reasons unknown, and bring up my past. I have quite a lot of enemies, especially after spending these two years in the UK. Demons started being wary of me, as before they only considered me the Old One's pet. Me, acting on my own and without his direct orders scares them, as my rank is high. So, using dirty tricks is, without a doubt, the first thing a demon would do in order to draw my attention."
I didn't say anything, as the whole situation made my head hurt. How could he live when he was always so wary of his surroundings? I thought I would've lost my mind if I was in his position. I threw him a pitiful look, but he was looking in the distance, with his fingers tapping on the table.
"But, in any case... because I usually hide my energy on Earth, they will try their best to find any connections that would, eventually, lead back to me."
"And me being 'touched' is one of them." I said, at which he nodded slowly, watching my face again with an impassable expression.
"Correct. I thought that I could fulfill my promise by 'touching' you, but after I had to take care of the situation in the UK... I think I brought more of a curse rather than a blessing onto you."
I sighed.
"So, in a way, it's like your bad luck is back." He continued, mirroring my thoughts.
"Well, at least there's something good. I get to see you again."
He chuckled, folding his arms. "That is not good at all, Ivy."
"My opinion is different."
"Your opinion will change at the moment the demons will start their movement. Or if Kasho finds you first."
"But that's why you are here, isn't it?"
The ghost of a smirk played on his lips.
"You've changed a bit."
"I can't possibly stay the same stupid kid, right?"
"Unfortunately, you are still a stupid kid but a bit more perceptive than before."
I laughed, playing with the teacup.
"So... now you are a teacher?"
"Yeah. Following you around as a teacher would be easier and less suspicious. If I was a student, they would've been aware and track me down. I can't face them just yet, as I don't know how strong they are. I can't get into a battle without knowing my enemy. And because this enemy killed Lucifer... they might be ten times stronger than me. My only chance is to gather information and make a plan before they figure out that I'm here. They wouldn't suspect a teacher, as it's quite hard to fake all the rewards and photographs I have throughout my teaching career."
"How did you fake them?" I asked him, curious.
"I think you forgot how easily I can manipulate the human brain." He replied shortly, taking another sip from the teacup.
"So... Emily forgetting about you is your doing as well." I said, my face becoming stiff as his brows furrowed.
"Right. The moment I decided to become a teacher here I had to get rid of humans knowing more than they should. You are an exception because you are 'touched' by me and it wouldn't work anyway."
"When did you see her?" I asked, getting angry because he was messing around with my best friend again.
He lowered his eyes, and looked at me through his long eyelashes. "A few days ago."
I raised my eyebrows and scoffed. "So... you just jumped over her window and made her forget about you?"
"... something like that."
"I'm surprised she didn't call the police on you straight away. She hated you ever since you left."
He gave me an unaffected smile. "She didn't have the time. She just called me 'Listen here you, dickhead.' and then I put her back to sleep."
I chuckled. That really sounded like Emily. Shocked by your friend's ex-boyfriend appearing in your room at night? Not quite. Throwing a punch and cursing him to death? That was Emily.
"I would appreciate it if you leave her out of this." I told him with a serious tone and he nodded back at me.
"It was my mistake to leave without taking care of this first. But... I thought she might give you the comfort you needed."
My ears became red, as I knew what he was talking about. It made me cringe, realizing how clingy I was towards him back then. Having feelings for someone after a few weeks of spending time together wasn't unheard of, but it was quite different when one of these people was an immortal being.
And him being considerate towards me on that part made me become even more aware of my cringeness.
"... at least that's one issue solved." I said, making him aware that the topic we were discussing made me quite uncomfortable.
He nodded again and raised his hand. A maid appeared out of nowhere and poured us another round of tea.
She left without saying anything, and I raised my eyebrows at Caiden.
"Is she a demon as well?"
"That's right. These are my informants. During the day they are acting as maids and butlers. I still have to keep the facade of me being a rich university teacher and this disguise would work the best."
"So... you are really going to be my teacher?"
He grinned. "Why? You don't like it? No matter how much you will flatter me, you still have to earn your grades."
I grimaced. "I was going to study hard anyway. I don't like using somebody else's money. It feels like cheating."
He laughed, making me calmer and more relaxed. The nice weather and his laugh made a nice combination.
"Only you, Ivy Moore, can say that having a ton of money that you can use any time is cheating. Well, at least you don't spend it on unnecessary stuff like most humans do. You should try investing it."
"No, I'll just study psychology and make a career. I'm not interested in anything else."
His expression changed and I couldn't read it at all.
"Don't you want a family? A mini-you?"
I raised my eyebrows, perplexed by his sudden question.
"... maybe because of my bad luck, I became too aware of myself, or maybe my family losing their memories about me... made me realize that loneliness is the worst thing imaginable. As you can see, even after you said that I will never see you again, here you are, in front of me... I don't want to involve other people in this kind of thing. Maybe after you'll catch that demon, I will truly not see you ever again. But there will always be a chance that I might get inolved again with you, or other demons. I don't want to bring a partner or a child in something like that."
He nodded, lowering his eyes again, staring at his cup of tea.
"I'm sorry I dragged you into this situation once again. As a human, you've done already more than I could possibly ask. Because of me... your fate is not even written in the book. You are too scared to have a family. You lost your actual family. All because I decided to use you to find where Lucifer was hiding. I apologize from the bottom of my heart."
His genuine apology made my eyes become teary, but I bit my lip and just smiled at him, while he was watching me with a deep frown.
"It's not your fault, Caiden. The dimensions were going to be destroyed... and I was just a human who happened to be good to use at that moment."
"I know. It just doesn't feel right for you. Even though the life you have on earth is like a second for me... I do care about you, Ivy Moore. You are one of the few humans that showed what bravery is. You were just a teenager but still fought along with us. I hope you will keep your heart open in the future, as it's beautiful. Don't let these shitty situations destroy your soul."
I gave him a sad smile. "Sometimes I forget you are a demon. You are too nice to be a demon."
He coughed and took out his phone. "It's already quite late. You have a class in the morning with me as well. You should get going. One of my demons will be watching you, so don't worry about being followed just now. But, just in case..."
Caiden got on his feet quickly and took a big step towards me, taking out something from his front pocket of his trousers. He took my hand, turning the palm upwards and I flinched, my skin burning the moment he touched it. He gave me a quick look, not sure of my reaction, but lowered his eyes and pressed something onto my hand.
I took a look at what he gave me, while he took a step back, watching me closely.
It was the charm he gave me back in high school.
I raised my head, boring my eyes into his, not sure of his action.
"It has a GPS transmitter stuck inside. In case my demons are exterminated and somebody catches you... I will get to you in no time. If you manage, try to press the small white diamond. It will give me a signal that you are in danger. If not... I will get to you the moment I realize you are missing. Wear it all the time if possible. Don't take it out even if you take a shower. Understood?"
I nodded shyly at his strong and harsh voice. I felt like I was obeying a commander's orders. Seeing that he had nothing else to say, I raised from the chair, ready to go back home. I passed by him, feeling weird to be so close to him, but I couldn't say or do anything else.
With a few more steps, I was back on the narrowed path, leaving the patio behind me.
"Ivy."
I turned my head towards Caiden, who was still on his feet, on the patio.
"From now on, call me Mr. Harris."