Zamiel stepped into his apartment, the door creaking shut behind him. The air inside was thick with the scent of old books and smoke, and the walls seemed to absorb the faint light that filtered in through the windows.
The apartment was a labyrinth of dark corridors and shadowy rooms, the walls adorned with strange symbols and artifacts that glowed with an otherworldly light. It was a place of mysterious powers, where the very fabric of reality seemed to bend and warp.
Zamiel shrugged off his coat, revealing a crisp white shirt underneath. He tossed the coat onto a nearby chair, the black fabric seeming to swallow the light around it.
He made his way to the shower, the water cascading down around him like a veil of silk. He stood there for a long time, letting the water wash away the grime and exhaustion of the day.
As he dried himself off, Zamiel's mind began to wander. He thought of Elena, wondering why he seemed to find himself saving her time and time again. Was it fate, or just coincidence?
He walked over to the window, staring out at the city below. The lights twinkled like stars, and the wind whispered secrets in his ear.
Zamiel's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with thoughts of Elena. He couldn't explain why he was drawn to her, why he felt an overwhelming need to protect her.
As the night wore on, Zamiel found himself wandering to the roof, the highest point of the building. He stood there, the wind whipping his hair into a frenzy, and let the cold evening breeze caress his face.
He didn't sleep, of course. He never slept. Instead, he stood there, lost in thought, as the city slumbered below him.
Zamiel's hand went straight to his chest, his fingers splayed across the fabric of his shirt. He felt a strange sensation, like a tug on his heartstrings.
What's going on? he thought, his mind racing with confusion. Why am I drawn to her?
He touched his chest again, feeling the beat of his heart beneath his fingers. It was a strange, unsettling sensation, like his heart was trying to tell him something.
Zamiel's eyes narrowed, his gaze drifting out across the city. He felt a sense of restlessness, a feeling that he couldn't shake.
He thought back to the first time he'd met Elena, the way he'd felt an instant connection to her. He'd tried to ignore it, to tell himself it was just a passing fascination.
But now, as he stood on the rooftop, feeling the wind whip through his hair, he couldn't deny it any longer. He was drawn to Elena, body and soul.
Zamiel's hand clenched into a fist, his nails digging into his palm. He felt a surge of frustration, a sense of helplessness.
Why did he feel this way? What was it about Elena that drew him in?
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. But as he stood there, the city spread out before him, he suddenly smiled and vanished like smoke.
Zamiel stood outside the small, rundown apartment, his eyes scanning the peeling paint and rusty hinges. He could sense the desperation emanating from within, a palpable aura of hopelessnes.
Zamiel pushed open the door and stepped inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. A young woman, gaunt and hollow-eyed, sat on a worn couch, clutching a photograph in her trembling hands.
"Who are you" her tired voice whispered, her eyes locking onto Zamiel's.
Zamiel's gaze flicked to the photograph, and he saw a young boy, pale and thin, lying on the bed. "Your son is ill," Zamiel stated, his voice cold as usual.
The woman nodded, tears streaming down her face. "He has leukemia. The doctors say there's no hope,so I brought him home"
Zamiel's expression remained impassive. "I can help you," he said. "But you must understand, I am not a charity.I grant wishes...for a price."
The woman's eyes widened in desperation. "I'll do anything," she begged. "Just please, heal my son."
Zamiel's gaze seemed to bore into her soul. "Are you prepared to pay the price?" he repeated. "It will not be easy. It will not be simple."
The woman nodded frantically. "I'll do anything. Just please, save my son."
Zamiel's expression remained unreadable, but his voice took on a hint of curiosity. "Very well," he said. "I will heal your son...but you must give me something in return."
The woman's eyes locked onto Zamiel's, a desperate plea in their depths. "Anything," she whispered. "I'll give you anything."
Zamiel's smile was a thin, cruel line. "We shall see," he said.
Zamiel's eyes seemed to gleam with an otherworldly light as he leaned forward, his voice taking on a hypnotic quality. "According to my calculations, you have approximately 50 years of life left," he said, his words dripping with an air of finality.
The woman's eyes widened in horror as she realized what Zamiel was implying. "No, please," she begged, her voice trembling. "Don't take everything."
Zamiel's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'll take 45 years," he said, his voice firm. "And I'll leave you with...five."
The woman's face went white as she realized the true extent of Zamiel's demand. She would be giving up almost her entire life, leaving her with just a few short years to live.
But as she looked at the photograph of her son in her hand, she knew she had no choice. She would do anything to save him, even if it meant sacrificing her own life.
"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I agree."
Zamiel's smile grew even wider, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "Excellent," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "See you after five years!"
And with that, Zamiel vanished into thin air, leaving the woman alone with her thoughts. She looked down at the photograph of her son, a sense of hope and despair warring within her.
She had saved her son's life, but at what cost?
**************************
The next morning, the news of Elena's attack had circulated like wildfire. It was the headline news on every channel, with the CEO of LD Corporations attack.
Felix sat in his room, his eyes glued to the TV as he watched the news. The faces of the two men who had attempted to throw Elena off the balcony were displayed on screen, and Felix's eyes narrowed as he studied them.
Who were these men, and why were they trying to kill his wife? Felix's mind was racing with questions, but he knew he had to keep his cool.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Master Felix, breakfast is ready," the maid called out.
Felix got up and made his way downstairs, where he found his parents already seated at the table. His father, a stern-looking man with a thick beard, looked up at him and asked, "Did you watch the news?"
Felix nodded, taking a seat next to his mother. "Yes, Father, I did."
His father's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any idea who might want to harm Elena?" he asked, his voice firm.
Felix shook his head. "No, Father, I have no idea."
His mother, a petite woman with a pinched face, didn't even look at him. She was still angry with him for wanting to marry Elena, and Felix knew better than to try to talk to her about it.
The breakfast table was tense and silent, with only the sound of utensils clinking against plates breaking the silence. Felix knew he had to find a way to make things right with his mother, but for now, he just focused on eating his breakfast and trying to make sense of the news.
***********************
The police station was buzzing with activity, officers milling about and discussing the latest case. Elena's dramatic rescue was the topic of the day, and everyone had an opinion.
"I don't get it," one officer said, shaking his head. "She says some guy just appeared out of nowhere and saved her?"
"Yeah, and then she claims she was thrown off the balcony?" another officer chimed in. "I've seen that balcony, it's a long way down. If she really was thrown off, she'd be lucky to survive."
The officers all nodded in agreement, exchanging skeptical glances. "Maybe she hit her head or something," one of them suggested. "I mean, it's possible she's just confused."
Just then, a loud voice cut through the chatter. "Quiet!" the immediate man shouted. He was clearly the head of the police station, and everyone turned to look at him.
"You guys should investigate," he said, his voice firm. "Miss Elena just called me, and I want you to look into this. Go and investigate those guys, ask them who sent them. And check out the cameras - how did Elena manage to survive that fall?"
One of the officers spoke up. "We haven't checked the cameras yet, sir. We were planning on doing that today."
The head of the police station nodded. "Better get on it, then. I want answers, and I want them now."