Adzriel grinned after all the arrogance Erika had shown him. And the words of repentance she uttered—it turned out she was only trying to buy time, just as Adzriel had suspected. All humans were the same. No one was sincere. No one truly repented; they were only afraid of what was coming.
"Did I hear you correctly? Give you more time?" His deep voice made Erika even more confused. She still wanted to enjoy all the luxury she had worked for. Death had never crossed her mind—not even when she made a pact with Adzriel.
Ding...
Erika's front door opened. It seemed that someone had unlocked it.
Was it because Erika's body was growing cold from staying outside too long?
Or was it the chilling presence of Adzriel standing near her?
Erika quickly ran inside the house, but her steps halted, and her work bag fell onto the floor. Barefoot, she suddenly remembered the heels she had left outside.
"Still feeling proud of yourself?"
The voice came from behind her. Erika turned around and saw Adzriel holding the pair of heels she had worn earlier—one of them with a broken heel.
"I already told you. God's decision is none of your business. Even though I'm not a good person, I still believe in the truth: demons like you bring nothing but corruption to the world."
Adzriel smirked. The little mouse in front of him was still acting proud, even when cornered.
"Corruption, you say? Do you think your human world was pure and just before my kind arrived?"
Adzriel laughed again, his voice rough and mocking.
"We didn't create corruption, my dear. We simply expose it. Greed, ambition, selfishness—those are your own creations, not mine. You are just as corrupt as we are, only too cowardly to admit it."
"But you said, 'We plant the seeds of temptation. We whisper into the ears of the ambitious. We watch the world burn behind us. And we watch fools like you dance to our tune, thinking you are in control while you remain unaware of the strings we have wrapped around your soul.'
That means you do manipulate. Not all human failings are their own."
Adzriel chuckled, tilting Erika's chin as he stepped closer. It was strange—there was no fear in Erika's eyes. Unlike the others whose souls he had claimed.
"Manipulate? Sure. But humans make their own choices, darling. I simply offer alternatives."
Adzriel shrugged, his lips curling into a cynical smile.
"We whisper in your ears, but you choose to listen. You don't have to accept our offers. You don't have to surrender to temptation. You don't have to give up your soul, your humanity, your moral principles. You do it yourselves."
Adzriel traced his fingers along Erika's jaw, brushing against her skin as if savoring the human form she possessed.
"I remember how beautiful I once was before being cast out of Heaven. Just look at how God created humans—so beautiful!"
Adzriel studied Erika's face, a twenty-nine-year-old woman standing at only 160 centimeters. Sometimes, he wondered what was so special about humans.
"Yeah, I get it now," Erika said, feeling uneasy with his touch. She remained alert, ready in case Adzriel suddenly tried to claim her soul.
"Finally, someone who understands."
Adzriel's grip on her jaw loosened slightly, but he didn't let go.
"You are a puppet, my dear. A puppet that thinks it's in control. But the strings are in my hands. And they always will be."
"You're a puppet, too! A puppet of the Devil, just like I said before."
Erika laughed, refusing to accept that she alone was the one being controlled.
"You just won't shut up, will you?"
Adzriel's patience was clearly wearing thin. His expression hardened, his eyes burning with frustration.
"You are a fool. A naive little human who thinks she understands the workings of Heaven and Hell. You know nothing. You understand nothing. You are nothing more than a puppet I control, dancing to my tune."
Adzriel spun Erika around, a small gasp escaping her lips as he pressed her body against the wall. The pressure made it hard for her to breathe.
"As I said, humans can still repent. But demons..."
Erika laughed between her gasps for air as Adzriel pressed her harder against the cold wall.
"Repentance. Always with repentance."
Adzriel rolled his eyes, clearly disgusted by the idea.
"You humans cling to that notion like a lifeline—a desperate hope for redemption."
"But let me tell you a secret, darling. There is no redemption for you. No amount of repentance will save your soul from its curse. You belong to me now—forever!"
"Oh really? And who decides that? You or God? God is more powerful than you. He created you and your kind. Have you forgotten?"
"Ah, faith in the Almighty. How... charming."
Adzriel's tone dripped with sarcasm and scorn.
"You think God can save you? Protect you from me? You think He can undo our pact? Wash your soul clean of its stains?
Go ahead.
God may have created us, darling. But do you really think He cares about your fate?"
Erika suddenly gasped as something both cold and hot at the same time touched her skin.
Adzriel smiled in satisfaction—he could sense her desire, despite her constant talk of God and repentance.
"I already told you—I am a sinner. But I still have faith in Him."
Even now, Erika clung to the illusion of righteousness.
"Faith. A useless concept. It won't save you. It won't change your fate."
Adzriel sighed, his grip on her wrists tightening once more—a silent warning.
"You are still my puppet. My plaything. Your faith means nothing. Even God cannot protect you from me. Your soul is mine, and it always will be."
His warm breath ghosted over Erika's neck, coaxing her to abandon the very faith she pretended to hold onto.
"No matter how hard you try, you won't escape my whispers."
Erika felt a shiver run down her spine.
"What do you want from me now?" she asked, her breath uneven.
Adzriel slowly lowered her onto the ground, then draped his large cloak over her bare shoulders. Her clothes were completely torn.
"Oh, I'm so glad you asked."
A slow, wicked smile spread across Adzriel's lips, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"What do I want? I want your obedience. Your submission. I want you to kneel at my feet and pledge your loyalty—body and soul."
He reached out, gently grasping Erika's chin, tilting her face upward to meet his gaze.
"I want you to be my obedient little toy. My pet."
Erika shivered, clutching the oversized cloak around her.
"How can I make you disappear? You're the most annoying demon I've ever met."
"You really think you can get rid of me that easily?"
Adzriel chuckled, clearly entertained by her naivety.
"My dear, you made a deal with me. You sold your soul. We are bound together forever. There is nothing you can do to free yourself from my grasp."
He stepped closer, towering over her, his presence suffocating.
"You are mine. Whether you like it or not. Accept it, darling. Surrender to your fate."
No matter how much Erika denied it—no matter how far she ran—she knew she could never break the contract.
"Does that mean we'll burn together in Hell?"
Adzriel smirked.
"Oh, we will burn together, alright. Burn, suffer, drown in agony together. Your soul is mine, and when the time comes, we will burn together."
His grin widened, his eyes glowing with eerie delight.
"So yes, my dear. We will burn together. Forever. Just you and me. In Hell, for all eternity."
Was that a declaration of love?
Or a threat?