Chapter 12
387words
Carlos personally prepared an extravagant dinner.
Steak, caviar, truffle soup... all my favorites.
With a wave, he dissolved the barrier that had imprisoned me for months.
The long-awaited freedom brought no joy.
He shed his black butler's uniform—symbol of his status as Familiar—for a simple silk shirt, top buttons undone to reveal his collarbone.
Tonight, he played neither indulgent brother nor respectful Familiar.
He was simply Carlos—the thousand-year-old archdevil sitting quietly across from me.
The dining room held only flickering candles, the atmosphere as somber as a funeral.
"I'm sorry."
He broke the silence first.
For the first time in a thousand years, this proud, powerful archdevil bowed his head to his sacrifice.
"I shouldn't have doubted you... shouldn't have believed Lilith's lies... shouldn't have imprisoned you."
His voice carried undisguisable pain and conflict.
"But you did it anyway," I said with a cold smile.
He didn't answer directly. Once established, even he couldn't break the contract.
"Evelyn, this is our last supper."
I looked at him—this demon about to devour my soul—and tears slid uncontrollably into my soup.
How could I not appreciate his kindness? This was my last meal, after all.
I began eating large bites, my tears flowing freely until I could no longer distinguish between salt and food.
This was a contract I willingly entered. What right did I have to cry?
Indeed, I had no right.
Just fulfilling a promise. That's all.
The ancient grandfather clock struck midnight.
*Dong—*
*Dong—*
Each stroke like a death knell, hammering against my heart.
After twelve strokes, the world fell silent.
Carlos stood and slowly revealed his true demonic form.
Enormous wings—like night incarnate—unfurled from his back, casting vast shadows across the candlelit room.
Sharp horns curved from his thick hair while ancient crimson runes crawled across his pale face like living things.
The contract's power surged, emitting blood-red light like invisible chains pulling me from my seat toward him.
I felt my soul being torn from my body by immense power. The pain transcended any torture imaginable.
Perhaps it was imagination, but in the crimson eyes of the demon about to devour me, I saw pain, reluctance, and hesitation deeper than my own.
He reached for me with a hand capable of rending worlds, yet moving as if weighted by mountains.
