𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑒 // 𝐿𝑒𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝒉𝑜

four.

Even though she was only trying to draw out the demon so it could come save her, Haneul actually did have it in her mind to kill herself if she needed to.

     Of course, cutting your wrists wasn't exactly the quickest way to go, but maybe whoever was after her would lose interest if she was already bleeding out.

The knife never made it deep enough.

A blast of hot air blew Haneul's hair back, her eyes closing instinctively as she jerked the knife against her pulse. The sharp tool was knocked harshly from her grasp and she recoiled, rubbing her eyelids roughly to get rid of the stinging heat.

As her vision swam into focus, she realized that there was no one else in the room. But the shower curtain had been pulled back, and the remnants of her bathroom door were hanging from the hinges in pointed shards.

"What the..."

A shrill, inhuman screech came from the other room, and Haneul shielded her eyes from the remarkably bright flash of light that filled her apartment a moment later.

Unsure of whether she should move or not, Haneul apprehensively gripped the edges of the tub and hauled herself up, stepping out and peeking around the shattered doorway.

Those iridescent wings were blocking her view.

Silky black feathers fluttered as the demon spun around, his dark eyes locking with her own. Face clouding with fury when he spotted her, he stormed forward and gripped her throat, choking off her scream as he slammed her back into the bathroom wall.

     Haneul's eyes fluttered up into his, seeing him clearly for the first time. His inky black hair fell into his face as he snarled down at her, flushed lips curling with disdain. He was lovely, as all angels were - fallen or not - but his fury cast a terrifying shadow over it.

"I thought I told you I never wanted to see you again," he murmured viciously into her ear.

His fingers loosened from around her neck a fraction and she gasped for air, placing her hands against his tensed chest to shove him off. The demon didn't have to resist her, but he chose to step away with his hands in white fists.

Haneul rubbed the marks he'd left on her skin, pursing her lips as she avoided his intimidating gaze.

"I didn't have a choice," she rasped out painfully.

The demon suddenly twirled the knife she'd taken into view, the faintest tinge of her blood visible on the blade. "You could've waited for me, not tried to take your own life," he said in disgust, watching her jump as he flung the knife into the floor. "I could've disposed of that demon without having to lay eyes on you, but you just missed me that much, hm?"

His casual tone made Haneul's eyebrows shoot up. "A—a demon? There was a demon here?"

Annoyed, he ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, sometimes demons manifest in people's homes, it's not uncommon. It is strange that you could acknowledge it in its entirety, but maybe you're just sensitive."

Haneul darted after him as he exited the bathroom. "No, wait! That's—it followed me home."

He paused, seeming to think for a moment before reluctantly turning to face her. "You're sure? You could sense it coming?"

Goosebumps broke out on her arms as she recalled the chase the creature had given. "Yes. It was trying to get me way before I reached the apartment."

The demon squeezed his eyes shut and tilted his head back, groaning as if this was the most
inconvenient thing that had ever happened to him.

He paced a few feet away, pondering a moment before marching straight up to her with an unbelievably bored expression. Hanuel instinctively stepped back, but he grasped her wrist tightly.