The Fallen Angel

45.Comfort

He guided me back to the couch, his grip firm on my shoulder as he gently forced me to sit. I squirmed, trying to break free, but his touch held me in place like an iron vice.

"Are you scared of me?" he asked, his voice low and intense. I avoided his gaze, refusing to meet his eyes as he settled himself on the floor, his hands gripping my arms firmly.

I couldn't bring myself to answer, the fear coursing through me like a freight train. Suddenly, his touch shifted, his hand pressing against my thigh with a shocking intimacy. My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to burst from my ribcage, as I struggled to control my breathing.

He rose to his feet, his eyes burning into mine as he gently tilted my chin upwards with his hand. "You wanted to know who I am? Well, here I am - the demon lurking in the depths of hell," he declared, his words sending a chill down my spine.

I bit my lip in terror, unable to tear my gaze away from his piercing stare.

He leaned in closer, his gaze fixated on my trembling lips. "You're quite intriguing," he murmured, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

As he turned to head to the kitchen, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Seizing the opportunity, I sprang up from the couch and made a break for the door, my hand fumbling with the knob.

With a quick glance over my shoulder, I saw him watching me, a mixture of surprise and amusement dancing in his eyes. Ignoring his gaze, I pushed open the door and bolted out into the open air, leaving him behind in the confines of his home.

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After a week of dodging Ero's intense stares, I was finally enjoying a moment of peace when Aria popped up out of nowhere like a mischievous jack-in-the-box.

"Booh!" she exclaimed, causing me to jump out of my skin. "You seem kinda off," she observed, snagging the books from my hands. "Are you sick or something? You've been pulling disappearing acts at school, and you look like you're about to jump out of your skin every time someone sneezes."

I chuckled nervously, trying to play it cool. "Nah, I'm good. Just dealing with some stress," I replied, hoping she wouldn't pry too much. Aria arched an eyebrow, clearly not buying my lame excuse, but thankfully, she didn't press further.

Aria bounced over, practically vibrating with excitement. "Hey, did you hear about the trip?" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.

I shook my head, chuckling at Aria's excitement. "Trip? What trip?" I asked, genuinely clueless as she danced around like a hyperactive squirrel on caffeine.

Aria rolled her eyes, mock exasperation dripping from her voice. "Seriously? Why are you so out of the loop?" she teased, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued now. "Okay, spill it. Where are we going?" I pressed, unable to contain my curiosity.

With a triumphant grin, Aria exclaimed, "New York, baby!" and proceeded to do a victory dance that would put a Broadway show to shame.

"New York?" I practically leaped out of my skin with excitement. "Oh my gosh, the Big Apple! The city that never sleeps! The concrete jungle where dreams are made of!" I exclaimed, my voice rising with each word.

"It's got everything, I'm telling you! The pizza joints on every corner, the hot dog stands, the delis with the pastrami piled high... And don't even get me started on the bagels!" I gestured wildly, painting a vivid picture of the culinary delights awaiting us in the bustling streets of New York City.

"Plus, the sights! The Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square... It's gonna be like living in a movie, I swear!" I grinned from ear to ear, already counting down the days until our epic adventure in the Big Apple.

Dancing down the hallway with Aria, our laughter echoing off the walls, until suddenly, my eyes locked with Ero's. "Oh, crap," I muttered under my breath, my mood plummeting faster than a lead balloon.

"What's got you looking like you just ran into a demon?" Aria quipped, her laughter ringing out beside me. I shot her a sideways glance, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "How did you...?"

But before I could finish, she was already giggling like she had some secret insider knowledge. "I gotta jet, Aria," I said hastily, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll catch up later, alright?"

"Are you bailing on me again?" Aria protested, her tone laced with mock indignation.

"Nah, I mean it. I'll catch up with you later," I called out as I tried to make a hasty exit, only to collide with Adrian's chest. "Whoa, slow down there. Where's the fire?" he asked, but my mind was elsewhere.

"So, are you a demon too?" I muttered under my breath, not expecting him to hear. But his sharp ears caught every word. "What was that?" he demanded, grabbing my arm before I could escape.

"Uh, nothing," I replied with a nervous smile, but he wasn't buying it. "What's this about demons?" he pressed, his gaze piercing into mine.

"Let me go now, I'll catch up with you later," I insisted, glancing anxiously at Ero, who was getting closer. But Adrian's grip tightened, his expression serious. "Tell me, Isabelle," he demanded, his tone grave. "Did Ero say something to you?"

I struggled against his hold, panic rising within me. "Let me go!" I yelled, desperately trying to break free. Aria watched with concern, her eyes filled with worry. "Back off!" I warned Adrian, but he refused to release me. "I'm not letting you go until you answer me," he insisted, his tone unwavering.

Fear seized me, and I pleaded, "Get your hands off me!" Tears welled up in my eyes as Adrian finally relented. "Hey, hey, it's okay! Are you alright?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice.

"You're coming with me," Ero declared, his grip like a vice around my wrist, a cocky grin spread across his face. "You put up a decent fight, but sorry sweetheart, I'm the champ here. You're caught."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I fought against his hold. "Please, just let me go!" I begged, but his grasp remained unyielding. "I ain't like him, I don't give up that easily," he shot back, his voice dripping with resolve.

"Let her go," Adrian demanded, attempting to pry Ero's hands from my wrist. Ero's smile twisted into a sinister grin. "She's mine," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice.

Adrian's fury ignited. "Get your filthy hands off her, Daniel," he growled, his tone seething with anger. The tension crackled between them, thick with animosity and the unspoken threat of violence.

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:( I'm getting fed up