The Fallen Angel

49. Between Us

Isabelle POV

I found myself caught in the middle of a heated showdown between Ero and Adrian. Ero was yanking on my hand, insisting, "Come with me," but Adrian intervened, growling, "Back off."

My heart pounded with fear as the tension escalated. "Let me go," I pleaded, struggling against their immortal strength.

"Hands off, Daniel," Adrian snapped, his anger palpable. I was taken aback, murmuring, "Daniel," in disbelief.

I watched Ero's expression shift to anger as Adrian called out the wrong name. His grip loosened, and I took the opportunity to step back from the escalating tension. "I'm outta here," I muttered, avoiding eye contact and making a hasty retreat from the scene.

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Mom's voice echoed through the house like an alarm clock set on maximum volume. "Isabelle, time for school!" she yelled, her footsteps reverberating down the stairs. But I wasn't about to let the comfort of my blanket fortress be breached by the impending doom of another school day. So, I played possum, feigning deep slumber as her persistent knocks echoed through my door.

Finally, she burst in like a detective solving a cold case. "Isabelle, you're late! Get up!" she exclaimed, her arms folded in frustration. But I wasn't budging. "I'm not going to school today," I declared, my voice muffled by layers of blanket.

Mom's skepticism was palpable. "You've been saying that for days now. Maybe I should call Aria and see what's going on," she threatened, her hand inching towards the phone.

I sprang into action, employing the classic doe-eyed defense. "Just for today, Mom. I really need some rest," I pleaded, hoping my best puppy-dog eyes would soften her resolve.

With a begrudging sigh, she relented. "Fine, but just for today," she conceded, patting my head before disappearing to tackle the adult world.

As she left, I burrowed back under the covers, victorious in my quest for a day of blissful reprieve.

Rolling out of bed at the scandalous hour of 11 AM, I stumbled into the bathroom, sporting my favorite pair of short jeans and a sleeveless t-shirt that had seen better days. As I turned on the shower, I couldn't help but marvel at the fact that I was actually up before noon for once.

After a refreshing shower that left me feeling like a brand-new person, I sauntered into the living room to find my faithful companion, Dizzie, wagging her tail in anticipation of some quality hangout time. With a grin, I plopped down on the couch next to her, ready for some serious binge-watching action.

As I flicked through the channels, I couldn't resist the siren call of the snack cupboard, which beckoned with promises of salty, crunchy delights. Grabbing a handful of chips and a soda, I settled in for a marathon of my favorite TV shows, with Dizzie by my side for moral support.

With snacks in hand and my furry friend by my side, I was ready to take on the world... or at least the next few hours of mindless entertainment. Ah, the joys of lazy days and good company!

I heard the doorbell chiming like an annoying alarm clock, interrupting my peaceful snack time.With a mouthful of snacks and a serious case of laziness, I dragged myself to the door, grumbling all the way. As the incessant ringing continued, I couldn't help but wonder who in their right mind would dare disturb my snack time.

Opening the door with all the enthusiasm of a sloth on a Monday morning, I was greeted by none other than Ero, looking annoyingly well-rested and chipper. "Oh joy, it's been a hot minute," I muttered sarcastically, already mentally preparing my excuse to slam the door in his face.

But before I could execute my plan, Ero launched into some spiel about how it had been ages since we'd last crossed paths. "Yeah, and there's a reason for that," I thought to myself, already inching towards closing the door.

With a smirk plastered on his face, Ero barged in like he owned the place, playing the role of uninvited guest with gusto. "That's rude of you," he chided, his smile oozing with fake politeness. As I attempted to flee to the safety of my room, he intercepted me with the finesse of a professional wrestler, his bulky arms proving to be quite the obstacle course.

"Get out of my house!" I demanded, my voice a mix of frustration and disbelief. But Ero had other plans, and before I could even process what was happening, he effortlessly hoisted me up over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. My feeble attempts to free myself felt about as effective as trying to punch through a brick wall.

As he carried me off against my will, I couldn't help but wonder if this was some twisted form of payback for eating all the snacks without offering him any.

As I struggled beneath him, Ero seemed determined to have a heart-to-heart chat, much to my dismay. He threw me onto the bed like a ragdoll, leaving me gasping for air and contemplating whether I should invest in some self-defense classes.

Desperate to escape, I attempted a tactical retreat to the other side of the bed, but Ero was quicker than a cat pouncing on a mouse. Before I knew it, he had me pinned down, his imposing figure looming over me like a dark cloud on a sunny day.

"Are you scared of me?" he inquired, his grip on my wrist tightening like a boa constrictor squeezing its prey. Trapped and unable to move, I could feel the panic rising in my chest, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower.

"Why don't we talk about that day?" he prodded, his voice dripping with faux concern. My eyes welled up with tears as I shook my head, mustering all the courage I had left to utter a single phrase: "Just get away from me."

As he pinned my wrist to the bed, he leaned in close, his breath tickling my neck. "You smell so good," he remarked, and I couldn't help but squirm under his intense gaze. I struggled against his grip, but it was like trying to wrestle a bear in a straitjacket.

"Are you scared of me because I'm a demon?" he inquired, his voice sending shivers down my spine. Caught off guard by his question, I paused, contemplating my response. Eventually, I relented, allowing him to hold my wrist as I met his gaze.

"I wasn't always a demon," he confessed, his tone softening as he attempted to release his hold. But before I could react, he planted a kiss on my forehead, leaving me utterly bewildered.

"I'm sorry, I was overwhelmed," he apologized, retreating to a safe distance and taking a seat beside the bed. I rose to my feet, speechless, and simply stared at him, wondering what other surprises this demon had up his sleeve.

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