Demon Puppet

Chapter 10

"Wake up, my Warden. Wake up. Wake up."

I feel a pair of warm arms around me and frown, tilting my head. My cheek presses against a smooth chest, and I relax. It must be Hero... That must have been a dream... I take a deep breath before opening my eyes. Slowly, I blink and look up.

A pair of cross-stitched eyes meet mine almost curiously. His lips curve up in a smile.

"Hello, angel."

I gasp and fall out of his la—his lap? and look up at him again. "H-Hongbin?" I hesitate before reaching up and laying my hand on his cheek. "Is it...is it really you?"

His hand covers mine gently, and he turns his head and kisses my palm. "It's really me, after all these years."

"What are you doing here?" I whisper, tears forming in my eyes.

"I'm here for you," he murmurs, pulling me back into his lap and cradling me against his chest. His arms tightened around me, and he leaned back. "I don't have much time. The pack is alive, aren't they?"

"Yes," I sniffle, nodding. "The pack, N the vampire, you..."

"Leo, too," he admitted.

"Almost everyone," I whisper. "But..but how?"

"Demon puppets can't die unless something happens to the doll," he answers. "And..." I watch as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small doll that looks exactly like him down to the smallest detail and his black-stitched eyes. "I want you to have this."

"But—but this is your..."

He nodded. "I want you to have it," he whispered, pressing it into my hand. "It belongs with you. I belong with you. I belong to you. Even if I'm just a doll for you to control."

"I can't!" I whimper, closing my eyes. "I can't—if Hero finds out..."

"Hero won't be a problem much longer."

I open my eyes and glance up at Hongbin's face. His eyes narrow bitterly, and his mouth is pressed into a straight, grim line. My heart freezes in my chest.

"You're frightening me," I say softly.

Immediately his demeanor shifts, and he smiles, ruffling my hair. "Don't worry, Noelle," he murmurs. "I will always be here to protect you. You have nothing to be afraid of."

"But—"

He pulled me close again and presses his lips against mine, closing his eyes. I stiffen for a moment before melting in his arms, leaning against him and wrapping my arms around his neck. In a moment I am back in the prison closet, hiding from Hero, locked tightly in Doll-eyes' embrace. His arms hold me tighter, and I barely pull away for air before his fingers tangle in my hair and draw me in again.

I pant softly as he pulls away and brushes the hair away from my face. "Keep it safe for me," he says softly, cupping my hand around the doll. "Don't let Hero find it. As long as you have it, I will never be far from you." He kisses my forehead. "The choice is up to you now."

"Choice—wait, what? What choice?" I ask as he slips away from me and disappears into the trees. "Doll-eyes! What the hell?"

I open my mouth to call out to him again when a howl pierces the air. I whirl around and let out a low scream as a figure barrels towards me. Hero's eyes burn brightly, but he doesn't look angry.

"What the—"

"Let's go," he growls, grabbing my arm and scooping me off the ground.

"But—"