his shield

004

"are you going to kill me?" his eyes are filled with innocence and pure fear. he genuinely believes that i am going to murder him tonight.

"no" i say firmly and clear my throat. "i am here to protect you."

he slowly takes a step backwards and i try to keep him calm. i don't want him to run away and call the police.

i can glamour myself easily and not get caught. that isn't the problem. the problem is that i've been seen and i can't have jaehwan thinking that i want to kill him when i work my arse off day and night to keep him alive and well.

"what do you mean protect me?" he asks in disbelief and takes another step backwards.

i step forwards, trying to close the distance between us a bit more.

"it's difficult to explain. just believe that i am not here to kill you."

"stop" he raises a shaking hand and my feet stop where they are. i slowly raise my hands in surrender trying to show him that i'm not going to harm him.

"look, jaehwan i really need to go. i am going to be hurt for this and i'd prefer to get it over with sooner rather than later. if it makes you feel better, you'll never see me again" i explain with a half smile.

"you know my name? you're going to be hurt?"

i swear i see a look of concern in his gaze. his gaze softens and i just continue to smile as i nod slowly.

"yes i know your name. i'm going be hurt pretty badly at that" i say honestly. i don't know what jeonghan will do to me.

it would be a great mercy if he doesn't kill me.

"then i shouldn't let you leave. go see the police. they could help you" he sounds slightly desperate to keep me safe. me. it's my job to keep him safe, not the other way around.

"know one can stop this man. not even me and i'm the best of my ki— well the best in the area. i made a terrible mistake and it's only natural that i pay for it with my pain. maybe time if unlucky. maybe my life if i'm really unlucky."

"your in really big trouble. what's your name?" his voice turns firm and i notice his eyes are no longer watering.

"you don't need to know. i'd quite literally have to wipe your memory if i told you" i smirk at him as he tenses.

"you'll never see me again. you'll never know if i'm alive or not. you won't even remember this night" i begin to say the terms of the contract which i am about to make.

"what are you saying?" jaehwan steps forward as he looks at me in pure confusion.

"the only way you will remember this night and what has happened will be if you see me again."

before he has the chance to say anything else, i hold my breath and walk straight through him. he just stands there in shock as i become a solid person once more behind him.

by the time he turns around, i have already glamoured myself.

he just looks around a few times before continuing to make his way home.

i take a deep breath and try to think of what punishment awaits me back at the establishment.

•

i don't bother heading back to my room. i know there will either be a note or a messenger waiting to send me to jeonghan's office.

i have seen so many shields break this rule and be punished for it in my life time. i never expected for me to make the same mistake.

people are already whispering about what i did as i make my way to the office. news travels especially fast around here.