Dark Path to Heaven [Demon Romance]

Chapter 19

Chapter Music: "Eternal Snow" by Adrian von Ziegler

Silently cursing himself, he took Sophia in his arms and cast a destruction retardant spell on her so that the damage to her body slowed down. Completely ignoring the rest of the students who were now blatantly gossiping, he left the forest.

He may have been able to control his power but he had never expected this to happen so abruptly, especially after having given her the potion and tested her. Did that concoction work differently in her case? No. It was impossible. He had already checked, and he was absolutely certain that it had the same effect on every species. He was sure he had taken care of everything. 

And her... What was on her mind during the time she was almost immune to his magic and what did she think that drastically influenced her feelings? He didn't believe that her thoughts alone could have such disastrous consequences, yet that was the only explanation for the time being. He thought that he knew her. That he knew who Sophia Black was.

Frederick had almost no effect on her which had made Astaroth continue his student's work himself. Of course, he was sensing that he was draining her of her energy little by little, as he was gradually raising the strength of his spell. That unique sentiment of pleasure was not very strong, but it was there anyway. He had almost begun to enjoy himself, distancing himself from his surroundings, when all of a sudden this pleasure hit him like a torrent. It wasn't easy for him to stop at the right time but hundreds of years of experience had at last given him the strength he needed.

I was still too late, he kept blaming himself. And she must have abandoned her shield way too quickly.

The college doctor was, thankfully, not busy for the time being so he could examine Sophia immediately. He knew he wouldn't be able to take her anywhere outside the campus.

"The human again?" he asked once he saw who Astaroth was holding.

"Yes. This time it must be serious, though."

The doctor took a look at the woman who was now lying on the exam table and turned to Astaroth, quite enraged: "Did you do this?"

"Yes," he ignored the man's obvious contempt and asked: "Can you do something to save her?"

"Her cells are already being destroyed," his tone was more accusing than concerned. "Who do you think you are?! Feigning that you care about education when what you really want is a chance to take people's lives?!"

Astaroth had nothing to tell him back – at that time he didn't care, anyway. After taking Sophia in his arms again, he turned around to leave.

"What do you think you're doing now?!" shouted the doctor. "Finishing off a corpse?"

"She's not dead yet."

Not having anything else to do in there, he headed straight to his apartment. He couldn't afford to teleport both of them there because he would need all the energy he had. He had imagined such a case wouldn't be impossible so he had already been prepared.

He focused on Merihem's face and tried to reach him.

"Master," he heard his voice in his head.

"Come to my apartment immediately. Your friend is in danger."

"Got it. I'll come on foot then."

How should I touch you? he thought and lay the woman on his bed, finding it difficult to control his emotions. It had been ages since something had shaken him so deeply. Was it guilt or...?