"Let's make a deal.
Leci pushed against Kieron's chest with both hands, but he only tightened his grip on her wrists. Their position was dangerously close. More than that, it was the first time Leci had ever been this near to a man. For some reason, her face began to burn.
"Sir, let me go first. Then we can talk," Leci pleaded softly. Honestly, she no longer had the strength to fight this man.
"If I let you go, you'll just attack me again," Kieron replied, his tone dry as his eyes stayed fixed on her. Yet, when he noticed how red her face had become, a faint smirk curved his lips.
"Isn't this more comfortable?" he murmured. "We can talk more freely this way."
Leci shook her head violently, completely disagreeing with his words. "I can't move. This is suffocating," she muttered.
In truth, she was terrified that Kieron could hear her heartbeat — frantic and uneven from sheer panic. She was scared he might think she liked him. Which, of course, she absolutely didn't.
"Is this your first time?" Kieron asked with a smirk. "You've never been this close to any man before, have you?"
Smiling mischievously, he deliberately pressed his knees tighter against her, trapping her even more.
Leci let out a strangled yelp. Sweat gathered on her forehead, clear proof of how panicked she was. "S-stop it right now, Sir!"
Instead of letting her go, Kieron laughed. He looked thoroughly entertained by her reaction. "Hahaha! You're actually so innocent!"
Thud!
Furious, Leci couldn't hold herself back anymore and kicked Kieron right in the stomach while he was still laughing.
That kick gave her the chance to finally break free from his hold. She scrambled away, climbed onto the infirmary bed, and stood up defensively.
Kieron was still on the floor, laughing uncontrollably.
"Bwahaha! How amusing! Interesting!" he said between laughter.
"What's so funny!?" Leci shouted, completely confused by his twisted sense of humor.
More than that, she was horrified by how drastically his personality had changed. Just a moment ago, he had been cold, stern, and frightening — now he was childish and annoyingly playful.
This man is insane! she screamed inwardly. He's completely mad! He's not even human!
"Let me go, Sir! Class is about to start!" Leci demanded desperately.
Her stomachache from earlier had vanished completely — probably because of how tense she was now, facing this inhuman creature.
Kieron straightened his back and sat up on the infirmary floor. His handsome face carried a teasing smile, as if he couldn't wait to torment her in a new way.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Leciara Maclean," she replied curtly. She was too exhausted to play along with his games anymore.
"All right then, Leciara," Kieron said, his tone hanging playfully.
From the infirmary bed, Leci watched as he stood, tilting his head up to meet her wary gaze.
"Judging from your spells and that little attack earlier," he continued with a sly grin, "you're an Exorcist, aren't you?"
Leci flinched, not expecting her identity to be discovered. All this time, she and her family had hidden themselves perfectly. Yet somehow, she had slipped up — exposed by a being who appeared human, but clearly wasn't.
"I'm quite sure you're not human either," Leci shot back defiantly. She refused to let this man exploit her weakness.
"You're right," Kieron said calmly. "I'm not human."
"W-what?!" Leci choked on her own saliva, eyes widening in disbelief. She hadn't expected him to admit it that easily. That wasn't the reaction she'd anticipated — he was supposed to panic, or at least deny it!
"What do you want from me?!" she demanded, panic creeping into her voice.
Kieron's smile only widened at her question. "Now that we both know each other's secrets," he said, dragging out his words deliberately, "that means…"
He let his sentence hang in the air, pacing back and forth lazily as if savoring the tension — as if purposely testing her patience.
Inside, Leci was cursing him in every way she knew. If only she hadn't had that stupid stomachache earlier and gone to the infirmary, she wouldn't be trapped in this ridiculous situation. Silently, she also cursed her own weakness for spicy food that had brought her here in the first place.
"So what is it, Sir?" she pressed, growing impatient.
Kieron approached her, stopping beside the bed where Leci sat perched defensively. With a graceful motion, he extended his hand — like a gentleman greeting a princess.
"How about," he said with a sweet smile, "you hand over your soul to me?"
If Kieron had said that to any other girl, they might have swooned or eagerly agreed. Unfortunately for him, this girl was Leci.
With a look of utter disgust, she stomped hard on his outstretched hand. "I refuse!"
Her reaction made Kieron chuckle softly. It wasn't often that a woman rejected him so boldly. That alone made her fascinating. And the fact that she was an Exorcist only deepened his amusement — and his growing curiosity toward her.
"You won't die right away," Kieron said, still smiling. "I'll just take it little by little… the same way I did with that girl."
He gestured toward Amanda, who was still unconscious on the floor.
Leci glared at him, baring her teeth in anger.
"You really don't want to?" Kieron asked, pretending to be confused. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How about giving me something else instead?" he suggested, unwilling to give up.
"And what would that be?" Leci asked warily, her tanzanite eyes narrowing at him. This can't be anything good, she thought, certain of it.
Kieron flashed the sweetest smile he possessed. "Why don't you just become my lover? I'll throw that girl away — just to be with you."
Srriiing!
For the second time, Leci pointed her golden dagger straight at him. "Are you asking to be killed?" she hissed.
Kieron sighed in disappointment. Folding his arms, he pouted slightly, unfazed by the weapon still aimed at his chest.
"If you won't agree to this or that," he muttered, "then there's no deal. You'll never get out of here. No human could possibly break through my barrier."
What an insufferable man, Leci cursed silently. For a while, she just stared miserably at the door, wondering how she had ended up trapped here — with a soul-eating creature like him.
What sin had she committed to deserve this?
"Well?" Kieron's voice cut through her thoughts. "Have you decided what you're going to give me?" He looked at her expectantly, impatience flickering in his obsidian eyes.
Leci dispelled her golden dagger spell and fell into deep thought. Minutes passed before an idea finally came to her — though she still hesitated. "I've thought of something," she said at last.
Kieron's interest sharpened instantly. "Oh? What is it?"
"But it's too valuable to trade just for my freedom," Leci said coolly. "If I give you this, you'll have to offer me something in return as well."
She wasn't bluffing — what she planned to give Kieron would take considerable effort on her part.
Kieron grinned, intrigued. "Is that so? Then make your request. I'll grant you one wish."
Leci smirked in return. "As you already know, I'm an Exorcist. Our main duty is to exterminate lost ghost."
"Oh?" Kieron's lips parted as realization dawned. He tilted his head, eyes glinting sharply. "So… you're offering me the souls of those lost ghosts?"
"Exactly!"
"Can't I just take your soul instead?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Then… becoming my lover isn't an option either?"
"I'll summon my entire family to seal you away," Leci warned coldly.
Kieron pouted like a child forbidden to play and turned his face aside. "Fine, fine. I'm curious myself to see how you'll deal with lost ghost," he muttered at last, clearly forced to agree to Leci's demand.
Now it was Leci's turn to smile in satisfaction. "Well then," she said smoothly, "about my request…"
She paused, thinking carefully. Her eyes wandered, landing briefly on Amanda — still unconscious nearby.
"You must stop consuming the souls of anyone in this school," Leci said firmly. "Especially my close friends."
"That's outrageous. Your demand is too expensive," Kieron protested instantly, not even pretending to consider it.
"Then I'll give you the souls of lost ghosts for five months. How about that?" Leci bargained.
"One year."
"What?!" Leci snapped, glaring at him. "That's too—"
"I'll be in pain if I go even a day without consuming a soul. Do you really want to lose your beloved Biology teacher?" Kieron's tone turned dramatically tragic. People had always misunderstood this creature — he was anything but calm, anything but cool.
If Leci didn't comply, everyone in the school would have their lives cut short. So, with a heavy heart, Leci finally relented. "Fine. I'll do it."
Kieron smiled in triumph, extending his hand toward her once more. "Deal?"
Leci stared at his open palm, uncertain. Before she could react, Kieron grabbed her hand and pulled her hard — making her fall off the bed. Swiftly, he caught her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. His breath brushed her ear as he whispered,
"If you ever report my identity to your family… I'll do something to that girl over there."
Leci's eyes widened. Her gaze darted to the doorway — where Taryn stood frozen, staring at them. "Leci?"
Since when did he open the door?! Leci screamed inwardly.