When I returned to the real world, everything felt strangely quiet.
The streets moved as usual, people passed by, life continued — yet I felt out of place inside it.
His touch… his care…
I shut my eyes for a moment and shook my head.
"He's a demon," I told myself. "I know this."
But the thought still lingered.
I exhaled slowly.
"Let's go spend time with real people before I lose my mind. Maybe it's just a chemical reaction."
I needed to be around real people before I completely lost myself in those thoughts
I slept and i opened my eyes I was at the demon gate.
Something felt different today. The air was heavier, quieter. gate demon was already there, looking at me in a way that almost felt like fire.
"Be careful, Cristina," he said.
I frowned slightly. "Are you talking to me?"
"Yes, to you," he replied. "Is there anyone else here?"
"Well, I'm already being careful. I'm working with you guys, don't you know?"
I paused, then looked at him again. "So… you know my name."
"Yes," he said.
"Then what's your name?"
"I'm David."
I handed him my card and walked inside.
"I said nice to meet you, David. I guess I'll be seeing you often."
He gave a small smile. "Yes."
As I walked down the corridor, I muttered to myself,
"Well… David can speak. I thought he couldn't."
I let out a small laugh.
He's clever, I guess.
Then I stepped inside the cabin.
For a moment I considered calling Alexander, then changed my mind. This wasn't something to discuss over the phone. I needed to see him… and maybe scold him.
I walked toward the door.
For a moment I just stood there, staring at the handle. The corridor behind me was silent — too silent — the kind that made every small movement sound louder than it should.
I pushed it open.
The door opened by itself.
A faint cold breeze brushed past me, as if the room had exhaled.
So Alexander was right… it only opened after I had taken permission from Lucian Ravenswood.
I stepped inside.
The room was dim. Only a soft bluish glow from the desk lit the space. Alexander stood near it, holding a faintly glowing paper. The moment he noticed me, he folded it and the light disappeared.
Hey, Cristina… you're here."
I narrowed my eyes. "What was that?"
"Work," he said casually, leaning back in his chair.
I crossed my arms. "Yeah… why not. Well, I really don't want to know. It's your domain… I remember.
A small smile appeared on his face. "Smart girl."
Something in me snapped.
"You know what, Alexander? Do you know what happened yesterday?"
He straightened slightly. "What happened?"
"The door closed behind me when I stepped outside and then—"
"And then what?" he asked, watching me carefully.
I looked away, my fingers tightening around my sleeve.
"Nothing… but I could have died if I was even a second late."
The room fell quiet.
He exhaled slowly. "Sorry, Cristina. You know I forget things. "Well… I also know sir will never let anything happen to you," I said.
I frowned. "How can you say that?"
Alexander leaned back slightly. "Remember? I told you — it's his rule to protect us."
"Yeah… why not," I muttered. "Rules matter…
Then I looked at him again.
"Well, Alexander, for example you forgot to tell me that in the library Lucian cannot only see me… but hear me too."
His expression faltered. "Yeah… sorry. That was—"
"If I die here," I muttered, "I'm taking you with me."
He chuckled softly. "Sure. Why not?"
After a moment, I spoke more quietly.
"Well… you never told me about your personal life. What you do… or who you live with."
The question lingered in the air.
Alexander turned slightly, pretending to check a few pages lying on the table. He didn't answer immediately. His gaze drifted past me, toward nothing in particular, as if looking somewhere far away.
"I was in love with my fiancée," he finally said.
"Five years ago… she died in a car accident."
He paused, then added calmly, "I own a farmhouse and a few hotels. I live there alone."
I pushed the cabin door open and stepped inside.
Lucian was already there, standing in front of the chair with his arms crossed, his shoulder resting lightly against the wall beside the desk. He didn't move when I entered — as if he had been waiting.
"You never listen, Cristina."
I stopped a few steps away.
"I'm sorry," I said softly. "And… thank you," I added with a small smile.
He straightened slightly from where he was leaning against the wall.
"Follow the rules. No need for your apology… and no need for your thanks," he said calmly. "It's my duty."
"Of course," I muttered. "Your rules… to protect us."
I didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have asked."
Silence stretched between us. After a few moments, I spoke again.
"So… you never married anyone?"
He nodded faintly.
"I loved her. I know it sounds crazy… but she gave me memories."
A small, tired smile touched his lips.
"So every weekend, I visit her grave… and I say thank you."
"I guess it must have been hard," I said softly.
Alexander gave a faint smile. "Yes… but now… I'm fine."
After a few moments of silence, he glanced at the clock.
"It's 12:30, Cristina…"
"Oh—yeah. Sorry. I should leave… otherwise your sir will kill me."
I hurried toward the door, then turned back quickly.
"Bye, Alexander. Take care."
Before he could reply, I slipped out, and the dark door closed behind me.
I stepped inside the cabin. Lucian was already there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, waiting.
The sight of him made my heart stumble — not that I would admit it.
"You never listen, Cristina," he said, his voice low, almost a growl.
I swallowed, unsure whether to answer, and he shook his head slightly. Without another word.
We both sat down in our chairs.
He placed a large book on the table, and beside it a smaller journal — the one where I had to write the names that appeared.
At first the pages looked empty, but faint letters slowly began forming across the big book on their own.
I frowned. "What is this?"
"The name of a soul arriving in Hell."
My eyes widened.
"You don't know the slightest thing about this place, Cristina Smith," he said quietly.
I gave an awkward nod. "Yes… sure.
I opened the journal he had given me and began copying the names. They appeared in his book one after another, and I wrote them carefully before the next replaced them.
For a while, only the soft scratching of the pen filled the room.
Then Alexander crossed my mind.
"Lucian…" I called softly.
The pen paused in my hand. He didn't respond, yet I knew he had heard me. The quiet between us stretched, filled only by the faint turning of unseen pages.
I hesitated, unsure why the question even formed in my mind.
"Do you believe in love?"
For a moment, nothing moved. Even the air felt still.
He remained silent, and just when I thought he wouldn't answer, his voice came—slower than usual, the words slightly broken.
"What do you mean?"
A faint, awkward smile touched my lips.
"Right… I forgot. You're a demon. Why would I even ask you that?"
The silence returned, softer this time.
After a few seconds, I spoke again, more carefully.
"You know about Alexander's past too… don't you?"
A brief pause.
"Yes," Lucian said quietly. "I know."
I lowered my gaze to the page, tracing the last name I had written.
"That's why you take care of him," I said softly.
Lucian's voice was calm and steady.
"No. He follows the rules… which you do not."
I let out a small breath, the corner of my lips tightening. Almost under my breath, so low I barely heard it—
"Yeah… your damn rules."
A brief silence followed.
"Cristina," he said, his tone sharpening, "your language."
I lifted my head slightly, meeting only the line of his shoulder.
"You heard it. Is there anything I can do that you can't see or hear? You know what you are… like a CCTV camera to me—with audio."
The teasing tone left my lips, but my hand paused over the page. I wasn't entirely joking.
A faint silence followed, heavier than before.
"What is that?" Lucian asked.
He sounded calm, yet the stillness in his voice felt deliberate—as if he were choosing not to react rather than lacking one.
I almost smiled, though it didn't quite reach comfort.
"Advanced technology from our world… forget it."
Then, after a few seconds, I added,
"You already have enough in your world, Mr. Ravenswood… ?"
Lucian gave a faint nod.
I kept writing for a moment, then said casually,
"Well… David is clever. Not like you."
The room stilled.
Lucian's hand froze. The book shut with a sharp thunk against the table as he straightened.
"How do you know his name?" His voice was no longer calm.
"Did you talk to him?"
A pause—colder now.
"Why do you insist on creating trouble everywhere you go, Cristina Smith?"
"I didn't," I replied quietly. "You're thinking wrong."
But Lucian didn't stop.
"I should never have hired a woman ," he said, frustration slipping into his voice. "You are nothing but trouble. It would have been better if I had hired a man."
"Oh, so I'm trouble to you?" I shot back, anger rising. "Then hire a man. Transfer me to Alexander's domain."
"Quiet," Lucian said sharply. "Woman."
I said nothing, trying to process what he had said.
But inside, something burned.
So now I was just that to him? Not Cristina. Just… woman.
Yesterday he acted like my savior… and today he speaks like I'm nothing.
I clenched my jaw, staring away.
Doesn't matter—the human world or the demon world.
Men are all the same.
Jerks.
He doesn't even trust me.
Complete jerk.
"I'll show him exactly who he's dealing with," I murmured, trying to restrain my anger.
"Please… pass me the book," he said softly. I had to look once.
I gave a faint smile.
"Yes, Mr. Demon… as you command."
He didn't speak again.
.
.
Scene shift to Lucian .....
.....
She said "Mr. Demon." Really? I'm done with this woman, I thought, frustration simmering. You were right, David… she's dangerous. She's messing with my mind.
David appeared in my thoughts, a teasing smirk in his tone.
"You're doomed, Mr. Demon," he said, laughing lightly.
"David… don't," I snapped inwardly, irritation flaring.
His voice shifted, serious now.
"She didn't speak to me directly," he said calmly. "I spoke with her. But she's cursing you right now. After all the cruel words you said… you'd better be ready.
"What do you mean?" I asked, frowning.
"You'll see," David replied.
I clenched my jaw, pacing slightly.
"Yesterday you were warning me… and now you're taking her side?" I asked David in my mind.
"I'm not," he replied calmly. "I know the women of our world… so I understand human women too."
I exhaled slowly, forcing my thoughts back under control. "I need to clear my mind."
David scoffed lightly. "You should have dated a demoness at least once. Then you'd have known better before hiring a human woman."
"Then… best of luck," he said with a laugh. "Bye, Lucian. May Satan bless you."
"Stop—" I called out, but he vanished from my mind.
I spoke to myself, quietly, firmly. Whatever the reason… I must stay away from her...
.....
.
.
Scene shift to Christina...
..
We didn't speak.
We both just worked… until it was time.
He stood up, placed the money on the table, and said,
"Bye, Cristina."
I replied without looking at him,
"Bye, Mr. Demon. Thanks for the payment."
He paused for a second, hand resting on the gate… then stepped outside.
And I returned to my world.