The rain outside had not stopped.
Thunder rolled across the sky, the deep rumble echoing through the abandoned building like distant drums of war. The broken windows rattled as the wind pushed inside, carrying the cold scent of wet asphalt and storm clouds.
Elena stood quietly, staring at the man in front of her.
No.
The demon.
Azrael.
The name still felt strange on her tongue.
Her mind kept replaying everything that had happened within the last few hours.
Her wedding.
The accusations.
The police chasing her through the rain.
And now… a demon standing only a few steps away from her, claiming to be bound to her for an entire year.
It all felt unreal.
Azrael leaned casually against a cracked pillar, watching her with quiet interest.
His crimson eyes reflected the faint lightning flashing through the broken ceiling.
"You're thinking too loudly," he said lazily.
Elena blinked.
"…What?"
He smirked.
"Your thoughts. Your face shows everything."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"I'm just trying to understand what's happening."
"That may take a while."
Azrael crossed his arms.
"Humans tend to struggle when their understanding of reality collapses."
Elena frowned.
"You could at least explain things properly."
"Oh?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"You want answers?"
"Yes."
"Very well."
He pushed himself away from the pillar and slowly began walking around the room again.
"The symbol you activated was an ancient demonic summoning seal," he explained.
"It requires blood to awaken."
Elena glanced down at the faint markings still visible on the floor.
"I didn't activate it on purpose."
"I know."
Azrael's voice sounded almost amused.
"Accidents often lead to the most interesting outcomes."
He stopped walking and looked directly at her.
"Your blood completed the contract."
"So that means…?"
"For one year," he said calmly, "our lives are bound together."
Elena felt her stomach twist.
"Bound how?"
Azrael's eyes gleamed faintly.
"If you die… the contract ends."
"That's not comforting."
He chuckled softly.
"But if someone tries to harm you, I will feel it."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You can sense danger?"
"Yes."
"And more importantly…" he added slowly.
"I can eliminate it."
Something in his tone made the air around them feel colder.
Elena wrapped her arms around herself.
"You talk about killing very casually."
Azrael shrugged.
"To demons, it is casual."
The honesty in his answer made her uneasy.
Silence filled the room again for a moment.
Then Elena spoke quietly.
"You said you could help me prove my innocence."
"I did."
"How?"
Azrael studied her carefully.
"You still trust the human justice system?"
Elena hesitated.
"I… don't know."
After what happened at the wedding, trusting anyone felt impossible.
Azrael's lips curved slightly.
"Good."
His tone carried a hint of approval.
"Because humans are terrible at seeing the truth."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Azrael walked closer to her again.
"You were framed for stealing confidential corporate information."
"Yes."
"And the evidence against you?"
Elena looked down.
"There were documents… emails… transaction records."
"All fake," Azrael said immediately.
"How do you know?"
He smiled slightly.
"Because lies have a scent."
Elena stared at him.
"…You're serious?"
"Completely."
Lightning flashed again, briefly illuminating his face.
"And the person who created those lies," he continued softly, "is much closer to you than you think."
Her heart skipped.
"Lily…"
The name slipped out of her mouth like a bitter taste.
Azrael didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he studied her expression.
"You still doubt it."
"She's my sister."
"Yes."
Elena clenched her fists.
"She wouldn't do something like that."
Azrael laughed quietly.
"Humans betray each other for far less."
The words hurt more than she expected.
She looked away.
"I don't want to believe it."
"Belief is irrelevant."
His voice softened slightly.
"What matters is truth."
Elena closed her eyes briefly.
"Then show me the truth."
Azrael's smile returned slowly.
"Very well."
He raised his hand slightly.
The air in the room suddenly shifted.
A dark energy spread through the building, causing the temperature to drop sharply.
Elena felt goosebumps rise along her arms.
"W-what are you doing?"
"Demonstrating."
Azrael snapped his fingers.
The shadows on the walls began to move.
Not because of the lightning.
But because they were alive.
Elena gasped.
The darkness slowly gathered together, forming shapes in the air.
Images.
Scenes.
Memories.
Elena's eyes widened in shock as a familiar room appeared in the swirling shadows.
Adrian's office.
Her heart started beating faster.
Inside the shadow image, two figures were talking.
Adrian.
And Lily.
Elena's breath caught in her throat.
The scene played out silently like a ghostly memory.
Lily stood beside Adrian's desk, her expression serious.
She handed him a folder.
Adrian looked through the documents slowly.
Then he frowned.
The shadows shifted again.
Lily leaned closer to him.
She said something.
Even though Elena couldn't hear the words, she could see Adrian's expression changing.
Confusion.
Hesitation.
Then finally…
Acceptance.
Elena's chest tightened painfully.
"No…"
The scene continued.
Lily placed her hand gently on Adrian's arm.
Her face looked sad.
But her eyes…
Her eyes were smiling.
The image faded.
The shadows slowly returned to normal.
The room became silent again.
Elena stood frozen.
"…That wasn't real," she whispered weakly.
Azrael said nothing.
"It can't be."
Her voice trembled.
"She wouldn't do that to me."
Azrael's crimson eyes watched her quietly.
"Would you like to see more?"
Elena hesitated.
Part of her desperately wanted to refuse.
But another part needed the truth.
"…Yes."
Azrael raised his hand again.
But before he could snap his fingers—
Sirens suddenly echoed outside.
Elena froze.
Her heart dropped.
Police sirens.
And they were getting closer.
Azrael turned his head slightly toward the broken window.
"Well."
His voice sounded amused.
"It seems your problems have arrived."
Red and blue lights flashed outside the building.
Elena's pulse raced.
"They found me…"
Footsteps echoed outside.
Doors slammed.
Voices shouted orders.
"Search the building!"
Elena's breathing became uneven.
"What do we do?!"
Azrael looked at her calmly.
Then his lips slowly curved into a dangerous smile.
"Well…"
His crimson eyes glowed brighter in the darkness.
"This should be entertaining."
Heavy footsteps rushed toward the entrance.
The door burst open.
Police officers stormed inside with flashlights raised.
"Freeze!"
The lights swept across the room—
And stopped.
Because Elena was standing there.
Talking to thin air.
Azrael had completely disappeared.
One officer raised his gun.
"Elena Hart, you're under arrest!"
Elena's eyes widened.
But behind her—
A whisper brushed against her ear.
Azrael's voice.
Soft.
Dangerous.
"Shall I kill them for you?"
And in the next second…
The lights suddenly went out.