10 Chapter 10: Sleeping Princess

"We should talk."

"I will tell you the situation, but promise me not to tell her that I was the one she saw. Just avoid it by telling her that it was just a dream. I will also grant you three days to prepare to escape this place, can I trust her with you?"

"Of course. I will do anything to help her."

"Then we have a deal."

"I made a deal with the devil. He placed a curse on me, so I can't touch or see her without suffering the consequences. The good thing is, he promised to help Lareia when she is in trouble."

"The devil? You actually trusted the devil?"

"If Lareia can be kind, why can't he? I don't have any other choice and he saved me, I owe him."

"Princess Lareia is a different case..."

"How is she any different? You shouldn't judge a person by its cover."

"Forgive me for my impudence."

"Forgiven. Please try your best to avoid her questions and keep our conversation a secret. I shall take my leave now."

---

Jake took Lareia's hands into his, holding it tightly. The earlier conversation flashed multiple times in his head, keeping him awake for the whole night. "Lareia... how long will you sleep peacefully? You can't escape your fate like this. Please wake up..." he whispered then kissed the back of her hand.

Sighing, he stood up from the chair beside her bed and left the room. Seeing her like that pains him, it hurts but he still stayed by her side. "How is my brother?" He asked one of the maids.

"He is currently asleep. Master Valor seems calmer than before. He didn't utter or even try to resist since Lady Lareia's visit." The maid bows as she replies, her voice full of respect. Jake nodded and went straight to the garden. He sat alone on the bench, watching the afternoon sky.

"How long do you intend to stay asleep, my princess? I missed you... Valor, you have to come back to normal, okay? My lady will save you, so please wait," he said, comforting himself. Lonely, a single word but can destroy the strongest man's mask.

A gray wolf jumped into his side, it was his beta, Xander. After turning to his semi-human form. he kneeled down in front of Jake. "Alpha, the meeting is about to start." Jake heaved out a heavy sigh and nodded. After they both turned into their wolf forms, they went into the woods surrounding the garden.

They stopped in front of a guild-like place, as the doors slowly opened, making a creaking sound. After turning back to their semi-human form, a pack of wolves silently waiting greeted them. They all bowed down to Jake as he enters and sat on the throne in the middle.

"Commence."

---

"Where am I?" Lareia asked as she looked at the familiar, yet unknown surroundings.

"Inside your subconsciousness." A cold, familiar voice from behind startled her. After recovering, she turned around, and pitch-black eyes met her red ones. It was beautiful, astonishing, enchanting; out of this world. Unconsciously, Lareia reached out towards his cheeks.

She caressed his cheeks softly, a soft smile forming on her lips. "You are out of this world..." she whispered. Sebastian was lost in her mesmerizing eyes, that he didn't felt her warm touch. It felt as if he is being pulled into those bloody-red orbs.

Sebastian was about to reach for her when Lareia realized what she is doing and pulled away from him. Her heart was pounding, her mind was fuzzy, and she felt the heat rising up to her cheeks. Sebastian did the same, his demon rampaging inside him.

"You should've touched her, held her, and made her ours! Why are you so stupid?!" His demon scolded him, but he only tried his best to push him away. He pulled his hood lower, hiding his eyes. Seeing her effect on him just by looking at him straight in the eye, will be dangerous for the second time.

"Are you perhaps... the Grim Reaper?" She finally spoke, still looking away from him.

"Yes."

"Then, why can't I remember you the next day? You said that this is my subconsciousness, how did you enter it? Are you going to take my soul now?" She bombarded with questions, the moment she turned around. Her eyes were desperate, but there is still a residue of embarrassment left.

"You mentioned it. We are inside your subconsciousness, and you won't remember it once you are conscious again. I can enter it because I'm the Grimm Reaper and you're a soul that escaped her fate, for now. Do you want me to take your soul now?" He tried to answer as cold as possible, but he kept getting lost in those desperate eyes. He wanted to do things he knew he shouldn't do.

Lareia looked away, to his convenience but it left a feeling of emptiness inside him. Confused, he brushed this feeling away.

"Please do take me away. Take my life away from this cruel world.." she whispered, loud enough for him to hear. His eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"What do you mean by that? Didn't you escape your fate to live?" He asked, excited with her answer. This mysterious girl is like a puzzle he wants to complete. Sebastian wants to find out every single detail that he is missing in the young lady's life.

"I escaped the pain, not death. Knowing that the Grimm Reaper will find and take my soul away, I escaped the painful death. Death is a beautiful mystery, and I only wish for a peaceful death... nothing more." He was satisfied with her answer as if he knew it deep inside. He suddenly felt a pang of jealousy when a question crossed his mind.

"How about Remiel, your lover? Will you just leave him? Don't you love him and want to survive to live with him in peace?" He uttered. He felt fear, afraid of her answer. His heart beats loudly in nervousness as he waits eagerly for her answer.

"I might not be the one for him... but I do love him. It would be nice to live with him, but life has a different plan for us. Knowing that he can be happy is enough for me," she replied a small smile of sadness on her face. Hearing that she loves him, Sebastian felt his heartbreak into pieces. He only comforted himself with the thought that she is willing to let him go for his happiness.

"If you were given a chance... will you let yourself love another man?" Sebastian uttered out of nowhere. After realizing it, he scolded himself inside his head.

"Why the hell did you said that?! You only need Felisha in your life!" He said to himself, but a part of him and his demon agrees with the question he uttered.

"A chance..? Do I even deserve that?" she asked, more to herself. She kept smiling, but pain and sadness were written all over her face.

"Why not?" he replied nonchalantly.

"I'm a demon. Someone who slew hundreds of creatures, who committed a bunch of sins, and made others suffer..." she trailed off as her eyes teared up. Quickly wiping it, she kept her defenses up, only to be broken by a man.

Sebastian felt her pain, suffering, and guilt. He wanted to comfort her, hug her; and he did. He hugged her from behind, and she broke down to tears. While she is sobbing, he kept silent and comforted her. Slowly, she grew tired of crying and fell asleep in his arms.

Laying her down on his lap, he wiped the tears coming from her closed eyes, taking in every detail of her flawless face. Clear, soft skin as soft as a pillow; pointed nose and sharp jaw; and beautifully shaped eyebrows and long eyelashes. "She is a masterpiece," he thought.

Peaceful and not a trace of pain or sadness, Sebastian secretly wished she could stay like this, but he made a deal with Remiel. He can't take her soul away, not as long as the last part of his plan is fulfilled.

Sebastian pats her head slowly, humming a soft hymn. Everything felt calm as if there is no war or threat. But that is reality, once she wakes up, Lareia will face her tragic fate. Deep inside, they both knew that in the end, her death is already fated.

"I swear to protect you... until the day I take your life away..." he whispered and a bitter smile crept from his lips. He wanted to save her, hold her longer, and be with her; but this is against the rules.

"Rules are meant to be broken," his demon whispered to him, he was smirking evilly. Sebastian shooked his head in disagreement. He will only resort to this, once he is desperate for her.

Slowly, Lareia's eyes opened and looked straight into his black ones. Unconsciously, Sebastian leaned and landed a kiss on her forehead, making her heart skip a beat.

"Who... are you?" she asked, slowly reaching up to him.

He held her hand midway, and said, "I am the devil, who will take your life away."

Slowly, the world around them started to crumble, "Peacetime is up. Stay safe, and wait for our next meeting. Don't let anyone take you away, because you are mine, Princess Lareia."