011 - From the ashes

When Daemon was done, he went to lie on the bed and took out the old wallet, the only thing he kept when recruited, and the only thing he took after resigning. He left behind everything else, except for the new name, but they were inconsequential.

The wallet was more than six years old, the only thing he had to remember the one who gave it to him. He caressed it with a reminiscing look, and thought back to the back silhouette and the dark hair he thought he saw at the hospital.

He smiled in self-deprecation. She should have a different life, by now. And she should also be full of hate toward him, after all, he did everything for that to happen, and he deserved it.

He took out a photo from the wallet, and his face became somber as he looked at the smiling faces on it, despite the circumstances of the photo.

He, along with the ones beside him were wearing combat outfits, with their guns and other accessories still hot from recent use. They had dirt whether on their faces or their clothes. Dirt, along with water.

They had just come back from their first mission together, and it was a tradition to have the team photo taken after the mission that brought them together, as no one knew if someone would die later during the outing if the photo was taken in advance.

A team of seven, with him in the middle a little at the back, the only one without a smile, but with the trust and the support of all the other six, as they knew that with him taking point, no obstacle could keep them away from success.

Unfortunately, that one time he covered the back…

_ _ _

_ _ _

"Hello?"

Cynthia was in her office when her phone rang, and seeing that it was her father, she answered without a second thought. Though, it was not like she had any other choice actually.

"Cynthia, where are you?"

She was surprised, as she didn't have anything planned with him.

"Dad, it's work day. I'm in the office. Why?"

"Did you meet with the one who saved you as I asked you to?"

"Yes, I've met Daemon Peak. He seemed to have healed well, but his face was not spared. Do you know what happened to him?"

Her father ignored her inquiry, and instead pointed out a confusion he had:

"Is he not called Damien Peak?"

Cynthia rolled her eyes, but she was used to being dismissed like that.

"I don't think so. He said he is called Daemon. Either you got it wrong from your side, or he changed it."

That was logical, but:

"It doesn't matter. Did you leave him with a good impression of yourself as I asked you to?"

Cynthia felt resigned, and replied with a tiredness:

"Yes, I did. The impression I left him with was good, and deep. At least the hospital took good care of him when he was in a coma, so he was not smelly."

Her father didn't care about the details.

"Good, good. And with your look, he will be even more interested in you. You should have dinner with him, to thank him for saving you."

Cynthia understood the underlying message and frowned. She didn't mind her father doing everything for his career and his ambitions, as the benefits she was used to enjoying also came from his success, but she found it distasteful to do what he was asking from her.

"Dad, must I really do that?"

"Yes, you must." Her father on the other side sighed, softened his tone to placate her, and explained:

"I'm doing this for your own good. You are not getting younger, and soon you will be thirty. I just want you to find a good man who will take care of you and get married. I'm just worried about you as you don't like any of your current suitors."

Cynthia scowled noiselessly. As if she would believe that.

"What is it that you see in that man?"

"Don't worry. I did some research about him, and you won't lose out."

Cynthia lost the will to fight. She knew that if she refused the carrot, her father would not hesitate to take out the stick.

"Alright, dad. I'm not against trying, but he is still at the hospital. Do you want me to kidnap him? You can't ask me to go take care of him like a dutiful wife."

"Don't worry, he has already left the hospital. I will send you his address, you just need to meet him and use your charm to get yourself a good husband."

"Even though he is disfigured?"

"Even if he were to become an eunuch, I want him as my son-in-law."

By the time she could express her disgust, her father had already cut the call.

She frowned, but her father seemed dedicated to making things happen, and she didn't believe that he didn't have other ideas. No matter how he put it, she knew that he was after some benefits. But as always, she could only compromise, and obey.

She stood up, projecting a different kind of charm in her office wear, and left the office after taking her designer bag.

Along the way, she attracted the gaze of the ones working at their desks.

Evelyn raised her head at the murmurs and looked at the back of Cynthia with a frown. The blond hair and the back reminded her too much of the woman she saw in an intimate position with Damien the previous night.

She suppressed the incoming sadness and focused back on her work.

Cynthia went straight to the parking lot, unlocked her luxurious car, and left for the address her father had sent on her phone.

Arriving at the hotel, she saw Daemon leaving the elevator before she could ask the receptionist for information.

"Daemon!!"

The man in question frowned imperceptibly, before offering a distant smile as he greeted the lady:

"Miss Cynthia, fancy seeing you here."

Cynthia didn't show any embarrassment as she replied with a natural smile:

"It was not a coincidence. I didn't have the opportunity to come see you before you left the hospital, so I had to become a stalker to invite you to a meal. I'm sorry if I'm intruding. But you are at fault for not telling me yesterday that you would be leaving the hospital."

Daemon didn't believe that the beauty wanted to repay the hero with her body, but he had indeed not eaten anything since last night after he woke up. Come to think of it, it had been months since his stomach got filled for the last time. Even the fruit basket from the previous day had been left untouched.

He shook the irrelevant thoughts away. Maybe the nurses will add the fruits left behind to the dessert of their next meal.

"Alright, it will not be bad to eat something before running my errands."

Cynthia jumped in happiness before pulling Daemon by his arm.

"Then, let's go."

He let himself get pulled to the car that was attracting the gazes outside, and his lack of comment at the luxurious ride surprised Cynthia.

"Is there a place you would prefer to eat at?"