32 She Stayed

Edwin, Arvid, and Ivar froze when they saw that Devin got Angeal in his arms. The damsel in distress struggled in his arms as the Soul Eater tightened his grip around her waist.

Out of fear, Angeal's mind was starting to fail, like an engine that turns over and over, never kicking into action. She couldn't formulate a thought. Every action could lead her to more struggle, realizing that there was no way out of this house.

The girl's blonde hair looked messy as she struggled to free herself from the Soul Eater's hold. His red eyes looked at her blue eyes, showing the intent of not letting her go. He even grinned at her, making him look like a lion that had successfully captured his prey.

"Devin, snap out of it!"

The Soul Eater's personal servant slash best friend shouted at him, desperate to let him realize what he was doing wrong but his plea fell on deaf ears.

The grin on Devin's face disappeared as he lifted Angeal's chin up with his index finger, making the girl face him. The girl's red lips trembled as she avoided her gaze from their master's devilish eyes.

'Please, let me go,' the girl internally pleaded as tears started forming in her eyes.

The moment Arvid saw this, rage took toll over his body as he stood up then shouted, "Let her go!"

Arvid felt as though his blood were on fire. His limbs were moving on their own. He was disconnected from everything but the ever present sound of his drumming heart.

The young immortal was about to run for an attack, but was halted by his father, in order for them not to provoke their master any longer.

"Calm down, son. Remember... assess the situation," his father reminded him and all that Arvid could do was watch by the side, seeing the girl he loves in this situation. His heart was falling apart by the second, realizing he couldn't do anything.

They could only pray at the side and hope for this to stop.

Ivar closed his eyes as one paper appeared on his hand. He started chanting in silence, making the paper on his hand have symbols on it. A white light surrounded his whole body, making his silver hair fly like there was wind around them.

The Soul Eater's personal servant could only bet on this one... to immobilize him for a few days. It was a spell taught to him by Devin's mother.

They knew this as their last resort in controlling their master.

As Ivar was finishing chanting his spell, he opened his eyes then looked at their master, watching his move.

"Ready, Edwin?"

The Unmovable God nodded then walked beside Ivar, both of them waiting for the perfect opportunity to take Devin by surprise so they could shut him down with the enchantment.

But how?

"Look at me."

The Soul Eater spoke for the first time since he went berserk. Angeal trembled in fear when she felt how cold and how condescending his voice is. It was as if he was letting her remember where she stood—that she worked for him!

Angeal shook her head violently but her head was kept in place when Devin's hand held her face to stop moving. The girl's eyes started to release her tears as the Soul Eater traced his thumb on her lips, his red eyes glistening in hunger.

"Now," Edwin whispered and asked Ivar, but Ivar just shushed him, watching Devin's move. To him, he knew that their master did not put his guard down yet.

"Look at me," Devin ordered again, sending chills down Angeal's spine. The girl hesitantly looked at his eyes but when she did, she was taken aback.

Devin looked as if he was about to cry—like he was in pain.

Angeal's fear was suddenly overtaken by wonder. As she looked at Devin's eyes, she no longer felt scared. Somehow, she felt a soft pang of pain in her heart, seeing him this way. She had never seen a person this dejected.

Why?

The girl realized that Devin's eyes showed a reflection of her. Feeling calm and no longer afraid, slowly, the girl raised her hand, making the Soul Eater's body stiffen, feeling cautious of her actions.

'What is she doing,' Ivar thought to himself as the three watched what was happening in front of them.

Angeal no longer displayed fear, rather she displayed tranquility.

Devin's eyebrows furrowed as the girl held his left cheek with her right hand. Feeling the warmth of her hand made the Soul Eater's body flinch, as he felt something foreign for the first time.

Human warmth.

Staring at their master in front of her, Angeal's eyes displayed sadness. Seeing the human he held in his arms like this made her sudden display of grief become contagious. Before he knew it, tears also escaped from his eyes, making the human wipe his tears away with her thumb.

"Are you okay," she mouthed slowly, making it clear for Devin to understand her.

Once the Soul Eater read her lips, he felt weak—vulnerable... like a lightning came from a storm cloud to strike him.

His arm loosened around the human girl's waist, giving her a moment of escape. Angeal could've taken this opportunity to flee, she could've made this circumstance count! But she didn't leave.

She stayed.

The three men who were watching were dumbfounded as they watched the scene in front of them unravel into something they didn't expect.

Devin suddenly fell on his knees, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Angeal, being the sweet and caring girl that she is, knelt down in front of their master, then held his shoulder. After a while, he rested his head on the girl's shoulder, crying silently.

"What... had just happened," Edwin mumbled to himself, astonishment etched in his voice, making Ivar hear him clearly.

Ivar put the enchantment away as the three of them walked silently to where the two are, still feeling cautious.

Feeling awkward, Angeal tapped the shoulder of their master to wake them up but there was no response. When the girl combed the unkempt hair of Devin, they all saw that his eyes were closed...

As if the beast had finally fallen asleep.