Chapter 64 Chapter 64
“Valerie, we need to talk,” he said seriously, causing her to cringe. She cuddled the small demon as she watched him move closer to her. “The reason you fainted was Uriel, am I right? You met him in the building while you were alone,” he concluded, narrowing his eyes as he waited for her reaction.
She lowered her head and sighed. “You figured it out.”
She was met with a heavy silence. Trying to distract herself from the tension building around her, she ran her hand through Mochi’s soft fur, causing the demon to purr distortedly.
Maxwell came closer and ended up sitting on the sofa with her. He stayed silent for countless long minutes, holding his hand with the palm up and manipulating the light around it. He seemed distracted, absentmindedly letting a ball of light appear and disappear.
His restless behavior was beginning to irk her since she once again could not tell what he was thinking of. The blank expression on his face gave nothing away at all.
“What happened exactly?” he suddenly said after a long silence.
“We were in the lift together, and he taunted me like he used to do. He got a little too close for comfort,” she answered quietly, not looking at him anymore.
“I see,” was his short answer before he fell silent again.
“I… I think I need a rest,” she mumbled and got up. The unexpected encounter with Uriel had tired her out mentally, and she felt that she needed a break from everything around her to get over it. It was never a good idea for her to force herself when she wasn’t feeling well.
Mochi refused to let go of her, clawing at her dress when she wanted to put it down on the sofa. Giving up, she carried the cat with her to the bedroom. Maxwell did not say anything, but she felt his eyes on her back when she walked away, following her until she had entered her bedroom and closed the door.
She changed into more comfortable clothes and opened her ponytail, letting her black hair fall over her back. When she lay down on the bed, pulling the blanket up to her chin, Mochi went to sleep right next to her.
—
It was five pm when Maxwell checked in on her, seeing her motionless form on the bed with the small demon. She appeared to be sleeping tightly, not hearing him enter the room. He closed the door with a soft click and grabbed his leather jacket when he strode down the hallway. With purposeful steps, he left the flat and ran down the stairway.
He’d been looking forward to what was about to come for most of the day. Faster than usual, he bridged the distance between Valerie’s home and the subway station, taking the first train to the city center. He had a destination in mind, and the closer he got to it, the more his excitement rose.
It had been a while since he last spilled the blood of a human. Those weak creatures generally weren’t worth the effort since they died too quickly, but this time, he made an exception. His sinister scowl earned him a few strange looks from the people on the subway, but nobody dared to say anything to him. Some cowered away in fear when he passed them to get off the train, sensing danger without knowing he was a demon.
He reached the large square located in front of Regal Enterprises. It was crowded since most people were heading home from work. He lingered near the wide glass doors of the building, keeping a close eye on those who left.
Office workers walked out one after the other, the later it got. His patience was tested when he was forced to wait for longer than planned. Annoyedly, he clicked his tongue and shifted his weight from one leg to the other, staring at the doors with deep red eyes.
It was past 7 pm when the person he was waiting for finally left the building, heading to the underground parking garage close by. Maxwell watched him light a cigarette as he walked. He never noticed his pursuer as he turned to enter the parking garage, taking a stairway that led underground.
The area was illuminated by fluorescent tubes, and Maxwell looked around, spotting several CCTV cameras along the way. With a simple snap of his fingers, he forced beams of light to hit every single one he saw, destroying them and preventing them from recording what was about to happen.
Silent like a ghost, he crept up on the unsuspecting man, keeping to the shadows that seemed to hide the demon’s body like a veil. His lips formed a menacing smirk as he watched his victim with dark eyes. Only seeing this despicable human was enough to make his blood boil—he couldn’t wait any longer, being overwhelmed by the strong urge to kill.
Uriel reached his car that was located in a secluded part of the parking garage. He briefly looked up when the fluorescent tube above him flickered and went out, the area getting darker. Cursing, he took out his car key, intending to drive away, but fate had other plans for him. Maxwell decided to show himself, stepping out of the shadows and moving closer. Hearing him approach boldly, Uriel turned to look at him.
“If it isn’t the asshole from before,” he grumbled. “Did you leave the bitch at home this time?”
He didn’t receive a verbal answer, but the stare he got was smoldering with rage and the desire to spill blood. A deep, inhumane growl left Maxwell’s throat. He took another step in his direction, waves of anger rolling off his body.
Uriel couldn’t believe his eyes when light gathered around his palms, radiating heat and brightness. He began to understand that something wasn’t right, that he was dealing with a person who might not be as human as he had thought. Moving back, he reached his car, trying to rip the door open, but he didn’t get that far.
Burning hot light stung his hand, making him yelp in pain. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he stuttered, eyes darting from the unnatural light back up to Maxwell’s face. It was distorted in rage and hatred, his iris so dark it appeared black.