"Everyone has a turning point in life."

- Anonymous... if no one owns this, I will claim it to myself!

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Ugh..." I went back to my senses. My head must have been hit that hard.

I slowly raise my head. There, I see a man in the shadows. He anticipated my waking. He didn't look like he was in that spot the whole time.

"Hello, Princess." He let out a greeting. Like a bad guy would say in a movie. Sam Wellington also likes cliché, huh... "I want to make a deal."

"A deal?" I asked, checking my pockets if my phone is still there to contact Emergency or weapons at least.

"Yes. A deal." The man stepped out of the darkness and there stands Flame. He looks formal and proper. His hands behind his back, head looking straight ahead, a smirk that condescends anyone... Hmm...

"No." I bluntly answered, freeing myself from being tied up on a chair, then swiftly bringing out my revolver and point it at his head. Unfortunately, he somehow predicted this and as I was just about to point it at his head, he was already in front of me, with a pistol pointed at my head. He is still calm. An assassin.

"I don't normally make deals with the devil, but I'll make an exception. Since you look like you've had enough of your normal life." He continued explaining.

I smacked the pistol out of his hand and attempted to shoot him, even if it's only on the ear. But then, he predicted this again and dodged, barely hitting it.

He calmly held the gun down. He seems to equal the same force I give. If I resist, he resists even more. I can't overpower him. He's not Flame. But who is he?

"That face tells me you already know the truth. I'm disguising not for you, but for the others because I wouldn't want my reputation being damaged. You do know I'm in the 666, right?" He held his finger up his mouth and winked. Deane?

"What would you want from the person you desperately needed to protect?" I shoved my revolver in my trench coat. I crossed my arms, willing to listen to this deal of his.

"I want your power."

"Do you want me to banish you from Hell forever?"

"Hey, ok, hear me out." His voice softened. His whole body did. "You seem bored and you don't use your abilities often. If you need help, just call that blue hoodie guy and I'm sure he'll be there in a flash. Literally. Or, if you want it back, you can just call me. Here's my number." He gave me a paper with a bunch of numbers.

"What does this have to do with the deal? What's in it for me?"

Deane leaned in and whispered to my ear. "There's a rule I read that marrying a demon is taboo if you're a human. Be a human and have fun as much as you want with that protective guy of yours."

As he just explained it, I felt my demon self is draining out. My whole self, not just being partial. I even felt like my Contract Mark is disappearing.

Afterwards, he stepped away from me. I checked my chest if the Mark did go away. I unbuttoned my blouse and my guess was correct.

I... am now human??

"I predict 20 seconds from now, your group will start worrying and will try to locate you. I have predicted so much that I left clues for them to locate where you are. Don't be so cautious of me, Missy. I might be more trustworthy than that friend of yours." He winked again.

I didn't feel anything strange. I don't feel empty nor incomplete. I feel, strangely enough, normal. Just normal.

He went on with his way, leaving me alone in an unfamiliar place. So judging how this situation is leading me, I guess I could say I can only wait for my group to come fetch me.

•

After such time, the group finally made its way in this unfamiliar place to fetch me! I lost track of time and my phone's dead.

As soon as they came, I stretched my arms out, wanting a hug, they started arguing. They ignored my entire existence. Who did they come here for again?

"I told you she wasn't there!"
"You just had to check, didn't you?!"
"To make sure, duh!"
"You wasted time in there!"
"You fucking imbecile!"
"Hey, I got free food!"

Even Carol and Cervi started going against Zan just because he thought I was in a place somewhere. Is that the reason why they were delayed?

I am still reaching out for a hug, if anyone wants one.

As they continued arguing, Carol was the first one to notice me, about to sleep from all the waiting.

He dashed to me before my eyes could even blink and hugged me tight. I was pushed back from the force and we tumbled around. The ending position is that he's above me again. How many times has it been since I was pinned down by someone?

"Thank goodness you're safe, Auden!!! We thought you were dead or something!" He sounded like he was joking, but he's just saying that to mask the panic in his face.

Auden, huh... That nickname didn't last very long, did it?

"What took you guys so long?" I giggled.

They all looked at one another. I just realized that all of them are wearing their pyjamas except me. Oh, right.

I escaped at night, though unsure what time that was. I'm glad that at least Kanae looks well.

Speaking of the devil, as soon as I think that, he started to walk towards me with his head hanged low at the ground and his hands are in his pockets.

He stopped as he reached me, effortlessly kicked Carol away, and glared at me like there's no tomorrow.

"You idiot." He says like it was a threat.

I would've ran away, screaming, if I were someone else.

"Oh hi... Hello..." I greeted, turning away from fear and embarrassment. I don't know what to do.

"Don't you start yapping shit! Don't you 'oh hi hello' me! We were all bloody worried about you! I thought you were gone for good! You made me worried over nothing! What were you even doing here when you were just in a fucking midnight stroll??!!" He started shaking me and scolding me and ugh. I like drunk Kanae better.

"Kanae, you panicked because your Contract Mark suddenly faded away right? And somehow, Joan told you that it's either I'm dead, I hate you, you're dead, or I turned into a human, right? You took your chance, right? Let me tell you this:" I got out of his grasp and dusted myself after clearing my throat. "I'm a human now. My demon self got sucked away and is within someone else's hands. So literally, my life is in someone's hands. Though not the way others usually say."

Kanae just stares at me, surprised and relieved at the same time. He stopped all his movements, his eyes are cold and dead, staring directly in my soul.

It was at that moment that he flopped down onto me. He was too sleepy and exhausted that as soon as he assures himself that I'm completely safe, he just dropped down to me.

"Welp. Guess he reached his limits." Zan commented. Out of everyone, I doubt that Kanae had rested properly.

"Well to be fair, we did tire him out physically, mentally, and emotionally simultaneously." Joan continued.

Cervi and Carol stretched their limbs out and headed towards the exit, with Joan and Zan. "We're going." They bid goodbye as they all left.

I'm here with this heavy dude.

"Wait!! Help me!!" I pleaded on their backs.

They looked at one another, then at me.

•

Baade Residence.

I lost track of time and my cell phone. I need a new one.

I kept on mumbling to myself while Kanae is in bed. I tucked him in but he had problems letting me go. So I stayed by his side until his grip softened and ultimately finally letting me go.

Zan teleported us back to the Baade residence while they all went to their respective residences. I was thankful for that.

As I was watching over Kanae, I was pondering on why I accepted a deal where I can't even benefit from it. And it's not like Deane is also benefiting from it either. He was just borrowing my abilities. What can he do with the abilities that he stored up?

I saw it with my own two eyes. After he stripped me out of my demonic existence, he stored it somewhere. And he even mentioned that he will return it if I just say so. I don't know the objective of this deal, but I don't think it's even a deal.

I became weaker, yet he wasn't even remotely stronger either. What is he trying to do? I don't know. I can't know.

Deane seems loyal and trustworthy. He even boldly proclaimed that he's more trustworthy than Kanae. So what is it?! What was he trying to do?!!

•

Before I even had the chance to go on with my mental breakdown, it was already morning, as my eyes burned as soon as light touches it.

Kanae was awake. I didn't sense his presence, though. He suddenly appeared behind me.

"I'll guide you to the everyday life of a human. Follow me." Not giving me a time to respond, he dragged me to the bathroom and showed me personal hygiene.

"If you're going to take a bath, you better undress. Take everything off. From here on, I'll instruct you from the other side of the door." Kanae was saying as he's excusing himself, exiting the bathroom.

•

"Argh shit! Why do we have to be late?!"

January 25. Break time.

"So Celeste, how do you feel? Now that you're a human?" Joan asked with her usual radiant personality.

"It's hard, especially that Kanae kept on instructing me to do this, that, and whatever." I groaned and complained.

"You missed out on everything while you're not a human." Kanae stayed deadpan.

"Yeah, duh. I was a demon." I rolled my eyes. "But I just can't understand the deal. I don't think it's even a deal."

"What are you going to do then? Do you want to claim your abilities again?" Joan asked, her tone sounded a bit worried and mocking.

"No... I sense a reason. A valid reason for me to try not to claim it back so soon..."

------

"What?" Sallos asked as he walked towards Deane, the person who called him out. "That power you're holding in a container... Could it be? Is that the princess's?!" He pointed at what Deane was holding.

"Yeah." Deane motionlessly answered.

"Why?" Sallos raised a brow.

"The US Government is trying to strike again. This time, more powerful than before. They decided to attack at the end of the school year-- June 30. As early as now, they are trying to observe her behaviour if it's still the same as before, if she's still acting as the demon she once was. To avoid this, I decided to take her abilities for a moment to momentarily protect her. If there's an emergency, I will be more than glad to willingly give it back."

"Don't worry. There are a lot of people that can protect her. She's surrounded by them... But I do like your idea. Update us if you can." Sallos popped a candy in his mouth. "Good luck on your mission, Ryan."

Deane flashed a weak smile at Sallos and Sallos did the same. No matter what happened, they remained the best of friends.

"Wanna go drink sometimes?" Sallos invited.

"Borg's café." Deane quickly answered.

------

Dismissal.

I packed up because I still have to go and attend a maths tutor session with Emily.

"Kanae, you go ahead. I still have a tutor session with Emily. See you." I waved as I exited. Because of this, I didn't have a chance to see his reaction over it.

Well, he might not care at all and will probably really go ahead of me.

I entered the library and looked for Emily in her usual place. Sadly, she wasn't there. So I headed to the librarian to ask her about Emily but the librarian just ignored me, rolling her eyes.

"If you can't see her here, that means she's not here you idiot!" She hissed before continuing on with her own business.

If she wanted to cancel today's session, then she could've contacted me beforehand. Why didn't she do it?

Confusion spiraled my mind. Maybe it's because I haven't bought a new phone yet and she was trying to contact me, but she couldn't because I have no phone. I can always go ask her about it tomorrow.

I was heading towards the school gate. As I did, I saw girls crowded in one place. I couldn't quite see why, but it's probably unimportant.

I continued walking until I walked past Emily. I turned to call her out, but I felt a sharp tug, pulling me by my stomach.

This scent...

"Hey, unfair. Is the rumour about you and Celeste going out true?" One girl pouted.

"Huh? Ru--" Kanae covered my mouth with his hand, shutting me up.

"Yes. So I'll take my leave now." He said, moving his hand from my mouth to my hand.

"I can't accept this!" One girl proclaimed, ultimately tackling me. We rolled over until we were out of reach. "This is unfair! Unfair unfair unfair unfair unfair unfair!!!!" I get to see who the bold girl is...

"Veronica...?"

"UNFAIR UNFAIR UNFAIR UNFAIR UNFAAAAAAIIIIRRRR!!!!!!!!"

She raised her knife up high, ready to stab me any time. I saw her movements in the corner of my eye. I slipped away from his grasp, dodging the knife that was about to stab me and stabbed the ground instead.

"What's with you?!" I asked, confused and frustrated.

"I called dibs on him! I told you to stay away from both him and Zan! I gave up on Zan so don't think I will also give up on Kanae that easily!!" She angrily acclaimed, attempting to stab me with her knife.

I kept on swiftly dodging it, but it's draining my strength. "You can't control other people's emotions and expect them to do whatever you want!" I tried to talk some sense into her.

"I've had nothing all my life! I won't let you take away the one thing I care more than myself!!!" Her speech, her words, her tone...

It reminded me of Joan when we fought over Zan. History, history... Repeating??

Instead of making the same mistake again by trying to explain the truth to a more stubborn and arrogant person than Joan, I took the time to sigh as she was dashing to me dangerously with a knife in her hand.

With only a millisecond to spare, I presented her my open palm and let her stab me. My endurance to pain isn't from my demonic existence, same as aging even if I'm 130 years old by now... I think.

The blood trickles down from my palm, to my elbow, until it falls to the ground.

Veronica looked up and saw my ever calm expression on my face. She was in the brink of madness while I feel like I'm in ecstasy.

I can see the tears in her eyes welling up so much that I can partially see my reflection. Her throat seems sore and scratched from all that screaming.

I cannot compare the pain on my hand from the pain she's emotionally going through...

That's what I realised.

Humans are fragile creatures when it comes to physical attributes. But if it's emotional, demons are equally fragile.

They think that demons are heartless because they kill without hesitation. I think humans do the same too. I don't think there's any difference:

Humans may be less powerful, but they can take down each other. Demons respect the authorities of other people and would never try to oppose the higher-ups.

Demons may kill humans because its soul is their main food while the bodies are either left behind or eaten as desserts. In the same way, humans kill animals either for food, clothing, bags, wallets, slippers, etc. It's in our nature.

Humans are equally selfish as the demons. They search for power and authority, money and fame! They will even try as to murder somebody for revenge or just plain crazy, like this girl right in front of me with her knife still stuck in my palm. They can manipulate and trick other people to get what they want.

I wonder if there's any difference being a demon and a human? Oh, right. Just the abilities. The personalities are fairly the same.

...

Kanae rushed to me faster than anyone else. Seeing this, Veronica pulled the knife out in hopes of getting a good reaction from me, judging by her sly smirk.

Yet, I didn't react.

"Why?! Why are you not reacting?! Don't you feel any pain at all?!" She asked, carelessly swinging around a very sharp knife.

"I do. I feel the pain. I just endure it like always. Being stabbed in the hand is better than the ankle being sawed." I chuckled, hoping for her to get the joke.

She just stared at me like I'm some kind of monster. Her eyes are wide open, surprised that I can even laugh in this situation.

"Celeste!" Kanae panicked, immediately examining my hand. I can't disguise my hand to be okay. I can't disguise any wounds to be okay from now on. I lost that ability.

"Oh, hi Kanae." I smiled and waved at him with my wounded hand.

"You idiot! Don't use it so much!" He reprimanded, holding my wrist down. "Veronica, I thought enough is enough. You bullied her, kidnapped her, pushed her out the window, hired buff men to take her down, aren't those enough to satisfy you? You put her through so much pain, and now you're playing the victim here?"

"I- I... I was just... I want to be with you, Kanae!" Veronica dropped down the bloody knife and took a step forward towards us.

I didn't move from my place while Kanae took 2 steps back. "That doesn't make any sense! If you're so busy being selfish, why don't you just isolate yourself where there's no one else but you?!" Kanae shouted. I wanted to shut his mouth with my other hand, but I doubt that that will be enough.

"Kanae..." I was only able to mutter. "Why don't you try and listen to her? Just this one time."

"Don't play the hero now! A hero doesn't suit you!"

"So what?! You expect me to just accept my role as a victim?!" Kanae clicked his tongue in reply. "I'm not as selfish as Veronica so I'm giving her a chance to talk. Cooperate. I am giving you a chance to listen." Kanae clicked his tongue again and nodded, signalling Veronica to talk.

"I... I have nothing. My parents divorced and met other people, ultimately neglecting and forgetting about me. My aunt brought me in and she had enough money to make the both of us alive for quite some time. One day, she left me all alone. But I should be happy, she's in a happier place now! She's not in that crap dump of a house anymore! I'm so conscious of myself that I believed if there was no way to make myself flashy, I wouldn't get any friends! But that girl appeared! She took everything away from me!!! She's smarter than me, can talk to her friends so casually, and took two of the flashy boys from my life! She doesn't know how hard it was for me to let Zan go! I won't let her take you away from me! I love you more than she does! Please just stay with me... Just hang out with me, even if it's for a day!" She was worse than before. She knelt down and started clutching the grass. Her legs might have given up from all the things she's been going through. This is a person who seriously just had enough of life.

I feel like... I can understand her more now. I honestly hated her for being so bitchy because she's really a bitch and she just practically admitted it just now but... She became open to us. Finally saying the reason why she has done all those things to me. I only wanted the reason, I never said I wanted her to stop.

She was desperate enough to team up with someone who's weaker than her. She looks broken and empty. She's suffering...

N-no... A human eats human food. A human doesn't consume a human soul for food. You were a demon once, Celeste! Why are you being tempted now?! Ugh geez...

She might just taste yummy. Too bad since I'm technically not a demon anymore, I couldn't taste her soul.

I looked at Kanae. He stares at me like he's asking for permission. I nodded as a reply.

He sighed as he started to speak. "I..." he started.

All the other witnesses (+ Veronica) leaned closer to attentively listen to what he has to say.

"I'm going to hang out with you--" before he even finishes his sentence, all the girls screeched, screaming on top of their lungs. I found myself covering my ears, trying to stay alive.

"But!!" Kanae is covering his ears too, until he screamed and caught all of their attention once again. They all shut their mouths so that's fine with me. "If you dare lay another finger on Celeste, I will put you out of your misery and kill you as quick as an assassin."

Veronica wasn't bothered by the deal. This is enough. That wasn't even a deal, Stupid POS. Veronica won't dare to lay another finger on me if she already got what she wanted for some time now.

•

"You're an idiot." I commented to break the ice while walking side to side.

"I wasn't thinking that time. My blood was boiling! How dare she compares your love to hers?!" Kanae gritted his teeth like a very troubled guy. "But, Missy..." He stopped and turned his heel to me. "Why did you non-hesitantly accept?"

The wind howls and fills the silence for a moment. It's spring day, no? It will last until April...

"Why? Because I thought to just give her what she wants for a change." I answered without hesitation nor emotion.

"Don't tell me you believe everything she said! She might only be lying for all we know!" Kanae continued to go on and on on how Veronica is a villain.

"We saw her house. It was empty. The only person who was there was herself. She was living alone in a giant chicken coop by herself. Everything in her house is shit! Plus... Her emotions are too pure to be fake. Not even a demon can put up a show like that."

"Then why did you accept that I spend an entire day with her?" He continued. Wasn't what I said enough?

"I told you. I thought to give her what she wants and what she only wanted was to spend a day with you."

"I'm yours! You can't just send me to someone else like that!"

"Who said you're mine? Stop delusioning yourself for a minute and listen to my real voice." I cleared my throat so that he can hear my voice better. "I want to fill up that void that was in her heart for a very long time. It's just spending a day with her. How bad can it be? You were cool and all 2 days ago."

"That was before she put you in danger! Trust me! Behind that facade, I still haven't trusted her!"

"I know. I read your mind. If you can act to be with her for 10 minutes, I'd say you'd be okay for a day. Remember: Whenever you wake up, I'm by your side. Whenever you sleep, I'm also by your side. Not even Veronica can change that fact, can she?" I loosened up the tension and attempted to make Kanae smile.

Instead, all I got was a very deep blush. Even though he continued on walking, and I followed afterwards, he refused to talk to me or even make eye contact.

"Idiot." He whispered.

Although I'm not a demon anymore, I still heard his whisper.

I merely smiled at him as he walks...