Sebastian: "I will repeat my question one more time... What are you doing wandering these dark halls at such an hour? Don't you know how dangerous that is?"
His voice had a devilish undertone, and his smile was filled with disdain. Aurelia took a step back but didn't lose her own smirk. She had immediately realized who was standing before her. This was the demon her father had warned her about so many times. Sebastian. Everything she had learned about him, everything she had been trained for, had led to this moment. A demon.
Sebastian met her gaze with an air of indifference, as if he already knew exactly what her next move would be. He didn't seem surprised that she had evaded the other three the "fools," as he had called them. But he was different. He wouldn't let anyone escape him.
Aurelia reacted swiftly. She pulled out the cross from the back pocket of her pants and held it up in front of Sebastian's face, waiting to see if the power of holiness would take effect. Her heart pounded, her blood burned in her veins, but she showed no hesitation.
Yet, to her shock, nothing happened. The air around them remained the same—heavy and filled with tension. Sebastian didn't flinch, didn't show even the slightest reaction. Instead, his laughter was arrogant, full of absolute certainty.
Sebastian: "I'm sorry, my dear, but that won't do anything to me."
Aurelia's mind filled with thoughts. If this blessed object had no effect, then what was her next move? Deep down, she knew—Sebastian was not just any demon. He was something far stronger, far more dangerous.
A moment of silence passed, and she realized she had only two choices: find something even more powerful to fight him, or escape before he made his next move. His eyes gleamed with a terrifying confidence, and for the first time, the feeling of being hunted truly began to sink in.
But she wouldn't give in so easily.
Aurelia turned her back and ran as fast as she could. Her heart pounded in her chest, her blood boiled with both fear and determination. She stole a quick glance behind her, trying to see if Sebastian was following. Her breath caught when she saw the terrifying confidence in his movements—he wasn't running. He was simply walking, as if he already knew she wouldn't escape.
At the exact moment she turned her head, she crashed into something hard and unexpected. The sudden impact knocked her off balance, sending her sprawling backward onto the cold floor. Panic surged through her as she scrambled to see what had stopped her.
And then, to her utter shock, she saw him.
Sebastian stood before her, that same devilish smirk cutting through her like a blade. His crimson eyes gleamed with an eerie light, and his face radiated absolute arrogance. Time seemed to slow as a cold dread settled deep into Aurelia's bones.
Sebastian raised his hand slowly, and with a voice dripping in mock sympathy, he said:
Sebastian: "I'm sorry to inform you, but this will be your last night~"
His words were laced with cruel amusement, spoken like a final sentence of doom. Aurelia felt her blood freeze, her heart stopping for a brief second. She knew—this was it. She had come face-to-face with the deadliest obstacle she could ever encounter.
But she would not fall without a fight.
With one last surge of willpower, she steeled herself for action, knowing that her life wouldn't end so easily.
Aurelia scrambled backward, trying to regain her strength and get to her feet. Sebastian was behind her, and she knew that if he caught her, she would have no chance of escape. Her breath was ragged, her body weighed down by fear and pain, but survival was the only thing on her mind. Frantically, she searched her pockets, desperately looking for her last refuge: the salt she had brought with her.
Relief flooded through her when she found it. If she did this right, she hoped she could stop him—at least for a while. Quickly, she formed a circle around herself with the salt, sat down, and curled up like a child, shutting her eyes and trying to find the strength to calm herself.
The whispers around her were strange. As if someone was there, but she couldn't quite tell who. The atmosphere grew heavier, and then... absolute silence. Only the sound of her heartbeat, pounding against the rustling of the wind. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked around, uneasy.
The silence was eerie and thick, and for a moment, she thought Sebastian had gone. But the feeling of dread gnawed at her, and, taking careful steps, she stepped out of the protective circle of salt, walking cautiously, her eyes scanning her surroundings for any sign of movement.
Suddenly, she heard a sound above her. She turned her gaze upward and froze.
Sebastian was there. He hadn't been behind her, as she had assumed. The demon was walking slowly along the ceiling, his eyes gleaming with arrogance. His wicked grin sent a shiver down her spine. There was no time for thought now. Aurelia made a split-second decision—to run and see where fate would lead her.
Realizing she had no other choice, she stumbled into a nearby room and slammed the door shut behind her. Quickly, she drew a line of salt in front of her, hoping it would keep the demon at bay. As she waited, she heard nothing from Sebastian. Relieved, she allowed herself a small smile—but it immediately vanished when she noticed the small boy sleeping in the bed.
She approached quietly, her gaze shifting to the nightstand beside him. There, as if by miracle, she found the ring. A blue gemstone, pulsing with a power she couldn't begin to understand. She felt lucky to have found it so quickly. Grabbing it swiftly, she stuffed it into her pocket, exhaling softly. She knew she had to move fast.
Opening the window, she flung her grappling hook toward a nearby tree. When it caught, she gripped the base and leapt into the open air. The rush of wind against her face was exhilarating. But just as she was about to reach the ground, she felt a force seize her from the right.
Sebastian appeared out of nowhere, his grin still hauntingly present.
Sebastian: "Leaving so soon? I'm sorry, but I simply can't allow that~"
Aurelia, furious, shouted, "Bastard! Let me go!"
Sebastian: ''Are you sure is this what you would like me to do my lady?''
Aurelia: ''YESS!!''
Sebastian regarded her with amused arrogance before suddenly releasing her, watching as she plummeted from the tree. His laughter echoed like a death sentence. Aurelia hit the ground hard, the pain making her dizzy. She tried to get up, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Sebastian descending slowly from the tree, approaching her. But this time, she had one last hope.
Through the pain, she pulled the salt from her pocket and flung it at him, striking his face.
Sebastian let out a scream of agony, leaping back as he struggled to wipe the salt from his eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Aurelia scrambled to her feet and ran toward the gates.
With Sebastian closing in behind her, his footsteps growing nearer, she climbed the gates and hurried over them. Her heart pounded as she ran toward William, who was already waiting. She reached him and thrust the ring into his hands. Without a word, he grabbed her and pulled her to the left, avoiding Sebastian attack.