The Damned Demon
chapter-669

The door swung open, and Rachel staggered into the main room of the Culthold of the Coven of the Damned, her pallid face and reddened eyes sending a wave of concern through the room. Asher, Grace, Amelia, Emiko, and Yui turned, their expressions shifting from casual conversation to shock as they took in her distress.

Rebecca crossed her arms and harrumphed, wondering what kind of drama this blue-eyed bitch was trying to cook.

Amelia's eyes widened, her concern palpable, "Rachel, are you alright?"

Rachel nodded weakly, her gaze drifting towards Asher. The subtle, radiant glow of his golden eyes seemed to cut through her turmoil, intensifying the ache in her heart. Without a second thought, she crossed the room and threw her arms around him, her voice breaking as she mumbled, "I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

Amelia, Emiko, and Yui exchanged worried glances, their concern growing as Rachel's sobs grew more pronounced. Grace, sensing the need for privacy, quietly gestured for them to follow her.

Rebecca clicked her tongue and said, "Why should I leave?"

Grace sighed in frustration before grabbing Rebecca's wrist and dragging her disgruntled self out of the room, leaving Rachel and Asher alone in the room.

Asher felt the tremor in Rachel's body, his own concern deepening. He wrapped his arms around her, offering what comfort he could, "Rachel, what happened? Why are you apologizing?"

Rachel's heart felt lighter under his embrace, but the weight of her pain still pressed heavily upon her. She shook her head, her voice trembling, "I… I learned what happened to Cedric. You were right… You were right all along. He was never evil. I always knew it somewhere but I couldn't bring myself to admit it...not without admitting that everything my dad did was a lie."

Asher's brow furrowed, his expression turning serious, "Who told you?"

Rachel let out a strangled sob, her voice barely more than a whisper, "My dad… I asked him directly. He was still hiding some of the truth. But now… I know what part of it is true and what isn't. And knowing the truth… It hurts so much. I can't believe that man is my father, whom I loved and looked up to. How… How could he be so evil? How could he kill someone he considered his own son?"

Asher's jaw clenched, his anger and sorrow blending into a determined resolve. He tightened his embrace around her, his voice rough with emotion, "That man doesn't care about anything but himself. That's why he's capable of such cruelty. If he sees you as an obstacle, he can't control… not even you will be safe from him."

Rachel's chin quivered, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I'm afraid… What if I turn out like him? I'm his daughter… I hurt Cedric even after his death. I don't deserve to live."

Asher gently tilted her chin with the back of his finger, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice was firm, yet tender, "You don't decide when you get to die. You are mine. And I've decided that you're different from your parents. But you have to live to make up for the wrongs if you truly feel sorry for what happened to Cedric. We all carry the burden of our sins. Death is just the easy and cowardly way out."

Rachel's eyes searched his, finding strength in his unwavering resolve. She nodded slowly, her tears continuing to fall, but a glimmer of determination began to form in her gaze. Asher's words, though harsh, offered her a path forward, even amidst her grief.

Then, her eyes, still swollen and red from crying, met Asher's with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Her voice trembled with the weight of her emotions as she asked, "But… why do you care so much about what happened to Cedric? You're a demon, and he was the Hunter most feared by demons. I know you're hiding something from me. You talk about my dad as if you have known him for a long time. Did you know that Cedric had an Immortal Class bloodline...like yours? You both are the only ones I know to possess it." Rachel felt it strange that both Cedric and Asher had Immortal Class bloodline.

However, while one was alive, the other was in a coma. And when the former died, the latter woke up, albeit a year later. Her heart was forming a guess, yet her mind refused such an illogical guess.

Asher's gaze remained steady, his expression serious yet filled with an undertone of pain, "You aren't wrong, but I can't tell you everything… not yet."

Asher already had a guess that he had an immortal class bloodline from his past life. But now that guess came to be true.

Rachel's lips curved into a wistful smile as she lowered her head, the weight of her father's actions still heavy on her shoulders, "You must not trust me… But I understand. Not even I would trust myself with parents like mine and what I did.."

Asher shook his head slowly, "It's not about you. It's about me. You might see me as a young demon king, but I've experienced my fair share of tribulations. I might not be able to fully trust you just yet, but I want to. It doesn't change the fact that I care about you. Otherwise, I would have planned to pull you down along with your parents. I want you to be one of the few Hunters who genuinely care about this world and its people. You matter to me, even if you think lowly of yourself because I entered your life. I truly wish we had met under better circumstances. But I can't change what happened."

Rachel's chin quivered as she looked up at him, her heart aching with the sincerity she saw reflected in his eyes. The guilt and pain etched into Asher's face were more than she had ever expected. It seemed he truly cared about her and understood her in ways she had not anticipated.

Shaking her head slowly, Rachel said, "I… I have hated you for a long time. But now… even if it was wrong, I am glad we ended up like this. Otherwise, I would have continued to live in the prison my dad made for me. Thank you… for opening my eyes. I will do everything necessary to ensure justice prevails, even if it's too late. And I want to do it with you."

Her voice softened with resolve as she reached up on her toes and gently pressed her lips against his, a passionate kiss that conveyed all the words she couldn't express. Asher's brows raised for a brief moment before he relaxed into the kiss, holding the back of her head tenderly. His fingers moved through her silky blue hair, brushing it aside as he cupped her face gently.

The kiss deepened, a mingling of emotions—grief, hope, and a shared resolve—enveloping them both. However, just outside the door, Rebecca's eyes, narrowed with a mix of frustration and disbelief, watched from the shadows as Rachel and Asher shared a passionate kiss.

Her scowl deepened as she seethed inwardly, 'That cunning vixen... She's just a human slave, yet she's kissing her Master? He never even kissed me once. How can a mere human be better in his eyes?!' But she then blinked to herself in disbelief, wondering why she was even thinking about kissing that despicable bastard.

"Are you feeling jealous?"

The sound of a soft, mocking chuckle broke her focus, and she spun around, startled. Grace stood there, her eyes gleaming with amusement. Rebecca's eyes widened with surprise before she quickly masked her emotions with a scoff, "J-Jealous? Me? Just what kind of nonsense are you thinking of in that dying head of yours? If anybody should feel jealous, it should be you humans, feeling jealous of me."

Grace leaned in closer, her gaze unwavering as she looked into Rebecca's eyes, "Girl, I have lived long enough to know when a woman craves something. And you might be an evil demoness, but you still have a heart. Am I wrong?"

Rebecca's eyes flared with indignation, "Girl? I am twice your age. You were just a helpless little baby when I was already ripping apart A Rankers. You should know when to recognize your senior."

Grace grinned, her expression a blend of mock sympathy and mischief, "Oh, I am so sorry, senior. But despite all those years you lived, I doubt you really lived them. As you said, you've spent them ripping apart Hunters. But you must not know what it feels like to fall in love, do you?"

Rebecca scoffed, her voice tinged with disdain, "Fall in love? Just what kind of stupidity am I hearing? I don't need to feel such things to look after myself."

Grace's smile remained casual, almost taunting, "Of course. You don't. Then I suppose you don't mind if I try to enjoy my time with such a young and handsome demon king. I've never met a man who knows how to care about a woman. Who knows… maybe he might have a thing for a granny like me. Worst case, I can sacrifice some life crystals to make myself look good."

Rebecca's expression hardened, her teeth bared in a snarl, "You… You have really gone mad. You better not try anything funny. The last thing I want is him turning against us after you human bitches keep seducing him one after the other and end up dragging me to the Seven Hells as well. Hmph!" Rebecca couldn't help but glare at Amelia, who was staring at her from afar.

With that, Rebecca stormed away, her fury palpable. Grace watched her retreating figure with an amused smile, enjoying the little drama that had unfolded.

However, she couldn't help but look at Rachel and Asher, her expression becoming contemplative, 'Asher...and Cedric...There must be some connection.'

—

Meanwhile, in the President's office at the WHA HQ, Derek was engaged in a phone call. The rhythmic hum of conversation was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door, "I will call you back," Derek said, his voice steady as he removed the earpiece and turned his attention to the door. "Please, come in."

The door creaked open to reveal Cecilia, her light smile a contrast to the tension of the moment. Derek's face brightened as he stood and gestured to one of the sofas in the center of the room, "Honey, it's been a while since I saw you. Let's sit over here."

Cecilia walked in and settled gracefully onto the adjacent sofa, "Yes… I've been busy with the towers' unveiling ceremonies and ensuring the people feel reassured. All this involvement has only deepened my commitment to this project. That's why…I want to see the Nexus Tower," she said, her determination clear in her voice.