Queen Of Adis

Year 20XX, 7:45 PM

Haru looked at her watch and frowned at how late it was already. She was currently walking on the street in fast strides as she needed to go home to prepare for her part-time job.

"Geez, I'm gonna be late! I can't believe doing some addendum on that simple essay took longer than necessary. Damn, it was really troublesome working with those bunch of idiots. I think that team was more inclined to flirting than studying. I knew it would have been efficient to work alone. What was I thinking joining that sorry arse of a team?" She blabbered her complaints as her gait quickened.

She just recently graduated in high school and was trying to survive the a.d.u.l.t life away from the sisters and kids at the orphanage where she came from. She was a 19-year-old orphan that worked her way to her college admission through scholarship. And according to the sisters, as an a.d.u.l.t, she must make an effort to reach out to other people and improve her interpersonal skills.

Although she preferred to be alone and didn't socialize well with others, she had always dreamt of reaching out to people and alleviate the conditions of those who needed help, hence, she decided to take a degree that focuses on social work.

Haru fished out her cellphone from her pocket and stared at her home screen wallpaper with a smile on her face. She suddenly missed the kids at the orphanage and wondered if they were still crying due to her departure. She thought that once she got her first paycheck, she would buy them with some second-hand books and toys.

As she put her cellphone back in her pocket, a blaring sound of a truck horn startled her while its huge wheels gave out an ear-piercing screech against the concrete road. Screams and shouts were heard as it zigzagged and hit the cars on the side.

When Haru glanced at the commotion, her eyes widened and all her limbs stiffened at the sight of the truck crashing onto the sidewalk and its massive metal cargoes swept across the street and dragged her small frame like a speeding bullet, slamming her body on the brick wall like a ragdoll. She felt the cracking of her bones and the tearing of her joints from the impact of the momentum. Then, as the light of life slowly diminishing from her eyes, her body fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Her ears were ringing as she heard the muffled noises of the people slowly gathering around her. Every cell in her body screamed of excruciating pain but she also felt tired to even move her lips.

'Ah, so you have finally noticed me, dear gods. Have you taken pity of my lonely life? Will you now set me free from my long-suffering?' She thought to herself as her fingers twitched and her breathing slowly fainted.

As she heaved her last breath and bid the world goodbye, she thought of her last words. 'I wish... that in my second life... I will have the courage to make friends... and to finally meet... the one that is meant for me.'

After what felt like a long dreamless sleep, Haru's long thick lashes fluttered and her smooth forehead wrinkled when she finally regained her consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked to clear her vision. Her eyes dilated at the beautiful full moon in the sky. She had never seen the moon as huge and so close as she did that night. Then, her attention shifted down as her nostrils were assaulted with a fresh and calming scent of flowers beneath her body.

She suddenly stiffened when she felt someone was staring at her. She snapped her head to look at the shadow in front, but it was a wrong move.

The man in front had an overbearing presence, commanding her to submit herself to him with great abandon. His scarlet eyes were slowly s.u.c.k.i.n.g her soul to become one with him and the sight of his lips promised multitudes of pleasurable sins that one would willingly commit. How could there be a man so devastatingly handsome, yet dangerous? How could he look so precious, yet sinful?

Haru felt her breath was stuck in her throat as she unconsciously moved backward, feeling that he was too attractive for her own sanity.

When the man in black cloak noticed the cautiousness and uncertainty in her eyes, he gave her his most gentlest smile that he never thought he could muster. "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Mysterious maiden, what is your name?"

Upon the sight of his smile and the sultry sound of his voice, Haru's body shook to the core and she felt her heart was about to leap out of her c.h.e.s.t. The little defense she had and the teachings of 'do not talk to strangers' that she learned were all thrown at the bottom part of her brain.

"H-Haru... A-Akatsuki Haru," she answered in a small voice.

"Haru," he breathed out and swallowed hard as if he could finally taste the elusive spring in his mouth. "Such a lovely name. So you finally came." His voice was a mixture of relief, confusion, and... longing?

Haru slightly frowned at his demeanor. She had a strong urge to reach out for his face and c.a.r.e.s.s it. Why did he sound melancholic, like he had gone through many battles and now his weary heart needed salvation?

"Haru, my name is Adis... and I have been waiting for you for a very long time," he emotionally exclaimed as though he finally found solace after a very long and tiring day.

She tilted her head and blinked, truly confused about his remark. But before she could ask, she saw her breath fogged in front of her face and her body shivered from the biting cold. That's where she finally realized the situation around her.

She reflexively hugged her body and rubbed her palms on her arms as she looked around. Then, her senses seemed to stop and her jaw dropped from the unbelievable sight in front of her. Everything was shaded in white and gray as far as her eyes could see. Ice and snow covered the land and the air whispered of suffocating grief.

"W-where am I? Is my country suddenly got struck with calamity while I was asleep? Wait..." She looked down at her body and noticed that she was still wearing the same clothes before her accident; simple polo shirt, faded jeans and worn-out sneakers. Her hands trembled as she nervously exhaled in disbelief, "W-why am I still alive? I remember my body being severely damaged by the impact of the accident." She looked up to face the man called Adis. "Am I in heaven or hell? Are you God... or the devil himself?"

Adis stared at her for a moment, memorizing each outline of her face and totally amazed by the different expressions being shown on it. He never thought that one could express many emotions at the same time. This fair maiden was really interesting.

Careful not to scare her away, he slowly walked towards her as he took off his black cloak and unceremoniously wrapped it around her shivering body. She suddenly looked smaller and delicate inside his cloak, tempting him to envelop her in his arms protectively.

"I understand that you have a lot of questions, but it is best to leave this place at once before the miasma corrode your flesh and completely take your life," he responded.

Haru shut her eyes tightly as he moved so close to her that she could practically inhaled his breath and taste him. The cool, woody and manly scent of his cloak didn't alleviate her urge to pounce the devil in front of her.

The attraction she felt for him was so strong that it's making her lose her mind. But how can that be possible when she just met him the first time? Even so, something inside her felt that she knew him for so long.

"Kyaaa!" She was awakened from her daze and involuntarily squealed when Adis suddenly embraced her and shoved her on his hard c.h.e.s.t before her vision temporarily blurred.

She slowly opened her eyes again when she felt something changed around the area. She looked left and right and realized that they were now inside a chamber. Then, she awkwardly glanced up and was met with his hypnotic eyes once more. Their staring battle lasted for gods-only-knows how long, but at that moment, the two souls felt complete as time seemed to stand still.

"Please excuse my lack of decorum, my fair maiden. This is the only way I could take you with me," Adis lied.

He could take anyone with him anywhere even if he didn't touch them. But he couldn't fight the pull that was currently suffocating his entire being so he gave in and embraced her.

Haru couldn't take the heat that was slowly consuming her by his passionate gaze so she rigidly looked sideways to break the trance while her face and ears were red. When she discovered that she was still in his sinewy arms, she timidly pushed his c.h.e.s.t away to disengage.

She cleared her throat as she walked away and fanned herself with her hands. Damn, she never thought that winter could be this hot and heady! 'Be still, my heart!'

She creased her eyebrows when she felt that the brute was still boring holes on her body. "Will you stop that?" she unknowingly snapped.

"Stop what?" Adis asked innocently.

"Stop staring at me as if you would like to eat me," she exclaimed while her face reddened even more.

He tilted his head in amazement. "How did you know?"

Haru stiffened while her eyed gaped open. 'Is he serious?'

"Please close your mouth," he softly commanded. "The demon in me wants to feel your lovely lips and plunge my tongue to taste the inside of your mouth."

Like an obedient prey, she instantly covered her mouth, not because she didn't want to be eaten but because she almost let out a m.o.a.n from hearing his revelation.

Normally, she would have run or gave the man her signature flying knee on his balls, but she wondered why she did not feel disgusted by his words nor his touch and smell. On the contrary, the way he gently embraced her and the way he bluntly spoke, left her wanting for more. She just pretended that she did not hear his innuendo and avoided his fiery eyes.

The creased on her brows deepened upon the sight of the swirling colorful circle in the middle of the room. "W-what is that?"

"It's a teleportation circle," Adis simply answered. "A mortal like you will disintegrate if you stay here for long. Allow me to take you somewhere safe for now." He extended his hand towards her as though he was enticing her to elope with him.

The mere thought of it sent a delicious shiver around her spine. 'Oh, good gods, if this is what hell tastes like, then please burn me now!' was all she could think before she blindly accepted the devil's bid.