Chapter 81: Meet Me

She waited for him to reveal himself.

His true form and proof that everything he had told her until now was real.

But she didn’t know why she was feeling nervous or that the constant goosebumps that appeared on her skin was foreshadowing something terrible.

She gasped as cold vapor escaped her lips. She stared at it, wide-eyed in disbelief.

What was this?

The least she expected of a demon was some nasty beast with sharp pointy horns, a long red tail and dark bat wings. The least she expected from a demon was some hideous beast with sharp horns, a long crimson tail, and dark bat-like wings.

She stared at him now feeling uncomfortable to know he probably had something to do with it.

But...but...but how?

She wanted to cry out. A mixture of fear and disbelief strained on her beautiful face.

But she was in for something much worse than everything freezing up like the north pole.

His gaze rested on her quietly, guilt weighing heavily in his heart.

But he has to eventually or risk her finding out herself and disappearing from his sight again.

If he ever wanted anything, even if it was just mere friendship or strangers that weren’t hostile together, he had to come clean.

Fresh tears burned at the corner of his eyes again as he couldn’t help imagining the worst out of this.

No one could ever love or welcome a monster.

Not even into their heart.

But if the worst should happen, he was ready to beg to allow him to admire her from afar. To be close enough as she goes about her daily life and protect her from the least harm.

He was sure that after this, it might be impossible for them to ever be what he longs for...but he still wanted her to know.

Why was he even trying hard to let her know?

Hell, he could just tell her something convenient about what happened or use his magic on her to sound convincing enough to not push further and keep pretending to be normal by her side and have her for life, right?

Why was he trying so hard to be fully accepted by her?

Grim felt overwhelmed but it was something he still wanted to do. He would not hide anything about himself from her except the cost of her resurrection.

Hell, he has already had a sneak peak about her tragic pasts, all the things she endured when he wasn’t there to stop it all.

It was only fair if he came clean as well. At least, if it is showing her small bits of himself.

He moved his face in worry.

Maybe if he did this, she would finally understand why he was fighting so hard for her affection.

But he could be wrong as well and only putting up the final nail that will doom their potential love story even in the next life.

The insecure part of himself reminded him of the cons of his decision.

But a quieter, deeply buried part of him whispered that there was nothing to be afraid of.

If she is willing to love you wholeheartedly, then accepting who you truly are shouldn’t be impossible.

And if she runs, let her go and take it as your fate of being an abominable thing.

Corrine wondered why it was taking him so long to decide and reveal himself. She noticed the struggles on his face and wondered if it truly hurt that much to reveal himself.

He really didn’t have to prove anything to her, honestly. She just wanted to...maybe return home and back to her life.

And maybe make the best of it this time and get rid of the one thing that will come in the way of her becoming who she wants to be.

After many great thoughts and deciding, Grim urged her to come to him by giving her his left hand.

What...?

She really couldn’t understand what he was doing or trying to do. But she has a knowing feeling he wouldn’t let her be in this life again until he has the satisfaction of revealing what he was to her.

Alright.

She sighed softly and took five steps close to him.

Show me your bat wings and demonic horns and let’s just put it behind us and move on.

Please.

Grim’s hand remained outstretched for her to take and when she rejected taking it, he tried not to be too disappointed yet and withdrew.

He would have so many other things to worry about than her not wanting to hold his hand now.

This was probably a terrible mistake.

But one he was ready to make for her sake.

His golden eyes moved down on her in fear before moving close to embrace her. One arm slipped securely around her waist before he lifted her up enough to sit comfortably on the marbled sink top.

Corrine stared at him in surprise when he placed her there and leaned towards it. His hands placed close to the sides of her thighs before bending enough to meet her frightened gaze.

He took in her beautiful face one last time. He might never get the chance to see it again with what was going to happen next.

She only stared at him weirdly, overthinking what he was going to do next.

’’Anais,’’ he called in that voice capable of stirring multiple ripples in her heart. It was so beautiful enough to call her out of her nightmare and lead her back to life.

’’Hmm?’’ She hummed back at him softly. Feeling how her heart raced in uncertainty of what was going to happen next.

’’You would have to trust enough to believe that the one thing I will never touch or harm is you.’’

He said strangely, making her second guess if she was that curious enough to know if he was truly a demon or not.

He wondered how else to make one’s love understand that no matter which form he takes or how he looks, his heart would always remain the same to her.

Corrine tensed up a bit when he raised a hand to caress the side of her face lightly. His hand was cold but his touch was warm and affectionate. She stared at him feeling lost and wondering if he...

Then he gave her a reassuring smile before saying the next thing.

’’Anais. Look in the mirror and see for yourself.’’

It felt as though a block of cold iron had been placed upon her heart. It got colder with every breath she took and she wondered if it was her eyes that were slowly losing its color or was everything getting mysteriously darker with every second.

She tried not to be so scared and bravely turned her neck.

And stared at the mirror behind her.

Golden eyes with sharp, venomous slits stared down at her intensely. Hungrily and in awe of the creature sitting before him.

She was very beautiful.

All mine.

Corrine continued to stare enough that her eyes became glossy with tears.

There was...nothing in the mirror to see.

Except their reflection.

She turned around to look at him when she saw nothing.

Now, everything was covered in darkness except the two of them.

But all he saw was her in the dark. He never stopped looking at her as something else stirred within him.

An ancient beast that has been asleep for so long that awoke when she died and slept in his arms without breathing. When a divine being tried to hurt her and ruin her chances of survival.

The ancient beast stared down at his object of both possession and obsession through his eyes. The dark slits moving about and waiting to meet her.

To know her.

To show her how much he cherished her.

Corrine was terrified now and looking completely lost.

’’You are afraid. Look again, love, and meet me.’’

The beast ordered gently, hissing within as he longed to meet with this human.

Corrine found it hard to swallow this time. She stared long enough at the creature peeking through those golden eyes. They softened gently when she hesitated to look again, as if scared to see something she will never recover from.

’’Anaisss. Look.’’

And she did.

Trembling and failing terribly to remain calm. She hesitated midway from looking but eventually turned her neck fully to see.

Her heart skipped, letting out a loud gasp when the image of her intern was staring right back at her through the mirror and a low, deadly hiss enough to induce multiple nightmares sounded behind her.

And all she did was...