Navigating through the hallways, she finally found a back door. She pushed it open and stepped into the night air.

As she went outside, she started scanning the area for the cat while rubbing her wrist, which was in pain. She walked around the place that was just trees and some old, discarded items. Suddenly, a small figure quickly descended the branches of a tree and landed gracefully on the soft grass below.

"Ain… you're okay," she said in relief, feeling a bit calmer now after the scary fight with the demon.

"Can't say the same about you. Did you get run over by a truck?" he padded over to her, his tail swishing happily.

"Yeah, kinda." She crouched down to get closer to the cat and petted his head in relief. "We should go now before anyone–"

A dagger flew in their direction, slicing the air right between their faces. Juno felt the sharp rush of air from the weapon's passage, making her slowly turn her head around, her eyes wide in surprise. She stood up and backed away.

"Going somewhere?"

Sereph emerged from the shadows, looking worse for wear. His clothes were torn, and a thin line of blood trickled from a cut above his eyebrow. But it wasn't just the visible damage, there was something off about him. His movements were slower than before, less fluid. His shoulders rose and fell with each breath like he'd been running for miles.

Juno's breath hitched as she instinctively reached for her knife, only to realize she had dropped it during the struggle inside. Damn it. Her fingers curled into fists as she took a step back.

Ain's ears flattened, his violet eyes narrowing. "Yeesh, Sereph. You look like someone dragged you through a ditch. What happened? Forget to eat your Wheaties?"

Sereph's jaw tightened. He wiped the blood from his brow with the back of his hand, his expression unreadable.

When he spoke, his voice was cold. "Cute trick back there, Time Devil." He tilted his head slightly, his gaze locked on Ain. "Real fucking cute."

Ain yawned. "I do try. You know, for someone who's supposed to be scary, you're looking a little..." He tapped his paw thoughtfully. "What's the word? Pathetic?"

Sereph took a slow step forward, his boots crunching against the gravel.

"You think you're clever," Sereph said, his tone almost conversational. He paused, his lips curling into a thin smile that didn't reach his eyes. "But here's the thing about clever little tricks, they only work once."

Juno swallowed hard. She could feel the tension radiating off him, like he was ready to snap. Ain, however, looked utterly delighted. He sat down, wrapping his tail around his paws.

"Oh, I don't know. Seems to be working pretty well so far." His grin widened. "I mean, look at you. Barely standing. Out of breath. Really makes a cat wonder what you're even doing out here."

Sereph's fingers drummed against the hilt of his dagger. "You know what I hate more than being outsmarted?" His voice dropped even lower. "Being disrespected."

"Oof." Ain tilted his head, all innocence. "Well, respect is earned, Sereph. And right now, you're not exactly inspiring confidence."

The unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps shattered the stillness. The forest seemed to close in as dozens of demons emerged from the shadows, their eyes glinting in the darkness. They formed a tight circle around Juno and Ain. Every possible escape route vanished in seconds.

Ain's ears flicked back, but his grin never wavered. "Oh, come on. You really need backup for a girl and a cat?"

Sereph straightened slightly, his breathing still labored but his expression shifting into something colder. "See what happens," he said quietly, "when you underestimate me?"

Juno's pulse hammered in her throat. The demons closed in tighter.

Sereph's gaze shifted to Juno. He slowly moved toward her. "You know what the worst part is?" He spoke. "I was going to be civil. Keep you comfortable while I figured out what Gin wants with you." His pupils dilated as he inhaled deeply. "But you had to make this difficult."

"Stay back," Juno warned.

Sereph didn't stop. He was close now. "That scent of yours…" He inhaled again, slower this time, his pupils dilating. "Sweet. Intoxicating." His voice dropped lower. "It's driving me insane. Do you know that?"

Ain's tail lashed. "Alright, that's enough–"

"Shut up," Sereph said without looking at him. His attention was locked on Juno. "Underneath all that…" He inhaled again, his expression twisting with irritation. "You still reek of him. Of Gin." His voice turned venomous. "Why? What are you to him?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Juno said, taking a step back. Her heel hit a tree root, there was nowhere else to go, not with him at inches from her.

Sereph's lips curled. "Liar." He reached out, ghosting his clawed fingers near her throat. "But it doesn't matter. Because right now, you're more useful to me than you realize."

His gaze dropped to her neck, to the faint pulse visible beneath her skin. His expression shifted, something primal flickering across his features.

"You know what would be really convenient?" Sereph's voice was barely above a whisper now. "Your blood. Just a taste." His fangs extended slightly, sharp and white in the moonlight. "Enough to get my strength back. Enough to remind Gin what happens when he leaves his messes behind."

Juno's breath hitched. She pressed back against the tree, her heart pounding so loud she was sure he could hear it.

Ain's playful demeanor finally cracked. "Sereph–"

“I said shut up.” Sereph's hand shot out, grabbing Juno's wrist, firm enough that she couldn't pull away. He tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck.

Juno froze. She could feel the cold press of his fangs against her skin, not breaking it yet. Then she felt him inhale, and he froze.

His grip on Juno's wrist loosened, his breathing suddenly ragged and uneven. “What–” His voice came out strained, almost pained.

The scent hit him all at once, her scent, pure and unfiltered. Sweet and sharp and utterly overwhelming, flooding his senses. He stumbled back a step, releasing her abruptly. His hand went to his temple, his expression twisting between hunger and discomfort. “What the hell are you–”

Before anyone could react, a blade whistled through the air.

One of the demons to Sereph's left collapsed, a knife buried in its skull.

Sereph's head snapped toward the treeline, his disorientation giving way to sharp, wary focus. Another demon fell. Then another. The pack scattered, snarling and confused, trying to locate the attacker.

And then he stepped into the clearing.

His silver hair caught the moonlight, his single visible eye cold and unreadable. Blood dripped from one of his katanas, and he didn't say a word.

Sereph's lips curled into something between a snarl and a grin, though he still looked unsteady on his feet. “Well, well,” he muttered. “Look who finally decided to show up.”

Gin's gaze flicked to Juno, still pressed against the tree, pale and shaking, then back to Sereph. His expression didn't change, but his grip tightened on his weapon.

“Step away from her,” Gin said quietly.

Sereph laughed bitterly. “Or what?” He took a step toward Juno again, reaching for her. “You'll kill me? Go ahead. Try.”

But before his fingers could close around her arm, Gin moved.

He was faster than Sereph could track in his weakened, disoriented state. One moment he was across the clearing. The next, his blade was pressed against Sereph's throat, the edge drawing a thin line of blood.

“Wrong answer,” Gin said, his voice dangerously quiet.

The demons around them froze, uncertain whether to attack or flee.

Sereph's grin widened even with the blade at his neck, blood trickling down to his collarbone. His golden eyes gleamed with something wild and satisfied. “There you are,” he breathed. “The real you.”