Chapter 4
1155words
[ULTIMATE TASK TRIGGERED: Kiss of True Love]
[Requirement: Receive a kiss containing genuine love from Sean Shaw]
[Reward: Eternal Life]
[Failure: Complete soul annihilation. No rebirth.]
I froze in shock. Meanwhile, Sean—after hearing my cruel rejection—was mysteriously pulling back his murderous aura, his rage receding like a tide.
He stared at me with such intensity I thought he might kill me on the spot. Then, unexpectedly, he smiled. Not with rage or murderous intent, but with a cold determination that terrified me more than his anger had.
"No difference?" His ice-cold finger traced my lips where he had kissed me before, sending electric shivers through my entire body.
"You will learn the difference, Sophie." His voice carried a hypnotic quality that seemed to sink directly into my bones.
"I will make you fall in love with me—willingly, desperately, irrevocably."
His words branded themselves into my mind like a curse. The absolute certainty in his eyes wasn't mere arrogance—it was the confidence of someone who knew exactly what he was capable of. And that terrified me more than any threat.
His gaze penetrated to my core, stripping away every defense and leaving me utterly exposed.
Silence filled the car like a physical presence. The "Kiss of True Love" task loomed over me like an executioner's axe. How could I possibly develop genuine feelings for a supernatural entity? The very idea was madness.
"Let me out!" I demanded, my voice shaking with desperate anger. Every second in his presence felt like torture.
Sean made no move to start the car. He simply watched me, dark amusement dancing in his eyes as he savored my panic like fine wine.
"You no longer have a home," he remarked casually, as though commenting on the weather.
Ice formed in my veins. "What are you talking about?"
"Your apartment," he said with a cruel smile playing at his lips, "has become quite... popular tonight among certain entities."
My heart stuttered as cold dread crawled up my spine. My breathing grew shallow and rapid, panic clawing at my chest.
"What did you do?" I snarled, desperation and fury battling in my voice.
"Nothing much," he chuckled with casual cruelty. "I simply invited some 'friends' who are particularly drawn to the scent of the living. Your bed is currently occupied, and your closet holds some rather interesting surprises."
The blood drained from my face. He was cornering me like prey, systematically eliminating every escape route. I'd never felt so trapped, so utterly helpless.
"You monster!" I spat, trembling with impotent rage, unable to find words strong enough to express my fury.
"I'll take that as a compliment." He started the engine with perfect composure, its purr seeming to mock my helplessness. "Now you have exactly one option—come with me."
The car glided into an exclusive gated community where modernist mansions stood in elegant isolation. We finally stopped before a striking black villa that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
Though brightly lit, the house emanated an unmistakable aura of otherworldliness that made my skin crawl.
Sean pulled me from the car, his broad hand ice-cold yet impossibly strong. His touch raised goosebumps across my skin as my heart hammered against my ribs.
"Welcome home," he said simply, his tone casual yet brooking no argument.
"I won't stay here!" I struggled against his grip, but might as well have been fighting against steel handcuffs.
He paused and turned to me, his gaze coolly assessing with dangerous undertones. "Are you certain about that?"
Just then, my system flashed another warning.
[WARNING: High concentration of malevolent energy detected in environment. Life force rapidly depleting.]
[Current life remaining: 9 days 22 hours 59 minutes...]
I stared at him in horrified realization.
"You're doing this!" I hissed through clenched teeth. He was manipulating everything, using my very life as leverage.
Sean merely smiled, not bothering to deny it. His expression carried the casual cruelty of someone playing with their food.
"How many... things... do you keep in there?" I asked, unable to control my trembling.
"Not many," he replied, guiding me inside and closing the door with a final-sounding click. "Just a few rebellious spirits I've collected over time."
The villa's interior featured minimalist luxury, yet an unmistakable wrongness permeated the atmosphere, like a beautiful painting hung slightly crooked.
Incense smoke hung in the air, a thin veil attempting to mask the underlying scent of ancient decay.
With each step, I felt my life force draining away. Every breath felt toxic, every heartbeat more labored than the last.
"Stay close to me," Sean murmured against my ear, his voice hypnotic, his breath sending unwanted shivers down my spine, "and they won't touch you. In fact, they'll protect what's mine."
He released my hand, but not before his fingertips traced a deliberate pattern across my palm, leaving trails of ice in their wake.
I stared at him, terror and rage battling within me. I was completely at his mercy, imprisoned in a place where my very existence hung by a thread he could cut at any moment.
He led me upstairs to a spacious bedroom that resembled a luxury hotel suite. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a shadowy garden below. The room carried his distinctive scent—something cold and ancient that I couldn't quite identify.
"Your quarters," he stated simply, his tone making it clear this wasn't up for discussion.
I eyed him warily. "You're not staying nearby, are you?"
He laughed softly, his gaze traveling over me with deliberate slowness that made me feel exposed. "Would you prefer I stay closer?"
Heat rushed to my face. "Absolutely not!"
"Good." He turned to leave, pausing at the threshold. "One piece of advice—don't wander. What you might encounter... I can't guarantee your safety."
The door closed with a soft click that somehow sounded as final as a prison cell locking.
I rushed to the window, tugging frantically at the latch only to find it sealed shut. I yanked harder, but it didn't move a millimeter. Despair washed over me. I was completely trapped.
[WARNING: Life force continuing to deplete. Seek protection immediately.]
I stared at the warning and took a shaky breath. Protection? The only shield available was the very person who had trapped me here. Reluctantly, I moved to the bed and lay down. Despite the luxurious mattress and fresh linens, sleep remained impossibly distant.
In the darkness, I sensed countless unseen watchers, their attention prickling against my skin.
Cold presences drifted through the room, approaching curiously before being pushed back by an invisible barrier. Sean's aura surrounded me like an unseen shield, keeping the entities at bay.
He really was protecting me. The irony wasn't lost on me—imprisoned by a supernatural entity, yet dependent on him for my very survival.
