Secret Society

As we stepped through the red door, I was momentarily blinded by the sudden darkness.

My eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light revealing a room bathed in an eerie, crimson glow.

The walls were draped with red velvet, and the air was thick with an intoxicating mix of incense and something metallic I couldn’t place.

People moved about the space fluidly, their identities concealed by dark, ornate masks. It felt like we had stumbled upon a clandestine gathering, a secret society hidden beneath the bustling business above.

The sight was so outlandishly strange that I couldn't help but gawk, even though I remained silent as he had instructed.

We navigated through the masked figures, their hushed whispers were creating an ominous hum in the background. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat was echoing the rhythm of my mounting anxiety.

I couldn’t understand what was happening, but there was no denying the aura of danger that permeated the room.

Finally, Aryan guided me into a smaller chamber. A man sat at the far end, his legs casually thrown over the edge of a table. The golden mask he wore glinted in the dim light, and a thin trail of smoke curled up from the cigar clamped between his fingers.

"Ah, Aryan," the man greeted, his voice a gravelly murmur. "I see you've brought a guest."

"Indeed," Aryan replied, his arm tightened around my waist. "This is Reina."

The man studied me for a long moment before gesturing towards the empty chairs opposite him. "Please, have a seat."

“How many?”

“Just one. But it’s incredible.”

“Very well.” Aryan replied to the man in a low tone.

“How are the souls?”

“Silenced. We’ll gather them soon.”

“Like in the book?” The man lifted his brow.

“The ancient one.”

The conversation that followed was like a riddle wrapped in a mystery. They spoke of soul gathering, of celestial alignments and ancient prophecies. I listened in silence, my mind struggled to keep up with the cryptic discussion.

Suddenly, Aryan turned to me, his look softened. "Reina," he murmured, "I know you don't understand, but trust me. You're safe."

Then, he turned back to the man with the golden mask. "I've found what I've been searching for," he declared. "My position no longer poses a threat on Earth."

The room fell silent, the man in the golden mask glared at Aryan intently. The tension in the room was heavy, the air quite thick with unspoken words and hidden meanings. I could only sit there, my mind was buzzing with questions and my heart kept aching with uncertainty. But no questions could be asked.

But amidst the chaos and confusion, one thing was clear: my life was about to change irrevocably, and there was no turning back.

Just as Aryan finished speaking, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed across the room.

A group of people stormed in, their dark masks glowed in the dimly lit space.

Their appearance was startlingly uniform, giving the impression that they were members of a secret sect.

"Your position is a threat to us all, Aryan!" one of them declared, his voice echoed like a rapper’s song. "You have violated the sacred codes!"

In an instant, the calm atmosphere shattered as the masked figures lunged at Aryan.

“What’s going on?!” I gasped, instinctively clutching his arm, but he remained unfazed.

With a speed and precision that was almost inhuman, he dodged their attacks, moving with a fluid grace that left them stumbling over their own feet.

Suddenly, one of them managed to land a hit, but Aryan merely staggered back a step before regaining his balance.

His eyes narrowed dangerously, a cold, steely determination was settling over his features. With a swift, fluid motion, he drew a small, ornate object from his pocket and held it aloft.

The room fell eerily silent as a blinding light erupted from the object, filling the room with a warm, golden glow. The masked figures froze, their forms shimmered before dissolving into thin air.

When the light subsided, we were alone in the room. The only evidence of the confrontation were a few displaced chairs and the lingering scent of ozone.

I stood rooted to the spot, my mind raced to process what had just happened.

My heart pounded in my chest like a wild drum, fear and confusion warring within me.

I wanted to run, to escape this madness and return to the safety and normalcy of my known world.

But as I took a step back, Aryan's hand closed around my wrist. His grip was firm, yet gentle, like a silent promise of protection.

His eyes met mine, their usual icy demeanor replaced with a soft warmth that anchored me amidst the chaos.

"Reina," he said calmly. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"

I swallowed hard, nodding slightly as I fought to keep my fear at bay. Something told me that running away wouldn't help now.

Whether I liked it or not, I was drawn into a world far beyond my comprehension. I just had to hope that Aryan's promise of safety was more than just hollow words… But then the unbelievable happened, “who exactly are you, Mr. CEO?” The words that came out of my mouth were natural.

I know that I wasn’t supposed to ask, and it might get me in trouble, but I felt like I couldn’t lose anything here and right now.

I was willing to die, but I needed answers.

“I'm the reincarnated devil.”