008: deepest fantasies (part 2)

The raven-haired girl was trapped between the wall and the blonde, boxed in with no escape.

“Not nervous, you say?” he murmured.

His finger traced slowly down her neck, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

“Prove it.”

He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear, sending unwanted shivers down her spine.

Her breath faltered.

Could this really be real?

Could he really touch her like this… without restrictions?

Without consequences?

Before she could respond, Adam’s lips trailed downward, feather-light kisses ghosting along her neck.

That was all it took to snap whatever hesitation Liam had left.

The moment he pulled back, she grabbed his collar and yanked him forward, crashing their lips together in a kiss that was anything but gentle.

A real kiss.

One he hadn’t expected.

Adam froze for half a second before recovering, one hand sliding to the back of her head, deepening it, while the other braced against the wall beside her.

The world blurred.

Hunger.

Heat.

Longing.

Everything melted together into something dizzying.

Something dangerous.

Something she had wanted for far too long.

His touch grew firmer, more possessive, pulling her closer like she might disappear if he didn’t. Somewhere between breaths and stolen air, the surroundings shifted again, and suddenly she found herself sitting on the kitchen counter.

How she got there, she didn’t even know.

Didn’t care.

Adam stood between her legs, gaze locked onto hers like she was the only thing that existed.

Her hands tangled in his shirt, holding on as if letting go would shatter the moment.

His fingers trailed slowly down her sides, memorizing every curve, every unfamiliar line of this body the illusion had given her.

Her sports jacket slipped from her shoulders, revealing the serpent tattoo that coiled down her arm like a silent mark of who she truly was.

And still—

Something felt wrong.

Too perfect.

Too easy.

Too good to be real.

Meanwhile, Adam had just exited the pagoda and stepped into the backyard, standing before a large gray obelisk. The only company was the silence of the night.

It had been a while since he last visited.

The obelisk stirred memories he never wanted to revisit. His fingers unconsciously touched his rosary as the past came flooding back.

He had just been discussing the scroll with the house master when a question the white-haired female had asked resurfaced: Would he really return to Heaven after everything it had taken from him?

After it had taken the one person he valued most. After leaving him with a guilt that never let him find peace.

But perhaps that had been what Heaven wanted—to see him happy.

Yet… was that truly happiness?

A sudden vibration from his phone snapped him out of his thoughts.

He pulled it from his trench coat pocket and glanced at the caller ID.

Yoon.

That couldn’t be good.

He answered immediately.

*. *. *.

ADAM

“Young master,” Yoon began, explaining how he had woken up tied in the storage unit.

But what worried him more was the strange red mist seeping into the mansion—a sign of a demon’s presence.

A storm formed in Adam’s mind at the mention of the red mist.

A lustful demon.

One mansion.

A reckless Liam.

Trouble was guaranteed.

“I’m on my way,” Adam said, hanging up.

With one last glance at the obelisk, he rushed out, heading to the car.

The engine roared to life as he sped down the road.

Silently, he prayed that everything would be alright.

Half an hour and several shortcuts later, the car pulled up at the gate.

No one came to open it.

But even from outside, he could hear the heavy boom of music and see flashing lights bursting from the mansion windows.

So the kid really had thrown a party.

Normally, Adam would’ve scolded him.

But right now, getting inside was his only concern.

He stepped out, approached the gate, and pressed his rosary against the lock. The metal clicked open like a key responding to its master.

He rushed in.

The moment he pushed open the front door—

Red mist.

It poured out like smoke. Thick. Suffocating.

His eyes burned instantly.

The effects had already spread this far.

Knowing the danger, Adam covered his nose with his arm to reduce the mist intake and moved forward carefully.

If it had been daytime, resisting a minor demon like this would’ve been effortless.

But this human body…

Its resistance was pathetic.

He hadn’t even made it far before his vision started to blur.

“Well, well, well…”

A voice slithered through the air.

“If it isn’t our dear beloved Archangel. Glad you could finally join us.”

“Where’s Liam?” Adam asked coldly.

No response.

Damn it.

The demon was playing mind games.

His fists clenched as the mist pressed heavier against his lungs. He could feel his strength slipping away.

The world around him slowly lost shape, edges melting into shadows.

“Haven’t you often wondered…”

The voice whispered closer.

“…how things would be different if you didn’t have to hold back?”

Adam shut his eyes, trying to steady his thoughts.

But the question lingered.

What if…

What if he really didn’t have to hold back?

What if there were no consequences?

As the mist finally swallowed him whole—

Everything went dark.

Then—

He was somewhere else.

An office.

Bright. Clean. Quiet.

He looked down.

Black trousers.

Black tie.

A pale blue long-sleeved shirt outlining the firm shape of his muscles.

…What?

Across the desk stood Liam, casually sorting files, talking about something Adam couldn’t quite make out—like this was completely normal.

He wore his usual baggy white T-shirt and black cargo pants.

The serpent tattoo along his arm was clearly visible, the cross earrings still a quiet sign of defiance.

There didn’t seem to be anyone else around.

Adam slowly approached.

*. *. *.

“So… what do you think?” Liam asked.

He started to turn—

—but an arm suddenly snaked around his waist.

Before he could react, Adam captured his lips in a punishing kiss.

Their mouths moved together, tongues tangling as Adam braced one hand against the desk for support.

If anyone had walked in at that moment, neither of them would’ve cared. The rest of the world simply didn’t exist.

Wanting more access, Adam spun Liam around and pressed him against the desk.

After a while, the blonde finally pulled back for air, chest rising fast.

He hadn’t expected the kiss to be this intoxicating.

In the heat of the moment, he’d bitten Liam’s lip a little too hard—just enough to draw a bead of blood.

Instinctively, he wiped it away with his thumb.

But his touch lingered.

Too long.

He didn’t know if he could control himself around the ravenhead.

He should stop.

He wanted to stop.

But then Liam’s hand slid up his chest, fingers curling into his tie, pulling him closer—as if sensing the hesitation.

“Don’t stop,” Liam whispered.

“I trust you.”

That was it.

The last thread of self-control snapped.

Adam crushed their lips together again, both hands slamming onto the desk beside Liam.

This feeling…

He couldn’t describe it.

Was this what freedom tasted like?

How could something so wrong feel so damn right?

Liam’s hands slid down his chest. Adam didn’t stop him.

Instead, Adam swept everything off the desk in one motion, papers scattering across the floor, uncaring where they fell.

He lifted Liam onto the cleared surface.

God… he loved this.

If this was what sin felt like, then let him burn in the abyss for goddamn eternity.

Because for the first time—

he didn’t want to stop.

Didn’t want to wake up.

Didn’t want this fantasy to end.

“Young master,” a familiar voice called out.

Adam ignored it.

“Young Master Adam,” the voice repeated, pausing briefly before continuing, “you have to snap out of it. This isn’t real.”

Those words pierced through the haze.

His consciousness stirred, and he abruptly pulled away.

“This… this isn’t real,” the blonde muttered, the taste of the words bitter on his tongue.

He looked at the submissive male before him.

No.

It couldn’t be real.

The ravenhead wasn’t someone who submitted — not even when drunk. So why would he yield to him of all people?

As much as Adam wanted this to be reality… he knew it wasn’t possible.

At least not now.

With a quiet sigh, he reached for his rosary and shut his eyes, unable to bear watching the beautiful illusion crumble before him.

“I beseech you, evil spirit… may this sin be forgiven.”

The world shattered.

The illusion vanished instantly.

Adam found himself back in the mist-filled room. Yoon stood in front of him, while several teenagers remained trapped in their own fantasies, unmoving.

A faint twinge of sadness tugged at his chest.

He quickly buried it.

There were more important things to worry about.

He had to rescue Liam before the demon fully possessed him.

Without another word, he rushed off.

Meanwhile, in Liam’s room, the ravenhead’s body was slowly being corrupted. Dark marks crept across his skin, spreading little by little.

The door burst open.

Adam rushed in.

He spotted Liam standing stiffly in the middle of the room and grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him hard.

“Snap out of it, kid! You need to wake up before it’s too late!”

Inside Liam’s fantasy, the voice echoed faintly.

He hesitated—

—but “Adam” caught his chin again, forcing their eyes to meet.

“Remember,” the fake Adam teased softly, “eyes on me, gorgeous.”

“Liam, if you can hear me… just listen.”

Adam’s voice was unusually quiet.

“I know I haven’t exactly been the best host for someone I practically forced to move into the mansion… but I really do have my reasons. Still… that doesn’t justify how I acted these past two weeks.”

He exhaled.

“I’m shitty. Cold. Heartless. But that’s just it. Like you said before… no one’s perfect. I’m no exception either. But living in a fantasy isn’t always the answer…”

He paused, rubbing the back of his neck.

“God… you’re even making me sound more pathetic than I actually am. Damn little minx.”

Liam heard every word.

And for once, he was stunned.

Did he just indirectly call himself pathetic…?

Adam slowly closed his eyes.

Maybe he was too late.

Maybe Liam was already—

“You’re also ignorant, stupid, and blind if you think I’m letting you off the hook that easily just because you apologized.”

The blonde’s eyes snapped open.

Liam stood there, fully conscious, a teasing smirk on his face.

“Idiot,” Adam muttered. “What made you leave your illusion so quickly?”

Liam shrugged.

“Let’s just say… me and curves? Not really my thing.”

Adam blinked.

“…Fair enough.”

Now all that was left was clearing the house.

Even without his full angelic power, Adam could still use his exorcist abilities.

He gripped his rosary and recited an incantation in Latin.

A pulse of light spread through the mansion.

The red mist dissolved instantly.

One by one, the guests snapped out of their trances and stumbled out, leaving behind an absolutely wrecked house.

Cups.

Food.

Broken decorations.

Total disaster.

“This was one long night,” Liam yawned. “Anyway, I’m off to bed. See ya.”

He turned to walk away.

“Not so fast, kid.”

Adam stopped him and shoved something into his hands.

A broom.

“You’ve got a mess to clean up first.”

And just like that—

Adam disappeared upstairs.

Liam stared at the destruction around him.

Then down at the broom.

He sighed.

“…Now I really wish I’d stayed in the illusion.”