Author's note: I have been asked by several of my readers to continue on with this story. I went through my old documents and found the notes I had made for chapter 2 before I lost all motivation to do anything. I started writing this at the beginning of my deepest depression. I just couldn't focus on anything or find the motivation to do anything. I am in a better place now and I hope that I can complete this story that so many people liked.

Kaen thrived as a bartender at a bustling beach club known as Tempted Fate. As someone who preferred to lurk in the shadows and avoid social interactions, I was entirely out of my element in the club's lively atmosphere. There were crowds inside, while more people eagerly queued up outside. Kaen, on the other hand, seemed to be in her natural habitat amidst the sea of people. She skillfully whipped up drinks behind the bar, adding an impressive flair that left patrons cheering and gasping as she flipped bottles mid-pour.

Exhibiting an effortless charm, Kaen flirted with everyone present, projecting an energetic aura that captivated both men and women alike. This magnetism not only made them more infatuated with her but also enticed them to tip more generously. I marveled at her innate ability to tell customers precisely what they wanted to hear.

Throughout her shift, Kaen didn't pay me any attention – I was simply an invisible observer on this journey.

"You're quite anxious, aren't you?" Kaen remarked as the last patrons were ushered out of the club. "David, you need to learn how to unwind. Your nervous vibes were hard for me to ignore."

"Socializing has never been my strong suit," I admitted.

"Really? I had no idea," she replied sarcastically before sitting down to count her sizable tips.

The sum of her earnings was extraordinary – far more than I'd ever earned in a single week, let alone one evening.

"That must be why you can afford that beachside apartment," I noted.

"A girl needs a place to live," she responded nonchalantly. "Humans are just so easy to sway; it hardly takes any effort for me to bend them to my will."

"Why did you become a bartender then?" I inquired.

"Bartending provides the perfect platform for me to examine human behavior," Kaen explained. "I witness their interactions and it's fascinating to discover how simple it is to manipulate them." Her revelations left me stunned.

That didn't seem like what a demon would do. "No seriously why are you here?" I asked.

"The boundless sins and indulgences of this place fuel my potency," she elaborated. "As more individuals congregate here, my strength amplifies with their combined vigor." With a contented beam, she reclined in her chair. "Such an inexhaustible wellspring, indeed." Now it made sense.

Is this what my existence had become, relegated to the sidelines while life continued without me? My already fragile emotional state teetered on the edge of despair. Screaming would provide no solace; nobody could hear my anguish. Kaen, engrossed in living her own life, barely acknowledged my presence. Frustration gnawed at me – why was I trapped as a mute observer instead of moving on?

I glared at Kaen as she meticulously counted her tips into neat stacks. The urge to swipe the pile and scatter the bills was overwhelming, and suddenly, my body complied. Utter bewilderment.

"David, what on earth possessed you to do that?" she asked irritably while scooping up the scattered cash. Her frustration was evident, but I was beyond caring about the consequences.

"The imprisonment in your body is suffocating me! This isn't even my body anymore. All I want is to be free, to live my own life and be myself!" I snapped back.

"Look, I sympathize with you, but I don't have a solution. Separating souls isn't a demonic specialty," Kaen cooly replied as she began rearranging her money. Despite her calm facade, I longed for even a shred of empathy. Was I destined to be an eternal voice in her head, like a conscience? Maybe that was the answer – as her conscience, perhaps I could prevent her from embracing evil any further.

As Kaen finished tallying her earnings and downed one last shot of whiskey, she stepped outside towards her car. Two men awaited her. "Kaen, Lucifer is far from pleased," one warned ominously.

Fear fueled Kaen's flight as she sprinted away from them down the street. "Who were they?" I inquired anxiously.

"Demon hunters – they pursue those attempting to breach their contracts or escape Hell itself. We need to act quickly. Going back to Hell is not an option for me, and you certainly wouldn't want to join me," she explained, darting into a narrow alleyway. The demon hunters' footsteps echoed in pursuit.

"Just give up, Kaen! Lucifer might only punish you for a millennium!" They taunted relentlessly.

We darted in and out of alleys and backstreets, desperately attempting to evade our pursuers in the labyrinth of buildings and roads. Sadly, we couldn't shake them off, and I began to ponder if a confrontation was inevitable. Could we even stand a chance against them?

A sudden sharp pain pierced our body, from shoulders to feet, knocking us to the ground. Kaen let out a gut-wrenching scream before convulsing violently and then falling silent. Gaining control of our body, I tried to stand up and escape from the two hunters, despite the blood dripping from my face due to a deep gash sustained from the fall.

"Please, I am not who you think I am!" I raised my hands defensively. "I don't know who you are or what you want, but I'm not this Kaen!" My pleas fell on deaf ears as they grabbed me and slammed me against the wall, causing more pain to surge through me as I cried for their mercy.

Suddenly, a dazzling light erupted behind them, momentarily blinding me. I heard scuffling and grunting from the direction of my assailants. A female voice shouted defiantly, "Return to hell, demon spawn! Those with pure souls are not yours to claim!" As my vision cleared, I saw the two hunters' heads separated from their bodies, which quickly disintegrated into ashes before vanishing entirely.

My gaze settled on the mysterious woman who saved me. She held a golden sword in one hand and a matching shield on her other arm. Her exquisite beauty was matchless even compared to my own body. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back beneath a pair of enormous white wings. Her flawless pale face featured a small nose and rose-colored lips; she exuded grace yet had an assertive presence.

Surprised at my ability to see her true form, she asked how it was possible. "If it's any consolation, I can also see demons' true forms." This statement didn't seem to comfort her, prompting a frown. She dismissively inquired about my name.

Annoyed by her tone, I replied, "I am Kaen. And who might you be?" Asserting my newly discovered status as a non-demon, I stood up and brushed off the dirt and debris that coated me upon falling.

Introducing herself as Ariana from the second choir of angels, she demanded to know what the demons desired from me. Hesitantly, I lied, "I don't know. I had just finished work when they ambushed me at my car. I never wanted to know their intentions as I've never had any prior contact with demons." While stretching the truth slightly, I genuinely never had any dealings with such creatures in my past.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up," she offered, extending her hand for me to hold. I hesitated, eyeing her cautiously.

"Can we fetch my car first?" Although I wasn't sure how Kaen got that vehicle, I didn't want to leave her gorgeous pearl white Porsche Carrera unattended. It was an impressive machine.

"Yes, but we need to clean you up first. You'll attract attention looking like that. Follow me to the church, and we'll get you sorted," she guided. Ignoring the lingering pain in my head, I followed her, sure that the bleeding had stopped. Even though head injuries might seem worse than they are, my shoulder continued to throb.

I tried calling Kaen to inquire about her status but got no response.

Nearing the church, uncertainty crept in - would I burst into flames upon entering? Or maybe be struck by lightning or shatter into countless pieces? Regardless, fearing the gleaming sword decapitating me outweighed my doubts, so I proceeded inside.

To my amazement, nothing happened when I entered the church. That is until a priest emerged from the rectory and spotted me. "Sister Ariana, what has become of this child of the night?" he questioned.

His words implied I was a woman of ill repute; how dare he! "For your information, sir, I'm a bartender who was brutally attacked on my way home," I replied icily. My tolerance for religious self-righteousness had worn thin long ago. Such people were mere hypocrites - preaching one thing while practicing another.

"Yes, right," he said skeptically. "Let's get you cleaned up and then discuss your attack by those hoodlums." Unbelievable! He doesn't see me as a person; just another downtrodden soul from the streets. I decided just to clean the blood off my face and hair and get back home. I needed to figure things out.

As annoyed as Kaen made me, I couldn't deny her assistance would be valuable at the moment. The priest left Ariana and me alone while I washed up. "You know he's not a good man, right?" I asked.

"I'm aware of that, but I can't change him. My role is to protect the church and to prevent further corruption of his soul. He still has a chance at redemption, but it must be his choice. Your soul, however, is clouded but remains pure. I sense great unrest within you without knowing its root." She gave me a faint smile.

"The cause of my turmoil is all too familiar to me - it's something I can't fix now. That time has long passed, and all I can do is try to survive in this harsh world for those who are different. And I don't believe you possess the power to change that," I sighed, looking down at my shoes.

"You're mistaken, your soul is untainted and your heart is resilient. There's still a chance to face your troubles; just continue doing good in this life," she reassured me, lifting my chin to meet her captivating grey eyes. My heart skipped a beat at the sight, but I quickly dismissed my thoughts – after all, I inhabited a demon's body. If she ever discovered the truth, I'd be gone before I could explain. All I needed was to reach my car and return home.

"I appreciate the rescue and help in cleaning up, but it's time for me to head back. I need some rest; there's work waiting tomorrow," I said, weighed down by emotion. Lingering in this church wasn't an option – it embodied the hatred I endured during my childhood. My mother raised me alone after my father left us, prioritizing her devotion to the church over caring for me. To her, I was an inescapable burden, a perpetual reminder of the man who shattered her heart.

Confronting my mother or father was no longer possible. Maybe it was for the best – they'd be out of my life forever, unable to inflict any more pain. Still, I wondered why I had been such a burden to them and what I had done wrong to deserve this punishment. But deep down, I knew they were better off without me – just as they desired.

My sadness must have shown on my face because Ariana wrapped her arm around me in comfort. "I'll accompany you to your car; you shouldn't be alone right now. This isn't your fault – you're not responsible for the evil inflicted upon you. Don't let it consume you and tarnish your soul," she said with empathetic sincerity.

Grateful for her gesture, I allowed her to escort me back to my car. She opened the door and helped me into the driver's seat. In an unexpected moment of vulnerability, I invited her to my place – not wanting to face the solitude that awaited me. Despite my issues with Kaen, she was at least someone I could confide in occasionally.

Ariana accepted my invitation, and together we drove to my apartment. The purr of the engine somewhat dissipated the gloom shrouding my thoughts. As we sped down empty roads, tires screeching around corners without braking, I felt a thrill like never before.

I couldn't tell if Ariana enjoyed the ride or was simply terrified; her expression remained unchanged. Once parked, we exited the car and I announced, "Here we are."

"Is that how one is meant to drive?" she asked blankly.

I chuckled lightly and replied, "Absolutely not. But with a car like this and open streets, it's tempting to test its limits. It was exhilarating!" We entered the elevator and ascended to my penthouse. I had to admit – Kaen had excellent taste.

"I can see why you drove that way; it was rather enjoyable," she admitted as we approached the door.

"I wouldn't have guessed! You've shown no emotions since we met. It's like dealing with a statue: cold and emotionless," I observed matter-of-factly.

"I'm not sure what you mean by that," she responded flatly.

"Never mind," I said, dismissing the urge to explain further. Opening the door to my apartment, I gestured for her to enter. "This is my home, and I feel like I should offer you a place to stay since you saved my life. That is, if you need one. Do you have anywhere to go?"

"No, I just wander the city streets. My purpose is to protect humans from the demons in this world. I never sleep and depend on the church for sustenance," she revealed.

"That's not right. You can rest here tonight, and I'll cook us something to eat as I'm hungry too. You're welcome to use the shower if you'd like; I'll shower in once you're finished. If you need anything, I'll be in the kitchen." She nodded and headed into the bathroom. Rolling my eyes, I couldn't help but wonder how she intended to save humans without being able to relate to them.

I took some eggs and bacon from the fridge and began cooking. 'Kaen, can you hear me?' Worry gnawed at me as there was no response; thoughts of her fate after the demon attack consumed me. Once satisfied with my bacon's crispiness, I plated our meal and switched off the stove.

Taking a moment to relax, I pondered the day's harrowing events—never had I experienced so much stress in my life. Ariana's presence made me feel safe, but that wasn't my sole reason for inviting her in; she appeared lost and lonely, in dire need of a friend.

We shared our meal amid a comfortable silence since she lacked experience interacting socially with humans. To my surprise, she had willingly accepted my invitation without any hesitation despite my subpar social skills.

As we finished eating, I gently inquired, sitting next to her, "Ariana, what are your plans now?"

With uncertainty, she replied, "I'm not sure. I was brought here to safeguard the city's residents from demonic forces. I am to remain until heaven deems my mission accomplished."

Feeling concerned, I remarked, "So you're just going to roam the city streets with no place to rest or unwind? You can't be fighting demons every single night. While it's crucial to rid the world of demons, wandering aimlessly through the city searching for them doesn't seem effective." I attempted to convey the impracticality of her approach.

"This is my duty. There's no other way to assist humans. Confronting these demonic forces that corrupt the souls of Earth is essential. What alternative do you suggest?" She shot back with a hint of bitterness.

A valid question – what could be a better option? I pondered while stifling a yawn. "I'm not sure, but it pains me to see you out there without a place to call home. Let's revisit this issue once I've rested properly. Thank you for rescuing me today. Let me find somewhere for you to sleep and we can continue our discussion tomorrow," I kindly proposed.

"Can your bed not accommodate two people?" she inquired with a puzzled expression on her face. Unsure how to answer, I admitted that my bed could indeed fit more than just two occupants.

"Yes, there's plenty of room for two," I confirmed.

"Very well, then I shall stay with you," she announced decisively. With no desire for further debate, I welcomed her inside and became slightly embarrassed by Kaen's toys scattered about. However, Adriana didn't bat an eye at this minor mess; we both got ready for bed shortly after.

Lying down in bed, my thoughts raced – what had become of my life? Once a demon, I now slept beside an angel. What could possibly come next? A god setting up camp on my couch? This string of thoughts accompanied me as I drifted into slumber.