Money Loving CEO's Detective Lover

Anyal was sitting next to the fireplace, sipping a glass of wine. His eyes were staring into the flames which had once consumed his beloved Ahin. For centuries, he had been burning in the grief of losing her, not being able to think of anything else but bring her back to him. His master, the Lord of Hell, had sealed off all entrances for him but he was determined to bring Ahin back.     

Raising his finger, he made a circle. A portal burst open and he stepped into the World of the Dead. Unlike Transporters, he did not need a spell to enter it.      

The blazing fire disappeared and an ominous silence fell all around him. The grand mansion was empty and devoid of all people. He knew that despite the dark history of the Jang family, none of their victims died in that mansion. Moreover, the spirits of their ancestors had moved on to the Afterlife, so the Jang mansion in the World of the Dead was relatively empty except for the occasional reapers who sometimes wandered around.     

"I wonder what Ahin is doing now," he said out loud. The mansion was too quiet. There was a time when he was used to the silence but after living in the human world for so long, the lack of sounds was making him feel uneasy.     

Anyal sat on the floor, staring at the large window. He could not see anything beyond the gates of the mansion but he kept on staring into the nothingness, his mind completely focused on what he was about to do.     

A shadow glided past him but he did not pay any attention to it. He knew who it was and why he was there.     

"You're here…" he said softly. Turning around, he found Minho. The mighty CEO had called him and asked him to meet in the other realm situated in the Jang Mansion.     

"Return Kanji and Mina," he demanded. "And I'll perform the ritual for you."     

"I can't return your friend," Anyal said with a sadistic smile. "He's dead already."     

"His spirit is in the body of the Lin family's head!" Minho snapped. "And you know it! Return all of them to us and I'll open the gates for you."     

Anyal was still staring outside the window. "How do I know you're not going to betray me?" he asked. "Your father is an exorcist. He's been after me for years…"     

He slowly turned to face Minho, who tried to control his anger. It was Kanji's face which stared back at him with that sinister smile. Anyal was doing it on purpose to torment him.     

"Aren't you affected at all?" the demon smirked. "Seeing your best friend like this? Possessed by the demon who killed your mother?"     

"You might have his face but you can't possess his soul," Minho said flatly. "You can wear the masks of all the people I love and I can still tell that it's you. You see, you have a nasty stink."     

"The sulphur?" Anyal asked, raising an eyebrow.     

"No, it's your soul," Minho shrugged. "It stinks."     

They stared directly at each other for a while, not talking nor flinching. A fire was burning in Minho as he looked at the demon with hate and disgust. How many people lost their lives for his madness? What did he gain from it? Could he really get his lover back from hell if he opened the gates to it?     

"You want to destroy me, but you can't," Anyal claimed. "A demon can't be killed."     

"I just want my sister and friend back," Minho said. "I'll open the gates once they're safely back home."     

"Hmm…" Anyal was lost in thought. Minho watched the demon carefully. He knew that Anyal would not agree so easily especially when Junho was involved. The demon must be deceived somehow.     

"Fine," Anyal said much to Minho's surprise. "You can be the substitute for your daughter."     

Minho did not let out any sigh of relief but was rather skeptical. Why did the demon agree so easily? There was something amiss. Someone like Anyal would definitely see his words as a trap.     

"But you're not going to leave this place until the night of the red moon," the demon added. "You'll stay in this spot. You can't go out into the world of the living."     

Anyal smirked at him. "Is that a deal, Hwang Minho?"     

Minho was now in a dilemma. Gayoon knew that he was at Kanji's place but if he was stuck in the World of the Dead until the night of the red moon, then how was he going to alert them about the place of the ritual?     

"Is that a deal, Hwang Minho?" the demon asked. "I'll tell my servant to let your friend and sister go right before the ritual. Until then, they'll be under my custody. Just like you."     

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Minho demanded.     

"They're in the forest right off the highway," Anyal revealed. "Deep in the forest. Ten miles south from the entrance next to the large sign at the highway. There's a fortress there which is in ruins."     

Minho let out a sharp breath as Anyal grinned. "Now that you know the exact location," he went on. "I can't let you go. You're stuck here with me, Hwang Minho. I'll be guarding you until it's time for the ritual."     

….     

"Where the hell is Minho?" Gayoon asked, feeling worried. She wanted to go with him but he insisted on going alone claiming that the demon could not harm him but he would not hesitate to hurt Gayoon.     

"He went to meet Anyal all by his own!" Junho cursed. They could not go with him otherwise the demon would have been on alert.     

"What if he took Minho hostage?" Gayoon asked nervously. "I…"     

She ran her fingers through her hair, unable to think at all. First it was Mina and Kanji who were abducted. Now Minho had been gone for hours. Anyal must have kept him hostage as well so that he would not be able to tell them the location of the ritual. In the meantime, Shinjin had gone back to his house to connect with other spirits who might be able to give information on Anyal's former lover. It was going to take a long time but it was their only chance.      

"Where's Jina?" Junho asked.     

"I put her to bed," Gayoon replied. "I checked on her just five minutes ago. She's still sleeping."     

"Keep an eye on her," Junho advised. "She's in the most danger. That demon and his servant might come for her."     

Gayoon nodded and rushed back upstairs to check on Jina again. The little girl was sleeping soundly on her bed, lying on her back. Gayoon let out a sigh of relief and pulled the blanket on top of her before kissing the girl's forehead.      

Just then, Junho entered the bedroom.     

"Gayoon, there's a call for you!" he hissed. "It's Jason!"     

"Uncle Jason?" she frowned and quickly followed him out. As soon as they left, Jina opened her eyes and sat up. Her eyes were on the window which was closed tight. She watched as the latch on it began to loosen on its own until it was completely unlocked.     

Jina slowly got out of bed and stood at the windowsill. Anna's tall figure was standing at the carefully trimmed lawn, smirking.      

"Come to me, little bird," Anna mouthed at her. "It's time to go."