Deviant: No Longer Human

'I will not forget this disgrace, Wang Xiao. And you will regret teaching me such a 'lesson',' Seraphine vowed silently, her resolve burning like a beacon in the night.

As the final droplets of water cascaded from her, shimmering briefly in the air before returning to the pool, the surface of which had returned to a deceptive calm, the emotional turbulence between them had deepened, a silent storm brewing beneath the tranquility.

"Eehehe..." An involuntary laugh abruptly bubbled up from Seraphine, the sound surprising even herself. It was a laugh tinged with disbelief and a hint of hysteria.

Thoughts of retribution swirled in her mind, a tempest of vengeance and pride.

Yet, amidst this storm, a ludicrous realization struck her—how could she even dream of exacting revenge on him, when the mere act of laying a finger on him seemed an insurmountable challenge?

Wang Xiao's brow creased in confusion at her sudden laughter, questioning her grasp on reality. But then, as if to answer his unspoken doubts—

"Ah—!?"

In a moment that seemed to defy the laws of gravity and decorum, Seraphine's grace abandoned her.

With cheeks flushed crimson, she decided to embrace the fate, impulsively deciding to kiss the floor, executing an unexpected dive.

Bam!

"Ugh!"

"..."

Wang Xiao, now convinced of her bewildering unpredictability, could only observe her with newfound wariness.

Meanwhile, Seraphine, groaning in pain, lay sprawled there, a mix of embarrassment and discomfort etched across her features.

As Wang Xiao contemplated her condition, a wry curiosity overtook him. "How does it taste?" he inquired, his voice unexpectedly robotic.

"It tastes like a floor," Seraphine retorted with a wry grimace, her voice tinged with irony.

Her face morphed into a grimace as she attempted to rise, her vision blurring and weaving before her eyes.

The ground seemed to tilt and spin, a treacherous dance floor that refused to stay still.

The question haunted her, 'Am I drunk?' But the dizzying room suggested a different malaise, one not solely induced by wine. The floor, slick and unyielding, seemed to mock her attempts at stability.

After several fruitless efforts, a sigh of exasperation broke free, "Would you help me, please?"

Observing the struggle of this formidable woman reduced to grumbling for assistance, a smile played on Wang Xiao's lips, betraying a hint of amusement. "Sure, I was only waiting for you to ask." Stepping forward, he extended a hand, his grip steady and secure suprising even her.

Seraphine, her legs wobbly as if made of jelly, leaned heavily on him, her hand clasping his neck for support. Together, they made their way to the door, an unlikely duo bridging their recent conflict with this unexpected intimacy.

"Waiting for me to ask for help? Why?... Are you some sadist who enjoy seeing us in pain?" Seraphine murmured, her words tinged with confusion and the haze of her condition.

"I don't touch women without their permission," Wang Xiao replied, his voice even, as if stating an obvious principle.

The door swung open to admit them, marking a transition from the chaotic interlude by the pool to whatever awaited them next.

"Mmm..." Seraphine fell silent, pondering his words. Despite the turmoil of the evening, she sensed an underlying sincerity in his statement, a sliver of respect that she hadn't anticipated.

Yet, she braced herself for the possibility that her current assumption might soon lead to a harsh enlightenment.

As they crossed the threshold, Wang Xiao's expression softened, the scent of citrus and roses finally making itself known to him, a fragrance that had been teasing his senses all evening.

It emanated from Seraphine, enveloping him in a cloud of unexpected warmth.

______

As Wang Xiao guided Seraphine to the nearest room, his lips curved into a knowing smile, his amusement barely contained.

Seraphine, for her part, oscillated between discomfort and a stubborn attempt to regain her independence.

Each time she tried to stand on her own, her efforts ended with Wang Xiao tightening his grip, pulling her closer into his embrace.

'My peach blossom luck has been rejuvenated,' he chuckled softly, a lightness in his voice that hadn't been there for some time.

Since leaving Xianthera, it seemed as though his charm with the opposite sex had waned, but fate appeared to be smiling on him once again.

With Seraphine in his arms, a woman of remarkable strength and beauty, Wang Xiao felt a surge of opportunity. Today, he mused, he might be willing to kill a kitten if it meant reaping the benefits of this unexpected alliance.

Whether she liked it or not, Seraphine was about to become an unwitting pawn in his game.

'It's just that you'll be falling into my den now,' he remarked offhandedly, his smile taking on an edge as he steered the conversation towards more dangerous waters.

"Asmodeous, do you have any idea why he's asking for your daughters?" His question, laced with genuine curiosity, masked the deeper strategies at play.

Seraphine's brows furrowed, her voice a whisper, "He... might want to control us..?"

"Control?" Wang Xiao echoed, probing further.

"Yes, if he had hostages from every kingdom, he could maintain control over them. No matter how powerful he might be, he's still one man and can't oversee everything by himself," Seraphine explained, her mind racing through the implications of Asmodeous's demands.

Wang Xiao nodded, his expression thoughtful. He was skeptical of Asmodeous's strategy. If indeed the demon lord thought to control the kingdoms through hostages, he was misguided. Such a move would only shelter traitors, sowing the seeds of his own downfall.

[Xiao, could it be he is merely driven by lust and has no grand schemes?] Yin Yue couldn't help but interject, her voice a blend of concern and skepticism.

Wang Xiao remained silent, his expression unreadable as he mulled over this simpler, yet no less dangerous motive.

[You people in power, you always lose sight of your dominion at the sight of beauty],Yin Yue continued, her voice laced with a sharp irony that struck a chord in Wang Xiao.

It was a reminder of the pitfalls that even the most powerful could not forsee.

His eyes instinctively narrowed, drawn to Seraphine's visage, her features aglow with a mix of the warmth and her own heightened emotions.

"This one! This room should be empty," she declared, pointing to a door on their left.

Acknowledging her direction, Wang Xiao pushed the door open to reveal a room that was surprisingly tidy. A large bed, adorned with fresh sheets, sat centrally, suggesting the room's readiness for guests.

"This is Elina's room, she doesn't use it during the day..." Seraphine announced, a trace of melancholy threading through her voice as she sank onto the bed.

She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders slumping under the weight of resignation and burgeoning regret.

Her head felt unbearably heavy, and her eyes stung, the alcohol coursing through her veins amplifying with each passing moment.

"I-I should check the washroom," she muttered, pushing herself up with a grimace. A peculiar sensation unsettled her, a discomfort that hinted at the evening's toll on her body.

As Seraphine made her unsteady way toward the washroom, her steps uncertain and faltering, Wang Xiao's hand shot out, capturing her wrist with gentle firmness. "Let me accompany you," he offered, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that brooked no argument.

!!

Seraphine froze, her body tensing under his touch. Her lips parted then closed, a silent struggle to articulate her whirlwind of thoughts.

"I... I..." Her words stumbled over themselves, her usual grace and elegance lost in a sea of fluster and surprise.

"I mean, you might fall. Let me escort you to the door," Wang Xiao clarified, his expression unwavering, his voice smooth and reassuring, subtly shifting the implication of his initial proposition.

Seraphine found herself caught in a maelstrom of doubt and wariness, questioning his true motives. Yet, the genuine concern in his voice, whether feigned or sincere, compelled her to at least acknowledge his offer. With a hesitant nod, she acquiesced.

"Good girl," Wang Xiao murmured, a smile breaking across his face as he gently hugged her shoulders, guiding her toward the washroom door. At his words, Seraphine's mind reeled as if struck by lightning.

Boom!

'Wha—' Her features twisted into an expression of sheer astonishment, utterly taken aback. The term 'girl' had never been applied to her, not in her recollections. Never before had she been referred to so informally, so diminutively.

Yet, as she processed his words, a realization dawned on her. Considering Wang Xiao's 'perceived' age and his status, his choice of words could stem from an age-old habit, a perspective where even those of considerable age seemed youthful in comparison.

This fleeting insight into Wang Xiao's perception did little to quell the storm of emotions within Seraphine.

Whoosh!

The washroom door swung open, and with a swiftness born of a desperate need for solitude, Seraphine slipped inside, distancing herself from Wang Xiao's unsettling proximity.

Click!

The moment the door clicked shut behind her, she was enveloped in the washroom's sterile, impersonal calm—a stark contrast to the emotional tumult she had just escaped.

"Haaaa..." A sigh of relief escaped her lips, heavy with the burden of the evening's events and the complexities of her interactions.

She hurriedly untangled her bikini, a clumsy dance of necessity, until finally, she could address the pressing discomfort that had been gnawing at her.

—Swoosh!