The Otherworldly Mercenary

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California Road – Midday

The low hum of a powerful engine echoed down the stretch of the California highway. An Audi R8, sleek and radiant under the sun, zoomed past other vehicles, stealing glances from onlookers.

Inside the luxury car, Seph had both hands on the steering wheel, his expression calm and focused. The sound of the tires gripping the asphalt felt like the only constant in the silence between him and Virginia.

Virginia leaned against the passenger door, her arms crossed as her eyes flickered toward Seph repeatedly. Each glance lingered longer than the last, and Seph was keenly aware of her attention, though he made no attempt to acknowledge it.

Instead, he maintained a neutral poker face, the faintest smirk teasing the corners of his lips.

Unable to hold back anymore, Virginia finally blurted out, her voice tinged with frustration. "Are you a fool or just really good at acting like one?"

The sudden outburst caught Seph off guard, and his head turned slightly toward her.

"What kind of question is that?" He asked, bemused.

Virginia huffed, crossing her arms tighter. "Oh, don't play dumb with me! That woman at the dealership—you know exactly what I mean!"

Seph's smirk broke free as he chuckled. "You mean the manager?"

"Yes, the manager! She was practically throwing herself at you, and you—" Virginia paused, her voice rising as her irritation bubbled over. "You didn't even try to stop her! You were enjoying it, weren't you?"

Seph raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her reaction. "Enjoying it? Virginia, I can't help it if women find me charming. Comes with the territory."

Virginia's jaw dropped, and her fist clenched. "Comes with the—ugh! You're impossible!"

She glared at him, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

Seph, seeing an opportunity to tease her further, gave her a sidelong glance and smirked. "And what about you? You seemed pretty jealous back there."

Virginia's face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"Jealous? Me? As if!" She shot back, though her tone betrayed her denial.

"Really?" Seph teased, his voice low and playful. "Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were ready to tackle her to the ground."

"You!" A visible tick mark appeared on Virginia's forehead. "For your information, I was not jealous! I was...annoyed! Yes, annoyed that she was so shameless!"

Seph's grin widened as he poured fuel on the fire. "You saved me, took me in, and now you think you own me. That's cute."

Virginia clenched her fists tighter, practically fuming. "You arrogant—!"

Seph interrupted her with a laugh. "Relax, Virginia. I bought this car for you, not her. Doesn't that count for something?"

Her anger faltered as the weight of his words hit her. "This..."

"Also," Seph replied nonchalantly. "You've already seen me naked... aren't you way ahead of her?"

Virginia froze. Her cheeks burned crimson as the memory flashed in her mind unbidden.

"T-That was an accident!" She sputtered, hiding her face in her hands.

Seph chuckled, thoroughly enjoying her reaction. "Accident or not, you were very professional about it. I'm impressed."

"Shut up!" She groaned, burying her face deeper into her hands.

The playful tension lingered for a few moments before Virginia took a deep breath and steadied herself. "Okay, fine. Tell me this—would you go on a date with that woman if she asked?"

Seph shrugged casually. "Sure, why not?"

Virginia narrowed her eyes at him. "Unbelievable. What a playboy."

"And you?" Seph countered, his voice light and teasing. "Would you ask me out if you had the chance?"

Virginia blinked, her confidence faltering for a split second before she composed herself. "I... well... it's a man's job to ask a woman out, isn't it?"

"Who says?" Seph replied smoothly. "A strong woman like you doesn't need to wait for a man to make the first move."

Virginia's lips curved into a sly smile. "Alright then. Consider this your invitation. I'll give you a proper tour of California."

"I'm looking forward to it," Seph said with a warm smile.

Virginia's Apartment Complex

As the two of them exited the elevator and walked toward Virginia's apartment, Seph's expression subtly shifted. He felt the distinct energy of Hela nearby—an unmistakable presence that made his senses sharpen. His gaze flickered briefly toward an adjacent door, noting her magical signature within.

Virginia, oblivious to his distraction, unlocked her apartment door.

"Come on in," She said brightly, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Seph followed, but his mind lingered on the woman next door. Hela's here. Interesting.

Meanwhile, Inside Hela's Apartment

Sitting in a dimly lit room, Hela held a small crystal bead in her hands. The air around her pulsed with latent magic as she activated it. The bead glowed faintly before Lady Death's voice resonated from within.

"Speak," came Lady Death's cold yet enchanting tone.

Hela bowed her head slightly. "Mistress, Seph and the mortal woman have returned. The woman appears worried, though I cannot discern why."

Lady Death's laughter rang through the crystal, sending chills down Hela's spine. "Ah, my little scheme is progressing perfectly. Do not concern yourself with the mortal's emotions. Everything is falling into place."

Hela hesitated before speaking again. "Mistress, I… I'm still unsure about the part you want me to play. To... to sleep with him, just to—"

Lady Death interrupted, her voice dripping with amusement. "Oh, Hela. You're so serious, always so proper. If I had a chance to bed Seph, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment. He's exquisite, isn't he?"

Hela's face flushed slightly, though she masked it with a scowl. "Mistress, with all due respect—"

"Enough," Lady Death said sharply, though there was a playful edge to her tone. "The question remains—are you willing to do what's necessary to surpass your father?"

Hela's grip on the crystal bead tightened. She thought of her father, her fractured relationship with him, and the power she craved to break free of his shadow. "I… I'll consider it," she said finally.

Lady Death giggled again. "Good. Now, stay close to Seph. His fate—and yours—are intertwined more deeply than you realize."

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