[Chapter 203: Tonight... Can You Stay?]
"Then doesn't that mean I'm dead for sure?"
Liv's legs weakened, and she nearly collapsed to the floor. She was just an actress -- never faced a situation like this.
"Mr. Cross, please save me! I'll pay you anything! Don't leave me!"
Liv gripped Daniel's sleeve so tightly her knuckles turned white. Genuine terror filled her eyes.
Seeing her so vulnerable, Daniel felt a pang of helplessness deep inside. He wanted to walk away, but since he had already stepped in, he was now tied to the Ram Cult's dangerous world.
Now, he and Liv shared the same threat.
"It's very difficult to completely erase this mark," Daniel said honestly. "Unless we find the source of the Ram Cult -- or that so-called 'Master' -- and take them down for good. But with my current abilities, I can't do that yet."
Hearing this, the light in Liv's eyes dimmed instantly.
"However..." Daniel's tone shifted slightly. "While I can't eliminate it entirely, I can help suppress it and protect you."
Liv lifted her head quickly. "Really?"
With a flick of his wrist, a Seal materialized in Daniel's palm.
"Keep this Body Protection Seal close. Find a sealed, waterproof bag for it and don't take it off -- even when you shower or sleep."
He handed her the Seal. "If anything evil comes near, this will block the danger."
"Thank you! Thank you!"
Liv held it like a priceless treasure, her hands trembling as she pressed the Seal tightly to her chest -- as if clutching her last lifeline.
"How much?" she asked immediately.
Daniel raised one finger. "One hundred thousand US dollars."
"Fine! No problem!"
Without hesitation, Liv turned away to write another check. If it saved her life, she'd pay a million, let alone 100,000.
After receiving the Seal, Liv's emotions steadied somewhat. But as she glanced around the empty mansion, fear still lingered in her eyes.
"Mr. Cross..." Liv bit her lip, pleading. "Can you stay tonight? I really don't dare stay here alone. Even with the Seal, I'm scared."
Daniel looked at her, then out into the darkness beyond the window.
"Just for one night. I can't watch over you forever."
"Okay, just one night." Liv nodded, surprised and relieved.
Daniel agreed to stay. His decision wasn't just because of Liv's desperate look or the check. It was a strategic move.
Since the Ram Cult had already marked this place, the Beverly Hills mansion would soon become a focal point of their attack.
Rather than waiting passively for them to strike from the shadows, it was better to take the initiative -- turn this place into a trap. Or rather, his own outpost.
If he could set up a powerful Ward here, when the cult's people or evil spirits attacked, he would be alerted immediately. Then he could strike back and follow the trail to find the so-called "Master."
"Go get some rest. Don't worry about me," Daniel said to Liv. "I need to walk around the house and check the layout."
"Okay, all right."
Though still afraid, Liv felt somewhat reassured with Daniel nearby.
...
Daniel stepped out into the quiet night. Moonlight cast a cold glow over the courtyard.
Activating his Spiritual Perception, he carefully studied the site's geomantic alignment.
"Backed by rising ground and facing open water... sheltered from harsh winds while naturally gathering spiritual presence... It was originally a site blessed with prosperity and protection," he muttered.
Daniel slowly circled the mansion, observing the terrain, surrounding landscape, and the subtle movement of ambient spiritual presence. Before long, he had a complete understanding of the estate's natural alignment.
Drawing upon the Doctrine of Arcane Geometry, he gradually constructed the array's design in his mind.
After determining the positions of its ward anchors, Daniel returned to the house and settled into a guest room on the first floor.
...
As the night deepened, he sat cross-legged on the bed. Rather than sleeping, he quietly cultivated the spiritual authority within him.
Suddenly, there was a faint "click" from the door lock.
His eyes opened, surprised. The door inched open, and a slender figure slipped inside, quietly locking the door behind her.
Moonlight streamed through the window, outlining the figure clearly.
It was Liv Tyler.
She still wore that thin silk nightgown. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders; she was barefoot, her expression nervous, but determined.
"What's wrong?" Daniel asked knowingly. "Still afraid?"
Liv said nothing. She bit her lip and took slow, steady steps toward the bed. She looked at Daniel and took a deep breath, as if bracing for something big.
"Mr. Cross... I looked up some things online about demonic sacrifices. Most of it's unreliable, but there's one thing they mention a lot."
Her voice trembled, cheeks flushed unnaturally under the moon's glow.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"
"Many demon rituals, especially those trying to break into the human world, often need... a pure soul."
Liv lowered her gaze, avoiding Daniel's eyes. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Annabelle said before it wanted the soul of a 'pure woman.' I thought... if I'm no longer pure, would that ruin their ritual? Would they despise my soul and let me go?"
Daniel was stunned for a moment.
Her logic actually made sense.
In the occult, 'purity' often referred to the soul's state, not just physical innocence. But in horror movies and legends, virgins were always the preferred sacrifices.
If the sacrifice was 'spoiled,' the demon might actually consider it bad luck.
"So..." Daniel looked at Liv, who had now reached the bedside. A playful half-smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "What's your plan?"
Liv suddenly looked up. Her deep blue eyes shimmered with moisture, carrying a flicker of courage.
"Mr. Cross, rather than giving my body and soul to that disgusting demon, I'd rather... give them to you."
She reached out and untied the sash of her nightgown.
The silky fabric slid down her smooth skin, pooling at her feet.
Her perfect body was revealed in the moonlight like a classical Greek statue -- goddess-like, but warm and trembling with mortal life.
"Please... help me."
Carrying a faint scent, she slipped into Daniel's arms, her body burning with urgent heat.
He sighed.
"Since you're willing to go this far, how can I stand by and watch you die?"
...
Daniel reached out, his hand closing firmly around her waist, pulling her flush against him. The contrast was immediate: her skin was cool and trembling, while his body was a furnace of sudden, intense heat.
Liv gasped, her breasts pressing into the hard planes of his chest, her nipples peaking instantly against the friction of his shirt.
Daniel didn't waste time with gentleness. He gripped the back of her thighs and lifted her, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. He carried her the two short steps to the bed and dropped her onto the silk sheets.
The impact sent a shudder through her, and before she could catch her breath, he was over her, pinning her wrists above her head.
He descended on her with a hunger that felt almost predatory. His mouth crashed against hers, not with a tentative kiss, but with a demanding claim.
Liv moaned into his mouth, her tongue dancing with his, tasting the saliva and the urgency of the moment.
His hands wandered, roaming over her ribs and hips, kneading the soft flesh of her thighs before sliding upward to cup her breasts. He squeezed them firmly, his thumbs brushing over her erect nipples, sending jolts of electricity straight to the core of her.
"You want to be 'spoiled'?" he whispered against her neck, his breath hot and humid. "I'll make sure there's nothing left of that purity."
He stripped his clothes away with frantic efficiency, his erection straining against his trousers before he freed himself.
Liv looked up at him, her eyes wide, her breathing shallow and ragged. As he knelt between her legs, the sight of him -- thick, pulsing, and ready -- made her core ache with a sudden, flooding wetness.
Daniel guided himself to her entrance, teasing the opening with the broad head of his member. He lingered there, letting her feel the sheer size of him, listening to the small, needy whimpers escaping her throat.
Then, with one decisive, powerful thrust, he buried himself deep inside her.
Liv let out a sharp, loud cry, her back arching off the bed. The sensation was overwhelming; he filled her completely, stretching her walls to their limit.
The friction was intense, a searing heat that ignited a fire in her lower belly.
Daniel didn't slow down. He began to move, pulling back until he was almost out before slamming back in, hitting her cervix with a rhythmic, bruising force.
The sound of their bodies colliding -- the wet, slapping noise of skin on skin -- filled the quiet guest bedroom.
Liv's fingers dug into his shoulders, her nails scratching his skin as she chased the peak. Every thrust felt like it was carving her open, rewriting her very essence. She felt the tension building, a coil tightening in her gut that threatened to snap.
Daniel shifted his angle, hooking one of her legs over his shoulder to drive deeper. He groaned, a guttural sound of pure pleasure, as he felt the internal muscles of her walls clamping tightly around him, pulsing in rhythmic contractions.
The friction became unbearable, the pleasure spiraling into something blinding.
"Look at me, Liv," he commanded, his voice strained.
She opened her eyes, seeing the raw intensity in his gaze just as the orgasm crashed over her. Her internal walls spasmed violently, gripping him in a crushing embrace.
The sensation triggered his own release; Daniel let out a low roar, his body shuddering as he surged deep inside her, filling her with hot, thick pulses of seed.
They collapsed together, their chests heaving, hearts drumming in a frantic unison.
...
Morning light spilled through a gap in the curtains.
Daniel woke feeling refreshed.
Liv still slept beside him, the tear stains at the corners of her eyes dried, her brow no longer furrowed.
He sat up and gently turned her over to check her back.
That eerie red mark, like 'a child urinating,' was still stamped clearly on her smooth skin.
The color hadn't faded at all -- it looked even sharper against the flushed skin around it.
*****
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