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The skating rink was empty, devoid of the laughing people, the smells of steamed chocolate, and the music that once tightened his heart with fond memories. Snowflakes were falling from above just as it had been a long five years ago.
Five years...
Brown lowered in an attempt to keep tears in, save him from further degradation of his shattering soul. The melting touch of snow upon his lowered face had him choke back a laugh as he gazed at the smooth ice ahead. Sitting on his bench, the one he took that night in early December, Sajery gave a start when a nearby clock chimed ten'o'clock.
Every winter he took the drive from wherever he had moved to after finding a new love, back to where his life had changed. The first time he journeyed back to that significant place, the surface demon had broken down with sobs and could not linger for more than a few minutes. The following visits gradually became better - maybe winter had finally settled within him for good. A shaking sigh escaped him - even on the road, he was alone. No other cars were on the highway, leaving him without company, as slight as a neighboring vehicle would give. A hand left the wheel to massage his neck, easing out the aches, take away the haunting memory of arms slipping around them, shy lips trailing up for a kiss. Unconsciously, the demon caressed his mouth, half-closing his eyes at how, once upon a time, he would melt into such intimacies; only reluctance dragged him through relationships now, the need to fulfil his part of the deal with Adonis.
His hands had gained more crimson color, especially his right hand from committing the greatest of sins. Absentmindedly, he began to hum softly to the familiar tune on the radio, a classic love theme from some video, one he'd probably had watched with Lews once upon a time. Drawing his fingers from his lips, he stared at the black lipstick staining his fingertips, starting to end in a sharp point. Sighing, ripe with loneliness, Sajery continued the hour and a half drive back to his current home.
*
As quietly as he could, Sajery closed the front door and shook off the snow from his boots. His coat followed, returning to its place in the closet next to Isaac's ridiculous yellow raincoat, complete with a hood and visor. It was warm, banishing Winter's touch from his arms, cold despite being encased in long sleeves. The gloves, retrieved from the passenger seat, were now tugged on, shielding every part of him that was true, hiding and covering with a fake exterior.
It's no matter though...
He thought, making his way to the living room to sleep on the couch; the past few weeks, he refused to sleep in the same bed as his current human. Out of habit, Sajery still kept himself guarded, even at night when Isaac was-
"Where were you, Sajery?"
A voice that once had a regular volume louder than any other human he had encountered, now asked so quietly and timidly, surprising the demon, as well as the fact that Isaac was still awake. The young one was currently trying to stand up; it looked difficult with a large blanket wrapped around him. Left without words momentarily, brown orbs glanced at the fireplace mantle, at the clock which noisily ticked seconds somewhere between the five and the four - it was well past midnight.
"Sajery?" Again, so much softer than that first moment he'd heard the young human's voice. Without meaning too, Sajery laughed at the memory of Isaac's happy reply to his question, that day nine months ago, after the human showed him, a total stranger, kindness. A flicker of some greater pain crossed over Isaac's face; Sajery blinked, scratching the back of his neck, uncomfortably aware now that from the first glance at the human, Issy looked pained.
"I was just out for a drive, went to see some old sights, that's all." Stifling a yawn, the demon then stretched before standing still once more, simply admiring his human. A smile crept up on his face, Isaac looked adorable, his blonde hair tousled, slight body covered in a blue fleece blanket with white clouds and sheep, lovely amethyst eyes, shimmering with tears.
"Baby..." Rushing forwards, Sajery bit back a cry and was ready to dive across the room when the younger backed away from him to trip over an ottoman; Isaac's shout for him not to come closer successfully halted the demon. The human fell back into an armchair and immediately drew himself into a ball, almost shaking under his blanket. Truly shocked, fearing something terrible had happened in his absence, Sajery took a step closer and didn't dare take another, not wanting to hear the young one whimper for him to keep away again.
"Isaac," Voice trembling with as much concern and hesitant comfort he could muster, "Sweetheart, what's wrong? Why are you-"
"Where were you yesterday night?" The question was stronger than the last one, but an odd note in his human's voice that hinted an oncoming burst of tears. Still locked in his far-off stance, Sajery shuffled his feet, dancing in discontent.
"I was out, that's all, but baby, why are you about to cry? Did something happen while I was out?"
"Yes. Yes, something has been happening e-every night for the past month!" His Isaac - Sajery swallowed the growing lump in his throat - his
lover
was curled up in his chair, hiding his face in his crossed forearms, shaking his head over and over. "While you've been out, I'd wait for you to come home, come home to our bed but you never do. A-and then you started to sleep here, in here. You don't hug me anymore or kiss me good morning or goodbye when we leave for work. W-we don't talk." The far too late realization of the consequences of his behaviour nearly weighted Sajery to remain in place, but he quietly made his way across the living room. As he drew closer, the demon breathed in the scent of cinnamon and spice, and noticed he hadn't smelt the lovely combination for some time.
When was the last time I hugged Issy?...
Kneeling infront of armchair, he reached his gloved hand out and tried to coax the human from hiding.
Isaac did so with a hiccup, revealing his upset pink face and cheeks dampened with tears. Shushing softly, Sajery sought for his lover's hands,
"You come home past midnight, you don't tell me where..." Isaac looked everywhere but at his face, which Sajery brought closer to that crying one, his shushing slowly falling into silence. A stab of pain ran through his chest - did he bring this vibrant creature to tears? Issac was the sunshine, ever burning with life and zeal. Did he truly cause this? The human suddenly gripped at his hands, shaking at the effort, and raised his face to look straight into the demon's.
"Sajery, are you cheating?"
Shining amethyst looked into his, ready at any second, to turn away. Shocked to the point of speechlessness once more, Sajery could only stare back and try to wet his dry mouth. The longer he took, the more and more his lover's face crumbled into a void of darkness; he could see the lovely shade of purple slowly grow darker with a silent, ungiven answer. Which was not true.
"No, no, sweetheart...I'm not cheating on you. I'd never, Isaac, never." Tenderly, he cupped the human's cheek, and whispered reassurances when the younger weakly shied away from his touch. "I went to the main city to walk down memory lane, dearest, that's all. Shhhh, oh baby, did you think I was another person?" Not bothering for an answer, the demon pressed a feather light kiss on the tip of Isaac's nose before moving to kiss his cheeks, kiss away the tears.
"I've been thinking very hard about something for the past few weeks, it took alot of thought and I, well..."
It was one last attempt to keep himself from further death - Isaac would never become number five. If the rules allowed him to love humans before killing them, being with a human that was doomed to die from it's short life span should count in the rules. Kichay. Rich, warm brown regarded his new lover's young, open face, and his lips made a gentle smile. Kichay was a dream. His heart had finally turned away from frigid cold. As much as it hurt, he banished the young skater from his mind and heart. And now he was ready for another...
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a tiny burgundy, velvet box and held it in his palm, hidden with his fingers. Isaac had started to uncurl himself from his protective ball, but he still held in sobs, the fear of being cheated on probably strong and had gathered much fuel for weeping. Leaning forward, Sajery captured his human's lips in one last kiss before shuffling away, rising so he was on only one knee.
"I've been thinking about us. And I felt we have been together a long time. And I've felt incredible the whole time." Amethyst ran over his face in disbelief, taking in his stance, the younger sitting up and letting his blanket shield fall. "Isaac Renardez, will you marry me?"
*
Shaking with disbelief, Adonis gripped at his throne, muting all other voices of those in the world to focus on the surface demon and to the human was proposing to.
What, in all that is holy and hell, is that fool doing?
There were some fresh sobs that turned into laughs. A sickeningly sweet exchange of words, and then those proclaimations. Now able to intervene, Adonis did so and with haste.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing? Are you intoxicated, Sajery? I thought demons could hold their human liquor." Appearing out of thin air, freezing the moment, the soul collector kept a good distance between himself and the surface demon who stood, glaring at him menacingly.
"I'm finding another to love, I don't want to be a part of this deal anymore! K-Kichay is no longer a part of my heart or mind, he can stay in your twisted kingdom!" Adonis could already hear the uncertainty of the demon's voice.
"It's hard to say it outloud, isn't it, demon? Easy to think it, but to admit it? Use breath and make words, audible ones, until you hear them spoken aloud..." Crossing his arms, claret eyes narrowed in contempt, "You've signed your soul on our contract. Seven for seven. Actually, the number is now eight, you've just given another binding love proclamation to a human. I suggest you-"
