The demon was lying next to him curled up into a ball sound asleep. Something about that seemed absurd to him. The way she had her arm draped over his waist was protective. And the way he just let her was unnatural. But as unnatural as it felt, he didn't move away from her. Because as unnatural as it was, it also didn't feel wrong. A sigh escaped his mouth as he drew her closer to him.
"Filthy demon," he muttered under his breath.
She stirred slightly. He knew he wouldn't do anything to wake her, and after her words to him last night, he also knew he wouldn't try to run away from her. He didn't doubt her when she said she would chase him. He had a feeling the mark on his back would lead her right to him anyways. He groaned as he thought about that. The demon put the mark of Hell on him somehow. Her hair fell in waves over his hand, and he twirled a strand in his fingers. How could something that looked so perfect be so absolutely sinful? He didn't suppose he would ever know the answer to that.
The next couple of hours went by slowly for him. He watched as the sun rose through the small windows of the cottage. He wished more than anything that the demon would wake up so he could move from the spot on the ground. The thought of waking her crossed his mind again, but again, he couldn't bring himself to do it. After all, she had saved him from getting burned alive. He wasn't sure of the life she had taken him into, but time would tell that.
___________________________________________
Lily was acutely aware that Luke was waiting on her to wake up. Truth was that she hadn't been asleep in the first place. She was just comfortable listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart, so she stayed put. She had to stifle laughter as she heard him curse her occasionally. As much as he outwardly expressed his hatred towards her, she knew he didn't mean it.
"Good morning, my virgin priest," she said in a low voice. She made sure he felt her intent, and his body hardened with her words.
"You made sure that isn't true, demon." Luke whispered. "It's about time you woke up."
Luke wiggled out from underneath her and sat up. She watched as he stretched away all the kinks in his back. That's what he got for threatening to run, though. He could have slept on the couch, or the cot. But the threat made her want to make sure he stayed put. Lily looked up at him with wide eyes. His chest was bare, and everything about it made her hot with need.
"I didn't do anything you didn't want." She replied. Luke laughed at the statement.
"Yes, ruining my life was at the top of my list, demon. I have nothing now."
A small hint of pain went through Lily's chest. He really thought he had nothing? He had captured a demon, for all that was worth. She couldn't leave his side even if she wanted to. Something deep within her said that if he left her side, she would die. She had to follow him.
"You really believe that?" Her voice was small. "You really believe that you have nothing?"
Lily tried to ignore the nagging pain inside her, but it only grew the more the priest looked at her without answering. She could see that he was warring with himself. He wanted her, but he would never admit that to himself. Not when he had lived as a chaste man of God for so long. She sighed.
"Talk to me, priest. What's going on?"
"Why should I?" He was petulant. She supposed she didn't blame him.
"Because I want to help you, believe it or not." She said honestly. "I don't know exactly what is going on, but I can't figure it out unless you're honest with me. What's going on?"
He sighed. "I don't know what's going on either. All I know is that I was fine until you came around." Luke pushed himself up against her couch. "I was in a position that I loved, and you took that from me. Now they want to burn me, demon."
Fear shot through her, "That will never happen as long as I'm alive, priest." She meant that. "They will have to go through me to hurt you. They'll have to go through my people. As I said, you have a demon's mark. You may not like that, but it guarantees you protection."
Luke raised his eyebrow in amusement. "Are you afraid that I will die?"
Lily paused a beat. How did she answer this without revealing her vulnerability? He could theoretically kill them both. "I want you alive. That's all you need to know."
"No, it's not. You uprooted my life and now you owe me an explanation. You want me to be honest with you, but you need to be honest with me too." Luke stared her down. Lily was still acutely aware at the fact that he was shirtless in front of her. She sighed.
"Fine. You started preaching about the perils of lust and 'pleasure demons' as you call us right after I started coming to services. I suspect that you knew what I was then, you felt my power over you, you just didn't want to admit it." Lily looked pointedly at him.
"I honestly didn't know." He replied. "I just thought I was attracted to you."
"You were. Well you still are. I can feel it. But you only have us half right." She continued, "Most demons like me don't wait to take what they want. They'll rip it right out of you. As soon as I know someone wants me, so do I. You were different, though. I waited, I got to know you. Made you trust me."
"So most of you are crazy rapists?" He asked, accusation in his tone.
"Simply put, yes. But I'm different. I told you that I couldn't take anyone without consent, I wasn't lying to you. I can't get into your mind or access your body unless you want me to. I can't feed without consent, using you would serve no purpose to me without it. What I don't understand is how you got that mark on your back, or why I feel tied to you. Or why I feel safe spilling all these things to you."
"Why do you feed on virgins?" He asked.
"I get more power that way. That's the simple answer. I can go longer between feedings." Lily locked eyes with him. He looked scared, but not of her.
"Why me? I asked you that last night, but you didn't answer it directly. Why me?" Luke crossed his arms over his chest. Lily saw the self-consciousness roll through him.
"You were assigned to me." She said simply. "Don't ask me why, I don't know that. I was told to come and seek you out. I can't refuse an assignment."