Tag: Romance

Eyre looked at Kai, with a fascinated sparkle in her eyes. She absolutely loved his name. Kai shrugged at her excitement and curled up again on the stool, with legs crossed and body turned to the side. She could not help but repeat his name in her thoughts while smiling to herself.

This little detail was not much, but it gave Kai a certain feeling of warmth, now that he was no longer known just as the unknown demon that had possessed her in order to survive.

Eyre knew what her mother went through before she died and when she looked at Kai, she was reminded of the stories of less painful days that her mother had written about in a journal before she died. At the very least she hoped that this encounter would be different. Her thoughts then flashed back to one of the most horrific memories she had and before she realised it, it felt like her heart sank into her stomach with heavy palpitations. Anxiety crept up along her spine forcing her to shift her focus onto her breathing.

Kai noticed the shift in Eyre’s heartbeat and turned his head in confusion. With a clenched fist over her stomach, she only managed to take in two shivering breaths before a pair of warm hands covered her ears. The whirlpool of a nightmare that ran on repeat faded into silence and pulled her attention back to reality. When she looked up she was greeted with a resentful expression.

Kai resented this moment. More than being close to Eyre, he hated the sound of her unstable heartbeat. The fickle, confused and fluttering little heart rang like an echo in his ears and shook him to the core. Eyre understood absolutely nothing apart from the fact that everything seemed to calm down, the nightmare was gone and so was the pain.

The moment Kai let her go again he wobbled backwards until he could seek support from the vanity table. The same fluttering heart that he had just listened to kept ringing, and seemed to have shaken up his own heart. He frowned and glared at her, wanting to vent at her for being too careless with her emotions when he was caught by reality; If she did not already have a death wish, he would have threatened to take control of her body once more.

The snug feeling of Eyre’s slender arms wrapped around his waist and sent his senses on fire. His knuckles turned white from holding onto the edge of the vanity table. The wood crumbled bit by bit in his grip and he gritted his teeth visibly trying to hold onto what little self-control he had left. Eyre was in tears of relief and snuggled her face into his chest unaware of the struggle that Kai was currently going through.

“Thank you, Kai!” She exclaimed, not knowing what was to come.

“Let go…” He growled at her and felt how his body was trembling from the tension that had built up.

With no immediate response, Kai was left with no other choice but to vanish. Eyre almost tripped over herself if it had not been for the vanity table. Surprised by his sudden disappearance she turned on her heel scouting the room for his presence, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Kai had sought refuge on top of the canopy bed frame disguised as a tiny shadow. Right underneath the ceiling, there was enough space for him to hide and to his advantage, the bed was classic and sturdy in design. The curtains draped in a soft sway and tied to each pillar.

Glaring down from his spot, Kai struggled to come to terms with this unfamiliar experience. He had never in his life felt his core shake this way and even when something similar had shown up he had never lost his cool about it. It had never been an issue for him before, and it was not something he had had to deal with before either.

Eyre called out to him once more and sighed, feeling defeated, left behind, and confused. On top of the tormenting social gathering and Kai’s appearance, it felt like everything was out to get her. She picked up the journal from the nightstand with a heavy on the way downstairs, maybe putting it all into words would help ease her mind a bit.

Of course, as a demon linked to his host, Kai had to stay as close as possible when he was hiding, so while Eyre headed out he was forced to creep along the panels, hiding behind every object he met on his way.

When Eyre finally sat down in the large velvety armchair, Kai snuck in underneath it and lurked from around the corners. She took out a pen and started writing. Full of curiosity, he remained on top of the armchair’s high backrest, but he could not even begin to decipher her cursive handwriting.

***

Hours went by and the sun settled in a sharp warm orange shade. The entire room was covered in a cosy glow. Luckily the high back of the armchair had ears sticking out on the top part as part of the neck rest and created a shadow for Eyre to hide in.

Only Kai, who was resting on top of the armchair, was disturbed by the sharp light. He frowned with a vengeful grimace and returned to his normal form; a human with demonic features. He stepped lightly around the chair and halted as soon as he had an unclouded vision of her complexion. Eyre’s long lashes rested peacefully, and her breath was soft and calm, much more than before.

It was in moments like these, he felt fully exposed to his nature. Just looking at her like this made him uneasy, because he knew how easy it would be to end her life and be on with his life, yet he did everything he could to hold back on himself, not fully understanding the motive behind such a mortal conviction. He knew what he stood to gain if he managed to hold out for at least a week. However, that also depended on her willingness to follow along with his request. Staying idle about it would only take away the only chance he had of escaping this town.

Out of courtesy, he found himself sitting on the puff in front of her, with arms crossed in defence. He pondered deeply over whether he should wake her up or not and as impatient as he was, he reached out, intending to wake her up when the loud noise of an old phone started ringing persistently from the hallway.

Eyre woke up and shrieked in defence and Kai jumped in surprise. The ringing stopped before Eyre could manage to get up from the chair. She sighed annoyed by the disturbance before she noticed Kai sitting in front of her.

“You’re back?” She gazed at him all confused, saying that she had no idea as to how he was able to come and go as he pleased.

For the first time, Kai leaned forward voluntarily and almost stared her down with a firm and stern gaze.

“I’m back?” He grinned, not knowing if he was to laugh or feel slightly insulted. “A demon never leaves his prey all alone.” Neither confirming nor denying whether it was a declaration of hunger for her, he tried to keep a neutral position. He had already told her that she would survive this and that was a truth he did not want to take away from her, not yet at least.

Eyre sent him a warm smile. For her, it was a simple matter of knowing what to expect. Loyalty was an important thing for her since none of the housekeepers had ever responded to her wishes. They had been planted by her uncle since her father spent his time away from home with work. As such, she had sometimes resorted to tricks and pranks to get the housekeepers to leave. With time, she had come to learn about the most basic chores around the house. She had learned to keep things neat and clean, although the corners of the house could use a more loving hand. There was no need to question Kai’s motives. To her, it was enough to know that he was not sent here to boss her around. Just knowing that he was not connected to her uncle already gave him a safe pass to move around as he pleased.

“I honestly don’t mind that.” She replied and got up from her chair.

Kai instantly got up as well and stepped back to keep a safe distance. This time though, Eyre took notice of it and gave him a puzzled look over his behaviour. This time she was not gonna let it slide.

“Don’t worry, I will mind my manners from now on.” Her words were sincere but still coated in a thin layer of spite. The fact that he wanted to avoid all forms of physical contact with her only made her doubt his intentions.

Kai froze on the spot, dumbfounded at the way she chose to phrase it. It gave him a gnawing feeling in his stomach. If she knew what would become of her if he lost his wits for even just a second, then she would not take it lightly. He was conflicted and about to lose his mind, but he needed her and could not afford to act carelessly. He was willing to submit to the point where she could find comfort and yet this is what he got in return. He frowned, feeling the anger crawl up his spine. Seeing the back of her silhouette made him snap and within mere seconds he placed himself in the way of her path to the kitchen.

Morning came with rays of the sun, seeping in through the curtains. It reached onto the bed where Eyre lightly stroked the sheets. Eyes squinted, she took a look around the room. She vaguely recalled the events from last night and shivered, hugging herself as her stomach turned in disgust. She recalled the social gathering she had gone to, a party filled with nobles and brown-nosed authorities.

One man, an acquaintance on her uncles’ side of the family had become one she’d not forget and by the time the memory returned, she found herself rushing to the bathroom, hurling at the sheer horror that kept playing over and over in her head.

Kai popped up behind Eyre watching from the doorway into the bathroom, he crossed his arms frowning at the sight. Eyre remained on the floor trying to collect her thoughts when he suddenly broke off the silence.

“Tsk tsk tsk… what a mess,” he said unfazed.

Eyre jolted and turned back around, staring right at the demon she did not remember meeting last night.

“H-How did you get in?” She asked carefully as she now fully noticed his horns and the markings on his face.

Kai was dressed in a long-sleeved cotton shirt in a dusty pink shade with a deep V-neck, and his pants were loosely tucked into his mid-calf boots. Aside from his human complexion Eyre was already aware that he was not. Not that knowing this would calm her down at all.

“That’s not important.” Kai retorted and turned to walk back into the bedroom, not giving her the chance of asking any further. He stopped halfway in and sent her a glaring stare with a thoughtful frown.

“Get yourself cleaned up first, then we’ll talk.” He added.

Eyre blinked in confusion before she looked down at her gown, now seeing the frayed hemline from the assault. Questions kept popping up and although scared, she was curious.

***

Kai waited impatiently by the window, staring at the empty streets. Eyre sat on the bed after the shower, drying her hair with a towel. There was an uncomfortable silence in the room. One that could mute even the tattering feet of the mice in the attic. She inhaled carefully and turned to look at him, worried.

“Did you-”

“Yes.” He confirmed, knowing exactly what she was referring to, the possession.

Eyre bit her lower lip, almost forgetting where she was taking the conversation. She put down the towel and looked around trying to find words.

“Will I… am I going to die- “

“No!” he snapped, almost flinching at the thought alone.

It was a guaranteed question every time he managed to converse with his hosts, and he hated it because he always had to convince them otherwise.

“How much do you know?” He asked in return.

Quite frankly Kai would expect Eyre to be a novice about his kind, but her entire demeanour suggested otherwise and that alone put him on edge. She looked up at him, gazing at his back, feeling the invisible wall he put between them.

“Not much I’m afraid.”

“But you do know what I am, no?” He asked.

Eyre nodded slightly in response.

“You will live.” He said. It was a very bold choice and he knew it, but he could not afford to have her running around being worried about her death, although it would come sooner rather than later. He caught her gaze once again and with more willpower than before he withstood the urge to give in.

“I’m not scared.” She added with a look of deep loneliness hidden in her eyes. Frankly, she had never heard of a human who had lived to tell the story of being possessed. It was always these cryptic messages going around by others, describing humans running around in madness like vile beasts.

Kai remained silent at her last statement, forcing himself not to stare at her. He cleared his throat trying to remain composed but had to avert his gaze eventually. It was a trial like nothing he had ever experienced before. Under normal circumstances, he would have given anything to prolong his time with a host, yet here he was, stuck with a girl that triggered his urge to consume her, repeatedly.

Eyre understood very little about demons, but that could not be reason enough to silence her curiosity. As Kai remained by the window, giving her the cold shoulder, Eyre stood up and stepped closer. She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention, and he flinched at the sudden touch of her hand.

“Please be kind to me.” She pleaded and sent him a warm smile. Even with the chance of dying, the mere thought of not being alone anymore was oddly comforting.

As Eyre kept eye contact with him, she suddenly noticed how his cheeks flushed ever so slightly.

“Is everything alright?” She asked.

However, the sound of Eyre’s voice made Kai shove her away with a firm hold on her shoulders, keeping a safe distance between them. Eyre looked at him confused as he had his gaze locked on the floor. He let her go and raised both hands in defeat to tell her that she was not allowed to come any closer.

“I-I’m fine,” he said.

Eyre was dumbfounded at his response. As much as she wanted to believe his words it was just too contradicting compared to his behaviour.

***

After a long break they both sat down across from one other. Kai had taken the spot on the stool by the vanity dresser while Eyre sat politely in question on the edge of the bed. He had his arms crossed and frowned so much that his gaze had turned into a glare. She did not know what to do or say and thus kept fretting and playing with the skirt fabric, avoiding the subject.

“Name?” He asked in a sharp tone.

“E-Eyre!” She replied, leaving no room to think it over.

This was not even a scary situation, but his current mood just made it too uncomfortable to be at ease. Was he that unsatisfied with her? It was hard to believe that he would be this careless.

“A-And yours?” She asked in return after a moment of silence.

Kai was lost in deep thought and just kept glaring at her. He almost blurted out a frank comment that would contradict his earlier statement about her survival. She would not live long enough to make use of it, so why bother? He sighed and rolled his eyes behind his eyelids before reuniting with her gaze again.

“… You can call me Kai.” He replied ever so gently and let go of the heavy frown he had been holding onto. This familiar situation was just too unsettling.

Screams roared through the empty streets, as the young man finally kneeled in defeat. His arms swung like a ragdoll before finally hitting the ground. The demon turned around with a cold gaze towards his now-dead host. In a swift motion, he plunged his fist through the man’s rib cage tearing the heart from muscle tissue and lingering blood vessels. A feast worthy of any demon in this world. A human not affected by sin was a rare sight nowadays. Demons were flooding the region and most humans were reduced to nothing more than pure sinful creatures.

Kai feasted on the poor man’s heart and licked off the remaining blood from the tip of his fingers as he noticed footsteps not too far away. He left the body and roamed the rooftops scouting for the sound and there she was, the daughter of Earl Hiraeth. He took notice of her long brown hair and depressed posture and halted when she suddenly stopped to lean against the wall.

Kai kept spectating for a moment while being on the lookout for another more favourable choice. Displeased with his options he leapt from the roof in his shadow form and rode with the wind like a snake in an attempt to possess her, but before he could even get close enough she collapsed, disrupting the process.

In a quick reflex, he took hold of her upper arm, forcing her to stand on her own two legs. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that her features were stronger and more delicate, although still very ladylike. No question was needed, she had seen better days and was probably better off not roaming around the streets like this. She had the potential to be an ordinary case of a quick fix to a hungry belly, yet, here he was, hesitating.

Kai wished that another solid prey would show up, but he had run out of luck in this region. At most, a host would last him a week if he remained dormant enough, but even this woman seemed like she would not last for more than a day or two. He released his grip on her and let her slip down the wall, not even mindful of her surroundings.

Kai could not deny the urge for more and although this woman held no long-term value for him, he still could not turn his back on her. He kneeled at her side and locked his grip around her upper arm but then, she finally turned to look at him with drowsy eyes emitting a low-key desperate yearning for something. In a mutual gaze, he subconsciously ended up triggering the possession process and vanished into thin air whereto she dropped to the ground all curled up.

It felt like hours had passed while Kai waited for the opportunity to take control of her body. At this moment he finally realised what this woman had been searching for so desperately, but her persistent slumber made him anxious. He refused to let her die here in the middle of the street, he could simply not leave her out in the open. What if the local order came around and found her? Then all of this would have been a complete waste. He would be discovered and expelled before he could even release her again.

When she finally woke up and got back on her feet, she wandered back to her house. Once inside she locked the door behind her and looked to the upper floor. With heavy steps, she managed to climb the stairs and stumbled down the hallway to get to her bedroom. She reached out for the nearest bed frame pillar and caught herself before her knees gave out, slightly shaking.

Kai remained dormant and indifferent to Eyre’s endeavours until he noticed a sharp sense of desperation in her flow of energy and shifted his attention. She had found a scissor from the vanity drawer and like other citizens in this town, she veiled in the need to end her own life. As she lined up the tool in her hand getting ready for the plunge, Kai stretched out his power of control, paralysing her movement. He forced her to gaze into the vanity mirror where she noticed a change to her face, yet she found it impossible to scream.

“Drop it.” He growled in her mind. He pulled back his control slowly as he manifested himself resting on his knees right behind her, staring into the mirror, with a hand resting on the same pillar she had been clinging to.

Eyre never once looked away until she finally dropped the scissor and turned around to look at him. Kai shifted his gaze from the mirror and down at her, not moving a muscle. His gaze narrowed when he met her eyes and instantly averted it when he felt his core energy of sin shifting. He never expected it, yet here he was, under the influence of his curse.

A soft bump on the bed pulled his attention back again; she had passed out. Out of sheer curiosity, he leaned in over her, studying her features once more. He needed her alive at all costs. One wrong move and she would die like all the others. Regardless of the issues he had to deal with, there was no time to leave out even a single option for danger. He sighed, annoyed by the fact that her afflicted sin stemmed from the very same that drove his instincts.

“It’ll all be over soon.” He mumbled to himself, trying to calm the nerves that kept shaking him up.

Kai got off the bed and picked up the scissors, wondering why she had wished to take her own life. Rarely, if ever, had he seen people driven to their deathbeds when their drive and lifeforce were still blooming the way that hers did. Truly he had thought she would not last, but the desperation in her eyes gave him a reason to believe in the impossible. She might last, only to his benefit. He may even be given a chance to do the things he had wanted to do for so long.

Kai put the scissors away and glanced at her for a moment through the mirror before he turned around on the heel and stepped closer. His reasoning failed to keep him in check as he leaned down and slid his hand under her neck, supporting her shoulders while he also scooped the other under her kneecaps, lifting her swiftly. He halted right away, noticing how he had continuously been seeking eye contact with her, although she was sound asleep. He took a deep breath trying to pull his senses together as he made his way around the bed. With a knee placed on the mattress, he aligned her in the centre, tugging her in carefully. He clenched his fist and sighed once more turning his back to her while sitting on the bed.

Kai spent the night speculating after going back into hiding. Only leaving himself to the conclusion; that she was going to be one of the most difficult hosts he ever had to deal with.