Devouring love

by Serafina Daniel

  I enjoyed seeing trees with green leaves and hearing birds singing. It was a really lovely day today. I was sad that the rest of it I would have to spend in the building until Merdian comes back and be next to me.

  I sneered at that and crossed my arms over my chest. It was really stupid. I couldn't even leave the building if someone wasn't with me, although there were many guards walking around the building and making sure that everyone could be safe.

  Suddenly a loud blast touched my ears and the car started dancing on the street: left, right, left right... I didn't even have time to panic, because the car was soon not moving. How it appeared, the wheel had burst. How ironic, about four kilometers were left and here we were with a burst wheel.

  “Are you okay, Miss?” one of the angels asked me.

  “Yes, I am okay,“ I said in a bored tone.

  “Stay in the car. We will soon change the wheel,” he informed me and got out from the car.

  I only rolled my eyes at that.

  I noticed there was a magazine in the car and took it. There wasn't anything to do so I just tried to understand what had happened during those two years in this world. I didn't read it for long, because there was nothing to read. There were many pictures about naked, drinking or doing something inappropriate celebrities. Nothing interesting and valuable to know.

  I glanced through the window, wanting to see what my body guards were doing. They both were taking a spare wheel from the trunk and taking it to the burst one. Nothing interesting.

  I closed my eyes and tried to take a short nap. Five minutes...still trying to sleep. More minutes...and a quiet scream reached me. I opened my eyes and looked through the window to see what was happening. But I didn't even have a chance to see, because someone opened the car door and got inside. That someone turned the car on and we were shooting forward. But before that we turned around.

  A bad feeling crossed my body and I pulled to the door. But that someone had a hint that I would do that and locked all the doors. I was trapped with the person who did something to my guards.

  “Who are you?” I asked panicked.

  “Try to guess, my angel.”

  I didn't need to guest, because I knew now who was with me. Marcus. Why was he here? What did he want from me? Money? Okay, I could give him money that he could leave me alone.

  “Stop the car,” I asked in a trembling voice.

  “Do you really want me to do that?”

  “Yes,” I said without any doubt. “Stop the car and leave me alone.”

  He lifted his right hand and moved his finger to left and right how mothers liked to do telling their children that they had done something bad.

  “I can't leave you alone, because you own me. I hope you haven't forgotten that.”

  I shook my head. No, hadn't forgotten that.

  “What do you want from me?” I tried to be strong in his presence, although inside I wasn't. I was still the same shy Melody like I used to be before I had met him.

  “That is the right question, my angel,” he turned that car into a small street and stopped the car there. No one could see us because of the trees which surrounded us, protecting us from the inquisitive glances. Not to mention, that those people could help me to escape that devil.

  He opened the car door and got off. Them, he approached slowly my door and opened it. He waved his hand, asking me to leave the car and stand in front of him. I shook my head and moved to other side of the car, further from him.

  He scowled at me. He wasn't glad that I didn't want to obey.

  “We can do that in my way or in yours. Your choice,” he said politely. He was mocking at me or what?

  I took a deep breath and moved closer to the opened door. I got out from the car reluctantly.

  “Good girl,” Marcus said as he closed the door. “Did you miss me?” he asked as he touched my hair.

  I frowned and took a step back from him.

  “What do you want from me?” I repeated my question.

  He destroyed the distance between us. This time he locked his hand around my arm, making sure that I won't walk from him again.

  “We didn't end our conversation that night in your ward,” he said, looking straight to my eyes, making me uncomfortable in his presence. “Do you want to know what kind of deal we have made or have you already realized that?” his free hand found its way back to my hair and played with it.

  “How much money do you want?” I asked. My body was trembling and it was really not because of that cold spring wind.

  “Money?” he lifted his eyebrows up in surprise. “I don't need money. I have it myself.”

  “So, what do you want?”

  He leaned closer to me. No his hand wasn't playing with my hair. No. It was touching my back, forcing my body to relax. For my surprise, my body obeyed and soon I was relaxed and even enjoying his touch.

  “See, you don't need to be afraid of me,” he whispered, touching my cheek with his warm lips. “I won't ever hurt you, my angel. Trust me on that,” and now his lips touched mine. I didn't want to kiss him, but the desire to feel something on my lips, defeated me and I kissed him back, feeling how warm filled my body. And what was stranger for me, I wanted more of that warmness. I wanted it to be in my body forever.

  “So eager,” Marcus said when he broke our kiss. “But I promised to explain after I will kiss you. So, do you want to know about our deal?”

  I nodded of course. He stole a kiss from me. Again. I really won't let him run away from me without giving me that stupid explanation.

  “I am waiting,” I informed him.

  He grinned.

  “Well, the deal was to give you some time to find some answers to your questions. You had doubts about the wedding?” I frowned. “Yes, about the wedding. Your all life was planned for you and that forced to to question if others knew what really was best for you. What do you think, is Merdian what you needed?”

  “Yes,” I said without missing a heartbeat. “What are you getting at?” I didn't understand.

  “Well,” he said slowly,” you had to understand something if you are with me here, now. Could you feel when someone touching you during your sleep?”

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “No, you couldn't and that is the beauty of our deal, my pretty angel. You couldn't feel anything: coldness, warmness, pressure...nothing at all. But then, something had to touch you what woke up your body. You could feel his touch, his skin warm...”

  “What do you want to tell me? That that person is what I want?”

  He scowled and shook his head. He was angry at me even suggesting that.

  “No, that doesn't mean he is the person who was created for you. It only means that he was the key to the lock. Nothing else.”

  “I don't understand you,” I confessed.

  He sighed and turned his head to the right. He had that dreamy mask on his face now.

  “Mr. Offman is a good doctor, yes?” he didn't let me to reply. He just talked further. “He is smart and somehow knew how to help you. It's really strange knowing that the only thing which could you help you wasn't some kind of medicine or a touch.”

  He didn't want to give me the answer. No. Marcus wanted me to realize it myself. Or maybe he was just teasing me, trying to find out how much time I would need to loose me temper.

  “Please, just tell me what I should know,” I asked him.

  The sound of sirens found its ways through the trees. We both turned your eyes to that direction, trying to see a car pulling to us. But right now it was only the sound, giving us a hint that soon there would be someone.

  “Maybe next time, my pretty angel,” he said without hiding his disappointment that he had to leave me here. “I really would like to have more time with you, but all in good time, Melody.”

  “What about your payment?” I asked when he turned on his heels and started moving away from me.

  He stopped hearing my question.

  “Don't worry about that,�
� he looked at me over his shoulder. A cunning smile was spreading on his face, forcing my body to shiver. “Soon you will pay me but until then, try to have some fun,” and he entered into the forest where soon he was hidden from my eyes by the trees. I was left alone.

  Soon two cars stopped next to me. From them many angels burst out. One of them was Merdian. He pulled me into his embrace. My palms were on his chest, feeling how wild his heart was in his chest. He was scared that something bad might have happened to me.

  “Melody,” he whispered into my hair and planted a lot of kisses on my face. I could see how worry on his face was replaced by relief. He was happy to see me safe and sound.

  “I am okay,” I said and tried to smile. “Nothing bad have happened to me.”

  But he didn't believe me. A few times he observed me from head to foot, only to convince himself that I was really okay, that no one dared to hurt me, his girl, his future wife.

  “What happened?' he asked me.

  This time I didn't know what I could tell him that he could leave me in peace. I couldn't just tell him that I couldn't see his face. It wasn't dark now. Also, I couldn't say that this was a totally different person...

  “Are my body guards dead?” I asked, although I had already know the answer.

  He nodded, confirming my suspicions.

  “The same way like the men in the hospital,” he added.

  Yes, I couldn't tell him for sure that the man who had kidnapped me was another person. No. This time I had to tell at least some parts of the truth, even though I didn't want him to say anything.

  “It was a...devil,” I said in a small voice, hoping that maybe Merdian won't hear it. But he did. He always listened to me.

  “Devil?” he sounded astonished. Why shouldn't he?

  I nodded and gripped his shirt in my hands. I didn't want him to move away from me. Right now I needed him to be as closer to me as he could.

  His arms around me tense. It wasn't only me who wanted just to be one thing. Merdian had the same desire. He pulled me even closer and one more time he kissed my hair.

  “Calm down. Everything is okay. Nothing will hurt you,” and he pulled me to the black car. I didn't struggle; I obediently followed him and sat in the car which soon shot forward. All the way home Merdian didn't say anything, but his arms didn't leave my body, his lips were always hiding in my hair, whispering that nothing could hurt me.

  You are wrong, I said in my thoughts. I didn't know much...to be honest, I didn't know anything about devils because no one actually talked about them, but something in my head whispered that Marcus would be a problem. A huge problem.

  The car stopped and everyone got out from it. I quickly scanned the area. I noticed that many angels were walking around the perimeter with huge black like night dogs. Every single angel was holding a weapon in their hands. But it wasn't the only deadly thing with them. I saw many daggers around their legs and waist. It wasn't some kind of training for them. It was a serious thing.

  I gasped and closed my eyes for one second. In my mind I begged that all this would be only a dream, but nothing had changed when I opened my eyes.

  Right now I didn't know what was better: to be in bed or to be in alive again.

  “Don't look,” Merdian touched my cheek. I turned to face him. His sad eyes locked with mine. He was worried about me, about his treasure. I didn't know what he really did all those two years, but the fact that it was a devil who take me, wasn't so shocking fact to him. At least he didn't seem surprise to hear that word.

  I didn't give him any sign. I just walked with him inside, where Mr. Patrick Spring met us with his wife Livet who dashed to me.

  “Poor thing,” she said.

  “What happened?” Patrick demanded for an answer.

  Merdian glanced at me and then to his father. All warmness disappeared from his face now. There was only coldness and seriousness.

  “We have a problem, father,” he said in a formal tone, forcing my heart to pound faster in my chest. Something big was about to happened and I was fearing for the worse.

  “That bad,” Patrick scowled and turned his penetrating gaze at me. My body shivered as I met his eyes.

  Merdian nodded and squeezed my hand tighter with his. I broke my and Patrick's eyes contact and turned my face at Merdian. He wasn't looking at me. All of his attention was directed to his father.

  “Who is he?” his voice was now sharper than the sharpest dagger. He was furious and didn't hide that. After all, someone dared to attack his family, attack the royalty family of the angels. That was the biggest insult which someone could give to Mr. Patrick Spring. That was unforgivable.

  “A devil,” he said coldly.

  Mrs. Spring pulled her hands over her mouth and gasped. Her emerald green eyes became bigger on her face.

  Mr. Spring's hands clenched into fists. He was really close to burst or at least lose control over his body and show everyone his enormous and strong white wings.

  “Take her to her room and meet me in the work room,” Patrick said and left us alone. Mrs. Spring followed her husband, because she felt every single emotion which was boiling in him and she was the only person who could cool him down. That was how our oath worked. That was one of the things why I felt scared.

  “Come,” Merdian said softly. “You need to rest.”

  I wanted to argue with him about that. I didn't need rest, because I had already rested for two years. It was high time for me to understand what was happening and be a person who not only loved Merdian, but who could help him one day when all this kingdom of the angels would belong to him.

  Unfortunately, seeing determination in his eyes to make sure that I would be safe, I decided not to do anything and just to be an obedient little girl.

  Caspar

  Even though I knew that I should concentrate on my patients and their pathetic stories, I just couldn't. My thoughts over and over again shifted to Melody and her request to be her friend.

  I could only imagine her life right now if that was even possible. Her boyfriend was from really influential family. Everyone wanted to be her friend and have a piece of that delicious luxury in which she lived. Not to mention, everyone wanted to see themselves on the magazine cover.

  There was a time when I wanted to be famous too, because I only thought that it would make my life easier. But the truth was, the life only gets harder when everyone knows you, tries to be your friend...

  Right now that time had come. Because I managed to bring melody back to this life, I became one of the most well-know doctors. Only today I received a few phone calls from the press. Journalists asked me to give an interview for them.

  I said a strict NO.

  “You are stupid,” Nick said. His lectures ended earlier today and he decided to visit his elder brother and tell him how popular his younger brother became after I helped Melody.

  “Thank you very much,” I said with an ironical smile on my face.

  He sneered and looked around my cabinet.

  “You should use this opportunity. After all, you have earn it. Why don't you want to let everyone know you?”

  I dropped my eyes at the file which was on my table and pretended to read it very carefully. I didn't want to talk about that and tried to show that to Nick, but he acted like he didn't notice my reluctance to touch that topic.

  “Because I don't want to,” I said finally and closed the file.

  “Oh really?” he lifted his eyebrows up, showing to me that he didn't believe me. Why should he? After all, even the gray mouse wanted to have some kind of attention. No one liked to be in a corner and worship someone they didn't know. They themselves wanted to be worshiped.

  I rolled my eyes and heaved a sigh.

  “I have enough money for us all to live a good life. I don't need more,” I stood up and walked closer to the window.

  “Money?” he sounded insulted that I dared to mention that thing. “I am talking about women, brother. When you are famous
, there are many women who wants to be in your bed. So, there is a huge selection. And believe me, you need a woman in your bed.”

  I hated when he started that topic.

  “Really?” I glanced over my shoulder at him. He was sitting comfortably on the chair and staring at me with that cunning fox smile on his face.

  “Yes,” he nodded lively.

  “I don't think so,” it was a lie, but my brother didn't need to know that. I crossed my hands behind my back and looked through the window.

  “Yea,” he said sarcastically. “I don't believe you. Every guy needs a woman, even if he hates them. Or,” he sounded thoughtfully and that caught my attention. I turned around and darted my eyes at him.

  “Or what?”

  I had a feeling that something not good was going to leave his mouth and I was afraid of that. I slammed myself in my mind for even letting him enter into my office. I should have told him that I was busy and that we could meet later, at home when I could check our mother and tell her what kind of medicine to use.

  But now it was a day after the fair and I waited patiently for my brother words to meet my ears.

  “You have a woman,” I sighed and shook my head. Of course, first I put my hand on my face, giving him a sing that he was talking nonsense. “Or there is a woman who you might be interested in,” he added and hearing those words, I felt how blood ran into my cheeks, coloring them into light red color. Now he wasn't saying crap. “You are blushing?” he sounded astonished.

  I shook my head and quickly turned around.

  “You are just imagining things.”

  “No,” I heard him saying. He stood up and came closer to me. Soon I felt his heavy hand on my left shoulder. He was patting me and that threw me out of balance. Why was he doing that?

  I wanted to turned my eyes at him and see what kind of emotions were playing on his face, but I still could feel hotness in my cheeks and I decided that it would be too risky to show that he found that hidden button who could tell him what really was happening in my head.

  “Do I know her? Please, tell me,” he begged.

  “There isn't any girl,” I said to him. I tried to sound sincere, but he didn't believe in my lies. He knew me well enough to know when I tried to prevaricate.