The Scourge of the Demon Hunters—Act 15

Sebastian watched as the ashes that had once been Sowton swirled in the air before settling across the floor. He swelled with pride and desire for his demonic beauty; she had exceeded even his wildest expectations. Her father’s power flowed through every ounce of her being, and she had harnessed it perfectly.

He grasped her to him as she began to fold away her wings. “No, do not transform back yet, my love, I have something I want to show you.”

He moved her hand to his waist and grasped her other hand in his. He led her dancing around the room, swirling and lifting the ashes once more. As they moved, Sebastian’s wings appeared, and his features shifted as he took on his true form. As Sebastian quickened the pace of their dance, the room faded away until they were moving effortlessly through an empty, endless, and formless space.

“Where are we?” Louisa asked, unfazed by Sebastian’s complete transformation.

“We are in the space between realms. A place where only creatures like us can reach. It is a place where we can call out to others and glimpse the path of humanity. It is through this space that your father reached for you back at the Order and should have reached out to me.”

“This is where you pulled me back from after you first found me?”

“No, you were somewhere much darker, trapped between the demon realm and the afterlife; even the reapers did not know where you belonged.”

“And, now, where do I belong?”

“By my side, both in the human world and in the demon realm, for all eternity, if that is what you choose?”

Louisa reached up and caressed his face, “It is, I want nothing else but to be by your side always. But you must keep your promise to me.”

“I shall my love, should it ever come to that, I shall.”

He held her close as they resumed their dance; the room came back into view and solidified around them. Their human forms reemerged as they stood wrapped around each other in the middle of the dining room. Neither noticed the single white feather that floated down past the window, nor heard the beating of wings as the unseen being flew off into the night.

“Now, my love,” said Sebastian, lifting Louisa into his arms and leaving the room, “I believe we have some unfinished business from this afternoon; if you have any energy left, that is?”

Louisa ran a nail across his jaw. “For you, my love, always.”

Sebastian grinned, his excitement evident as he leapt with Louisa in his arms, landing at her bedroom door.

As they entered the room, Sebastian placed her down on her feet and stepped back to admire the full extent of her beauty. The blood stains that trailed across her face, neck and chest from the evening’s kill only added to his excitement. Taking her in his arms once more, he licked the blood from her face, tasting Sowton’s bitter defeat.

Louisa gasped, her pulse quickening, she grabbed Sebastian by his tie and pulled him to her. She kissed him roughly, her need for him taking over from any other thought she might have had following the events of the night. Sebastian reciprocated, grasping the back of her head with one hand and tangling his fingers through her hair.

As he lifted her and lay her on the bed, he watched her closely, whispering, “And now, more than ever, you must keep your promise to me.”

She grinned, the fire and excitement growing in her eyes as she anticipated what he would do to her next. “I will,” she replied.

Later as they lay exhausted and tangled together on the bed, Sebastian lifted Louisa’s arm bringing her wrist and hand closer to him. Red lines encircled her wrist where his tie had been. He kissed her wrist before asking, “Does it hurt my love?”

“No,” she replied, adding, “and even if it did, it would be worth it.”

Sebastian smiled and kissed her wrist again; he would have to remember that she marked easier and healed more slowly than he did. Marks on her wrists and neck could cause awkward questions at breakfast, and even more awkwardness should Elizabeth ever see them.

A devious smile crossed his face as he imagined his Louisa explaining the intricacies of their relationship to Elizabeth without frightening the poor girl. Louisa was fighting sleep, wanting to spend every moment with Sebastian, but it was a fight she was losing. Seeing her struggle, Sebastian held her close, pulled the covers over them and held her tight. “Sleep, my love; I will be here until the sun rises, and even then, you are never far from me.”