Tempting My Trouble

As she repeated the call of The Demon Mother once more, Elias watched her carefully.. right up until she cut off his circling and forced him to be near her once again. He inhaled sharply as she came to his chest, his head lifting naturally to place itself above her own and embrace her. He was hesitant, but only because the intoxicating presence of her was becoming threateningly irresistible.

He surrendered to the feeling of her beneath him as she told him she would be The Demon Mother until the end of her days, his red eyes disappearing some as his expression softened and he relaxed his heavy neck on top of her own. He felt her side against his and the tempting feeling made his blood rush and his mantle come to life, hackles prickling over his shoulders from his sensitivity to his rising adrenaline. Something told him their bond was older than this life, that them finding each other was destined by the will of Ruina’s fallen. A small smile played on his own lips as he thought of this and gave a single kissing lick to the back of her nape and pulled away from her. He began walking toward the skins of the mountain goats, seemingly with a purpose.

Every fiber of his being wanted to draw itself back to her but he resisted. The memories of their first night together still plagued him, hauntingly familiar every time they became close. Katar’s voice was quiet now and had been for awhile, he did not feel compelled to harm her.. but did he have the strength to perform the blood oath and keep his sanity?

'Elias, look at her. As frail as I was.’ It was as if the mere thought of Katar summoned her, and Elias froze completely. Every muscle in his back tensed as his short fur stood fully on end along his spine just for a brief moment. He willed himself to focus, eyes dropping to the goat skins while one heavy paw kicked one back. The dagger from the oath had been hidden underneath.

'Elias, come on. Do you think she will obey you any more than I did? She is in season.’ Katar giggled, 'Of course, you know that. You're practically drooling because of it. Remember Elias, you killed me because you lost yourself when I refused to listen to you when I was in my season. I knew you would like her when I told you to claim her that night, that's why I called you to her- but will she understand any more than I did? Will she make it? Or will you have to kill her, too?’

Elias lifted his skull, looking away from the dagger.

'You could just go ahead and get it over with. You could end it now. You don't have to waste time on it, you know you will break. You will hurt her eventually, the first time she defies you- like you did to me. Just kill her, Elias. Spill her blood, spill it like mine. Devour her like you devoured me. Give her to me.’ Katar’s voice had become so loud, Elias couldn't hear anything else.

He could hear his heartbeat in steady tempo behind her words, getting stronger and faster the longer they went on. He growled through clenched teeth and felt his limbs begin to shake with the more he resisted letting his psyche internalize and give in to Katar's demand. He didn't want that. He knew it. So why was he struggling with the idea of giving up, of giving in?

To keep his limbs from shaking, his weight immediately retired to his haunches as he kept his back to Zuriel and shut his eyes. His head lowered, turning toward the wall of the cave as he did his best to tune out the whispering of Katar.

One thought breached through the madness and he nearly whimpered through his growl. Zuriel wasn't weak. She went through so much in her life and still faced him, still loved him. She left everything she knew and followed him here. She saved Vale without hesitating on ever knowing what she had to do. Hell, she was probably stronger than he was. In fact, he knew she was.

'Give her to me. Throw her, Elias. Just like me. Do it. I need her soul. Feed me. She won't stay, just like I wouldn't stay. Do it now before she gets away.’

”Zuriel,” his bellowing voice was strained through a tight jaw, but still audible. He sucked in his breath through drool ridden teeth and quivering lips. He didn't even know what to ask of her, he just knew he needed her. He needed to focus.