Zeev POV
I succeeded in getting Harlee to drink the foul liquid. She coughed and sputtered and nearly gagged, and I could taste the disgusting filth and even feel it as it poured down her throat and coated her stomach through our Bond. She grabbed the water quickly and tried to wash away the flavor, but it was like oil, refusing to mix or be washed away by the water. She gagged again. Having had enough of the flavor myself through our link, I tilted her head.
"Here, let me help." I whispered and kissed her gently. I could taste my saliva on her own tongue-to her I tasted of cinnamon and spices-as I licked away the remains of the concoction inside her mouth. She gasped slightly at first, then moaned and leaned into me, enjoying the sensation. I smiled slightly against her lips, and then let my tongue continue to explore.
"Ahem." A voice came from the doorway. The Senior Mage. I sighed and Harlee groaned unhappily. "I'm sorry to interrupt your ministrations to your Mistress, but may I come in?" I looked to Harlee who nodded shyly, wrapping the blanket closer around herself.
"I'll be brief, since the young lady's already had the potion and it's rather hard on the body I'm afraid." I looked at her with worry.
"I overheard your conversation with my son." Of course he did. "Hell is after you two because of your Bond, correct?" I jerked my head in the affirmative. "Ah yes-thought as much, some don't take too well to a Demon surrendering his Heart to a human. But Heaven, why are they after you?"
"Because of what you suspect. Because of her soul. Divine, Demonic-we were never intended to have one. We crave them, consume them, destroy them, yes. But we were never meant to possess one-and Harlee-Harlee is incomplete. Her soul cannot pass on in this state. We are abominations that Heaven believes must be destroyed." I spat. The man nodded.
"Believe it or not, I pity you both Demon." He stated and with that, Harlee gave a gasp and I felt a tug on the string that bound our soul fragments. I looked down and Harlee was clutching her chest, gasping for breath, her face red.
"I'm so hot Zeev, I.. I can't breathe-get this off me. I'm burning up!" She screeched, trying to free herself from the sheet wrapped around her.
"What's this mixture doing to her?" I roared, looking back at the door, but the man was gone, and then it hit me too. Oh no-I had consumed some from Harlee's mouth! And I held half her soul! The heat was...unbearable. I felt like I was burning from within! But I was a Demon damnit! Fire had nothing on me!
Harlee POV
I clutched Zeev's shirt as he tried to unbutton it to strip out of it. I was so hot and so dizzy. I could feel myself falling as I slipped from the sofa. My chest hurt so badly I couldn't breathe. I wanted-no needed the rest of my soul back damnit! I tried to pull Zeev closer to me, but I didn't have the strength, so he did it for me, tugging me against his naked chest. The moment our chests collided together I started to whimper.
"Don't let go-please, don't let go." I sobbed and he kept murmuring promises in my ear that he wouldn't. The heat burned from my chest outward and felt like it took forever to go out. Tears ran down my face most of the time and Zeev held me to him as if afraid I would disappear. Eventually the heat was exchanged for cold sweats and Zeev pulled a blanket over us as I lay on top of him on the floor, shivering. Towards the end I remember vomiting a foul black tarry substance, most of which ended up on Zeev. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.." I groaned in misery and embarrassment. He just stroked my hair as I apologized over and over.
"It'll wash, it's alright." I could feel his own cold shivers below me and gripped him tighter and apologized again. The rest was like a fever dream of Zeev cleaning us both up and dressing me in a borrowed night gown, then laying on the sofa with me on his chest again, wrapped in a blanket.
"Why do you always take care of me?" I asked him.
"Shh.. just go to sleep." He whispered. But I heard the answer in his thoughts loud and clear. 'It's because I love you Harlee.' I sighed.
"I love you too Zeev." I murmured as I fell asleep.
Zeev POV
I froze. Harlee... with no hesitation.. no mitigating words or phrases.. told me she loved me. I think I knew what humanity was always going on about now. I had goose pimples. I would never get tired of hearing her say that. It made my Heart feel as though it may explode. I.. almost couldn't stand this feeling in my chest. I wanted to share it with the world!
I settled for resting a hand on the back of the head of my world, and she sighed again softly. I brushed the hair away from her face and stared at her.
"If you keep staring at her like that, you're going to burn a hole in her face." Came a snide voice from the corner.
"Ah shut it, spy." I remarked spitefully
"Spy." The voice hmphed and a sliver tabby padded into view. "I merely take orders from my Master. As do you." The cat sat and stared at me haughtily.
"Harlee's not like that. Also-use your human Form-it's weird talking to you like that." I griped.
"Master ordered me to be in this shape until the boy is ready to know about me. I cannot disobey." The cat stretched leisurely.
"How has he not seen through your disguise yet?" I asked incredulously.
"Master used a bunch of spell-work. The boy knows there's something fishy about me, but I'm being passed off as Master's Familiar vs his Contracted Demon. The boy's suspicious, but does not yet have the knowledge to muddle it out." The cat hopped onto the back of the sofa and stretched a paw out towards Harlee, batting at her hair. I growled.
"She looks tasty. Master has forbidden me to eat anyone he doesn't send me after though. I'm so hungry. I hope he gets mad at you so I can eat you." The cat's eyes glowed red and I swatted at it. It hissed and jumped from the sofa.
"I doubt you could, Mongrel. I'm not an ordinary Demon, look a little closer." I growled. The cat's red eyes turned to me again.
"Fallen!" It spat. "Why have you pledged your Heart to a Human?"
"I used the last of my Grace to save her after I stole half her soul. Now we're Bonded and I'm ok with that." I murmured softly, looking at her.
"You speak like a human, as if in love." The cat's gaze sharpened. "But that's... impossible.." The cat shook its head. "What is happening to you? It's wrong!" It tilted its head, eyes wide, mouth agape. I shrugged slightly, trying not to disturb Harlee.
"Maybe, but, the way I feel-it's... unbelievable.." I smoothed Harlee's hair tenderly. The cat shook its head again and stalked off.
"Well Master has told me to watch you and report in, so that's what I'll be doing. Every. Move." The cat jumped up on a cabinet and settled down, eyes softly glowing in the dark. I listened to Harlee breathe as I gently hugged her to me, allowing the happy bubble in my chest to grow.
Harlee POV
"Harlee, you have to get up." Zeev stroked my hair. At some point, he had moved and I was sprawled on my back on the sofa, mouth agape, limbs askew.
"Yuck-my back. You're more comfortable than this sofa Zeev." I groaned. He laughed and helped me up, digging his fingers into the stiff muscles.
"Does that feel better?" He purred into my ear and I nearly melted in his arms.
"Mmhmm." I moaned. "How much do you charge per hour?" I joked.
"Oh you know-the usual. One soul, or your body." Zeev growled in my ear, nibbling on the lobe.
"Hey!" I swatted at him and he laughed again. "Can we..leave?" I asked suddenly as I became aware of a need to use the restroom.
"You can-but one of the Mages will need to let me out, and they said they'll only do that if I'm accompanied by you. Dog-leash-Master, remember?" Zeev said, pointing first to himself, then his Mark then to me. I rolled my eyes.
"That's ridiculous-you're a former Angel for God's sake, and you're tied to me in more ways than one!.."
"..Which just makes me all the more dangerous." Zeev cut in.