Ash dropped to a knee in front of me, and the room disappeared around us. Before me, Ash was holding out an object of pure white, covered in scales.
"My Lady, this is my Heart. It belongs to you now. Through an act of self-sacrifice I have Bound our fates together. You are mine and I am yours, to serve you eternally with only the request to remain by your side until the end of time. I ask that you allow me to serve you and that you accept my Heart as a show of my dedication and love. Guard it well, and stay by my side forever." Ash offered with head bowed. I accepted the icy Heart into my arms. Ash's words weren't quite the same as Zeev's, but I felt the weight of them just the same. As I took the Heart I feel the stain of it weighing even more heavily on me. It was so heavy. My chest suddenly felt as though someone had cut a ragged hole in it, like my soul was being ripped in half again. Ash stood, looking me in the eye.
"Do you accept?" Ash asked and the infinity symbol lit up around us. The threads that bound us were cold and white. I hesitated a beat. This Heart had so much Corruption. Not like Zeev's. Could I bear this weight alone?
'You're not alone.' Zeev's gentle voice and presence were suddenly in my head. I felt his arms wrap around my waist.
"You have us now." Ash followed up.
'Shut up snake-you're the problem here.' Zeev growled.
"Dragon. Drag-on." Ash replied dragging the word out. Zeev was right though. I wasn't alone.
"I accept." I spoke the words and felt the threads tighten between Ash and I in a sickening tug. I gasped and the illusion faded away and I fell to the bed in a whoosh. Ash rose and walked towards me to kneel in front of me once more. Pink slitted Demon eyes glowed at me eagerly.
"Mistress Harlee." Ash spoke solemnly. The connection was immediate, an icy chill began to spread under my skin. "I hereby leave you with my Mark with the intent to claim you as mine. This Mark shall help protect you from other Demons and beings and serve as a warning that if any should attempt to harm you, I shall seek retribution. Additionally, I gift you my True Name, so that you may call on my at any time. You now have complete control of my being, my life, my Heart, my fate." Ash stood and kissed me on the forehead and at the same time the icy feeling coalesced into a burning sensation along my collar bone. Ash's True Name rang out in my head and I sucked in a deep breath.
"Flashy bastard." Zeev muttered.
"Oooh, lovely!" Ash reached out a long cool finger and stroked my exposed collarbone. I twitched as the icy feeling raced through my veins again. Ash froze, eyes widening momentarily before flipping the arm over that had been touching me. On the underside of Ash's forearm was a long black Mark, that almost resembled a Chinese dragon tattoo. I blushed. This is what I thought Ash's Demon Form most resembled-although Ash had more snake features in the end, I still got stuck with this image in my head.
"That is so cool!" Ash gushed. "Look! It looks just like me!" Ash rushed to Zeev.
"No, it doesn't, you snake." Zeev shoved Ash away with a growl.
"Well Haree thinks it does-don't you Harlee?" Ash asked excitedly. I stood up tiredly.
"Let me do that Mistress! The Bond takes a while to adjust to and this is your second!" Ash rushed back over and scooped me off the ground. I was always surprised by Ash's strength and speed, and this time was no exception. I was immediately dizzy.
"Ash, although I've accepted the Bond, you have a lot to make up for yet, and I'm still not comfortable around you. Hand me off to Zeev, he'll help me clean up." I ordered. Zeev smirked and took me from Ash. Ash's face fell, but made no complaints as Zeev carried me into the bathroom.
"You don't have to be so smug." I chastised as Zeev sat me on the toilet and began tugging off my clothes.
"I don't want Ash here." He remarked.
"I know." I answered. Neither did I, really.
Zeev POV
I washed the blood off Harlee's body. She clutched at her chest the whole time like she was in pain, but she was getting pretty good at blocking me out, so I couldn't tell for sure what was wrong.
"Are you ok?" I murmured as I scooped another handful of water over her shoulders. I had to say, the Mark from Ash was quite gorgeous on her. A delicate long-stemmed flower with elegant nearly transparent red petals floated along her left collarbone.
"It's Ash-the new Bond. Ash is... so much different from you Zeev. It's exhausting. I'm not sure I can handle it. There's so much.. Corruption." Harlee sobbed, sinking forward. "And worse, Ash honest-to-God adores me. Like you did in the beginning-that 'worship the ground I walk on' thing. Ash would do anything, BE anything, and it hurts that I can't accept them right now. Is Ash a Fallen?" Harlee suddenly asked.
"No. Just a very powerful Corrupted. Ash might be capable of true love, the human version. Ash's emotions will also be much more volatile, stronger. Ash has defeated a lot of Demons, even been after me for quite a few years. I narrowly escaped our last fight." I replied.
"You mean Corrupted sometimes beat Fallen?" Harlee gasped.
"It happens. Anyone can have a bad day, or make mistakes, or get cocky. We're just a little harder to kill is all, and on average, more powerful." I paused, unsure if I should tell her more.
"Listen-Ash is what you might call an Incubus. Ash draws power from humans through sex. That's the reason for the appearance, the smell, the attitude, all to draw in more prey." I said softly.
"So Ash doesn't consume souls?" Harlee asked, confused. I frowned.
"No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is-that's how Ash usually goes about getting them. Contracts. For pleasure." I responded.
"But that's not all of it-is it Zeev?" Harlee asked suddenly, turning. I gritted my teeth.
"No. You should really ask Ash about the past before you make too many judgments. And also.." I hesitated again. "Ash may be able to give you what you want more easily than I.." I looked away with a grimace.
Harlee POV
What I want? What did I want? My soul back? I stood up suddenly, pink-tinged water sloshing around me. I gripped Zeev's face.
"Zeev look at me." I tugged his chin in my direction. "I love YOU, not Ash. I want your child, not Ash's. Do you understand? If I just wanted some random kid I could walk into a sperm bank any day or find some one night stand." I gripped Zeev's face tighter. "Ours. We share a soul, a Bond, a Heart, Love. I want this to be ours too. Is that so wrong?" My legs began to shake and Zeev caught me before I could fall.
"Ash may still be the best vector... Incubi are commonly used for that among upper Demons, those who don't want to sully themselves with humans or are trying to quickly swell their ranks..." Zeev mumbled, wrapping a towel around me.
"No! No." I shot him down.
"You may one day change your mind." Zeev responded, scooping me up out of the tub and carrying me to the bedroom.
"Mistress. Mistress! I changed the bed clothes and laid out some pajamas for you!" Ash gushed. He reminded me of early Bond days Zeev-a puppy waiting to be praised. Zeev set me down on the bed.
"I'm going to start dinner." He said and backed out of the room. I could tell he was just trying to force me to face Ash. I collapsed backwards on the bed.
"Mistress.. Do you want me to help you dress?" Ash asked cautiously.
"No!" I snapped, then more calmly said. "No, your scent is too intoxicating to me and I might do something stupid. Just come over here a minute and sit down." Ash perched on the bed beside me. I sighed.
"I can't go through weeks of this torment-so I'm just going to get it all out there now. Ash, it'll be easier for me to accept you if I understand you better." I gritted my teeth. Which means I have to ask you if you mind sharing bits of your past, your motivation and your essence with me?" Ash looked momentarily excited, then worried.
"What happens if you don't like what you see?" Ash asked cautiously.
"If it's a harmful behavior-we work on changing it." I replied promptly.
"Then no." Ash said, crossing their arms stubbornly.
"I could always force you." I yawned. Ash's eyes narrowed.