Harlee POV
"I will fight." Ash replied. I looked at Ash curiously. This was nothing like Zeev's reactions to me once Bound. I searched along the ties that Bound Ash and I. They thrummed uncomfortably, still new and fragile, unstable. I placed my fingers on my collarbone, and felt the ice rush through me.
"What are you afraid of Ash?" I asked softly. Ash twitched. The Bond and my careful prying in Ash's mind was unsettling and new to them. I was used to it, but this Bond wasn't the same as the one Zeev and I shared. Perhaps because Zeev and I shared a soul, I had access to all of Zeev, provided he didn't shut me out purposefully. With Ash, all I got was surface images. Like watching a TV when someone else had the remote and was flipping through channels. There were interesting things, but they disappeared before I could see more of them. My question made Ash's mind settle on the fear of me eradicating their personality. I felt my eyes begin to water. I grabbed Ash's right arm, flipping it over to expose the Mark.
"This-right here. I can swear on it that the only parts of your personality or Zeev's personality I will ever change are the ones that harm others or yourself. I don't care how you look, dress, what Form you take, how you present. Do you understand Ash?" I laid my hand on the Mark and felt the icy rush jolt through me. Ash jerked forward. "You are accepted for who you are, gender fluid, bi, straight, gay, pan, trans, whatever, I don't care. I don't wanna change that. You're beautiful to me." I placed a hand on Ash's cheek. "You can ask Zeev. I was very adamant about him being who he was. I don't want mindless drones. You two are too damn amazing to have your personalities squashed like that." I fell back on the bed. I felt the threads between Ash and I strengthen slightly.
"Yes Mistress." Ash said softly. Ash lay down beside me and reached out a careful finger to stroke my Mark. I could feel my body immediately turn cold. "Then may I ask what you're looking for?" Ask asked quietly.
"Why you became a Demon." I responded frankly.
Zeev POV
I slammed a pan onto the stove and grumbled to myself. That damn snake's smell was everywhere. Harlee thought it smelled like Autumn. I just thought it smelled like rotting vegetation. Like the inside of a dank hole. Or a grave. Death. That's what that snake was, and now they were connected to us both for eternity. I cursed and yanked the dial on the stove so hard it came off in my hand.
I know I had insisted she get to know the snake better, but now all I could think about was them in that room together, alone.. Worse, the snake was in their male form right now. I growled. I shoved the dial back in place on the tab and cursed again. I should go check on Harlee..
"It's called jealously." Ash purred from behind me. "What you're feeling now. It's almost palpable. Very human. Her soul has quite infected you." I turned on the snake, flinging a knife.
"She will survive your murder-remember that, beast." I snarled as Ash caught the knife by the blade.
"Yes, but it will be extremely painful, and will make her gravely ill. And we know how much you don't want to cause your dear Harlee any pain." Ash pouted, running the knife tip along their lower lip. I snarled again.
"If I had my choice you'd already be dead." I grumbled, turning back to the stove.
"Yes, but let's not forget whose fault it is I'm here at all." Ash replied, slipping up behind me, sliding the knife along the counter to my right. I gnashed my teeth, but Ash had already slithered away. Damn snake.
Harlee POV
I heard the TV and smelled food when I opened my eyes. Zeev was seated at the foot of the bed. I smiled slightly at him, and then realized I was fully dressed and was pretty sure I fell asleep after cleaning up while talking to Ash.
"You fell asleep in your towel. I dressed you." Zeev said softly before I could panic. "Did you get to talk to Ash?"
"Briefly. I didn't get my questions answered." I replied. "I'm just so..tired." I felt my eyelids struggling to close again and pried them open. "Don't take this the wrong way, but the two of you, chained to only half of my soul, it feels like you're dragging me under water and I'm losing sight of the surface. I can almost feel my humanity slipping from my fingers.." I let my eyelids close. Surprisingly, my lower lids were the ones that felt the most pressure, all puffy and heavy, the upper ones just wouldn't stay open. Zeev pulled me upright into a hug. I opened my eyes again and smiled weakly. I could feel his emotional turmoil.
"Don't take it to heart Zeev. I love you and would never let go of our Bond." I sighed. He just clutched me tighter. There was a soft knock at the door and Ash pushed the door open hesitantly.
"May I come in?" Ash asked and I nodded weakly. There was a soft rustle of clothing and the bed sank on my other side as Ash sat down beside me.
"Mistress, I didn't mean to cause you any harm." Ash's cool fingers wrapped around my hand. "I was being selfish, I wanted to keep you so badly, I.." Ash choked and was silent. I squeezed Ash's hand lightly. Our Bond may not be like Zeev's and mine, but I could tell that there was quite a bit of truth to what Ash just said. Ash never considered the burden on me in my half-soul state, and was just too preoccupied with being able to keep me close. But I could also sense deception beneath the words.
"Ash, you have to stop. You can't keep moving against Zeev. What you've done has punished him enough. Watching me suffer makes him suffer all the more. You've done enough." I said. Ash flinched.
"But Zeev.."
"Will have to tolerate you too." I interjected. "Why are Demons like children? Are you two gonna start calling me mommy now?" The flash of anger helped wake me up some.
"Yes mommy." Zeev snorted and Ash giggled. I glared at them.
"Feed me, you useless Demons, before I fall asleep again because of your lousy soul-sucking Bonds." I griped.
Zeev POV
Ash took Harlee to work the next day, despite the fact that she could barely stand.
"Here's a little trick I learned." Ash had said to Harlee lasciviously, leaning in to kiss her deeply. I felt the energy exchange as Ash poured some of their Demonic Energy into her. I growled low in my throat just remembering Harlee's flustered, panting face. "It helps to keep your partner's stamina up." Ash had laughed. I slammed the oven door closed. The snake.
I peeked in on Harlee through our link. She was slumped over the counter while Ash flitted around excitedly. At least Ash was letting her rest. I had to say one thing for the snake-from what I could sense, Ash really did care for Harlee.
'Of course I do, you miserable bird-brain!' Ash broke into my thoughts.
'Hey! Knock it off.' Harlee said tiredly. 'God, I sound like I'm scolding children already. Who needs kids Zeev? When I have you two?'
'You hear that, you miserable snake? You ruin my chance at having children with Harlee and I will eat you alive!' I snarled at Ash.
'Oh give me a break already.' Harlee groaned. I felt her head thunk onto the counter and heard her mumble an "ouch" through her own ears.
"Oh Mistress, are you hurt?" Ash made sure to broadcast the ability to check on her instantly gleefully. I growled.
Harlee POV
I spent most of the workday attempting to sleep, in between Zeev and Ash's bickering inside my head. Ash surprised me by actually trying to take good care of me, pandering to my every need and handling all the customers. Ash even had me go lie down in the breakroom, and fed me energy throughout the day, though I really would have preferred a less intimate method. I could feel Zeev's growls echoing in my own chest every time Ash did it. My dreams were scattered images from Ash. Some seemed to be the present, but some appeared to be the past. I barely remembered any of it when I woke up, just a really strong sense of sadness.
Ash was carrying me when I came to for the last time. The shift was over, and Ash had me against their torso with their jacket slung over me.
"Zeev?" I asked, confused, then recognized the scent and cool, strong arms, fingers and chest. I still couldn't get over how strong Ash was despite being so thin. Ash looked momentarily hurt, but then grinned at me.
"Something better." Ash responded. "I told Zeev I'd bring you home to save on trips." I nodded and allowed myself to start drifting again. I felt Ash's fingers tighten.
"What, you're going to trust me? Just like that?" Ash asked incredulously. I yawned and touched my collarbone.
"I have this now." I replied and Ash shuddered. I yawned again. "Plus, Zeev will totally kick your ass if you don't do what you said." I smirked and Ash hissed in reply.
"But I didn't say when now did I?" Ash purred. I sighed as Zeev appeared in front of us.