Harlee POV
"My original Master was a sadist, but not the usual sort I guess." Ash sat on the bed, drawing up their knees and hugging them. "It's been quite a few years that I've been a Demon, but I've always been, like this." Ash gestured. "It wasn't something I took on after becoming a Demon." I turned to face Ash.
"As a result, I was kicked out of my parents' house and rejected by almost everybody I met. People were not quite as understanding then. Not that they're very understanding now." Ash made a face. "I lived on the streets and what passed for shelters in those times for a while. I was a kid, with no stable place to stay and no adult guardian. It was hard to find a legitimate job. I did anything to make money. ANYTHING." Ash's eyes flashed to mine and I received a flurry of images. "All I wanted was love and acceptance, and a home.." Ash looked down. I found myself being drawn towards the bed-towards Ash's pain. I wanted to offer Ash comfort so badly that my arms ached.
"In the end, I was found by a Demon who heard my soul's desperate cries. He offered me everything I wanted. Pretended to love me, set me up with a nice apartment, provided me money, clothing, food, gifts, acted out the part of a loving partner. All for a price, of course. It was slowly Corrupting my soul. I should have realized when he started asking me to be an escort for some of his 'friends'." Ash looked down, hugging their knees tighter to their chest.
"But, I thought I loved him and he'd done so much for me without asking for anything in return! At least not so openly until then, so I happily agreed. And before I knew it, the requests were getting wilder and more depraved, and I was enjoying it." Ash paused.
"Eventually the Corruption started to take shape on the outside as well. I was getting better at seducing people. A fact that I USED and EXPLOITED to my own benefit until one day.." Ash stopped speaking and I crouched down beside the bed.
"You weren't human anymore." I said softly. Ash looked at me with tears standing in their beautiful green eyes. Before I could say or do anything, Ash threw themself off the bed into my arms. Stunned, I simply returned the hug. Ash placed their head on the Mark on my collar and a flood of memories poured through me. I twitched, then held still. Ash's life.. really was a tragedy. I was beginning to see why Ash had hated Zeev for Bonding with a human. Then when Ash had met me and I offered no resistance to who Ash really was, despite the poor behavior, even blushing, and in Ash's point of view getting 'cutely flustered', how Ash had started to get attached in that desperate, clingy way lonely people sometimes do. And even after the Bond, I hadn't tried to change Ash's person, just set restrictions on the Demonic side. I could suddenly see why Ash was so attached to me. I clutched my chest. Ash thought.. I'd be that person to care, to love, to keep.
"Ash, that's dangerous. You can't get so attached to someone just because they're kind.." I said. Ash looked at me with a hurt and angry expression, tears still standing in their eyes.
"You're one to talk! You fell in love with a Demon!" Snapped Ash. I laughed and Ash's hurt expression changed to slight confusion.
"That's true-I just don't want you to get hurt anymore. You don't deserve that. You made a rash decision that could have ended up causing you even more pain-or death." I scolded and Ash crossed their arms.
"You forget, I've been watching you two for months. There was nothing rash about it. And I could tell from the moment I first bumped into you. An Incubus knows-we're good with reading people." Ash sniffed.
"Well, let's just say you don't have a very good track record." I patted Ash's arm and Ash looked at me, dumbfounded.
"You.. are a very cruel Mistress." Ash sputtered. I laughed again.
"See? What'd I tell you?" I remarked. I felt the threads binding us tighten slightly.
Zeev POV
I gritted my teeth. Hearing Harlee in the other room laughing with Ash-set off all sorts of jealousy. I didn't know which was worse-the Demonic side or the feelings from Harlee's human soul. I just knew it was overpowering. I stepped out of the house, trying to breathe.
'Zeev, don't be like that.' Harlee scolded gently through our link. 'I still love you, you silly goose, but even you pointed out Ash and I have to come to an understanding to get this Bond issue resolved.' I sighed. I knew that, but still, my heart hurt. I also missed my alone time with Harlee. That snake was always around now. Harlee suddenly wrapped her arms around me from behind.
"Damn, I forgot you can do that now." I sucked in a breath.
"Well don't count on me doing it often. Oh my head." She buried her face in my shirt. "Ash is headed to work, so it'll just be me and you soon." Harlee said softly.
"Is that an invitation?" I purred.
"Do you want it to be?" She replied coyly. I turned and caught her face in my hand, kissing her deeply.
"Honestly, I'm just looking forward to having you all to myself again." I murmured. Harlee shivered.
"We could make Ash move out." Harlee panted.
"No, that would never work. Bonded are compelled to stick very close to their masters. Ash'd just keep popping up." I griped.
"We could run away." She joked, sliding her hand under my shirt. I felt my body begin to react almost immediately.
"Ash would just follow." I sighed. That snake really would, too.
"Hey! Stop joking about abandoning me-it hurts!" Ash stuck their head out the door. I groaned. Harlee turned and patted Ash's cheek.
"You know I couldn't leave you behind. Now go on before you're late." Harlee instructed. Ash grinned and shut the door. I sighed.
"Who's the more dog-like one again?" I grumbled under my breath. Harlee swatted me.
Harlee POV
I leaned against Zeev's chest for another moment or two before Ash opened the door again.
"Ok, I'm leaving!" Ash exclaimed.
"Mmhmm," I mumbled, not bothering to look around.
"I'll see you later Mistress!" Ash called.
"Yup." I replied.
'Ash is waiting for your approval Harlee.' Zeev sighed in my mind. 'Would you at least turn and wish the snake goodbye so that Ash will leave already?' I smacked Zeev's chest, but turned to look at Ash. Ash was dressed in a revealing black long sleeve crop top that hung off one shoulder and a pair of low-rise black slim jeans that tightly hugged all aspects of their anatomy.
"Your clothes today, are a bit revealing..." I remarked, eyeing the pants in particular. "How in the heck do you get away with violating dress code like that?!" Ash leaned towards me and the Autumn Pumpkin smell surrounded me.
"Simple." Ash purred as my head swam. I waved a hand and shook my head, clinging to Zeev. I was going to end up attacking one of them, and they both knew it. Zeev growled. Ash's eyes were alight with mischief, showing the pink Demon color, slitted pupils and all. "Well, I better get going." Ash tossed the mustard yellow vest over one shoulder and paced a few steps inside the door, disappearing as it swung shut.
"Ugh, it's pheromones, isn't it?" I wheezed. "That's what Ash does-emits pheromones." I tried to take deep breaths, but it just dragged more of the drugged air in. "Ugh-let's go inside."
"And what was up with those pants?" I griped. "David Bowie in The Labyrinth comes to mind." Zeev chuckled.
"Ash was trying to impress you Harlee." Zeev responded. "Ash is a sexual Demon.. so was showing off. 'Advertising the wares' as it were. I'm surprised Ash hasn't shown up in female Form yet, but must sense that you're mostly attracted to males."
"But I told Ash I wouldn't make any changes to your personalities! As long as you two aren't trying to hurt people, I don't care if you are male, female, wolf, chicken, lizard, whatever. I've even got an appreciation for your True Forms, even though it took me a little while to stop being afraid. I find them.. beautiful.. now..." I blushed. Zeev growled lightly and pounced me, knocking me back onto the couch.
"Ash wasn't trying to change for you Harlee." Zeev growled, nipping my ear. "Ash was making a move on you." He nipped my neck and I squeaked as a bead of blood escaped my skin. Zeev paused, eyeing it before licking it away. He moaned and his arms trembled around me. "Harlee-Inccubi and Succubi serve their Masters in more ways than one-if you understand where I'm going with this. Ash was offering their body to you." He closed his eyes, limbs still trembling. I placed a hand on the side of his face.
"Zeev, are you ok?" I asked quietly.
"No." He gasped, opening his eyes to reveal the orange of his Demon eyes. "I am insanely jealous, and I just realized from the taste of your blood that your hormones have changed again. Harlee I very much want to take you right now and feed from you all at the same time. Stake my claim on your body since I have a rival now, and it is very difficult for me to hold myself back.."
"Then don't." I replied softly, trailing my hand down his face and over his Mark. Zeev's whole body quaked and his Form blurred around the edges.
"Make me stop if I hurt you." Zeev murmured and sealed his lips over mine.