Journee's POV
I can't imagine living if I have to hear these screams of torment all my life. The constant gnashing of teeth as the pain they experience intensifies beyond control.
My thoughts raced as fast as my heart as I breathed in his musky scent. This is a real man. Demon or not…
I felt Ma'oz tense and push me off his lap as he cleared his throat. "Ahem…"
Now I just feel stupid. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! He isn't even my husband. Idiotic me!
I tried to shake away how low I feel with every breath I take. I should have known better. What would a powerful demon see in me? Besides, I'm sure inter-realm relationships aren't allowed.
I know my face is still flushed red with embarrassment. "Shall we have our lunch?" I feigned a calm disposition, changing the subject as subtly as I can manage.
"Don't forget to drain that and replace the parts." I heard granny's voice from the window along with the sound of machinery.
Taking a peek, I see a dozen men draining the koi pond and ready to scrub the space down.
I nearly forgot…surely, I can ask him. I must before I lose the confidence to.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ma'oz's POV
When Journee wrapped her arms around me, once again I am reminded of how beautiful she is. Her soul is like a fragrant flower that is eternal, providing unconditional love through the centuries.
I dared to breath in the peace I had sought for all my life. No. I mustn't fall for her. No good can come from the union of a human and a demon. My subjects will maul her to death.
But when she intertwined her fingers in my hair, I was transported to my version of heaven. I doubt she realises that her tenderness took away all the pain I have suffered and gave me respite from the responsibilities I have been shouldering for centuries.
If only she knows what she does to me. The walls I built around my heart to protect myself, my family and my realm are crumbling piece by piece. Being in her arms forever would be the reward I want in return for my sacrifice all these years…and yet I cannot. She will be my downfall.
With a heavy heart, I pushed Journee away. As her skin draws away from mine, it feels like the very air is sucked out of my being. My skin feels deprived as does my soul. All the pain I have known rushes back to torment me once more. Old wounds surface, pouring through the cracks Journee has made in my resolve.
"Shall we have our lunch?" She asks so calmly that I wonder if it's all in my imagination. She doesn't feel the same way. A good thing too.
I hope she doesn't press on about having lunch. I barely have an appetite now and just wish to be alone. If I can't be with her, I would rather be on my own. A moment to gather my wits and will power to be the king I have to be.
Why do I feel her staring at me? I look up and see her warm brown eyes watching me. A hand clutched over her heart. The fist she is making is creating creases on her blouse.
"Ma'oz. Please tell me the truth. Do you have something to do with the koi?"
I want to say no, to try wiping her memory again, but I know it will be futile. The determination shining in her eyes is clear to me that she will not let it go.
"Everything dies. It's just a matter of time." I evaded her question.
"Stop. I know you're bullshitting me. If you don't tell me, I will bind you to me for all eternity. You will never be free." She dares to threaten me. Has she forgotten how afraid she was of me? Doesn't she remember how fragile she is?
She needs a reminder. I willed myself to show her my true form once more. To burn the memory into her mind of how dangerous I am.
No matter how I try, I won't transform. What the hell????! It can't be…is she controlling me through the bond?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Journee's POV
I can't hear his thoughts anymore. Not since he started looking like Montgomery.
But for some reason, I have started to feel Ma'oz's intentions. It just started a few moments ago. Could it be that whatever he is thinking is too intense?
YOU…WILL…NOT…BREAK…MY RESOLVE! I will myself to stay strong. Not to be intimidated. I don't care if he kills me. This feeling is way too strong, that he is caused those poor, innocent fishes to die such a horrible death. He might be immune to the suffering of others, but I am not.
I feel the fluctuating pressure in the air and steel my nerves. If he transforms into a dragon again, I can't promise I won't faint. The very least I can do is to face him down until the last moment.
It's not long before Ma'oz's shoulders drop. Resigned to giving in. I have seen this body posture so many times before. When one has lost their self-confidence. When they feel hope is gone.
He looks so adorable…I know it is wrong. It is sadistic of me, but he looks more handsome than before. With those puppy eyes staring at me, the strong lines of his jaw seem a little less defined than usual. Slumping into the armchair behind, Ma'oz pinches the bridge of his nose.
"I give in." He said softly and I felt jubilantly triumphant.
"Please answer me truthfully then. Why did all those Koi die that way?"
"Because of your wish."
Did I hear him right? "I beg your pardon?" He just looks at me. So, I continue. "My…my wishes? I never wished for anything to die!"
"But you did wish for several people to live." His face is an impenetrable mask. One of my teachers would have called him 'Mr. Bulletproof Face.'
I thought through it and realised what he is talking about. "When we were on the plane?! But what has that got to do with the fishes?"
"It's how demonic powers work. Every wish we are compelled to grant enacts a price. In this case, a life for a life."
"No! It can't be. But…I didn't mean to. Why? YoU…I don't…What…How…" I know I'm hardly making sense but there is a growing number of questions in my mind, and yet I can't voice them.
I'm too afraid to find out more. How will my conscience take it? I will regret this all my life.
"If you didn't make that wish, you, that flight attendant and those two pilots would have died suffering. One of you was meant to have his guts ripped out with maggots feasting on them. Another exploding from the drastic change of air pressure…and so on, and so forth. Those fishes took your places." He didn't bother to mince his words.
I know he is telling me the truth. I can feel it. It anything, it makes me feel even more guilty. My fear of dying, my wish to live caused hundreds of others to suffer it in my place.
"If you are afraid of the answer, little human. Don't ask." Ma'oz isn't looking at me now. He is cold. And his husky voice is no longer sexy but dead. It falls on me like heavy teak wood. Rich and expensive, but it hurts.
He is right. I shouldn't pry into things that I don't want the answer to. I should just stay ignorant.
No, you shouldn't. Staying ignorant doesn't solve the problem. It will only create more issues. Can you live with that? Causing harm to others and not knowing you did so?
My heart and my mind argued. Each side of me is taking a different stance. A different philosophy of how I should live my life with the knowledge of what has happened.
If I never know, I will not feel so despicable. It would be a peaceful life.
Are you sure? What if you find out at the end of your life when there is no turning back? It will be too late then to repent.
What If I don't want to repent? It isn't a sin if I never knew.
The fact remains that now you know.
Then I was too much of a busy body. I should have let Ma'oz keep me in the dark.
It's too late. You have dipped your toes into the deep end. You know at any moment you will slip in and drown. Find out everything now. Float, thrive and swim in knowledge and wisdom.
I sighed aloud. I know which part of me has won. I cannot deny it as much as I hate myself for this part of my nature.
"There is nothing I can do about the past. What has happened cannot be changed. Tell me, Ma'oz. What price was paid for my other wishes?"
The Demon King's eyes gleamed with emotion. Is it pity? Amusement? I don't know. It's an expression that I am not familiar with. "Can you take it?"
"I must. It's not a question of whether I can or not. So please, indulge me." I sat facing him, preparing myself for the guilt that will be thrown into my face.
"Very well. For your 3rd wish, you said, 'I wish that everything in my life and Montgomery's will right itself and all will be as it should be.' and the result, I now look like Montgomery."
"That isn't too bad." I am relieved that not all my wishes caused death. Inconvenience perhaps but at least I am not taking away someone or something's life."
"Is it now? A few people in the human realm died recently due to this wish of yours." He really didn't need to try filling this conversation with suspense.
"Who?" I twiddled my thumbs in anticipation of his answer.
"Just some bad people. Child traffickers you humans call them."
Phew! At least they won't be harming anymore children now. This is positive though I do feel a tinge of guilt. No matter how evil, those people were still living, breathing creatures.
"What about my first and second wish, Ma'oz?" I really don't want to dwell too long on this. I have to find out everything before my emotions get the better of me.
"Before the wedding, you wanted Montgomery to stay detach and out of YOUR space. What do you think happened?" Ma'oz stretched his legs and placed his hands behind his head.
How is it that he can look so imposing while being so casual?
"Tell me. I don't want to play a guessing game." I just want to get to the bottom of this.
"Well, your dear husband got into an accident and is now in a coma."
"WHAT!? But…that wasn't what I wanted. I just wanted him to let me live my life."
"And that is precisely what you are getting. Beggars can't be choosers. Heard of the expression?"
"This is so…twisted."
"So, I take it you don't wish to know about your first wish." Ma'oz got up ready to head to the door. I can't let him go just like this. I need to know…
"Wait. Tell me."
"Are you very sure?" He raised his magnificent eyebrow at me, but right now its charm isn't affecting me. I feel slight annoyance in its place.
"You wished to spread your wings and fly away. That was your first wish." Ma'oz paused and walked towards me.
Kneeling before me, he took my hands in his. I always thought my hands were large and unsightly but next to him, I seem dainty in every way. I even feel like a China teapot, breakable and easily smashed.
His suddenly gentleness is unnerving This isn't good. I know it isn't. "What is it?"
"Your father has cancer now." As the words left his lips, I feel my world end.
"No…" Hot, heavy tears fall on to my cheeks. "You demons are evil!" I half scream half whisper.
I can't stand the sight of Ma'oz. His touch burns. He grips my hands tighter, and it burns. This goes beyond…I didn't think my wishes would be granted. I didn't even know someone was listening.
"Get away from me!" I snarled at Ma'oz. Surprised, he let me go and moved away to give me space.
I can't… I just can't think. I can't breathe. Sharing the same space as Ma'oz is suffocating.
Grabbing my phone and wallet, I marched out of the room. I can feel Ma'oz staring at me, even though I know he is still in the room, his mind is stalking me.
"I have to leave. I have to…"