Journee's POV
How could I have forgotten the legal binding vow I made? We continue to walk in silence. Ma'oz can fly us to the portal within seconds, but I know he is giving me time to think.
Guilt builds up within me like a rising mount of bile.
I have never cared for Montgomery, not even when he went into a coma…I was preoccupied only with what would happen to me instead.
"That is not how a righteous person behaves. You must care for everything thing, even the smallest ant." I imagine my mother reprimanding me if she were still alive.
"Disgraceful! Unrefined! Faithfulness and loyalty are the key principles of our family and you dishonoured them!" My paternal grandfather would surely voice his displeasure and potentially disown me.
Even though I would never love Montgomery, I should never have had an affair with Ma'oz. What was I thinking?! My steps feel heavy as I ponder my sin.
Ma'oz chuckles suddenly. Turning to face me, he places a soft kiss on my lips and lifts my chin to face him. "To the outside world, I look like your human husband. Well…I am him. Even his parents say so. No one will suspect otherwise." He winks at me.
"Is that one of your powers? Mind reading?" I push off his hand.
He doesn't try to touch me again, allowing me the space I need for now. "No. Its written on your face, my Sweet Angel."
"That may be so to the rest of the world, but my conscience can't rest easy. I have always been selfish, but I now realise that…I'm…" I let out a sigh as heavy as the weigh on my heart. "I'm pure evil. My heart is so cold and black that even the deepest rock in the ocean will pale in comparison."
"You? Cold? That is hardly what I experienced just moments ago. You were so hot, I melted in an instant!" He let out a throaty laugh.
"You!" I am embarrassed with his joke. Although, that gives me an idea. "Ma'oz, I remember my mother told me a story about the book of Life and Death being found in the Demon World. Is that true?"
Ma'oz pauses for a moment. "Well…yes. How did she know?"
"No idea. She told me it was a story she read as a child."
"I see. Why do you want the book of Life and Death?"
"Well…" I fiddle with the idea of telling him a fib. Yet I don't think he would believe me.
"You aren't thinking of amending something, are you?"
"Maybe." Shrugging my shoulders, I skipped away from him.
"You can't omit your marriage from the book! Once anything is written, your good and bad deeds, nothing can be erased." Ma'oz blocked the sun like a large cloud.
That's just too bad. I thought this would be my way out.
We walk the rest of the way hand-in-hand. I don't even ask him where we're going. All I know is that I trust him with my life.
***
Ma'oz 's POV
To see her beaming like the sun itself, fills me to the brim like an overflowing cup of liquid gold. I marvel at her beauty, the grace before me. All this is mine. Well, soon enough. I just hope this happiness never ends.
Reaching through the portal, I reached in and turned the knob.
"What…where are we, Ma'oz?" Confusion is written all over her face.
"To make good of things." With my hand on the small of her waist, I pulled her closer to the figure lying motionless on the bed.
"Is this…" Shocked. Journee reaches for the armchair and collapses into it before accusing me with her questioning eyes. It seems to say 'what is all this? Give me an explanation now!'
Better to show her with actions than to waste time with explanations.
Allowing just one finger to transform into my dragon claw, I created a small cut on the comatose man's thumb, allowing a few drops of his blood to fall into the small black book in my hand.
Journee is watching me, wide eyed with curiousity. Knowing her, a thousand questions must be flying through her mind, but she choses not to say a word.
I do the same to Journee's thumb, as her blood drops on to the blank page, a sizzle of smoke arises, and the book disappears.
"What did you just do?" She finally asks.
"Made you officially a divorced woman by Spirit Law." I answer her smugly.
"…that…was the book of Life and Death?" Seeing the twitch in the corners of her mouth, I know she is itching to bombard me, but thankfully, Journee is keeping her words to a minimum.
"I thought you said it is impossible to erase what has been written?"
"I said you are divorced. I never erased anything."
It takes a moment but it finally all sinks in. "OH!" A moment of doubt, a glimmer of hope, and finally, a burst of happiness. Journee's emotions explode, causing her to propel towards me like rocket as she clings on to my neck, giving me a deep and passionate kiss.
"Whoa there. Hold your horses. We are still in the presence of your ex-husband." Her cheeks swell up as she tries to give me her meanest look. Laughing, I open the door and we portal away to my castle in the Demon Realm.
***
Journee's POV
It has been almost 16 weeks since Ma'oz did that ritual thing that got me divorced. Ever since, we have been at it like rabbits in a cage. Neither of us have been able to keep our hands to ourselves.
There have even been several times when Ma'oz blew his entire court out of his castle with the sheer force of his powers, just because he found my lips too much to bear as I munched on the succulent fruits of his realm.
Much to my embarrassment, I am pretty sure the entire Demon race knows how insatiable we have been. My cheeks burn as I remember every touch, each orgasm and how our moans intertwined as our bodies coupled in rapture.
Today however, I have been feeling a little off.
"Are you alright my Sweet Angel? Are you sure there is nothing else I can do for you?" He massages my shoulders and neck in an attempt to reduce my migraine. His powers have not been able to heal me. Neither has any remedy in the Demon Realm been able to work.
"Good evening, My Lord. My Lady. Dinner is served." A petite demoness entered with a tray of delicacies. Ma'oz had them specially tailored to my tastes. So, despite the fact that we are in a different world, adjusting here has been alright.
"Hmm… Carbonara!" I ran towards the table and sat down, ready to dig in. The first bite is delicious! The second, makes me feel like I can eat 10 of these plates. However, soon, I start to feel queasy. My tummy aches with an odd pain as I feel my dinner rise up to my throat.
"Poison?" Ma'oz dashes to my side and releases a gentle healing through me.
It doesn't work.
I start to retch and puke. I can't take the smell of any of the food, it seems now.
This is so odd!
"CALL FOR THE HEALER!" Ma'oz's voice thundered through the castle. I cover my ears and wince as my eardrums vibrate to a point of pain.
***
Ma'oz 's POV
I am frantic with worry. Journee has been feeling terrible of late. I fear that our love making, my eagerness to claim her several times a day has worn her body out. What if she dies?! A terrible heat courses through me. I know I would not live if she left me. NO! I will control my impulses! I promise myself.
"Will you please stop pacing the room? You're making me quite dizzy here." Journee gently reprimanded me.
"I'm sorry Sweet Angel." Taking long strides towards our bed, I clasp her hand in mine as the Healer injects her power into Journee to determine the course of her illness.
"CONGRATULATIONS, MY LORD!" She suddenly exclaims.
I don't answer her. Instead, I wait for her to continue. To explain her sudden joy.
"The Lady is pregnant! 13 months to be exact."
Journee leaps from the bed and embraces the Healer in her arms. "Thank you!"
Dismissing the Healer, I watch as Journee twirls with excitement.
Each step she takes sinks my heart a little further. I should tell Journee, but I don't want to upset her at the same time. How do I tell that that throughout history, there is no record of a half-demon child ever surviving? They all died in infancy. The moment their powers start to grow, it consumes their fragile bodies. We have just solved one major question in our lives, only to be faced with another. One I fear is far more pressing.
"Oh Ma'oz… isn't this the most magical day? I can't wait to tell my father and Dorthy. Could we make a little visit to the Human realm?" Her happiness exudes through my room. It is undeniable that in my heart, she shines like a thousand suns.
Yet, at this moment, all I can imagine is my child, my tiny unborn little bud twisting in agony as his powers take over him. I have seen it before. Many centuries ago, a demoness brought her child before my father. I remember the tears, the anguish in her cry matched by that of her poor child. Begging my father to save the new-born babe, I remember how its naturally pink skin turned ashen grey, its demon-teeth growing and slicing through its tender flesh. Its powers flashed out and the sound of bones disjointing silenced the court. The little one's voice box was probably crushed for I will never forget the fear in his eyes as his mouth gapped open for several breaths. My nursemaid had turned me away from the sight.
"My Dark Prince? Is everything alright?" A soft hand stirred me from my thoughts.
"Sorry I just have much on my mind." A half-truth is all I can muster at the moment. It doesn't damper Journee's enthusiasm though.
"I'M PREGNANT! You're going to be a father!" She placed my hand on her abdomen. I can see a sense of pride swelling through her. How will it be possible for me to crush her dreams? Her hopes? Her happiness? That is something I swore to protect…and now, I am completely helpless.
Not knowing how to answer my sweet angel, I settled to kiss her tenderly on the head, holding her near to reassure myself that she is still with me. That our child is yet to be born and I have time. Time to find a solution.
"So…can we visit my father?" Journee looked at me with hopeful eyes.
***
Journee's POV
In a flash, we are by the portal that leads to the human realm. I simply can't wait to see my family again. Ma'oz was distracted during the announcement of my pregnancy, but I can't blame him. Between carrying out his duties as the Demon King and our intimate moments, he has had little time for anything else, not even sleep.
Having a break from his kingly duties will do him good.
We walked through the portal and grabbed a cab back to my father's house. As usual, he is gardening in the front lawn, caring for his precious roses.
"WE'RE HOME!" I shouted as we alighted.
"JOURNEE? Honey Bunny? What are you doing here?" My father rushed forward to embrace me in his arms. I can feel how relieved he is to have me home.
"Montgomery. Welcome." He extended a cautious hand to Ma'oz. Oh yeah. Everyone else sees him as Montgomery. I almost forgot.
I feel the tension in the air, my father's nervousness around my 'husband' and Ma'oz's mind being still preoccupied with something serious, I gather. If the metaphorical chill in the air is tangible, my lungs would be filled with ice by now.
"So… I'M PREGNANT!" I dropped the bomb to clear the air.
"OH!" The hooded shadow on my father's face lifted. Tears swell up in the corners of his eyes as he looked at me with pride. "Way to break the news." He let out a light laugh.
"I know…I know. Not exactly subtle." I walked hand in hand with him into our house. Looking back for just a moment to gesture Ma'oz to follow.
"Well, your mother always said subtilty is your weakness." He jabbed, for a moment we silently remembered the woman who filled our lives with love and laughter.
"Subtle enough to start World War 3!!" We both said at the same time and smiled at each other.
"Have you told Dorthy?" My father asks as he pulled out some milk from the fridge.
"Not yet. I've hardly been on my phone." I skimmed on the truth.
"What are you waiting for? Give her a ring before she berates your ears till, they're red." Shooing me off to our old land-phone, he poured a drink for Ma'oz.
The phone rang twice before someone picked up. "Hey Dorthy!" I greeted.
"YOU'RE BACK! I'm coming over now!" Click. The line went dead. Typical of Dorthy. I thought bemused.
"All alright?" I settled next to a worried looking Ma'oz.
"I…have something to discuss." He started but is interrupted by a squeal at the door.
"WELCOME HOME!!!!" Dorthy grabbed me into a hug.
"Hey you!" Dorthy waved at Ma'oz then dragged me up the stairs.
"Spill. What on earth happened? What happened to you for 2 weeks?" Dorthy has her hands on her hips. I know she means serious business. But wait…what did she say?
"2 weeks?! I was gone for 16 weeks!" I corrected her.
"No. I know cause I counted the hours and the minutes since we parted to do that research." She pinches the bridge of her nose and sits me down. "So, spill. Tell me all."
I tell Dorthy everything that has happened from how I was trapped in the Demon Realm, to our journey to Kilbrittain and how Ma'oz and I got together.
"No shit! That's one mega soap opera. Then again…its you!" She gestures to all of me. "Do you think your child will also be able to do that crazy shit that Eden's child did?"
"Honey Bunny, could you come down please?" My father calls us down from my room. Dorthy and I head down, and I am surprised to be embraced by the Lewis family. Both the matriarch and Montgomery Lewis Sr.
"Oh, my dear! This is happy news! So happy indeed!" the little old lady exclaims. We must celebrate!
Ma'oz looks just as bewildered as me, as I turned to look at my father who shrugs his shoulders. "I can't very well keep your in-laws in the dark, can I?" He chuckles like I am such a silly child.
We are whisked away by the Lewis family and before long, Ma'oz, my father, Dorthy and I are in Greece.
"Off you go now. We have informed everyone about his happy occasion. You must get dressed and show off that baby bump." The Matriarch chimed and waltzed away with my father, leaving Ma'oz, Dorthy and I together.
"I think the three of us need to talk." Dorthy announced. "In private."
"Come on…my room would be the best place."
Opening the door to this familiar place, I am struck by the nostalgia of the first and second times I bumped into Ma'oz.
"Now…I have to address the elephant in the room. Why does Ma'oz still look like Montgomery Lewis?!" Dorthy questions both of us.
"I…I don't know." It is the truth, as lame an answer as it is.
"Okay. Ma'oz, can you wipe everyone's memories and bring Journee back to the Demon Realm, or at least to Malaysia?" She continues.
"I tried. For some reason it isn't working this time. My powers too are limited when it comes to the Lewis family." Ma'oz answers thoughtfully.
"Okay, so what about the REAL Montgomery? Will he die? Will he survive and come back? Are you going to kill him? And what about your face? This whole illusion? Will it remain and when will you turn back into yourself?" Dorthy baggers us with questions.
"…You're right. All these would cause problems. I could kill him." Ma'oz states it so casually, it's like he is just going to change his attire.
"WHAT?! There will be no killing!" I retorted.
"Then the one to pay for it will be you, dummy!" Dorthy shakes me.
"Why are you on his side?" It angers me that Dorthy is ok with the idea of murdering another person.
A knock disrupts our heated argument. "Sir, Mam, are you ready to make an appearance at the Baby Shower?" I recognise the voice as Rosetta.
Throwing a dirty look at both Ma'oz and Dorthy I sighed. We are hardly ready.
"Let me take care of this." Ma'oz snaps his fingers and all three of us transform into elegant wear. It's a whole Cinderella-thing. At a different time, I would have gushed about the beauty of the materials, the scent of the perfume and all the other exquisite details Ma'oz has taken cared of.
Now, I can only huff my way to the door to get away from those two. The two people I love with all my heart who, for some reason are okay with murder!
***
Ma'oz's POV
The night's festivities go on with pomp and splendour. There are fireworks in the air and gentry are all about.
I understand why Journee is so angry with me, but doesn't she understand? I can't bare to see her hurt. If the Lewis family ever found out, they will surely torture her. If I could use my powers to whisk her away now, I would.
But now, besides needing to find an answer to my child's survival, I must figure out the mystery surrounding the Lewis family. Is there something or someone they are using to lock the powers of others?
Looking up, I notice that the night sky is red. The Blood Moon has risen. "I wonder…"
"HELP!!!!!" I hear Journee scream.
My heart skips a beat. The fear in my heart ponds in my chest. I rush as fast as I can towards her voice. No one else seems that bothered and it disturbs me. How can everyone else be so nonchalant when someone is screaming for help? I find myself moving towards her at a human-like pace. Slow. Too slow.
"SOMEONE… PLEASE HELP!"