"Seduction and lustful pleasures shouldn't be the only way to make a dead heart beat, right?"
It was the only way other demons got their heart beating again and redeemed.
"But why hasn't that worked for Rayven?"
Rayven relaxed more on the leather seats of the car, remembering just how perfect she was under the dull light of the moon. His moon.
"What about you? Do you have a name?"
He smiled. The first human who pointed out the possibility of other ways in making his dead heart beat again. Not the one the angels proposed or the ones they believed for themselves.
"Damon," He called softly. Damon, who was seated at the front with the human driver, raised his head from his phone to spare him a glance through the rearview mirror.
"What is it dear brother? Do you need something?"
"I think so."
Damon switched off his phone to give him his undivided attention.
"Tell me and it's yours."
Her eyes that stared at him with insecurity, and her lips that told him the truth. He just couldn't wait to see what she has in store for him to be redeemed.
"Hazel eyes, dark hair, the perfect look, red cute lips…I don't mind having her as my next heartbeat, Damon. She looks like someone who has an idea of what all this is really about."
"Really?" Damon cocked an eyebrow at his words as he brought out the selection book or list and began to flip through the pages. "How did she make herself known to you?"
Rayven licked his lips as he thought of how to answer him. "It was unexpected but felt like it was meant to be. And she seems genuinely interested in me and my redemption."
"Does she have a name? That would help a lot in finding her here in this book."
Rayven smiled, "Ebony. Ebony White."
My Ebony.
Damon paused at a particular page. His fingers drummed on the ticked box as he gazed at a particular profile in thought.
"What did you say her name is?"
"Ebony. Why?"
Damon smirked, "It says here in the profile of the girl you picked to be your next heartbeat name is Ebony Rebecca White."
Ebony Rebecca White.
"She is nineteen years old in college, has no relatives and loves to read."
Rayven looked surprised as he collected the book Damon gave him to read for himself. His golden eyes softened.
"Oh, it was the very, very weird profile I encountered and dared to pick. I didn't even bother reading her name."
His smile grew bigger at the same words he read from her that day he was asked to select another heartbeat after his fifth one ran away.
I would rather not be picked if you are not the demon I have in mind.
Well, who is this demon on your pretty mind? I should ask her the moment I see her again.
"Is she the one?"
Since there is no picture of her except screenshots of books and the…moon, it is hard to tell whether she is the one or not.
Her pics of the moon were so beautiful. Just as how beautiful the moon was when he sensed her behind him.
"Let's just hope so."
Damon nodded. "The selection letter should be reaching her anytime next week, and I will be there to bring her home as soon as possible for you."
Rayven's smile disappeared. Wouldn't that make her feel less special than she is if another demon brought her to him? She is not like the previous heartbeats he's encountered. He suddenly began to feel restless.
I picked her.
She picked me…which was a new thing.
And I want to make her feel like she made the right choice from the start.
"Damon, could you please help me with additional information about her? Down to where she lives and who she is? I wish to know everything."
"Of course, dear brother. I will have that in your room before the daybreak."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Damon returned to doing whatever he was doing on his phone as they followed the escorts down their private road that leads to the mansion.
Rayven couldn't stop re-reading her words. The urge to know more about her, to see her again was becoming overwhelming.
"And Damon,"
"Yes?"
"I want to be there when you pick her up from her house."
"What?" Damon couldn't believe his stars as he turned in his seat to be certain it was his brother who just said he intends to leave the comfort of his big house for someone.
"She has to know that the demon she wants to redeem welcomes her with open arms."
☆
Violet was so nice to offer to drop her off home when she found her at the entrance of the party looking so confused.
After a long ride of silence, they reached her apartment. She unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to leave when Violet activated the locks of the car door. Ebony turned to give her a questioning look.
"Who did you run after back then at the party?"
Of course, she forgot all about that. She will be questioned for her behavior. Running after someone, they all couldn't see, and it turns out to be Rayven. The super secretive demon with the most beautiful set of eyes on planet earth and beyond.
"Nothing," She raised her hand to scratch her head. "It was no one. I must have been seeing things."
She hoped so because the chances of you running into that type of demon is minus zero. No one has any idea of how he even looks like except the alleged leaked crazy picture of him trending online. And come to think of it, it kind of looks familiar now that she has seen what he really looks like apart from his face. God, how were they even able to take that picture of him when many have failed or went missing because of it. Ebony began to panic. Now that she is the only one who has encountered him face to face…is she even safe?!
Oh God!
"Ebony!"
"Y-yes?"
"Focus."
"Yeah, sorry. I am so sorry I left because I thought I saw something. Stupid of me."
"It's alright. As long as you didn't see anything. But why were you still rushing to leave?"
To go home.
"Just for some fresh air. That's all."
"Okay then," she deactivated the locks. "See you in class on Monday."
She tried her best to return the smile, "Sure." before getting down from the car and watching her friend drive off.