"You are the only one left of us, dear brother who is yet to be redeemed." With a subtle shift, Rayven's focus settled on his brother, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
"The only demon left of the house of Mammon. The youngest and the most powerful. The most beautiful fallen angel. No wonder the house of Lucifer wanted us gone for good. We had something they don't have," Damon turned to smile at his brother with a feeling of pride. "We would be second to the angels if you also earn your redemption, and the house of Lucifer would be nothing but rugrats that burn and suffer in hell. Serves them right, don't you think?"
Rayven didn't say a word, causing the smile to fade from Damon's dark face, and it was replaced by a serious look. He cupped his brother's face again and look him straight in the eye and said, "The moment they drove us out of Hell, they became an enemy. Our enemy. And you must learn to harden your hearts to your enemies. Do you understand, dear brother?"
His golden eyes moved in thought before nodding.
"Very good. I am still looking for your missing heartbeat, but in the meanwhile, a selection letter has been sent to the replacement. The one you picked. She should be here living with us in a weeks time. It's all taken care of. You have nothing to worry about as long as you keep me by your side."
Rayven became curious and anxious at the same time. What if she rejects being his heartbeat because of…
He decided to shake it off and put his gaze back on the moon with a small smile.
The moon.
The only good thing in the sky. Not too enormous like the sun or too small like the stars. The light it gives is just perfect. Not too bright and blinding or too dim and dull. Just right and beautiful.
Rayven folded his hands behind his back as the cool breeze of the night air of the city blew past his hair, bringing another smile to his face.
"You like it?" He heard his brother say.
"She's my joy. My hope. The moon."
His brother watched him as an idea crept in his mind.
"Rayven, haven't you been curious to see what's like to step outside the walls of your house and meet with people? The humans are not like the demons back in Hell…well, maybe some of them are, but it is not all of them. Get to know them and make some friends and have fun like I do. You could even have a better view of her outside this place. It is beautiful out there. And I would like to show you a world that is void of burning and screams, pain and endless torture. A world that is sinful and righteous. Wrong and right. A messed up world, governed by free will. Don't you want to explore it?"
Rayven didn't know that he held on tight to the golden railings of his massive balcony as a sign of never wanting to leave. He is the only demon out of over two hundred thousand that fled Hell to earth, who is still ignorant of this world and its inhabitants. He had zero clue of how they live. His house has been his comfort zone for a long time now…more like walls of protection from whatever army of demons is coming after his immortal soul.
He quickly shook his head and politely declined. He just can't. Damon frowned and stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Alright, I won't force you if you are not ready. But I want you to come along with me to this place. You would be able to endure the stares from a few strangers there, trust me."
☆
Mr. cuddlebubbles meowed on her white bed as he circled round to find the softest spot on the small bed to resume sleeping. It was already past eleven and Ebony is already a sweating mess due to the one-hour rigorous exercise she did in her room. The dress she picked, aka the only party dress she has was already a bit tight. So, she was determined to lose at least one kg overnight in order not to make that fact obvious to people.
She sat down in the shower naked and letting the feel of cold water run down her back and through her wet waves of hair, crying because her feet and ankles are throbbing due to doing sixty jump ropes non-stop.
She pulled her knees closer to her breast and buried her face on her lap to sob silently.
This was a total waste. It wasn't going to work! Now she is even going to look overweight to an elite set of people she will be meeting tomorrow and no doubt ugly and not attractive.
How come I add? Wasn't I supposed to be losing more now that I eat more vegetables than cereals?
Ebony sniffed as she raised her head and turned off the shower. The feel of the water on her body was starting to piss her. She stepped out of the shower and stood in front of the mirror in her room. Frowning heavily on her curves and large chest.
Boys prefer the ones that are small and cute, right?
She picked up the cloth on the floor and covered the mirror as usual. It is only visible when she wants it to be. She quickly changed into her pajamas, wrapped a white towel round her hair and sat in front of her SpongeBob themed study table with the lamps on. She rested her face on her hands, taking a deep, frustrated sigh.
"Why God? Just Why?" She mumbled, her eyes teary and her heart falling apart, not being able to take it anymore. Ebony opened her left drawer and brought out her notebook with the goofy face of SpongeBob printed on the hardcover. Her favorite cartoon character on earth.
She opened the pages of the book and went to the last page. Since her laptop has been seized by her best friend, she won't be taking any quizzes to make her smarter like she wants to. So, she should just continue with this.
What does she do in this book? You might be wondering?
It has been her years of research studying the demons now redeemed as angels that ruled over them about four centuries ago. One in particular grabbed her attention in a big way.
She looked up at the giant poster on the wall before her and grinned. Though this particular demon is very secretive and mysterious. There is only one picture of him known to the entire world. And it was taken quick by a sneaky and curious member of the paparazzi. She wasn't even that lucky to capture his full form. Only his shadow and half of his perfect face.
She paused to daydream about him. Just this little of him, people are already out of their senses due to his perfection. Even Lucifer himself or the angels can't be this beautiful. The only information she has about him is his name, Rayven and his pompous title; first rank supreme from the house of Mammon. In charge of six countries all together and so many other territories. He is by far the richest hot demon out there, and she is one hundred and one percent sure everyone is jealous of him.
Except her.
Ebony stood up from her chair and moved closer to the wall to stroke the bit of his immaculate face that was captured on camera. He looked angry and awfully sexy to. She smiled as she imagined what her life would be if she were chosen by him to redeem him.
That's why since the first moment she became a woman she has been doing endless research on what makes a dead heart beat again. According to science, it was impossible. The person is already a dead man and should be buried. It wasn't really that helpful.
But about four years ago, she stumbled upon a secret site where she has been taking lessons and learning all about that particular organ. Physiologically and its spiritual inclination. A demon's heart is ten times special to that of a human. It can still keep them alive without beating. She wondered how long they could go without a beating heart?
She placed her hand under her chin in thought as she went back to her seat and flipped through her previous notes and discoveries. According to her research which is not yet confirmed and had her in doubts, a demon's heart would give up but not permanently if the fallen angel went through something so terrible enough to silence his beating heart. Only the ones strong enough to push back their fears and pains and let their heart beat again would overcome this.
So this is not just the work of the heartbeats to make their heart beat again. They themselves must be willingly to let go and let it pound again. Her eyes went over to him, and she wondered why he is still holding back. No wonder he is the only one left to be redeemed and five other young girls like her chosen by him has failed terribly.
She moved her lips in determination as she began to scribble down something new on a fresh page.
I would not let you down. Now that I know it is a two-way thing. Something everyone, even the angels are ignorant of. She just can't wait to be selected by him and make his heart beat like they should originally do. Her name has been on the selection list ever since she was sixteen. And over the years, only one demon picked her, but she rejected the demon since he wasn't Rayven.
It has to be Rayven or no one else. I have to be the one to set him free. Thankfully, the demon she rejected is now a happy angel presently and making the one that redeem him his wife, and they are both living happily ever after now according to the demonic gist media online.
'I wonder who was the ignorant fool that rejected me for nothing. Anyway, I am happy to be blessed with my human and darling wife, Veronica.'
Hmm. Veronica.
Her main purpose in life apart from being pretty, smart and owning a bookstore of her own is to make this fallen angel's heart beat again. And, hopefully, live happily ever after with him. To make that happen, she must be ready and prepared for him.
As a human, our heart tends to pick up its pace or respond in a certain way when we see a very, very, attractive person.
She quickly jotted it down. That's why she has to be exceptionally beautiful and ready to make his heart race should he select her one day to redeem him. A very slim body with well-defined cheekbones and thin lips. Pale skin and…blue eyes…majorly any eye color that is not too dull and uninteresting like hers would do.
She continued to draft out another plan to make herself beautiful according to what she thinks is the ideal type of beauty. The kind of beauty that would make any man or demon's heart race to the moon and fall so madly in love with her.
She continued to write with plenty of expectations. I could start wearing contacts. The brightest version of my current eye color. That should do.
She continued to write them down. Once it was half past twelve in the morning, she made herself comfortable on the bed with Mr. cuddlebubbles with a book and began to read.
But what if he is into women with slimmer neck and pointy nose? What would I do then?
She considered as she stared at the ceiling in thought. That shouldn't be a problem. I would just do my best to fit in into his fantasies as much as possible if it means getting him the redemption he deserves and…she swallowed hard at the possibility…and get him to fall in love with me like I have always dreamed of.
I am ready to do anything for him as long as I am not picked soon or so late for another girl to take my place as his redeemer. It would truly be over for me.
She turned to her left side once it was half past three and began to doze off. The big book falling from her hand in the process on the hard floor as she slept.
That night she had a dream. And Rayven was in it.