A Promise Pt. 2

**Aileen POV**

His parents sold him? And at such a young age! It was a good thing Devon hadn't seen them since. Those pathetic excuses for humans or demons didn't deserve a man as wonderful as Devon. They really missed out. If I knew where they were hiding, I would hunt them down and rip them apart. They had no idea how much suffering Devon must have endured at Shiuku's hands. Hell, he was only six when it happened! Shiuku was damn near all my friend knew! It took a truly messed up couple to give up a child. The devil better have a special place in hell for them.
With everything that tortured me in the past, at least I had my Father to act as my rock. Who did Devon have? Lena, Tom, and Trevor all called him a traitor several times. They obviously had no idea what had turned him like this. Lena had Tom, Tom had Nye, Trevor had a whole damn family, but no one tried to figure out Devon. Not a damn person was there for him.
The demons here would snicker at him. Sekai and him seemed to be enemies when they were near each other. The human maids acted like he was a ghost. I had treated him poorly at first, throwing a tray at him in a rotten childish tantrum.
I had failed to think of Devon's side. Never had I given a true effort to learn the reasonings behind his actions. Had I grown up with nothing, but the strongest demon to ever live, I would be scared to disobey too! Anyone would.
"I'm so sorry De-"
He got a wicked grin on his face as he pulled out a left over lint coated cookie from his front pocket. With a sly look, he rubbed the cookie onto my new dress. Crumbs fell as the chocolate decorated the blue fabric. I watched completely stupefied.
"You apologized unnecessarily. Now you get to wear a snack instead of me." He brushed away a few pieces of cookie from my belly. "A shame you had to say sorry while being in such a stunning dress."
What an amazing man. In this situation he could still create humor. I knew he didn't feel it. His eyes were so dim, so unlike the piercing blue I had come to admire so much.
"Are you satisfied? Can I put my shirt back on?"
Tentatively, I traced the outline of the knife on his chest. The weapon may have been like a tattoo, but I could feel the threat of it on his pulsing heart. Shiuku possibly could use that mark to end Devon's life at any point. I saw no other explanation for why he would have a knife there. As far as I had seen, there was no one else here with a blade pointing to any of their vital organs. Devon bit his lower lip, trying to conceal well, I'm not sure what. But he did fail at whatever he was hiding.
"So they sold you and Shiuku marked you?" I asked quietly.
"They tricked me. His first lie I fell for I suppose." He kicked at nothing. "I was told that he would kill my parents if I did not agree to become his belonging and wear his mark. They may never have loved me, but I loved them. The very second I agreed, my parents laughed at my booger streaked face. Shiuku handed them money and my fate was sealed. This knife is death. If he decides I am not worth feeding, or housing anymore; well a snap of his fingers and I would die."
His skin gained little bumps as my finger trailed over the horrible deadly mark. I internally wished that there was something I could do to comfort him. Telling me about his parents was not easy for him. The man looked ready to crumble at any given second. Before I could think clearly, I pressed a kiss to his heart. It was baby thinking that I could actually heal him with a basic gesture, but I couldn't control myself.
"And the circle around my heart?"
"You won't be able to back out of a deal he offers you. The mark will force you to agree, no matter how much you verbally object. But if we are successful at freeing you, Squad Leader Lena can break the mark. She's become much more powerful since I was in the DSS."
Both Devon's arms wrapped around me. He was speaking something under his breath that I could not decipher. His body was so warm and his heart was speeding like Trevor driving a car.
With a stutter, Devon backed up and said, "I um do have a uh gift for you. From Shiuku again."
Shiuku? What would he possibly have for me?
On shaking legs, Devon walked over to the drawer and pulled out a slender black box. It was tied off in a light purple ribbon. "Shiuku and you talked about a collar... well this one I think you'll like. He uh showed me it earlier before purchasing."
I unwrapped my new gift thinking back to the last time Shiuku had gotten me something. The banner bow was very personal to me and I loved it. The idea of wearing a collar for him before, it had honestly excited me after a round of kinky sex; but now, I had no desire for it now. All I wanted was freedom away from him.
"Just toss it. I want nothing else from him. Yesterday...well whatever day it was before I lost consciousness, I hadn't even been able to have sex with him. It felt wrong and disgusted me. He made himself crystal clear that there would never be any love between us. I don't know why I had those happy and secure feelings before with him, but I've come to realize I don't love him either. I don't think I ever could, but by God did I try. Just like Mother told me as a small child."
Devon's lips twitched. He was attempting to hold back a smile. "Just open it. It's not an ordinary necklace. I think you may love the thought he put into it."
Shiuku finds love to be a weakness; he killed Brintini for it. Why would he care about getting me something I would love?
Unenthusiastically, I opened the box. Upon seeing the contents of the present, I dropped it. Devon was swift and caught the falling necklace. He pulled the chain out and placed the cool silver in my palm. *My God, the little detail..*.
The necklace was absolutely stunning. A simple silver chain that once hooked, would fall to roughly about my collar bone. What mesmerized me were the little charms placed strategically on the necklace. It took me no time to figure out who each symbol was meant to represent. My family, it was my little family! All of them were depicted on the necklace. I was just flabbergasted that someone could come up with this; I never would have guessed the demon lord knew me this well.
A tough dragon, a strong sturdy looking sword, an unopened envelope, a heart rested in the middle, which could have been me; it was the only charm I was unsure of, beautiful lilacs, black musical beam notes, and an elegant butterfly with multi-colored wings decorated the necklace.
I needed to blow my nose before the water works started coming. Shiuku had... *Come on Aileen. You are not this dim. Think like an investigator*
"Why did you say this was a gift from Shiuku?" I asked another bell rang in my mind, "Was the bow really Shiuku too?"
Devon's eyes widened. I added, "I'm not really that stupid; well now that my head is out of the fog. Shiuku was just as surprised as I was about the bow. He didn't seem to understand the significance of the lilacs, and now you want to tell me he understands not only me, but my family? No way. When did you find out how horrible a singer my brother is?"
"He sang for me...so did your Father. " He grimaced. Yeah, neither one of them had any kind of pitch or rhythm. "Do you like it?"
"I could kick you right now. Of course I do!" I exclaimed. "So does Shiuku know you got me this?"
He shrugged, "He asked to get you a collar. I was to design it."
My heart felt overwhelmed, a warm flood flowed from my cheeks to my toes. The banner was incredible enough, this was on another level. He must have gotten along with my family when being a delivery boy. My Father shared our song with him. I know Lena, Tom, and him don't get along, yet both of them are on my...collar.
With an awkward hand, Devon put my necklace on for me. He had a triumphant expression as he looked down at me. Once again, I saw those striking blue eyes. My beating heart burned in my throat. The sweetest man was one abandoned by his own Mother and Father.
"You are my family now. If I have to wear this necklace then you will be the heart." I snapped my lips shut. What the hell did I just say? Devon can't be the heart. He would never agree to that. One stupid comment may have just cost me the only friend I have here. "Haha, you know I'm just I mean I didn't think through the heart..."
"Yes." He stated plainly. Two fingers tilted my head back to face him. "I'll be the heart, just keep it quiet. Until I die, probably by Shiuku's hand, or Tom's; I would be honored to be on your 'collar'."
I gritted my teeth. "No, that's not how this works. You are my family now! I am not going to let anymore of my family die because of Shiuku. Are you going to leave me too? You want to cause me pain?"
"Of course not."
"Then promise me, you will not think of dying. I want you to do everything in your power to survive this. Don't make me have to bury my friend." I didn't allow my voice to waver. Devon was family now, and the rest of us had to live.
His gaze never left mine, I never looked away. Emotions flickered one after another. The main ones being pain, sorrow, hope, and affection. The man was just barely holding himself together. I knew that all too well.
"Aileen." His fingers started to weaken as if my head suddenly became a two ton weight.
"Aileen." He repeated. His face became flush and his eyes dilated.
*Just spit out already Dev.*..
Gradually, Devon tilted his head slightly to the side, bending his neck downwards. Was...Was Devon going to kiss me?