Chapter Eighteen: Put a Shirt On

Eros grunted. "Still, even though your help will be appreciated, you know this is all your fault right? You're the cause of her being in danger in the first place."

Dagon shook his head. "You can never just say thank you, can you? I'm not the one that betrayed her, one of her followers did that, or one of them pretending to be." He turned and surveyed the group. "If any of you are Krim, I am going to rip you in half, just know that."

"Why do you have a problem with Krim?" Ruby demanded as she pushed the others out of the way. "Who are you even?"

Dagon laughed. "Just one of the Hell Princes, are you sure you want to get on my bad side right now? I really don't want to have to deal with you reapers too much."

"Hell Princes?" Ruby frowned. "Are you the one that Lust mentioned?"

"That would be me," Dagon bowed. "Dagon, Prince of Pestilence. It's why I created the seven sins."

"Krim is the one that betrayed Holly," Quix growled out. He was still holding her close to his body. "If Dagon wants to rip him apart, I say we let him, Rubes."

Ruby hesitated and glanced over. "Quix, that's where you went? To rescue Holly?"

He nodded.

"Thank you," she nodded her head to him.

Eros turned his attention to Quix. "I'd appreciate it if you let her go now. I need to check her over for injuries."

Quix shrugged and just pulled Holly closer to his chest, her color turning pink as he did so and he smirked. "Nah, I think we're going to stay like this for a while."

Ruby walked over and rapped him on the head with her knuckles. "Quix, if you are messing with her now, I will make you regret it."

Quix's grin turned into a warm smile and he looked over at her. "Jealous, Rubes? You can always be part of my harem."

Ruby glared at him. "I believe I have told you exactly how I felt about your flirting ways. If you are not serious about her, you need to leave her alone."

Quix grinned and cuddled Holly again as she continued to turn red. It was, even more, embarrassing with so many eyes on her. Quix looked up at Ruby. "Then it's fine, cause I'm getting genuinely fond of her."

Eros sighed. "Should have known."

Dagon chuckled. "You already know how this goes, are you really so shocked?"

Eros didn't reply but crossed his arms and glared at Quix. "I don't have to like it."

Dagon turned and studied Lachesis who was openly studying him. "What are you doing here?" he demanded. "You're the last person I expected to run into. And I won't let you do anything to Holly."

Lachesis rolled her eyes. "Why are the hot ones always so possessive? I'm here to help her, okay? I thought her life was in danger. The real question, how did you and Lust find her before Tydeus and Angel did? This doesn't make sense."

Dagon smirked. "Because he didn't try hard enough? I knew she needed me, so I came. You're here to make sure she fights the Sin and continues her merry little mission for you then?" he bit out.

Lachesis didn't back down as she lifted her head. "I'm here to support her. The others don't agree with my decision. In case you've forgotten, I've always supported her, always."

Dagon laughed. "That's not how I remember it. You're one of those that are responsible to make sure she carries out her punishment. But, I won't let her suffer like this. I'm breaking her free." He turned toward Holly again. "Holly, marry me."

"No," Eros replied with his arms over his chest.

"I agree with him," Quix answered. He still had Holly pulled against him and didn't look the least obligated to let her go.

Holly glanced over her shoulder at him and he just gave her a warm smile and a squeeze in return. Was he serious about getting fond of her? It had to be a joke right? But even she found herself softening around him. She wasn't in love or anything, but she didn't hate being held like this. Even with everyone else around.

"I'm not getting married," she answered Dagon.

"Is it because of Eros?" he demanded as he turned to glare at the Sin.

"No, it's because I don't even know you," Holly countered.

"I told you, I need you to become my queen. Once you are, my brothers can't hurt you again." Dagon's eyes narrowed on Eros. "You can stop trying to get in my way. I will admit I'm surprised to see you here, but it doesn't mean that I am backing down."

Holly groaned and leaned against Quix, gathering her strength. She tried to scramble from his lap but he kept a firm hold on her and when she glared at him he just smiled at her. This time she didn't turn red but pressed firmly on his chest. "Sorry, but I have something to say."

Quix pulled his arms away but the warm smile stayed. "If you insist, but my arms are always open for you."

Ruby groaned. "I apologize profusely for my companion's behavior. Please forgive us."

Holly didn't answer as she whirled on the group. "I've just been captured and tortured by the reaper's boss. Please forgive me if I don't want to talk about marriage or anything else. Eros, you've been my partner but now you're acting like a jealous boyfriend. You know we don't have that relationship."

Eros's pale skin paled even further as his eyes widened and he took a step back. "But-"

"At least not yet," Holly clarified.

Eros staggered against the wall but his smile had returned.

Holly turned away from him then onto Dagon. "You helped me and Quix, that's true. But you're just yet another of the people here for this soul of mine." She put a hand on her chest. "You're not here for me. You're not here for Holly, and you could care less what happens to her. The ones that do care about me? They just happen to be the ones that have been chasing me for months."

Quix smirked.

"So please forgive me if I'm not tripping all over myself to take your offer of marriage seriously." Holly's fist clenched. "And another thing, I've got budding feelings for Quix too." her cheeks were fire by this point but she was going to be upfront with them.

Eros shrugged. "What's your point? You're never with just one person no matter what life you're living."

Holly took a step back now. "What?"

"It's true," Dagon nodded. "I'm not really fond of it though."

Holly frowned. "That doesn't make any sense. I don't know who these other women have been. But I just don't see myself saying okay and just shacking up with a bunch of you. That's weird."

"Holly, why did you leave me behind?" Eros demanded as he looked up. "We've been through so much since I found you. Yet you left me behind when you went with Krim. I could have protected you. I would have. Don't you believe in me?"

"You were asleep, and I had no idea he was dangerous. I just thought he wanted to talk in private," she defended herself. "I won't make that mistake again."

Eros shook his head. "That's not good enough. Please, Holly. Please think about it from my view."

Holly sighed as she imagined what it had been for him after he had woken up. She was gone and she had left him alone with Quix. A double betrayal. No note, no goodbye. Just vanished. "Eros, I'm sorry."

He smiled at her, his blue eyes regaining some of their light. "Thank you." He then turned to the shirtless Quix who had his elbow balanced on his knee. "But you, why didn't you take me when you went on a rescue mission?"

Quix shrugged. "I can't teleport more than one."

"You teleported you both out of there, right?" Eros pushed.

"And I paid the price for it." Quix rubbed his chest and glanced up as if just noticing that Ruby was glaring down at him. "Hey, Rubes, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you without saying anything. I"ll make it up to you. Name where you want to go for our date."

Ruby's eyes narrowed on him. "I believe I have made it clear that I have no interest in dating you, Quix. Besides, aren't you forgetting the person you were interested in quickly?"

"I never said it'd be just a date for the two of us." Quix smirked. "Since everyone else failed at it, I decided I'm going to protect Holly."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Ruby sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You can teleport, and that is it. You can't even take her with you. What good would you be?"

"Jealous?" Quix chuckled. "You're right, I normally can't but I'd be willing to go through the pain and consequences of teleporting two to save her, in a heartbeat."

"Did you at least discover what her power was in all of this?" Ruby demanded ignoring his bait.

"Not yet, but we will." Quix grinned. "Because we're going to have a Prince of Hell train her next. You can help, Dagon, but I'm going to be with you guys for every single practice."

Dagon groaned and Holly stared down at the ground as her cheeks once more flamed. Why was she softening up so much to the braided man? Every smile, every twinkle of his eyes, even the way his braid's tip twitched like a cat's tail. She was learning to appreciate so many things about him.

Wait. Holly lifted her head. "Did you just say he's going to be my teacher?" she demanded as she pointed at Dagon.

"For now," Ruby agreed. "Each of us is more or less specialists in one field or another. However, finding your magic should be much easier for a Prince."

Holly wasn't sure she trusted those words, but at this point all she could do was trust. The magic was going to be the only defense against Dagon's brothers and she was in no hurry to meet any more of them.


Fate's Pawn: Four Horsemen
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