Confessed by a Demon

I dropped my pencil.

"What now?" My mouth gaped. "Who? Me? With Xander? Expecting?" I snorted with laughter. "Don't be ridiculous... Which cycle?"

"When you were Kinara."

It took me a few seconds to process the words. My brain usually worked fast. But right then, it slowed so much that it was painful. 

"Hold on," I raised my palm to Tony. "Hold on... You haven't answered my question about how Kinara started the prophecy in the first place."

Tony's lips went shut. He grimaced a bit, looking uncomfortable when he said, "It's not my place to say, really."

I got the feeling that Tony was afraid to spill stuff that would offend Xander. After all, Xander was the 'Father' and apparently all three other supernatural beings obeyed him. I thought of ordering him to do it. I could with my position as 'Mother'. But I didn't want to put Tony in a much more uncomfortable situation. So far, he was the only decent being that I could talk to like a normal person. I needed his company, his normal company. Not the cold but sexy angel or the not-so-innocent hybrid boy or the rude and jerk sugar daddy.

Out of all the princes, Tony seemed the most normal despite him being a demon. I wanted him to stay that way with me. His gestures were the most genuine to me, out of all the others who approached me because of the natural attraction. Except, of course, Xander, who apparently was repulsed by me. 

"I understand," I told him with a knowing look. "Thank you, Tony. Really. You're the only person who is explaining things to me."

He smiled in return. 

"I've loved you since you were Renee," he said straight to my eyes, "That feeling never changes no matter what the cycle."

'Oh shit.' A demon just confessed to me! 'Holy Beelzebub shit!' 

"I know you're overwhelmed right now," he continued to say, "But before the cycle ends... I just want you to know, I love you. Always. I've loved you when you were alive, I've loved you when you didn't even remember me, and I've loved you when you were not on this earth."

*Why does it sound like he is going to propose to me??* I was only twenty-one! I was not ready for marriage bullshit. Especially with a demon. 

However, I must emphasize yet again, how was a demon this sweet? This demon was such a cinnamon roll! I mean, wasn't that the love confession every girl would want?

*Hold on... *

My brain churned again. And whenever my left brain is involved, I get twice more sceptical, a trait that is important in the science world. 

What could be the reason for a demon to confess his love to me and act so sweet to me? I could accept the words with an open heart if there was no catch, but remembering that I got the power to crown the Dark Lord... well, let's just say that put things into perspective for me. 

"Tony," my voice became low, "If you're only doing this to gain my favor to crown you the Dark Lord–"

"Is that what you think?" Surprisingly, Tony looked hurt with my words. His brows furrowed deep in disbelief. 

But knowing that he was a demon, I couldn't let my guard down easily!

"Come on, it's a pretty logical thing to think," I said, "Each one of you need my love to gain the Dark Lord's power.

"Oh, I see," he crossed his arms and sneered at me, "Because I'm the demon, you don't trust me easily."

"That would be logical too," I responded, "No offense."

He sighed. He looked so hurt that somehow, it pained my chest too. 

"Arianna," he spoke up. The way he hummed my name sent tingles all over my body. "I will be honest. I do need the Dark Lord's power to get back to the Hell realm."

When I raised my eyebrows as if saying, 'I told you so,' he extended his arms as a gesture for me to hear him out first. "I loved. No. I love Renee with all my heart. I told you, I was banished from hell because I fell in love with a human woman."

"I was going to elope with her and lived like a normal human couple. But because she was the Lady, she had to die. She was helping a rogue knight from escaping a tyrant king."

"Both of us didn't know what we were. Until Xander and Michael came to me right after she had died and told me that I am one of the princes too."

That chest pain grew even more. It grew vehemently every time I recognized the hurt in the demon's face.

"I thought after losing you, I just need to get back to Hell and gain the throne again," he continued, his lips turned into a sombre smile, "That's why I agreed to stay with Alexander. Since I got nowhere to go, anyway. And since I would be able to meet you again."

I slapped myself in the face. *Get a grip, Arianna. You are talking to a demon! A demon!*

"I... am not Renee, Tony..." I forced my mouth to say. "I'm not her. I'm sorry."

His eyelashes drooped even lower and the creases on his face deepened. 

During times like this, I was glad that medical students learned how to listen and counsel people. I set my elbows on the table and leaned forward. Body gestures are very important to make people open up. 

Looking at him straight in the eye, I said, "Tell me more about her."

The rest of the day, he told me how Renee always loved reading. She was the daughter of a farmer and an opera singer, so art was in her blood. Her passion was painting. And often times, Tony was her subject of muse. 

"She loved to paint me naked," he said with a grin. 

I rolled my eyes. I started this heart-felt session to cheer him up. Not to make a chance for him to brag about his great body.

"Her passion for painting is actually the reason I went into photography."

"Let me guess," I said, "You photograph nude too?"

"Well, nude photography is a form of art too, you know." He started explaining about the concept of nude photography. How the aim was to have that sensual feeling, but not quite. How the lighting is different and how the model had to pose such awkward poses. 

I grew bored by the third sentence, but I could always feign an interested face. Because, I realized, I did not want the conversation to end. 

Despite it did not help me whatsoever in the research or in finding out who should I choose as the Dark Lord... it made me feel normal again. 

And because of that, I did not want the demon to stop talking.

If it was the demon's way to gain my heart... I had to admit; it was kinda working.