Always till Forever

James: Ya, what’s up?

Me: Come over ;)

James: Omw

James is my next door neighbor, and practically my boyfriend.

‘Knock knock’

I walk over to my window –the source of the knocks– and open it, letting James in.

“Hey, baby.” James says, with a sweet yet smug tone to his voice as he climbs in through my window.

“Hi.” I said, trying to add a mysterious tone to my voice.

“I’m here, what’s up?” He asked, but by the way he walked toward me and by the look on his face, he already knew.

“I’m lonely.” I tell him, as he finally closes the distance between us.

I lift my face up to his, but he’s hesitant.

“What is it?” I ask with a sad tone to my voice, and pulling away.

“Nothing, I thought I heard something.” He said, grabbing a hold on my waist, and not letting me move.

He put one finger under my chin, and traced the shape of my jaw, moving to trace his finger along my throat and stopping when he reached the heart shaped freckle in the pool of my collarbone. He pulled his hand back up to cup my face, pulled my face up to his, and bent down as if he was gonna kiss me, he moved his hand down to the small of my back. But, abruptly, he paused and pushed me away.

“What now?” I ask, confused and frustrated.

“Shh.” He shushes, pulling me back, but putting his finger over my lips. “Listen.” He continues, looking frantically at me.

“Oh, I hear it.” We stand for a little while longer, listening to what sounds like a low and deep laughter.

“Waverly, or do you prefer Wave?” A deep, low voice asks from downstairs.

I stood there in James’ hold quietly.

“Oh, come on down, I don’t bite,” he teases again, “very hard.” The guy adds again before laughing his deep, menacing laugh.

As I stand there trembling, I feel James rubbing my arms reassuringly. I didn’t notice I was crying until I heard James whisper,

“It’ll be okay, My Love I promise. I’m here.” He pulls away, slowly and carefully puts me on my bed, walks over to the window, grabs a baseball-bat and walks slowly to my bedroom door.

“James, where the hell do you think you’re going?” I hissed.

“I’m going to check who’s down there. You said you were alone.” He whispers back hastily.

“I’m coming with yo- James, look out!”

I frantically point at a roughly six foot dark cloaked man towering over him. Suddenly, the guy takes out a knife from behind him and stabs James in the back. Then he looks at me, wide eyed, and extends his arm out to me as if trying to reach me. I put my arm out, gesturing for him to come to me, before he falls limp to the floor and the man steps around his lifeless body.

“So, where were we?” The man asks rhetorically, rubbing his hands together.

“Who the hell are you?” I demand, too scared to move.

He lifted the hood from his face, I could see how perfect he looked. His eyes were as blue as the sky on a summer day against his dark tan skin, he had jaw length black hair. He had a hard set face.

“That doesn’t answer my question.” I tell him sourly.

“Well, you know Satan? Also known as: Angel of the bottomless pit, The Devil, the list goes on. Anyway, he was gonna collect you, but Satan sent me instead!” He said enthusiastically.

“Uh… why?” I ask, brilliantly.

“Oh, Waverly, HE said the Devil Goddess is beautiful and smart. What a shame, but no matter, we can fix that.” He said

“Devil Goddess?” I say aloud, mostly to myself, but he answers,

“Yes, Waverly, Devil Goddess.”

“No!” I scream, finally finding the strength to try and push past him and run downstairs.

I didn’t even make it halfway down the stairs before he caught my wrist and pulled me back to my room and to the floor.

“Nuh uh, HE promised that I could have you.” He taunted. “You’re mine now.” He added, angrily.

“No! I don’t belong to you! Let me go!” I screamed, trying again to run downstairs to get to the phone.

“Ugh.” He complained as he ran faster than humanly possible to the bottom of the stairs to tower over me.

“Now, this is what HE must’ve meant by you don’t like to be told what’s what. At first I thought he was teasing, but no, you’re very difficult.” He told me, bending down so his face was leveled with mine. “You have a lot of potential.” He whispers in my ear.

“Please, just leave me alone.” I cry.

“You don’t understand, I can’t leave here without you.” He whispers again. “Please don’t cry My Love, it’ll be okay. I promise.” He pleads as he wipes the tears from my face.

“Wha- what did you just call me?” I ask through tears.

“You don’t understand, you’re going to be my mate, so I can call you whatever I want. You’re quite literally mine. ” He explains calmly this time.

He then takes a belt from who knows where and uses it to tie my wrists to one of the balusters, runs upstairs and grabs my red jean short shorts, and a black crop top, along with my black leather combat boots. He wraps that up to create a little bag thing using his cloak, unties me, and scoops me up all with one swipe.

“You don’t have a choice.” He repeats running out the front door, me in his arms. “HE will approve of you.” He adds.

It wasn’t long before I noticed how fast we were moving, the trees all blurred together, making a dark tunnel around us. Under different circumstances I would’ve thought it was pretty, but no, I was being dragged away to what could’ve been Hell.

It felt like forever before he slowed, but it wasn’t long before he came to a full stop. As he slowly walked over to a wall (me still in his arms), he stopped in front of it.

“Let us through, Ravana.” He commands, and lowers his voice so low it’s almost impossible to hear, it’d be silent if I wasn’t pressed up against his shoulder.

“Who is us?” Ravana growls.

“Let’s just say, our Goddess is home.” He tells him. At the same time, he looks down to send me a playful smile.

Here in his arms, I feel at ease. Although I should be scared out of my mind; I was just kidnapped by a demon.

“Don’t worry, My Love, you’ll be safe. As soon as we transform you, you can meet everybody, but for now, you stay with me.” He assures me, deepening his voice on the last few words.

Every time he’s called me “My Love”, it reminds me of James. I’ll never see him alive again.

“Did you really have to kill James?” I ask, sadness present in my tone.

“I truly am sorry about that, Dear. He would’ve caused… complications. But don’t worry, soon you won’t care that he’s dead.” He says enthusiastically, flashing me a smug smile.

“You never told me your name.” I mention, changing the subject.

“Oh, that’s right, my name is Seth. Meaning ‘the one who dazzles’.” He smiles after telling me his name.

“You were born with a name that means ‘the one who dazzles’?” I ask, in disbelief.

“Oh, Baby. Not like that, when you’re transformed, you get to take on a new name.” He beams.

“Huh. Okay.” I shrug.

“I’m sorry about what I’m about to do.” He says, lowering his head to whisper in my ear again.

“Ravana, I swear to Satan, if you don’t open this door right now, I will break it down and kill you!” He threatened.

Just then the wall opens, revealing a dark open space.

“Now, My Love, I must put you down, but you stay with me.” He whispers again in my ear, putting me down, but taking my hand and guiding me through the dark.

When we walked through, it was really cold, but it wasn’t too long before it started feeling really hot. It got to the point where I had to wipe beads of sweat from my forehead.

“Oh right, I’m so sorry. Let’s get you out of your sweatpants and that sweater.” Seth then led me to the left, into a room that looked like a changing room.

The obvious theme to the room was red. The walls were a dark blood red, while the floor was black hardwood. In the center of the room, a circle of ottomans that were a scarlet red sat there, surrounded by folding screens in every corner of the room. Those were a raspberry red.

“Here, change into this My Dear, you shouldn’t be so hot.” Seth said, tossing me my shorts, boots and crop top.

I took my clothes from him, and went to change behind one of the screens. As I took my black sweater off and let it fall to the floor, I noticed a mirror behind the screen, and saw a pentagram shaped cut in between my ribs, under my bra. I’ve never gotten a tattoo; my parents don’t like the thought of me having something on my body permanently.

“Uh, Seth?!” I scream.

“What’s wrong, My Love?” I hear him run over, but pause when he reaches the screen.

“What is this?” I yelled, panicked.

“Baby, I can’t see it, could you come out from behind the screen? Please? I don’t like hearing the panic in your voice.” He pleads, sounding concerned.

“Oh, right. Yeah.” I say stupidly.

I slowly emerge from behind the screen, panic present on my face. Pointing to the pentagram that looks to be cut into me.

“Oh Dear, you had me thinking something was wrong,” He gasps “that’s just your Sign.” He adds. “Everyone chosen gets one, except, they usually don’t come until after the transformation process.” He adds again, frowning.

“Is it bad that it’s come early?” I ask, worried.

“No, it means you're special.” Seth assures me with a smile.

I nod in response and turn to go back behind the screen, suddenly self-conscious with him staring at me; not creepily, but with an endearing look in his eyes. But He grabs my waist and spins me around to face him. He bends his head down and he gently kisses me, before letting go and putting the screen back around me; I’d hardly had a chance to register what happened.

“Please hurry, Love, you have people to meet, we shouldn’t keep them waiting.” He says sternly.

“Okay I’ll be done in a sec.” I assure him.

I quickly finish changing before going back out to see him standing right outside the screen.

“Are you sure this is appropriate for me to wear to meet people?” I ask, looking down at myself.

The crop top barely covers my stomach, and it shows my belly button piercing (my parents don’t know about that). And my shorts are well, really short, my boots make me half a foot taller though. I feel stupid; I usually don’t wear them together. I think to myself.

“Baby, you don’t look stupid, you look perfect.” He assures me, half smiling as if he’s waiting for me to get something, like a joke that I’d missed.

“How do you know I feel stupid?” I asked, accusingly.

All he did was smile teasingly at me, and tap his temple before he ran over to a dark cherry wood dresser, to grab a hair elastic. When he ran back over to me, he went behind me, pulling my long straight black hair into a ponytail.

“Here, this will go better with the already perfect outfit.” He said, winking at me before taking my hand and leading me out of the changing room.

“Where are we going? Who are we meeting? Where are we?” I asked, too fast for anyone to actually understand.

“We are going to the temple. We’re meeting my boss, and we are in hell.” He giggled before smiling at me again.

He did hear me. I thought.

“Yes, I heard you. I can hear your thoughts, too.” He said.

“Oh really? What am I thinking then?” I ask.

He’s really cute. Hell, cute is an understatement. He's hot. I think to myself.

He stopped and blushed a little before answering,

“I’m glad you think that. But, I do not compare to your beauty, My Love.”

He pulled me closer again and kissed me. This time, he wasn’t as hesitant. Unlike last time, which was far too fast for me to comprehend, this time I got a fluttery feeling in my stomach, and a light-headed feeling alongside that. When he pulled away, I noticed that I had forgotten to breathe, and he needed to grab my arm to keep me steady.

“Careful there. We don’t need you hurting yourself before you meet HIM.” He teased.

When he was sure I was steady he slid his hand down my arm (giving me butterflies) to take my hand again. He continued to lead me through the dark heat until we reached a bright opening. I can’t help but look around, there’s just so much. I’m not gonna lie, this is not what I thought a room in Hell would look like; on the other side of the room, there’s a throne, one with a scary lookin’ dude sitting in it. On both corners beside it, there’s huge bookshelves, they’re so tall they go all the way up to the ceiling, and cover every inch of that wall. On the left and right of the door Seth and I are standing in, there’s huge windows showing a dark night’s sky, the crescent moon looks magical. The whole room is lit by the light of the moon. All along the grey stone floor, there’s a long red carpet leading up to the throne.

“Wow, the moon is beautiful tonight.” I commented in awe.

“Meh, it’s merely pretty, you’re the beautiful one.” Seth corrected with a serious expression on his face. Still staring at the moon, he takes my hand again and walks over to the scary lookin’ dude sitting on the black throne.

“Hello, Satan.” Seth greeted the dude on the throne.

“Hello, My Son, I see you have brought her back to me. She is quite beautiful, isn’t she?” He asks, turning his eyes to me.

“Yes Sir, she certainly is.” Seth agreed and having both of them looking my way made me blush.

“Has she been transformed yet?” Satan asks.

“Not yet, Master.” Seth answers.

“Alrighty then. Well hello, Dear.” Satan greeted me.

“Hello.” I greet back.

“How are you?” He asked, still talking to me.

I shied into Seth’s side as I answered,

“I’m fine, how are you?”

“I’m good, thank you.” He said.

Seth squeezed my hand reassuringly. I’m kind of shy around people I don’t know. I said to Seth in my head. In response to what I said, he subtly nodded.

“Well, I‘m going to go and take her to get the transformation done. It was nice talking to you, Master.” Seth nodded respectfully, as he turned to leave.

“Bye, My Son. See you again soon, My Daughter.” Satan said to us as we left.

“Bye.” I said, walking away.

Thank you. I thought again. In response, Seth squeezed my hand again. As soon as we were out of hearing range, Seth finally spoke.

“I’m sorry about that, My Love.” He apologised, lowering his head and frowning.

I stopped, pulled back on his arm so he was right in front of me, put my finger under his chin and lifted his head up and said, “Hey, you don’t need to be sorry.” I looked up at him and smiled. He looked down at me and saw me smiling at him and he smiled, too. All of a sudden, I feel a sharp pain in my chest, and my knees give out under the crippling pain.

“Waverly, what’s wrong?” Seth panicked

I was in too much pain to talk, all I could do was scream and writhe in pain. When I did manage to talk, all I could say was,

“My chest, it hurts!”

“Where? Point.” Seth demanded.

I pointed to where the pentagram sat in the top middle area of my ribs.

“Your Sign?” Seth asks, confused.

I nodded my head in a response to his question. I screamed as a wave of pain flowed through me again.

“I can’t take this.” I screamed.

“You’ll be okay My Love, the transformation is starting. It shouldn’t be much longer. But you need to stay awake, don’t give in. You are strong enough to get through this.” Seth assured me.

The pain is so bad I could hardly hear what he was saying, I could hear him of course, but the sounds of my cries drowned out some of the sound of his voice.

“Please. It hurts.” I plead.

“I know it hurts, Love. You have to stay awake though. Keep your eyes open.” Seth told me. “As long as you keep your eyes open, you’ll get through this.” He added.

I screamed again as another wave of pain hit me like a tsunami.

“Please, kill me,” I begged. “I can’t take this.”

“Please don’t ask that of me. I can’t kill you, My Love. But I will help take away your pain.” Seth told me calmingly.

I screamed and writhed in pain again, fighting the darkness that’s trying so hard to consume me.

“Thanatos, get Asclepius. Waverly needs help.” Seth demanded.

I tried focusing on something other than the waves of pain flowing through my body. Wasn’t Thanatos death personified? Seth trusts someone who named themselves after the death personified?

“What’s happening?” Someone asked.

“Her transformation has started... on its own.” Seth informed them.

“You didn’t initiate it?” That same person asked.

“No, neither of us did, we were on our way to do that, but she just collapsed. When we first arrived, she already had her Sign.” Seth whispered.

“Really?!” The other person gasped.

“Please just kill me!” I begged again, writhing in pain as I’m hit with another wave.

“Hold on child, where does it hurt the most?” Someone asked.

I point to where my pentagram Sign thing is.

“Are you sure, child?” They asked.

“Yes!” I screamed.

I don’t know how much longer I can fight off the dark, heavy feeling flowing through me, starting at my chest and spreading through the rest of me.

Seth, please. Please, just kill me. I thought, hoping Seth was listening. I looked up through tears to see him shaking his head subtly.

“Okay. I want you to squeeze my hand, and only stop squeezing when the pain goes away. But squeeze as hard as you need to.” They tell me.

He continued to rub my head until I felt myself fall asleep, lying on him, in his arms.