doing it because… because… Well, because I hate seeing such a noble creature lying here in such a state.”
“Hmpft… Silly child, nobility is not a birthright.”
“You say it true, silly Angel. It is defined by one’s actions.”
“Pfft.”
He looked away. I didn’t speak, but neither did I stop my delicate ministrations toward his pitifully withered arm.
“My pride brought me to this, Jem,” he softly whispered.
“Yes… I know. Pride is a destroyer of souls, weak and strong alike.”
“Hmpft. For a woman who wishes not to cast blame or pass judgements, you certainly have a painful little way of doing both. It leaves quite a sting.”
“That was not my intent. I promise.” I cut him a sideways glance and smiled. “In truth, I was afraid to slice such brittle flesh. Even with just a thumbnail. I feared only dust would spill forth from the wound.”
His mouth half fell open then. “Are you… are you making fun of me?”
“No.” I bit my lip and looked down. “I would never do such a thing. Pffts.”
I quickly turned my head, trying to hide my growing smile.
“You are!” He grabbed my chin and turned me back to face him. “You’re laughing at me.”
I did snicker then. “So what? Yes, I’m laughing at you. Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one laying there feeling sorry for yourself. You’d think after all these many years, you would finally be resigned to the fact.”
He smiled with only one corner of his mouth, then released me. “I take it all back. You are neither sweet nor are you innocent. You are a demon, one sent to torture what is left of me.”
“You never actually said I was sweet. You must’ve just been thinking that part. And… how is it you’re now crying torture when a minute ago you were going on about how good this felt?”
He openly smirked. “You have a sharp tongue, child. I see now. A wicked little thing, when you want to be.”
“Not truly. It’s just… well, things were getting a bit heavy there for a minute. I was only trying to lighten the tension.”
“If that is true, you should apologize for such harsh words.”
“Azazel, remember when I said I didn’t apologize for things I wasn’t sorry about? This is one of those times. Now, quit whining and give me your other hand.”
I leaned toward the darkened side of his body, the side which the tiny candle could not reach.
“Apologies, lovely Jem. That is a request I simply cannot fulfill.”
“Why not?”
“Bring your light closer.”
I did… and was horrified by this new revelation. Not only was his entire lower half completely covered with giant sharp stones, so too was his right arm—pinned and immovable.
“Why do you cry?”
I quickly wiped at my eyes. “I’m not crying.”
“Must have been my mistake. A trick of the flame, perhaps.”
I huffed out a chuckle when I glanced down at his sardonic smirk. “Smarty pants.”
He smiled then. “Oh, such language. Careful you do not taint my angelic ears, little one.”
“Hmm…” I sort of laughed. “I never thought you’d be like this—playful and teasing. I always took you for a bloodthirsty womanizer.”
“And what made you think that?”
“ What indeed. Do I not now speak with the very creature who introduced man to the ways of war? The very one who taught men the craft of forging swords and women the art of using make-up. Are you not the Angel who enlightened my kind with the ways of blood and seduction?”
“As you say, I only introduced such things. Man has always had a rather, shall we say, vivid imagination.”
I smiled as I finished up his massage. “Are you saying you did not partake in the fruits of you labor?”
“No, I am not that bold a liar. I partook… as often and as freely as I chose.”
We shared a knowing glance and smiled.
“Well, it looks like all that partaking has left your nails in horrible disrepair. I’ll see to them this time, but I don’t expect to find them in such
“Hmpft… Silly child, nobility is not a birthright.”
“You say it true, silly Angel. It is defined by one’s actions.”
“Pfft.”
He looked away. I didn’t speak, but neither did I stop my delicate ministrations toward his pitifully withered arm.
“My pride brought me to this, Jem,” he softly whispered.
“Yes… I know. Pride is a destroyer of souls, weak and strong alike.”
“Hmpft. For a woman who wishes not to cast blame or pass judgements, you certainly have a painful little way of doing both. It leaves quite a sting.”
“That was not my intent. I promise.” I cut him a sideways glance and smiled. “In truth, I was afraid to slice such brittle flesh. Even with just a thumbnail. I feared only dust would spill forth from the wound.”
His mouth half fell open then. “Are you… are you making fun of me?”
“No.” I bit my lip and looked down. “I would never do such a thing. Pffts.”
I quickly turned my head, trying to hide my growing smile.
“You are!” He grabbed my chin and turned me back to face him. “You’re laughing at me.”
I did snicker then. “So what? Yes, I’m laughing at you. Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one laying there feeling sorry for yourself. You’d think after all these many years, you would finally be resigned to the fact.”
He smiled with only one corner of his mouth, then released me. “I take it all back. You are neither sweet nor are you innocent. You are a demon, one sent to torture what is left of me.”
“You never actually said I was sweet. You must’ve just been thinking that part. And… how is it you’re now crying torture when a minute ago you were going on about how good this felt?”
He openly smirked. “You have a sharp tongue, child. I see now. A wicked little thing, when you want to be.”
“Not truly. It’s just… well, things were getting a bit heavy there for a minute. I was only trying to lighten the tension.”
“If that is true, you should apologize for such harsh words.”
“Azazel, remember when I said I didn’t apologize for things I wasn’t sorry about? This is one of those times. Now, quit whining and give me your other hand.”
I leaned toward the darkened side of his body, the side which the tiny candle could not reach.
“Apologies, lovely Jem. That is a request I simply cannot fulfill.”
“Why not?”
“Bring your light closer.”
I did… and was horrified by this new revelation. Not only was his entire lower half completely covered with giant sharp stones, so too was his right arm—pinned and immovable.
“Why do you cry?”
I quickly wiped at my eyes. “I’m not crying.”
“Must have been my mistake. A trick of the flame, perhaps.”
I huffed out a chuckle when I glanced down at his sardonic smirk. “Smarty pants.”
He smiled then. “Oh, such language. Careful you do not taint my angelic ears, little one.”
“Hmm…” I sort of laughed. “I never thought you’d be like this—playful and teasing. I always took you for a bloodthirsty womanizer.”
“And what made you think that?”
“ What indeed. Do I not now speak with the very creature who introduced man to the ways of war? The very one who taught men the craft of forging swords and women the art of using make-up. Are you not the Angel who enlightened my kind with the ways of blood and seduction?”
“As you say, I only introduced such things. Man has always had a rather, shall we say, vivid imagination.”
I smiled as I finished up his massage. “Are you saying you did not partake in the fruits of you labor?”
“No, I am not that bold a liar. I partook… as often and as freely as I chose.”
We shared a knowing glance and smiled.
“Well, it looks like all that partaking has left your nails in horrible disrepair. I’ll see to them this time, but I don’t expect to find them in such
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