A Demon's Bargain

Though, when I left my old home, it wasn’t without some sadness, I knew it was only so that I could return to where I unquestionably belonged- in Andy’s arms. I was happy to know my full self again, that my body had been restored and was whole. I could hardly wait to show my charming panther that my wings had been returned! But the moment I popped through, into my apartment, all my glowing thoughts of our shared future were torn apart.

A form barely recognizable as Andy lay on the floor, curled on its side. The withered body was nothing but a skeletal mockery of the vibrant demon I knew. His arms were gaunt and unmoving across his chest, clutching the broken bones of my original, severed wings in his claws. His eyes were sunken deeply into his face and stayed closed. He didn’t seem to notice me, didn’t react at all when I came running towards him.

Everything ground to a halt, reality shifted, and I couldn’t see anything else, hear anything else. There was only Andy; I had to save Andy! Panicking, I rolled him over onto his back and shook him, hoping to wake him up. But his body just settled to the ground with a few dry popping sounds.

I tightened my hold on his arms, now thin enough that I could hold one in each hand, “No! You can’t leave me! I came back; I came back!” When he still didn’t respond, my vision started to blur and I felt nauseated. How could this be happening?!?

I knelt over Andy, holding his emaciated face in my hands as I bent to kiss his mummified lips, hoping against hope that it would somehow help, that it would bring him back. But the shell beneath me showed no signs of life.

My shock and fear intensified, now joined by misery. How could he possibly have doubted that I would come back to him? But giving up was not an option. I bent to press my lips to his lifeless ones again, desperate and hysterical.

When I still got no response, my heart started to crack in my chest. It would be shattered beyond possible repair. To have found Andy again after so many centuries, to learn that he returned my love, only to have him taken away from me forever? Why was the Almighty letting us suffer, after all Andy and I had been through, after granting me forgiveness?

Despair began to take hold, and the tears finally forced their way out, spattering on the hollowed-out, motionless face of the man I loved. Hopeless, I turned my head to rest my cheek against his protruding cheekbone as I began to sob, only to feel the softest tickle, like the touch of a spider web.

I sat back, confused and near delirious with grief, only to get a shock. Andy’s cadaverous eyes were open! I stared, disbelieving, as his eyelids moved without my having touched them! I realized he might be blinking, that perhaps Andy could still be resurrected, and my anguish was replaced by grim determination. If it could be done, it would be done; nothing would ever separate us again.

I bent down further to shout in his shriveled ear, “Andy, I’m here, it’s me! I love you!” I sat back up to watch for any further signs, and I wasn’t disappointed. Andy’s chest rose and fell almost imperceptibly as he let out a pitiful groan. It was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard!

I felt like I was soaring as Andy’s body began to swell with returned vitality. His fingers flexed weakly in their hold on my broken, former wing bones. He blinked again, his clouded eyes beginning to clear of their film; I could see a hint of their natural, penetrating blue! One pupil partially constricted and I beamed, thrilled! We had done it; my mighty tiger was coming back to me!

Thrilled and grateful, I bent to kiss him again. The lips against mine went from thin, sinewy bands, stretched taut across his teeth, to something softer and fleshier. When I felt them faintly pressing back, my tears were from joy.

The rate at which Andy’s body filled out beneath me seemed to accelerate. At last, he let my old bones fall to the ground, reaching to gingerly embrace me. His grip gradually tightened; he was gaining strength!

I pulled away from our kiss for a moment to catch my breath. Andy’s gaze was uncharacteristically serious as he looked up at me. His voice was hoarse but intense, “You came back to me.”

I shook my head in disbelief, “Of course I did! I can’t believe you thought-“

He cut me off, holding me closely against him, “-You came back to me. You turned your back on Heaven for me.”

I nodded, smiling, before he pulled me back down into a heated, passionate kiss. His long tongue curled against mine, both needy and possessive; our lips slid together smoothly. His body, pressed so closely against mine, felt almost normal again; he had regained the life he had almost lost. I had never been so ecstatic!

Long-fingered hands moved up my back, holding me even more tightly against his lean chest. He started to rub my shoulder blades gently, causing a bolt of unexpected, intense arousal to run from my back to my center. Startled, I pulled away.

Andy looked up at me with blameless, widened eyes. For a moment, he looked just as confused as I was. But then he grinned wickedly, his pupils dilating, and began to purr.

Notes

Sorry for the absence! My job and all manner of other things (not least of which is the scorching weather) has kept me from being able to write. Nevertheless- let me know how I'm doing! Rate, comment, subscribe! :D


Thank you to the Unforgiven for the assistance with this chapter!