Cursed Demon's Love

A game of confession

I woke up in my dorm room. I was still in his hoodie and shorts. Jenna was nowhere in the room, indicating that she was with Justin. Everything felt like a dream, meeting Neron, cutting the pancakes, playing games; everything. I yawned once again, prying the covers over me. There were two Kit-Kat bars placed on the table along with a box, wrapped by a gift paper. The chocolates placed beside the gift, was enough for me to know that it was from Neron. 

Curiosity and excitement got the best of me and I pulled the ribbon strings, opening the box. There were new pairs of shoes in them, along with a note. Warmth crawled my skin, seeping in my veins, letting tears pool in my eyes. A gift. I received a gift. There was a small feather beside the note. I touched the velvety black feather and tingles spread my skin. This was Neron's feather. Happiness soared inside me and the sudden feeling of wanting craved. 

Since those shoes were tattered and withered. I hope they fit you. And since you're obsessed with my wings so much. Stay out of trouble until then.

Happy belated birthday, my Bella. 

Bella. He called me Bella again. He called me his Bella. I always remember wanting the love and care, wanting to be pampered. But the needs and wishes got dissolved with the tears that rolled down every day. The family that always pushed me away, taught me that no one is capable of loving others. But this guy is making me feel things I never felt. I wiped the tears that escaped from my eyes.

"Isabella? You're crying?" I turned back to face a worried Jenna. She immediately placed the bags down before walking towards me. Her forehead had creases and I giggled, shaking my head. 

"Are you hurt? Did you punch anything again? What—"

"Breathe, Jenna," I laughed, patting her shoulder, sitting on the bed. Note still in my grip. 

"But you were crying!" I rolled my eyes, smile slipping on my face. 

"They were........ happy tears."

"Happy tears?" She looked at me incredulously before her eyes shifted on my gift and a wide smile formed on her face.

"You got a gift? Oh my God! It's that green eyed man, isn't he?" I rolled my eyes and she smiled even wider, "I knew it! The way he dragged you out—" 

"Justin came too." I pointed out and she rolled her eyes, her cheeks reddening and she hit me with the pillow placed beside her. 

"Shut up!" 

Her phone started to ring and she passed me an apologetic smile before answering it. Apparently it was her mother calling. Sometimes I think, if my mother would've still remembered me, would she also had call me every now and then? Hope bloomed inside my chest again. It was so easy to hope something, and so hard for it to fulfill. Jenna's mother loved her so much, asking her about her health, studies, problems. I wonder if my family also thinks about me? I snorted, you're getting way ahead of yourself, Isabella.

They don't need you. My mind mocked and I shook my head. 

"Jenna?" I asked once she disconnected her call. She rose her brows, grabbing some sweats. 

"What is a family?" She frowned at me. Was it so abnormal not knowing what a family is? But seeing the serious look on my face, she answered. 

"Family is....... they stay with you always, no matter what the situation is. They always love and cherish you. Family will always think about you before themselves." I nodded, my heart dooming inside my chest. They didn't care. My family wasn't my family. 

"Family protects you." My head shot up and I looked at her with wide-eyed. 

"Family protects us?" She hummed, taking a sip of water. 

"You know, Isabella? Family isn't always of blood. Family is by heart. Sometimes even after having many blood relations, we feel alone and sometimes even one person can make us feel home. And the person who feels home is our family." I swallowed nervously. 

Neron protects me. He saves me. He makes me feel same. He makes me feel home. 

Neron is my family. 

-

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-

I was doing my assignment when my phone rang. I looked at the phone and my breath got clogged in my throat. It was from home. With shaky fingers, I received the call, pressing it to my right ear, my heart hammering against my chest. 

"Bells?" The innocent voice of my Lily made my heart squeeze in pain and tears escaped without any restrain. 

"Li—Lily? Is every—everything alright?" I heard a strangled cry and my heart clenched. 

"I—I miss you, Bells. Things are getting worse here." I swallowed the lump, hearing her shaky words. "Dad— he's losing control, Bells. He asked us not to contact you. He even locked me in my room from contacting you. And Mom— she's getting worse too. She forgot me, Bells! She doesn't remember her own daughters anymore! Her alzheimer's getting worst day by day, Bells. She doesn't remember me—" I shut my eyes as she let out another sob. I didn't even realize that my crying had overtook my shaking. I was trembling. I couldn't breathe. Everything was getting blur and I heard Lily panicking from the other side. 

"Bells? Bella— Ah, s**t! Breathe, Bells. Please, take your in—inhaler! Bella—"

"I'm fine, Lily. I'm— fi—fine." I hiccuped, swallowing the pills, closing my eyes. 

"I miss you, Bells. I wish you were here." I let out a strangled sob, shaking my head. 

"I love you, Lilly." 

"Don't say like that, Bella! Mom said that last night, crad—cradling me to her chest and then this morning, she forgot me. She think, she just got married to Dad, few days ago. I fear, I'll lose you too." I shook my head, unable to control my tears. I couldn't speak. 

"You won't leave me, right?" Another sob racked my body. 

Since when did my little sister broke so much? I thought, I had my broken pieces embedded my soul but she, she was all scattered and lost. Her fear was making me scared more than ever. She is staying amid the situation, experiencing every pain. She suffered more than anyone can ever do. She is so young for the pain and cruelty.

"Bells?" I shook my head, trying to smile as I pressed my phone even closer. 

"I'll never leave you, Lilly. I'm always here," She giggled a bit, and a small smile tugged on my lips. 

"s**t!—" I heard some footsteps before hearing Lily's muffled voice. "Dad's coming up, Bells. I'll talk to you later." With that the line went dead.

I slumped down against the wall. Pulling my knees closer to the chest. And just on the queue, the atmosphere went wild. The rain started to pour down mercilessly and the sky roared loudly. The lightening stuck making me flinch. I pressed my elbows to my ears, trying to eliminate the loud sound but no avail. I didn't even had the strength and courage to close the window. My Lilly— she is so broken. I wish, I had her. 

The more I quivered, the more thunder roared outside. Tears leaked down, my chest ached as my knees dug in my chest, painfully. I felt something tingling my ankle. I raised my head up, cautiously and slowly before looking down. It was Neron's feather. I clutched it as if my life depended on it. I flinched when the lightening blazed outside. The feathery touch was not enough to calm me. 

If he can detect my danger, will he hear my fears too? Would he even care? 

I clutched the feather amid my thumb and index finger, stammering out the words. 

"I need you, please, Neron." I ducked my face in to my knees. 

The nature was raging outside and a storm was riling up inside me. I was a mess, I knew. But the fear inside me was embracing my whole self, pulling me in an unending chasm of darkness. I was losing my own self as the loneliness crippled inside me. I was dyi—

"Bella?"

A deep, rough voice made my heart race, in a good way. I looked up and flinched when the sky roared again. I looked at his massive frame with pleas. I wanted an escape, the escape I believe only he could provide me. His olive shirt was snuggling his torso and a wing was protruding out, blocking almost the whole room. I gulped, trying to stand but my legs gave up. He held me before I could've have met the floor. His one hand held my bicep while the other hand closed the window. His wings surrounded me, blocking the world from me. The voice of the storm and lightening suddenly stopped and I opened my eyes to meet his forest green ones. The golden freckles surrounded his eyes, making them shun brightly. The fire was flaring but for once, it didn't look so deadly. 

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here." I was taken back by his soft and caressing voice. I was trembling, my body was shaking badly. He gripped my elbow gently before pulling me flush against his chest. His steady heartbeat was calming my nerves. 

His palms were rubbing circles on my back. The heat traveled from his hand to my body and I gulped visibly. My eyes widened at our physical touch. I didn't even realize when he had pulled me on his laps and he was sitting on the floor. His fingers massaging my scalp, soothingly. I took a deep breath, my sobs and trembling subduing to sniffles. His masculine scent was calming my racing heart as he held be silently. 

"I'm here," He repeated again, slowly and gently, making sure I understand him. I hummed, snuggling closer to him. "You're safe."

I never even let anyone hug me affectionately and here, I was allowing him to hold me like a baby. His fingers shifted to my neck and shoulders, kneading the muscles, making me relax and let out a groan of satisfaction. 

"I'm sorry," I mumbled in my timid voice, pressing my chin against his chest. "You must be preparing for the war and here I distur—"

"Shush!" I looked up at his eyes to see his green had completely diminished and fire had flared, consuming his pupils and I gasped softly. "Let's play a game, Bella." 

"A game?" He nodded, resting his chin over my head, making my heart stutter inside my chest.

"A game of confession." My breath hitched and I feared his game even more than his whiplashes. I nodded. Anything, anything would do to distract me from the rage of nature. 

"I was a human once," My eyes widened at his confession and he sighed, still kneading my muscles firmly and gently. "I killed a man who was selling a girl for money. It was years ago. Like more than million years ago. And I was transported to Hell. I had killed, even if it was for good. The King of Hell was very impressed by me and from then I had been the demon of Karma in Hell." I gulped, looking at him awe. 

"You..... you're a good demon?" He chuckled lowly and my heart almost stopped at how beautiful he looked. 

"I don't know, Bella. I torture souls in Hell. I'm merciless." I nodded, biting my lips and I smiled at him. Yet, you're here for me. 

"You are a good demon, Neron. I adore you." The tips of his ears turned red and he narrowed his eyes, shaking his head. 

"I... I miss my mother." He froze for a moment, before rubbing my back. I shook my head, muttering 'I'm okay'. He shook his head. 

"You remember, you asked why I always protect you?" I nodded and he hummed. 

"Because I feel the urge to protect you. I— care for you, Bella."

I took a deep breath, detaching myself from him and looked into his intense gaze. 

"Jenna told me that family are the ones who protect us and care for us. Do you...... Are we a family?" He looked at me. The green in his eyes darkened and I suddenly regretted the question. Way to ruin his mood, Isabella. 

"Do you want us to be....... a family?" I bit my lips in apprehension. 

"I don't know." I mumbled, pressing my face against his chest. 

"I never had a family for a long time now, Bella. I don't know if I'll—"

"Guess what, even I never had a family." I laughed and he growled, grabbing my face with his palms as he looked at me with an unknown emotion. The gentleness in his touch betrayed his growl. 

"Another confession," He started, caressing my cheeks with his thumbs and I closed my eyes at the proximity. "You hate yourself." 

I certainly didn't expect this. I didn't expect someone to throw the truth on my face. I always knew, I didn't love myself but the moment Neron spoke it out loud, my heart curled inside my chest and I let out a shuddered breath. "Another thing common in us, my Bella. But to fall in love, you need to love yourself." I shook my head, laughing darkly.

"I don't know how to love myself anymore." 

"Let me teach you then." 

His hot, and burning lips connected to my temple. My temple burned with passion as his kiss lingered there. My stomach dropped and butterflies started to erupt making my skin heat up. He kissed me. I pushed my face in his chest, as my cheeks started to turn scarlet.