"I Consecrate my Soul to Thee" Witch/Demon AU

[zauberdecke]

[ There was a very specific reason why Essek was here at this moment.

All around him was gathered components, and within his hand he held chalk with which he was drawing the familiar pentagram that would assist in his mission. For his entire life, he had been gatekept, he came from a long line of witches, all of them female; the power passed down through matriarchal laws and blood-- from woman to woman.

However he was the black sheep, the one who had been given far more power than was comfortable for the bloodline in which it had been strictly locked up. Because of this, no female line could inherit and even right now etched into his chest was a binding spell that was unbreakable though oh, how he had tried. It had been placed there by he who he had been given in marriage to; locked until at which point a female was conceived which would then continue the line downward.

There was nothing more vengeful than a cat who had been caged, and right now Essek Thelyss was out for blood and perhaps even a healthy dose of revenge. There was that intrinsic longing for freedom to do what he wanted, not wanting to be bound by tradition to a familial coven who cared more about the line than him. He wanted to put a stop to it, perhaps even get this angry scar of a sigil on his chest removed, wanting night upon night of assault to end.

He did not care what he summoned, the only thing he wanted was for whatever power he could bid to rise to invoke retribution, to free him. Logically he knew that he would be entrusting his fate into the devil he did not know-- but at this point in time, that seemed far preferrable.

And that was how he had roped Alex into this. Someone who was well versed in the rituals if not well practiced; he could not do this alone because there was so much that could go wrong. Best to have two hands in it, even though he knew that it was not Alex's job to intervene but rather to 'watch' but he was desperate, and Alex knew how much he hated Adeen.

Desperate times called for desperate measures, and it was then that Essek finished the circle and then set his chalk down gently. ]

The circle is complete, the components are gathered.. it is time.

Comments

[internationalrelations]

[Words and the kiss to his fingers. A lethal combination. One that Alex had no defense against. Who would?

Henry was right that the insecurity was something Alex only rarely allowed to be seen. It was always there, that lingering voice of doubt. Normally it was easy enough to brush it aside, to lean into the effortless bravado and charm that he wore like a custom-tailored suit. Both parts of him were genuine, even as diametrically opposed as they were.

And here was Henry, seeing him, all of him and saying words that made something in Alex ache so sweetly it was hard to remember to breathe. This wasn't what he'd ever expected a demon to be like. ...though the tidbit about Henry spying on him, taking an interest in him. Oh. Now that was interesting too.]

Enchanted, huh? Well... there's something we have in common.

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Henry had been nearly instantly smitten, just as Bren had Essek. So much that the two of them had planned to divide and conquer, though neither of them wanted to conquer the other. It was one of those situation where they only served to enslave themselves to these beautiful men.

And Henry could find himself getting lost in those whiskey honey eyes, the flicker of charm that could barely be repressed, and yes even that smart mouth that he had heard, his Alex was not a 'go sweetly into the night' sort, that was for sure.

Smitten and mad about him, so deeply mad that it was not even funny-- he would commit atrocities for this man who looked into his eyes as if he bid the waves to crash against the shore. ]

I have always been a romantic [ A demon as a romantic? That was rather hilarious, but it was true in Henry's case ] and I believe that opposites attract, well-- you are the complete opposite of me, and you pose the moth and the flame conundrum in very real time.

[internationalrelations]

[Later, when things settled down, Bren would circle back to make certain that Henry's pact had been successful. They could high five about it. ...then Bren would remember himself and be properly deferential to the prince of the Hells for like thirty seconds before just gushing to him about how Essek was even more amazing in person.

Alex looked back at Henry. The thing was, this was quickly becoming a mirrored impulse. Alex wanted to please this demon, wanted to see those absurdly gorgeous lips smiling. For him.]

All the soul selling I've read about, I've never heard it described as romantic. [He quipped. But now another flush threatening.] You sort of are... really romantic though.

[All the posh poetic words, all the teasing temptations.] So do all your pactkeepers fall in love with you?

[Was he playing straight into the cliche, Henry? He just wanted to know. But he wouldn't let it stop him anyway.]

[lordfuckleroy]

Not that I can remember, maybe you are just easy?

[ Henry said with a raise of his brow though there was a chord of amusement there even as he settled in close. ] You are correct though, I tend toward the romantic-- even Dante's Inferno can be a love story if you spin it enough around.

[ Dark, but probably there was some truth within it. ] Why? Are you in love with me, Alex Sweetheart?

[internationalrelations]

Wow. Shut up. That's not what I said.

[But it was totally what he meant. And important to note that he also did not deny it. Even if Alex wasn't the type to believe in love at first sight. That was fairytale nonsense. Except they lived in a world of fairytales, didn't they? Maybe first sight wasn't what it was. Maybe it was first touch, the moment that had set the ground beneath his feet crumbling and Alex starting a fall that there would be no recovery from.]

You don't even have to spin it around that much, really. He's only guided through Hell in the first place at the intercession of his Beatrice.

[Maybe Alex was a hopeless romantic too, at heart.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Oh there was a pleased purr to Henry's voice even as he inched closer. ] A man who knows his classics, that is very very sexy. [ Yes, speak dry british allegorical texts to him, Alex-- that was absolutely the way to his heart, it was hard not to run his fingertip up and down the other man's arm, it was almost a flirtatious gesture. ]

Is it too soon in the relationship to propose kinky Dante's Inferno roleplay?

[ This was a serious question, Alex-- do not dare laugh. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Yeah, okay. He was totally going to laugh at that, but even with the laughter his eyes hard clearly sparked in interest. Hard not to when Henry fucking purred for him. Even if it was because he was being a nerd again.

Look, yeah, that was sexy, okay? Alex wasn't going to pretend otherwise.

His hand ran up along Henry's side, up and over his chest, to trace along his collarbone. His gaze flicks from watching his fingers as they moved over that porcelain skin, looking at Henry through a dark fringe of eyelashes.]

I mean I've been waiting for you to bring it up all night. What took you so long?

[lordfuckleroy]

[ There were other re-enactments from classic literature that he would also like to try, so do not get him started on that, because he will jump on that bandwagon in something that probably should not be kinky (like War and Peace) though he could tell the playful sarcasm in Alex's voice even before he saw the sparkle in those irrepressible blue eyes. ]

You do not bring up these sorts of things until you have, as the cool kids say, lock it down.

[ Generally that was a fifth date thing? Maybe? Most people wait until much longer to form a commitment, but then Henry as a demon worked swiftly and decisively. This was exactly what this was, a swift and decisive conquest and now they were stuck with each other.

No escape, he was not going to tell Alex that there was an exit to a pact-- better to keep that totally in the dark and then pretend not knowing anything in case the War and Peace naughty roleplay got to be too much. ]

[internationalrelations]

Oh wow, the cool kids.

[Alex summoned a very serious expression, nodding at Henry thoughtfully. His hand settled against his demon's chest.]

Tell me more about what these cool kids are saying.

[Because that was utterly adorable if you asked Alex. ...he was not going to argue that they had indeed locked it down. They were bonded now, held together by pact and promise. He'd sold his soul to the prettiest face he'd ever seen, and he couldn't drum up a single ounce of regret about it.]

[lordfuckleroy]

Are you patronizing me?

[ There was a mock look of indignation on his face, though it was only mock and then he proceeded into scold mode, which could be sexy. He allowed himself a little push of Alex, closer toward being toppled out of that bed. ] I will sic my three-headed puppy on you, Alex Claremont-Diaz.

[ That was a promise and a threat even as he threateningly started to roll his way against the side to further his cause, because you know hell hath no fury like a Prince piqued. ]

[internationalrelations]

I would never patronize such a big scary demon.

[Still as serious as he could manage, but brown eyes were sparkling, like bourbon catching the light. He let himself be shoved though, the laughter escaping. Why was a demon cute? How did that even work?

....oh wait hang on.]

You have a puppy? [With three heads?] That's his name? ..their names?

[lordfuckleroy]

Would you though?

[ He does not believe this but those cute brown eyes much like a puppy managed to hold him enraptured and then he slowly moves closer so that he could peer into those eyes; they were like chocolate, like dark agate, and yes even bourbon and he could've drowned in their warmth.

For a moment, he forgot that there was a question being asked of him. ]

Their names are Ziggy, Jareth and David.

[ Let's see if Alex could connect the dots between all of them. ]

[internationalrelations]

...well. Maybe a little.

[A smile stretched over his lips, wide and utterly unapologetic. He was a brat, Henry, and as he was growing more and more comfortable in his demon's presence, more of that was coming to the surface.

He was distracted from quipping any further to blink at the demon.]

...

[He narrowed his eyes.] Are you a Bowie fan?

[Full of surprises this Henry.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Well it would be obvious, to another Bowie fan.. except there was a bit of a smile that curved over Henry's mouth and perhaps it was because of the surprise that he was invariably going to drop right down on Alex.

Be prepared to have your mind blown. ]

Who do you think the King of the Hells is, Alex?

[ Well that was just lobbed out there for all and sundry to hear, but mainly for Alex to hear. ] Do you even thing that someone such as him could possess mere mortal powers?

[internationalrelations]

No. No fucking way.

[A pause and a moment as he stared at Henry as if he could puzzle out if he was being messed with by the demon. But he wasn't getting that vibe.]

...okay, no yeah, that makes sense actually. So that's pretty fucking cool.

[Except well, that brought up another question, now didn't it?] Did you seriously name your puppy after your boss?

[Henry you nerd. Alex was just beaming at him through all of this.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Okay so Henry was a simp for Bowie's music-- back when Bowie was on earth, he was a simp for all of the music and went to the concerts, all but snorted them up his nose. He scratched his chin lightly as he considered the implications. ] Well, he never had a problem with it-- he considers it a compliment.

[ And then he moves to cuddle right up against Alex, a sparkle to his eyes that seemed to linger like star just beneath the surface. ] But it is true, there are often times that demons grow bored and head to earth to wander, enjoying a taste of mortality, I did that during the Elizabethan Era.

[internationalrelations]

Huh. I guess that makes sense. Living that long, it must really get boring if you don't find something to keep you occupied.

[Was he this demon's latest distraction? Something he was enjoying a taste of? Alex supposed that wasn't so bad, if that what this was. He would just do his best to keep Henry's interest as long as he could manage.]

How long has it been since you've poked your head up here then?

[Because Alex could show him a good time, if he wanted. A whole new world, so to speak.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ So Henry knew nothing about technology, he had not poked himself up in a while-- he'd been to some Bowie concerts in the 70s/80s but that had been quite a long time ago, certainly enough for the gap to be substantial.. phones were still plugged into walls and TVs were still bulky and with little antennae at the top. ]

Perhaps the late 90s was when I came up from the hells last?

[ He certainly had not made a habit, he had remembered the literature from another time-- the music as well and he allowed that to inform him. But conversely he had not seen things like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings (though he'd read the books, because of course he had) ]

[internationalrelations]

That long ago? Wow... you've got some catching up to do.

[Alex's eyebrows lift slowly. The 90s. Wow. Ancient history at this point. But that was fine. He'd teach Henry all about texting and emojis and the world wide webs and all.

He smiled though, hand running up and down along Henry's arm.]

You've got to let me show you around. I'll even take you dancing. [To the club, Henry. It'll be great. Let him take you out on a date?]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Alright, so now he would be drawn into the whirlwind that was Alex's life, the exuberance of everything that the other guy would be set to show him; and truth be told it was that Henry was absolutely far behind-- though it felt like only a flick of the watch to him, a tick of seconds.

That was mainly because years were seconds and decades but minutes. ]

Dancing, hmmm? Considering how dancing changes from year to year, I am wondering what this exactly entails.

[ Please show him how to modern dance, it will be fine-- humorous even. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Henry had chosen this, to attach himself to Hurricane Alex, and now he was in for it. At least he wouldn't be bored? Alex was all smiles.]

Better to show than tell. What do you way?

[Dancing? Night on the town? A little good old fashioned debauchery? Alex thought it would be a good time.]

Go out with me?

[There. Officially asking his demon out on a date, with a weird flurry of butterflies settled in his stomach. Was it weird to be shy asking someone out when that someone had just fucked you within an inch of your life?]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ It was a fate that Henry was willing to ride the tails of, and that hurricane could wrap him up and move him to gods knew wherever, but ultimately wherever he went he would be happy because it would be with this enchanting mortal that had claimed his heart.

He just could not possibly tell Alex that yet. ]

Ah~ I suppose I could go out with you. [ It would be his first time going out in a while and well he knew that Alex was perhaps quite used to this sort of lifestyle. ] There may be a bit of awkwardness on my part however, as I have not had this opportunity in quite some time.

[internationalrelations]

Don't worry, baby. I've got you. You'll be in good hands.

[Alex, extrovert that he was, was in his element in the midst of a maze of bodies and a pulsing bass beat, a drink in hand, the lights low. He'd be happy to help Henry learn the new way of the social scene.

His finger drew a slow and deliberate heart right against Henry's chest, like he was placing an invisible label on what lay beneath.]

It'll be fun.

[lordfuckleroy]

[ The perfect pairing of extrovert and introvert, the two of them would navigate this together-- and Henry hoped that he could rely upon him for this sort of support that would buoy him into this social scene that he would be hurtling toward. It was also clear that he could see the self-satisfied smirk on those pretty lips. ]

If you say so, though you are more versed in this so I am sure that it will be fine.

[ Despite his reservations, but that only stemmed from likely knowing he would be a fish out of water. ]

[internationalrelations]

Better than fine. Promise.

[He would show Henry a good time or die trying. He was determined, and once Alex Claremont-Diaz set his sights on something, he would manage it. Quitting was never really in his repertoire of tricks.

Leaning in, he caught Henry's lips with his own.]