"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

[zauberdecke]

[ For their child, Essek desperately wanted her to know freedom and not having to worry about if she is consecuted or not. Honestly, that was one of those things that should never be forced upon a child, although Essek looked up at Bren then and his brows furrowed a little bit as he considered his next words carefully. ]

You know magic too.. do you not?

[ He knew that Bren had alluded to as such but he did not know the full story of Bren's mortal life except that it was something that he did not like to speak of. ] I think it is a combination of both of our bloods that will run through her.

--

[ Oh, how to breach this subject. It was the sort of subject that could go so many different ways and so he decided to say this conversationally. ] I always thought that it was rather interesting that you are the blood of witches, in the Talamasca. Did they seek you out? [ He rather had a feeling that they did.

To study him as well, perhaps working there was their version of locking Alex up and studying him. ]

Have you had any magic evidence itself?

[internationalrelations]

I do, ja.

[Bren answered quietly. His arms tightened around Essek in response to those words.] It is. She is ours, a piece of each of us.

[Something that Bren never expected he'd be lucky enough to have. Not after the mistakes he'd made. But then, Essek had half asked the question, hadn't he? Had opened the door to Bren talking about who he had been once.]

I was a wizard, you know. A reasonably capable one.

--

[Alex looked surprised at the question, but he nodded.]

Yeah, I was recruited out of university. They said that they'd watched my family for generations, before the magic in our blood went dormant.

[What Alex did not know, though, was that it was not entirely dormant. He had indeed had magic evidence itself. It had flowed through him as naturally as the blood in his veins and the breath in his lungs when he was a child, a second nature that would have grown -- if it had not been deliberately suppressed and the memory of it locked even deeper away.

So when Henry asked that question, he started to shake his head, though Henry might notice the unpleasant frizzle of a ward, of something that did not want to be looked at, a stabbing pain that jolted through Alex's head and turned his attention from probing deeper into himself.]

No, nope. Just a boring, normal guy from an old family.

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek had expected this, that he had been a capable wizard. It clung to him just underneath the surface like a ripple of energy that could not be contained into a mere human. But, there were cautionary tales that existed and Essek looked off toward the mirror where the two of them were reflected..

Where he could clock the Demon's expression. ]

Did you choose to become a demon, Bren?

--

[ That, Henry did not buy whatsoever-- for if Alex hadn't had latent magic ability, he would not have gotten pregnant. Only a Witch of strong blood could get pregnant, moreso for a male. ]

Well Alex, I have something to tell you and it may recondition your mind to align-- there is one thing that all Witches share, a certain fertility.. especially when it comes to Demons.

[ Oh please don't be stupid, Alex.

He was trying to throw you a bone here. ]

[internationalrelations]

Ah... not exactly. I was... misled.

[To put it mildly. Used and treated as a sacrifice for a man he thought was his mentor to obtain more power. Bren did not meet Essek's gaze in the mirror. His eyes were cast somewhere farther away, in distance as well as time, an old memory that brought an almost wistful, sad cast to his expression.]

But I am responsible for my sins and my choices, regardless. This fate is of my own making.

--

[Henry was welcome to throw Alex a bone any time. Always welcome. But this particular bone had gone straight over his head. One could, charitably, blame the drugs. But it was probably more honest to say it was just Alex, mind racing in the wrong direction to understand something subtly alluded to.

A tilt of his head, a very confused-but-eager-puppy sort of gesture.]

Yeah? So like... that's why you found me in the first place? Because of that?

[So close. So far. He was trying, really.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek knew that hubris could hit wizards; the strive for power at all costs. If Essek had been free, perhaps he would have gone that route but instead the thing that he sought the most was freedom from the fate that had been aligned for him. His fingertips rested on Bren's hand, the same one that was curved over his navel.

And he squeezed softly. ] How old were you?

--

Well, Demons are naturally drawn to Witches-- it is because they tend to go together like bread and butter.

[ Or peanut butter and jelly as generational differences will notate. ] Demons tend to find witches easy to impregnant. [ Okay so he was throwing the bone a little bit lower, one step closer and he would probably all but shove the bone in Alex's mouth. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Bren shifted the hand beneath Essek's, enough that he could turn it and tangle their fingers together. It gave him something to focus on too, the way their fingers laced together, the softness of lavender skin as he stroked his thumb along the back of Essek's palm. It was lifetimes ago, ages and sometimes it still felt dangerously close, wounds raw and never properly healed.]

Seventeen. Young and foolish, ja? But old enough to have known better.

[Or so he told himself again and again.]

--

That makes sense. There are stories in the family, of ancestors making pacts with demons. ...didn't always end well, I guess. I think I got lucky in the demon lottery.

[Nabbed himself a nerd who actually seemed to care about him. Love him, even. And whom he had gone and fallen for in turn, and here they were.

Also Alex was looking at Henry with big dark brown doe eyes that betrayed no hint of realization to what Henry was getting at here. At all.]

What really? ...Is this your way of telling me you've got a breeding kink, baby? Because, like, I'm totally down. But I'm pretty sure you'll be trying a really long time. Hope you've got some stamina. [Because he totally can't get pregnant Henry. Clearly.]

[zauberdecke]

I am really no expert on behavior that is conceivably morally good or bad, however I think that at seventeen years of age, one has not been alive for long enough to be an expert on good behavior, especially when one is exerting influence on you based on position and power. [ Essek could use one example and that was his mother who had pressed her expectations upon him and he tried his hardest to live up to them.. only to be placed here in a position where he had little power. ]

It is natural to want approval, and to be told that you are doing a good job.. that you are fulfilling expectations. In such way I think that can be used against one.

--

[ Clearly this was not going in the way that Henry expected. But then there really was no easy way to destroy closely-held expectations and so he knew he was going to have to walk across this much like one would a minefield. ]

So.. about that.

[ Okay, guess it was time to shove the bone in the mouth. ] You are.. breeding.

[ Questions could come later, now it was time for facts. ] You are currently pregnant and it is mine, however you are only able to get pregnant by a demon. [ I.E him. ]

[internationalrelations]

That is, I think, more forgiving than I deserve.

[Bren murmured, softly, leaning close to punctuate the words with a gentle kiss to Essek's cheek. He loved this man, all of him, and he was grateful to be met with this sort of kindness and not immediate judgment or condemnation for the path that had led to him losing his humanity.]

The man who led me down this path is a monster. I am not the only one who he manipulated. I will never forgive him.

[There was an edge to his voice as he spoke about this unnamed monster. That edged melted away entirely when he continued.]

But I am... well. If I had not become a demon, I would never have met you. For the many many things in my life that I regret, having the chance to know you... I would not change the path that led me here.

--

[Henry was an old man, demonically so, so he likely did not appreciate just how perfect an impression of the shocked pikachu meme Alex was currently doing, lips parted in a confused O while he tried to figure out if he should attempt making words. ...he would of course. He was a talker.

Though right now he was failing at talking.]

What do you mean I'm-- [Pause. Purse lips. Try again.] But I'm a man, so-- [No wait, Henry covered that piece. Okay. Hang on.] I can't actually be-- [Nope. Apparently he can be. Let him blue screen for a moment.]

I'm... oh god. Okay. [Don't freak out don't freak out don't freak out.]

[zauberdecke]

[ And yet here was Bren all soft and loving to the child in his womb, could feel the tenderness that radiated from him. That was not someone who had lost his humanity, that was someone who kept it close yet buried inside and shielded from others.

It felt similar to how he felt, hiding his own vulnerabilities because he feared getting hurt by others. He felt Bren stroke his lavender skin, a soft and almost hypnotic touch. ] People like that should never be forgiven.. no matter what he did, if he hurt you then you do not owe him any sort of kindness. [ And perhaps even more quietly. ] This child will know your softness... our softness.

--

[ You were 100 percent right, Henry did not understand the shocked pikachu meme but the expression still was somewhat comical enough that he smiled almost a bit ruefully. ] I can assure you, it is not normal for most men, only male witches and only those who take on pacts with demons.

[ He wasn't sure if he should break out the hand puppets and talk about the in's and outs of Alex's biology. ] You are.. and soon you shall have mood swings and strange cravings for... things that you would not normally expect.

[ Like Pickles and Ice cream and Madarin Orange Pizza. ]

[internationalrelations]

[They were both men who had to keep their softer pieces buried deep after what life had given them. Maybe Bren was surprised that his own still existed. Maybe he shouldn't have been. With Essek, after all, his heart had taken up residence on his sleeve. He wore the affection he held for the drow quite openly.

And for their baby. And hearing Essek call out that softness in him, in both of them. He couldn't help a smile.]

She will. She will know that she is loved, that she has been loved before she took her first breaths.

--

...yeah, so that wasn't in Mom's birds-and-bees PowerPoint.

[He couldn't help it, a laugh, almost delirious, slipped from his lips. It should be impossible. It sounded impossible. But he'd sold his soul to a demon. He'd been very thoroughly fucked by said demon, on more than one occasion and now.

Now he was pregnant.]

How strange are we talking? Am I going to want to drink the blood of my enemies or something?

[What are the kind of cravings one gets when one is a demon's baby mama? Oh god okay. Continue not to freak out, Alex. Doing good. Totally doing good.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Very tenderly did Essek lean his head against Bren's neck, enjoying the moment here and counting on the fact that Adeen would make himself scarce from his rooms. But well, if he didn't-- Essek was not above stabbing him for real. He took a soft breath and then he leaned in close. ] She will, she will be very loved.

[ And he could feel himself starting to slip off into a somewhat dreamscape though he would pull Bren down with him into that sleep.. if he could. ] I meant it.. when I said that I...

--

No, just the standard cravings I've read about in books, pickles with ice cream sort of deal. I am sure that blood would just give you indigestion. And honestly, I did not know about it to be honest until Bren had told me congratulations while we were at the club, and then he said that you were pregnant; I honestly hadn't noticed.

[ And then in a tone that was somewhat softer. ] I will go out and get you ice cream if you ever need it.

[internationalrelations]

[Bren resettled his arms around his pactkeeper. The way that Essek was so at ease with him, so willing to be close and indulge in cuddling and closeness and just simple soft affectionate moments, it was the greatest gift he could have been given.

Well, that and the family they'd accidentally made.

He turned his head to press a kiss through Essek's hair.]

I love you too, Schatz. I always will.

--

[Bren knew? And wait, Henry didn't know? So then, had this not been intentional? Though that opened up another series of questions. Alex was trying to hold it together, but he was teetering on the verge of a panic attack here with all this new information -- about his own damn biology even.

It was Alex's turn to go quiet.]

So this wasn't... you didn't... [Why was he suddenly so bad at talking?] Are you okay with this... with me?

[zauberdecke]

[ He always would, that felt like such a gift. It also felt unconditional, he did not have to do anything except be himself-- it had felt strange and first and yet here he was basking in this closeness and with someone who did not ask for more from him than his time and attention. He would likely be applauded by his mother, told that he was a good boy.

And he would fake smile and nod while realizing that they did not mean anything in the scheme of things and that Bren would help him enact his revenge and then they would leave together to start a new life that was uncomplicated. ]

---

[ The moment that Henry sensed a panic attack, he wrapped his arms around Alex and pulled him closer and tighter, resting his cheek against Alex's while he considered this. Closeness was good, probably would help to ease a little bit of that panic. ]

I did not know, it was true. I had even forgotten that there was a possibility, but I am not disappointed in it, the farthest thing ever.. though what matters is if you would like to have this child. We have options if you do not and ultimately this is what makes you comfortable.

[ a great many demons would want the child to the detriment of anything else, because it meant marrying human and demon. But Henry realized that the child meant nothing if Alex did not want it as well. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Bren would make a point to be with Essek for the eventual encounter with his mother -- though whether that would be in cat-shape or some other disguise, he did not know yet. But he would not leave him alone for it.

For now though, another kiss through that soft white hair.]

Rest, my treasure.

--

[Alex melted into that embrace, taking a moment to try to ground himself with the feeling of those arms around him. He clung to Henry in turn. Closeness was good, especially for Alex whose greatest anxieties were tangled up in fears of abandonment.

He took a few breaths, soft and steadying.

And there was Henry, still there, still holding him, giving Alex the choice once again.]

We made it together, right? Our ... baby.

[Oh god he said it, it's real now.]

How could I not want that? With you. [He was down bad, Henry. It had happened so fast. And the little life that had been kindled beyond all logic within him, he could already feel a surge of protectiveness over it, obvious perhaps in the way that his hand moved to shift and settle against his abdomen at the mention of having options.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Those eyes fluttered shut, he started to hum in a way that did not come from his mouth but rather his entire body and then he became only a little bit heavy as his trance overtook him, the promise of being there for him was all he needed. And deep inside there was another little jewel that hid just behind her sister-- being only a little shyer than the pearl, but it was thrumming warmly.

One would not even notice her because of the Pearl's brilliance, but that was okay because she did not like to be perceived, safe and content was she as she took root in a little spot of her mother's womb that was reserved just for her. ]

--

[ The protective mechanism was noted and he gave another squeeze. ] I only meant that I do not want to force you to do something that you do not want, after all men having children is not the normal though male witches, it.. is.

[ Henry pressed a kiss to that mouth. ] Oh yes, there was definitely two involved in the making of our child, though I do not know what gender it is yet. [ He did not have the proper nuance for that perhaps? ] But that does add another layer to the whole Talamascan thing.

[ Once they found out he was pregnant, they would know why. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Bren would notice it eventually, that second little gem that was taking hold and quietly glowing with the joining of her parents' beings. For now though, he was distracted by the simple feeling of Essek in his arms, that soft humming that let him know his pactkeeper was resting.

In this moment at least he knew that Essek was safe and sound, content in a way that Bren wanted desperately to preserve. To make the new normal for him. Eventually sleep would take the demon too, but he'd fight it for a while so he could just enjoy the moment.]

--

Not normal is right. I don't even understand how the biology... whatever. It's magic. We're gonna go with that. Witchy demonic magic.

[A wave of his hand as if that just made the fact that his entire understanding of his world and himself had just been turned on its head make complete sense. He'd deal with it. He had to deal with it.

He met that kiss with a smile, feeling that little swell of relief that they were still close and trading small affections, that maybe this wouldn't change this new blossoming thing between them in some terrible way. Maybe just the opposite.

Henry brought up a good point.]

...yeah. Eventually it's gonna be pretty obvious. Guess we'll have to figure out an exit strategy before then.

[lordfuckleroy]

Witchy demonic magic works though I suppose it is just that the magic in your body will rearrange with the seed of a demon i.e myself so I think you do not have to worry about it terribly, your body will take care of it.

[ That sure was helpful Henry.

But aside from that Henry would pamper Alex, would get him whatever he want. Would likely also kill anyone who messed with Alex; well he would have done that anyways but it just meant that he would be extra invested in it because there were two people to fight for-- Alex and their unborn child. ]

Indeed we will, because you are going to grow. [ He said with a sparkle to his eyes, just imagining it. ] I will be able to set my tea cup on your bump.

[internationalrelations]

So you've literally rearranged my insides. Congrats.

[Alex was clearly pleased with himself about that terrible joke. Apparently he was recovered from his shock and anxiety attack enough that his sense of humor had resurfaced. He leaned into his demon for a moment.

And then shoved him at the next thing he said.]

You sound way too excited about using me as a table.

[lordfuckleroy]

There is a bag of holding inside you now.

[ Henry said as he was shoved though he looked almost sheepish-- almost, especially when it came to the joke about using Alex as a coffee table, but then he remembered the terrible joke that Alex made and so they were even, they were square so to speak. ]

It was a very pleasant re-arranging, and I think you could say that it was more like 'feng shui' with your witch uterus.

[ Okay, so he technically did paint the walls, right? ]

[internationalrelations]

You are such a nerd. Why the hell do I find you so fucking sexy...

[What did that even say about him?

He shoved Henry again, but this time he followed after the movement, more or less crawling himself on top of Henry, inviting himself right into Henry's personal space and winding his arms around his neck.

He was entirely too attracted to Henry for anything like rational thought. Maybe the hormones were amplifying that desire too. Difficult to parse it out beyond the fact that if he didn't kiss Henry right at this very moment, he might actually die.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ Oh yes, Henry found that he liked the very idea of this.

He also knew that witches could get downright possessive when they were pregnant, thankfully he was equipped for that; and pleasantly surprised that he was rather happy to be pushed back and crawled on top of. The oven was off, no one was getting burned and while there was cheese toast, it could be reheated under the broiler.

Not to mention that Alex may get hungry later. ]

Come here...

[ He decided to take the first move and he grabbed the back of Alex's neck and then he pulled him closer so that their lips could collide. In the kitchen of all places. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Look Alex wasn't making the most rational decisions. He'd just found out that he was pregnant -- just found out he was even capable of getting pregnant -- still shaking the vestiges of the drugs from his system and Henry was just there looking like the promised land. So yeah, he was joining Henry in his chair and okay maybe it was dangerous and the chair might tip but fuck it.

More important was going with that pressure at the back of his neck and kissing him back like he'd been deprived of those lips for ages.

Maybe they ought to relocate from the kitchen.]

[lordfuckleroy]

[ He understood that Alex was filled with witchy hubris but he was the demon and it was his duty to encourage it; so he would. Alex could feel free to push him back and do whatever he wanted to him-- there would be no complaints at all, in fact the purr that emerged from the back of Henry's throat mid-kiss was like smoke and brimstone, but far sweeter.

Was Alex thinking about relocating? Because it was clear that Henry could think of nothing but those lips as he was straddled, his other hand moved possessively to the small of Alex's back.

A back that would soon ache just a little bit.

For right now though? It was open game and his fingers were making warm kneading motions as his tongue met Alex's in a full-bodied and near intoxicating kiss. ]

[internationalrelations]

[Hubris would be their inevitable downfall, but yeah. Alex didn't have enough wherewithal to care right now. It was impressive just how swept up he was in the demon, how the world slipped away and the only thing that mattered were the hands on him, the mouth kissing his.

He lost a soft groan to Henry's mouth as their tongues twined together. It went to his head like a rush, dizzying and incredible.]

Baby... [Murmured quietly directly to those lips.] Want you.

[lordfuckleroy]

Then take me?

[ That was a challenge, of course it was. But also it allowed the other man to make his own decision here, especially with the effects of the drug approaching it's exit signals. He did however make it rather helpful as he unbuttoned his own trousers while they kissed, it was enough of a movement that his own prick would barge out as if he had been cruelly locked up.

And perhaps he had. ] You are after all my pactkeeper, you should claim what is yours.. yes?