The Devil - Rewritten

Chapter Twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE: CLEAR

Love is without a doubt the laziest theory for the meaning of life. Any devil can love, whom he himself sees as, a good person who has treated him well, but to love also the polar opposite is what separates love from fickle emotions.
-Criss Jami

Now on the other side of the cliff, shoes off and standing ankle deep in the translucent water, she was looking at it in fear. First things first, Emma noticed just how high the cliff really way. Not awe, not how did this beautiful thing and up here—in fear.

Other than her mother, the biggest thing Emma Carter was scared of is heights. She just couldn't process how people genuinely enjoyed being up that high. She wasn't even on the fucking thing and she was still frozen with anxiety, eyes wide.

"It's not gonna fall over and hit ya' Princess," The Devil's voice came from behind her, laced with humor, completely oblivious to her dread. "Just so you're aware."

"I'm aware, thanks." Emma notes sarcastically, head pointed up. "There's no way I'm climbing that thing." She says, turning to face Xavier who she swears gives her a fanged pout.

"But I need a good side shot of someone jumping off of it."

At this Emma's eyes narrow at him. "I'm sorry, but you want me to not only climb up it but also fall off? Why don't you fall then! I'll take the shot."

Xavier' grins. "I fell long ago Carter, keep up."

A devil joke, Emma thinks, letting out a heavy breath. Nice.

"I think I'll just stay here, comfortable, feet in the water." She decides to not have a panic attack and instead enjoy her day. "What's wrong with you anyway, who in their right mind would jump off that?"

"Lets get one thing straight, Princess." Xavier snarks out full force, sharp blue eyes meeting hers. "I never claimed to be in my right mind. Especially around you."

The Devil then pulled out his camera and started focusing on nature, the light coming through the trees and even a few times focused the camera on a few nicely colored leaves. Simple pictures, really, but beautiful nonetheless.

"I'll have you know you look absolutely adorable taking pictures when you're in the zone like that." Emma tells him, knowing he doesn't quite like compliments, as if he didn't deserve them. True to this, his only reply was to flip her off. Pearl grey eyes meet smug ultramarine ones and Emma scoffs. "You're not making me like the idea of going up there any more, Wolf."

Xavier sighs, dropping the camera to hold by his waist instead of eyeline. "You're missing the point."

She stubbornly crosses her arms, so he continues on with a slight glare in his eye as if she was the one being unreasonable at the moment.

"The point, Carter, is that you don't like it. The pictures show that there is beauty in pushing your limits. Even when you're scared you can smile, ya' know?"

Emma had to admit, it does make her want to do it just a little—but then there's that familiar fear clenching her fist, anxiety pumping her heart and panic controlling her where the only thing she can say is variant of insults, "Don't touch me" or nothing at all.

It's like learning to say no all over again.

The second thing that happened in her brain was how Xavier said smile and so Emma noticed his mouth, which led her to notice his sharp teeth and curved grin.

"You bite me a lot," Emma noted, ignoring the nagging part of her mind begging her to jump—maybe just for the satisfaction of it. "Why?"

Xavier shrugs, not glancing up at her as he continued to look through the camera lens. "Does it matter why—you like it."