The Mark of a Soulmate

     Hello, my lovely readers! I wanted to say something before the chapters begins. Fifteen is my favorite number, and this happens to be chapter fifteen. Do you know what that means? 

     It's someone's birthday! If you guessed that it is mine, you would be most unfortunately mistaken. It's Asuriel's birthday. That's right, I wrote a long chapter so I could fit in her birthday!

     For those who have been paying attention, which I dearly hope is everyone, Asuriel's birthday is very important. Seriously, the entire book is named after the significance of that day. That's when she gets 'The Mark of a Soulmate'. 

When I reveal her soulmate, tell me if it was who you expected.

     So, are you totally hyped to read this now? Enjoy!

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     Contrary to what Asuriel expected, the Demon Lord was very gentle, suppressing his naturally domineering behavior. She expected to be repulsed by his actions, but she was not. Everything about it should have been wrong, but it felt so right; like she was supposed to be there with him, like she was meant to receive this attention from him. It felt too soon when he pulled back. He licked his lips, a mischievous expression playing about his face.

     The realization of what she had dawned on Asuriel. He had initiated the kiss, but she had reciprocated it. He knew it too, there was no other obvious reason for him to look so smug. There was no enchantment, no trick of the mind, yet she had returned his gesture, which was impressive because she didn't know what a kiss actually was. Plucking up her courage, she made eye contact with him and spoke.

"Why do I feel so drawn to you?"

"Because, you and I are bound by a thread of fate."

"How is this possible?"

"Maybe that's a question you should be asking yourself."

     They both paused.

"I can tell that you are confused, Asuriel. I have questions as well, which will hopefully be answered when I catch that pesky goddess."

     He stood up and pulled her into a sitting position. 

"You should rest for now, but I expect an answer later."

     The next moment, she was alone. There was no use trying to door, it was clearly locked from the outside, an unfortunate property shared by almost every door she encountered. Sighing, she walked around to the head of the bed and layer down on top of the covers. She could at least get some sleep in the meantime. With the sound of the waves against the boat accompanied by the gentle rocking of the ship, Asuriel soon fell fast asleep.

     She awoke a few hours later to find that the covers had been drawn over her. Through the portholes, she could see that night had fallen. A quick glance over the room revealed that some food had been left on the desk, but everything else remained unchanged. Rising from the bed, Asuriel walked to the desk and had barely sat down when the whole ship was shaken, as if something enormous had rammed into it. The doors to the room burst open, revealing Link.

"Asuriel come on, we have to get out of here!"

     The ship shook again, sending both of them toppling to the floor. Scrambling to his feet, Link grabbed the girl's hand, pulled her upright, and began to make his way to the top of the ship. As they ran, thick, slimy tentacles broke through the walls of the ship, barring their path. Link unsheathed his blade and sent a beam of sacred light to severe them, then pulled Asuriel past the horrid sight to higher places.