The Roses Aflame

Mage's Pride

PRIDES POV

They arrived at a large brick building. Mage smiled, glancing up at Pride through the corners of her eyes.

"This is it! I've only been living here for a year or so, although that is longer than how long I stay in most places."

She opened the metal door which made a loud squeaking sound. Pride raised an eyebrow, "You live here? I'm pretty sure this place is like abandoned."

She glanced up and down at the large building before trying to peer into the dark hallway leading to the living space. Mage chuckled, her laugh made Pride feel weird, a feeling she had never felt before. Is this what Lust feels like when she falls for someone...?

"You coming?" Mage had already started to walk away, blending in once again to the shadows. Pride sighed, reluctantly following. I could have easily gotten to those guys anyways, seriously all I wanted to do today was shopping! Not get involved in whatever this is.

"Gila?" Pride turned her head to the girl who was walking up a giant staircase. 

Contrary to what Pride believed the little apartment that she was living in was actually quite cute. Decorations and pictures decorated the walls giving it a homey feel.

Mage walked over to a large couch, slumping down on it. "It probably won't take them to long to find me, I tried to keep a low profile but of course I ended up getting into trouble. I seriously didn't think they would follow me all the way here!"

"What do you have that they want? Is it really so important that you would risk your life for it?"

"My mom gave it to me many years ago, she told me never to let it go or fall into the wrong hands. I have no idea what it does even!"

She reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a necklace. Pride sucked in a breath, she could feel her face paling slightly. The necklace was on a thin chain, a large heart locket on the end of it. 

"You said your mother gave it to you? Wh-what was his name?"

Mage gave her a questioning look but answered, "Tara Bolt." 

The pain in her voice and face as she told Pride the name, making Pride guess what had happened. Tara Bolt... That name... She's that woman who summoned me all those years ago! Asked me to protect her child or whatever.

Pride narrowed her eyes giving Mage a closer look over as she continued to speak. "After she... she passed, these men showed up at my front door. They said they were with the government and the necklace was stolen. I told them that I didn't believe them, the next thing I knew my home was on fire and I was on the run. It's been like this for five years now."

She looked up at Pride who now was staring intently at the necklace. "May I touch it?"

Mage looked rather confused but nodded her head slowly, placing the necklace into the demons outstretched hands. Slowly the locket began to glow, making Mage gasp in surprise reeling away from the sudden light. 

Pride smiled, "It's been a while since I held this in my hand. I cannot believe that woman kept it after all these years..." 

"Wait. You know what it is?" 

"It used to be mine many years ago, of course you were only a baby when your mother and I met. I should have recognized you when we first met."

Pride walks up to Mage, sitting down on the couch as well, her eyes gazing out into empty space, like she was lost in her own dreams.

"Gila?"

"Your mother. Did she once tell you that you had to follow through with something, a promise that must be kept?"

"How did you know that?"

Pride turned to look at the girl once more. "I remember that day, I was the one that made a deal with her all those years ago. This locket once was mine, it has a piece of my soul inside of it."

"That is impossible! My mother said that she made a deal with one of the seven sins. There is no way that it was YOU! You're human!"

Pride rolled her eyes before transforming into her normal state. Her large horns curled up while large blue and black wings stretched from her back. Her eyes changed color into an electric blue and fangs appeared in her mouth. A large tattoo on her neck glowed the same color as the locket moments before.

Mage stood up, then she stumbled back. Her face white. "You really are a sin! They're real!"

"You doubted it?" Pride did her best to pout.

"What's your real name?" Mage's sharp eyes clashed with the demons who grinned.

"I knew you were an interesting human! My sin is Pride, therefore most of the time I go by that name. Although it is probably better if you just call me Gila. Now you ready to fulfill your promise?"

Pride started to hop up and down while Mage watched with wide eyes. Demons were known to be dark and scary but Pride seemed to be sunshine and rainbows. The look in her eyes were bright and she didn't even flinch when Mage was scared of her. The energy coming off of her was pure happiness.

"I-I guess... My mom said something about making a pact.. although I am still not sure what it really means."

"Means you bind yourself to me. I bite you and you bear my mark, we are connected and I am able to protect you if you are in danger. However, being a pact mate means you have to live with me. I refuse to just leave you alone, especially with those men around"

Pride stared at Mage who quickly nodded her head. "Does it matter where you bite me?"

The demon smiled, "The hand, it will hurt less. I must warn you that I will draw blood."

She just nodded, holding out her hand as Pride gently took it in her own clawed hand. Mage gasped at the sensation of their hands touching. Pride raised an eyebrow feeling that same fluttering feeling as before, she leaned down opening her mouth and biting the hand of the other girl who sucked in a breath but made no sound.

Pride looked up at Mage as she pulled away from her hand. A dark tattoo, one that looked exactly like Pride's appeared on her arm. She grabbed a tissue from the box by the couch and dabbed at the injury gingerly.

"Mine." Pride smiled, her grin stretching until it was almost splitting her face as Mage looked up at the demon with a smile of her own. 

"We really are bound now, what about the necklace?" She pointed at where it lay forgotten on the seat in front of Pride.

"I will take it, of course whenever you wish to look at it I do not mind at all." She slipped the necklace over her head, the locket lay comfortable on her chest.

"Now. Lets figure out what to do about those men shall we?"