Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 45

(Trigger Warning: Torture and death)

The realization of the entire event coursed through Thalia and Emma like a wave as a weight lifted itself from their hearts. The curse, they knew then, had been lifted at last. They were free to go home. Emma dropped the Demon Lord's sword, the sound of it clattering on the floor shocked both of the girls out of their daze.

Damien slowly started to walk towards Thalia, his form fading from the demon he got the chance to be to the human he actually was. His clothes slowly materialized around his body, but the bruises and soot of the battle remained as a reminder of what happened. Just looking into his eyes, Thalia could see satisfaction of his deeds blossom in his gaze. He stared at her, happy to see her, and she felt herself grin at him. She quickly rushed forward and into his arms, letting everything sink in within each other's arms as she buried her face in his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Matthew turned to his mother and embraced her. She wrapped her arms around Matthew, squeezing him to her as they fell to their knees. Matthew hugged her back just as tightly in kind, joyous to see her, "I'm right here..." Emma was beyond happy for Matthew, smiling as she watched Aezera cry in Matthew's arms.

Before she could step forward to join them, however, Diana placed her hand in front of Emma, glaring ahead of her. Emma looked up at her with a surprised look on her face, "Diana?"

"Stay back." Emma nodded, unsure of why she wanted her to stay away. However, the intense expression on her face sent fearful chills down Emma's spine as she scowled at Matthew and his mother.

Thalia pulled away from Damien to look back at Emma and Diana, curiosity taking over. She turned her head to Matthew and his mother, watching and wondering what was going on.

"My sweet Zecaeru..." Aezera said happily, "You're finally home..."

"Of course I am. I had to save you, right?" Aezera smiled and kissed Matthew's forehead, slowly rising to her feet with him. As she fully stood, something in the air changed. The room became a little more peaceful and bright as Matthew turned towards Emma and Diana, "I guess I can finally introduce you to my fiancé. She helped in saving you."

Aezera smiled very softly and looked to Diana, passing over Emma. The blonde frowned, but understood that Aezera wouldn't expect a human to be his future wife. "The princess of Lilith's kingdom is your intended?" Aezera inquired.

"What? No, no, no! Not her!" Before Matthew could step towards Emma, however, Aezera's face delicately scrunched up at the sight of the human. Thalia scowled at the succubus as she realized what was happening. She should have known from how Aezera had spat the word human earlier with such disgust.

"Why is a human here?" Aezera questioned, distaste clear in her voice.

"Huh? Mom, that's my fiancé." Matthew told her, frowning at his mother's reaction.

The atmosphere suddenly changed again. The air became colder and something wasn't right. Something in Aezera's eyes changed, too, becoming hard and vicious. "A human...?" She hissed.

"Y-Yeah...?" Matthew stuttered nervously.

Aezera locked eyes with Emma, and she suddenly gasped and became lost in her mind, detached from her body. She couldn't move anything or speak a single word and Aezera's eyes remained their icy blue color. "Human, who are you?" She hissed coldly.

"I'm no one. I'm an army slut, used for energy and sex." Emma stated almost robotically. Matthew stared at her, completely shocked by what she had said. Emma, however, could only stare at Aezera, whose gaze continued to burn into hers. Thalia quickly removed herself from Damien's side and rushed to stand beside Emma, her eyes flashing angrily at what Aezera was making her best friend say.