me and the devil - kai parker

19

Madelene woke up to the early morning light filtering through the curtains. The previous night's events weighed heavily on her mind, but for now, Kai was asleep beside her, his face peaceful and free of the torments that usually haunted him. She watched him for a moment, her heart torn between love and fear. She admired his beauty, the way his face looked so serene in sleep. The rise and fall of his chest, the outline of softly sculpted muscles of his arms, the way his hair fell softly over his forehead—everything about him at this moment was a stark contrast to the person he became. 

This was going to be the hardest decision of her life. She needed time to think, to decide what to do next. Her mind and heart were telling two different stories, she could not trust either.

Slipping out of bed quietly, she made her way to the bathroom. The tiled floor was cool beneath her feet as she turned on the faucet, the sound of running water providing a temporary distraction from her racing mind. She poured water into the tub, testing the temperature until it was scorching hot, filling the room with steam that set onto the mirrors, just right, and then stepped in, sinking into the warm embrace of the bath.

The water enveloped her, soothing her tense muscles as she lay back, her head resting against the edge of the tub. She closed her eyes, trying to let the warmth wash away her worries, if only for a little while. The events of the night replayed in her mind. She couldn't help but smile to herself, covering her face with her hands as she sank deeper into the water. Never did she expect this to happen.

She wondered if the ancestors were watching, if they knew she gave in, and failed her mission only nine years later. Became the embarrassment, the partner in crime. 

Madelene let out a deep sigh. She wanted to believe that there was still good in him, that the man she had fallen in love with was still there somewhere. But the darkness he spoke of was real, and it scared her. Could she truly move past it with him? Could she trust him again? Could they live in peace side by side, keeping each other company?

She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling as she tried to sort through her emotions. Kai had hurt her, in a way no one else ever did, but he had also been hurt. Maybe that was a start. Maybe there was a way for them to face this together and try to move on with life, to find a path forward despite the pain they caused each other. After all, they were deemed to spend eternity together, and might as well be on good terms. Kai accepted that he could not leave this place so it just might be, the new beginning, a clean slate on the book of their lives. It wouldn't be easy, and there would be challenges ahead, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like they had a chance. A chance to start over, to build something new and beautiful from the ruins of their past.

Her stream of thought was interrupted as Kai entered the bathroom. She looked at him, unsure of how to behave. But he seemed relaxed, he smiled at her and walked over to the tub. He sat at the very edge and dipped his hand into the water.

"Jesus, are you trying to boil yourself?" He quickly removed his hand from the hot water.

Madelene only smiled. "Hey"

Kai smiled back at her "Hi"

Then a silence filled the room, his eyes softening as he looked at her. His hair was messy and his eyes were still foggy from sleep. He was already fully dressed in yesterday's clothes. Madelene thought he looked cute.

Without saying a word, he reached out and gently played with her wet hair, his fingers combing through the long, raven strands. She felt a twinge of affection and vulnerability. It was an intimate moment, one that made her heart ache, summoning memories of the time they would sit by big trees, her head on his lap as he played with her hair tangling them terribly in the process. She reached out and took his hand into hers, she squeezed it softly. Kai's hand traveled from her wrist up her forearm towards the shoulder.