Rose of Passion

Chapter 15; To Forget, To Love

Kate left the room in a strapless red dress that revealed most of her back and hugged her hips and thighs, flaring out at her knees. With Lycaon at her side, she had not felt this sexy and confident in years. But the demon stole glances more out of concern than attraction. Kate walked quicker; she wanted to forget what had happened as soon as possible, to erase it completely from her mind, not to have Lycaon worry about her since it happened and therefore remind her that it had happened. 

"Stop looking at me like that," she whispered, and tried to unlink her arm with his. 

Lycaon grabbed her hand and bent his elbow to tighten it around her arm. His expression became indifferent, but he looked forward. Now she stole glances at him, knowing they looked like any another, normal couple on Earth going out on a Friday night. It made her sullen and ecstatic. No matter what situation she was in, Kate was constantly being pulled in opposite directions; it wasn't fair.

Just another thing to forget, she thought bitterly. When she stole another glance of Lycaon, the bittersweet feeling in her gut grew. 

Kate abruptly began to tremble at her fear of Aesc and his reaction to her and Lycaon. It would be impossible to hide their relationship forever - if they even had one. For all I know, it could be us acting out of desperation. But it feels real. 

"You remember you said A Separate Peace was your favorite novel?" she murmured, shivering in her dress as they walked through the corridors. 

"Yes, I do." His response was quiet, almost inaudible. 

"Are you supposed to be Gene?" 

"You mean, do I love it so much because I feel that it relates to my own life? That I am Gene, and His Majesty, Finny?" 

"Yeah..." 

"In many ways, there are parallels, but it wasn't a leg that was broken and it certainly won't be surgery that kills one of us." Lycaon's voice hardened, but his face softened. 

"What was it like before Lucifer's death?" 

"Chaotic, but a different kind chaos than today's. Lucifer believed he was doing what was best, but he knew it was for selfish reasons. He enjoyed the materialistic, physical, detrimental pleasures. He was a sadist and a masochist and a psychopath all rolled in one. The current king is much more morally ambiguous. He thinks he can do what is morally right, and he thinks he knows what is right. He is much more the dark, brooding young man, as opposed to the evil creature his father was." 

Kate leaned against Lycaon. "And you, before all of this?" 

Lycaon looked down at her, locking their gazes. "Ask me much later into the night." He stopped, and they looked at the black, wooden door in front of them. "You are sure? It will not be pleasant until you are completely out of your own mind, so drunk that you will not even remember what happened?" 

"Good." 

The demon hesitantly pushed open the door. Immediately, they were hit by a thick wave of heat, loud music and shrill shrieks, and bad smells. Kate took a step back, and Lycaon gazed down at her. She did not want him thinking that she had changed her mind-she was going to forget-and grabbed his hand, leading the way into the club. 

Kate could feel the bass' vibrations through the floor, traveling up her heels and through her legs, spreading through her body and energizing her. 

"First, I need a drink," she muttered and pushed her way through the crowd. 

Lycaon let out an exhale of stress as he followed so close that he nearly treaded on her high heels. He tried not to predict too far into the night as the vibrations ran through his body and left him feeling lightheaded.