『 I Won't Run Anymore』

Part 10 ~ Fear

I sat in the dining room, staring across the long table at Mephisto. He looked at me with an unreadable expression. It scared me. He wasn't his quirky self. I eyed my cup ramen, watching the steam float from it. Trying my best to avoid Mephisto's stare.

"We have 5 minutes belle."

I blinked, still not raising my head to look at him. I knew what he meant. 5 minutes until the noodles softened so that we could eat.

"You know you enjoyed it."

I snapped my eyes to finally look at him, staring into his smirking face. Ivory cheek resting in his laced fingers.

"Excuse me?"

"Don't deny it belle~ I felt you kiss me back, even if only for a moment."

"I wasn't aware of the situation at first."

I turned my eyes back down to the cup, wanting this dinner to be over with already. I heard the legs of his chair scrape across the floor, the screeching steel drawing back my attention. He wasn't there! Then where...

"Ah!"

I felt the back of the soft material that was his gloved hand caress my cheek, forcing me from my own chair and to the opposite side of it, facing him.

"What are you doing?!"

"Ha-ha! What do you think belle~ entertaining myself for the next 3 minutes."

It had only been two minutes. Really?

"I told you I'm not a play thing."

"No, you are right. I am simply getting you to confess your desire."

"What desire?"

He moved fast, gripping my waist tightly in his arms; not leaving any space between us. My arms instinctively pressing against his chest to force some distance. My heart pounding at the close proximity.

"You know what I mean my dear. Just admit it. You love the feeling of being in the arms of a powerful demon, the rush of not knowing what could happen with your frail self."

"That sounds more like what you're enjoying about it."

"I do enjoy it belle. You have piqued my interest over this past month; no doubt. No human female has had this effect on me before. You are afraid, yet not afraid to show it. The knowledge one would simply die to know, you turned your back on for a more peaceful life. If it weren't for my works I would have likely never seen you again. You are simply fascinating."

"Keep this up and you won't see me again."

"Your threats don't scare me belle. I would bring you back by force if I have to, yet you won't leave. Your curiosity has gotten the better of you."

"I can live without that information. It's you who can't, all because of your precious barrier."

"You are right there, yet here you still stand. From your track record you would have fled by now if you were telling the truth. Which brings me to ask, just how long have you been running? And did you really come to Japan merely for the change as you say? Or were you running from something at home?"

"Stop it. I'm not going to let you get in my head."

He cupped my face with one hand, the other remaining around my waist. His long fingers danced in my raven hair, his face leaning closer.

"I already have though, Alice."

He closed the gap, capturing my lips with his own. I was shocked from him using my name, standing still as his soft lips caressed my own for the second time that day. My hands shakily clenched the fabric of his shirt, not pushing or pulling; just hanging there. My mind and body not certain how to react yet. I can't handle this... I felt perspiration form on the back of my neck. Why aren't I doing anything?! He pulled away by a mere centimetre;