Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 14

Finally, the world reformed back to the gazebo in the backyard with Diana by the entrance. "How could you..." Thalia choked out.

"What?" She replies in confusion.

Thalia looked up at Diana through her tears and glared, "How could you force him to live through that a second time?"

She just shrugs and states, "You had the right to know."

"Yes, but it was up to Damien to decide when I should find out, not you." Thalia growled angrily. Damien took in a sharp breath as her palms grew warm from anger. He grips her tighter, trying to calm her before she can hurt him. She calmed herself enough to stop the fire from bursting from her palms but the anger lingers.

Diana looked away from her before explaining, "The Demon Lord, despite his... his sadistic pleasures, loved Damien's mother beyond anything else, even his own wives. When she killed herself, the Demon Lord blamed Damien and his ability to read minds. The only one who convinced him to not kill Damien were his brothers, so the Demon Lord granted Damien his life, but he would be doomed to become a lowly slave as soon as the eldest became Lord."

Thalia looked to Damien, who had a face of both murderous hatred and pure sadness as he glared at Diana. The succubus he glared at, however, simply chuckled, "So, one day, he was visited by 'an angel' who told him about humans and painted him a pretty picture about them. Now he's obsessed with it."

"Why are you telling me this? Why are you doing all of this?!"

"To butter you both up, of course. I'm about to give him a chance to have his wish granted."

Damien and Thalia stared in pure disbelief. Diana laughed, seeing both of their faces, "I needed to see how well you could handle his past. You can't have 'true love' without seeing all sides of your love, now can you?" Diana then looked fully to Damien, crossing her arms. Something about this struck a fear chord within her, but she watched in silence. "I offer you this, bastard son. I have the ability to turn you completely human. No magic, no mind reading."

"You're lying." Damien stated.

"Am I? Read my mind. See for yourself."

Damien stared at Diana, only to go wide eyed at her, "You're not... but..."

"That's right! Your humanity for your brothers~" Thalia looked at Diana in surprise, "Think about it, Damien~ You can finally be human. You won't hurt anyone anymore. You won't put her in danger."

Damien looked at her, instinctively making Thalia look back at him. He had a look of fear, which worried her. She shook her head, "Don't." She told him mentally, "We can find another way to make you human."

Diana speaks up again, "All I ask is that you completely willingly let me take your brothers back home. No big deal if that means you get to be a human with the girl of your dreams, right?"

Damien looks at her one more time before turning his gaze back to Diana, "...No."

"...Excuse me?"

"I said no. I will not give my brothers over to you."

She could see Diana's anger flare up like a snake ready to strike, "You do realize what you're denying yourself, right? You're giving up your one chance to become human."

"I'd rather remain a demon than let my brothers be your slaves. Now, leave."

Diana gripped her hands into fists by her sides and glared daggers at Damien. However, she didn't move to strike; she raised one of her hands and rubbed her temple in pure anger, "Then I'm curious, Damien: what would you trade for your humanity? You wouldn't go so far as to have sex with me for it, would you?" Damien remained silent. Thalia looked to Damien, expecting him to answer, but he didn't.