Masks (A Mephisto Pheles/ Rin Okumura x female reader)

Chapter 16 (Choices)

Gasping for air, y/n woke up from her nightmare. She glanced around and was relieved to find it was just a dream. Everything seemed back to normal in that dark bedroom. She was safe and sound in her bed with Mephisto cuddled up beside her. It was a rare sight to see him asleep. He looked peaceful as his chest rose and fell. She recalled that he often skipped resting at night. It wasn't a must for a demon like him. Although, on rare occasions, he would find himself deep within the dream scape. Usually it was only an hour at a time.

As she watched him she couldn't help but smile at how innocent his face appeared. With a gentle hand she stroked his pale cheek. She could still feel the warmth of his passion residing on his skin. It made her warm as well. Mephisto didn't react to her cold hand, still within his deep sleep. His breathe didn't even hitch. For once he was relaxed as he laid beside her.

Y/n watched him with a smile but it soon left as her dream faded back to her. She remembered his voice saying that she would never leave. She could remember the struggle for a simple breath. Instantly she recoiled her hand from his cheek and felt her neck. Rubbing it she thought about what such a violent dream could mean.

Could it be a memory?

She'd rather not think about that. She had enough of that pain in her soul and that throbbing in her head. She only wanted to be happy now. She wanted to be happy with him. She promised him she would leave her past in the past. That was what she vowed to do. However, after a dream like that it was hard too. She only knew one thing for certain. There would be no luck sleeping that night. She decided to take a walk to clear her head.

Getting up from the sheets, she wandered quietly out of the now unlocked room. With a careful footfall she wandered the hallways trying to think of anything but what troubled her most. Walking down a flight of stairs, she decided to go out into the garden. It was cold on that fall night, yet, the flowers still bloomed in vibrant colours among the soft glow of the moon light.

Walking down the cobble stone path she looked up into the clear night sky. Small white lights from distant planets and galaxies twinkled back down into her e/c orbs. The stars shined bright that night. It was a calming sight for
y/n. As she looked up at the sky, it was as though she forgot her troubles in that instant. She felt like she could stare up at them for hours.

Suddenly, an abrupt rustle caught her attention. Snapping her gaze towards the sound, she noticed it was coming from the hedges on the borderline of the garden. The branches shook violently as if something were struggling within the green leaves. She froze staring at the hedges until the shaking stopped. Something big was hiding in them. That was undoubtably true. The real question was what.

"Hello?" She yelled out to the hedge, her curiosity getting the best of her. She listened for a response but was only greeted by a long silence. Perhaps it was a wounded animal? Maybe it had gotten stuck in the hedges? Was she it's only hope of survival? With this in mind, she approached the bushes with a light step until she finally reached the spot where the struggle was.

Her hands shook as she reached out to pull away branches. What if she was wrong? What if she was in danger? She felt her heart beat fast against her rib cage. She felt as though it would explode out of her chest. She was very afraid to find out the truth. She decided it would be best to reveal the answer on a count. She would count to 3 and then pull the branches open. It was the only way she would muster the courage to do so. Taking a deep breath in, she began her count. "1...." She whispered to herself, her hands still shaking. "2........." She reassured, grabbing onto the branches. "3!" She shouted pulling open the twigs.

"Ahhhhhhhh!!!!" A voice screamed from inside the bush. She, to, let out a startled scream. Staring at her now was a familiar raven haired boy. It was Rin Okumura. He had twigs tangled in his hair and scratches on his skin from the rough branches. He wore a heavier fall jacket on his body and a pair of blank jeans. In his hand was what appeared to be some kind of sword. Seeing him tangled in the hedges, she couldn't help but wonder what he was doing there.

"Rin?" She questioned, staring at the teens petrified expression. "What are you doing in these hedges?"

Rin looked up at his attacker, now seeing y/n standing before him. He was instantly relieved. He thought that one of Mephisto's servants had discovered him stuck in the branches of a hedge. If that were the case, the fear was all to real as to what he'd face next. Despite all the warnings and threats from an angry demon, he knew he had to come and save her. Rin couldn't just leave her. Trying to sneak his way into the mansion, he planned on rescuing y/n. He still loved her after all.

He didn't want a demon to take away someone he loved yet again. He wouldn't let that happen.

"Y/n? You're ok! Quick! Get in the bushes! I'll get you out of here!" He told her, moving more of the brush out of the way. Y/n couldn't help but stand there confused under the night sky. She still had no clue as to what he was talking about. Why did he insist on getting her out of her lovers mansion? Why did he think she was in danger?

"What..? What do you mean? I'm not in any danger. I-" She told him before freezing at the start of her next sentence. The way he had slapped her and locked her in her room came rushing back to her. She could practically still feel the burning sting on her cheek.

"Listen, y/n. Mephisto isn't your friend. He must've brain washed you too. You were my classmate y/n. You were my friend. He took all of that away from you. That's messed up! Please! You have to trust me, y/n!" Rin begged. Y/n stared into his eyes and at that moment she only saw the eyes of a haunted soul staring back at her. Rin was visibly concerned for her. There was no doubt about that. Perhaps there was some truth to what he was saying. Maybe she should trust him. Then, she remembered her promise to her lover.

She had to leave her past behind. She couldn't find any will in herself to go with Rin. She had to stay. Even after everything he told her, it was still true that she believed to only have just met him formally a few hours before. She couldn't leave with a stranger and she couldn't break her promise. She couldn't go.

"I'm sorry. I can't go with you." She told him. With tears jerking at his eyes he met her gaze. He couldn't figure out why she wouldn't go. Even after all that had happened just hours before, she still wouldn't leave. It broke his heart to see her this way. She really had no idea of the truth and Mephisto planned on keeping it that way. Rin was torn two ways. He only had two options. Force her to come with him or let her stay with Mephisto. He didn't know what to do. 'What's the right choice?' He thought. 'What do I do now?'

"Miss. l/n?" A voice called. Y/n quickly moved the bushes back so they hid Rin completely, and turned to her caller. Belial stood at the other end of the garden with a lantern and what looked like gardening tools. He was confused and a bit concerned to find y/n out of her room and in the garden. She looked startled having him find her. He wondered why. Was she trying to run away? Was she only taking a midnight stroll? What was she doing with the hedges?

"Miss. L/n? What are you doing out here so late?" He asked, walking towards her. The questions in his head lingered with each step he took. He couldn't help but wonder staring at her guilty expression. Suddenly, the hedges began to rustle making Belial stop in his tracks.

Something was in the bushes and he wasn't entirely sure what. Was it an animal? Was it a lower level demon? Or worse. Was it an intruder? Y/n felt frozen as he went up to the hedge. She felt cornered as he inspected the brush. What would the butler do if he found the teen hidden in the branches? Would he feel inclined to rat out Rin to Mephisto? Would he tell Mephisto about her suspicious actions? Not wasting any time, Belial moved the branches away only to find nothing where Rin stood inside the hedge. It was like the teen disappeared. She was relieved. Turning to y/n now, Belial asked her again for an explanation. 'What should I say?' She thought. Then an excuse popped into her mind.

"I was taking a walk to clear my head and I found an animal in the bushes. They seemed to be hurt and tangled in the branches so I was trying to help them, but it guess you scared them away." She told him. Belial seemed satisfied with the excuse. Not digging into it any further, he gave her a warm assuring smile. He tried not to show the actual suspicion on his face. He knew she was partially lying. About what? He didn't know.

"You should return to your bed to rest, Miss. l/n. It's quite late and you might catch a cold. My master wouldn't be pleased with that." He told her. Y/n nodded and with a goodbye, she made her way back to her room. Before going inside, however, she looked back at the hedges. At that moment she second guessed everything. Would it have been better to go with Rin?

What was the right decision?