"Would you die for me?"
His words echoed in my head. Yet I nodded. I knew I would. I'd give him anything. He saved me from that prison cell. He gave me life, gave me wings. Gave me a new purpose.
"Would you live for me, Chaos?"
It was gentle. Soft. I felt it in my chest. The words, his lips never moved. He was inside my head. Yes, that's what he did. That's how he controlled me. And that...that was why I ran. No mind of my own. No, he controlled me from the moment he freed me.
"Hello, Narolin..."
My breath caught in my throat. Denver, he'd found me in Denver. Of course he had. He'd always find me. And I knew now...he'd never actually let me go.
I stood silently. My eyes roamed over my King. Something had changed in him. Something new, different. Yet, being human, I couldn't put my finger on it. What had he done?
"I walked away," he said simply and my eyes widened a fraction. He couldn't have. He wouldn't. It wasn't his style. "I've followed you since Austin. Lost you for awhile. Being human worked in your favor, my sweet Angel."
"What Steve told you was right. All of it. I craved you. That's why I freed you. As soon as I knew what they'd done to you, I made my move. It took longer than I'd hoped. But I knew I'd free you, Chaos. I knew I'd have you."
I stood, listening. It didn't seem possible.
"I was admittedly jealous of you. No thing was more powerful than the Angel of Chaos. First being born into the world. Everyone wanted to be you. Craved your power. Strived to be like you. And I knew you'd only make me more powerful. My intentions were self-serving. In the beginning...,"
"...and then I saw you."
He licked his lips. Cleared his throat. I understood now that he was truthful. And I wasn't entirely sure how that made me feel.
"I didn't want to lose you. So I kept you tied to me. I admit that now. And you had every right to run. I no longer blame you. It's on me. I caused it, my Love. I take the blame, happily fall on my own sword. I was selfish because I fell in love with you, Narolin."
"I needed you."
I was trying to take it in. What had he said? He couldn't love me. What did demons know of love, let alone the devil himself?
"If the others had known, they'd have used it against me. Taken my place. Hurt you to get to me. And I couldn't let them lay a hand on you, my beautiful Chaotic Angel. I simply couldn't."
I finally understood. Why, how. I understood why he'd done what he'd done.
"You can tell me to go to Hell," he smirked, "and I'd go. Die for you, return to the darkness. I've lost my spot, no longer King. But I'd return, endure pain and torture if that's what you want me to do. Strip myself of my wings. Rip myself of any power I have left."
"Whatever you want."
I took a shaky breath.
"Or...," I began.
He grinned. He could see it in my eyes. He knew, understood what I thought. What I had in mind. And maybe he was using me. It was possible. He'd tricked me once. But if that was the case, this time I'd do things on my terms, not his.
He stood, his black wings spread wide.
My heart beat a tattoo in my chest. His fingers traced along my collarbone. Leaving small, feather-light kisses in his wake. Shivering, covered in goosebumps, I reached for him. Pleasure, ah yes, his pleasure. I'd missed it.
"Be patient," he spoke quietly, barely above a whisper. I'd laid down my rules. Demanding to be equal. No more inside my head, no more controlling my thoughts and he'd agreed. He wanted me, he said. It was all that mattered.
I felt him all over me. Like hundreds of fingers, every inch of my body was alight, buzzing. Aching for just a bit more. "Please," I whispered, uncaring that I sounded so weak. I needed it. He obliged, filling me completely full, stretching me out. This was gospel...fallen ones. Fallen angels, in love.
He replaced my wings. Golden. Beautiful. He said I looked like the goddess that I always was. I felt like it.
We overtook Hell. Easily. Smited those who opposed us. Rewarded the ones that didn't. An empire, James called it.
Centuries passed, side by side. Hand in hand. We did it together. Equally.
In love.
This is gospel for the fallen ones
Locked away in permanent slumber
Assembling their philosophies
From pieces of broken memories
