You said nothing as you silently went back to the bed. Anti watched you as you left, and you could feel his strange eyes on you. Boring into your soul.
You couldn't help but wonder just what his true intentions were. He was, after all, a demon. One that had brought you to Hell, alive. One that seemed to want to keep kissing you at the oddest of moments, usually before shoving you away for getting too close again.
But am I really falling for this being? He saved my life, sure, but why didn't he just shove me in the direction I was supposed to go, and send me on my way alone? He could have stayed in Limbo; instead he's risking my boyfriend destroying him to keep me safe.
So... what's his plan?
Anti frowned. Did you keep forgetting that he could hear your thoughts?
The thing was, even he didn't know what he was doing. Why didn't he send you on your way alone? Why didn't he stay behind, where the different circles in Hell wouldn't affect him?
The demon sighed through his nose, knowing the answer already. You were too pure for Hell. You had gotten a taste of it simply by living with Dark on your own, hadn't you been through enough? It was your innocent soul that was pushing everyone in Hell away; the purity was too strong. That was why you had seen no other demon or even another soul since you had arrived.
Anti brought out his blade again; his bloodthirst had returned while his mind had wandered, that empty, gnawing feeling of hunger was too great to be ignored. But he simply put the knife away again, exhausted of being in the circle.
Neither of us belong here.
(●)~
"What's the third circle?" was your first question the next day, if you could call it a day. How bright hellfire must have been to light up the entirety of Hell. You padded silently up to the demon, who was sitting on a chair that had seen better days. His hands were folded in front of his face, staring off into the distance. You opened your mouth to ask the question again but he turned to look at you, after all.
"Wrath." Your stomach dropped, heart speeding up. If Gluttony had given Anti his bloodlust back, then what would he do to you in Wrath? "I know what you're thinking, and it's probably best if you walk this circle alone."
Now you began to panic. Alone in Hell, the sole living human being? How would you even get through the gate? "Anti, I don't think--"
"Shut up. I'm not giving you another choice." He stood up, the chair moving backwards a bit from the force. Gripping your shoulders his black eyes stared into yours. "I will be right behind you. If I'm far enough away, maybe you won't be in any danger. But I can't make any fucking promises. All right?"
You sighed, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in your gut as you nodded. He was right, of course; being apart from you was best. Pulling the demon into a hug made him freeze up, stiff and immobile, at least for a few long seconds. Eventually he relaxed, but like you had expected, pushed you away. Gently, this time. "Knock it off, you stupid bitch," Anti muttered, lacking any conviction.
It took a few more hours of walking before you reached the next gate, and you hesitated. Anti enveloped you in his usual smoke, letting you pass through and avoiding the dogs' attention, but you stopped once you were beyond the line, looking back at the demon. He raised an eyebrow and made a shooing motion, wanting you to get moving.
He said he'd be right behind me.
You swallowed hard and walked on.
(●)~
Only once did you look behind you as you went, and you regretted having done so: Anti was nowhere to be seen.
No, what the fuck am I doing?! I have to trust him, he's back there somewhere!
Isn't he?
Turning around to look for him was costing you precious minutes; the sooner you left Wrath, the better.
And if this works, then maybe Violence and Treachery will be easier to get through, too.
"Have you enjoyed your little... adventure, my darling?"
Your head whipped back around, coming face to face with your boyfriend. He stood there solidly, seeming to be towering over you in his anger. Bile rose in your throat, threatening to spew out in a violent gush as you realized that he had caught up with you much, much sooner than you were prepared for.
He chuckled, hands behind his back. The wind gently moved through his hair, making his open jacket flutter in the breeze. "I think you know now what must happen, don't you?"
He was blocking your way forward. With his hands set perfectly behind his back, you knew he was hiding something. The question was... what?
"I see that your time in Hell has made you forget your manners." Swiftly, too swift for you to try and avoid, he snatched you by the hair, bringing your face much closer. His eyes, usually so dark, were a bright red. "You know what must happen now, don't you?" Dark repeated. You nodded and he smirked, dropping you to the ground.
Whatever was behind his back was brought up over his head, and consequently back down onto your leg. A searing pain shot through your body, making you scream as you heard bones being shattered. He had broken your foot. All you saw was red, pouring from the wound and puddling around where you lay.
I'm going to die... I'm in Wrath, he's going to kill me!!
"Don't be silly," the black-haired demon cooed to you as he lifted the axe once again. The same searing pain sent another wave over you, blood shot out in an arc, staining his weapon as he dropped it and lifted your foot with a smirk. "Now you aren't going anywhere... You belong to me."
It was no longer attached to your body.
