Different Yet The Same

Chapter Thirty-Three

-Ember-

As soon as the portal closes I turn to Coal, completely unsure of what to do next. Everyone is shocked speechless. The majority of the wedding party has slipped away leaving myself, Coal, Pyro and Lucifer.

"I'm going back to the hotel. We will discuss this once the rumors die down." He leaves us, a power behind each step. He seems...different. More on edge. I can't help but think what on earth Spark did to piss him off. Pyro goes to follow but I put my hand up stopping him in his tracks. His gaze is steady, but I can still see shards of fear ripping through them like broken glass.

"I'm going to ask once, and only once." My voice menacing. "What were you guys doing?"

They stand there motionless. Nervous, maybe even bashful. "Well...You and I, I mean um Spark and I were going to get...married." Pyro explains.

"I see. So you thought you were marrying me?" He looks up, gaze turning sinister.

"Yes I did, and now that you're really here we can be wed." He reaches out cupping my cheek. His hands are cold and calloused, capable of things I dare not even imagine.

"There's only one problem, I will NEVER marry you, so tough luck."

"What makes you so sure?" His eyes flick to Coal. "He can't protect you. He's useless." He spits on the ground just in front of Coal.

Coal goes to attack him but I hold up my hand, wanting desperately to knock Pyro down myself.

"I don't need Coal to protect me. I can protect myself." Taking a step closer to him, in a slightly smaller voice, "You can't imagine the things I would put you through. The pain you would feel. So I suggest you run off to your master and leave me alone."

With a fleeting glance at Coal he smiles, "This isn't over." Then he's gone, leaving the two of us alone.

Settling my gaze on Coal, I ask him. "Was there anything that happened between you two that I need to know about?" I'm nervous to hear the answer.

"Well, before I knew who she was we...kissed..." He looks at me like I'm going to blow up but I motion for him to continue. "Also when I didn't know...I umm...proposed."

"You WHAT?!" My voice shrill. There's a few seconds of silence then Coal does something unbelievable.

"I did this..." He kneels down, balancing his weight on one knee. Slowly, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring. "Ember..." He starts. "I have loved you since the first time I saw you. You were beautiful, captivating, absolutely stunning. You aren't afraid to fight for yourself or those you love." He stands up taking a step closer to me so that we're almost touching.

"Ember, you are what keeps me going every day, you aren't the star that leads me home, you are my home. Now that I have you in my life I don't think I can have it any other way. I know we still have things we need to go through, stuff we have to finish. I want to be at your side through it all. Ember you are the only person I've ever loved. Will you marry me?" He looks down at me, a warming hue to his eyes, a passion raging deep and a tenderness coating it.

I take the ring from his hands and inspect it. Earning myself a surprised look from Coal. I slide the ring onto my finger. It's a perfect fit. "Yes Coal, I will marry you." I answer with a huge smile on my face.

He chuckles and pulls me closer to him, so were only millimeters apart. He leans in and presses his lips to mine but I pull away quickly, a playful gleam in my eyes and take of running. All I hear is a slight chuckles before he's coming after me. I run over to a group of trees and hide behind them searching for Coal. I can't see him...

"Coal..." I whisper, then hear a rustling of leaves from behind me. I jump around just as Coal jumps out, his weight pushes against me, slamming my body into a tree. I just laugh and look up at him. He has both his arms on either side of me so there is no chance for escape.

"I've got you now." His breathing becoming more even. I tug on his shirt pulling him down so we're at eye level.

"No you've just fallen into my trap." Then I give him a kiss, one to replace the countless we lost, when we were apart.

•••

"No! I do not approve!" Lucifer hollers, the room shaking from the force.

"You don't need to approve! It's what I want! I don't care what you want!" My retort just as menacing. I knew telling Lucifer about Coal's proposal was a bad idea, so we hadn't planned on telling him, I just didn't think that Pyro would know and tell him. This argument has been going on for the better part of an hour, and Lucifer, being Lucifer, was throwing a tantrum over it all.

"I will not have my only daughter, be married to this this warrior." He spits, gesturing to Coal.

"Well this warrior is who I love. Not to mention he is the only man in this torturous place that gives a damn about me!" I look from Lucifer to Pyro who are both fuming. I should stop but I can't help myself. "He loves me. He doesn't want me for some ulterior motive. Lucifer, you only want me here so I can help you conquer your enemy. Pyro, you only want me so you can have even a sliver of power in this place. All you two want is control. For some reason you think you need me for that. I guess in a way you do, but did you ever stop and think about what I want? No you didn't, because you are both selfish, soulless, greedy and in a dire need for control over this caous. I don't care what you want! I care about what I want." Linking my hand with Coal's, I stare the two of the most powerful demons in existence, right in the eyes. "I want to be happy and I deserve to be happy. I will marry Coal, no matter what you say. Lucifer you have never been a father to me and you never will. Pyro, you'll never find a girl who will willingly love you until you learn to actually love. I'm going to make my sister pay for what she's done to me and once that's done, I will live my life the way I want to. You don't have any say in what I do."

They are left speechless. Coal included. "I will go to the Sahara desert in three days. Spark and her army will know we're coming and that is when I will finish this thing, once and for all." Not waiting for an answer I go to leave the room tugging Coal along with me.

"That was...I don't even know. That was amazing..." Coal says exasperated. I pull him into my room then we collapse onto my bed, a tangle of limbs.

"It was, wasn't it?" I say, feeling a surge of power through my veins. I can't believe I did that..."I meant every word..." I whisper. Wait did I just say that out loud? I look up at Coal who is smiling down at me.

"You know, I'm supposed to be the one protecting you." His laugh vibrating through his chest. "Although I guess you don't need protecting."

"Nope, I got that covered, but..." My voice light and teasing.

"But?" A playfulness in his smile.

"I would never get rid of you. I love you too much." My eyes twinkling.

"Stay with me Ember? Just you and me? Forever?" A yearning burns deep in his soul.

"Answer me this first."

"Anything..." His voice breathless.

"Will you marry me? Put up with me? Love me, and only me? Forget about all other girls, only think of me?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?" His eyes sympathetic.

"Because...I don't think I could live without you." Finally, I said it.

"I would never let you go, because...I know I can't live without you." He pulls me closer to his chest. I can hear his steady heartbeat, a rhythmic drum.

Then he kisses me, a flaming passion, a whirlwind of emotion and...a promise. A promise to powerful to break, to sacred to be spoken aloud. A promise neither of us will ever forget.

I try to lose myself in this man's love, in his happiness and honesty. The only problem is, I don't know if this will be our last time together. I make a vow to myself to never, let anything happen to him, to protect him with my life. I can't help but think that it's like my own version of Romeo and Juliet. I would die without him. It's scary yes, but thrilling to know that one person can mean so much to you. To know that there will always be that one person who will help you. I will never let him go...in life or death.