Chapter Forty-three: The Deck

Mil's angry visage was the first thing I noticed when we appeared at the beach.

"Where the hell have you been?!" she blasted. "It's been three days and we've been worried sick--" I found myself kissing her lips, and her rigid and tense body melted in my arms. I gazed at her beautiful emerald eyes and wondered why I would ever want to leave her. "Will you be happy with me?" I asked her. I gulped as I realized I wanted her to be with me and have future adventures together. Whether the world will crash and burn or soar and survive, I wanted to be with her, kiss her like this, and take her breath away.

She smiled as if a million flowers had bloomed before her.

"I'll always be happy with you by my side," she responded as she held my cheek.

"Only your side?" I whispered in her ear. "How about on top or behind?"

Tark cleared his throat and glared at me.

"What?" I blurted as I scowled at him.

"You haven't even gone on a date yet!" Tark pointed out. "Court the woman before you put those thoughts in her head!"

"You're such a prude!" I bit out. "Mil can have anyone she wants! I'm trying to leave a legacy here!"

"You're doing a crappy job of it, Jopp!"

"I don't see you doing any better, virgin Tark!"

Tark turned to Mayzel and opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

"Momma!" Rif started as he got between Mil and I. "I love you very much!"

Mil beamed as she hugged him, her lovely breasts rubbing the top of his head, the meddling twit!

"Mayzel, will you give me a chance?" Tark queried as he held her hands. "I think about you every day, and I know you loved my father. Why won't you love me?"

Mayzel took a deep breath and sighed as she led him on a stroll down the beach.

Noforl seemed angry enough to blow his top off, at which point I grabbed his shoulder. "Let's go inside and have a little chat," I ordered.

Noforl glared at me before acquiesing.

For a former demon ruler, he was awfully quiet. The silence was as unnerving as the dawn before a bloody battle. I let Mil and Rif inside while I kept Noforl on the patio with me.

"What are your plans, now?" I asked as I crossed my arms. If he was intent on world domination, we'd have to end him.

"I don't know," he admitted as he gazed at the ocean waves. "I haven't felt this peaceful in a very long time."

"Would you like to tell us about it?" Mil queried as she and Rif peeked through the door. I shook my head at her, but she continued. "Let's talk about it over lunch."

"I've done horrible things under my father's rule," Noforl confessed. "Execute me, if you wish."

Rif glanced up at Mil and I. "What is he talking about?"

Rif didn't recognize Noforl, and I was sure Golir would kill him if he found out. Golir could become a demon, and the whole world could turn on its head.

"I'm the one that killed your mother," Noforl admitted as he kneeled before him. "Strike me down as you see fit."

Noforl's pain seeped through the air, his emotions of the past swirling through. His father was demanding and accepted nothing but perfection. Whips would leave his skin hanging by threads, while swords carved out his flesh. His screams of unbearable pain filled the dungeon until his father choked him. Noforl passed many years like this, and his will to live had nearly left him. He didn't want to endanger his sister, and so he carried on the malicious torch of his father.

Rif seemed to sense the same flood of emotions. Noforl stared at the floor until Rif lifted his chin.

"Striking you and beating you won't bring her back," Rif uttered. "I have something for you to do instead."

Noforl stared at him, baffled.

"Noforl Ozzim, will you promise to protect us?"

Noforl's tears streamed down his face, and his hands touched Rif's cheeks. "Do you think I can protect you from myself?"

"I'll believe in you, if no one else will," Rif offered.

"Good luck with that," I blurted.

Mil punched my arm and scowled at me.

Noforl flinched when Rif raised his hand to wipe away his tears. He gulped with nervousness as Rif beamed at him. He seemed to recognize the kindness in Rif's actions, his eyes no longer vindictive but relieved.

Just like Hekin, Thorn, and I, Noforl had been purified. I could only guess that once he killed again, he would become a devil. Did Rif know something about this that I didn't?

"I, Noforl Livnos Sykesto Ozzim, hereby pledge my loyalty and life to Rif Heibreth. I swear on the blood of my ancestors that I will protect you by any means necessary. Should I displease you and not--"

Rif took his hand and shook his head.

Was he talking to him with telepathy? Damn Rif.

"I will aim to be your friend and confidante," Noforl muttered. "What does that mean?"

"You talk and have fun together," I answered. "Rif, are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"I want to help him," Rif declared.

"What if this doesn't work?" I asked with telepathy.

"The first step is to believe," Rif explained. "No matter how hard the world is, once we believe in a better place and work for it, it can be achieved."

"Did you get possessed by a sage or something?" I mumbled.