Embrace

NOWEL

I sighed deeply as I stared at the door leading to the king's room. Michael's room.

I gave the guards standing by the door a small nod and they silently opened the doors for me to enter. I immediately wrapped my arms around my shoulders because of the chilling atmosphere in the room. The room was freezing...and no fire was made to warm the room. Which made me wonder if his room is always like this. Or if today is different.

As I moved around, I saw the delicate dance of winter descending upon a lone figure on the large balcony, his back turned to me as his long, dark hair was drowned in snow. My mission here tonight is to apologize for almost killing him with a table knife. And probably warn him about Hazel and the White Wizard. A part of me feels like he should not be left out in this mind-blowing revelation about him. He needs to know.

I took the three small steps to the balcony and shivered as my pale skin made contact with the pristine snow. I stared at the grim look proudly displayed on his face and I was surprised he did not move a muscle to acknowledge my presence or react to the sheet of white dust covering him like a blanket.

I know he knows I am standing right beside him. I could see it in the way he began to clench his hands into tight fists.

''Aren't you feeling cold?''

He stilled at the sound of my voice, unfurling his fingers. He turned sideways to face me which was a surprising move, as I was expecting him to ignore or send me away.

Then my heart dissolved at the visible lines of distress drawn on his face. The down-turned corners of his lips trembled slightly, revealing the weight of his emotional burden. His beautiful eyes glistened with unshed tears, the usual sparkle in them gone. My lips parted as he let go of his pride and humbled his pain before me with his heartbreaking looks.

''Come,'' I stretched forth my arms to him. To offer him my embrace as a sort of comfort. I once had a brief encounter with his past fears, pain, and loneliness. But for once, I want to hold him and share my undying feelings toward him. To bring him out of that dark place, those horrible memories of his childhood. What he had to go through because of his grandfather's mistake, his father's wickedness, and his stepfather's tyranny. All because they couldn't see that his creation was not a mistake but a purpose only known to the Creator herself.

He stared at my arms in confusion. When his eyes met mine, I saw the familiar displeased look back on his face.

''Michael, you are going to get sick. Come.'' Letting him think the only reason I wanted to embrace him was because of the cold and not because I pity his condition.

''Why?''

Why?

''Because I want to forgive you...and protect you.''

His eyes burned with anger.

''I don't need your protection,'' He spat out.

''But you want my forgiveness?''

His eyes softened and the boiling rage in him subsided. He looked down and there was something I didn't expect to see in him.

Guilt.

''To be honest with you, you don't deserve my forgiveness but my love for you begged for it. Michael, you knew all along that we were mates, soulmates and you kept it to yourself. I asked you why the last time we met but it seems you don't want to let me know the reason behind it. I have accepted that. But I want to know why you hate me so much. It's like...you see me as a threat regardless of all that I have done for you. You have grown this hatred for me ever since the beginning. And I want to know why?''

I don't know why my heart skipped a beat the moment we locked eyes again.

''Why?'' I pressed.

The way he looked at me was different this time. As if he was shocked hearing me ask him this.

''There is...a big difference between when you hate someone and you are angry at someone. When you want someone and you don't want that person because of the consequences. I don't know what your definition of hate is, but if you feel like I hate you then yes, I hate you so much. And I don't know why I hate you that much.''

I swallowed as a tear fell from my eyes. I deserve this. All of this for choosing to fall for a demon- no. A demonic spirit.

''Is it not weird to you? Loving a demon? Don't you feel repulsed like the way the rest of the world does?''

I am...I felt blessed for loving you. I felt fulfilled and alive when I looked at you, what no human could make me feel. And I desire so much to help you, Michael.

''Every day, I wake up to be angry at you for not being like the rest of the world. For making me feel special when I should not. The day I found out that we were mates...I hid it from you because...'' He paused and hesitated, ''You can't have the impossible. And I'll make sure of that. I lost someone because she saw me differently, protected me, and made me feel special till the point of death. I don't want you to be treated harshly by your kind because of accepting me the way I am.

I want to see you breathe like the way I failed to make her breathe. Smile the way I wanted her to smile. I want you to not be judged for the rest of your life because you chose to be my friend.

I want you to be happy and that can't happen if I am still on your mind. I am a demon, Nowel. It's a part of me.''

I was touched by his words. As my mother once said; The demon is not by appearance but by the heart. Not all that appear as monsters have venoms in their hearts. Judge by their hearts.

I stared at him with tears forming strongly in my eyes and snow fell on him. He might not love me, but he cares. My heart warmed with joy. I have never been this happy in my entire life.

Gorgeous has a big heart. He cares but he is trying so hard to hide it.

''If you remember that I once told you that I will protect you whether you like it or not. That means you are mine to protect. I know what you were before I made that promise to you. I knew the consequences. I saw you as a demon I could protect and love. I don't fear what comes out of it but I fear the danger you might be instead.

Open yourself to me and stop hiding from me. I am not expecting you to love me back, but...you can trust me. Believe me or not there are worse demons than you in human flesh. I want to be your friend who defends you when others say that you are not at your back because I know you. I want to be that friend who cries with you, fights for you and takes all insults that life could throw at you because I am with you.

I want to be that special angel who chooses to protect her demon from harm. I want you the way you are. I want to get to know you as a demon. I want to be that friend that cries for your sake, and smiles because you smiled. I want to be the first person you share your nightmares with and the last person you would ever hesitate to discuss your dreams with.

I am saying this not because I pity you being a demon...but because I see that humanity in you that I also want to be introduced to.''

A tear dropped from his eyes causing my eyes to widen in shock.

Did he just...

My heart paused and words could not describe how I felt when he pulled me in for an embrace. My arms coiled around him as I felt his cold hands at the back of my neck and the other secured tightly around my waist.

"You are...the first person that has ever considered me as a being that breathes life and not a damned demon," He sobbed out as he tightened his hold on me, pulling me deeper into him.

"How I so much wish that I was a different person entirely so that I could accept your love without pain, regrets, and shame. Why in the hell was I born like this, when I could be happier with you by my side as a human?"

If his tears broke me, then his words silenced me and had me overwhelmed.

"I am so...sorry, Nowel for being so cruel to hide the fact that we were mates. I was so scared when I found out."

Because you felt unworthy of even having someone that was made just for you.

"I am...so sorry." Then he buried his face in the crook of my neck and wept. Meanwhile, I held him right like I have always dreamed of doing. And allowed him generously to wet my body with tears. He has gone through so much that even I felt like I was not enough to take his pain away.

.

.

.

I left the moment I made sure he was warm and sound asleep. Yes, he cried till he slept.

The halls were empty until I rammed into someone.

I stumbled to come face to face with the sorceress of darkness. She held onto seven red candles and a dark red liquid in a bottle.

I looked back at her in shock and horror. What ingredients of darkness could this be?

''I wonder which part of your life is so dark that you need seven red candles to illuminate it.''

She smiled.

''Maybe a part of my life might be dark, but your whole life is about to be...pitch black.'' She threatened, '' I just hope you aren't afraid of the dark.'' A dirty smirk ended those words of hers followed by a cold chill down my spine.

That smirk was a promise of so much evil she had planned for me and Gorgeous. I just hope that it is not too late to stop that witch.