Forbidden

Chapter 21

-VALERIE'S P.O.V-

     I finally climb out of the shower. My body weak from the last den cloaking. A witch's presence was there and it made it harder for me. I'm also trying to keep my humanity, which I find actually easier since I'm.. with.. her.
   As I step out of my room to get myself clothes.. She's sitting on my bed. I can't help but smile.
"Oh. I'm sorry."
    I raise my eyebrow and shake my head. "Doesn't much matter, you've seen all of me before."
    Her face turns shades of pink that turn to reds quickly. I'm sure in someway that I match her blush.
   I walk over and search my drawers for clothes. Out of comfort I go with boxers and sportsbra. I get dressed quickly and crawl in bed, laying beside her.
"I know why we're forbidden."
    I sigh. "Did something happen to you? Are we going to die or something?"
    She laughs at me and shakes her head. Her actions, laughs.. they confuse me..
"The arch angel Marcus had once fell in love with a demon. The story is a sad one. Of how they fought to be together even though both sides were meant to destroy each other. The way they went before God and Lucifer to prove that true love is stronger than both of them. And it was. It was. But the love did not last. It is a rare thing for angels to ever feel love. And I'm sure just as rare for a demon to behold feelings either. It was Marcus that made the 'forbidden' law known. This was over 5000 years ago. The lure was hidden from all to know only the saying, never the story behind."
    Something in me... feels relieved. I'm in love with her and now there are no worries. I do wonder one thing.
"Why didn't their love last if it was true?"
"Lakyn, the demon. He was in a battle that had raged between him, other demons, humans and God had to interfere. The smite wasn't meant for Lakyn. But he got caught in the crosshairs. He was trying to stop the rogue demons that was taking possession to only kill the human in process and would jump to next. Ever since, Marcus hasn't left his chambers in heaven and it's rare to ever stumble across him. He is like a hallow shell that somehow walks among the happiest place without a feeling in the realms."
   The story, his story. It brings sorrow to my heart. I honestly don't know what I would do if I ever lost her in any way.
"I'm sorry."
   I jump out of reach.
"You're not sorry."
    Ninfa's eyes turn sad as she allows Misty to be seen.
"If my master loves you, I must try. I am sorry. You managed to give her love when even I could not."
    Ninfa doesn't love me. She's in love. There is a difference.
    The tiger headbutts my leg and sneezes. "You smell like the Elder."
    I laugh. "Who's the Elder and what does that mean?"
"Oh. Yes. I shall have you meet him some time as well."
   I scratch behind Misty's ear. She purrs for me and I am in shock.
"You smell like a man."
    I find myself laughing too hard that my sides starts to hurt.
"What did she say?"
"In. All. Honesty." I feel over and catch my breath. "I could be if I wanted to be."
"Prove it."
"You really want me to prove it?"
    Misty sits at my feet and nods.
"Prove what? This isn't fair. It's not fair my girlfriend can speak to my best friend and I can't."
    My heart jumps about a million beats and I am... dying.. my heart is filled with joy.. joy.. to be called her girlfriend.
"Come on, Pussy."
"I'm not a pussy."
    Ninfa's eyes widen. I almost start laughing as her face makes a funny face.
"Fine."
    In a moments notice, I take a deep breath and morph myself into male. Both Ninfa and Misty's eyes grow wide. Except Ninfa's jaw drops.
"I had doubt."
"You told me to prove it. So I did."
    I hear Ninfa choke and I look up. Her face in a deep shade of red. She's so cute.
    I laugh. "Wanna see something interesting?"
     They nod. I open my door and begin walking out of my room. Both follow me. As I catch Joel's eye.
"My maaaann."
    I hear Ninfa drop to the floor in laughter.
    Joel walks up to me smirks.
"What's my man being manly for?"
    I step aside and show Misty. "She dared me."
"It wasn't a dare. I said prove it."
"Technically, big kitty, it is." Joel speaks to Misty.
   Ninfa's flops on the couch and looks at me. Something in her eyes darkens.. something in me.. I turn away from her and head in the kitchen.
   Joel follows. "What's goi.."
   I cover my face and side to the floor.
"Oh." I hear a small squeak in his voice.
   The male parts working...I've never..
"I don't know what to do."
"Babyboy." He leans down. "It's normal as a male. You're just not use to it."
"Fuck no I'm not."
    It takes me a minute or two just to concentrate. I return to female and my lower is in a throb. Why..
   I get up and grab a bottle of water out of the fridge. Kind of pointless when the fridge in my room has water.
"You okay, Val?"
    I take a drink of water and nod.
"I'm also going to sleep. Slightly worried Misty is going to attack me if I.." my heart sinks.. I really want to hold Ninfa as we sleep.
"I won't. Your bed is too uncomfortable for my taste." I feel like she's lying and the look on her eyes would confirm, she just wants to give us space...
    To do list. Get a giant ass pillow for a giant ass house cat. And make extra fluffy. Or make one.
"You can crash on the couch. Or crush the couch."
"Floor's fine."
    Ninfa's eyes fill with wonder. I fill with wonder too. I wonder if I can transfer or share some of my power with her? Maybe I can look it up... would one even know how? Maybe If have to ask Cody to ask her witch bitch friend.
   I take Ninfa's hand and pull her from the couch. As I head to my room I notice that Misty is slowly stalking. Honestly still scared. I don't like getting attacked in my own home. And in my own bed is worse.
   I close the door behind Misty and she flops on the floor. Ninfa jumps on the bed. This is the time where I enjoy having a giant room. Misty all the way on the other side. Eyes turned to door... away from us..
    Though I know very highly we won't ever do anything while she's in the room with us. It would be too awkward. Way too awkward.
    I climb in bed and lay under the covers. She drapes her leg over mine and arm over my stomach as she nuzzles her face between my neck and the pillows.
"My question. Are we still forbidden?"
"The name and law still exist but now we know why. We can bypass it if anything ever comes from it."
"Good... I don't think.. I can sleep properly without you next to me each night."
    I hear her laugh. "I feel the same."
"Am.. I.. really your... girlfriend?"
"I asked you to be with me. Wouldn't that be the same? If not."
    She leans up. "Valerie. Would you please be my girlfriend?"
    My heart. Just. Exploded. But all I can do is smile and give. "Yes."
"Good cause I don't think I could repeat the other night without knowing that you're mine."
"I understand. And I am yours. For as long as you wish me to be."
    She sighs and I feel a light squeeze.. though I hear her falling asleep. I know I am falling asleep too.
"She loves you."
    I look over and see Misty climb on the bed, laying at our feet. Ninfa sleeps now.
"No she doesn't."
"She does. I can feel it. I know she does."
"She doesn't. Being in love and loving someone is something completely different."
"I would say from the first time I had met you, I felt she was in love. The feeling is different. She is in love and loves you."
   I start my spiral in to sleep. I don't trust Misty and I probably will never. She could be lying now, I could be dead by morning. Though, why doesn't she attack now while Ninfa is in my grasp? Fear of hurting her?
   I fall. And I fall hard into a deep sleep.

    The nails.. being slowly removed from my hands.. from my feet. 15 years and the skin healed around them but now have reopened.
"Did you know who died today?"
    I feel tears burn but I do not allow them to fall. It wasn't my fault. I didn't mean to be born. I didn't ask for her to leave as I was given.
   He smirks. "I wonder if you have a heart."
   I drop from the cross to the floor and am immediately in chains that lift me back up. His hand breaks in my chest and rips my heart out. I breathe out in a heavy breath as I see my heart beat before my eyes.
"So you do. And did not die."
   He reaches in his own chest and rips his heart out the same.
"Daughter like father." His smile widens before he forces my heart back in me. He returns his own heart to place.
"Then why didn't you use it and not kill your mother?"
"I didn't mean to."
"You're a big girl now. A thousand and then some is an accomplishment."
"Not with you around."
"You talk to your father in such a manner?"
"You're no father."
"Very true. I shouldn't be a father to such a disgusting mutt."
   He wipes his hands of the blood. "I wonder. If you can't die from your heart being ripped out. How can you die?"
    In the snap of his fingers there is a giant glass case filled with what I assume as water. The chains direct me down into the water. It's boiling hot and...burns.
   I don't give him the cries of pain he searches for. The chains stop when my head reaches the water.
"I'll see you in another 10. Or 50. I also have a nice little camera to show each death." He grins.
   I don't quite follow his meaning until done. Chains grab my feet and pull me under. A lid takes place, blocking me from getting out.
   The chains grab my feet tighter and drag me to the bottom, no room to wiggle free. He watches me as I choke for air but can't get any.
   My lungs burn and fill with water. There is spots in my eyes as I continue to choke. And as no air is left, I give in to a death. His grin is the last thing I see.
   Death or Limbo or Purgatory... all in slow motion and I beg not to return but my ghostly form returns to my body. And I relive the pain of the suffocation again.
   If I could cry, you wouldn't see. And I wouldn't have time to do so because as I am sucked back in my body, I leave with the pain again in less than a few attempts for air.
   This is my life. I'm forever here.. no one to ever save me. No one to ever save me for my tortuous hell..
   I believe.. I deserve it now... I didn't mean to kill mother... I didn't mean to.