Nefertem felt it when Sahriel was taken by Seth, not because there was any explosive anger in the wake of it but because you could only possess one seal at a time, and in taking Sahriel’s, Seth had set Nefertem free. He smiled, shaking his head at the stupidity of it. Seth was a fool to trust him so completely; to think he would wait at home, and let him just drag Sahriel to France, where Nefertem knew for a fact he didn’t want to go.
Weeks passed. The town was slowly repaired, travellers started coming through again, rumours started running the rounds as they always had, people were smiling, roofs over their heads again and apparently a new Lord was being sent to oversee the area. Sahriel didn’t care, he was too absorbed in his own small world, of serving in the inn at night and creeping off to see Connor in the early hours of the morning before he rose for work. Of dinners in Miriam’s cute little cottage, and Akhenti’s occasional visits. Of sex and kisses unlike any he’d had before, that sank into his soul and melded it into something a little human, saturating him until he almost forgot what he was. He was happy, for the first time in his long existence. Truly, impossibly happy.
Steam billowed off the top of the mug. Sahriel watched it with grave attention, letting his fingertips play in it occasionally but mostly just enjoying the patterns it made while he made the water boil over and over so he could play with the steam. Miriam was behind him in the kitchen making dinner and Akhenti sat opposite, watching him play with the steam with a small frown on her face as if she didn’t approve of something but Sahriel didn’t care. She was his oldest friend, and he didn’t care and he knew that was probably a bad sign but it was just the way it was. Connor was all that mattered, and Connor was still washing up after another day of repairs in town.
Sahriel waved frantically to Miriam, his other hand held firmly at his side. His smile was a little strained, but he understood the need to stay apart, out in the open where the lights still touched them and people could, conceievably, see. But as soon as they were off the main path, heading through the dark into the wood, Sahriel snatched up Connor’s hand, holding tightly to it as if afraid he might disappear into the trees and leave him there alone.
Not that it would matter, Sahriel could see just fine, but he didn’t want Connor to let go; to shake him off as if he didn’t want him. Now, more than ever, he needed Connor to want him. He’d sent Nefertem to Hell to stay with Connor. He’d certainly never risked that much before.
Akhenti had mysteriously disappeared after a couple of days, and Miriam had decided, as with so many things recently, that it was better not to ask questions. She was watching, though, part in amused affection, partly in concern as Connor and Sahriel helped clean up the mess as the town slowly put itself to rights, and then disappeared every night to go sleep… somewhere, Miriam wasn’t sure where and didn’t think she wanted to know, but she wasn’t sure that it was healthy or safe, and in any case, she missed them.
It was well past sunset when people started retiring for the night and Sahriel was finally able to get away, checking on Teague and grinning when Teague admitted Jack was upstairs in their room still. It was cute, in a seriously weird way. Sahriel still wasn’t sure the little brat was trustworthy, but he would keep an eye on him for Teague. He felt ready to walk to the nearest tree and curl up at the base to sleep, but at the same time it was night and he didn’t feel like sleeping. It was a strange combination, to be that tired, but also not feel like sleeping.
Akhenti had slept for a long time, and Miriam had eyed her warily now and then, but made no attempt to wake her, moving softly and quietly when she had to go near. She was undeniably curious about the strange girl, but still found her rather intimidating. Akhenti was loud, bold, combative and a little bit wild – way beyond the normal bounds of Miriam’s relatively conventional world.
Eventually, however, even Akhenti had had enough sleep, and sat up yawning and blinking, cringing from the sun. “Owww ow ow ow,” she complained, hopping up and pulling the blanket over her head like a shelter as she dashed for the bedroom.
Sahriel stared at his hand in Connor’s the whole way to the cave. No one had ever held his hand before, or at least not just to hold it while they went somewhere. Never for this long, definitely. It was warm and every now and then Connor’s thumb would brush over the back and send shivers up his arm. It amazed Sahriel, that something so simple could be so enjoyable and his smile was soft and delighted as he walked close to Connor’s side, fingertips deliberately brushing Connor’s thigh every now and then, teasing.
It was almost too warm. Sahriel frowned, because that seemed wrong somehow, but he was deeply wrapped in blankets and curled up against hot skin. That seemed okay…he really liked that. Not sure why it was bad, he forced himself to open his eyes just a crack and moaned, head exploding in fire as the sunlight sank through him. It was pouring happily through the windows and all over them, hot and searing and sapping the energy out of him, and he didn’t have any to give it.
Sahriel hadn’t been so nervous in centuries; not since he realised someone had unearthed his seal and he was a possession to a man he’d never met. Then he’d been nervous, but he’d at least known he was the demon and a human couldn’t get as creative as a demon when it came to ordering him about. But this was different. This was Nefertem and deep down Sahriel didn’t want to harm him, but refused to go to Seth, if that was even what Nefertem wanted.