Jules twisted his waist in an odd angle, avoiding a shadowy spear by an inch once again. This thing was getting agitated, so ruthless in its every move that its killing intent couldn't be any clearer. The speed at which it summoned the spears had grown faster and deadlier, not allowing the hunter to think whatsoever. He had to concentrate on staying alive, first and foremost.
"Gosh," Bastien chortled, irritation twirling in the depths of his golden eyes as a shadowy javelin pierced through his left wing, leaving a gaping hole behind, "what did you do to anger that thing now?"
"Nothing. It's most likely my seniors who have incurred its wrath, and this thing can't distinguish between them and me."
"Your seniors?"
"It's a hunter's array."
That was all Jules needed to say for the incubus to get the picture, and the demon responded with a half-amused, half-annoyed laugh. Of course, their shity situation was the result of a half-assed job.
"Then, any idea how to rectify the situation?"
"No, not really."
Knowing how the array was erected didn't change anything in their predicament. Jules had an inkling that getting rid of the mass of resentment would allow them to leave this hellish place, as the array would become unstable enough for beings like him and Bastien to force their way out. The other supernatural beings, which were weaker, would still be trapped inside for a while, hopefully long enough for Cains to adjust the array from outside.
In any case, they still needed to destroy that mass of resentment first things first, and Jules had no idea how to accomplish that feat. He might have an angelic lineage, but he wasn't a holy priest, as far as he knew.
"Can't you, I don't know, feed on resentment or something?"
The question left Jules's mouth as he kicked the cradle up to use as a shield. The next second, it was turned into shards of wood, the delicate white sheet shredded to tatters.
The broken pieces hovered in the air for a moment, time seemingly coming to a standstill. When they finally fell to the ground, a piercing shriek resounded far and wide.
"Holy cow, my ears! But no, I can't feed on resentment," Bastien replied as his eardrums burst under the shrill scream, a smile nevertheless stretching his lips wide. "Well, I think I can see the light out, though. It looks like the main ego has a deep connection to the crackle you just destroyed. Want to bet it's linked to what happened in this manor before it became a haunted house?"
"What's the point of making a losing bet?"
The hunter cocked an eyebrow, avoiding the spears as he bent over to snatch the ragdoll that had been hidden underneath the white sheet, and now had rolled on the floor to his feet. It was wearing a white dress, with frills and crooked bows. The deformed body in linen felt limp in his hand, the black threads of the hair falling between his fingers. It was a crude little thing that, nevertheless, seemed to have been deeply cared for.
"Don't touch that!"
"That's ours!"
"Looks like the main ego has infected the others," Bastien noted, closing the distance to Jules with a long stride. "It's all jumbled up in there, isn't it?"
"Most likely, yes."
It wasn't surprising.
Usually, a mass of resentment started with one strong emotion left behind. It had to be stable enough to allow lingering resentment in the surroundings to graft to it over time, slowly building up into a mass of resentment that affected its surroundings. Before long, it would develop a certain sense of self and cause trouble.
This land, which had seen so much unjustified bloodshed, was the perfect breeding ground for such an occurrence to happen. As for the center of this mass…
"Get your dirty paws away from it!"
"It belongs to our daughter!"
Jules narrowed his eyes. The emotion must have been left behind by the mother of the slaughtered baby, murdered simply because she was of mixed blood. The mother also didn't get a glorious ending, according to the pamphlet. Her death wasn't kind. Yet, the anger wasn't about her own suffering, but the death of her baby.
"Never underestimate a mother's love, huh?"
Although that love had long turned into hatred toward the rest of the world and possessive protectiveness over what it considered to be its kin. It was twisted, having lost everything that once made it beautiful.
"It's not going to be easy to appease this one," Bastien laughed wryly. One way to get a mass of resentment to disperse was to appease its anger. It was a little hard to do with something that resented the society as a whole. "Sorry to bring this up, but wasn't your father the archangel of forgiveness and mercy?"
A frown creased Jules's brow. Still, he nodded.
"How about tapping into that part of your lineage?"
"What do you mean?"
The question drew a dumbfounded look out of Bastien, and he almost got himself impaled, thanks to the distraction.
"Your father didn't teach you?!"
"My father died before he could teach me anything."
"Right, sorry, my bad."
Guilt flashed across Bastien's face. Even if Jules's ability to feel empathy had cooled down, he could tell what was going through the incubus's head. There was no need to feel bad about it. It had been years since his father had died.
"So? Mind enlightening me here? We can't exactly avoid its attacks forever, and I doubt it's going to let us out of this room. Anyway, it's getting difficult to keep up."
The wounds were also piling up. They were easy targets in this empty room, and that thing, unlike them, didn't need to rest and could summon shadowy weapons over shadowy weapons. It was getting smarter in its attack pattern, too.
"It's hard to explain, though…"
A glare, and the demon coughed.
"Darling, I'm not an angel. My ex did open his big mouth and spill the beans about some secrets he shouldn't have, but I don't know exactly how it works."
"Just tell me already."
"Well," Bastien hummed, grabbing Jules's collar to pull him away from an incoming column of spears about to shoot from under his feet. "He said that their celestial roles affect their spiritual energy, and, if intended, those who are touched by it. It influences them, if you will, and they become compliant to whatever the angel represents, be it humility or innocence, especially when said angel is the polar opposite of what the being in front of them is."
"And how do I intend to influence others?"
"That's kind of the part I don't know."
"How useful."
"Oh, please! It's already good I remember that timbit; it's been millennia since I cut ties with the guy! Give me some slack!"
A huff was the incubus's response.
Still, in their current situation, that was their best bet. His father was the archangel of forgiveness and mercy, and Jules should have inherited that celestial role, too, as his son. If he could somehow influence the mass of resentment and make it forgive the wrongs it had suffered…
Then, it would vanish.
It was easier said than done, however.
Maybe he should start by spreading his spiritual energy and covering the room, bathing the mass of resentment in it. The point was not to attack it, but to embrace it. Merciless attacks weren't a show of forgiveness, so he would need to erase the hostility currently permeating his spiritual energy, only leaving a sea of tranquility. That much, he could tell. After that? He'd have to leave it up to fate.
On the bright side, he had enough spiritual energy to fill up the small bedroom for years, if need be.
"I won't be able to defend myself," Jules warned the incubus, the unsaid words clear in the demon's mind. While Jules got up to the task, he would need to protect him, however long it might take.
"Alright, leave it up to me."
Jules nodded and closed his eyes, entrusting his safety to Bastien. He had to tap into his spiritual energy and draw it out, little by little. He cut himself off from the outside world and concentrated on the task at hand. He didn't know how long it took him. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Days? It was impossible to say, for the concept of time had become meaningless.
When he opened his piercing gray eyes again, Bastien was in a pitiful state. The room was a mess of mauled walls and holed floor, as if it had been battered by a storm for a long time.
—A very long time.
"Awake?" Bastien smiled, his ethereal face bearing the marks of innumerable wounds. His whole body was bruised, and not a single patch of skin had been spared.
"Are you alright…?"
"I've seen better days," Bastien winked.
"How long did it take?"
"I don't know," the incubus shrugged. "The resentment ran deep, and your spiritual energy could only chip at it bit by bit. Let's just say it took time before the main ego lost its will to fight. It begged for forgiveness when it vanished, by the way."
"Is that so?"
Lowering his eyes, Jules stared at the ragdoll. He hadn't let go of it, and it still lay limply in his hand.
Now that the mass of resentment had dissipated, both his and Bastien's wounds could start to mend. The residual shadow permeating their injuries was slowly fading away, as if it had never been there in the first place.
"Shall we leave?"
Bastien's gentle voice snapped Jules from his thoughts. He nodded and bent over to put the ragdoll atop the few debris of the cradle left.
"…What about Sarah? And Balthazar?"
"It's been too long."
So, both had perished. Neither could live for years without eating. It would have been a different story for Balthazar had he not been addicted to his blood. But he was.
"Alright, let's leave this forsaken place."
It wasn't a complicated matter anymore, as the moment they opened the door of the bedroom, they ventured back into the original manor, the one anchored in reality, and not a phantom realm.
"You know what?" Bastien teased as he pushed the entrance door open, the hand trophies on the wall now gone. "I'm craving a beer right now. Even the cheap beer from the amusement park would do."
"That sounds good. I'd also like one, actually."
"It's your turn to pay, though."
A faint smile tugged at Jules's lips.
"I've lost my wallet. Mind paying again?"
The demon's raucous laughter echoed, and the heavy door closed behind them, plunging the haunted house into darkness and silence. An eerie quietness shrouded the manor; no more wails could be heard, and everything became still, as if frozen in a long-forgotten time.
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Author has something to say
EDIT: So. Finally. Not completed, I guess? A certain not-so-kind comment on another website made me think, and yep, I'm not satisfied with this end. I'll be releasing a few more chapters to have a better ending for the unedited version. There will still be an extra only for the book, but one that is less, hum, relevant? Still an icing on the cake, but something that will be less annoying. So buckle up, we have a few interesting chapters coming up. Gonna binge-write this weekend, I guess. I'm gonna get killed by my Editor, though. Ergh. Well, whatever. Shit happens.
Sadly, Webnovel doesn't allow you to change your story status, so I can't add more chapters. I'll cram them here instead.
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CHAPTER 46. Aftermath (3 more chapters + epilogue to go)
"What the actual fuck—"
Cains's voice traveled to his ears, and Jules lazily lifted his silvery eyes to meet his colleague's, cocking an eyebrow, as if to say: you're only showing up now?
The corner of the witch's mouth twitched in response.
Jules pretended not see it.
Admittedly, both Cains and Reyes seemed to have come straight over from Mount Kowell, their clothes muddy and bloody. Even without them saying it, Jules could tell they'd encountered some difficulties during their hunt, and it took them longer than planned to dispatch the water ghouls at the lake, hence why they had responded so late to his call.
Not like it mattered to him, however.
They were still late.
"What?"
"N-nothing."
What a silly face, Jules inwardly scoffed, bringing his beer to his lips. A little earlier, Felix had been kind enough to go fetch one for him and Bastien, as the hunter didn't feel like navigating through a human crowd with his wings out.
On the bright side, it was Halloween, and quite a few actors were going around the amusement park wearing extravagant costumes, giving him the perfect excuse for his current appearance. Hopefully, people would see these cumbersome things on his back as some sort of props, and not ask questions. He had no patience left to handle nosy bystanders.
Thank God, the haunted house was located in a secluded area, lost in the middle of the forest, and not that many customers were coming over at this time of the day. The few who did were bewitched by Bastien's charm and ordered to return to the square.
"Jules," Reyes finally spoke, visibly trying not to raise his voice, but that was without much success. "Mind telling us what the fuck happened?!"
Averting his eyes, Jules pretended he hadn't heard him and hadn't noticed his gaze lingering on the corpses of the staff members lying beside the doorsteps. Getting rid of these two was the first thing he did after exiting the haunted house. These goddamn shapeshifters had it coming, for there was no way in hell he would let them off the hook after sending his sister and her friends into that hellhole.
"Oh, please! You're not deaf! Answer me, will you?!"
His index finger tapped on his beer as Jules shifted his gaze back onto his colleague. He narrowed his eyes at Reyes, who flinched ever so slightly. Even if both Cains and Reyes were aware of his lineage, neither had ever seen him in his half-angel form. It was a sight hard to swallow, although that probably wasn't the only reason these two were on their toes.
For his colleagues, they had last seen each other a few hours ago, when they parted ways at the lake of Mount Kowell, but to him, it had been years. Even if Jules had spent most of these years in a trance, there was still a feeling of alienation shrouding him. A discontinuity difficult to grasp.
"Well, you know how it is," he ultimately consented to say, "shit happens."
"Don't give me that bullcrap!" Reyes snapped before gesturing at the incubus hugging him. "What's that thing doing here, to begin with?!"
"Ah, that…"
His voice trailed off as Jules craned his neck sideways to glance at Bastien, who sat behind him, sticking to his back like a second skin. Somehow, the demon had managed to slide his legs under his wings, flanking each side of his thighs, while his arms were wrapped around his stomach, his head nestled in the crook of his neck. His tail was also coiled around one of his thighs, the tip swaying back and forth in a contended manner.
The incubus's possessive behavior could be seen miles away, yet the angel he was snuggling against didn't seem to care. No, he was even leaning against the demon, using his chest as a backrest.
Neither Jules nor Bastien answered Reyes, but someone else did.
"What?" Annabelle, who was sitting beside her brother, growled. She adopted a defensive stance, holding onto her brother's arm and glaring at the hunters. If anything, she was as much in his personal space as the demon was. Not like Jules seemed to care, either. "You've got something against my bro's boyfriend?!"
"B-boyfriend?" Cains spated out, his eyes seemingly about to fall out of their sockets. He had to take a second to let the information sink in, as Jules didn't bother to correct his sister. Shaking his head, the witch chased away the strange thought, then frowned, as if remembering something. "Wait, since when did you have an older sister? I thought you only had a younger sister!"
"That hasn't changed."
"Oh, right? Then who is this woman?!"
"That's Annabelle."
"Huh? Annabelle…?"
"My younger sister."
"Hey!" The said younger sister made an offended face, wrinkling her nose in distaste. "I've told you I'm pretty sure I'm older than you now! I should be about to hit my thirties, while you're still in your twenties! I am the elder sibling now!"
Joke on you: it took years to get out on our side, too. So, we're back to square one. I am the oldest.
But that tiny bit of information, Jules refrained from saying it aloud, taking another sip of his beer instead. Thanks to Bastien continuously feeding on his spiritual energy while he was in a trance, his mind had cleared up a bit. Not completely, of course, but enough to remember what delicacy was. Annabelle was better off not knowing that little trivia, so he said nothing.
In any case, it wasn't like his or Batien's appearance had changed. Nothing hinted at how long it truly had been on their side, and they had tacitly decided to lie. They spent a month in the haunted house, not ages, and that was the story he'd stick to.
"…Anyway," Reyes coughed, still eying the incubus with uncertainty, as well as the two vampire kids beside Annabelle, "we've put the area off limits. The excuse is that the haunted house is too old, and one of the upper floors has collapsed. We can pin the blame on bad maintenance. I've hypnotized a few staff members and the security guards, so we have quite a bit of time to think about how the hell we're going to clear up this mess."
Jules nodded to let him know he was listening. Reyes's ability to enchant others couldn't be trifled with, and he doubted any would snap out of their daze any time soon.
For the time being, they had a lot to clear up. Not only the haunted house, but also the disappearances of the customers. What kind of excuse could they come up with? Fortunately, the local police, with whom they often worked alongside, would play along with whatever cover-up story they chose, but it had to be a believable lie for the general public to swallow it.
There had been too many people going AWOL today for them to have all died under a floor collapse. The hunter lifted his eyes toward Mount Kowell standing in the background, looming over the forest. Maybe a landside…?
"Now, what?"
"Now?" A scoff left Jules's mouth. "Well, to start with, Cains has to do something about the array encasing the haunted house. Either you shatter it, meaning we will have to get rid of all the supernatural beings that are inside, and trust me, there are a lot. Or you reinforce it and leave it to the next generation to handle. Your call."
"Wouldn't leaving it to the next generation be a bastard move?!"
Oh, most definitely.
***
"It's cramped."
"No shit, Sherlock!"
Jules glanced at his sister and Iris, who were sitting in front of him, directly on the floor of the cargo van. Melody was stuck between the two, quietly listening to her friends' bickering. Although she was more reactive than before, the timid girl was still in a state of shock, and the blueish finger marks on her throat had yet to fade. No, it had darkened instead and stood out like a sore thumb, just like on Iris's throat, a reminder of the many near-death experiences the girls had gone through these past few days.
Only Annabelle's throat had had the time to heal, but the rest of her body bore the traces of numerous fights. Her previously unblemished skin was now a memory of the past, and scars littered her body from head to toes.
"—Will Cains and Reyes be alright?"
His train of thought interrupted, Jules peered at Bastien, who had just spoken. The demon was still very much glued to him despite the cramped area. Their wings were taking most of the space available, even when folded, but Jules guessed it could have been worse.
Sitting in the backseat of a car, for example, would have felt like being packed into a sardine box. To begin with, they wouldn't have fitted inside, not with those wings of theirs. Thank God, there had been an unattended cargo van in the parking lot of the amusement park. Felix was unexpectedly good at unlocking car doors and getting a car started, although no one in their little group pointed it out, and none brought up that stealing wasn't exactly morally right, either.
"Jules?"
Again, the incubus called for him, so Jules consented to answer, "They should be alright. It's not like we could have stayed to land a helping hand, anyway. I have no intention to meet my end as my father did, so it's better not to linger around when unknown hunters are about to show up, isn't it?"
Bastien stiffened at the cold reminder. All he could do was to offer an awkward laugh and pretend he hadn't said anything. There was no need to twist the knife, even if Jules's emotions were currently dulled. It wouldn't always remain so, and it didn't mean he felt nothing. The pain was still there, lurking and slowly creeping back up to the surface.
"It's just that," Bastien swiftly changed topic, "I feel a little bad for dumping everything on these two."
"Stop worrying for nothing." Jules waved the demon's concerns away. "These guys are old enough to handle themselves, especially Reyes. We did what we could do, and they told us to leave it to them. What else were we supposed to do, then?"
"Why do I feel like you often leave it up to them to clean up your mess?"
The incubus's answer was a snort, and Jules's gaze seemed to ask: what of it?
"…"
Very sensibly, Bastien dropped the matter, and so did Jules.
Earlier, Cains and Reyes concluded that their abilities weren't good enough to handle the aftermath alone. Of course, the witch could tackle the array just fine on his own, but that wasn't the only thing that needed to be taken care of. The scale of the incident was too large, so the best course of action was to call for reinforcement. Some of their colleagues had better skills to oversee the aftermath, and Reyes was adamant about not leaving that thing up for the next generation to deal with, whatever Jules said.
In any case, Cains and Reyes needed to fill in a report. Whether that report was faithful to how they found out about the haunted house or not was another story.
Little white lies never hurt anyone, as they say.
Once the call was made, neither Jules nor Bastien could loiter around for much longer, not when they couldn't morph back into human forms. Jules's lineage wasn't known in the Association for a good reason, and let's say that Bastien's demon form was hard to miss. Even if the incubi clan was in a sort of truce with the hunters, it didn't mean there weren't frictions between them.
It was better not to tempt fate more than they already had.
"Are you, hum, alright back in there?" Felix asked tentatively, glancing at the group sitting in the back of the cargo van through the rear mirror. Other than Jules and Bastien, he was the only one with a driver's licence, so he ended up assigned to the driver's seat. Unlike the two in the back, he didn't have wings that would prevent him from sitting in the front.
"Yeah, yeah! We're fine!" Annabelle grimaced. "Just concentrate on driving, will you?"
"Yeah, sure, no worry."
Felix awkwardly shifted his attention back on the road. Meanwhile, the twins cuddled behind the driver's seat, not making a sound.
The kids flinched at Jules's narrowed eyes, drawing a sigh out of Bastien.
"Dear, I told you you're scaring them."
"How am I being scary? I'm just starting at them," Jules rolled his eyes before leaning in to whisper in the demon's ear, "Do you know a safe place where we can send them?"
"A safe place, huh?" Bastien paused to think before winking, "The vampire's clan head is a dick, but his heir is decent enough. I can give him a call if you want. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind taking them under his wings, too."
"Then, I'll leave it up to you."
They couldn't exactly leave these starved vampires roam around freely, lest they lost control and attacked a bystander. They had good control over their hunger in the haunted house, but only because clueless humans weren't parading around. Feasting on Bastien's blood could only do so much, and just like the incubus, Arthur and Vincent would need time to fully recover from the long period of starvation they had gone through.
They would need as much time to heal mentally, too.
With that in mind, entrusting them to their kin, who knew how to handle starved vampires, seemed to be the best way to go about it. Bastien had an acquaintance who could help in this endeavor, so he pulled out his phone from his pants pocket and flipped it open. He dialed the number with one hand, his free arm still wrapped around Jules's waist.
"Hey, James, it's me!" The incubus laughed, his thumb caressing Jules's hip. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry for calling out of the blue, but I have a favor to ask you…"
While the demon took care of the logistics, Jules brought his attention back to the teenage girls and his sister. Since it was Annabelle's birthday, it had been arranged for her friends to sleep over at her house tonight. A good thing, considering they had to think about what to tell Melody's parents. Perhaps he should start by calling Cains's mother over and asking her to heal the bruises on her neck, all depending on the lie they decided to go with.
For the time being, though, Jules had a more important matter to think about.
They were about to reach his house, and he had yet to figure out how to face his mother. Even with his emotions dulled, he dreaded the moment he'd open the door.
Announcing to her that her baby girl wasn't so much of a baby girl anymore might be the second hardest thing he had to do in his life.
Telling her about his father's death was still the hardest, as of now.
CHAPTER 47. A Mother's Sorrow
"Are you sure you don't want to stay over for the night?" Jules asked Felix, glancing askance to his right as Annabelle, Iris, and Melody hopped off the cargo van.
With the girls out, Bastien closed the door after nodding at the twins, and a loud thud resounded in the driveway. It was getting late, and the night had started to settle, plunging the neighborhood into an eerie silence. Even though it was Halloween, not many children were out knocking on doors at this hour, and the streets were mostly empty.
"Jules, you already have a lot of guests staying over tonight."
"The living room is big enough to accommodate you and the twins."
"It's fine," Felix smiled, shaking his head. "I'm a bit tired, but I'm awake enough to drive them to James. The sooner they're in good hands, the sooner I can heave a sigh of relief."
"You worry too much, but if you've made up your mind," Jules shrugged, not pursuing the matter further. He had only asked out of politeness, for that seemed to be the right thing to do.
Since Bastien had given Felix the address of James's house, he was adamant about going over as soon as possible, worried the kids' health might take a sudden turn for the worse. They both didn't look all that lively, and he didn't like it, no matter what Jules and Bastien said.
"Anyway, I'm off! See you!"
"Be careful on the road."
"I will!"
With that said, Felix rolled his window up, and the moment Jules took a step back, he drove off toward the town. He had a bit of a drive to do, as Jules's house was in the suburb, and James's was downtown.
Jules stared at the cargo van until it disappeared from view before turning on his heel, eying his sister to see how she fared. Despite Annabelle's bravado, anyone with eyes could tell she was about to have a nervous breakdown. It was easy to guess why, and Jules had a good hunch of what was going through her head. His sister probably didn't even remember what their mother looked like, and was anxious about meeting her after so long.
For starters, she had only been able to remember his face because she had a picture of him with her during her time in that hellish realm. Same thing for her friends and Bastien. With her phone battery dead, Annabelle had no picture of her mother to refresh her memories as the years went by, and only a blurry image of Elisa remained in her mind.
The thing was, Jules wasn't good at comforting others and didn't know what to say to lift her mood. He didn't want to give her false hope, either.
If there was one thing for sure, it was that their mother wouldn't take the news very well. Her daughter was but a teenager in the morning, and she was coming back home as a full-grown adult.
As the atmosphere in the group started to turn bleak, a chuckle resounded, and Bastien leaned against Jules, sliding an arm around his waist. He spoke in jest, "I can't believe I'm meeting my mother-in-law already. Do you think she's going to like me?"
The absurd question had the merit of shattering the growing tension.
"As far as I know," Jules corrected with a cocked eyebrow, "you're not my boyfriend, whatever my sister says. I haven't agreed to date you."
"Yet. You haven't agreed to it yet."
"Sure, sure, keep dreaming."
Annabelle let out a small laugh, drawing a smile out of Jules. Thankfully, she didn't need much to regain her composure, and she teased him, "Bro, denial is a river in Egypt, isn't it?"
A roll of his eyes, and Jules pointed at the door with his chin. "Whatever. Let's go in."
Taking a deep breath, his sister opened the door, but she didn't enter. Instead, she bowed and gestured at his brother to enter first. She obviously didn't want to confront her mother yet, afraid of her reaction. Maybe the shock of seeing her son in his angel form would lessen the blow of seeing her daughter as an adult. Hope springs eternal, as they say.
Still, Jules complied and fought with his wings to pass through first. These annoying, cumbersome things… Perhaps he really should just rip them off, regardless of the bones and nerves.
Then, he called, "Mom? Are you there?"
"I'm in the dining room! Gosh, you guys are so late, I thought I'd have to eat the cake on my own—"
Elisa's voice trailed off as she stepped out of the dining room to greet her children and her daughter's friends. Only, when her eyes landed on the group, she froze, her mouth falling agape as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. It took a while for her brain to process the images, but even then, she couldn't comprehend the sight unfolding before her.
It was too surreal.
"Erm, Mom, sorry to ask this first things first, but mind lending me some clothes? I'd like to take a shower, too. And, I don't know, make myself a bit more presentable or something for my birthday dinner...?"
Annabelle's awkward chuckle resounded in the quiet entrance hall.
Should he laugh or should he cry? Jules didn't know which to pick, so he peered at Bastien, as if to ask him what the right reaction to have in this situation should be. Maybe he could do both.
"I think all of us need a shower," Iris played along, not letting the awkwardness spread for too long. "Especially your brother and my ancestor. They stink. I thought my nose would fall off in the cargo van."
"Sweetheart, you stink, too."
They might have stumbled upon a few bathrooms throughout their little stay over at the haunted house, but it wasn't like any of them felt like showering while monsters crawled around. The bathrooms also weren't exactly spotless, often looking more like murder scenes than actual bathrooms. Admittedly, Jules and Bastien did wash up a day or two before fighting that mass of resentment, but that was already years ago. Otherworldly beings or not, they needed a shower.
Some more seconds passed before Elisa forced a smile out.
"…You can go upstairs and take whatever you want from my closet."
"Thanks, Mom!"
Not even a second later, Annabelle was already climbing the stairs four at a time, disappearing upstairs in the snap of a finger.
His sister ran away, didn't she?
"Jules, mind telling me what happened?"
"It's kind of a long story," Jules sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Let's sit first before I start talking. I don't think it's a conversation we can have while standing up."
Or else, he feared his mother would collapse. He had seen it happen once, when she learned about her husband's death, and he didn't want a repeat of that scene tonight.
***
"I see…"
That was all Elisa said once Jules was done explaining to her what they had gone through. He went straight for the facts, although he omitted how long it took him to subdue the mass of resentment. In any case, his mother probably had a hunch it hadn't only taken a month, but she knew better than to point it out in front of Iris and Melody.
"I'm sorry, Jules, it's always you who… who…"
Unable to finish her sentence, Elisa burst out sobbing. She wasn't bawling her eyes out, nor was she wailing, but tears rolled down her cheeks as she pressed a hand against her mouth, trying not to cry. She didn't need to say more for Jules to complete her sentence in his mind. He knew what she had wanted to say. It was always he who had to handle the difficult situations, be it when his father died or when his sister was abducted. Now, he could add the haunted house to the list.
Was her mother feeling guilty about it? It wasn't her fault, though.
Bastien nudged him, and only then did Jules snap out of his daze and get up to hug his mother, who was sitting on the other sofa in front of his. He cradled her in his arms, gently patting her on the back.
There wasn't much he could say, so he didn't say anything.
For the time being, it was better to let her cry out her emotions. She would need time to come to terms with the news.
He was still holding onto his mother when Annabelle appeared in the room, refreshed and smiling. She had stolen a white nightgown from her mother's closet and had taken the time to unknot her hair before coming down.
Although she had done her best in that hellhole to keep her hair neat with a makeshift brush, it couldn't compare to a real brush. Maybe because of her father's DNA, her hair was still lustrous despite not having been washed with proper shampoo for years. A strange phenomenon, but one she wasn't going to complain about.
A deep breath later, and Annabelle jumped onto her brother and her mother, worming her way under Jules's wings to hug them both. She forced herself to smile, her eyes turning into crescent moons as she said, "Ain't I the prettiest woman you've ever seen?"
"Yeah," Eliza sobbed, "you're the prettiest girl on earth, always."
"Right?" Annabelle nodded, gesturing for Iris and Melody to go upstairs. She wasn't sure if Melody could take care of herself properly in her state, so she sent Iris with her. "To be honest, I thought bro had inherited all of dad's good looks, but it seems like he left a bit for me, too."
"Why are you always trying to compete with me for looks? You're prettier than me, you won, end of the story."
"Gosh, you're so annoying!" Annabelle grunted, hugging her mother tighter as she started to squabble with her brother. "Bastien! Tell this dunce who has no awareness whatsoever how much prettier he is than me, and how frigging maddening it is! He doesn't even try to look the part, yet he's still dazzling!"
"I'd rather you don't drag me into your siblings' quarrel, thank you."
A glare, and Bastien raised his hands in defeat.
Jules shook his head, yet didn't stop his sister. He could tell she was doing it on purpose, spouting nonsense to distract their mother's mind. So, he played along, that is, until Annabelle brought up the incubus,
"Also, guess what, Mom?" she said smugly, and a bad premonition twisted Jules's bowels. She wouldn't dare, would she? "Bro got you a son-in-law!"
That little…!
"I've told you I haven't agreed to date him, for goodness' sake!"
"Yet. You haven't agreed yet," Annabelle smirked, using Bastien's words against him with a shit-eating grin. "It's obvious you will at some point, so I'm just laying the groundwork in advance."
A muffled chortle resounded behind him, and Jules could already feel the proverbial headache. Was it too late to explain to her why he was letting the incubus be as clingy with him? Probably. It would only sound like excuses, even if it were the truth.
"What? Haven't you kissed enough for two lifetimes already?"
"I've been feeding him, and you know it."
"Feeding, kissing, same thing."
Finally, Elisa couldn't help it and let out a laugh. She hugged her children tighter, whispering, "I'm just glad you're both home safe and sound."
That was when Annabelle froze. Her lips trembled as she nestled her head in the crook of her mother's neck. "Yeah, I'm glad to be home."
***
While Iris and Melody were busy cleaning themselves up, Jules helped his mother set up the table for dinner. Regardless of the emotional rollercoaster, they needed to eat, and Annabelle was adamant about having her birthday party. It didn't matter that she was well over fifteen now; she still wanted to celebrate it, if only as a symbolic gesture.
Better late than never, as they say.
They also had a lot left to discuss, and that would be better done over dinner. More importantly, Annabelle and the teenage girls might have snatched something to eat at the amusement park before leaving, but they were still hungry.
"So," Elisa started, rubbing her puffy eyes with one hand as she handed a plate to her son with the other hand, "what's up with that incubus? He's not exactly your run-of-the-mill demon."
"That's also a long story," Jules shrugged. He hadn't mentioned much about Bastien when he recounted their time in the haunted house, only telling her what needed to be known. He didn't need to speak all that much, either, as his demon form spoke volumes about his strength to anyone with a bit of demonology knowledge.
For incubi, the more golden their eyes were, the more powerful they were, and Bastien's eyes were the color of pure gold.
The symbol on his forehead also marked him as the clan head. That much, his mother should be able to tell. Not like anything was known about the incubi's clan head, as that peculiar demon clan was a chaotic mess, but it told her enough.
"Alright, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't probe, but you will have to tell me that story one of these days, if he's to be my son-in-law."
"Mom, not you too, please!"
"Son, I'm not like your sister," Elisa smiled sadly, a sigh escaping her. "I know your life is bound to his, now that your seal is broken. You need someone to absorb that overflooding spiritual energy of yours, or you will either die, go on a rampage, or lose your mind. And that man over there has been doing it for you for quite a while, hasn't he? Even while knowing the price to pay."
Jules opened his mouth only to close it. Bastien's clinginess wasn't only a show of possessiveness, but also a way to help him regulate his spiritual energy. The constant skin-to-skin contact allowed the incubus to absorb the overflooding spiritual energy. Of course, not as much as if they were kissing or having intercourse, but it was still enough to clear his mind and allow him to stay himself.
"Yeah, I guess he has been."
"He also seems to like you quite a bit."
"Incubi fall in love easily."
To that, her mother couldn't say anything, and she coughed awkwardly. Incubi's promiscuous lifestyle was well-known among hunters. She couldn't very well tell her son that he would be the exception.
"But I guess this one is a little different," Jules said, eying the demon, who was busy adding candles to the cake with Annabelle. They were squabbling about who knew what. "His last infatuation lasted for thousands of years, so maybe it'll last as long this time, too."
"Jules, what did you say…?"
His mother looked at him, dumfounded. But he didn't answer, only shrugging before going over to Bastien to help, as his sister was just about to destroy the cake with the way she was stabbing it with the candles. The poor thing was in shambles, and if this went on, they wouldn't have much left to eat, even though a cake was the center piece of any birthday dinner worthy of the name.
CHAPTER 48. Cold-Hearted Bully (Light NSFW)
"You really do stink, bro. Like, there's that fishy odor hanging in the air…!"
Jules pretended not to hear his sister, bringing his fork to his lips instead. He had to admit, her mother outdid herself with today's dinner. The chicken was tender and had just the right amount of spice to be flavorful without being too much, delighting his taste buds. The vegetables were also crispy and juicy, melting in his mouth. Delicious.
"Are you ignoring me?!"
Yes, I am.
Even with his EQ being on the lower spectrum right now, Jules knew better than to say this aloud. His sister might have matured a bit, but she was still a brat in his eyes, and he didn't want to incur her wrath.
To begin with, he was sitting in the living room with Bastien, as their wings were too space-consuming to sit in the dining room with everyone else. Even if the two rooms were adjacent, there was a few meters in between, and it wasn't an open-space. There was also a wall, if his sister hadn't noticed yet. Only the open door allowed them to see each other as they ate a very good-smelling dinner.
So, Annabelle either had a very keen nose, or was being a pest on purpose. He had a hunch it was the latter.
In any case, Jules had already done everything he could to get rid of the bad smell, changing clothes and wiping down his body with a wet towel. It wasn't his fault if the shower hadn't been designed to accommodate people with wings. Neither he nor the incubus fitted in, and they had to make do for the time being, whether his sister liked it or not. Even Bastien wasn't complaining despite Jules's clothes being a little too tight for him. That neck-high collar of his pull seemed to be grating on his nerves, too.
It suited him well, though.
"Maybe we should go to my house later," the incubus leaned in, whispering in Jules's ear. "My bathroom is big enough to accommodate both of us."
Unimpressed, Jules pushed the incubus slightly away, grumbling, "You're in the way. Let me eat in peace first, and we'll talk about it after."
A chuckle echoed, and Bastien consented to get out of his personal space, not without leaving a hand on his thigh. Jules eyed it, then decided it wasn't worth bothering. It didn't prevent him from eating his food.
Admittedly, Jules did have to leave the house tonight, so he might as well stay over at Bastien's. For the past hour, they had been discussing what to do while they ate, and his mother came up with a relatively simple but effective plan.
Instead of asking Veronica to heal the bruises on the girls' throats, she thought they could use them to their advantage and stage something that would explain the change in Melody's behavior to her parents, who had already called earlier to ensure she was alright, thanks to an incident trending on social media and the news channels. A sudden landside had caused massive damage to the amusement park, and many people were missing, stirring up concerns and grief in people.
Elisa had to reassure Melody's parents that their daughter was at her home, safe and sound, currently taking a shower. She was alright, no need to worry.
The exchange had left a bad taste in her mouth, as Elisa knew she'd have to tell them another story tomorrow, one that would most likely leave Melody's parents heartbroken.
On the one hand, their daughter avoided death at the amusement park, but on the other, Elisa was planning to orchestrate a burglary gone wrong in her house tonight. Due to her hunter days, she had friends in the police station who could lend a helping hand and corroborate the story. They were used to cover up supernatural cases and could spit out lies with a straight face.
No matter how unpleasing it was, they had to stage Annabelle's death and make her a new identity. At the same time, the bruises on the teenage girls' necks could be explained by the madmen who had broken into the house, and Melody's state of shock wouldn't be questioned, not after such an event.
Taking into account that Jules was stuck in his angel form, they had tacitly decided to send him away. His absence would make it all the easier for their phantom robbers to commit crimes, anyway. Without him around, who would protect the house against armed men?
What could three teenage girls and a lone woman do against violent burglars?
Nothing much, or so that was how the planned story would go.
"Do you think I'll be able to attend my own funeral?" Annabelle grinned mischievously, waving her fork around. She had been making light jokes since earlier, visibly doing her best not to let the atmosphere grow gloomy despite the heavy topic.
"As who?" Iris asked, a blissful expression plastered on her face as she took a bite of the half-destroyed cake. It tasted like heaven, although, surprisingly, not as good as that arachnoid monster's meat.
Better not think about it.
"As who? Well, a member of my family?" Annabelle chuckled, turning around to feed some cake to Melody. Her friend was still on autopilot mode and needed to be nudged now and then. "Maybe a cousin? Or even as my father's younger sister? It's kind of impossible to pretend I'm not related to my brother when we look this much alike."
"Let's go with cousin," Jules chimed in. "I don't want you as my aunt, thank you."
"You're younger than me now, so who cares! You can be my nephew!"
"I refuse."
Again, the conversation spiraled into a siblings' squabble, but no one tried to put an end to it. The back and forth between Jules and Annabelle brought a lively atmosphere to the house, and it felt as if today wasn't different from any other day. They were still the same old siblings who loved to bicker, still the same younger sister who hated not to have the last word, and the same older brother who would ultimately indulge her. No matter their age, no matter the scars they bore, this little bit about them hadn't changed and would never change.
***
A thud resounded, and a stifled chuckle followed. Bastien glanced at the half-angel sprawled on the ground, a deadpan look on his face. Visibly, the landing hadn't gone as planned.
"Don't laugh."
"Sorry, sorry!" the incubus half-heartedly apologized as he bent over to offer a hand, pulling Jules up. "Flying seemed to come naturally to you, so I thought you would naturally know how to time your landing, too."
A snort was his answer, and the demon got the cue, not pursuing the matter further.
Since neither could fit in a car, they had flown over to his house under a stealth spell, hidden from indiscreet gazes. It would be annoying if an angel and a demon were seen gliding among the clouds. Even though it was nighttime, a certain someone's wings were quite conspicuous in the dark, drawing the eye.
Despite this being his first time flying, Jules had been good at maneuvering in the sky. He didn't lose control, nor did he veer off abruptly to one side or the other. He followed alongside Bastien without difficulty whatsoever.
The take-off and the flying had gone smoothly. The landing? Not so well.
Fortunately, Bastien's house was in the countryside, secluded in a forest. No matter how noisy and spectacular that landing was, no one would see it, even with the hidden spell down.
"I didn't expect you to live so far away from the city."
The underlying meaning was: I thought incubi loved the nightlife style and partying at clubs until the wee hours. What the hell are you doing so far away from downtown, lost in the middle of nowhere?
"I do have a house in the suburb," Bastien laughed, not offended. "Iris isn't exactly fond of the countryside, and I want her to have a lively school life with people of her age."
"Fair enough."
A silence fell, and Bastien smiled, gesturing for Jules to follow him inside the house.
The place had a rustic charm, most likely because it had been built ages ago. The walls were made of field stones and logs, and the house was one story-high. Not overly big, almost like a loft. Inside, a massive hearth stood in the middle of the living room, or what seemed to be the living room area, as the entire house was an open space. There was only one room with closed doors, for even Bastien didn't want to see his guests while they were sitting on the throne, doing their business.
"It's quite cozy."
"Surprised?"
"A little."
As Jules looked around, taking in the sight, Bastien went to a set of drawers to pick up some towels. He tilted his head toward the left, where the shower was. The incubus hadn't lied: it was indeed big enough to accommodate beings with wings, two at a time, as it was a Roman shower the size of a small room. The reddish-brown stone-tiled walls and floor stood out behind the two glass doors, as did the bench carved in the wall, perched over the floor.
Rustling sounds resounded behind him, and Bastien glanced over his shoulder at Jules, who was already undressing, folding his clothes on a chest flanking the side of the Roman shower.
A discreet gulp escaped the demon, his throat clenching.
They might have gone for a round in the haunted house, but Jules hadn't exactly undressed at the time. He wasn't in the right mind to take things slow, his spiritual energy having gone on a rampage. Now, he was calmer, not in the least hurried.
It wasn't like he could take a shower with his clothes on, to begin with.
Still, Bastien hadn't expected Jules to be so nonchalant about showing off his naked body to him, an incubus who was starving for his touch. Hugs and kisses could only do so much to satisfy him, and all these did was wet his appetite.
It had been years since his last real meal, and even if he had snacked every day since then, his stomach didn't feel full. He was hungry, and his golden eyes shone with desire at the sight of his naked body.
Or maybe his hunger was an excuse.
Maybe he just wanted to indulge in the man's warmth.
"—Like what you see?" Jules cocked an eyebrow, not bashful in the slightest.
"Of course," Bastien grinned, his gaze lingering on the half-angel's body.
It was toned from years of training and fights, every muscle well-defined while still keeping a lean aspect. Too much muscle mass would make moving around more difficult, especially for Jules, whose fighting style relied heavily on speed and agility.
Thanks to the dim light, a warm hue glistened on his pale skin, almost inviting.
If it wasn't for Jules's piercing silvery eyes, Bastien would have already taken a step forward to drag him into his arms. Only, he couldn't tell whether that would result in a passionate kiss or a punch in the gut, so he refrained for the time being.
Even if Jules had been indulging his hugging needs, it didn't mean he was alright with more. So, no matter how tempting it was to grip his hips and yank him against his body, Bastien restrained himself.
"I see someone's eager," Jules commented as he lowered his eyes, staring at the proud tent stretching the incubus's pants. "But first, let's take that shower, shall we? Wiping my body with wet towels only made my skin feel stickier and ickier."
There was a second of silence before Bastien opened his mouth, a shit-eating grin worming its way on his lips. "First? Then, what about later?"
A deadpan glance, and Jules opened the glass doors, stepping inside the shower.
His heart thumped in his chest, and Bastien quickly got rid of his clothes, throwing them haphazardly over the floor. He scrambled inside the shower, almost tripping over his own two feet in his excitement.
"Let me help you wash up!"
"Wash me up? You're going to grope me if I let you!"
"Pretty please?"
Bastien didn't deny the accusation and instead begged as he pressed his body against Jules's back, propping his chin on his shoulder. His hands slid on his hips, keeping him close as his member comfortably nestled between the man's butt cheeks. Maybe Jules shouldn't have given him an inch, as he now wanted to take a mile.
"Is saying no even an option?" Jules clicked his tongue, craning his neck sideways to look at the incubus. "How do I turn on your shower, by the way?"
"Oh, like this," Bastien smiled, stretching an arm to rotate one of the three handles. The next instant, lukewarm water poured down them. "So, can I?"
"You're going to beg until I say yes, anyway," Jules sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sure, go ahead."
A giggle echoed amid the rushing sound of the pouring water, and the incubus planted a kiss on Jules's cheek. Today, it was his turn to get increasingly excited, unable to contain himself. Still, he did as told first, dutifully grubbing every inch of the man's body, starting with his back.
Soon enough, soap bubbled and pooled at their feet.
"Can you turn around?" Bastien asked in a low voice once he was done with washing his back and legs, and yes, he might or might not have fondled his butt in passing. Unfortunately, grooming the feathers would have to wait until they were dry.
Seconds passed before Jules peered at him from the corner of his eye; a few more passed before he nodded. He complied and leaned against the wall, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes at the incubus, observing every tiny reaction. Bastien didn't mind and licked his lips, his gaze landing on the man's groin. Visibly, he wasn't the only one thinking about improper things.
A step closer, and he was in Jules's personal space. He gently passed the cloth over his neck, then his shoulders and arms. He took one hand in his and slowly wiped one finger at a time before doing the same for his second hand. Bastien didn't rush, his every movement careful and caring, but once he started to wipe Jules's chest, his thumbs lingered on his nipples, caressing them, and he ever-so-slowly crouched as he dragged the cloth downward, tracing Jules's abdominal muscles.
Again, Bastien took his time as he wiped his legs. Ultimately, though, his restraints had limits, and he leaned his head against Jules's thigh, his lips almost brushing against the man's member. He lifted his head, pain seemingly swirling with lust in the depths of his eyes. He wanted to touch him now, and not later.
His hunger was about to get the best of him. How could he resist when a feast was presented to him on a silver platter?
"I don't think I'll be able to wait until the bed."
"I'm surprised you were even able to restrain yourself up to now."
A teasing tone of voice and a mocking smile.
The incubus almost choked on air, a whine escaping him. He could not help but purse his lips, a wronged look on his face.
That cold-hearted bully was being a tease on purpose…!
CHAPTER 49. A New Chapter (NSFW)
Jules felt a slight amusement at the incubus's indignant face, and he stretched a hand to run his fingers through the demon's long hair. He was now kneeling on the floor, his head leaning against his thigh. Yet, somehow, he was still restraining himself, even though his lust was most likely about to get the better of him. His self-control was as impressive as ever, and for an instant, it made him wonder what the demon would look like if he let go of it.
Curiosity was a dangerous thing.
"Hm? What are you waiting for?"
"Huh…?"
Grabbing his head, Jules pushed his hips forward slightly, rubbing his member against the demon's lips. He arched an eyebrow, a sneer lifting the corner of his mouth. A second of silence passed before he slowly enunciated every syllable of his next words, "You've been complaining about being hungry for ages, so eat."
It was a clear invitation, one that left no doubt hanging in the air. Yet, Bastien still hesitated a moment, chewing on his bottom lip, his eyes now locked onto the offered member.
"You do know I won't be satisfied with only a bit of foreplay, right?"
Of course, Jules knew, so he nodded.
"And I won't be able to stop myself when we start. Even I have limits."
Considering he had been enduring a constant state of arousal for years, Jules had a hunch he was just about to reach those said limits, especially when the feast that was Jules was always hanging around him. It also meant that once the incubus got started, he certainly wouldn't stop until he felt satiated, fully satiated.
Before, Jules might have hesitated, afraid Bastien would gorge himself full until his body couldn't take it anymore. Now, the incubus was more stable. Hungry but not starved. He had eaten a bit every day for years, stabilizing his health and strengthening his previously weakened body. He should be able to take a large amount of spiritual energy, even one tainted with angelic essence, without ending up dead or crippled.
It wasn't such a risky gamble anymore.
"I know."
"And you remember what you told me last time?"
Last time…? What did Jules say again? Oh, right, he did say that, didn't he? He had forgotten, for it had been so long.
A discreet smile slipped onto his lips. Even though his past self had given his consent, Bastien still probed, ensuring Jules was alright with taking it tonight. He hadn't been in his right mind at the time, and he could very well have said something he actually didn't think, just to get what he wanted. To be fair, he really only thought of thrusting his thing deep inside the incubus back then, and nothing else.
"Well, I had forgotten," Jules answered honestly, and Bastien's pointy ears dropped. Really, teasing the incubus was addictive. He had thought so when they first met, and he still thought so now. "If you want me to bottom another time, you'd better do a good job tonight. I also reserve the right to top on the second round."
The stunned look on Bastien's face was priceless, adorable, even.
It didn't last long, however. A hearty laugh soon echoed, loud and clear, as the demon winked, "I'd better do my best tonight, then."
"It's not like I'll have any references to compare to, though, so rest assured."
"Never used the backdoor before?"
"Never used the front either."
That is, until I met you.
"…"
Bastien seemed at a loss for words, and a half-chuckle, half-snort left Jules. He had been married to his work for the past decade and was busy training his head off during his teenage years, so, no, he didn't feel like getting into someone's bed. He didn't see the need, either. Before the seal broke, he didn't even have that much of a libido, maybe as a side-effect of his spiritual energy being restrained.
Not like it mattered anymore, as he very much wanted to get into a certain someone's bed tonight. He was finally starting to see the appeal of fleshy activities, and excitement brewed in the pit of his stomach.
"So? How much longer are you going to make me wait?"
A grunt escaped the demon's lips as he mumbled, "I really have to do my best tonight now. Forget about that fucked-up first time, ok?"
"I didn't hate it, though."
Even if his memory of it was somewhat blurry. In a way, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to rewrite that time with tonight. But for that, they would need to get started. For someone who could barely restrain himself, Bastien sure was taking his time. Hence, Jules decided to give him another incentive, pulling his head toward his member, pressing it against the demon's lips.
"Bastien, I am getting impatient."
This time, Jules didn't need to repeat himself twice for the memo to come across, and the incubus parted his lips, tucking out his tongue to slide it against the tip before swallowing the man's member down to its base in one swift movement, drawing a contented sigh out of Jules. The warm embrace around his member sent shivers down his spine, distracting him enough not to realize that the incubus's sneaky hands had climbed up on his butt, grabbing the cheeks.
He could feel the fingers sliding between, tracing the rim of his entrance.
His body reflexively flinched in response, but he quickly relaxed. For the time being, no finger seemed to have any intention to explore inside, as none were coated in lube. Water could only do so much. Instead, Bastien concentrated on the front, his mouth moving up and down until Jules's arousal reached its peak. Only then did he free his member, earning him a grunt of disapproval. Still, he gestured for him to turn around.
A hunch slipped into Jules's mind, and he wasn't so sure about what was about to come next. Even if he was in his angel form and didn't need to use the toilet, and hadn't for the past few years, he had been taught all his life that this place was dirty.
Bastien licked his lips, a teasing light in his eyes.
"If you don't try it, you won't know if you like it or not. Also, incubus's saliva does wonders to relax that area. Just saying."
A frown creased his brow, and Jules cast a suspicious glare at the smiling demon.
Even if that was the truth, a sense of discomfort nevertheless sprouted in the pit of his stomach. Still, he pushed it aside and turned around, propping himself against the wall and parting his legs. As Bastien said, he wouldn't know until he tried it.
In the worst-case scenario, he wouldn't, and that was all.
The moment the demon's tongue probed around his entrance, Jules felt his entire body tense. Bastien spread his buttocks wide, allowing him better access, and for the first time, Jules might have felt something akin to embarrassment. On second thought, maybe he should push him away. This felt too weird, but before he could, the incubus shoved his tongue inside, startling him. He clenched his fists, trying not to think about it too much. It was fine. It was alright. Bastien knew what he was doing.
"Wait, you…" Jules gasped, realizing something was amiss. "Just how much longer can your frigging tongue get?!"
That thing was going way too deep inside to be of a normal size. He could feel it probing around, going deeper and deeper. He heard himself let out a moan half between pleasure and discomfort, unsure whether he liked the sensation or hated it.
On the bright side, the pouring of the shower covered the wet sound the demon's tongue made, making him less self-conscious of it.
At some point, Jules grew accustomed to the sensation.
Only, when he did, Bastien inserted a finger alongside his tongue, drawing out a curse from Jules. He cursed a second time when he added another finger, and again when a third went in. Thankfully, the demon's saliva did, indeed, seem to do wonders as there was no pain, just a feeling of fullness he couldn't quite describe.
"How much longer," Jules panted, "are you going to stretch it?!"
Obviously, he got no answer, Bastien's mouth being too busy. So, he tried to push the man's head away, propping himself with only one arm against the wall. He was unsteady on his feet, standing on his toes.
"Come on, enough! Just put it in already!"
If this went on, he might lose his mind.
The sensation was too strange, too novel.
When streaks of pleasure started to shoot through his body like a lightning bolt, he was left at a loss, his breath caught in his chest. His member trembled, and he couldn't resist anymore. He hesitated a fraction of a second before stopping to try to push the demon's head away, bringing his hand at the front instead to grab his member, which seemed about to burst.
Instinctively, Jules's hand followed along Bastien's fingers' thrusting pace. His breath grew ragged, getting shorter and shorter as the pleasure built up. It felt like his skin had been set ablaze, like his whole body had become overly sensitive to the slightest touch until, finally, he released himself.
He slumped against the wall, trembling as the aftermath of his orgasm clouded his mind. He barely registered when Bastien pulled his tongue out, although the feeling of emptiness soon hit him.
Then again, the emptiness didn't last long.
The moan that left his mouth was so loud that Jules couldn't believe it came from him, nor could he believe his legs had turned into jelly, his knees almost buckling under him. He felt stuffed to the brim as Bastien pushed his member deep inside, holding onto him so that he wouldn't collapse.
With a voice turned hoarse from the excitement and the pleasure, the incubus whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry, the bed would have been more appropriate, but I couldn't restrain myself anymore."
"Just give me a second before you start moving," Jules gasped between two breaths. He hadn't recovered from his orgasm yet, and his inside was overly sensitive. It was too much.
"Can I…?"
Jules's mouth twitched. It hadn't even been a few seconds, but the incubus was already pressing him to get an answer. As he said, once he got going, restraining himself was near impossible. Even plunged deep into him, the demon couldn't resist undulating his hips against his butt. He wanted to move, now.
"Unlike you, I don't have a sink to hold onto!"
The smooth wall wasn't exactly the best supporting tool out there, if the incubus didn't know. The floor was also slippery, and he had almost lost his balance when Mister thrusted inside without warning.
"Then, turn around and hold onto my neck? Please?"
"…"
"Pretty please? Staying still is torture!"
How many times is he planning on making me turn around?! The fleeting thought crossed his mind as Jules grunted, "Then, pull out first."
"Don't want to."
…If he had known the incubus was this childish when he topped, Jules wouldn't have agreed to let him do him. He should have known better, but it was too late to regret.
"Bastien…!"
The growled warning finally went through the demon, and he grudgingly pulled out. It wasn't like he had much of a choice, anyway. Jules's wings wouldn't allow him to twist around with his thing lodged deep inside him.
A faint, barely audible whine escaped Jules as the emptiness hit him hard once again. He didn't tally and turned on his heels, passing his arms around the demon's neck. In sync, he hauled himself upward while Bastien gripped his butt to lift him even higher. Slipping his legs over the incubus's wings, which were sprouting on his lower back, Jules allowed the demon to guide his lower half on his.
He felt the tip of the man's member probe to find his entrance, then Bastien pushed him down until his butt hit the demon's stomach.
For a moment, Jules forgot how to breathe.
Too deep, too frigging deep!
"Don't you think that position," Jules wheezed through gritted teeth, "is a bit too much for a first time?!"
"But you're taking me in so well!" Bastien chuckled, kissing Jules's jaw. "You're going to be fine. I've prepared you well enough."
"You little… Wait until it's your turn."
"Oh, but I can't wait already!"
Didn't Bastien say he preferred to be on top last time? But perhaps, with him, he didn't really care, as long as they were connected.
A sigh escaped Jules as he pressed his forehead against Bastien's, staring straight into the demon's eyes. Lust was taking its toll on the demon's mind, yet, amid the rampant desire, what stood out the most to Jules was a deep tenderness, one usually reserved for a cherished lover.
He pursed his lips slightly.
What was the point of being stubborn and denying an irrefutable truth? Making excuses wouldn't cut it. Bastien had always been forthcoming with his feelings. Maybe they were born under the suspended bridge effect, or maybe it was because incubi fell in love easily.
But did any of that really matter?
Jules knew he couldn't live without the demon, not with the seal behind broken. Without him to regulate his spiritual energy, he would soon lose his mind.
More importantly, he felt at ease with Bastien around. It had become natural to have him by his side. If he didn't trust him or hold any affection toward him, he wouldn't allow the man to put his dick up his ass, to begin with.
A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes.
"You can move now," he paused, leaning in to add in the demon's ear, "Boyfriend."
Yet, Bastien didn't move, turned silly by one simple word.
It didn't last long, however, and Jules's moans soon filled the house.
***
Noon came, and Jules frowned, pulling the blanket over his head. He was utterly exhausted, understandably so. He had lost count of how many times they did it, and although he didn't need to sleep in his angel form, his eyelids still grew heavy at some point, and he fell asleep. Not like it was a restful rest, but still.
"You might want to get up, Jules," Bastien laughed, sitting on the bed. "Your mother called. Everything went according to plan, and Iris and Melody are at the hospital. Apparently, Elisa and my dear descendant put it one hell of a performance."
"Is that so?"
The words had barely left his mouth when Jules buried his head into his pillow, his head throbbing. Somehow, his ass hurt, and his body felt sore. They might have gone at it a bit too much, if even his healing ability couldn't keep up. Maybe calling the incubus his boyfriend hadn't been such a good idea, in the end.
A ding resounded, and Jules lazily stretched his arm to pick up his phone on the night desk, glancing at the notification. It was from Cains.
That fucking shitty haunted house has been dealt with. Fuck, I'm never again dealing with a space-time array from our assholes of seniors. Hunters are jerks.
Another ding, and Reyes's message appeared below Cains's.
A question: how old are you now?
Oh, it seemed like these two didn't have it easy yesterday, or whatever long it had been for them. How did they get caught in the haunted house, though? Not like it mattered to Jules all that much, but he was nevertheless curious. Even if these two fought like cats and dogs, they were good at their job, and it wasn't like them to make this kind of blunder.
"Looks like the haunted house has also been dealt with."
"It seems like everything is falling back into order, isn't it?"
If Jules could also get rid of his wings, that would be perfect. He was a bit jealous of the incubus. With his lust satiated, he could easily revert to a human form without problem whatsoever. He had done it, too, and was parading around without his wings or tail out. His hair would need a good trim, though.
Well, whatever. I'll figure it out at some point. No need to hurry. Disguise spells will have to do the trick until then.
"All that's left is to lift Iris's curse," Jules sighed. "But not right now. I need a good rest; my body is killing me. I think I'm not healing well 'cause a certain someone couldn't help it and came inside me one too many times."
Bastien scratched his cheek under the accusatory gaze. He didn't avoid it, however, and bent over to kiss Jules. "It's fine. We'll tackle that later. For now, I've got to go to the hospital as Iris's guardian. Use the opportunity to sleep a bit. It should help wash up my, erm, fluids out of your system."
As an answer, Jules waved the demon away, not even bothering to respond to his 'see you later'.
Then, he listened with one ear as Bastien left the house, and a car engine resounded from outside. Only after making sure that he was gone did Jules close his eyes and try to rest.
Not everything was resolved, and some things would need time to heal. But at the very least, he brought his sister and her friends back home in one piece, and that was all that mattered. He could finally flip the page over the haunted house. It was over, and a new chapter of his life was starting, one that would last for as long as the incubus stayed by his side.
Hopefully, it would be for a long time.
With that last thought in mind, Jules drifted back to sleep.