The past 1

Darius POV

"How is she"

Althea's father Johnathan stares at me from the chair he is sitting beside her bed.

"Still not responding" he replies broken.

I feel his pain. But he cannot feel my agony. I have seen her die far too many times to count. Every time it's the same. It feels like I am dying inside.

The Lord above us gave her back to me, only to snatch her away again. Our bond, and her compulsion to save me, all comes from a place that is filled with love, hatred, pain and loss. I remember everything, she doesn't. The Lord above erased her memory as a blessing to her. He let me keep them as a punishment for all my sins. Never to forget her ever again.

I have been searching for her for as long as I can remember. I am the oldest shifter ever present on the planet. 

That says something about how desperate I am to find the one I lost.

I was confused when a girl suddenly rushes in front of me and takes a deadly blow, which is lethal for her but not for me.

The moment I looked at her beautiful face filled with pain, I died a little inside.

I don't know whether I should be happy that I found her after decades or sad with the way I found her, fatally injured.

I remember the last time I saw her. The coward I was, who couldn't save the girl he loved.

I was the son of the demon lord a few centuries ago. Working for my father, doing his dirty deeds which used to repulse me. I never understood why cannot I embrace my birthright like my younger brother. 

She was a guardian angel sent to protect a soul. Which soul, I didn't get to know until the very last moment.

PAST

"Azzazal"

My father acknowledged my presence as soon as I enter his study.

"Assist your brother on his latest assignment" he orders as if we are doing good deeds.

"What kind of assignment?" 

I asked him hesitantly, knowing fully where this is going.

"U know, the usual"  he answered vaguely.

"Oh.. killing Innocents, stealing their souls to gain more powers. " I answered my own question.

" Why do you even ask when you know the answer" my father glares at me with impatience.

" Why do you keep telling me to do things which I don't like? " I ask with the same impatient tone.

"Don't you ever forget you are born to rule this world Azazzal" he slams his fist on the table to emphasize his point.

"I don't want any of this. why can't you give this to your beloved younger son?" I yell with frustration.

"Because he doesn't have the kind of power you have. He is impulsive and impatient unlike you. He is not fit to be a leader" he yells back.

"I am your father, I know what is good for you and what is not. Stop acting like a child and start accepting your destiny" his tone is much softer now and tired.

"I cannot do this father, find someone else. Killing people is slowly killing me as well. I am afraid that i might loose my sanity sooner or later" I plead with him.

"You have done this a thousand times. What is so wrong about it this time" he snaps.

" You said the same thing for almost all of them" I counter his theory.

" Then think this as all the other times and go do it already" he is losing his Patience, so am I.

" Listen and listen carefully father. I am tired of you forcing me to do things I don't like and I cannot sleep with the guilt of killing all those innocent people. Every time I close my eyes, their fear-filled eyes flashes in my mind. None of them deserved that, neither do I. I am done with this and I am done with you. If you even want me to stay here, don't ask me to do things like this"

I turn and leave his study, leaving him in a state of shock.

As soon as I reach my room I know she is here. Dark brown hair, blue eyes like the sky, skin like snow, a beautiful angel with a smirk on her beautiful flawless face.

"I told you not to come here" I remind her even though she is the only one who is keeping me sane these days.

i make my way towards my closet and rummage for my night wear.

"What can I say, a certain someone killed the person I was guarding leaving me jobless " she emphasizes her point by looking at me pointedly.

"Then you should have found another job. Pestering me dosent count as a job, now does it?" working on my shirt buttons.

I know she would have already turned the other way. Despite living almost in my room, she never got used to me undressing.

"Its amusing" she says cheekily.

I finish pulling the drawstrings of my night pant and glare at her.

"I am a demon, do you know what amuses me?" I ask her.

"I am not a demon encyclopedia, how would i know?" she says defensively.

I pull my t-shirt on and reach her in two long strides. I turn her towards me, and place my arms on either side of her, effectively caging her. This makes her squirm adorably.

"Making you squirm under me like this is what amuses me" i say, my voice turned husky.

Her cheeks turn pink.

"You are shamless" she pushes me away. 

I let her push me. Because what can i do? Our relation is doomed from the start, if you can call this a relationship.

She has responsibilities as an Angel. I have to take over my fathers place one day. She belongs to heaven and i belong to hell. We are as forbidden as they come. 

"Ya.. i am a different Demon" i say distracted.

"Yes, I can see that. A very different demon, if you ask me" she answers playfully.

"What is so different about a demon? A demon is a demon" I made my way towards my bed.

"Hmm .. true. But I never saw a demon hurting anyone with a feeling that hurting them is hurting you more"  she explains which she did often.

"You are trying to find good in a bad situation Althea" i say frustrated by her optimism.

"No, i am pointing out the good in a bad person" she explains her point.

"What's the difference? I am bad. End of the story." 

I place my pillow against the head board and sit leaning against it. She sits on the foot of the bed.

"The place you are born is bad. People think that demon is bad, but if you are that bad, then i would have burned in that pit a long time ago" she explains patiently.

"You should not come here Althea. If my father finds out that an angel is slipping in and out of his lair, he will kill you without Mercy." I warn her for the 100th time.

"Won't you save me from his wrath? " this is the first time she ever asks me like this. Any other time if this comes up, she used to roll her eyes and laugh it off.

I don't know how to answer that question. I will save her, no matter what. She seeped into my heart slowly without my knowledge and consent. And now I am powerless to remove her from there. I love her So much that some times it scares me.

We won't work out anyway. She belongs to the Lord above us. Me? I am a scum beneath her shoes.

I don't deserve her, and too many things are between us to even try. 

I want to avoid unnecessary conflicts. she knows all of this, but she is still asking me something which is not in my power. 

"U know this won't work out. Why ever try" I mutter knowing fully well, that she can hear me. 

" I made my choice" 

" What?" I turn fully towards her at her statement.

"Do you know to whom I belong now?" I move my head right to left to indicate no, I don't know that.

"You" she whispered.

"Have you lost your mind, What is wrong with you. I am a Demon. I belong to hell and you belong to heaven " I exclaim.

"I don't know what is wrong with me either. I saw a soul in need of redemption and approached the Lord above. He simply smiled and gave his blessings. He wouldn't do that if you are unsalvageable. Now will he?"

I was stunned to say the least.

She is not understanding our situation. Even though the Lord above is so generous to allow her to come here, my father is not.

He will do everything in his power to get his work done. 

Just then, my room door was opened forcefully and there stood my father.