Chapter 2: Is it Love?

Blackheart was surprised how simple Christine's home was. Christine had made him lay on a sofa–of–sorts, duster removed so she could get to the dagger. She pulled a chair closer to him. "Relax. This may hurt a bit." Christine gingerly took hold of the dagger's hilt, placing her free hand close to the wound. "Ready?"

"Just do it." Christine seemed afraid of pulling at the dagger. But she did so as quickly as she could. "Aagh!" It didn't help with the pain. Her hand instantly covered the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Blackheart gripped the first thing he could grab. Unfortunately, the first thing he could reach was Christine's wrist. It caught her by surprise at first, but then she smiled sweetly at him. "Sorry," he said as he released her wrist.

"It's fine," she said. "Uh, this might sound … a little strange, but … you need to remove your shirt," Christine added nervously.

"What?" Blackheart asked. That was strange to hear from an angel.

"To clean the wound. I-I can't get to it through your shirt," she added quickly. Blackheart looked her in the eye for a minute. She seemed slightly embarrassed by her request. He also found something else, but he couldn't figure out what it was.

"Fine," she said. He slowly removed his shirt, trying to avoid worsening the pain. Hmm … a voice in his head said, this seems like a perfect opportunity to take her. Blackheart shook his head in an attempt to silence the voice. He sat up to let Christine get to the wound. C'mon, Blackie. It's a perfect chance. She trusts you. Take her!

No!, he told the voice. I can't. We don't know that she does trust me She doesn't even know me.

"Done." Christine's voice brought him from his silent debate. Sure enough, his wounds were clean and even bandaged. Blackheart tried to say thank you but all he could manage was a grateful smile.

Ah, I see, the voice said slyly. You're falling for her.

What?! That's impossible! She's an angel! And I'm…

A demon?

Unknown to Blackheart, Christine was having her own inner debate. He is kinda cute, her inner voice spoke wryly.

Maybe, Christine thought as she rinsed her charge's blood off her hands. But he's a demon. Maybe even that prince of theirs.

So?

It's forbidden! Christine stood over the water basin, exploring her thoughts. She couldn't deny she felt something there. But it wasn't love. Demons couldn't love. Could they?

"Christine?" Her demonic charge appeared next to her. She looked up at him, trying to avoid eye contact.

"Yes?" No matter hard she tried, she still found herself looking at his sparkling blue eyes.

"Um … I … I forgot to say thank you." Christine smiled again. He tried to return her kind smile but all he could manage was a smirk.

Christine giggled and looked back at the water basin. Blackheart hesitantly looked down at the water, knowing exactly what he would see. However, the water was too murky to see anything. "What are you staring at?"

"Oh, nothing," Christine said as she placed her hand in the bloody water. It instantly became clear again, showing exactly what Blackheart didn't wish to be reminded of. Christine's face smiled at them, but Blackheart's reflection showed the monster he truly was. To him at least.

Christine's demonic charge growled at his reflection, as though it wasn't to his satisfaction. She couldn't see why. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." Christine turned around and was surprised to see he was putting his shirt and duster back on.

"Excuse me. Where do you think your going?"

"I can't stay here."

"You can't leave yet either." Christine quickly blocked the demon's path.

"Oh, really? Why not?"

"You're hurt. It's too serious for you to be leaving yet." The demon got closer to Christine, as if in challenge.

"And you're going to stop me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He continued to walk towards Christine, which lead to her backing into the door.

"If I have to," Christine said defiantly. The demon chuckled, as if amused by the angel's defiance.

"You really don't know who I am, do you?" he asked, now leaning on the wall just above Christine's head, which brought him face to face with her.

"I have my suspicions. I know you're a demon." The demon grinned in a not so yet comforting way. His eyes went pitch black and she instantly knew who her charge was. "Oh my God. You're … you're…"

"Blackheart," he finished for her as his eyes took on their original color. "Now you see why I can't stay." He reached for the door handle and pulled, but Christine still refused to move.

"I … I still can't let you leave. Not with a wound like that." Her words were breathless, mostly from the shock that the demon she chose to help was heir to the infernal throne. Just my luck. Blackheart chuckled again at her defiance.

"I really don't think you can keep me here." This angel was either really bold or really stupid. Blackheart tugged the door again, and it opened a little before Christine forced it shut. "Step aside, Christine."

"No." Blackheart smirked. He looked over Christine. She was beautiful to look at and her determined defiance only added to it. No demon had ever stood up to him or at least lived to tell the tale. And yet, here was this angel stubbornly blocking his path all because of a small wound. Damn, he was falling for her. Hard. Something in her eyes told him she had fallen just as hard for him. Despite himself, Blackheart found his face drawing nearer to hers.

"Why are you so keen to help me?" Christine backed as far as she could till her head collided with the door.

"You'll die with a wound like that left untreated." She closed her eyes just as he did the same. His lips were inches away from hers when there was a blinding flash of white light and Blackheart was thrown back towards the opposite wall. He felt a new searing pain in his chest, right under his first wound.

Great, he thought.