He stopped a step beyond the entrance, gauging whether or not he should go on. Syl felt his familiar presence, not having felt it since she was in earth's dimension. It was stronger now. Closer. Safer. It was the only thing she knew. The only stability in her new immortal life was him, her guardian.
He stood there silently, watching, waiting, almost nervous. Syl slowly got off the bed, letting her feet feel the shimmering floor beneath them. She took a few tentative steps, breathing deeply in attempt to calm her nerves. Her eyes fell to the ground, and she felt her heart beating hard against her chest. She barely heard him as he took a couple slow, smooth steps, closing the distance between them. But she knew he stopped.
Syl felt a chill run down her spine. Part of her felt like she was still in her dream. Part of her thought she was imagining it all, hallucinating, something. But it felt too real. Slowly, she went to him, closing the distance between them. If this is all real, so is he. She stood closely in front of him, her short, rapid breathing noticeable. She willed herself to calm down, but to no avail.
He sensed her fear, but he wouldn't get into her thoughts, though he wanted to. Not yet. If and when, that would only ever be her choice. She ran her hand gently down his chest, and finally looked up at him. "You're still real?" she asked, nervously. Breathlessly.
He pressed her hand against himself and responded, "Yes. I am."
The sound of his velvety-smooth voice in her mind soothed her even more than the answer itself. It was the same as when they were reunited before she came with him, but she wasn't afraid of him now. There was no doubt, no hesitation.
This was pure. It was surreal. She lifted her hand shakily to his face, softly stroking his cheek with her thumb. Gradually, she became mesmerized by him again, but more so. Trying to fight away the fear with the fact that he was hers now. How he chose her, of all people in any point in time, to be his. How this majestic, powerful deity wanted to be with her for eternity.
But me, of all people...
He sensed her sudden doubt, though he was no stranger to her historically-doubtful mind. Years of being betrayed one way or another had made her lose a level of trust. He cupped her face in his hands as his voice filled her mind with a warm sense of comfort. "Nothing has changed, Syl."
She let her hand softly fall back onto his chest and she leaned into him, soon feeling his arms envelop her trembling body. He held her until she was calm, but as soon she felt him start to move back, she wrapped her arms tightly around him, pleading, "No, please. Don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere."
She nestled deeper into him, focusing on his warmth more than her fear. She knew he felt it, and she didn't want him to. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Why?"
"I trust you, you know I do. I'm just ...afraid." She was sure she wasn't afraid of him. She herself barely knew what she was afraid of. And there was that nagging sensation in the back of her mind about "betraying" her brother. She didn't want to think about her past life. Not now. Not in the arms of her guardian.
He rested his head on her, holding her close. "You have no reason to apologize. I know you trust me, I know you are afraid. I would not expect you to act as if this is not entirely different from your previous life."
"Still. You deserve better. You don't deserve my fear."
"Ensley," he said, voice a beautiful, smooth murmur in her mind. "You left your world for me. You let me bring you to my realm. After these millennia of waiting, you are finally with me." He tilted her chin up, shifting her gaze to his dark empty eyes. "What I don't deserve is you."
She smiled softly, beholding him in wonderment. "Thank you for choosing me," she said after a pause, her voice just above a whisper.
He caressed her cheek, brushing his thumb over her mouth. "I hope you're happy here, Ensley."
Ever since he first found her, she had become the light in his darkness. He was dark, evil, and corrupt. They both knew it. He had always prided himself in the fact he consumes the souls of innocent children. He loved their artistic offerings depicting their families' murders.
The more blood, the more murders, the more satisfaction. That would never change. But despite all the sacrifices, all the portals, all the children, all the darkness, he felt empty.
He felt alone.
It was an endless loop, it seemed, always people to watch, children to gather, sacrifices to receive, souls to consume. He didn't mind the cycle in the slightest. But whatever part of him that craved companionship would not stop until he had found it. Until he had found her, after thousands of years.
Syl was a good human, by their standards. But he saw deeper into her, he knew she was what he needed. She had always been innocent, kind-hearted, and strong. He thought about using her or her brother for sacrifices, especially with their obsession, it would be easy. But whatever it was, foresight perhaps, stopped him.
She was the first child he protected instead of corrupted. The first adolescent he comforted instead of tormented. The first adult he guarded instead of killed. The first human he loved instead of despised.
