(Warning : Some adult content. Much milder than last chapter.)

When We Become One (Part II)

He ran from the shadowy shapes that reached with razor-shap claws, and Alfred knew, as anyone in a nightmare does, that if he stopped, if he slowed, they would catch him and tear the flesh from his bones.

He dared not face those violet-eyed demons that called, Alfreed ~ Aaaaaaaflfreed. Let us in, sweet boy.

Their inhuman voices whispered other horrors, ones that chilled him to his core, but he could not will his body to turn. Their sharp talons grazed his neck and -

- he woke with a startled cry, thrashing. Or he tried to thrash, strong arms held him. A body, laying sideways, was spooned against his side; one thickly-muscled leg curled over his legs; and one arm was draped across his chest. Alfred was pinned down by who his drowsy mind - still caught between dreaming and reality - believed was Matthew at first.

The dear brother he shared a bed with back home and snuggled next to through those bitter cold winter nights. Little by little, Alfred's mind noticed details that did not fit with Mattie. For one, the chest pressing against his arm could not be Mattie's soft, slightly-pudgy one. And since when was Matthew's skin so cool? And why were they both only in their pants?

The crackle of a fire stirred something else in Alfred's head. Although the room was dark and it was night, he could see the red-glowing embers of fire in an arched fireplace on the other side of the room. This couldn't be home. They didn't have a fireplace in their room. The bed was too comfortable and the sheets were too silky. The pillows were flurry, not like sandbags.

Fingers brushed hair from Alfred's wide forehead and he went rigid, memories rushing back. Panic coursed into Alfred and he struggled to get free this iron grip. "No, no!" he yelled. "Let me go, bastard!"

He turned away when Ivan's cool lips kissed his cheek. "Shhh, you're fine now."

"No!" he cried. "I'm not! You're an animal!"

Ivan grabbed his jaw and harshly forced Alfred to face Ivan's now-glowing opal eyes. Something in Ivan's silhouette tells him he had crossed a line. He almost wanted to say sorry, but killed that absurd thought. A more disturbing one replaced it: how long has Ivan been laying next to him, waiting for him to wake?

His head throbbed; his body ached all over. He didn't want to think where his jacket and glasses had gone.

"Don't touch me," Alfred growled as those fingers combed through his hair in a soothing gesture. The last thing he needed was Ivan's forced comfort. "Not after what you did."

Although Alfred as, and still is, powerless to stop Ivan, he can't help but speak defiantly. Even if he must take it, he won't do so without a word. He would protest to the end. Even when all hope is gone, a true hero does not silently take it. They raise their fist to the heavens and shout to others to defy. To not give into despair no matter how bleak things are. No matter how their bodies are abused, their wills must never be broken.

Whatever the demon did to his body, Alfred was determined would not touch his soul.

"Solnyshko," Ivan said. Alfred frowned, not sure what Ivan had called him. It was spoken so tenderly, so un-Ivanish, that Alfred found himself listening despite his anger. "Forgive me."

Alfred was speechless. In his view, Ivan could no be sincere even if he sounded sincere. However, he needed answers. Alfred needed to know. Heart laboring, sickened at the memory, he asked, "What did we... did you..."

He couldn't say the rest.

"Nothing," Ivan said, in a voice that sounded ashamed. His fingers stilled. The glow died in his eyes. "I lost control for a time. I should not have let you near me."

The fingers trailed down Alfred's throat to trace circles on his chest.

A wet warmth, what Alfred realized was a tear, slid down Alfred's cheek. More followed. In a hurt voice, Alfred asked, "Why? Why'd you do it? My skull felt like it was being beaten open. As if you were killing me. I needed you to stop."

"I know, Solnyshko," Ivan said, using that name again. "I should explain. My battle with the British worm left me depleted. Then you came in, dressed so cute," Alfred scowled, "and your aura radiant. I was hungry. It became overwhelming."

There it was again that reference to hunger and taste. Alfred had been terrified it meant that they wanted to eat him, but none of the demons had bit him.

"What does your hunger have to do with this?"

"In my life no soul has ever shined as bright as yours. My kind feeds off auras. You taste the best when you are excited."

When you are excited, the words echoed in Alfred's head, his eyes widening. The words of Toris, Arthur, and the goblin came back.

Ivan said to make you happy.

You look delicious, love.

Deliciousa.

Their meaning sunk into Alfred.

"You sick fucks have been feeding off me!" He yelled, clawing and kicking to get free. Ivan clung tighter, restricting his movements the more he fought. "Get off me!"

"You hurt me as well," Ivan said.

That phrase surprised Alfred enough to calm him. "Explain."

"Do you know what happens when high-level demons have sex?"

"I can't believe you," Alfred said, renewing his struggling. Ivan wanted to remind him!

"Listen!" Ivan snapped, voice harsh and rough. Something unearthly in it froze Alfred. Goosebumps rose across his skin. "I did not want to tell you. I knew you would be angry. I wanted to prepare you properly first. When demons of my level have sex it is not only the body that is penetrated. We merge with their mind, their essences, and very souls. At the peak of passion we join for an instant. What we call 'becoming one'."

"You've been grooming me," Alfred said, the truth dawning on me. "Hell no. I'd never... not with you."

"As much as I want to, we cannot merge. Not yet," Ivan said. "Until I lost my senses, I knew that."

Although Alfred hated to ask it this way, he didn't know how else to word it. "Why can't we?"

"For one, if you are not conditioned, the experience would likely kill you, or you turned into insane." Alfred gulped. "I made mistakes in my early years as a demon lord. It has never happened since. Arthur, however, delights in mind-screwing his victims until their hair turns white."

"You... almost..." Alfred trialed off. He felt queasy.

"And almost injured myself as well. As delicious as you are, your soul is too pure. It's an addictive poison to my kind. I cannot become one with you yet. You must submit to me. You must surrender yourself." His fingers went lower and Alfred's breath hitched. He grabbed at Ivan's hand, but it continued to descend. "I've never wanted anyone as much as you. Let me the darkness in."

Alfred's skin crawled as that hand went under the waistband of his pants. What worried Alfred was how much he craved Ivan still. The demon was intoxicating.

"Don't."

"You are a magnificent soul," Ivan said, leaning until Alfred could feel that minty breath against his face. Those eyes held him. "but I'd be damaged if we went too far. As would Arthur."

"But he tried to..."

"A bluff. He sensed I was coming. He was taunting me. His hands cupped Alfred's manhood and stopped. Neither stroking nor squeezing. Alfred felt heat rising in his cheeks.

"You said we can't." His voice came out so weak.

"Not until you let in corruption. A sliver is all it takes. A seed of taint that will grow," Ivan said. Alfred turned his face away, feeling that cool breath puff against his cheek. "You will submit."

"Dream on."

"I am," Ivan said. His eyes lit up and he massaged the tip. Alfred bit back a pleasured sigh. His body responded, blood rushing to his groin. "And so are you. You are already addicted."

A moan escaped his lips; his whole body flushed. He whined when Ivan released him. Then Ivan grabbed his face and squeezed painfully on his jaw until his mouth opened.

Those eyes blazed and gripped Alfred. In a chilling voice, he said, "When you're under my power, I'll drink freely. For now, only a sip of your delicious poison."

Ivan's thumb brushed Alfred's swollen lip before the demon took him in a searing open-mouthed kiss that blew away his senses. A tugging in the back of Alfred's throat became a rush of heat out of his mouth. Something was flowing out of him and into Ivan.

A tear trailed down Alfred's cheek as he closed his eyes. None of this hurt. It felt good to be fed off. His body tingled with want and he moaned. He went rock hard and Alfred grabbed at the sheets, toes curling. He wanted more.

It built and built until he climaxed hard and fainted.

(Note - Again? Alfred sure passes out a lot in this story. Life with a demon is never easy.

Next Time - Alfred wakes to see Ivan sitting in front of the fire, drinking vodka. He joins him and Ivan tells of his dark past and how he became part of the family in... "Family Matters"

** Katyusha (Ukraine), Natalia (Belarus), and Felix (Poland) are introduced for the first time.)