Chapter 10

The atmosphere in the room changed dramatically as the words left Xellos's lips. The tension was so thick, you could slice it and serve it on your morning toast. The seconds passed like hours as Xellos waited for Filia's response. The trickster priest became a little concerned when Filia had not so much as breathed since he voiced his 'condition', and was starting to worry. Filia then brought her lips into a fine line as the corners of her mouth began to turn upwards in what looked like a smirk. Her shoulders then started to shake as she fought to contain a fit of giggles, before she finally lost the battle and laughed outright.

"Hahahaha, oh Xellos, now that was funny...hehehahaha...and here I was thinking you where being serious for once. Honestly Xellos, that was one weird joke to pull, I mean, you wanting me to be your mate? Ha, as if that could ever happen right?"

"Hehe. Actually Filia, I was serious," Xellos stated, watching with slight amusement as the smile on Filia's face slowly disappeared to be replaced by a look of pure astonishment.

"Wh…what? But you can't be serious! Monsters don't even have mates…right?" Filia asked in confusion.

"As a matter of fact, we do. It is our second best kept secret of the monster race," Xellos said eyeing her through his trademark wink.

"Ceifeed! If that's the second, then what is the best kept secret?" Filia asked in astonishment.

"Now that is a secret!" Xellos said cheerfully.

"I set myself up for that one," Filia sighed to herself.

"Hmhm. So," Xellos said as he brought his head to her ear again, "What do you say Filia? Be mine, and I'll give you back your wing. Be mine, and I'll give you whatever you want," Xellos purred in her ear, causing Filia to shudder and a faint heat to pool in her stomach.

Filia's mind was in a haze, all she could focus on was the feel of Xellos's breath on her sensitive ears. Xellos then began to place hot kisses down her neck, pausing at the spot where her pulse was beating erratically and placed an open mouth kiss on it, gently biting and sucking the flesh. Filia could not suppress the small moan that escaped her lips as Xellos continued his way down her neck to where her neck met her shoulder. Xellos grinned slightly as he moved to fulfil his earlier fantasy of nibbling her shoulder, tasting a small tint of her metallic blood as he slightly broke the skin.

Filia gasped in a mixture of pleasure and pain as Xellos began to suck on the spot where he broke the skin. She could not believe that it was Xellos that was doing these things to her. This type of thing usually only ever occurs in her most deepest and private of dreams.

Yes, Filia had dreamed of Xellos coming and showing her new worlds of both pleasure and pain, she had for a while, although these dreams she always managed to push to the back of her mind and forget they ever happened. She knew it was hopeless to wish for something with the monster she eventually grew attached to. She was raised to believe that all monsters where heartless beings with no feelings and no understandings of emotions other than their food supply. She was taught that they take pleasure in another beings misery, that they couldn't love. But no matter how much she told herself these things, she still could not help but fall a little for the same creature that caused half of her kind's destruction.

'But they didn't know that monsters could have mates,' Filia contemplated to herself. If Xellos was telling the truth and monsters did indeed have mates, does that mean they are capable of positive emotions, maybe even love?

A small spark of hope was kindled within Filia as she contemplated this theory. If monsters could have mates, then they must be able to share and receive positive emotions to some extent. And one is generally affectionate with a mate, and usually affection is shown out of a small amount of love. Does that mean that Xellos may be affectionate to her? Even love her to an extent? The possibility seemed so outrageous and yet so plausible that Filia could feel the spark of hope grow at the possibility that Xellos may actually love her. The one thing she thought was impossible suddenly became enticingly probable and it was enough to make her heart ache in both joy at the chance that he loved her, and the despair of the chance that he didn't, and she was just building up her hope on fantasies.

Xellos was nearing his breaking point. She tasted so much better than he could ever imagine. He felt a rush of heat through his whole body as he continued to illicit little suppressed moans from her throat. He could feel his eyes begin to glow as his inner demon screamed for release and to mark her as his. But he would wait. He made a promise to both himself and his mistress that Filia would agree to the marking rather than forcing her to. But damn it if she doesn't agree soon, he wasn't sure if he could hold himself back much longer.

Xellos finally pulled away from Filia's shoulder, leaving behind an angry red mark that he was sure to bruise. He then continued his way down to her chest, kissing right above her heart. "What do you say Filia? Search deep within yourself, and answer me this. Are you willing to bind yourself to me forever?" Xellos said as he stared deep into her eyes, piercing her very soul.

Filia's mind was racing. This was a big, life changing decision she was being asked to make. She closed her eyes and a look of extreme concentration passed over her face. She was trying to think about how this decision would affect her life. Weighing both the good and the bad, she looked deep within herself, breaking down every barrier she had set up around her heart and searched deep within its dark desires. After her soul searching, she came to the decision that she did indeed care for the monster above her. The acceptance of this fact was strangely comforting for her, as if a great weight had lifted itself off her shoulders and she was finally at piece with herself. She grew to love his childish personality and his boyish charms. While Filia was discovering her reasons for being fond of her purple haired monster, a part of her could not help but wonder about the side of him that he didn't show, but she knew existed. She decided that if she was even considering tying herself to Xellos, she should get to know all sides of him, so she knew what she was getting herself into for once.

"Xe-Xellos, before I can answer you, I n-need to ask you something," Filia said looking Xellos in the eyes.

"Will it affect your final decision?" Xellos asked, his face inquisitive.

"Y-yes. Yes it probably will," Filia answered.

"Then ask away Fi-chan".

"Ok, but firstly, could you let me up Xellos, I can barely think straight like this," She asked, a bright blush staining her cheeks. Xellos smirked at her statement, a little boost of pride growing through him that he was able to have this effect on her. The temptation to tease her was undeniable. "Oh really? Whatever for? Surely your priestess training included keeping a clear mind in...intense situations?" he tease playfully, closing one eye in a wink.

She had trouble swallowing her heart that had shot up to her throat. "i-i-i-um ah well, you see, ye..no..? Xe-Xellos..please. This is too...too much...p-p-please l-let me up now," she stammered, trying and failing to insert some confidence and force into her words.

Xellos chuckled lowly above her, "Oh alright alright, as you wish," Xellos said as he let her go and let her sit up, adjusting the pillows behind her so she could rest comfortably, letting his touches on her linger as he helped her adjust, enjoying the heat she was giving off. He then completely got off her and sat cross-legged in front of her on the bed as Filia pulled the bed covers up over her exposed torso, trying to salvage at least a small portion of her decency.

Filia took a deep breath as she prepared to speak her mind to Xellos. She looked into Xellos's eyes, solid determination growing evident in her sapphire orbs. "Xellos Metallium, before I make my decision I have one thing to ask of you. I want to see your true form. I want to see who you really are".