A Deal with the Devil

Chapter 4: Prince of The Immortals

"The Black Rose?" Zechs asks skeptically as he scans the nightclub. Hilde nods and her quick smile flashes at him. He smiles back and then laughs. "Somehow I think I've been scammed."

"Absolutely right." Duo replies, a drink already in his hand. "We brought you here because we think you needed a break."

"Yeah, and have we got something special in store for you." Relena says mysteriously. Everyone else nods with the same mischievous grins on their faces. Sally orders him a glass of wine and in less than a minute, the exquisite liquid has found its way into Zechs's hands. He holds it up to the light, admires its fire and color.

"Beautiful," He says. "Thank you." Replies a laughing voice behind him. Zechs whirls around.

"Oh, I didn't mean…" But then he stops because the woman really is exquisitely beautiful. She is small, only five foot six against Zechs's six- five, but she has a proud bearing that makes her seem taller. Her dark hair comes to her mid-back but is twisted into an elegant knot at the nape of her neck with tiny braids throughout. Her lips are blood-rose and just aching to be kissed. Her skin is pale like that of the immortals, her movements graceful and elegant.

Zechs's sight lands on the woman's eyes and what he sees nearly makes his immortal heart stop. "My god…those eyes…" He found the eyes that always haunted his dreams staring right back at him with the same chaste innocence that Zechs has seen so many times in his sleep, had reached for and fallen short of so many times.

"Lucia, this is Zechs Merquise." Zechs is suddenly aware that Sally is introducing him and that the woman is suddenly staring at him with the same expression of stunned disbelief that he is wearing.

"My god…Zechs…" She whispers. She reaches out a hand to touch his cheek but lowers it as the house lights flicker twice. "I'm… I'm sorry but I have to sing… Zechs…Don't go, I promise we'll talk…after…"

Zechs nods numbly as Lucia runs off. Zechs rounds on Sally and the others.

"Lucia?" He asks furiously. "The diminutive form of Lucrezia. My Lucrezia is on that stage right now and she knows who I am. My God, all of you do you realize what you've done?! You've signed her death warrant! Once the master finds out that she knows I'm alive, he'll kill her! My God, we've…we've got to get out of here…I can't…" He heads for the door but Quatre catches him and whirls him around.

"Zechs…what?"

"The master…I can't let the master hurt her…"

"He won't Zechs, he won't, it's his will!"

"His will?"

"Yes! He saw that you were in pain and he didn't want you to live like that!" Quatre grasps Zechs's arms and holds the older man steady. "He loves you Zechs but he is willing to give you up because he knows how much you need her! And how much she needs you!"

"He told you this?"

"He did indeed."

Zechs sits down hard and brings a shaky hand to his forehead. "I don't know what to say…"

"Then say nothing," A voice inside his head advised him.

"Master…"

"No my love," The Master's voice is sad but firm. " Not a word. Your need for her is as it should be. You sold your soul for her once. I did not expect your love for the child to change."

"But master…I love you…"

"Then think of me," He says. "When you find yourself gasping for breath against her soft skin, think of me. When you feel her warmth against you, think of me. When you lose yourself in her arms, think of me. When her touch sends tendrils of fire through you, think of me and how much I still love you. Will you do that, my beautiful one, will you do that for me?"

"Yes master…yes…" Zechs hesitates for a moment. "Will I see you again?"

The master laughs. "Of course, young prince, don't be foolish. I will be there to give blessing to your union…"

"And…"

"And also to ordain you as Prince of the Immortals."

"Master!"

"It is time, caro." He says firmly. "I have taught you all you need to know. I redeemed your soul from Satan himself. You will be my beloved son, and true heir to my empire."

"Yes master,"

"Not master any more, mio caro," He says. "Father."

"Yes…father…"