Chapter 21

"For hundreds of years?" Sauli scooted closer to Adam, desperately wanting to wrap his arms around him in a warm embrace. "Surely you must have gotten lonely?" Adam chuckled lightly, but his tone was more sad than humorous.

"There were a few that caught my eye, but I mostly kept them around as play things...Little toys I could fool around with or hold close to me at night...Nothing serious. Eventually they would die or I'd get bored with them and, well, you know."

"How could you do that to people who cared about you?" Sauli sounded disgusted and puzzled. So much of Adam was still a mystery to him. "That would mean you were doing to them what Jibade did to you, no?" Adam shook his head.

"They didn't really love me. They never do. It's my power, my voodoo. I use the foolishness and blinding effect love has on mortals to my own advantage. If you had been doing this for as long as I have, you wouldn't believe in love anymore either." Sauli thought about Adam's words. It was true, love did make some blind and some foolish. He of all people would know that. His love for Mika had made him make some foolish decisions in the past. However, though love can blind, it can also reveal to you the truth. In that moment, Sauli remembered his time spent with Adam; wrapping him up at his house, their time at this lake, and Adam protecting him from Mika's wrath. Finally, he was able to understand his own feelings. He loved Adam, so much so that he would risk his own life to see him again.

"Adam," said Sauli, gently placing his hand on Adam's, "you made me believe in love again." Adam's cheeks turned red and he turned his head to find Sauli's bright blue eyes waiting for his own.

"Sauli," said Adam, almost in a whimper, his eyes screaming for affection, "d-dont do this." Regretfully, Adam fought back his feelings and turned his face away from Sauli's. "I'm trying to protect you...the more you lie to me, the larger the risk gets for you...I don't want to hurt you, Sauli, but I won't let myself get hurt so easily."

"Adam," said Sauli, caressing Adam's cheek soothingly, "I am so sorry about Angela. You don't have to believe me, but I didn't know she was going to hurt you. I would never help her hurt you because I really care about you. I do not think you're a monster. In fact, I think you are the most beautiful person I've ever met and I...I..." Sauli paused for a moment. He wasn't sure if he was ready to say it, or if it was the right time, but he knew that he may not get the chance to say it again. "I think I love you." Adam gasped quietly. He hadn't heard those words sound so genuine and real in hundreds of years.

"You can't truly mean it," said Adam, thinking out loud, "I've done terrible things...Tried to kill you twice. How could you ever love something like..." Adam turned to face Sauli and let his demonic facial features out; his sharp horns, white skin, yellow-red eyes, and blood red hair. "This!" Sauli half-smiled as he ran his fingertips across Adam's pale cheek.

"That's not what you are," he said with a smile, showing off his sparkling white teeth, "that's just how you feel. Let me show you how I feel." Sauli grabbed Adam's shirt and pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss. Adam resisted at first, but then gave in and ran his fingers through Sauli's hair as his tongue entered Sauli's mouth. He tasted sweet and the emotions that rushed through Adam's body were magnificent, letting him feel things he had long forgotten he could. The two had never felt so euphoric before. They fell back on the grass and continued to make out passionately under the stars. Adam's wings spread out from his back and wrapped around Sauli, pushing him closer to Adam, making them chest to chest.

"Oh, Sauli," said Adam panting, nuzzling Sauli's cheek, I haven't tasted love like this since..." The smile on Adam's face faded. He winced as he looked up and a single shining star caught his eye. Sauli noticed his despair and remembered what the old woman had said to him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the strange cross ring.

"Adam," said Sauli, placing the ring in his hands, "here. I think this belongs to you." Adam looked down at the ring and gasped lightly. He felt a strange pulse in his heart and closed his eyes with a sigh, gripping the ring in his fist.

"You remind me so much of him, you know," said Adam quietly, looking at Sauli with his beautifully menacing eyes. "The things you say, those eyes," Adam ran his index finger slowly across Sauli's mouth, "those lips." Sauli could see the tears building up in Adam's eyes. All these years of being cold and alone, holding back his feelings, made this time of release overwhelming.

"Maybe it's not me that reminds you of him," replied Sauli, placing a comforting hand over Adam's, "Maybe...it is the feeling. The way you feel for me, it reminds you of the way you felt for him, doesn't it?" Adam's eyes darted left to right in thought, contemplating Sauli's theory. Was it true? "I'm not Jibade, Adam," continued Sauli, "I will not replace you or tell you lies." Sauli's thumb ran gently down Adam's right wrist, across his Eye of Horus tattoo. "You can trust me, I swear on my life. I love you, Adam." Adam and Sauli stared into each other's eyes, each of them trying to read the other's thoughts. Then, the silence broke with Adam's light laughter.

"Okay," he replied smiling, black mascara tears of joy leaking down his cheeks. "I believe you." He grabbed Sauli's face and pulled him into one last passionate kiss before the couple sat up from the grass. The two smiled at each other, and even though Adam's demonic features were showing, Sauli thought that he had never looked more handsome in that moment.

"Adam," said Sauli, intertwining their fingers, "I have something to ask of you, and, I know it may not be an ideal time to ask this, but-"

"Hush, silly boy," said Adam with a giggle. "I think it's a little early for marriage, don't you?" Sauli blushed, then shook it off.

"No, no, that's not what I meant. It's about Tommy."

"Tommy?" Asked Adam, then his eyes got wide as the memories returned to him. "Oh my god."

"He is very weak and sick now. I need you to help him." Adam bit his bottom lip and his eyes glanced away from Sauli.

"Sauli, I'd really like to, but I-" Adam's eyes moved back to look at Sauli and Adam felt his heart melt. The amount of concern in his eyes and the tension in his body language said it all. Adam sighed and reluctantly let out a small smile as he caressed Sauli's left cheek with his fingertips. "I can fix him, but are you sure your friend Angela will even let me near him? She doesn't seem as open-minded as you are." Adam growled viciously and his red-eyes glew bright at the thought of her. Sauli placed a hand on Adam's back and rubbed it soothingly, making Adam purr with delight.

"Don't worry," he said, wrapping his arms around Adam, "As long as you're there to help Tommy, she'll let you see him. Sometimes I swear she cares more about him than herself." Adam rolled his eyes behind Sauli's back, then kissed the back of his neck softly.

"You know where he is, right?" He asked. Sauli nodded in response.

"Yeah," Sauli replied, "he's at UCLA Medical Center. It's not that far by car, but if we start walking now, I am not sure how long it will take." Adam chuckled to himself with a smirk.

"Who said anything about walking?" Sauli gasped, but before he could speak, Adam's wings were spread and they were already flying through the air. Sauli gripped on tightly to Adam's body, trembling with fear. "You okay, handsome?" Asked Adam with a giggle.

"No!" Cried Sauli, burying his face in Adam's chest. "I-I'm t-terrified of heights!"

"There, there, love," said Adam with a smile, petting Sauli's hair, "We're almost there. Just a few more seconds. Hold on tightly!" Sauli nodded quickly, his eyes shut tightly. He felt them drop down and gained the strength to open his eyes once more. They were safely on the ground in the hospital parking lot. Sauli sighed with relief and kissed Adam's cheek.

"You glorious beast, you," he said faintly. Adam smiled, but Sauli looked distraught.

"What's wrong, Sauli?" Asked Adam, tilting his head slightly.

"Well," said Sauli, rubbing his arm uncomfortably, "it's just that...um..." Sauli pointed to his forehead and Adam ran his fingers across his own forehead. The sharp tip of his horn punctured his fingertips.

"Oooooh!" Said Adam blushing, embarrassed by his forgetfulness. "Right! You, uh, might want to look away for a minute." Sauli covered his eyes, but peeked through his fingers. He gasped quietly as he watched Adam's wings crack and morph themselves into Adam's back. Adam groaned as his horns pulled themselves back down into his forehead and his eyes bled red as they changed from their natural color to blue. After a few moments, he was looking human again.

"It hurts you? To change like that, I mean," asked Sauli, a small frown on his face. Adam took a deep breath as his pale skin became a nice shade of peach.

"Only for a moment," he said reassuringly, "but don't worry about me, Sauli. This is about helping your friend, remember?" Adam took Sauli's hand and smiled. "Lead the way." Sauli smiled and with a nod he and Adam ran into the hospital. Sauli used his other hand to pull out his phone and began texting Angela.

"Hey, Ang," he texted, "I found a way to help Tommy! I need his room number now!" Sauli halted for a moment, then Angela responded.

"Room 240," she texted, "Please hurry! He doesn't have much time left."