Praxis let Alchemy sleep late into the afternoon. She rose at one in the afternoon, legs still sore from dancing and there were small bruises on her chest and stomach from where the beads hit her skin repeatedly. She didn't even bother to brush her hair when she went downstairs.
Much to her delight, she found a large floral arrangement.
"Your father bought it for you," Praxis told her, "lilies are your favourite?"
"He didn't have too..."
"Flowers are traditional."
Alchemy nodded and yawned, walking lazily into the kitchen for something to drink. She kept her head down, and didn't notice she was walking into Blackheart until she actually collided with him.
"Good morning Sleeping Beauty."
"Shut up," Alchemy grinned, pushing past him and pouring herself a glass of juice.
"Sleep well?"
She laughed lightly, "Yeah, it was great to sleep as late as I wanted; my legs hurt though."
"I wouldn't doubt it," he smirked, "no more dancing for a while?"
"Don't sound so disappointed," She smiled, "play your cards right, and I'll do another routine," she stepped closer to him, quite literally an inch away from his face, "if you're really nice to me, it'll be just for you." He felt her cold breath on his lips, mere millimetres away from each other. The corners of her mouth flicked into a smile.
Did she know? Did she know that for a little over a month he had fantasized about her? Her eyes told him she had no idea, but that twitching smile made him think she did. How much like Praxis was she? Praxis could read the thoughts of human, demon and angel alike, but could her half-breed daughter? He was very careful with his thoughts, guarding them as best he knew how, but in a moment of weakness could Alchemy read his thoughts? If her mother could, surely she could as well?
Then again, her mother had never taught her a damn thing.
"Alchemy!" Her mother leaned into the kitchen over the bar. Quickly, she snapped out of her trance and backed away from Blackheart slightly.
"Yes mother?"
"Did I interrupt something?"
"No, mother," Alchemy angrily took a sip of her juice, "what do you want?"
"I'm going to get the groceries," she held up a folded piece of paper, "just letting you know."
Alchemy snorted, "Thanks mother, I'll help you when you get back."
She walked out of the kitchen, sitting cross-legged on the couch, watching some film Blackheart had never heard of.
Damn.
He had been so close. So fucking close. He could see the small little eye lashes in the corners of her eyes. He could distinguish the four shades of red in her irises. He could smell the coconut shampoo she used in her hair. He could feel her cold breath.
Then Praxis has to interrupt.
Blackheart was bitter the rest of the day; not talking to Praxis. He kept trying to get close with Alchemy, but the moment was gone. Maybe she would try it again when they were alone in their room. He tried to draw attention to himself, but Alchemy was wrapped up in her online world.
She had been typing furiously for at least half an hour. Her forehead was creased, and she chewed on her lip nervously. Her hands flew across her keyboard, becoming a virtual blur.
She leaned back, throwing her hands down, exasperated. Blackheart was quick to notice. "Not to be rude or anything Alchemy..."
"What?" She snapped at him. Her eyes were full of fire, and she looked very sharp instead of the gentle young woman she usually was.
He was taken aback, "I was wondering what's wrong..."
She ran a hand through her hair, "my ex boyfriend wants to have breakfast with me tomorrow morning."
Blackheart felt a pang of jealously. He quickly tried to shake it off and went back to focusing on Alchemy. She was crying a bit.
"Oh," he stood and sat beside her, "don't cry Alchemy, you don't have to go if you don't want to."
"He's never accepted the fact that we broke up. It's been almost a year."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, go I guess. But I don't want to tell mother."
She started crying harder.
Blackheart put his arm around her, and turned her face to look at him, "we'll tell her that you and I are going out for breakfast." He smiled and rubbed her tears away with his thumb, "if this guy is really bothering you..."
"I know what you're thinking; I don't want him dead, I want him to leave me alone."
"I can do that too."
She smiled, "I'd appreciate you lying to my mother for me, and just sitting in the car."
She turned back to her computer, and typed off a reply: "I'll be there at eight am." After this, she shut down her machine, and sighed, fingering her lacy tank top. She quickly ripped it off and threw it on the floor. "Oh," She noticed Blackheart again, and quickly pulled her duvet to her neck, "I'm sorry."
"I figured that out a long time ago; it's okay."
She relaxed a little.
He began to stand up, but she whimpered slightly. "Blackheart? I know there isn't a lot of room in my bed, but will you please stay with me?"
She was really worried. He nodded and slid back into bed. She quickly laid down, and gripped his hand. She whispered "thank you," and promptly fell asleep.
Blackheart stayed up for a while, watching her in a peaceful slumber. He had her in a protective embrace, and her hands were locked in his. In the very pale light of the moon, she looked like a little doll. This was, oddly enough, the time when Blackheart thought she was the most beautiful.
Her lips twitched into a small smile. She was dreaming.
He lightly kissed her cheek, and settled down to sleep.
Something was rubbing his back. He rolled over slightly to discover a still dreaming Alchemy pressed up firmly against his back. Her eyes, though closed, were fluttering rapidly. Her legs were slowly entwining themselves with his, wrapping around him, like she was being carried on his back.
Then he felt it. She slammed her crotch into his back, groaning slightly. He shook her off a bit, and she wound up on her back. He watched her for a minute. She thrashed around a bit, but not too violently. She was mostly covered up with the duvet, but he had a general idea where her hand was. He really couldn't look away. He felt wrong for watching a sleeping Alchemy masturbate furiously, but he could not tear his eyes away from her arching back and bouncing breasts.
A bead of sweat formed around her hairline, and she whimpered slightly, mouthing nonsense words. Her head rolled around on her pillow as she writhed in pleasure, face contorting. She was frighteningly quiet; usually when Alchemy slept she made noise. Not like talking in her sleep, or snoring badly, but she made little noises like a kitten, little chirps and coos.
However, as she reached her peak, she said a single word. Perhaps "said" isn't the right term. She breathed it out, shakily.
This caught Blackheart's attention, for it was his name.
Alchemy remembered nothing of her dream, but awoke as the sun rose and watched the pinkish hues of the sky illumine her room. It looked so calm, and so beautiful.
Blackheart felt the sun on his face, and opened his eyes. He noticed Alchemy sitting up. She must have heard him wake up, because she turned serenely to face him, "Today is the big day."
"You make it sound like you're going to be killed."
"He was a volatile man..."
He sat up, "did he hurt you?"
"If anything, I hurt him. He tried to kill himself after I did it. But I had to get away. I was in love with someone else, someone I vowed to be with long before I ever dated."
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on her shoulder, "Alchemy, you're going to be fine. Besides, if he tries anything, I'll be right in the car."
She nodded, "I owe you."
"No, you don't," he scoffed. Indeed, she did not owe him anything; she gave him more than she thought.
They continued to watch the sun rise before climbing out of bed and getting ready.
"You're up early," Praxis commented as the two were downstairs at quarter to eight.
"We're going out for breakfast," Alchemy replied, "be back later."
"Don't be too late," Praxis said, "you have laundry to do."
Alchemy sighed angrily and quickly grabbed her set of car keys.
He was already there. She saw him in the window. He had joined the police force now, and was still in basic training. She parked the car so Blackheart could watch the scene from the car. "Well, this is it," she commented.
"Are you sure you don't want me there?"
"I think I'll live..." She smiled slightly, "I'll be back soon."
He nodded and watched her walk into the restaurant. The man stood as she approached, and tried to hug her. She quickly slid into the booth before he had his chance. "It's been over a year," Alchemy began.
"It has." There was silence. "I ordered you a coffee, if that isn't too forward of me," he pushed the steaming mug over.
Blackheart didn't like him. He was scrawny, with a bad haircut and homely features. He kept trying to hold Alchemy's hand, and even though Blackheart was in the car, he could tell she was shooting looks of pure venom.
"You've been stalking me online, haven't you?"
"Sometimes," he admitted, "I love you."
"I told you before, I don't love you. I don't even like you. We went out because I was desperate."
"But you can change," he looked like he was about to cry.
"Before I even met you I was in love with another man, a man I promised myself I would marry."
"And where is he now?"
"He's sitting in my car; he is my fiancée after all..." He stood. This was not the answer he was expecting "What are you doing?"
"To take what's mine."
He bolted out of the restaurant toward the car. Blackheart straightened up as he came forward.
"Stop it!" She yelled.
"No, I want to see what I'm up against."
"You'll be killed."
"I don't care."
"Let me tell him first then."
He stopped about halfway to the car, "fine then."
She strode quickly past. Blackheart opened the door.
"He wants a fight...to 'claim' me," she whispered, "he thinks we're in a close relationship, engaged."
Blackheart looked over at him, "I can take him down in an instant."
"I don't want you to kill him."
"Get out of the car," he yelled. Blackheart gently pushed Alchemy out of the way. His long, billowy jacket flared out as he walked.
"You're Alchemy's ex?"
He nodded, "and you're her fiancée?"
Blackheart nodded triumphantly, "I can see why she broke up with you. You're weak, pathetic. You couldn't handle her."
"Can you, Goth boy?" He nodded over at her, "you know what she is?"
"Besides too much of a woman for you?"
"She's a demon."
Blackheart was now right in front of him, "I know." He growled deeply, eyes turning black and smiling to reveal his demonic teeth, "so am I."
The other man quivered, "I'm not afraid of you."
Blackheart smirked as his pale skin started to reveal his purple veins, like cracks across his face. "You know what I could to you?" He circled around, "I could...rip your heart out and devour it while it still beat. I could...peel your skin off like an orange and let you bleed out. I could...make you explode. I could do any of these things, and more. I have a way to kill you for each time you've stalked my future wife. I have a way to kill you for each time you've made her fear for her life." He stopped circling and stood behind him, "If you don't leave her alone, and accept that this is goodbye," he dropped his voice to a whisper, "I'll make you wish you were never born." With that, he walked back to Alchemy, and slid into the car, looking very smug and proud of himself.
Once they were in the car and driving away, Alchemy let out a nervous laugh.
"He won't bother you again."
She smiled, "I really owe you now. How about some breakfast?" She pulled into a drive-through fast food place and purchased coffee and a breakfast sandwich thing. It was not terrible, though Blackheart preferred Alchemy's cooking.
"Thank you," She said while picking at her sandwich, "if he hadn't been afraid of me, he would have pulled his gun on you."
"How do you know?"
"He wanted you dead Blackheart, he thought you were my fiancée. You had stolen his prize."
"You are not a prize to be won Alchemy," Blackheart said suddenly, "you are a woman who is strong and fiercely proud of what she has accomplished. If anything, your future husband will be your prize, not the other way around."
Alchemy smiled, and leaned over to kiss his cheek, but she quickly blushed and took a sip of her coffee.
This had been the most exciting breakfast either of them had ever experienced.
