Valentine sat in silence as he waited impatiently for the raven to finish reading the childish book. It had already been an hour and counting and the prince hadn't even looked up from the thick paperback book. Had it been a novel it would have been understandable. The elder spider understood the feeling of being engrossed in a fascinating book, but that was far from Allech's case. The book he was fawning over was a picture book that displayed all the breeds and physical traits of creatures named 'cats'.
Valentine himself had never had much of an interest in the species. He had been to earth several times in the past and had seen the creatures, but honestly he never paid it much heed. Regardless of its cute and seemingly independent behavior it still depended on others for its overall survival. That was a weakness that the plum haired spider absolutely despised. Anything that couldn't survive on its own was hardly worth its salt.
Sebastian, on the other hand, was emerged in the world of the colorful, playful creatures that he thought so highly of. He had first found this book hidden within the castle when he was a mere child. His father had told him to familiarize himself with earth and its inhabitants. First he had learned of humans and their pitiful weaknesses. Knowing their vulnerabilities enabled a demon to easily manipulate the feeble minds of the living and allowed them to bestow contracts to a certain soul.
At first he had found nothing to particularly catch his interest. Humans were pathetic and needy as were most of the other creatures, especially dogs. They were the worst. They depended so wholeheartedly on humans and treated them as though they were gods, who in Sebastian's eyes were a bunch of good for nothings. The first and only creature besides ravens that managed to catch his interest was the felines. They were mostly independent, beautiful and had melodic purrs that put the coarse growls from mutts to shame. Since the day he first set eyes on this fabric bound parchment book it was his favorite and he found himself going back to it often, happily stroking the outlines of the drawn in cats. It wasn't quite the same as being around an actual cat, but it would do for the moment.
The familiar sound of a page flipping brought a slight frown to the raven's pale lips as he stared at the blank, blue end page of the story. It always ended so soon, far too soon for the cat obsessed male's taste.
With a light sigh the prince stood up and set the nonfiction book on the nearby table. Perhaps he would come back later and look over it once more; after all he could think of nothing better to do.
"Ah, I see you are done." A velvety voice purred from behind the raven demon. "You spent quite a bit of time studying that novel; I take it that you enjoyed it?"
"I did." Allech confirmed, turning his head slightly to look at the taller male that smiled warmly at him, almost as though they were old friends. For some reason he had a nagging thought in the back of his head that they truly were old friends, or if not friends that they had met each other prior.
"Are you certain we have not met before?" Sebastian questioned, turning around completely. "You seem oddly familiar, although I cannot quite place where I have met you before."
The smile that seemed as though it had been permanently drawn on the purpled eyed demon's lips tugged slightly downwards. However the action left as swiftly as it occurred and within moments the grin was back upon the male's pale face.
"No, this past morning was the first time I had the privilege to meet you, My Prince. Perhaps you are confusing me with my Younger brother Angelus."
"You mean Claude?"
Valentine chuckled dryly at the name. "Yes, that is the frivolous name that he has insisted my father and I refer to him by."
"It was the name his last contractor gave him. If he wishes to be called by that name I see no reason to deny him that."
"I couldn't agree more."
Sebastian studied the male before him curiously. He had not left his side since breakfast and the raven found that fact to be irritating. He certainly did not want to be followed everywhere he went.
"Is there something I can help you with?" He inquired, "You have been with me since we departed from breakfast. Is there a reason for that?"
"Indeed." Valentine brushed a bang from his face and inched forward slightly, his gaze focused on the smaller male that both he and his brother set their eyes on. "I was wondering if you would like to… Spend some time together."
Allech furrowed his eyebrows together and met the spider's gaze. "And do what, exactly?"
"Get to know one another further." Valentine's voice was silky and seductive, showing that he was used to seducing others. Based on the amount of confidence he harvested it was apparent that very few ever turned his advances down.
"If you are looking for someone to help ease your boredom take it up with your brother. I have no particular interest in idle chat."
"Ah, but what I have in mind would be a sinful activity between two brothers."
Crimson eyes narrowed and lavender ones sparkled in delight. Allech was all too aware of what exactly this demon was implying.
"Excuse me if I am frank but in short you simply wish to bed me, yes?"
"I do not mind. It is what I was implying, after all."
A soft snicker escaped Sebastian as he shook his head.
"I'm afraid I'm picky with the demons I allow to bed me. While humans are simple to bed and leave demons are not. I'm afraid you shall have to look elsewhere for that."
With that the raven turned his back on the elder spider and walked towards the door, stopping only when a familiar figure entered through the same door, nearly bumping into him.
"I figured I would find you here." Claude smirked as he entered the room. His gaze lingered on the smaller male before him before shifting to his brother, the smirk swiftly fading from his face. "What were you two up to?"
"I was reading." Sebastian replied, matter of factly as he stopped just short of the golden eyed demon.
"Very good." Claude sighed, relieved at the response and his gaze remained on the fellow spider demon in the room.
"Pardon me, but I have a few duties to attend to."
The plum haired younger spider demon nodded and stepped aside, allowing the other to leave before turning on Valentine. "I take it your original plan fell through, yes?"
The teasing was evident in Angelus's voice and Valentine frowned, his frustration only rising at his brother's smug attitude. The raven's outright refusal to even pay him the slightest bit of attention angered him greatly and his clenched his fist.
"Now whatever gives you that impression, little brother?"
There was no way in hell he would give the younger spider the satisfaction of knowing that he had ended up in no better a position than he had. His charismatic and suave nature always proved to entice possible suitors, regardless of gender. Then again, this particular raven seemed to harvest quite a bit of those traits as well.
"Don't pretend to be oblivious." Claude's tone was mocking as he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. "I heard the end of your little conversation. It seems as though you have found out about Sebastian's preferences as well. He is selective about the demons he sleeps with."
"That is but a simple hurtle to jump. I've broken others who had had similar wills. Now it's just a matter of time."
Claude chuckled dryly and shook his head. "Just hearing you say that proves that you know nothing about the prince. On earth I had quite a bit of time to learn of his behavior and personality. He's not one to break, he merely bends. If you plan to outsmart him you shall have a rough time."
Lavender eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because as much as I enjoy watching you flounder like a fish out of water it is rather embarrassing. Besides, you're no threat to me."
A sly smile spread on Claude's lips as he turned and left the room as well, intending on finding Sebastian and spending the rest of the day with him. The younger spider was well aware that his brother was planning something. A plan of which he intended to result in ensnarling his prey in his precisely woven web, but Claude wasn't worried. There was no way the raven could become trapped in his brother's web for he was already tangled in his own. Struggling only pulled the avian deeper into the silky abyss. Eventually he would only have to give in and they would be together happily. Or so he thought.