Scene VIII - Stars in the Sky.

Takes place in: Month I - Day 9.

Night again. This time however, Carlos had opted to be alone. No visits to his sister, no talk with the girls or his family.

In his home. His NEW home. He was alone. Looking up at the magical sky. Resting on the roof, unable to sleep.

It looked like there was another universe out there. So many strange stars and formations. Was this place truly alive? Was the Tower a piece of something greater?

Who knew?

Who cared?

Carlos' mind was occupied with many other things. Pain wracking his body after a day of exercise.

Loneliness was the least of his problems.

In just a few days, he even counted the one he had been out of commission, he had grown so attached it hurt. It was unnatural, or so he thought. And yet he yearned for more. The time spent with his family had taken it out of his mind here and there, but the thought kept sending him back to the three women with him and how it was likely the group would grow far beyond that number.

It also hurt that of the three present, one face grew more prominent than the others. The thought of picking a favorite felt wrong, yet here he was, eight days in and already this deep in shit.

"Carlos… Are you alright?"

Speaking of the devil.

"No."

Sometimes he hated this sincerity bullshit.

"I…" Evelinde made a stop. "Did I do something?"

Carlos didn't tear his eyes away from the stars. "Bad? No." He took a deep breath. "Good? Yes."

A moment of quietude.

"Then…?"

"I never thought anyone I had a relationship with would do as you did." Carlos admitted as his eyes flickered. Had that been a shooting star in that fake sky? Was it really fake in the end? Or was something out there? "To you, it was just staying with me. You wanted to help, to be with me. Something… normal? To me, it was more loyalty than any partner I have ever had. I… don't know how to feel. Just… hurt at how I have been treated, curse or not? Or happy that you are with me?" He sighed. "It is complicated."

A few steps.

Evelinde sat next to the edge, at Carlos' side. It was a bit of a strange sight to him. She was still clothed, minus her hat, and she was wearing her mask this time.

"Why are you hiding your face?"

Evelinde didn't look at him. He wasn't looking her way either. Side glances were all they shared.

"I thought I did something wrong." Evelinde admitted at last. "You didn't reach out for me today. It made me feel like I wanted to hide. This is not what I use the mask for, but…"

Carlos surprised her by grabbing one of her hands, almost making the Cambion slip in surprise.

"You didn't do anything wrong. Don't think that." Now Carlos was looking at her. "It… I just am not used to a normal relationship anymore. One with care." He took a deep breath. "And this one… Heh, it is not only abnormal, but I am with more than one woman." There was a blush growing on the young man's face, but he suppressed it quickly as his mind wandered away from that. "My previous ones were horrible, and they took so long to get anywhere. Well… they took far too long to end as they were 'supposed to' at any rate." He shook his head. "I think this is going so fast I am losing myself…"

Evelinde took a second to digest that. "I feel like that is going to be a common thought for you."

The Cambion didn't need to look his way to know he was nodding. In Hell it wasn't rare for relationships to be even faster than the fastest on Earth. It went like that in all ways; beginnings, developments, ends, changes, surprises, etc. Anything could be very fast in Hell, good or bad. Considering how common death was, this was unsurprising. Everyone tried to live their fullest at all times. Even the Cannibal Colony was fickle despite being one of the tamest places (ironically) in Pentagram.

"Perhaps." Carlos had to admit the truth. This speedy attachment was getting to him. "But I don't hate it. I am just nervous. It may eat at me for a while, yeah, but I am happy that you are with me."

Evelinde smiled under her mask. That was enough for her. This had all felt so natural that even the Cambion was feeling like having second thoughts. Then Carlos went through that cursing session and Evelinde found herself sitting at his side in his parents' home the whole day.

She didn't want to leave.

There was something she wanted to say, only for Carlos to silence her by taking her mask away with as much a delicate touch as he could muster. Evelinde would be lying if she said she was against it.

"So please." He spoke as she turned his way. "You are beautiful in many ways. Your loyalty is just one of those qualities. You have no reason to shy from me, to hide, because you didn't do anything wrong."

Evelinde could feel her heart jump, much as Carlos did. For a second she was tempted to ask for a kiss, with Carlos almost longing for it. It was a natural thing that came to both of them, but the moment passed before either could seize it.

Instead, Carlos found his mouth working faster than his brains.

"Who wants all the stars in the sky." He said as he gently touched Evelinde's cheek. "When I have two at my side?"

Claws dark as night held his hand in place. A smile with teeth so sharp that could render a man's soul. Eyes dark with pits of vibrant white to lead lives to their doom. Blush of dark blood to finish the inhuman look.

Yet he just saw a beautiful woman that did her best to be with him.

"Will you remain here with me? Just… for a while. Please?"

Evelinde offered no words, just a nod.

The pair leaned on each other, looking at the magical sky. The night was young and they had time.

All the while a single eye looked at them from the stairs leading into their house, one figure with hope, the other with envy.

The shark would have her chance.