Chapter 6 Chapter 6
Roaming through the streets of New York, Valerie stared into space, her empty eyes not focusing on anything or anyone. It was late, and the roads were not as busy anymore. She felt entirely numb. Her desperation had grown, swallowing up any hope, and now she was ready to give up. How should she survive this predicament?
How should she ever find happiness? She had always wanted to live a regular life, start a family, and settle down somewhere in a beautiful house at the city's edge, but her aspirations had gone down the drain in a single day. The demon would likely murder anyone close to her to ensure she was miserable.
He would make her pay as soon as he got the chance to. Valerie could never let him come near her friends or family for the sake of their lives. She would have to keep her distance for now, as hard as it was.
Valerie dreaded going home, knowing he would likely await her already, and if he found a way to break the bond, he would murder her right away. She glanced at the star on her wrist, her lips curling into a sneer. A demon with light powers, what nonsense.
How could a monster be associated with something as pure as light? It was ridiculous, and had she not seen his powers with her own eyes, she would not have believed it.
“Fuck you, Maxwell,” she hissed, receiving a dirty look from a passerby, which she didn’t even notice. “I’m going to make this as difficult for you as you make it for me.”
Glaring at the mark on her wrist, she was overtaken by a sudden urge to get rid of it, to eradicate it from her skin. The repulsive star was the root of all her misfortune – she despised it, and the last thing she wanted was to wear his crest on her body.
Angry tears burned in her brown eyes when she clawed at it, her fingernails leaving bloody streaks on her wrist as she let her frustration out, attempting to get rid of the mark despite knowing it would never work like this.
She screamed in fury, a mix of desperation and rage rising within her, pushing her into a bottomless abyss. Valerie mindlessly ripped at her skin, but the mark remained, a mocking sight to her eyes.
It hurt like hell, and knowing he felt it too gave her a sense of satisfaction. The bastard should suffer just as much as her. Scowling, she finally let go of her wrist, the wound stinging as it disappeared under her long sleeve. She stopped and looked up at the starry sky, the anger within her fading and anguish taking its place.
“I never wanted this to happen,” she muttered, clutching her purse with trembling fingers. She stood glued to the spot until someone rudely jostled her, waking her from her apathy. Frowning to herself, she walked on, trying to avoid the inevitable for as long as possible. When she rounded a street corner, a shadow appeared behind her.
“Look who we have here,” someone suddenly whispered into her ear, her back rigid in fright. An arm was slung around her waist, fingers ensnaring her wrist in a harsh grip. “You stupid human think you can do whatever you want with your body,” Maxwell’s voice snarled, his breath grazing her ear. “Your body is mine now. You can’t damage it, understand?”
His voice was low and husky, making her shudder, while his proximity was more than unsettling. He squeezed her arm tightly before he let go and stepped back, allowing her to breathe.
“Leave me alone, demon,” she said emotionlessly, walking towards her home without sparing him a glance. He caught up without any effort.
“You brought this upon yourself; don’t act like it’s my fault because it isn’t.” He grinned smugly, putting his hands into his pockets.
The ends of the silver chain dangled down from behind his ears, reflecting the moon's light. His eyes glowed oddly in the darkness, betraying that he wasn’t human. Valerie had to tear her gaze away from the otherworldly sight, staring at the pavement as she walked.
“I take it you haven’t found a way to break the bond,” she said. One of the streetlamps nearby darkened ominously.
“No. Otherwise, I would have snapped your neck already,” he admitted with disturbing honesty. “Why did you leave the house?”
“I tried to find a way to get rid of you.”
“And?” he drawled, smirking.
“The priest chased me away, calling me a sinner… I didn’t get very far, sadly.”
“As much as I hate religious people, he was right. You are a sinner.”
“Then what does that make you?” she objected, folding her arms.
“I’m the sin,” he grinned devilishly. Valerie’s heart stuttered when her eyes fell on his lips, quickly redirecting her attention elsewhere.
“Don’t mock me,” she snapped at him, but her voice failed her, fueling his amusement.
“I’m doing whatever I want.”
She was seething at this point, but she bit her lip and kept her thoughts to herself since an argument with him was wasted time. Entering the apartment building where she lived, she walked up the stairs and unlocked her door, throwing her purse on the ground without a care.
Maxwell followed her like a shadow, stalking her into her kitchen. That was when he stopped her, stepping in her way. Again, his hand wound around her left arm, unveiling her injury.
“Take care of this, human,” he hissed sharply. “And if you hurt yourself on purpose again, you will pay.” His eyes flashed, irises bleeding red. Valerie winced, fearing his retaliation.
That night, she locked herself in her bedroom again, not caring about the demon. He could sleep on the floor for all she cared, though she doubted demons required any sleep in the first place.