(Lmao I've had that for 3 weeks starting today 😅)
Ember looked up at him the tears spilling from her eyes were damn near golden a couple ran down her cheeks as she stared up at him her body still shaking slightly and she nodded "okay… I trust you Nathaniel. " she closed her eyes as he kissed her a very small start of a smile crept on her face as she held him before being startled by his cough "are you okay? "
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Nathaniel tried his best to keep her from shaking holding her close, holding her still, anything. He wiped away the tears with his thumb, trying to muffle her whimpers. “Good. Nothing will ever be able to hurt you.” He rasped. His teeth had a tinge of pink to them. Clearing his throat, he shuttered from the taste that crept into his mouth. “I’m fine. Just a slight—.” What excuse could he use? Demons didn’t get sick and he definitely didn’t know what was going on. He did know, however, it was a price. “Just got something stuck in my throat.” He murmured. “Why do we go eat something..” Nathaniel stood up, waiting for Ember to stand too.
Ember held him too calming slightly as he stroked her back she was looking at him a little worried now as she saw the expression on his face when he cleared his throat and she nodded not really believing him "your positive? And dure I feel like I haven't eaten in days. " her attitude changed slightly as she became more relaxed she stood up with Nathaniel and followed him out the door
(I survived my first day)
Nathaniel took a deep breath, walking with Ember down to the private dining room. “I’m positive. I feel just fine. Nothing is going on behind the scenes.” His voice was breathy. He struggled to breath, trying not to show his struggle for Embers sake. “We’re going to the dining room and have a nice breakfast.” He stepped off the last step, trying to catch his balance. Crossing the grand hall, he entered the same dining room where he smashed the cup. The carpet had been cleaned and was in tip top shape. “Sit down where ever, Ember.” He pulled out the okay chair sitting at the head of the table. His usual spot. “I’m glad to see you have collected yourself.”
(Hurray!)
Ember followed after him quickly"okay if you say so " she couldn't understand why but she still didn't believe him she decide to leave it alone for now and move on she nodded and sat down next to Nathaniel closer than she was last time and she gave him a soft smile "I'm doing a little bit better yes." She nodded again before looking around the room her eyes were glowing she was looking for something….someone
Nathaniel rested his head against his hand, trying to catch a stable breath. He looked ill. "I swear I'm okay, Ember. I promise. I'll tell you if I'm not doing well." His eyes darted around the room, looking at all the portraits hung upon the wall. The fake fire place had small cracks in the furnishing and a few of the skulls had broke. He waited for the servants to bring food, leaning his head on Ember's shoulder (assuming she's very close to him). "I'm glad to hear it." The scent on his breath had a hint of peach, kinda like what his blood had tasted like. A servant brought the king an interesting unidentified stew and brought Ember some venison. The servant left after looking at the two, not wanting to disturb their moment. "I'm just—exhausted. That's all."
"Your breath smells of blood Nathaniel, your blood" she spoke smoothly and kept looking around the room she took notice to him leaning on her and it made her anxiousness falter slightly she gave the servant a small smile as they brought their food and brushed some hair out of Nathaniels face eat something maybe it'll help you. "
Nathaniel's face turned ghost white. "Yes—Ember. It does. I've been coughing up blood for the past few days, but I'll be okay. I don't need to rest or anything, just need to take away the curse…but I can't touch the book." He murmured, giving her a kiss on the neck. Sitting back up, he swirled the stew around with a steel spoon. He scooped away from him and brought the utensil to his mouth, taking a bite. "I don't think eating is going to help, dear. I think only you can help me. But I don't want to be bedridden, either." He set the spoon down, resting it against the rim of the ceramic bowl. "The spells I had conducted were dangerous and could have possibly costed my life." Pausing, he rested his head back on Ember's shoulder. "I just don't want you to worry about me."
I have a right to know this Nathaniel I said I trusted you that means I trust you to tell me the truth all the time she nodded to her self bringing her eyes to the demon if there's some way I can help you I will, no matter what it costs to do so, I don't want you to lie because you'll upset me in some kind of way just be honest because I'll worry about you regardless to what you tell me " she spoke softly her words sweet like honey as she held Nathaniel close to her running her fingers through his hair "I do this because I care for you and I don't want anything to happen to you"
"I'm..s-sorry." Nathaniel still struggled with that word. It was almost foreign to him. "I'll tell you the truth next time. I just didn't want you to know. To be alarmed." The kings had presented his softer side to Ember. It's like all his brashness melted away when he was around her. But if anyone tried to kill or manipulate her? They'll be dead. "There is a way you can help, but I don't want it to cost you your life. The spell is too much. You don't have that much power." He wasn't used to having people coddle him, risks their lives for him. He was used to dealing with the pain and hurt alone. "You're the first person to tell me that." He whispered, slumping into her arms further. He liked the feeling of someone brushing through his hair. Despite the heat of hell, his hair was soft and thick.
"Thank you I appreciate that. " she smiled softly continuing to feel his hair "I don't care what the cost may be Nathaniel I want to help you just let me help you. " she didn't think it was possible but she was head over heels for this man she held in her arms she couldn't stand him at first it was crazy to see how this happened it was a weird development but it happened and she wouldn't change anything if she got a second chance she would do everything the same no matter what she was in love with the king of hell a strange thing yes and definitely a single but she was damned the minute she was conceived there was no saving her from her damnation at least with him she felt home she felt loved and safe she never wanted that feeling to leave her it was a beautiful feeling if only she'd met him sooner she refused to let him die she'd do anything in her power to save this man she held him closer to him kissing him softly before leaning her head on his
Nathaniel nodded his head, leaning into Ember. "The costs could kill you. Do you really want that?" He rasped, holding back another cough. "I'll let you help me, but— I will murder greatly if you wind up dead." He closed his eyes, listening to Ember's heart beat. She may have fallen for him, but he still couldn't believe he loves a random werewolf. It was strange to imagine, especially after how he'd maimed her for being a werewolf. Well, he wasn't particularly too mean. But he did claim to adopt those whom were not wanted. Why not marry a werewolf. No harm in it—well except for some kinks in his lineage. But with his birth, Nathaniel had destroyed his lineage himself. Would he trade it for a pure lineage? No. No other demon could take care of him like one with a pure beating heart. Nathaniel blushed and kissed Ember back, keeping his head on his shoulder a little. "I'm going to go lay down. Will you come with? Maybe grab the book with the broken spine and peeling cover in my study… If you need any help lifting the curse, please call upon my lieutenant. He's short, has white hair, and is the sin of lust." Nathaniel sat up, stood up, and walked out of the dining room while coughing, abandoning his breakfast. The king lugged himself up the spiral stairs and into his spacious room across from Ember's. He flopped onto his round bed, crawling under the sheets and bringing his knees up to his chest.
Ember nodded "I can't allow you to die if I could have done to stop it Nathaniel I'd never forgive myself for that, you've already murdered greatly but hell needs a ruler and that's you nobody else. " she couldn't just stand ideally by and watch him die she had to do something "just go kay down I'll be there in a minute I'm going to get the book from your study and see what can be done she popped a few pieces of the meat on her plate into her mouth she was starving but it could wait this was more important she got up from her seat after Nathaniel left and went up to his study waking inside and over to the desk where the book was last left
The book on the desk had an ominous aura, almost as if it was going to corrupt your soul if you didn’t back off. Nevertheless, Ember was able to pick it up. Although, the book was only in an old demonic language and Latin.
Nathaniel laid curled up in his big bed, knees drawn up to his chest as he heaved. He could feel the blood well up into his throat, the peachy taste sickening in his mouth. He coughed it out, blood gathering on the sheets and the ash wood floor. The book had cursed him. It cursed him for summoning his ancestors and for killing off a piece of Haiti buried deep in himself. His punishment was supposed to be his everlasting fate as the ruler of hell, not dead the next day. Ember was right, nobody else could be the ruler of this forsaken place. Only he possessed royals blood. But his lieutenant could take over the empty throne if needed. Nathaniel held his chest, coughing up more of the reddish purple blood. The pain in his chest has become unbearable at one point. It wasn’t his fault. None of it was.
Ember grabbed the books and hurried down the stairs into Nathaniels room "Nathaniel I got the book and- Nathaniel?!" She only saw blood on the sheet and him laying there curled in on himself and she rushed over to the bed "what's happening what do I do?? Nathaniel! " she was scared to say the least she had not the slightest idea what to do she only looked at him with terror filled eyes and sat the book down on the corner of the bed and moving closer to the man
Nathaniel looked up at Ember, specks of his blood covering his mouth. "Open the book." He rasped. "And hold it open long enough for me to complete the spell." His coughs started to get consistent. He grabbed Ember's hand and squeezed it tight. "It won't be hard to complete. Just a few Latin phrases and it should all go away." The look in his eyes was one of begging, pleading for her to stay by his side. And possibly stay here for the rest of the cycle. "I'm not going to die. I won't allow it to happen. This shouldn't be able to kill me."
She nodded and frantically reached for the book fumbling a bit before she was able to open it her heart was beating so fast she could hear it all around her she opened it to an page and held it away from her slightly "okay here hurry"
Nathaniel did his best to sit up, leaning his back against the headboard. He squinted at the book, the words look like gibberish to him, but he continued on. "Aufer hanc maledictionem aut redde partem quam amisi." He coughed up more blood, trying his best to complete the spell before his lungs gave out. "Paenitet me actus, qui me dolorem effecit. Appellare eam ad pulsum cordis mei." A little breeze started to pick up and the king shut his eyes. He groaned, holding his chest as an invisible force both left and entered. He was silent for a long while before taking a deep breath and coughing up one last splatter of blood. Nathaniel was soaking in the air, his sides rising and falling quickly. "That was— too much." He laid his head on his pillow, ignoring the blood stains on his bed. "Lay the book on my nightstand and stay with me." He murmured weakly.
Ember sat there the the bed watching everything unfold she was still scared once it was all over scared that it was to late and he had died but he started to breath again and she let out the breath she was holding setting the book down and moving to hold him "I'm not going anywhere I swear it, I thought you were going to die… "
Nathaniel smiled, turning over the face Ember and hugged her. Well, more like cuddled. “I wouldn’t let myself die. Not today, not tomorrow.” He kissed her, the hint of peach still on his breath. “I had to regain what I gave away. That’s all. I paid my price, now I wanna snuggle.” Pouty demon over lord. He ran his fingers through Ember’s hair, slowly falling asleep from draining himself. “I love you. It may be insane to say say, but it’s true. I do actually have a heart despite what people say.”
She nestled into him holding him close she kissed him back softly he eyes and she nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck "I can definitely snuggle, " she said laughing a little bit and she was smiling to to him running his fingers through her hair and then she froze for a moment pulling her head back to look at him with a bright blush "i-i love you too.." She spoke sounding a little nervous as she said this but she was smiling
Nathaniel smiled. Softly. Not insanely. And it's about the first time in his life he’d done that. The sleepy, energy-drained demon yawned. “Good, because I’m going to fall asleep soon and I need warmth.” He whispered, his breathing slowing. He stopped running his fingers through her hair, wrapping his arm around her waste. He blushed when she said 'I love you' back. Nathaniel's eyes threatened to close on him, his hair messily falling in his face…and soon— the demon was asleep. He truly looked peaceful in his sleep.
"Dear we're in hell how are you cold? " she said teasingly as she cuddled closer to him her eyes closed quickly as she felt extremely tired for some reason she smiled when he moved his arm and shortly they were both asleep sleeping peacefully ember had no dreams of Azazel and she felt no fear of being asleep she was safe for the first time in her entire life she was safe
Nathaniel mumbled something about being a demon and that demons are always cold. But it was largely unintelligible. He pulled her closer in his sleep, dreaming of the force that tried to use his own blood to choke him. And then if he was caught by the hunters'. Demons did have nightmares, believe it or not. Well, mostly Nathaniel. The dark force that tried to choke him filled his mind with voices of the dead, dark blood leaking from the mouth of a spirit. Nathaniel had rolled into his back, and his eyes shot open. He sat up in bed with a cold sweat. He didn’t know where he was, what had happened, or why he had those dreams. Shaking his head, the memories started to come back clear as day. He was in his room…with Ember. He laid back down, unable to fall back asleep.
Ember was mostly a light sleeper when Nathaniel shot up so did she sitting up an her elbows looking around "what's going on what happened?" Her speech was slurred due to her just waking up she looked up at Nathaniel a little worried about him once he laid back down she laid her head down on his chest and played with his hair hopping to calm him down at least a little bit