Dove's POV

"Vinter?" I nudged him lightly. He zoned out when I was talking to him. He looked at me absentmindedly but then he shook his head.

"Yeah sorry," he apologized. "I'm glad you didn't break the bond."

He was smiling ear to ear, and I don't blame him. This bond is a big deal to him, and after what I felt today I can see why it's a big deal to everyone. I still don't know if this bond is a blessing or curse, but to tamper with it is like going against the rules of God. A mere human like me is not powerful enough to go against such a supreme being.

"Anyway, we can leave tomorrow morning. This trip was useless," I said.

"It wasn't useless," he immediately replied.

"It was useless for me."

"You got to understand the depth and reality of our soulmate bond. It was not useless, neither to me nor to you."

"Whatever you say," I said. "I will go and talk to Mammon."

He hummed and I left the room. I went to Mammon's room and knock on the door. After a few moments, he opened the door.

"You painted the walls?" I asked peeping inside the room.

"Your flower boy helped," he replied. So this was what they were doing while I was gone. I'm glad Mammon is warming up to someone other than just me, Leviathan, and Belphegor.

"Take a walk with me," I said. He nodded as he went back inside to get his jacket.

After he got his jacket we went outside the house, strolling around the town.

"What are you planning to do now?" I asked him.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You can't go back and be part of the sins, if Lucifer finds out about this he will most likely kill you and then your grandmother," I said.

"I know. I'm confused, I want to let Leviathan know about everything before I go missing," he mumbled.

"I can talk to Leviathan, if you want," I suggested.

"Hm... forget about that. Tell me what happened at infinity lake?" He asked.

Telling him everything was my original plan anyway, that was the reason why I asked him to take a walk with me in the first place. So I did, I told him whatever happened at infinity lake. He listened to me carefully, without judging or reacting to anything I said.

After I was done talking, there was a long silence between us.

"So, are you going to give flower boy a chance?" He asked breaking the silence. I shook my head.

"He is my soulmate, and I do care for him a lot. But I'm in love with his brother, not him. Giving him a chance is not an option," I spoke.

"I haven't met Twilight Harris yet, but I like flower boy better," he said. I chuckled.

"You warmed up to Vinter pretty quick. That is very unlike you, brat," I said.

"What are you talking about? I'm always warm to good people," he said. I rolled my eyes. Like I would believe that. But there is something about Vinter that makes people build trust in him quickly. Even though we are soulmates; Vinter and I are poles apart in nature. I have the habit of deceiving others for my benefit, unlike him. My all actions are taken for my selfish motives, while he does stuff for people unconditionally.
What a perfect human being.

"I will leave tomorrow morning, you want to come along?" I asked.

"No, I still have to refurbish my bedroom."

"Okay then," I said.

"We should go back," he spoke. "You should sleep. Want me to give you sedatives?"

"No, I will be fine. I guess I can sleep," I replied. After what happened at infinity lake today, I feel like there is some sort of serenity inside of me, I feel like I can sleep peacefully.

"That's good," he said as we begin walking towards his house.

It was a silent walk back as neither of us had anything to talk about. When we reached there, he bid his goodbye and went straight to his room to probably work on it.

I went back to my shared room with Vinter. I entered the room without knocking, and that was probably the biggest mistake of my life Vinter was about to wear his shirt.

His back was facing me, and I stood there frozen. There were bruise scars on his back. Was this the reason he doesn't like showing his skin much? Is this why he always wears a shirt?

I walked closer to him and placed my hand on his bruise scars. He flinched and turned around. He stepped back from me as he quickly wore his shirt.

"I didn't expect you would be back so soon," he mumbled.

"What are these scars?" I asked.

"Nothing," he spoke as he placed a cigarette between his lips, unlit.

"This is not fair, Harris. You know all about me and I know so little about you," I spoke.

He chuckled.

"I don't think anything I will say will interest you," he smiled.

"Try me," I sat beside him. He turned to look at me and shook his head.

"These bruises are a gift from my old man," he said. I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Twilight was clumsy as a kid, he often broke stuff at home playing around. My father has always been that abusive parent, but I know if he would have beaten Twilight it would have been worse than this. So I took the blame upon me, and took the beating instead," he spoke.

"Twilight doesn't know about this though. He only found out about this once, but I was able to cover things up. It would be a pain if he finds out that I was taking a beating cause he broke something. I don't want my brother to live in guilt."

"I'm sorry..." I mumbled. I was wrong about Vinter all this time. Vinter might look like someone who is a child, raised in a perfect-looking family. But he had his share of pain in the past. He is such a dedicated brother.

"Why are you sorry?" He asked.

"I thought, I knew you. But I hardly do, I thought that you were just a brat who always got what he wanted. I thought you were a crybaby who constantly needs others to protect him... I am so sorry, Vinter," I looked down.

"Hey~ it's okay. I had wrong thoughts about you too, remember?" He placed his hands on my cheeks and made me look at him. "We all judge people based on what they show us."

"Yeah... is this why you are always fully dressed?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied. I can understand what he feels, even though I don't like my scars exposed. Vinter and my life were so different, but why do we both have scars so similar to our past?

"I'm gonna go outside and sleep on the armchair. You can take the bed," I said getting up. I caught my wrist.

"No, I will sleep on the arm-"

"No, I feel like I will be able to sleep better outside," I said. "I will get night terrors otherwise."

"Good night, Harris."

He nodded as he let go of my hand.

"Good night, princess," he spoke.

"Stop calling me that," I retorted as he chuckled.

I scoffed as I picked up my blanket and opened the door of the balcony. I could feel the gentle breeze as I inhaled deeply.

"Finally a good night's sleep," I mumbled as I got comfortable on the armchair as placed my leg on the ottoman. I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to consume me.

~~

The next day we got ready to leave Gabriella's house. Both Vinter and I packed our stuff and we went downstairs.

"You guys are done packing your stuff?" Mammon asked.

"Yeah, we are going to go now," Vinter spoke.

"Why? I thought you guys would at least stay for breakfast," Mammon said.

"Would love to but I told Dylan I would be back by noon, and if I don't reach on time he will freak out. He is kind of dramatic," Vinter spoke.

"Come here the two of you," we heard Gabriella's voice coming from the kitchen. Mammon chuckled as he gestured for us to go to Gabriella.

Both Vinter and I went to the kitchen, she was holding two bracelets in her hand.

"Here... this is a bonding bracelet. It will help you strengthen your soulmate bond," she spoke as she tied one around Vinter's wrist.

"But I have a boyfriend, I love-"

"That does not matter. It still does not change the fact that Vinter is the one God chose for you, does it?" Gabriella interrupted my statement.

I hesitantly extended my arm as she tied the bracelet around my wrist. After she was done tying, I wrapped my arms around her. She didn't hug back at first, but after a few seconds, she did.

"Thank you for everything, Gabriella. Take care," I mumbled.

"You too, take care," she said. "And have faith in your soulmate and bond. I know for a fact that your soulmate will stick with you till the end. Value it."

I hummed in response as I let go of her. I walked outside as Vinter went ahead and bid his goodbye to Gabriella.
I walked up to Mammon with a smile.

"Take care of your grandmother, brat," I said.

"I will. But you better take care of yourself. Don't do anything reckless. I will be back soon. Till then, be safe, brat."

"I will," I said.

Vinter and Mammon helped in placing the luggage in the trunk of the car. Most of it was Vinter's luggage, I only had one bag on me. Both Vinter and I got inside the car. Vinter said he will be driving this time, but not as I would mind.

"I will be back there soon. I have some unfinished business left to do. Till then don't meddle with Lucifer, both of you," Mammon nagged.

"Yes, dad," I replied.

"Don't worry, Aries. I will keep you updated with everything," Vinter spoke. Of course, they became best friends after all.

I rolled my eyes as I gestured for Vinter to drive.

"Bye, brat and flower boy," Mammon spoke.

"Bye, Aries."

"Bye, brat."

Vinter turned the engine on and now we were on our way back home. Finally, I will be able to see Twilight. It's been a few days and I miss him so badly. Way back home was not very hard to find as Vinter had already memorized the entire route.

"I will have to go to Hope records. Need to show my face to Dylan so he can make sure I'm alive and safe," Vinter spoke. I chuckled. I can imagine Dylan freaking out over Vinter's sudden disappearance.

"I can understand, my best friend is like that too. Though I mostly prefer ignoring her," I chuckled which made him smile.

I had my share of good experiences with Vinter. As much as I hate to admit it, I feel like Vinter and I have gotten closer than I think we were before. I guess I can consider him a friend now.

"This is my stop," Vinter spoke as he parked the car near the Hope records. He got out of the car and so did I. He took his luggage from the trunk.

"I..." I paused. He looked at me.

"I had a nice time... with you," I mumbled. He chuckled.

"So shy," he whispered under his breath.

"I had a nice time with you too, princess," he replied laughing. He likes mocking me and making fun of me, doesn't he? Now that he found all my weaknesses, he enjoys pushing my buttons. I scoffed.

He leaned in and kissed my cheek, and I stood there surprised.

"Don't you ever forget, I will steal you away from my brother one day," he winked at me and walked away. While I stood there with my fingers touching the spot where he kissed me.

I stared at his retreating figure as I blinked a few times and shook my head.

"Asshole," I glared at the entrance of the building from where he entered.

Does he mean it though? Can he steal me from Twilight? Is that possible?

Well, only time will give me answers to all these questions. I will just have to wait and watch.

♤♤♤

I sleep like Dove in sitting position whenever I get nightmares, it really helps since I often get night terrors and because of it I have hard time falling asleep, so when I sleep while sitting it helps me wake up as soon as the nightmare starts. I have no idea why I'm writing this here.