Nix stepped out of the portal and the bare walls of Astaroth's castle greeted him. Boring as always. He simply couldn't understand this minimalist style. They didn't have to color the walls, but nothing was really... boring. This time he had sent a raven to warn the gentlemen. Have I become soft? He would think about that later.

The oracle went to the meeting room, where Astaroth and Belial were already waiting for him. Neither of them were exactly pleased to see him. "Oh come on, what has bitten you again?" Nix asked with his arms crossed.

"Nothing Nix, only most of the time it's not a good omen when you come to visit."

Nix clicked his tongue. "I can leave right away," he replied in an offended voice and turned around.

"Stop the games. Astaroth didn't mean it that way," Belial said.

"But I did," Astaroth shot back.

What the hell? Is Astaroth pouting? I've never experienced him like that before. Well, I haven't met him that often, Nix thought and frowned. He sat down as far away from them as possible, because the voices were already picking up speed. This will be a short conversation... "Well, we found four of the seven items," Nix started.

"Nice, but one question, what was the action in Belphegor's area supposed to be? Right now, Hell is up in arms because the mighty oracle seems to be an overpowering demon that can take out hundreds of demons with one snap," says Astaroth.

Ah, hence the bad mood. Nix leaned forward and supported his chin with his hands. "So what?" he asked challengingly.

"Nix, hell, you have risen to become a contender for a hell throne. You don't think the other princes of hell just let it slide?" Astaroth replied angrily.

"And I ask again, so what? It is completely irrelevant because I cannot take that position. I am bound to my position until my life comes to an end. So don't piss your pants."

"Hell, oracle, that's not the point. They will hunt you down."

"They shall try," Nix said. That didn't impress him one bit.

Astaroth slowly became angry: "They won't only hunt you, but also Lyric. He will-"

Nix then gave free rein to his aura. Black shadows swirled up and filled the room. The black marks glowed on Nix' skin as he granted his inner demon some liberty. The pressure in the room increased. Nix moved towards Astaroth and looked him in the eye with his red-hot eyes. "No one touches Lyric," he growled.

Neither demon dared to breathe or move. They had never felt such a powerful presence before. From one second to the next, the shadows disappeared and his demonic presence disappeared as if they had never been there. He turned around and sat down again. "I think I've made my point clear," Nix said in a friendly voice.

What they didn't know was the handicap of his sighting abilities. Nix was very powerful in his position, the shadows were powerful and there for his protection. Without them, he might be a demon of rank B, maybe A. But his current position was worth a damp mess if others could practically knock him out with a touch.

Belial struggled for composure. Nix is more powerful than Astaroth, perhaps even more powerful than any other hell prince. But what worried him more was what triggered this demonstration of power. Lyric.

"Nix, I have to ask that. What is Lyric to you?" Belia asked. Lyric was like a son to him and at the same time his best friend. He wouldn't let anything happen to Lyric.

The oracle tilted his head. "He belongs to me," he said nothing more.

"What does that mean?" Belial replied. Is Lyric... his heart? But the curse...

"It's none of your business. All that's relevant to you is that I won't let him go and I won't let anyone hurt him," Nix replied with a tone that didn't allow for any questions.

Belial clenched his fists.

"Belial, shouldn't you worry more about your angel?" the oracle asked, distracting from the topic. "How is your journey going?"

Belial turned his face away. So they hadn't had any success yet, Nix thought.

"Nix, I will try to shield you as much as possible, but you should be careful the next time you show yourself in public. Especially since Lyric has now been exposed as your henchman. About your... however, there is nothing circulating yet," Astaroth said. He couldn't afford to lose an important ally like Nix. Especially since he was the only one who could provide him with answers regarding the prophecy and also his own fate. After all, I'm the first person Empathy opens.

"Thank you, I appreciate that. There's another reason I'm here," Nix said, pulling out a wrinkled piece of paper. "I have numerous sources of information, but I haven't yet been able to locate the remaining three items. We absolutely have to find them before someone else gets on the funnel, which Lyric and I will do and that won't take long."

Astaroth took the parchment and held it out so that Belial could see it, too.

"What is it?" Belial asked.

"This is the bird's watch," Nix replied.

Astaroth frowned and asked, "Is this a silver watch about two hands in size, whose clock hands move counterclockwise?" Surprised, the oracle looked at the Prince of Hell and nodded. "I've seen them before. Let me think." Astaroth closed his eyes and thought hard. Then he opened it and made a grim face.

"Do you know where it is?" Belial asked his friend.

The hell prince nodded. "You won't like that. It is located in Sereph's study. Or at least that's where it was the last time I was there." Excellent. So much for not standing out. Then why not just visit a hell prince at home? "I'm too old for this shit," Astaroth murmured.

"Well, I'll leave in two days," Nix said.

"Wait," Astaroth replied. "Two things: First, what are the other two items? Maybe Belial and I can find out something about their whereabouts. And secondly, be careful. Sereph has an unknown ability, about which there are only rumors. Avoid any physical contact with him," Astaroth warned him.

"I will. Thank you for your offer." Nix described the two items and then said goodbye. He had been separated from Lyric for some time now and wanted to see him. When he arrived at the cave, he felt the familiar tingling sensation. But instead of going to Lyric, he went to the farthest room away from him. As soon as he had brought enough distance between himself and the rune demon, the vision captured him.

After it finished, he sat on the floor and thought. That moment had confirmed his theory. Lyric is the reason why I hardly receive any visions anymore.

Lyric sat in the washroom and carefully removed the bandage. Nix' blood and the healing ointment from the guard dog had advanced his healing well. There was only a pale line left in the places where the blade had pierced his skin. He carefully moved his shoulder, only a slight pull was felt.

Then he went to the demonic equivalent of a shower. Many preferred to wash themselves like this or bathe in a tub, but Lyric liked to shower. This was one of the great advantages of the human world – its inventive spirit. The state-of-the-art high tech shower in his apartment was a highlight every time. Often the demons looked at such achievements of humans and tried to create something similar.

It used to be the other way around, but humanity was developing rapidly and had already overtaken the demon races in some areas. Now to the 'demonic' shower. It was a pipe with a metal head with holes from which the water was led with a spell, very similar to that of humans, except that there was no pressure behind it. It just flowed vertically downwards.

Lyric stood underneath it and let the water run over his body. He washed off the sweat of the last night and with it all the traces that his oracle had left on his body. His ears twitched when he heard a sound, but the smell of fir trees at dawn and fresh dew immediately calmed him down and put a smile on his face.

Warm arms wrapped around him from behind, then a bare chest pressed against his back. Lips ran over his neck and a melodic voice whispered into his ear, "Did you miss me?"

"What if the answer is yes?" the rune demon replied without turning around.

**************SMUT SCENE**************

In response, a hand wandered down and enclosed his hardness while he felt Nix' dick on his butt. He groaned.

"Then you have to show me how much you missed me."

Hell. Nix was just perfect. He was demanding and giving at the same time. He was wicked and resourceful at the same time. No matter what Lyric did, he took everything and enjoyed every second. He would never break.

Lyric turned around and pulled the smaller demon to his chest.

"You look absolutely hot with wet hair," said the oracle, devouring him with his ruby red eyes.

Lyric pulled Nix under the water stream and his hair got wet and stuck to his cheeks. "I can return the compliment," he said. "Now I will show you how much I missed you," the rune demon added in a deep voice. He kissed a path from Nix' neck to his nipples. He spoiled the left first with his tongue, then the right. His hands had locked Nix' butt and held him. Slowly his hardness rubbed over that of the oracle and he groaned.

Lyric took his time to leave his marks on Nix' skin. Then he spoiled his tattoo on his chest.

"Demon, I need more," the oracle ordered.

Lyric laughed, withdrew, and said in a confident voice, "Oh, is that so?"

Nix bit his lip and glared at him. Lyric leaned forward and bit his earlobe. "If you want to fly, I will let you fly. Your wish be my command, my little butterfly."

Nix' shuddered expectantly. He was then lifted up by Lyric and pushed against the wall. Instinctively, he wrapped his legs around Lyric's hip and his arms around his neck. What is he up to? Oh... hell. Lyric slowly penetrated Nix' entrance with his hard cock and stretched it open. The oracle closed his eyes and a moan escaped him.

When Lyric completely immersed himself in his partner's body, he did the same with his teeth in Nix' shoulder. He slowly let them sink into his sensitive skin and felt Nix' thighs and cock twitch on his stomach. His lustful sounds begged for more. Lyric then began to move. He pushed hard into the soft body of the oracle, who buried his nails in his partner's back and gasped. They were one, connected.

Nix' body was overwhelmed by sensations and he felt the sweet pressure build up in his stomach. It was wild and intense, so he didn't stand a chance. Lyric caressed his neck and chin as he mercilessly pushed himself into him.

Nix' fangs pulsated, wanting more. So he leaned forward and sank them in Lyric's throat without warning. The demon stiffened and grew harder, stretching Nix even more. Groaning, they reached the climax.

*******************************************

Slowly their pulse calmed down. They hadn't moved, they were still standing there in the shower. Nix looked deep into the eyes of his rune demon and that moment connected them as their bodies were. Then he put his hand on Lyric's mouth, who looked at him in surprise. Lovingly Nix pressed his lips on the back of his own hand, behind which were Lyric's lips.

That was the moment when Lyric lost the battle. It was the moment when he decided that he wouldn't continue to fight against it, and he made a decision. After the trip, I will ask him to become my mate.

_______________________

Both feel it and have decided for each other. But both wait until the end of their journey.

What could possibly go wrong?

How will the meeting with Sereph go?

Your Mouse Goddess