Eden

It feels as though we've been walking for most of the day. My feet ache like they haven't in decades, and the sun is growing hotter it seems.. But at least the trees finally have green leaves on them in this area. Thick vegetation covers the ground, and the smell of rain is faint in the air, signaling that a cool spring rain must be brewing in the distance.

Clouds and cool rain water? Sign me up. Just as long as it doesn't come pouring down on us, anyways.

Jericho walks beside me, now carrying a satchel over his shoulder. I insisted we stop to load up on food and other supplies we may need along the way before we left the village this morning. I eye it, thinking about snatching an apple out, before I can reach out for it Jericho already has his hand inside of it rummaging around before he pulls out a red apple and holds it out to me.

I happily grab it from him before taking a small bite. "You sure you can't read minds?" I inquire around my mouth full of apple. "No, though it would be nice when it came to you. You constantly leave me wondering what's going on inside that beautiful head of yours. That is, unless it comes to food. You always want food." He says chuckling to himself at his little joke.

I love food, and I will not apologize for it.

"What is it that you're wondering about then?" I ask him, curious to know what kind of things he ponders about when it comes to me. "Why I can smell anxiety basically seeping through your pores when I mention you being my mate." He states plainly.

And just like the first time.. Anxiety.

"You don't have to answer me, Eden. Not if you don't want to." He says calmly, no emotion present in his words. It's like after we left the Inn this morning he's been wearing almost a constant mask of indifference.

"It's just a lot to take in, Jericho.. Being mates is a big thing.. And I honestly have no idea what all it means to be a Reapers mate other than.. we're meant to be together. And then everything with Aries going on, my heart is already torn over it.. My constant worry about my coven left behind.. How do you know you even want me as your mate, Jericho? You know almost nothing about me.." I trail off.

I'm a broken woman.

"I've lived longer than most can even comprehend, I've longed for the day I'd find my mate- find you. There's very few things that would keep me from pursuing our mate bond." He states.

"But what would some things be that would keep you from doing so?" I ask, and he raises a brow before answering me. "If you were a cruel person, did horrible things for the thrill of it, preyed upon the weak in any way.. I guess bad morals would keep me away." He finishes.

"Bad morals would keep a demon away?" I ask.

"I may be a creation of Hades.. But I'm not an evil creature, Eden. I'm not just a lowly demon. Being a Reaper is my purpose, and I didn't get a say in the matter. I don't just take the souls of selfish beings who sold their soul for power and gold.. I'm also forced to take the soul of the young father who foolishly sold his soul so his family could eat properly for all their days to come.. I take the souls of the departed who owe debts to the spirit world. I'm not evil, Eden. I didn't choose this path." He says without looking at me even once.

My words obviously hurt him, and looking back at what I just said I can see how absolutely heartless I just came across..

He's even told me all people ever see is an evil monster when they look at him.. Am I really so different from them? Assuming he has no morals just because of what he is..

"Jericho.. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, I know you're not.. I mean- I know you're not evil. I'm not scared in your presence.. If anything I've never felt so.. Safe." I say, my face flushing slightly admitting it to him aloud.

Suddenly I'm being wrapped in his warm embrace as he buries his face in my hair, nuzzling my neck gently. "Mmm," Jericho deeply rumbles out, sending small chills down my spine. "You should say things like that more often." He says into my hair.

"Like what?" I ask him. "Tell me how I make you feel." He replies.

I think on it for a moment before I decide I'll amuse him and answer his question. "Like my mind is drawing a blank half the time, I don't know how to act around you, or what to say, and feel like I'm making a fool out of myself half of the time if I'm being honest." He laughs at my words, his face lighting back up slightly, a nice change from the gloomy look he's been wearing all day.

"And how do you feel about me?" He asks. "I like you Jericho, and you know it." I say while rolling my eyes, I did already tell him I had interest in him just earlier today.

"I like you too, Eden." He says as he gently creases my neck with his lips. "I wanna know everything about you.." he says quietly as he begins trailing his hands lightly up my sides. "and every inch of you." He finishes, his words taking my breath away momentarily.

Slowly he leans towards me, his eyes on my lips, and I close my eyes and stand on my tiptoes so he doesn't have to bend down so much to reach me. He snakes one arm around my waist while bringing the other hand to the back of my neck, before gently pressing his lips to mine.

The sparks instantly ignite before turning into a raging fire of need. I slightly part my lips, giving him access as he deepens the kiss. He takes my offer eagerly, gently sliding his tongue between my lips, our tongues dancing together with desire for one another, he glides his tongue back out of my mouth before starting to lightly bite my lips, in turn making small moans escape me.

He kisses me soft and slow again, before grazing his teeth along my bottom lip, I still slightly as I feel his elongated canines graze my lip before biting down gently. Though it's only slight, I feel blood and instantly pull away, caught off guard.

I stare up at him and am met with what I can only describe as a Reapers true form. Jericho's jet black eyes stare down at me, his lips parted slightly to reveal his elongated canines, and dark curved horns adorn his head, peaking out of his messy dark hair.

He looks like death himself. I take a step back without meaning to, not out of fear, I just wasn't expecting.. this..

"Eden, I- I did not mean to. I've never lost control like this before.." Jericho says while taking a step back from me, closing his eyes and running a hand over his face, misreading my reaction as fear.

"I'm not afraid of you Jericho." I state while taking a purposeful step towards him.

His dark eyes stare at me as I make my way back into his arms, and slowly I wrap my arms around his torso and rest my head against his chest.

He rubs his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I'm fine, you're overreacting." I say to him. He pulls back to look at my face as he brings his thumb to my lip and wipes the drop of blood away. "Bullshit." Is all he says in return.

I glare at him. "You're ruining the moment. I was enjoying every bit of it.. You just caught me off guard. I've just never been bitten like that before.. It was surprising, but not bad.. Maybe it was even.. kind of enjoyable.."

The look in his eye is dangerous as he answers. "You should be careful.. my inner demon is.. pleased that you liked it. But now it wants to see what other things you'd enjoy." He says, his eyes slowly turning to gold, signaling he's gaining control of himself again.

"Like what other things?" I inquire, my mind thinking of unholy things as I feel myself flush at his words.

He leans down before whispering in my ear. "Once you accept me as your mate I'll show you things you couldn't dream of, Eden." He basically growls out, sending shivers up my spine.

He stands up straight suddenly. "Someone's coming down the path, we need to keep moving and look inconspicuous." He tells me while adjusting the large bulge in his pants, trying to adjust himself. He notices my staring and smirks at me. "It's easy for a woman to hide her arousal, being a male makes it difficult to hide such things."

"Doesn't help when you basically have a tree branch for a dick." I say aloud without meaning to.

Jericho's laugh booms out much to my embarrassment. "It's not that damn big, but I'll take the compliment." He says.

As if he needed his ego stroked any more. It really is big though. If there's anything monstrous about Jericho it's his dick.

Jericho begins leading the way down the path again, within five minutes we're passing an older gentleman with a walking stick and backpack of his own slung across his back, he simply nods as he passes us, seeming to want to mind his own business.

Fine by me, any interaction lately is stressful, having to make sure I don't say or do anything that gives me away as a witch.

I wait till we're out of hearing distance before speaking again. "How long will it take for us to catch up to Aries?" I ask him as we walk side by side.

He reaches out and grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers. "Two days at most." He states.

"And what will you do with her?" I question him.

"I'll subdue her, open a portal to the underworld, and deliver her to Hades to have her dealt with. It will be a very easy task once I have her within reach." He says, seeming to not be very concerned about it.

"You're not going to try to reason with her? Ask her if she'll have a change of heart?" Worry clearly creeping into my voice.

"Eden.. She's already broken the contract the moment she hid away. It's my job to deliver her to her judgement, there are consequences for Reapers who don't follow through with their assigned orders." He says while looking ahead.

Images of his back flash through my mind, the scars thick and menacing looking. I'm not brave enough to ask such a question, not yet anyways. But something tells me those scars represent whatever punishment the Reapers are dealt when they choose not to listen. The kind of weapon needed to create such scars on a Reaper would be a terrifying sight to behold.

"You want to save her." He says, no question in his words, more of a matter of fact statement.

My heart aches any time I think of what's about to happen. "She's been my best friend for so long, my constant. She's seen me through many hardships and heartaches. She's my best friend.." I say quietly. "Or, was.."

"You say these things as if she's still that person, but she's not. Eden, she betrayed you and your entire coven. She has to die, and when she does you'll take her place." He says to me.

I shake my head. "No, the Coven may have temporarily given me the title of High Preistess, but once Aries dies the magic will choose again, it's not promised to anyone. Not unless you're the offspring of Theia and can have the magic manipulated in your favor I suppose." I say to him, suddenly annoyed and no longer wanting to talk about these things.

"I see. As long as I've lived you'd think I'd be aware of such things, my apologies." He says, obviously sensing the annoyance in my voice.

"No, Jericho, I'm sorry. I'm not upset with you, I'm upset with this whole situation.. I know what Aries has done, but the thought of her ceasing to exist makes my heart physically ache.." I admit to him.

"If you're not sure you can-" he begins but I cut him off. "It's not a matter of if I'm sure or not, it's a matter of I don't have a choice. I have an entire coven waiting for me to restore that which has been stolen. I have so many things to right that are wrong. Theia has only ever spoken to me once, it was to tell me I couldn't give up my magic, because one day many would need me. I cursed Theia that day. But it seems that time has finally come. This is what I was destined to do, Jericho. With you." I say to him, my voice strong and determined.

He nods his head. "Then let us rest for the night, tomorrow will be a rougher journey. Aries has hidden away in the Mountains of Bathsheba, the hard part of the journey begins at sunrise."

We travel off the trail for a short while before deciding on a spot to pitch a makeshift tent barely big enough for the both of us, just in time it would seem as a light rain begins to fall from the gloomy skies above, matching the feeling inside my heart.

Jericho and I share some crackers and spicy jerky before bed. Not an ideal meal, but we needed to pack things that would last us for the journey without spoiling.

I leave my canteen open and out in the rain to collect water. I eye the tent before deciding I really can't sleep without going to the bathroom first. "Hey, Jericho.. I have to use the bathroom." I say in a hushed tone.

He looks up from what he's doing and nods. "Just don't go too far, I have to as well, but I'll keep an ear out for any danger." He says before turning in the opposite direction he gestured for me to go in.

I walk into the thick bushes, instantly feeling uneasy now that Jericho isn't in sight. I quickly finish and make my way back to the small campsite we've made where Jericho is already waiting for me by the tiny tent. I can barely move around but it's better than sleeping in the rain, no matter how lightly it's coming down. Jericho adjusts himself around me, wrapping me within his warm embrace. I wiggle around slightly before becoming completely comfortable in Jericho's arms, already closing my eyes and ready to pass out.

"Goodnight, Eden." Jericho says softly to me. I kiss his neck before settling my head back down on his chest.

"Goodnight, Jericho." I whisper. His arms slightly tighten around me as I slip peacefully into unconsciousness.

(Edited on 11/26/24)