May 11, 2023

Queen

Romantically?

"Absolutely not." I shook my head. "I would never kill you. I'm not going to lose you again."

"As flattered as I am that I was the first person to cross your mind when you thought of romance...I wasn't suggesting me," he said.

"Myself?" I asked in confusion. That didn't make sense. It kind of defeated the whole purpose of me awakening my dormant powers.

Syn titled his head and scrunched his brows in confusion, taken aback by my question. "You love yourself romantically?!"

"What?" I shrugged. "Doesn't everyone?" He squinted his eyes at me in disbelief and I raised my hands in innocence. "Don't tell me you wouldn't kiss you if you magically made yourself a double. Just to see what it's like, you know?"

"I wouldn't."

"Well, that's just you."

"No." He shook his head. "That's just everyone else, but you. You're not the majority here."

"Eh, that's what you think." He gave me a serious look that made me want to refocus on the topic and I cleared my throat. "Fine, if you're not talking about yourself or me...then who's left?"

He rubbed the scruff on his jaw and licked his lips, looking off at the distance before meeting my eye again. "Your little boyfriend."

"Who?" I gave him a strange look until he rolled his eyes and it clicked. "Aiden?!"

"Mhmm."

"I'm not killing Aiden!" I said. "What happened to being Good Samaritans? He's a good guy. He's not going to die because you don't like him."

"I don't trust him."

"Do you not trust him because you don't like him? Or do you not like him because you don't trust him?"

"What the fuck," he said. "It sounds like you just said the same thing."

"They're very different, Syn," I said. "You just don't like him. That's it. He's been nothing but good to me. How do you expect me to kill him?"

"Ughh." He shivered. "Don't tell me that shit, it makes me itch."

"It's the truth."

"If he's such a good guy then why were you interrogating his mother?" He asked. "You know deep down that you don't trust him as much if not more than me, Queen. So why not just kill him...just in case. And in that process, you get your powers, we find someone in Hell to do the spell for us, and boom, we're a step closer to finding Xavia."

"Syn, you know you have the power to torture someone in Hell into doing this for us," I said. "You just want me to kill him."

"That's not true," he said. "The souls are tortured every day. They're used to it. They hardly scream when I walk into the cell with them anymore. The only way I could imagine them helping is if I promised them freedom and...I don't think you want one of them free."

"Couldn't we just let them free and then kill them again?"

He gasped, placing a hand over his chest. "And break my word? I'm the Devil, Queen. Without my word, I'm nothing."

"Oh please." I rolled my eyes. "You lie to everyone within your vicinity about a hundred times a day."

"Fine." He dropped the act. "But I truly cannot let a soul escape. They have no body outside of Hell meaning once they're free, they can jump into any innocent being anywhere in the world while keeping their memories and subconscious. Imagine one of the serial killers down here jumped into a child and killed their family. That's multiple lives when you could just take one."

"Are you manipulating me right now, Syn?" I crossed my arms.

"I'm not trying to. I promise, and I apologize if it's feeling that way. I would never force you to do anything so, if not killing Aiden for some really strange and stupid reason is what you want to do, I respect it. Completely."

"Oh, fuck! I forgot how annoying you could get." I blew out a breath of frustration amidst his deep laughter and I shook my head.

"Are you already ready to leave?" He raised a teasing brow.

"No, but goddamn! Only you could make me feel like an asshole for trying to do the right thing." I ran a hand down my face in irritation, and when I noticed the silence from him, I dropped my hands and looked back at him to find him eyeing me carefully.

"I make you feel like an asshole for doing the right thing?"

"Sometimes," I admitted.

"Hmm." He circled his thumb on my knee. "I'd apologize, but I'll probably do it again. So I'll apologize in a few years when I change into a better person and whatnot."

"So never?"

"Pretty much." He smiled. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head as I looked away from him and he placed a kiss on my shoulder. "I'll try my best, okay?"

"Thank you."

"You don't have to kill Aiden," he said finally. "But at least promise me that you'll keep it in mind. If a day comes where you realize he's not as great as you think...maybe the day when you start trusting your gut," he said, making me give him a look. "Just promise me if a day like that ever comes, you won't hesitate."

"Fine." I sighed. "I promise I will. Besides, maybe being able to control you for once wouldn't be such a bad thing."

"Oh?" He raised a suggestive brow. "What would you have me do?"

"Maybe not be an asshole all the time."

"What else?" His eyes fell to my lips and my heart raced. "I'm just curious, there's no need to get all nervous with me. Calm down," he whispered.

"I'm calm," I said, ignoring the heat rushing through my body as I stood up from his lap. "But w-we should go to sleep. It's almost seven in the morning."

"Okay," he said. "After you."

I slowly unwrapped his arms from my waist, not letting me miss the intentional swipe of his hands across my thighs before he leaned back. No longer being held in place by his arms, I stood up and headed toward the door, hoping I'd get another chance to come back in here one day.

I walked down the hall and a few moments later I heard Syn's footsteps behind me. He hadn't said anything though, making me stop walking and face him. When I saw no one, I looked around briefly before scoffing. Don't play with me right now. I crossed my arms, continuing to walk and the steps returned, closer than before. It was like I could feel his breath on my neck. "You're not funny."

"Who's not funny?"

I turned around to see Syn down the hallway closing the bedroom door and I looked at him in confusion. "Weren't you just...here?"

He walked toward me, his hands tucked into his pockets as he shook his head slowly. "I wanted to make sure we didn't leave any lights on in the room. Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I smiled up at him, still confused about what just wanted and I placed a hand on my head as I looked around. "I just could've sworn..." I shook my head. "I thought I heard your footsteps behind me and you were messing with me or something, but when I turned around, you weren't there."

"That's fucking weird," he said, taking my hand into his.

"Promise you aren't just trying to scare me?"

"I don't find amusement in scaring you." He yawned. "Besides, I'm too tired. Maybe it was a ghost."

"Syn, don't fuck with me, please," I said as I looked over my shoulder and around the halls. I had been through this shit before. Now footsteps behind me weren't something I took lightly. EVER.

Syn stopped walking, my hand still in his, and I looked at him. "You're really scared, aren't you?" I nodded silently and he dropped my hand before taking a look down the halls. "You really think you heard something?"

"Yes, but if you didn't hear it maybe I'm tripp—" He grabbed my arm and sped toward his room, taking large strides. "Syn what are you doing?" He said nothing, still speed-walking as I basically ran to keep up with him. When we reached his room, he ushered me inside and grabbed the doorknob.

"I'll be right back. Don't open the door for anyone unless it's me."

"Syn, it's fine. I'm tired and I probably just—" He closed the door. "...imagining things," I finished. I sighed, hating that I probably brought unnecessary panic to him. He had already been through enough tonight. He needed to go to sleep while he could. I didn't know how much rest he'd get in the following days with his withdrawals.

I looked around the room, my paranoia settling as the moments passed and I took my jeans off before climbing into bed. The bedroom door burst open, making me snap my head in the direction and tense. When I saw Syn walking in, I relaxed and let out a breath of relief.

"Sorry," he muttered. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay."

He closed the door behind him, locking it before lifting his shirt over his head and tossing it onto the table. "I went around the palace, five times. I saw no one out of place. Whoever was here must've left before I found them."

"Or no one was ever there," I suggested. "I'm really tired, maybe I just heard something that wasn't there."

"Hmm, I don't really take it lightly when you tell me you hear shit following you, given our history."

"I know, but it's okay. I don't think anyone was." I yawned, letting my eyes close as my head hit the fluffy pillows. "See? I'm fucking tired." I heard the zipper of his pants and I peeked an eye open, secretly watching him undress. When he caught me, he shook his head with a small smile before taking his pants off and climbing under the covers next to me.

He held his head up with an arm, looking down at me and I gazed up at him. "Hi."

He smiled. "Hi, Princess." My cheeks heated under his watch and I smiled. "Don't look at me like that right now," he said. "I'm trying my hardest to control myself as is."

"Why?"

"Because as badly as I want you right now, it's been a long day. We both need some sleep."

I yawned, my body silently agreeing with his words to my disappointment. "You're right. One kiss then."

He leaned down to my lips, quietly obliging as his lips landed on mine. What was supposed to be one goodnight kiss turned into a slow and passionate one as I held the silver necklace around his neck between my fingers. His tongue moved against mine as he moved on top of me and I relaxed into the bed, letting his hand travel down my body.

His finger landed at the top of my panties, slowly teasing the bare skin of my hip as electricity coursed through my body at the contact. A moment later, he pulled away from the kiss and looked down at me. "I want to, trust me. But I can't right now. You deserve my full focus and I'm not sure I'd be able to completely give it to you right now. I'm half asleep and I'm still thinking about that fucking stupid video. You mean more to me than that. I'm sorry."

I gave him a comforting smile, fully understanding as I nodded. "I get it, Syn. You don't need to apologize."

"I more than love you, okay? Please never forget that. These next few days are going to be Hell for me and I'll try my best not to take it out on you, but don't hold it against me...please. Right now, while my mind is completely my own and I'm not angry at the world, I'm telling you that I'm completely in love with you. I hope you're still here and believe that at the end of this."

"I will." I nodded, not exactly sure what he meant. "I more than love you too. Always. Now get off of me and go to sleep."

He laughed softly, doing what I said before moving away from me and grabbing a pillow. He placed it smack in the middle of us and I raised a brow, glancing at it. "What's this?"

"A barrier," he said with a yawn as he lied on his side and looked at me. "Just in case you get any ideas."

"Right," I whispered. "And a pillow could definitely stop me."

He laughed again, closing his eyes as another yawn left his mouth. "Maybe not you, but hopefully me," he said in a low voice. Before I could ask what he meant, he spoke up again. "You make me sleepy."

"Oh wow...thanks..."

His eyes remained closed as he talked and I admired him. There weren't many times where I could look at him like this without him calling me a weirdo. "It's a good thing," he said. "It's usually..." he yawned again, "harder for me. I feel...safe...with...you, Princess," he whispered. He must've not been aware of how much those words meant to me because seconds later, he was dead asleep, his quiet snores filling my ears.

I reached my hand up to his face, carefully moving his dark hair out of his face as he slept and he stirred slightly, making me move my hand. His brows scrunched momentarily before he stilled and returned to his slumber and my heart melted. He was fucking adorable. But I'd never tell him that to his face.

If I told him he looked cute when he slept, he'd probably try to stay awake forever. I fell asleep shortly after, using his soft breathing as a calming lullaby. I didn't know how far into the night had passed, but at some point, I felt the pillow between us being moved and him wrapping his arms around me.

I could feel the heat from his body all night as my face was buried in his chest. Comfort I had only been able to feel when I was sleeping with him filled the area around me and I slept deeply.

The next thing I knew, he was gone.

I slowly opened my eyes, hearing the soft background noise of the servants in the halls. I glanced at the window, expecting to see the sun but remembered where I was and looked at the clock on Syn's side of the bed.

11:13 a.m.

It had only been three and a half hours at most since we went to bed. Where could he have left with that little sleep? I wondered. I heard coughing come from the restroom in his room and I looked over to see the door cracked open, providing a sliver of light into the dark bedroom and I moved the covers aside. I placed my feet on the floor and stood up, heading toward the restroom.

"Syn?" I called, opening the door wider. My heart dropped at the sight of him. He was lying on the floor of the bathroom, shivering. Beads of sweat shone all over his body and his wet hair stuck to his head.

I took a step into the restroom and he immediately moved toward the toilet, vomiting everything he had eaten the day before. When he was done, he weakly flushed the toilet and sunk against the wall.

I rushed to his side, not knowing what was wrong and I noticed his pale skin. He looked sick, I mean, he was sick. If I could describe it frankly, he looked like death and it destroyed me to see. His eyes flicked in my direction but I couldn't tell if he was aware that I was really here.

I stood up and grabbed a small towel from the closet by the door and rushed to the sink, drenching it in cold water. I quickly went back to his side, kneeling beside him as I tried to place the towel onto his head and he grabbed my wrist.

"Queen?" He called out weakly with his eyes shut tightly.

"Yeah, it's me."

"Get...the fuck away from me. Please."

Ouch.

...so this is what you meant.

Author's Note
Here we go y'all...

There's quite a bit to unpack so let's just get to it.

How dare Syn offer up Aiden as sacrifice in his SICK plan, am I right? Like whatttttt that's crazy...right? Do y'all think it's out of pocket like Queen does...or do you guys agree with him?

Do you think that there's another way and he just wants Aiden dead...👀
Succubus Queen...I'm lowkey liking the sound of it tho😮‍💨

Anyway, in the hallway...WTF was that?...maybe it was nothing tho. Who knows?🤷🏾‍♀️let's just forget it happened. Wtv. 💃🏾

Lastly, it looks like the sweet moments between our favorite couple is coming to a halt...how are we feeling about this? Is anyone scared? Do you think Queen will be able to stick around like she said? 🥲

Lmk your thoughts...👹

See y'all soon.