Days with the demon queen-Chapter 46: I LOVE YOU

"You’re bringing a friend over? A girl?" Grandpa asked as Ronnie told him about the situation with Claire.

"I know I know, it’s just for tutoring. I sort of agreed to it." Ronnie said in a defensive tone.

"What does your other guest think about it?" Grandpa asked.

After a brief silence, he took a deep sigh.

"She won’t stay till late, Grandpa" he replied and went in his room.

Ronnie and Lily hadn’t seen much of each other the whole day. Unlike her usual behavior, Lily stayed in her room instead of Ronnie’s. He barely heard her voice for the rest of the day.

Evening. Ronnie sat in his room, pondering on what the problem might have been.

"Did I do something wrong? Maybe she’s upset because of the way I acted this morning.

I should talk to her. I should apologize" he thought.

The lad knocked on her door several times with no response. Grandpa was asleep, Ronnie stopped knocking to avoid waking him up.

"Lily, can we talk? We don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s just — I’m about taking a walk. We aren’t supposed to be apart for extended periods" he said, through their telepathic link.

A few seconds had passed, then a few minutes. He got no response. The lad sighed in disappointment and left the door.

He grabbed a hoodie to shield himself against the cold of the night, then he embarked on his walk.

Ronnie walked for a while. As he did, he noticed that a presence was shadowing him. Taking every step he took, taking every turn he took. He didn’t feel threatened by the presence, he knew it Lily, her aura was all too familiar to him.

"Screw this" he muttered under his breath, coming to an abrupt halt.

"Come out, Lily. I know you’re there. What’s this about? Why am I getting the silent treatment?" He questioned, his cold breath was visible as vapor with every word he uttered. Hesitantly, his stalker revealed herself to him.

"Are you mad at me, Master? Is what happened this morning the reason?" She asked, her eyebrows curved into a confused bow.

"What— no I’m not! What are you even talking about?" He questioned, equally as confused.

"I kissed you this morning, I kissed you because I felt like. I didn’t do it because I wanted to replenish your energy. Did waking up to a demon with her lips locked on yours upset you that badly?" She asked in a shaky tone.

"No— no it isn’t. It isn’t that at all" He stated.

"Then why— why were you cold to me today? Why did you treat me like that, master?" She asked. Ronnie stood speechless.

"I know. I’m your slave, you’re free to treat me however you want, but why did that— hurt me? why does my chest feel heavy? I do not like this feeling, Ronald Carpenter" she added.

"I’m—sorry. I didn’t know I made you feel—" he was at a loss for words. He had seen different parts of her so far, but not this part.

"Master, I’ve been thinking. Now that the danger has been averted, now we no longer have to deal with damned souls, how about we resume with our search for a way to send me home?" Lily asked in a serious tone.

Her master felt a slight sting in his chest at the sound of her words.

"Is that what you— want?" He asked.

"Yes. I asked Carpenter that day, when we got back from the mission. I asked him to search for ways to undo this binding" she explained, her face saddened, so did her master’s.

"I see— that’s a good idea. I hope we find a way to undo it. I shouldn’t hold the queen of demons hostage" he laughed nervously.

"Yeah" she responded, rubbing her arm.

"Lily, you should know that I was in a bad mood today because of everything going on at the agency. I said I’d protect you, but I feel like I took you into the most dangerous place on earth. I feel powerless. I want to leave so I keep you safe, but I also want to stay because there’s so much I don’t know yet" Ronnie explained.

"It had nothing to do with the kiss this morning. Maybe I was a bit surprised but I didn’t— I didn’t hate it" he added. His pale white ears had turned a bit red.

Lily looked away to mask her embarrassment. She twirled some strands of her long blond around her finger.

"so you’re saying— you aren’t repulsed by me?" She asked.

"Of course not! I think— you’re beautiful, Lilith" Ronnie declared in a soft voice. He threw his face to the side as well.

"Ron—" her eyes sparkled.

"You’d use such a word on a demon? I look human but don’t be deceived" her voice shook.

"I prefer you in your original form, just so you know. Your actual form, you’re beautiful" the embarrassed master reassured his doubtful slave.

In the blink of an eye, Lily had one hand on Ronnie’s shoulder, and the other on his mouth.

"If you keep saying things like that I’ll— you should only say those things to human girls, girls you care for. Not me. I don’t understand human emotions. You deserve to be around someone who does" she said, taking her hand off his mouth and resting her head on his shoulder.

"You hurt, you care, you get angry, you get jealous, you feel love, that’s pretty human to me." Ronnie said.

"What— are you saying?" She asked in a weak tone.

Ronnie grabbed both her shoulders and she raised her head, meeting his gaze.

"I’ve felt this way for a while, maybe since the first time I saw that beautiful woman in my room. I’ve been too cowardly to admit it" he explained.

"I don’t— understand" Lily’s voice got softer.

"Yes you do. You must think I’m a really shitty master. What type of master falls for a slave summoning?" He smiled awkwardly.

"I’m saying that— I’m in love with you, Lilith. I love you" he declared in a strong, confident tone.

Tears welled up in the eyes of the demon queen. Her heart raced, her chest felt tighter than it felt that morning.

"Ronald Carpenter— I’m defiant, I’m scary, I’m a demon" she responded, her voice shook.

"I know, and I love you, Lily. I’ve fallen in love with everything that you are" He stated.

"I felt upset when you told me you made a new friend today. I was upset when you told me that she is female, and that she’ll come over to your home" she explained.

"It’s called jealousy, it’s pretty common. But you have nothing to worry about" He smiled at her.

"I feel my chest tighten when I think about you. My heart races, on most days you’re all I think about—" she paused

"If you think you’re a ’shitty’ master for feeling the way you do about me, then I’m a shitty slave to my master" she said.

"So you’re saying —" He asked, looking in her teary eyes.

"I didn’t know I was capable of feeling this, of being able to see someone like this, but now I’m sure" she said.

She leaned in an kissed Ronnie’s lips softly.

"I’m in love with you, my master. I’ve fallen deeply in love with you!" Lily declared quietly as she hugged him.