Moonlight bathed over Lavender as she sat opposite me. Her eyes even looked like they were glowing in the dark that the soft ambience casted over her.
We were both on her coil rug that dominated the floor. Lavender held the front of her shirt open to expose her chest to me.
I could see the dark red light clearly through her top. The black edges had filled out the edges and subsided around the middle to leave a tiny red ring there.
We were running out of time.
"You are just doing this to perve on me, aren't you?" she joked when she looked at my fixed stare "you've had a frown on your face since you've seen a little bit of my cleavage."
"I'm just trying to figure out how to go about this" I muttered back when she laughed at me "I've never done anything like this before."
"That makes two of us" she added with a smirk.
I reached my hand forward to place it over the shining light. Lavender's carefree attitude immediately disappeared to be replaced with a more serious one.
I pressed the tips of my claws around it and peered up at Lavender's face once more that was looking away with her eyes clamped shut. Her whole body tensed up for the pain.
It was now or never.
I stabbed my claws through her soft skin and heard her gasp in surprise. She quickly looked down as i snagged something wet and dripping and started to pull it slowly outwards.
I sure hope i hadn't snagged an organ. It felt more like a heavy heart than the light soul i had imagined.
The red light birthed from the skin and spilled into the moonlight. The darkness surrounding it came next to make the redness of the soul pop in its beautiful colour.
Lavender's chest had five black holes in it now around where her soul used to be. She ran a finger over them tenderly and showed me her finger that came back clean.
Not a single drop of blood.
"It's gorgeous" I breathed to the soul i gently caressed in both my hands now. Lavender peered over it with a large smile.
"What now?"
"I eat it" I replied nervously. I could already feel the change in my teeth that i ran my tongue over.
What would it be like? Soft like an egg? Thick like an orange?
Whatever it was, it sure felt dense.
I felt my jaw stretching dramatically when i opened my mouth. I saw Lavender tense up again when she saw it.
It was the look of fear that made me hesitate for that moment the soul needed to make its attempt at escape.
It leapt upwards from my hand and hovered there. Both of us immediately peered down at it before it darted for Lavender's bed.
Mr's Francy's words echoed through my mind as i watched it dart towards the roof then zip over us.
Wild souls liked to give you a chase.
"No!" I cried out and scurried to my feet.
I couldn't let it escape now. Not while it was so vulnerable and able to be taken by anyone.
I leapt up onto the bed when it tried to hide in it again. The soul brushed my fingers that slammed down the wall to try and trap it again.
Lavender squealed in laughter as she tried to help me, launching herself at the dresser beside her bed where she kept her flower vase.
The flowers scattered on the ground and the water seeped into the rug when the vase came crashing down.
The soul rummaged around the glass sliding door to try and find a crack within it to squeeze out of.
"Catch it! Catch it!" Lavender urged when we both dove for it and smashed our heads together.
"Teddy" she whimpered from the ground and clutched her forehead in pain. The water from the vase soaked through both our clothes as i frantically tried to untangle her long hair from my horns.
"I am so sorry" I breathed to her watering eyes while keeping my eyes focused on the soul pressing itself to more corners of the room "i really am, Sprig."
She had a cut from where my horn had cut her. Luckily the other hadn't pierced the skin and only left a nasty bump.
There was no knock when the door flew open to both our parents looking for the source of the commotion.
The soul saw the opening and took it while i screamed out.
I unlooped the last of Lavender's hair and left her to chase the darting soul. It circled the kitchen table wildly, and i followed; clattering over the top of it to lunge for it.
"TEDDY!" Mum squealed when i slid off the surface and clattered to the ground "what are you doing?!"
"Soul!" I choked out and jabbed a finger to it zigzagging along the roof of another room.
"It's Lavender's soul..." I grunted when I climbed onto the arm of the couch and jumped for the roof to startle it "...and we have to exchange them..." I snapped at the soul that whizzed around Dad playfully "...or I'll rejoin the spirits!"
The soul saw the open fly-screen in the window when I did. One of the many pots gathered there was simmering on the stove below it; the billowing steam pouring out into the night sky.
"NO!" I wailed when it wedged itself around the frame and zipped into the darkness.
I ran over to see the red orb bouncing about the grass playfully. It was taunting me to chase it, knowing easily it could take off the moment I opened the door.
I growled and slammed my hands down as anger filled me then yelped when they fried on the hot plates waiting for the pots of vegetables left abandoned beside them.
"Go, Teddy!" Lavender came charging from the room, holding her dribbling head "go get it!"
She knew the desperation that filled us both. I nodded to her and yanked open the front door to charge straight after the playful soul.
The soul kept out of my grasp when i bolted after it through the darkness. It lit up the ground around it with its red light that flitted around trees and pressed through the blades of grass.
It took me on a tumbling loop down to the river where it submerged beneath its surface. I followed along the rocks blindly, knowing that my body would go into shock from the icy cold water if i were to jump in at this time of night.
I heard a voice call out but ignored it, ducking under the barbed wire fence the soul snagged on when it broke free from the surface. My fingers only narrowly missed being skewered on the surface when i tried to catch the soul in its moment of vulnerability.
The anger with my lack of success fuelled me through the unknown. Brambles scratched my body and tree roots tripped me while i kept my eyes locked on the red orb bouncing along just out of reach.
The sky glittered with the lights of the souls watching my struggle. They were always watching and following when i broke into a clearing.
The ground here was filled with glowing white flowers. Blue spores dusted the air when the soul twined around the blooms to tease them. They were also wrapped around the tree trunks that formed a halo around the vast clearing.
I crouched down low when the soul nested into one of the flowers. Carefully, i slinked forwards on all fours towards the unsuspecting soul.
It was right there. I could see its light radiating from the thin petals that formed a nest around it.
"Got you!" I cried out when i slammed my hands around it. The light went out immediately and i instantly felt dread shiver up my spine.
Maybe i had slammed it too hard? Was it possible to kill a soul?
I inched my fingers apart to peer inwards. Everything was still dark. The soul weighed heavily in my fingers but wasn't moving.
"Oh, no" I muttered "no, no, no, no."
All of this couldn't be for nothing. It couldn't.
Tears rolled over my fingers when i parted them to stare at the soul.
Immediately, it lit up and flitted upwards to gently touch my nose while i laughed with relief and tried to wipe my flowing eyes.
What an absolute trickster. It was such a Lavender thing to do.
The soul didn't care for my tears. It darted back to the flowers to force the flowers to spill more glowing spores int the sky.
It wanted to play.
I wasn't looking forward to chasing it further into the strange darkness surrounding us. I was already several kilometres from home and had lost my bearings from only focusing solely on the light.
I should have paid more attention to my surroundings. It was my own fault i had let myself become so disorientated.
I could worry about that all later. It couldn't hurt to enjoy the beauty of this for a little...
The soul spiralled around another flower to prompt me. I tapped one to see the spores float upwards and glitter in the air.
It bounced on another, then circled a patch that all responded immediately.
I felt the careless joy fill my own soul and giggled at the sparkling air. My hands stretched outwards when i ran through the flowers beside the bordering trees to leave a trail of dust in my wake.
The soul was lost amongst the shimmering sky that i darted through. My hands swiped at the flowers and my body twirled with the soul that snaked around me as we danced together.
It was as if Lavender was right here with me and enjoying this magical moment with me. Nothing was more beautiful than dancing with something that looked just like the silent spirits sprayed above me.
The soul zoomed from me and spiralled through the spores. I laughed at it and ran towards it to join it before a black mass flew at the soul to smother it.
The spores it had flown through plastered to its skin to give it shape. The hulking spine pushed upwards. turning with the body that turned to face me.
River was the mass. His hard eyes focused on me when he rose to his feet. The gold markings across his body shone with the spores and gave him an entirely new appearance.
The red light of the soul was trapped between his teeth that pierced it. I felt my stomach drop when i realised that he could easily devour it for himself and selfishly take my chance at life from me.
His hands raised to his mouth, but instead of forcing the soul further into his throat, they gripped onto it and yanked it out.
"You need to eat this quickly" he urged when he flitted through the spores towards me and pushed it into my hands "please."
I looked down at the soul that hovered above my fingers. It didn't dart away this time, and just remained there when i plucked it out of the air.
River kept watch as i pressed the soul to my lips that parted to wrap around it. My teeth were already sharpened to prepare for another escape attempt.
The whole soul slid into my mouth willingly and forced its way down my dripping throat that clenched around it. I felt it bulge when it slowly moved downwards; my claws clutching at my throat that burned as it stretched for the soul.
I felt the weight of it tighten in my chest as it continued downwards. The tightness soon became a heat that seemed to spill from under my shirt.
I pressed my hands to it to try and force the feeling to subside but felt something press against it. Fear tangled with curiosity when i reached under my shirt to cradle the new mass forcing itself from my chest.
Was it the soul making its escape again?
"Look at that" River breathed when i lifted the mass out into the open "beautiful."
It looked just like a glowing star nestled in my palms. The light from it illuminated our bowed heads that peered at it in awe.
"You need to get this to Lavender before something else takes it" River whispered to me and checked the glittering surroundings "I'll make sure you do, ok?"
"Thanks" i beamed at him and cradled the light to my chest.
"That's what friends are for" he chuckled and clapped my back roughly to make me fumble my soul.
We pushed through the spore that slowly flitted from our bodies to regroup in the clearing. River kept a few paces ahead as he led the way back home.
"How did you even find me?"
He lifted a branch for me and waited for me to pass under it.
"I saw this red thing out my bedroom window" he replied with a smile at me as he released the branch behind me "and then i saw you chasing it, so i figured you finally did it!"
"I can't believe i did it" i felt the smile creep on my face as my tail flicked upwards "i actually did it, River!"
He beamed back at me before he paused. His ears flicked up and he tilted his head to one side with a point of his finger.
"Sounds like your human is worried about you" he chuckled.
I strained to listen and heard a tiny voice sobbing in the darkness. Accompanying ones called out my name to drown it out momentarily.
River pried the barbed wire open for me to climb through then let me lead the way along the rocks.
Lavender was the first to spot me, her voice crying out as she ran towards me with her torch.
Her arms wrapped around my neck and she sobbed against me. Mum and Dad came running over with their torches as well, both their faces lighting up when they saw i was safe and well.
"The soul" River prompted me with a small nudge and stood beside me and Lavender. His claws gently pried us apart so that he could lift Lavender's hands for her that i slid the soul into.
She stared at it in wonder as her already tearful eyes began to flow again.
"Eat it like an apple" River smiled and lifted his hands beneath hers to bring the soul towards her face "a human can't swallow a full soul."
Lavender had a look of determination on her face when she squeezed it and took a bite. Her teeth were nowhere as sharp as they needed to be to tear apart the soul that was like thick rubber we giggled at together while she struggled.
Even Mum and Dad stifled their laughter when Lavender finally tore a chunk off and swallowed it quickly so she could go for another.
She was determined on not moving until she completely devoured it on the spot.
Mum and Dad left her be so they could serve the dinner they had been waiting for me to return to. Lavender focused only on the soul she stripped away.
I gulped at her eagerness. I don't know what it was, but the sight of her determined to remain with me with such fierceness in her eyes made the feelings I had for her only intensify.
We were going to be together forever now. She wasn't going to be with anyone else for as long as she lived.
I would make sure of that.
"You can have my soul too if you want" River commented when Lavender finished mine off, his jaw dropped in awe.
Lavender just smirked at him and pushed it back up for him before taking my hand to lead me back to the warmth of the house.
I laid beside Lavender that night under her warm sheets. Once I was sure our parents were asleep, I snuck into her room and pried open her sliding door.
It was such a tedious task too to not let the door drag its weight all at once and wake everyone up. It had to be done very, very slowly.
But now that I was here, everything was good again.
Lavender faced me and I smiled at her tiredness. My tail was twined around her body that snuggled against mine. It smelled like sharp rosemary mixed with zesty limes tonight; a new bath soak she had saved for a special occasion.
My soul now rested inside her; sparkling silver. Not a hint of darkness would ever touch it again.
And as for the one inside me, I would never know unless another demon gazed at it for themselves.
But that didn't matter now. I was going to remain here with Lavender now. I had time to spend with her.
Everything was perfect. She was perfect.
"You know, we've spent all this time together..." Lavender whispered as I stroked the hair above the cut on her forehead "but you've never asked me out."
I paused and saw her look up at me.
"Asked you out?"
She nodded and rested her chin on my chest so that she could keep her gaze trained.
"If a boy likes a girl, he asks her out" she spoke "and they become boyfriend and girlfriend. At least, that's what I heard."
"And what do boyfriends and girlfriends do?" I pondered aloud.
My school hadn't covered that. The importance of souls and keeping mates came first there. Nothing else around that had been covered yet.
"You know; movies and dates and stuff" she shrugged as her voice trailed off "couple things."
I could tell she wanted to continue but was suddenly shy about the subject. It meant a great deal to her then if she was bringing it up after something as life-changing as our exchange tonight.
Something like becoming a couple should be the next move then. I had already been living with her since my birth, and had obviously developed these strong feelings toward her. The thought of her having them for someone else only made anger boil inside me.
She was only mine to share this happiness with. She was the one I wanted to carry my soul, after all.
"Did you want to?" I suggested "be my girlfriend?"
The word itself made my insides go all funny. The bubbles were happening again when I saw Lavender light up and look elsewhere with a blush.
"Yes" she giggled out and snuggled her head into my chest.
It was adorable seeing her so happy about our new relationship development. She was painfully shy and excited all at the same time.
I squeezed her closer and kissed the top of her head. I savoured the scent of the bath soak on her warm skin. The deliciousness of it was making the rush of excitement cloud my thoughts again.
I would have to buy her some more. Perhaps I could help her with it next time?
"I'm sorry" I whimpered out when I realised what my thoughts had done.
Lavender didn't seem as bothered as I was. If anything, she seemed to be closer to me as she started to fall asleep. The feeling of her body on mine only made it worse and made my face burn at the embarrassment of it all.
"Goodnight, Teddy" she murmured up at my then kissed my chin quickly.
"Night, Sprig" I smiled back when she rested her head back on my chest.
I stayed frozen there to not disturb her when she drifted off. There was no way my thoughts were going to let me forget them anytime soon as I tried to distract myself by focusing on the light of her new soul within her that bound us.
It was one of the many pleasant thoughts that fuelled dreams of Lavender I had never had before as she slept peacefully in my arms.
We were bound for life now as a fated couple who could never be torn apart.
And there was nothing I loved more than that.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
