Azazel sat by the lake for hours the next morning, making every attempt at summoning a spark if fire from his fingertips. George had made it look like a simple task.
If that blockhead is able to do this, surely I should me more than capable.
He closed his eyes and continued his struggle. He focused on the invisible energy circling his body, and could feel heat rising from his hand. His palm faced forward, and he felt a spark.
And a tap on his shoulder.
Azazel opened his eyes to see Emma furiously stomping on a flame-engulfed flower in front of him.
Success, I suppose?
He would just need to remember how he managed that.
The black-headed girl took a seat by him. Again, she was dangerously close, but he was growing use to it, with no real danger to her of him going feral on her body any longer.
"How exactly did your brother manage to skillfully summon fire?"
Azazel was still trying to wrap his head around that one.
"George is half demon." Emma spoke very matter-of-factly, as if the revelation was not at all shocking.
Azazel turned his head and stared at her.
"Yes, I am also half demon," she laughed.
"Where are your horns?"
"Half-demons don't have horns."
Azazel smirked. If he sunk his fangs in her, it should have no effect, but he would still be able to lap up the human side of her.
He made grabby hand motions in her direction. "My...kitten."
"No!" She dodged.
Azazel hung his head. She was very determined to not feel his fangs. But he did notice her blushing, so perhaps she was beginning to consider it.
"You already bit your one true love," Emma let out a dramatic fake sigh.
"Please." Azazel mumbled.
He studied her face, her blushing becoming more apparent. He wanted to know what other demon qualities she may possess.
"I don't have fangs, either, if that's what you're wondering."
Azazel smirked. "I was hoping you would be able to bite me."
"I could still bite you, any human could," she smiled mischievously. "But I won't allow them to. And I won't do it, either."
Oh, signs of possessiveness. I like it.
Emma gazed at the lake. She closed her eyes and thrust her hand forward, summoning and impressive fireball at the water, which made a large splash.
Azazel legitimately clapped.
"You should be able to do something much more impressive," she nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me this about you?" He inquired.
"I didn't really think about it?" Emma pondered. "I don't think of myself as having any demon in me. It's more like something that's there, but irrelevant."
Azazel nodded. Makes sense.
"So your father was a demon?"
"No, my mother is the demon," Emma nodded. "Demons are actually exceptionally rare. Full-blooded ones, anyway. My mother and yourself are the only two I know of."
"Why did your mother leave?"
The curiosity he had for her had grown exponentially in the span of ten minutes. Plus, more knowledge of the world would only prove useful.
"My mother hadn't seemed happy since father died," Emma placed a finger on her chin. "Maybe she is looking for adventure? I never felt life in the countryside ever suited her. She kind of just disappeared one day."
"Makes me wonder how Natasha looks like a full-fledge demon."
Emma laughed. "The power your venom holds is very strong. It creates full-fledge demons. At least it is what Mother told me. It's why she never bit Father."
"Oh, great." Natasha was actually a full demon now. Her attacks would probably be unrelentless on him. Azazel really wished he could redo that portion of his life.
"Turning a human into a demon creates a certain kind of master-disciple relationship," she continued. "Mother didn't want father under any sort of spell. She said she wanted their love to be pure and natural."
Azazel nodded. As he did so, the look on Emma's face changed. She was frowning. He hadn't even made any dumb come-ons toward her, so he hadn't a clue what she could be thinking.
"Shouldn't you know these things?"
Well, damn, she got to the real questions quickly.
"...yes?"
"Did you know that?"
Sweat beads formed. He was backed in a corner.
"No."
Emma raised a brow suspiciously.
Azazel turned to look the other way.
Emma crawled on the grass to the other side of him, looking directly into his eyes.
Again, he faced the opposite direction.
"Come on, now," she muttered.
"I'd rather not," Azazel responded.
"Please."
"If you keep pressing, I shall go to a crowded city and create a harem of delighted followers."
Emma's brow was now twitching with anger.
Ah, she does like me. I absolutely infuriated her.
"You wouldn't!"
"You're right, I wouldn't," He admitted it. "The only skin I wish to taste is yours."
Azazel gazed at her, his yellow eyes flickering with emotion. It must have been too much to handle, as Emma turned her entire body away from him.
"And what is that reaction?" He purred.
"Maybe I will let you bite me."
Azazel was taken aback. Surely she hadn't just made a proposition herself? He smirked mischievously. Oh, no, not that easily.
"Nah," he shrugged. He wasn't going to make it easy.
"Nah?"
Emma frowned. She turned back around and inched closer to him. Before he could act, he noticed her sniffing him.
"My scent that alluring, kitten?
"Not at all," she backed up. "Did you ever take a bath?"
Right. That.
Granny had stopped him on the way to the lake the morning George and himself went to the cave. She had some intel about a Blacksmith living there, and wanted the two of them to hurry and find him, thus he was too distracted and quickly forgot about the entire bathing deal.
"Your scent is even more pungent now," she scolded him.
"That good, eh? Must smell like a damp cave now, on top of the other aromas. Maybe an orc or two to top off the delightfulness of it."
Emma crawled behind him and pushed on his back. He leaned forward a bit, playing along. "Yes?"
"The lake is right there."
Azazel smirked. "Want to see me in a certain state of undress that badly?"
Emma shook her head. She wasn't going to answer that question. She simply tugged at the hem of his jacket, forcing him to assist her with taking it off.
She took the jacket, bringing it up to her nose. She took a big whiff and recoiled immediately.
Azazel burst out laughing. "You must enjoy pain."
"I wouldn't know."
"Oh?" They must have been speaking about two different things.
Azazel sighed. He felt tiny arms wrapped around him, undoing buttons on his shirt. He smirked. He knew she was just attempting to assist him, but he felt she wasn't seeing the real implications of her actions.
"My kitten," he purred, looking down at her tiny hands. "If you keep going, I shall need an entire barrel of alcohol to suppress the things you are doing to me."
Emma immediately tore her hands away and put a foot of space between them. She is too innocent.
Azazel wouldn't take advantage of it. He had standards, unbelievably. If he didn't he wouldn't have died a virgin as a king. As much as he joked to himself about being a lady killer now, he didn't have it in him to literally do anything. He was too use to devoting himself to one person, even if the track record told the tale of how successful it actually was.
"I assure you, I am capable of taking care of undressing myself," he smirked.
"O-of course," she nervously played with the hem of her skirt. "I was just thinking I would clean your clothing while you took a bath. I am use to the only man being around my younger brother."
Azazel stood up and pulled off the shirt, handing it to her. She took it, trying not to be obvious about the way she was looking at his bare torso.
Absolutely adorable.
"Thank you for your assistance."
"Not a problem."
Azazel stood there, looking down at her for a moment. He was waiting.
Waiting.
Still waiting.
He knelt down, putting his hand under her chin. "I would assume you don't want to watch me undress the rest of the way? Not that I would be opposed, but I am a polite demon."
Emma immediately pulled away from his touch and turned around, looking at a tree.
"That tree is interesting."
Azazel laughed. It was quite entertaining. "I'm sure."
After he finished undressing, he dipped body in the lake. The cold water immediately fixed any issues be may have been having. He swam out toward the center of it. "Bloody hell, I am use to warm water."
Emma gathered up his clothing sat by the edge of the lake. She hummed to herself as she worked extra hard to get all remnants of stench from the clothing.
"You are use to warm water?" She asked as she focused on her task. "Do you usually only bathe on hot days?"
Azazel pulled away stands of wet hair, which were clinging to his horns. He suddenly felt he had to watch what he said around her, because he had already gave enough away to make himself seem rather...off.
"Perhaps," he simply responded.
Emma frowned and squint. She looked directly in his direction. "There's something you're not telling me."
"Is there?" He laughed nervously. "I haven't lied about anything."
"We should continue the earlier conversation."
"I'd rather not!" Azazel repeated himself. He submerged himself under the water.
"Don't make me follow you out there!"
You wouldn't. Would you?