#viola!

"Well, I was meaning to find a partner to run with today. Got some good running shoes?"

he comes not as a red man dressed with horns and a serpent’s tail, but as a man you know too well. but in his shadow, you could see for who he truly is –– a devil, a monster. this is just an illusion cast from your own mind. 

“ah, i see you like the human that has this form,” the devil said, bemusement playing on his lips. his gentle smirk reminds you of the real connor. you lick your lips, hoping that the devil doesn’t see the flicker of want in your eyes.

“i  know everything; don’t hide.”

you feel a dark flush creeping onto your cheeks. if you could, you would hide your face away. but this is the devil and he is too handsome and alluring for your eyes to pull away from. 

 you also have a wish to be granted.

the tail reflected in his shadow slashes the air. you think he’s excited too, especially as he leans forth.

courage is something that you’ve worn well. in the presence of the devil, however, you suddenly feel shy and meek. 

“so...about my wish,” you begin, voice catching as you notice his warm brown eyes roaming all over your body. this is where you can see the distinction between him and the true connor. the real connor will never assault you with stares of such greed. yet, you like it too; especially when there is such dark desireful in those eyes of his.

“yes, what do you want to make of it?” he said. the velvet smoothness of his words almost makes you melt at how well the devil utilized connor’s voice.

beside you, the ocean cries and bangs against the rocks. this isn’t a good place to be making a pact, or summoning the devil. but, you have to admit, it has a romantic feeling to it. only the shadow of the devil, all horns and nonhuman, pull you from your fantasy.

and perhaps you feel hesitant, too, of what you want from him. but after careful thinking, you think that you know exactly what you want.

“i want you.”

your response pulls out a chuckle from the devil, one brow quirking up as his lips pull into a sneer. “is that so? you cannot simply have me.”

you feel your heart beating harshly against your chest. every hair on the back of your neck stands stiff and cold. unconsciously, you pull yourself away from the tension that’s growing down your back, only to be pulled in by the devil’s hands.

“surely you have something else in mind? or maybe, a gift of immense value.” this time, the devil’s gaze captures you. you still think back to connor, pretending that it is him standing here and not a monster of hell.

and yet, connor wouldn’t be this cold and menacing.

no words come out. but this is enough for the devil to realize what you are thinking.

“my oh my, you don’t like him; you love him, want him, and you desire him. but he’s unobtainable, so you want someone else to wear his image and love you back?” a cruel smile warps his feature, turning him much colder than the face you are so used to seeing. a part of you feels immediate regret, not just knowing that the devil is taking immense pleasure from this, but also knowing you can never go back on your actions.

your lips tremble as you nod stiffly, eyes finally managing to look down at your feet. with little effort, the devil draws your gaze back to his as he plants one slender finger underneath your chin.

“foolish little human, your desire and selfishness are your sins. but seeing the trouble you went through, i couldn’t help but take pity. very well, you have your wish.”

then, the devil grips your hand in his, palm to palm. something invisible slices through the skin, forcing a whimper from your throat. you feel blood trickling out, dripping onto the floor just as you feel his own skin parting.

you don’t know who initiated, but soon, both of your arms are raised. you look at it, seeing the bloody redness curling down your hand and landing on the floor. face paling, you notice the smug smile upon the devil’s face. 

“there, the deed is done. i am yours.”

he grabs your hand again and hovers his other hand over your wounded palm. in a matter of seconds, the deep cut is gone; healed, as if there never was anything.

despite knowing of the impact the devil will make on your life, you couldn’t help but smile as he trails his finger down your cheek. you’ve always wanted connor to touch you like this.