As much as Kyle had once wanted to avoid reaching the age of thirty, he now thought it would be preferable to what was starting to feel like eternal youth. Decades - too many of them - spent frozen in his prime had lost their glamour and now felt almost tedious. Almost.

Enjoy it while you can; he won’t let this go on forever.

There was always that to make him appreciate the relentless march of years on Earth. The promise - or threat - of the eternity to follow.

“You’re right.”

Of course I am. And you know, tomorrow’s our anniversary.

For a creature that had for so long struggled with the pace of time in the mortal world, Ryka had learned how to mark the day they’d made their contract. And although it wasn’t the day Kyle had admitted his feeling for his parasite - though Ryka knew that one, too - this seemed the more important date to celebrate.

“What should we do to celebrate, Ry?” The last few words were said around the mouth of a bottle of beer. Kyle tipped it back, frowning as the last tepid drops landed on his tongue. “Ah, fuck. We’re out.” Its five compatriots had disappeared in much the same way in the preceding hour.

Feeling good?

“Not about having to get out of bed for more, no.”

Who said anything about getting out of bed? We can have more fun here.

With half-closed, blood-shot eyes, Kyle stared up at the ceiling of the hotel room they had been living in for the past month. The empty bottle slipped out of his hand, which moments before had gone numb. The familiar feeling of loss that meant Ryka had taken control of it. His other hand followed suit, and both disappeared under the sheets, then under the waistband of his briefs.

Tempting, until he glanced around the suite. “No, wait a sec. If we don’t leave this room, it’s never going to get cleaned.” Empty liquor bottles and beer cans littered the floor and tables, and his clothes were strewn haphazardly on the two couches across the room. Never in a million years would he have imagined he’d turn into such a slob. He’d grown lazy, accustomed to having others pick up after him.

But you’re still just as studly as ever.

“That’s all you. I should be rotting in the ground somewhere by now.”

There was brief silence before Ryka asked, Do you wish you were?

“No, of course not.” His empty stomach, complaining that he hadn’t eaten in a full day, conveniently cut the discussion short. “Let’s get showered and get the fuck out of this building.”

***

On his way to the nearest fast food restaurant, Kyle passed a school. It was just past dismissal time, and teenagers loitered on the front steps, talking and laughing. For a moment, he was transported back to his days as a teacher. He had dreamed of spending decades enjoying his chosen career. But things hadn’t gone that way.

He had never meant for anyone to find out about Ryka - not his coworkers, and especially not his students - but found out they had. Often in as traumatizing a manner as Ryka could manage without making Kyle hate him completely. No one dared insinuate he should reconsider his profession, or at least go elsewhere, but it was impossible to ignore the terror that trailed him. And although Ryka had gladly fed off the fear their presence created, guilt had plagued Kyle.

Eventually, he had given up, and far earlier than he’d wanted to. Though he knew it would have gotten difficult. After all, he didn’t age, and how was he ever supposed to explain that when new staff came on board?

In the end, it had been easier to run away. Give up his identity completely and live a nomad’s life, never settling down in one spot for too long. Using Ryka’s unnatural talents to ensure they never went without. At this point, there was no door the demon couldn’t open for him. Well, almost. The past was the past, and there was no going back.

Keep walking. You look like a pervert hanging out in front of a school.

Kyle hadn’t even realized he’d stopped. Shaking his head to try and clear it, he continued on his way. “Sorry.”

The shades make you extra creepy.

“I’m blaming that one on you.” After the time Ryka had fixed his myopia in a Salem alleyway, Kyle had never expected to need glasses again. But being stuck in the same body with a demon for so long had an unusual side effect: Kyle’s left iris was bright red. He’d spent long enough standing in front of mirrors in dark hotel rooms to know it didn’t glow, not yet anyhow, but it was still quite noticeable. Whenever possible, he wore sunglasses. The cheapest he could find, knowing the shadow would consume them if given half a chance.

Even more disturbing than the sudden change in eye color was the new talent that came along with it. Just like his parasite, he could see sins. Though only for those at the edges of his vision. It was like watching a movie. Hovering behind the person in question was a spectral image, acting out every wrong they had done. Luckily, unlike Ryka, he could “turn off” this ability by focusing completely on the subject. Ryka had explained that this was what he saw all the time, and Kyle understood why he found humans so frustrating. After all, who was without sin?

The thought evaporated when a group of children sprinted past him, laughing. A sideways glance at them, he knew, would reveal only a soft white glow. The sign of a clean soul. Something he thought probably annoyed Ryka as much as those burdened by sin. Kyle sighed as he watched the kids dart through the crowded streets and disappear around the next corner.

I can’t believe you still miss it. It’s been so long. Time to suck it up.

“I know, I know.” A few people gave him curious glances as he strolled on, but he pointed to his ear and they nodded in understanding. Everyone was constantly connecting with someone else, so answering Ryka aloud hardly seemed unusual. “This is going to sound strange to you, but I get bored not having work to do. And gambling isn’t work.”

Don’t forget, Master, that you’re the one who wanted to live like this.

Kyle didn’t bother arguing. One comment, now so long ago, had been enough to ensure him a care-free lifestyle. It had been nice at first, not having to worry about how he was going to get by, just letting Ryka take care of him. Slot machines were easy to sway to their advantage. As was letting Kyle know who was bluffing at the poker tables. It almost made Kyle wonder why he had suffered so many years on a meager teacher’s salary.

But it was getting old, living this way. He had seen the world, more than once, and had no desire to see it again. Globe trotting had become a trudge. And sometimes, he thought he’d go crazy if he had to hear one more slot machine wailing at him, had to see one more poker dealer’s look of awe as Kyle took the last of his opponents’ hard earned money. Too late, he had recalled Ryka’s warning. A life of leisure wasn’t really as good as he’d imagined. There was no challenge, nothing to break up what had somehow turned into monotony.

He’d picked up the occasional security gig - he was surely intimidating enough - but without going through the trouble of forging a fake identity, his job options were limited. Swindling casinos was the easiest way to stay fed and sheltered. It was better than any alternatives. As Ryka had told him numerous times, all it would take was a word from Kyle, and Ryka would happily enslave the world’s population for him. Kyle preferred his boring anonymity.

When living amongst the masses had become too much, they’d disappeared into what was left of the wilderness for weeks, sometimes months at a time. But that always lost its charm at some point. Kyle couldn’t die of exposure, but they had to eat, and the solitude and scenery didn’t make up for the cuisine, or how they had to obtain it. Never mind that Ryka, too, eventually got hungry. There was no one for him to hunt in the middle of nowhere.

Back among the masses, it was a different story. Wherever they went, sinners followed. An endless parade of cursed souls who unwittingly came to seek their own deaths, all gleefully dispatched by his other half.

Kyle was sure he had seen every possible method of murder. Snapped necks and slit throats were the usual. He had seen people disemboweled, dismembered and decapitated. Drowned and burned alive. Grown men turned into little more than bloody pulp. He had watched an armed gang march themselves into two neat lines, then turn and fire on each other at Ryka’s command. Worst were the “suicides,” though. Ryka hijacking his victim’s free will and forcing them to end their lives by their own hands.

Once, it had sickened Kyle to see such violence. He was numb to it now. He cared little what happened to his fellow mortals, because he hardly felt like one. And he could pinpoint the moment the last shreds of his humanity had unraveled.

When Adam had said “good-bye.”

The real reason he had quit his job had been the loss of his friend. When Kate had discovered she was pregnant, she’d convinced Adam they needed to move. She hadn’t thought it was safe to raise a child anywhere within a thousand mile radius of a demon. Adam had been apologetic, but Kyle had understood. He was a disaster just waiting to happen. It still hurt, though. Enough to push him to leave his job and the place he had called home for more than ten years.

Even now, he could still clearly recall the site of his house engulfed in fire. Bright red flames and the cackling fire elementals that fueled them. It had taken firefighters the better part of a night to finally extinguish the blaze. With a little too much enthusiasm, Ryka had granted his Master’s wish for a good excuse to get out of town. It wasn’t quite what Kyle’d had in mind, but it had done the trick. And the insurance money hadn’t hurt, either.

Since then, except for the occasional brief acquaintance, he’d avoided making connections. The rest of his species wasn’t worth his time or effort; Ryka was enough. Kyle sometimes thought it sinister, the way Ryka had made himself the sole focus of Kyle’s life. Whether it had been his intent or not hardly mattered any more. Their contract had evolved far beyond that original deal. And really, Kyle wouldn’t have things any other way.

Not when they still had the night. Long ago, Ryka had found a way for them to be together – in Kyle’s dreams. Early on, this trick had drained Ryka’s energy for days. Darkness still made things easier - all that baseline fear wafting around - but the demon had grown so much stronger, and now the dreams cost him almost nothing.

Kyle’s sunglasses served double-duty – they also hid the dark rings around his eyes. He may have spent ten or more hours in bed most nights, but it wasn’t the most restful sleep.

But they still had the day to get through. Although Kyle really didn’t want to spend any more time at the casino, he didn’t know what else to do. A sure sign that it was almost time to move on. Not that a change of scenery would help, but as Ryka said, they should try to enjoy it while they could. After grabbing a day’s worth of greasy fast food and a case of beer, he made his way back.

***

Their room had been cleaned, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. Kyle set their food down on the bed and started undressing, immediately tossing his clothes on the floor. “I’ll let you eat first. Decide what you want to do tomorrow.”

Dinner somewhere besides the fucking casino, I suppose.

“Sure.” It wouldn’t be the first time Kyle had reserved a table in a five-star restaurant, ordered enough for two, and eaten alone. He always told the waiter he’d been stood up by his date, when in fact that wasn’t even possible. And no one had ever even noticed him whispering to himself at a quiet corner table.

Without having to be asked, Kyle moved to stand in front of the small mirror hanging above the dresser. Maybe Kyle’s habits had changed, but if it was possible, Ryka liked to watch the transformation. He couldn’t deny finding the change fascinating, even after all this time. Maybe because it had become more complete, and Kyle was now able to see something closer to Ryka’s true form. Now, his horns curled back over pointed ears, and a serpent’s forked tongue hid behind his wicked smile.

After shaking out his wings, he crossed them haphazardly across his back. His wingspan had eventually stopped increasing - maxed out at a foot or two shy of twenty feet, Kyle estimated - but even in a room as large as theirs, there was little space to stretch out.

Ryka didn’t seem to mind; he had other things to focus on. Namely, Kyle. “You know, I’m not really in the mood to eat.”

Oh?

Ryka cast a lusty stare at the mirror. “I’ll take my anniversary hand job now, stud.”

You’re not very subtle.

“And you’re not very bright if you’re just figuring that out now. Get to it, Master.”

Patience is a virtue, you know.

“Demons aren’t made to have any of those.”

Don’t I know it. Now sit your ass down.

“Yes, Master. I love you.”

I love you, too, Ry.

***

The sun had still been up when Ryka had come out the day before, and they had gone to bed at a reasonable time, but somehow Kyle still slept through most of a day. He thought it might have been boredom. Would eternity feel this way?

You’ve been thinking about death a lot lately.

Because he should have long since been buried. He wouldn’t say it out loud, even though that didn’t make it any more private a thought. Instead, he diverted attention from himself. “And you’ve been talking about Hell a lot. I thought you didn’t want to go back.”

I don’t. There’s no beer and cigarettes in Hell.

Part of Ryka’s contract as a parasite demon stated that he couldn’t lie to his host. But that didn’t mean he had to tell the whole truth, either. And Kyle knew that Ryka was hiding something. But prying wouldn’t work; Ryka could just ignore him.

Sighing, he swung his legs out of bed. Late afternoon light poured through the crack between their hotel suite’s dark curtains.

Happy Anniversary, stud.

“Mm. Same to you.” He didn’t mean to sound so unenthused. But before he could apologize, a growl loud enough to make his ears ring was shaking the floor and walls. Too late, he realized that Ryka had been on the verge of losing his temper. I’ve always done my best to please you, Master, but I’ve obviously failed. Still, I’m willing to try again. If you want to leave this world so badly, I can do it for you. Slow and painful, just the way you like it.

“What? No. And that’s not what I meant. But aren’t you bored?”

Not as long as I have you, Master. But if you don’t feel the same, I can send you on your way. Maybe my Lord Satan would be willing to take me back ahead of schedule if you don’t want me anymore.

Kyle’s stomach knotted. This wasn’t how he had planned to start the day, was never how he’d wanted Ryka to feel. “It’s not you, dear. You have to know that. But be honest with me – aren’t you sick of it here, too? I know you’re not happy with whatever happened in Hell, but don’t you miss it just a little?”

There was a long pause, during which their heart rate slowed back to normal. Finally, after a silence that dragged on for nearly five minutes, Ryka quietly answered, Maybe.

“I’m sorry, really. It’s just … people aren’t meant to live this long. But I’ll drop it. Where do you want to eat tonight?”

I picked last year. It’s your turn.

Kyle smiled, feeling the tension between them melt away. “I can’t believe you remember things like that. How did I get so lucky?”

Quit your sweet-talking and shower. You’ve got a long night ahead of you.

***

With a doggy-bag in each hand, Kyle wove his way through crowded streets back to the hotel. There, he dropped the food off at their room before heading down to the casino. Dinner hadn’t been cheap, and he still planned on staying at the hotel another few nights. They needed more money, and there was only one way to earn it.

Kyle plopped himself down in front of a slot machine and started betting. Ryka avoided big jackpots - they drew too much attention - but anyone watching would have noticed Kyle’s incredible luck, winning hundreds of dollars on every spin. Coffers restored, he quietly left the gaming area and headed back to their room, Ryka assuring him they weren’t being tailed by security.

But failing to mention that didn’t mean no one had followed them. Kyle was just unlocking the door when he felt something cold pressed into the back of his neck. It wasn’t the first gun muzzle he’d ever felt there, and was unlikely to be the last. Whether it was him they were attracted to, or Ryka, the sinners always found them. And at these dens of vice, it happened with astonishing regularity.

“Be quiet and get inside,” a man whispered. It was hard for Kyle to hear the orders over Ryka’s cackling. The demon never failed to find joy in sending damned souls on their way to Hell.

Nodding slightly, Kyle did as his attacker ordered. The door closed slowly behind them as Kyle was forced to walk over to the bed. “Hands behind your head.”

Kyle tried, he really did, but Ryka was too fast. Another expensive suit hung in tatters from the demon’s shoulders. Malice outshining the Hellfire in his eyes, Ryka turned to face the mugger. The man was young, hardly twenty, and stood with his jaw hanging open, staring helplessly at the monster before him. “That was the last of many mistakes,” Ryka sneered, taking a step toward the man. A small whimper escaped his mouth as Ryka wrapped a hand around his throat. “I’ve got better things to do tonight than waste my time on you. You should feel lucky.”

With one small motion, Ryka broke the man’s neck. The sound of bones snapping sent a chill down his spine. “Now I’m really in the mood,” he said, extracting the blackened soul from between parted lips. The scream had never made it that far.

Ryka turned to face his shadow. It was already waiting, eyes half-closed in bliss and mouth open. The wisp of dark smoke that Ryka had been holding slipped from between his fingers and drifted through the portal. Through Ryka’s eyes, Kyle stared after it, and found his gaze drawn into the distance.

Looming against the dancing flames was the inky silhouette of an enormous winged beast. Kyle had seen it dozens of times these last few years, and feared it more each time he’d seen it. Although it had a different form every time, he was sure it was the same creature. Its eyes weren’t discernible at such a distance, but Kyle knew without a doubt that it was looking at him. Not at Ryka, who currently controlled their body, but at him. And Ryka always refused to talk about it. At least, he had.

“Master ….” Ryka breathed, focus also on the beast.

You don’t mean me, do you?

“No. I’m sorry, Kyle. But you want this too, right?”

Kyle was too stunned by hearing the demon use his name to even understand the question. And by the time he realized what he was being asked, it was too late to answer. Ryka had started toward the portal, and with every step he took, the beast on the other side advanced as well. Only when it was a little closer did Kyle realize how truly massive it was. It stared back at them through the portal with faintly glowing black eyes.

“Master, please let us come home. He’s tired and I … well, we’ve done good, right? What else do you want from us?”

Kyle could swear the beast laughed, and it may have been mirth that narrowed its eyes to slits. What he was sure of was the gale that followed. Like a sudden negative pressure front appeared on the other side of the portal, a storm whipped up in their room. Ryka’s wings snapped forward, and in the periphery of his vision, Kyle could see furniture sliding toward Hell’s gate. Ryka was struggling to keep his footing, having given up on trying to control his wings.

What’s happening?

But Ryka didn’t answer. He was too busy trying to stop them following a desk chair that had just entered the afterlife. “That’s all you needed to hear? After all this time? You bastard! Fuck that! Fuck you! I’m staying here with Kyle!”

This time, the beast’s response was clearly laughter. A blinding flash of red light followed. Then complete darkness.

***

It took a long time for Kyle to wake out of a dreamless sleep. With painful slowness, he regained consciousness. Though he was too exhausted to do much more than breathe, he tried to remember what had happened. The last thing he could recall was someone else attempting to rob him at the hotel. After that, his memory just … cut out.

There was no way Ryka had let him be injured. And he didn’t hurt. He felt off-kilter and sluggish. But not like he’d been shot.

There was a bed under him, unfamiliar sheets and a mattress his body didn’t recognize. Waking up had been a bad move. Too many things he didn’t understand. With a ragged sigh, he gave up thinking and let himself fall back asleep.

***

The feeling of a light breeze tousling his hair - which felt much too short - and brushing against his skin woke him. He couldn’t be sure how long he had slept, but the sudden realization that he was outside, and apparently naked, put all thoughts of time from his mind. Although it took a great deal of effort, he forced one eye open. After looking around as much as he could manage, he closed it, and wished he hadn’t been so curious. Now he was confused and scared.

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A quick glance had been enough to take in the fact the room he was in had only three walls. Where the fourth should have been was a large balcony. The room itself was almost empty, save for the bed he could feel under himself, a table, and a few tall stools. The walls and floor were bare. But he was glad for that; the stark simplicity of the room was almost comforting. Especially when compared to the rest of the view. It was what lay beyond the edge of the balcony that made his head reel and his heart pound.

Directly overhead, the sky was a sickly yellow color, infused with a dim light that seemed to shine down from nowhere in particular. Ugly, green-tinged clouds dotted the sky. At least here it was bright. Better than what he had glimpsed further out.

Halfway to the horizon, craggy mountains that brushed the sky jutted out of an otherwise flat landscape. And beyond them, the world seemed to go dark. Like a black hole, the sky beyond that border seemed to be sucking up all the light from the bright half of the world.

Doubting what he had seen, Kyle risked peeking again. A second glance revealed that it wasn’t completely dark on the other side of the mountain range. Even at what seemed a vast distance, he could see red light dancing on the bottoms of inky black clouds. It looked like firelight.

He had seen this before, brief glimpses of this nightmare place. Through the shadow’s mouth. Where else could this be but Hell? Desolation as far as the eye could see. In the back of his mind, he’d always known he’d wind up here. That had never been in doubt. But that didn’t make it any less devastating.

And he was completely alone. He tried to open his mouth to call for Ryka, but couldn’t. Even worse, he couldn’t feel Ryka’s presence at all. He screamed the demon’s name in his head, to no response. Half of him was missing.

And he knew this was it - his punishment. The thing Kyle dreaded the most. An eternity in isolation. Just as Ryka had once predicted. Kyle had wanted to believe the demon when he’d promised an alternative, and he’d been hopeful. But here he was. No Ryka. No anyone. A few tears fell as he tried again to call for his other half, but the effort exhausted him, and he fell asleep once more.

***

It went on like this for what felt like ages. Waking, disoriented and drained, unable to do more than open his eyes to confirm he was still alone. After the second time, he gave up looking around, staring instead at the ugly sky overhead. Even though he knew there would be no sympathy, he still cried. Though more often than not, the tears dried up before they had the chance to roll down his cheeks.

His eternity had only just begun, and already he was drowning in misery. Forever had always been a difficult concept - it was for all mortals - but faced with it now, he had a sense of it. Of the maddening stretch of time he would endure longing for something he could never have.

Sometimes, he could manage a whimper. He lost count of how many times he woke, but noticed he was physically less exhausted each time, though not by much. His body felt heavy, and mostly beyond his control. Even trying to wiggle a finger was impossible. It felt like a major victory when he managed to utter a raspy, miserable, “Ry.”

At that, it felt like the world moved under him. But he was already drifting off again, unable to try to turn his head. He barely registered the dark shadow blacking out the sky as his eyelids fluttered closed.

***

“What the fuck do you little shits even want? Please just fuck off.”

The words jerked him back to consciousness, or something that felt like it. That was Ryka’s voice. He had listened to it every day for the past near-century; how would he not recognize it?

This had to be a dream, if the damned were even allowed such a thing. Maybe he was.

All at once, he understood how he was to be punished. He and Ryka had used dreams to break the rules, so it would be in dreams that he’d nearly get to live out the future they had hoped for: Kyle achieving immortality. Never mind his own crushing disappointment, even worse would be envisioning Ryka’s. Over and over and over. Waking in between to find himself still in miserable solitude.

He’d earned this agony. Kyle had piled sin on top of sin. Handing his soul to a demon had only been the start.

But his heart was racing all the same. To hear that gravelly rumble again was incredible. If only he could manage to open his eyes …. This really was torture.

Two more voices chimed in. “Aw, come on, Ryka. Don’t be such an asshole.”

“Yeah, you just got back. Let us stay; we missed you.”

They sounded almost like children, a boy and a girl.

“Then keep it down, okay? Man, isn’t someone supposed to be babysitting you ugly little snots?”

“Val is. Lord Satan was pissed he left, so now he’s stuck with us.”

“I almost feel bad for him. Almost. Where’d he go, anyhow?” The children giggled, and Kyle heard Ryka grumbling. “That wasn’t an answer.”

“He’s with Zarin,” the boy finally said.

“Why aren’t you off ruining their fun?”

“Well ….” The boy sounded thoughtful.

“It’s gotta be more exciting than this.”

There was agreement from the kids - no, imps, Kyle corrected himself - then the sound of flapping wings, and a heavy sigh of relief from Ryka. “Finally. Now, are you ever ….” Whatever Ryka was trying to say was lost as Kyle slipped into the void again.

***

A gale brought Kyle out of that deeper state of unconsciousness the next time. He felt it before he heard it, wind whipping his hair, shorter though it was. Along with it came the arrival of another guest. Even with his eyes still stubbornly shut - these dreams really were effective at causing suffering - he could sense their presence. It felt like the air was getting heavier.

“Ryka.” The cold disdain in the new arrival’s voice was startling. And returned tenfold.

“Judas.” It wasn’t a greeting, but a curse. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Lucifer sent me.”

“Not to keep me company, I hope.” A loud growl that Kyle knew wasn’t Ryka’s rattled the room. “Don’t you ever smile? You’re such a tight-ass. But I guess that’s what he likes most about you, hmm? Turn your back on your friend, then spend eternity doing the same for the Devil.”

“Insolent brat,” Judas hissed.

“Insufferable prick,” came the immediate reply.

“Ryka!” Through sheer force of will, Kyle managed to get one eye open. But he couldn’t see Ryka. Even in a dream, a glimpse would be enough. Probably, he realized, why he would never get one. The only thing he could make out against the dim light was a pair of tattered gray wings. Disappointed, he closed his eye again. “Did you learn nothing in all that time?”

“Get to the point. What the fuck do you want, Judas?”

“He wants to see you.”

“He can go fuck himself. I’m not running around for him anymore. And I’m not leaving here until ….” Kyle felt two gazes land on him. Briefly, he wondered if this dream, nightmare, whatever it was had a point.

“I’ll tell him.” It sounded like nothing would give him more pleasure than ratting Ryka out.

“Please do.”

A scoff from Judas, then the wind picked up again, howling loud enough to hide the sound of his departure.

“Cocky bastard,” Ryka grumbled. Kyle heard bare feet on tile, stopping next to him. Fighting immobility, Kyle managed to twitch his head in that direction. “Can you hear me?” Was this the part where he’d imagine he’d obtained his eternity with Ryka, just to wake and find himself alone again? Throat tight, he whimpered. “Hey, stud, come on.” Something landed on the bed on either side of his head, bouncing it off the mattress. “Look at me!”

Kyle’s eyes flew open. To find Ryka leaning over him, looking very much like he had in all those other dreams. With the addition of an appropriately devilish goatee. “Ry,” he croaked.

“You’re awake!” The absolute joy in that exclamation was elating. This was going to hurt.

“I’m not.”

“No?” Ryka smirked down at him, bending his elbows to bring his face closer to Kyle’s. “You look awake to me.”

“A dream.”

“Not this time. I promise.”

“But-”

“You’re going to fit right in if that’s what you think he did to you. But it’s not that.” Kyle’s eyes must have said it all - how could he deserve anything like what Ryka suggested? “Please believe me, Kyle.” The desperation in his voice was devastating. Paired with the look of grief on his face, Kyle was gutted. He was going to spend his forever breaking apart, being rebuilt just to do it again.

“Look at me, stud.” He’d lost focus, already succumbing to misery. “You wouldn’t feel this if it wasn’t real.” Ryka lowered himself further, until they were chest-to-chest. And there was a feeling Kyle remembered well: the soothing vibration of Ryka’s purr.

Was he really not damned? It was too much. Kyle cracked, sobbing and trying fruitlessly to hide his face. In an instant, Ryka was beside him, rolling Kyle onto his side to make room for himself on the bed. He rested his forehead against Kyle’s. “You’re safe, stud. I’ve got you.”

The full weight of the trauma of realizing he was in Hell, of thinking he’d never see Ryka again, hit him like a tidal wave, left him sputtering in its wake. “I thought I was alone,” he wailed, recalling the awful feeling of finding his head empty.

“I was here the whole time, I swear it Probably on the floor, because you kept shoving me out of bed in your sleep. Asshole.” Ryka pulled Kyle closer, pressing his entire body against Kyle’s and kissing away the tears that didn’t immediately evaporate.

“Sorry. I didn’t know. I couldn’t move, and I couldn’t hear you. I was scared. And then I thought it was all part of it. That it would go on and on.” He knew he was blubbering and near-hysterical, but couldn’t get his emotions under control. It was dizzying, going from thinking he was in isolation for all eternity to finding out his most sincere wish had come true. That he had somehow been spared damnation.

“Didn’t I tell you I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you? I’m hurt that you didn’t believe me.”

“I’m sorry.” His words were still choked out by sobs, but as always, Ryka understood.

“Don’t be.” Kyle wanted to argue, to beg for forgiveness, but Ryka stopped him, putting a finger to Kyle’s lips. “I can lie again. But I won’t. Not to you.”

“Thank you.” There was more he wanted to say, more he wanted to ask, but the exhaustion was creeping up again. Kyle tried to fight it, shaking his head slightly.

With a chuckle, Ryka told him, “Just sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

***

This time, when Kyle awoke, it was to find Ryka exactly where he had been, firelit eyes staring intently at him. “How long was I out?”

Ryka shrugged. “Who knows? But do you believe this yet?”

“Yes? No?”

“Maybe you need some convincing?” Judging by the hungry look Ryka wore, he had a specific method in mind.

Enticing as the prospect was, Kyle declined. “I’m so tired. And I can’t feel anything. Why?”

“Your body’s not the same. You can’t tell?” This time, his attempt at shaking his head was successful. A small one, but still a step forward. His mouth did feel strange, and he realized he’d been speaking with a lisp. With something between horror and awe, he felt around with his tongue - forked now, though he lacked precise control over it - and found pointed teeth. He worried his lower lip with them, and knew he shouldn’t have been surprised how sharp they were.

“Don’t bite yourself. That’s my job. But here, sit.” With Ryka’s assistance, Kyle was hoisted near enough to upright to be able to look down at himself.

“Whoa,” he breathed, momentarily forgetting how to blink as he studied his new body. “Not the same” seemed like an understatement. Because although in most regards he still looked much like he had in life, there were some startling new changes. The big, gray wings for one, splayed awkwardly out behind him. And his tail, resting limp across his thighs.

“You’re gorgeous,” Ryka purred, admiring the view. Kyle hadn’t been wrong in thinking he was naked when he first woke. As Ryka had told him long ago, demons didn’t like clothes. His other half was also in a state of undress. And apparently thoroughly enjoying being able to hold Kyle close, judging by his state of arousal.

“You, too, Ry, I-”

But Ryka didn’t let him finish, cutting him off with a kiss. The best one Kyle’d ever had, and not just because he’d been waiting close to a century for it. A hand on the back of his head supported him, and the other caressed a part of Kyle that hadn’t existed prior to his death. “What cute little horns you have,” Ryka teased.

Kyle’s whole body trembled, and his eyes rolled back, fluttering closed. He’d never felt anything so wonderful. The sound of tearing fabric forced them open again, and he looked down to find he had shredded the bed sheets with a set of his own razor-sharp claws.

Only when Ryka started to laugh did he realize how surprised he must have looked. “That’s progress, right? Should I keep going?” With Ryka so close, it wasn’t just his own heartbeat he could feel racing. And his chest thrummed with a deep, satisfied rumble. Eager to find out what else he could feel, Kyle nodded.

His lips and tongue, at least, obeyed him. Kissing Ryka for real felt even more amazing than it had in dreams. And before long, he found he was able to move his hands a bit more – enough to bring one up to Ryka’s face. Ryka held it there, his purr jumping an octave.

When Ryka finally pulled away, Kyle panted out a disappointed, “I still can’t move much. Well, not entirely.” It had taken him until then to realize that his tail had wrapped itself tightly enough around one of his legs to cut off circulation. It seemed to be the only part of his lower half that was currently functioning, much to his dismay.

Ryka had followed Kyle’s gaze down, and glanced back up at him with a smirk. “We’ll get it up, don’t worry.”

A sudden, horrifying thought occurred to Kyle. “What if that’s my punishment? I get to be with you, but I’m impotent.”

Ryka just gaped at him. “What the fuck did I do then, to deserve that?” Which put a stop to Kyle’s anxious train of thought. “I promise, you’ll be fine. But let’s work on the rest, too. Get your mind off that.”

“How?” Kyle asked.

“Hmm. I’ve got an idea.” The wicked grin that accompanied those words made Kyle nervous. He trusted Ryka, but that was a danger in itself. Before he could ask what Ryka intended to do, his partner had taken hold of the edge of Kyle’s right wing and slowly stretched it open over them. “Payback’s a bitch,” he teased, using his other hand to lightly trace along the membrane.

In dreams, this had been Kyle’s favorite way to torment Ryka - his wing membranes were extremely ticklish. It turned out Kyle’s were, too. Gasping, he snapped his wing closed again. And then spent a moment staring over his shoulder at it. It took a lot of effort - these were new muscles - but if he concentrated hard enough, he could shakily open and close his wings. “This is crazy,” he muttered, and heard Ryka chuckle.

“That actually worked. Huh.” Maybe this was another trick to get him moving, but scowling, Kyle turned back to his partner and attempted to knee him in the crotch. Laughing, Ryka rolled away. “This is fun.”

Kyle could only be so mad. He could sort of move most of his extremities by now. Which was so much better than the feeling of paralysis he’d been experiencing since waking here. “Glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

“I’d rather we were both having fun.” As he spoke, Ryka entwined his tail with Kyle’s. He rolled back onto his side, reaching up again to run a claw gently up one of Kyle’s horns. Kyle sighed. It felt like things were starting to happen between his legs, but he knew if he checked, he’d only be goading Ryka on.

Fully expecting to be taunted for even thinking that, Kyle risked a glance at Ryka. And found Ryka staring at him with his head cocked to one side. “What’s up, stud?”

“Oh, um. Well ….” That was right - his thoughts were his alone again. It was odd.

His face still gave him away, though. “I don’t like not knowing what you’re thinking.”

“If it makes things more difficult for you, I don’t think I’ll mind so much,” Kyle told him, smirking.

With a playful growl, Ryka levered himself up to hover protectively over Kyle, wings spreading to hide them from view. “You know, once we get started, I think it’s all going to come back to you.”

“Get started?” The grin plastered on Ryka’s face made his meaning unmistakable. “Whoa, hold on. That’s not fair.”

“Sure it is. And don’t worry, you can’t feel any pain here. Just pleasure ….” Another caress, and Kyle all but melted. “See?”

“No, Ry, wait,” Kyle pleaded, trying to dig his claws into the bed to stop Ryka from flipping him onto his back. Even now, Ryka was much stronger than him. It seemed to take very little effort for Ryka to grab Kyle’s legs and move him into the position he desired. Kyle only barely managed to get his wings properly folded under him as he landed back on the bed. “I still can’t even move. Ry-”

“I’ll take care of everything. We can finally do this; I can’t wait any longer.” There was an unmistakably predatory glint in Ryka’s eyes as he leaned in and gently bit Kyle’s neck. Moaning, Kyle arched his back and felt his wings open. Maybe this would be the fastest way to get his body functioning. It’s not like he was unwilling – he just wanted to be able to participate.

And he had every intention of saying this. “Ry, I-”

But Ryka didn’t let him. That was fine; kissing was better than discussing how frustrated Kyle felt. He was immortal - that would take a long time to sink in - but he knew if he tried to stand, he’d crumple to the floor. Letting himself give in to Ryka was familiar and comfortable. And seemed to be working.

He managed to get an arm hooked around Ryka’s neck. For his effort, Ryka rewarded him with another bite on his throat. Not enough to break skin, but enough to send Kyle’s head tipping back as he sighed. Kyle’s eyes blinked open, then went wide.

Above them, the sky had gone from dingy green-gray to pitch black. Storm clouds swirled, red lightning crawling along the bottoms. “Um, Ry?”

Hearing the fear in Kyle’s voice, Ryka pulled away and followed his gaze. “Shit.”

“What’s happening?”

“I told Judas to tell Lord Satan to go fuck himself.”

The lightshow overhead was growing in intensity - the lightning was nonstop. One stroke flashed bright enough to temporarily blind Kyle, and when his vision returned, he saw that they were no longer alone in Ryka’s room.

Kyle hadn’t been sure what he was expecting. He now understood that the steely-eyed beast he’d seen through the portal had been Lord Satan. He also vividly remembered Ryka saying he was pretty. But “pretty” didn’t even begin to cover it. The man standing before them was surely an angel. Waist-length black hair streaked with platinum framed a face of unnatural beauty. He had enormous feathered wings, like Kyle had always imagined angels possessed. But his were black, darker even than the clouds above. They matched the horns that curled gracefully over his ears. He could see the tip of his tail, swishing just above the floor, below the hem of white robes that stopped just shy of the tops of his feet. Not hooves, as Kyle had been half-expecting.

Kyle tried to meet his gaze, and felt his blood freeze in his veins when he did. Lucifer’s gaze was beyond cold. It was a feeling he had long since forgotten. Ice frosting over every muscle, crystallizing in every organ. Kyle felt himself start to shiver, teeth knocking together. But he couldn’t look away. His breath caught, and Hell seemed to be dissolving around him.

A roar from Ryka pulled him back from the brink of whatever dark precipice he’d been teetering on the edge of. Though Ryka’s expression wasn’t much of a comfort.

As a passenger, he’d never had to face Ryka’s fury head-on. He’d seen the looks on the faces of those who had, and now wondered how more of them hadn’t simply dropped dead from fright. Because the naked rage burning in Ryka’s eyes was terrifying, and it wasn’t even aimed at him. Instead, he was challenging the Devil himself.

Hissing, Ryka mantled over Kyle, blocking him from Lucifer’s view. Not a single hint of emotion crossed Lucifer’s face as he studied them. He waited out Ryka’s tantrum, and when Ryka finally quieted, coolly inquired, “Are you done?”

As if passing on the message through Judas hadn’t been enough, Ryka bared his teeth and replied, “Fuck off.”

Lucifer’s facade finally cracked, and he rolled his eyes. Kyle’s nearly popped out of his skull to see the Devil shaking his head and sighing in annoyance. “If you’d rather I didn’t intrude, then don’t ignore my invitations.”

Ryka only snarled. He was pressed close enough that Kyle could feel the low rumble of his growl in his own chest. Not sure what else to do, Kyle let himself be smothered, trying to fold his wings up tight. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

“Glad to see you’re awake. And able to move. Tremendous progress.”

This time, Kyle knew better than to attempt eye contact. Instead, he peeked out from behind his protector, looking instead at the ground at Lucifer’s feet. “My Lord,” he muttered, dipping his head.

“My my, he does have more going for him than just good looks.” Startled, Kyle looked up. Somehow, the smile Lord Satan now wore was even more intimidating than his icy stare. “You can relax,” he said to Ryka. “Why would I hurt him?”

Of course, being told to relax never worked, so Ryka didn’t budge.

“You don’t trust me?” Lucifer seemed to glide forward. His expression had become much more gentle, paternal even. “No, I suppose you don’t.”

Finally, Ryka’s temper cooled enough to allow him to do more than just growl, though he was speaking over his own thunderous rumbling. “You’re surprised?”

“No. And I do owe you an explanation.”

“I’ll say.” Ryka’s complete lack of fear put Kyle on edge. How long would Lord Satan put up with this?

“Well, you know how upset the Council gets when I play favorites. And besides Judas, you were far and away my favorite.”

“What, was he jealous?” Ryka snapped, glaring up at Lucifer. Kyle shrank back, worried about the Devil’s reaction. He only smiled.

“I think ‘annoyed’ would be the best way to describe it. You were practically my shadow, and I let you get away with clinging to me like that. The Council thought I should send you to Earth, and I had to agree.”

“Why?”

“Partly so they’d shut up about it,” Lucifer explained, frowning at the memory. “And partly because it was the best way to force you to grow up. I didn’t want Val to pressure you, and I didn’t want to make you do it. If you were ever going to achieve your full potential, you needed to age yourself. And look, you found someone who made you want to do just that.”

“But you had to lie to me, too?”

“What else was I supposed to say? You would have been a little terror if I’d told you the truth.” For a moment, it looked like Ryka was going to argue. “Please. You would have sooner ripped a potential host apart than tried to make the contract. But since you were so upset about being kicked out, you behaved yourself.” Here, the Devil paused to look at Kyle. “And I must say, I’m rather impressed. This is the first time a host-parasite relationship has worked out so well. I usually have to intervene after only a few years. We finally found someone with the right temperament to host a demon.”

The entire time he had been Ryka’s host, Kyle had wondered what had happened in Hell that made the demon so hesitant to talk about his home. He had always imagined some horrific scenario. But seeing Ryka’s face as Lucifer explained the reason for his exile, he realized that the truth was worse. Ryka had adored Lucifer and been doted on by him, only to be sent away by him as well. And on a whim.

“Believe me, things will be better this way, Ryka. Now you have someone that needs you.” As he spoke, Lucifer leaned in closer to Kyle. Or tried to. One of Ryka’s wings was instantly shielding him, and from behind it, Kyle heard Lucifer sigh again. “I promise, Ryka, I have no intention of hurting him.” To hear the Devil pleading in exasperation with one of his underlings made Kyle’s head spin.

But it had the desired effect. Ryka dropped his wings and repositioned himself next to Kyle, propping him up so he wasn’t staring awkwardly up at Lucifer. Having already learned his lesson, Kyle carefully avoided direct eye contact. And was immediately called out on it.

“He didn’t have time to warn you. There’s something worse than Hell - Oblivion - and that’s what you almost saw. You’ll learn to ignore it. It will take time. But you’ll have plenty of that.”

Not sure what to say, Kyle just dipped his head.

“You’ve just woken up, hmm?” Kyle nodded. “So, then, Kyle Saunders, how does it feel to have been spared damnation?”

He was pretty sure he should have been kissing Lucifer’s feet, but since he could still hardly move, Kyle could only verbally offer his thanks. And that seemed insufficient. “Thank you, my Lord. I-”

But Lucifer waved him off. “No need. Besides, this isn’t Paradise. You’ve done plenty of work already - you became quite the eager hunter - but you’re not done yet. Part of your job is enjoying yourselves to make the damned jealous. And part is earning that leisure time.”

Somehow, Kyle had never thought much about what would happen if he’d been spared. But he was quite sure he’d never imagined he’d be put to work. Too afraid to ask what he’d be expected to do, he could only nod.

“That’s not until you’re up and about. Reincarnation is no easy thing. And we’ll let you get used to things here first. I’m only so cruel.” Ryka scoffed and Kyle flinched. But nothing happened. “As for you, Ryka, we’ll continue our discussion later.”

“What’s to discuss?”

“Let me rephrase. I’d like to apologize.” Ryka opened his mouth, but thought better of replying with something snarky and promptly closed it again. “I do owe you that much. But as long as you don’t mind, we can wait until you feel comfortable leaving Kyle alone.”

Given the state he was in, Kyle hoped that wouldn’t be anytime soon. Ryka was apparently of the same mind. “Expect a wait, then,” he growled.

Unphased, Lucifer smiled. “Of course. But, ah, I almost forgot. Kyle, I have a few things I’ve been holding on to for you.”

“What? Things?”

From within his robes, Lord Satan produced several items Kyle had never anticipated seeing again. In his left hand, a very familiar pair of glasses. The same ones that had long ago been sucked through the portal while Ryka dealt with Val in a Salem alleyway. The second object, in his right palm, was a watch. It was the first thing Kyle had bought with his casino winnings, and something he had considered a gift from Ryka.

Even more incredible were the next mementoes - the several photos Kyle had managed to keep with him for the entirety of their time in Purgatory. The plastic protective covers he’d put them in had been replaced dozens of times, and the photos themselves were faded, with curling, tattered edges. But he had never lost them, the precious memories of his family he had been unable to let go.

Hands shaking, Kyle reached out for the items. Ryka’s hissing ramped up as they were given back, but quieted again as soon as Lucifer stepped away. Now Kyle thought he was just being dramatic. “Thank you. I thought those were gone forever.”

“Of course not. And there’s plenty more. Your portal had quite the appetite.” He motioned behind himself, and for the first time, Kyle noticed the waist-high pile of what, at first glance, looked like garbage. But it was all the items Ryka’s shadow had swallowed over the years.

“Wow. Um.”

“Indeed. But I’ll take my leave.” Lucifer started toward the edge of the balcony, but turned back to face Ryka just before he reached the edge. “By the way, I understand you were giving Judas a hard time.”

“Isn’t that your job?”

The Devil glared at Ryka, and Ryka returned the gesture without hesitation. Now, Kyle thought, he’s really going to lose temper. He closed his eyes, nervously anticipating the Devil’s wrath. Instead, Lucifer’s response was uproarious laughter. And next to him, Ryka chuckled, his angry front finally crumbling. Kyle stared speechless at the pair. Long ago, he had known high school boys in possession of more refined senses of humor.

“Oh, my poor, sweet Judas. Try not to upset him too much. I’m the one that has to listen to him complain about all of you.” This time, Lucifer made it to his destination. “And when I send for you, it would be in your best interest not to ignore me. You may not need to fear death or damnation, but that doesn’t mean you have nothing left to fear.” Then, in a flash of red lightning, Lucifer was gone.

Eyes still stinging from the light, Kyle stared at the spot he had so recently occupied.

“What a drama queen, huh?” Ryka remarked, a little too casually. “At least he finally left. Now, where were we?” Wearing a loving smile, Ryka began to tenderly kiss Kyle’s neck and shoulders, his earlier impatience all but forgotten. “At last. I’m so happy. I love you, Kyle.”

“I love you, too, Ryka.” It was pleasure beyond compare to finally be able to put his arms around the demon who had cared for and protected him for so long.

Paradise had been closed to him, but Kyle had never regretted making the one decision that ensured that fact. Because now, in Hell, he had been granted the opportunity to spend his eternity with Ryka. And that was far better than anything Heaven could offer.