“Die, faggot.”

“The world would be better without you.”

Malak deleted the messages before closing his eyes with a sigh. Summer vacation barely started a week ago, and he kept receiving hate mail from unknown numbers. To avoid such repetitions, he blocked the numbers, but it helped little. He knew there could be repercussions if he brought Kian to the prom, but not to these extents.

However, no matter how much hate he received, none of them could compare to one sender in particular. Malak couldn’t block it. The texts were not simple hate mails like the others. It was as if the sender knew his past. Malak wanted to show it to Kian, but it could only be a coincidence.

“If you don’t want to die, stay away from him.”

“You're making a big mistake. Tragedy will fall upon you.”

With those threats in mind, Malak went to StarCups for his shift. Now that school was over, he worked more often than other students. If he wanted to go to college, money was needed.

However, Malak had doubts. He was planning his life as if he would continue to live in this world. But he knew otherwise. He couldn't stay. He didn't belong here.

Day by day, Kian grew more and more powerful. Soon, the mortal vessel wouldn’t be able to contain him anymore. Moreover, Malak also noticed changes in himself. It was subtle but noticeable. He was stronger, faster, his five senses were keener. His magical abilities slowly grew. It was as if the mask he had worn all his life was deteriorating. Like Kian, his human body held him back.

He also frequently suffered from headaches and throbbing pain where his horns would be. Or sometimes, he broke into a cold sweat as the magic, trapped inside him, tried to unleash. They were all reminders that Malak wasn't human. He didn't belong here. Not only his body, but the people were also pushing him out.

In the end, they'll have to leave. Malak will have to leave behind a world he had grown into. Had learned to appreciate, although he always felt like he didn't belong. He was born on Earth and yet wasn’t one of them. His mother gave birth to him, but he wasn’t her son. His parents loved him, and Malak reciprocated their feelings. Yet he missed and yearned for his mother from his past life.

Malak wasn't sure where he truly belonged. Sometimes, he wondered if this life truly was his. Did he steal it from the real “Malak” when he reincarnated?

During his entire shift, Malak tried to focus on his job. But he was often lost in his thoughts. His eyes were blank as he prepared the different caffeinated beverages. Most of the time, he was moving by muscle memory. His body knew what to do, while his mind wandered beyond the walls of the small coffee shop.

At the end of the day, Malak walked out of the building. Quickly, he locked up the door. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed a familiar car. His legs carried him toward the vehicle before he knew it. When he was close enough to see the person behind the wheel, a smile tugged at his lips.

In the past week, the couple barely saw each other. Malak wished they could meet daily, but Kian was busy with something. Although it had only been a week, Kian changed. He was the same physically and still wore a smile whenever he saw Malak. It was the eerie air around him. His powerful magic rippled out of him in waves and blurred the contour of his body. He was like a god walking among men. Looking like them, yet not from the same mould.

When their eyes met, Malak also noticed something shining into those ruby red orbs. Before, they were red but dull. Now, a fire danced, twirled and warmed the teenager's heart. They were exactly as he remembered.

The Kian in front of him wasn't the human he crushed on.

He was the undercover prince that he sold an apple to.

He was the crown prince who came back for his hand.

He was the king he pledged his life to.

He was back.

And yet, what was Malak? A plain human that didn't hold a resemblance to his old body. The power he once had manifested little while Kian's prowess bloomed. He was unworthy to be by his side. He was the source of all their problems.

Boarding into the passenger seat, Kian's scent greeted him first. Malak's worries dissipated as his shoulder relaxed.

Kian placed a kiss on Malak's temple. “How was your day?”

“Long,” Malak sighed with his eyes closed.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

The car roared to life and soon; they were on their way home—Malak's human home.

“When do we need to go back?”

Kian spared a glance, and Malak couldn't miss the worry clouding his beautiful eyes.

“Soon.”

“What is soon?”

Kian hesitated. “A month at best.”

“I see.”

Tears clouded the teenager's eyes. Its source wasn't sadness from the need to part from this life. It was from the fear of not being enough. Kian was the King, but it didn't mean he could do whatever he wanted. He had traditions to respect, duties to attend, a kingdom to protect. Would his people accept him once more? Would they open their arms to the one causing such chaos?

Kian parked the car on the side of the road as multiple cars zoomed past them.

“Don't you want to go home?” Kian wiped a single tear away with his thumb.

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Home.

More tears escaped until he couldn't stop. They both sat in silence as Kian watched his love's sorrow.

“Talk to me,” Kian pleaded.

“I do want to go home,” Malak choked out.

“But?”

Malak didn't want to say it. He didn't want to admit that he wasn't enough to make his fear a reality.

“Did something happen?”

As if on cue, Malak's phone came to life and a series of rings disturbed them.

“Sorry,” Malak mumbled as he picked out his phone to close it down, but Kian was faster and grabbed the object.

Kian swiped a few times. As seconds passed, rage clouded his eyes. The calm and alluring fire was now roaring furiously, ready to burn everything in its path.

“Who are they?” Kian demanded firmly.

Blood drained from Malak's as he finally realized what he was talking about. He tried to grab his phone back, but Kian kept it out of reach.

“How long?”

Malak looked at his feet, unable to hold his gaze. “Since prom.”

“I'm going to kill them,” he gritted his teeth.

“You can't!” the younger man blurted out immediately.

“Why?”

“Because they are not worth it.”

“I have killed for less, you know that.”

Malak remembered. He remembered the nobles who disrespected him. He remembered a guard who failed his duty to protect him. He remembered a maid who accidentally spilled scorching tea on his arm. Countless of them disappeared overnight. He had always wondered what happened to them. He often thought they were either exiled or fired, but never killed.

“I don't want to have to visit you in prison.”

Kian grumbled something under his breath as some tension released from his shoulders. Soon, they were back on the road.

Parking the car in front of Malak's house, neither of them said anything. They sat next to each other in silence.

“You promise?” Malak whispered. “Promise me you won't kill them.”

Kian's eyes softened as he met his lover's gaze. He couldn't stand to witness the love of his life in pain or sadness.

“Please?” Malak added.

“No killing.”

Malak sighed in relief before smiling. Although it didn't reach his eyes, it was genuine.

“Thank you.”

Kian observed the young human disappear behind the front door before driving away. A few streets later, he parked his car once again and fished his phone out. Modern technology made it easy to track down unknown numbers. Once he found all the addresses he needed, his hunt started.

The first victim was a teenager sharing the same age as Malak, but he was taller and bulkier. He was part of the football team. Kian waited until he locked himself into his room.

Summoning darkness to surround him, Kian slithered his way into the house. Locked doors meant nothing to him. He easily moved through the house until he reached his destination. Appearing in front of the boy, it took a minute before he realized he wasn't alone. As he was about to scream, Kian lifted his finger and swiped it to the left. He watched the boy with his mouth open as he looked like he was screaming or talking. It didn't matter because no sound came out.

To kill the teenager would be easy. Kian would only need to lift a finger, and that boy's life would end. It was as easy as extinguishing a candle. But he promised he wouldn't kill. Only murder was forbidden. Everything else was fair game.

On his way here, Kian had thought of many ways to make his life miserable. He could break his fingers one by one until he was crippled. He could take him to a nearby forest and hunt him down. But his fear wouldn't last long. Surely, nightmares would haunt him in his sleep, but it wasn't enough. Kian wanted him to wish he was dead.

“Don't bother gaping like a fish. You won't remember me.”

Kian took a step forward, and the boy shrank farther into the corner. The boy's eyes grew as the moonlight shone upon Kian's face.

With a swift of his finger, the teenager could talk again.

“It is illegal to trespass!” he shrieked, as Kian only raised an eyebrow.

“Cyberbullying is also illegal.”

“What?” the adolescent paused before realization hit him. “So Malak couldn't come on his own. Instead, he sent his big bad boyfriend to save his ass?”

Kian chuckled, but it wasn't amusement that coated his tone. It was something far more sinister.

“Silly humans and their pride. When will you learn to bow when your death is imminent?”

“What?”

Kian took a step forward.

“Stop, don't come closer!” the boy ordered, but fear was the only thing Kian could smell.

His eyes moved from the dangerous stranger to the door behind him. He knew he couldn't escape until the path was free. The window wasn't a liveable option, being on the second floor.

“Alright, I'll stop! He'll never hear from me again. I'll disappear and nev-”

A swipe from Kian's finger was enough to bring silence back to the house.

“Who are you to think you're worthy of our forgiveness?” Kian answered with annoyance. “No matter.”

Standing in front of the human, Kian reached for the collar of his shirt before yanking it forward. Mere inches separated both men. Although no sound could escape from the jock's mouth, he still pleaded for Kian to let him go.

Ignoring him, Kian placed his unused hand on his forehead. His eyes twinkled as the fire grew restless. It wanted to roar, to unleash itself and break the boy's mind. But Kian kept a tight leash and reined it in.

Effortlessly, the demon walked past the nonexistent barrier and into the teenager's mind. Inside, he could wreak havoc and destroy his sanity or make him into an obedient slave with no resistance.

Before, he could do it from a mere glance, but this was a world without magic. It had its own laws, and magic wasn't included in any of them. Thus, his powers were reduced by more than a half.

Walking through panels of memories, Kian was searching for a particular one. In e depths of his victim’s mind, there was a panel portraying his fears. Placing his hand on it, darkness slithered from him until it covered the entire slate. For a moment, the teenager would have no fear. But when Kian took away his hand, the darkness slowly dissipated the same way it appeared, and a new image replaced the old one.

Smiling to himself, Kian turned around and walked himself out. Coming back to his senses, the first thing he saw was the boy's blank eyes. Letting go of him, he fell into his bed, snoring. This will be his last peaceful night. Kian made sure that he will remember none of this. But each time he closed his eyes, he will fear the darkness, the monster lurking behind. He will grow old with the feeling of something always watching him. With time, he will believe his fear was real and try anything to escape from it. But he'll never be able to get free. He wasn’t allowed to.

Kian walked out of the house and exhaled. He looked up to the starless sky and thought about his love. He wished for his warmth, his smile, and embrace. Sighing, he climbed into his car and drove into the darkness of the road. The night will be long, but it'll be longer for some others.