Chapter 49

A startled cry shook me from my slumber.

“S-Soren? What are you… did we…”

Mariko’s sentence fragments were in Japanese, which was fine, since that’s about what I could understand. I cracked open one eye, seeing the beet-red woman at the foot of the bed.

“Huh, so that wasn’t a dream.” I straightened up, enjoying her embarrassed reaction. “And no, we didn’t, unless you’ve learned some magic that lets you phase through clothing.”

“Oh.” She sounded almost disappointed as she scooted over closer to me. The motion carried through her body, and it was my turn to flush.

“My dear, what are you wearing?”

“I-it was your idea,” she stammered. “Remember? You told me to stop that blue sweater a few weeks back? I finished it last week, but I had no excuse to wear it. Not with everyone else around, at least.”

So she hasn’t lost all of her modesty. It seems I’m special. I didn’t respond right away; my mind was a bit occupied studying her state of dress. The light blue knit sweater ended somewhere beneath her shoulders, revealing the straps of a black brassiere and an astounding amount of cleavage. The way she was bent over, the bra was doing yeoman’s work. The top paired nicely with a shorter skirt than her norm, though my eyes didn’t stay there for long.

A mischievous smirk crossed her face. “I take it you approve?”

I tore my eyes away. “I’m a bit shocked you took my suggestion.”

“I am too,” she admitted, blushing again everywhere I could see, “but I remembered your advice from when I was trying to get Hiro’s attention. How did you put it? ‘Show off the goods’, I think. I thought you would appreciate it.”

“I certainly don’t mind it, but they hardly seem like normal sleeping clothes,” I said. “And this isn’t your normal sleeping spot.”

“My room has no roof,” she replied. “I could not sleep there. Your bed seemed like the safest option. I thought you would wake me up first if you found me, though!”

“You’re lucky everybody’s busy,” I said. “Somebody might get the wrong idea if they saw us in bed.”

“What is wrong about it?” she countered. “You know my intentions. Besides, you deserve a thank you after last night.”

Thoughts of Mulciber drove away the randy impulses filling my mind. “No, I don’t,” I replied.

“Something is wrong.”

“Of course not, my dear. Stop imagining things.”

“You are a bad liar.” She gave me a knowing look. “Come here, Kasasagi.”

Before I could object, she’d hugged my head to her bosom. “This is cheating,” I said, my voice slightly muffled. I already felt more relaxed, which was the exact opposite of what I wanted.

She chuckled at my weak protestation while she tousled my hair. “All is fair in love and war, and you are the one I love.”

A devil wouldn’t cry, but I did. I’d been holding back all day, but it was like a dam burst inside of me.

“Soren? What is the matter?”

“I don’t deserve everyone’s gratitude after what happened, but you all insist.”

Mariko stiffened. “Did something happen to Rafal?”

“Kowalski? No, he’s a bit overdone, but he seems like he’ll pull through.”

“Then who are those tears for? Everybody is safe and sound, or soon will be.” She paused. “Could they be for Mol?”

“In a sense.” I couldn’t bring myself to lie to Mariko again.

“Poor dear.” Her smile was beatific. “It is too bad we could not save Mol, but I trust your judgement. That fight went as well as it could. Dry your tears.”

“I almost got you killed last night.” I pushed myself out of her embrace. “You don’t get it. You can’t.”

“Try me,” she said. “There is no reason to suffer by yourself. You are always so patient with me; I owe you a good listen.”

I set my jaw, meeting her gaze. Mariko was offering me the impossible.

“You aren’t being fair,” I snapped. “I’ve told you before, the man you’re infatuated with is an illusion. You haven’t met the real me.”

“I might not have,” she conceded. “I think I am close, but there is something I am missing. You once told me there was no good in devils. If that is true, why did you cry for Mol?”

“He did not deserve what I did to him,” I said. Her look of unwarranted sympathy drove me over the edge. “Oh, to Hell with it! Zone of Silence!” I pumped extra energy into the spell, creating a bubble extending from wall to wall. “You want the truth? Here it is: I meant when I said that you don’t know me, because I am not and have never been Soren Marlowe!”

Whatever Mariko had expected me to say, it had not been that. Her jaw went slack before she collected herself. “I do not understand.”

I rose to my full height, feeling some of my demonic swagger return. “How could you? I’ve pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes. I’m a banished half-devil, Malthus the Younger. Whatever your great grandfather did in China is like nothing compared to what we inflicted on England and her people, and I’m one of the worst of the lot. I destroyed Ms. Edwards’ school and killed all of the students there, including the real Soren Marlowe, and I downed Big Ben to turn the tide of a battle in London.”

If Mariko had been slightly groggy from her nap before, she was fully awake now. Her right hand shivered, and she grabbed it to hide her discomfort. “Then how… you look so human.”

“I took after Mother most of all; I basically look like I always did, just without my horns.” I hesitated before continuing on. “You don’t doubt me?”

She shook her head. “It seems too outlandish to make up. It does explain a few things. How did you end up at the school?”

“I slept with my commanding General’s daughter, and he made a federal case out of it. They completed my disguise and booted me into exile, but I had a way back. It just required I leave a pile of corpses in my wake. I teamed up with Maggie Edwards and her Holy Brotherhood, killed Haru Obe and Rei Yamaguchi, orchestrated the Tower Attack, and planned to escape back home in glory.”

“I… I knew about Rei and Haru. The Holy Brothers left you no choice.”

“Stop trying to defend me!”

Mariko shook her head. “You were helping them, but then you stopped to save us. To save me especially.”

I scoffed at her declaration. “Is that all you took away from my confession? You’re a greater fool than I thought! You don’t know the half of what I’ve done! You’ve all suffered so much on account of it, and that will never stop! Demons and their demonkin know who I am; they’re the ones who tried to kill us all at the Starlight, and nearly succeeded. I’m the one who doomed Mulciber to become that twisted monster we fought. I framed him for destroying his master’s painting, and they recruited him to become a lab rat as a punishment. There wasn’t even a good reason for it. I simply had a tantrum because he said my horns were small!”

I felt rather like a balloon with a hole, deflating as I spewed my words at her. She sat in shell-shocked silence as I went.

“So you see, Mariko?” I leered at her as I advanced towards the bed, trying to look as wicked as I could manage. “You should stay far, far away from me. The most wretched luck keeps pulling you into my toxic orbit, and instead of running away screaming, you threw yourself in my bed. You think you love me? You poor girl; you have the worst taste in men!”

I expected her to withdraw. Instead, she reached up, brushing the unnoticed tears from my eye. “Why are you trying to drive me away?”

“Because you’re too dense to see the danger yourself.”

“What am I to you, Malthus?” It felt alien hearing my true name on her lips.

“My next victim, if you refuse to see sense and leave me alone. I cost Rose her home, and she thinks I’m her friend. I betrayed Kiyo most of all, and she’s still miserable.” I swallowed. Why was she so damn understanding? The Enemy’s codebook says the truth will set you free, but it wasn’t working. “Y-you already lost your art and your freedom. You don’t need me compounding your misery.”

“That is not what I asked,” she chided, sounding almost motherly. “If you really were Soren Marlowe, would you keep me at arm’s length?”

“Hell no. You’re the stubbornest woman I’ve met who didn’t have horns, but that’s part of the charm.”

She smirked up at me. “Okay, Mr. Darcy.”

I felt may face flush again. “Life isn’t one of your romance novels.”

“So I have learned,” she said. “Malthus, you obviously regret what you’ve done.”

“Nonsense. We demons aren’t known for regret or conscience. If you see it in me, it’s an act.”

“I have a confession of my own, Malthus.” She pulled back her hair, revealing an ivory translator fabricata in her right ear. “I had this in during the last fight. I did not realize you were a devil yourself, but I realized you and Mulciber knew each other from somewhere. I heard your last words to him, when you apologized to someone who couldn’t understand.”

“Trying to spy on me?” I stepped back, instantly on guard. “I didn’t know you could be so sneaky!”

She stood, holding up her hands placatingly. “No, no, do not misunderstand. I was curious what you were saying, but it was mostly so I would understand everyone instantly.”

“A likely story,” I said. “Regardless, you know my true face now: the war criminal living in hiding, escaping justice because Headmaster Tachibana is too soft to see the constant danger I present. I refuse to let you of all people suffer more. Please j-just leave me be.” I turned away, walking towards the closed window. Sunset? Bloody Hell, we slept away the entire day, short as it was! “Kowalski ought to have enough magic reserves for you to finish healing him. You should help those who can be helped.”

“Malthus.” Her tone was firm as she wrapped her arms around me from behind. “I will not hear you talk about yourself that way.”

“I—”

“Stop. You got to speak, now it is my turn. Turn around, please? I want you to look at me when I say this. There we go, thank you.”

Why couldn’t she take my hint? Still, I was… a bit curious what she could possibly have to say.

“Malthus, do you know what I see standing before me? A devil who can regret; I have been told that is impossible, yet here you are.”

“I’m not much of one.”

“Half, at least. More than a devil, I see a man who, no matter what you say, has saved my life so many times. I see somebody who always makes time for me, who takes me seriously even when the whole world does not, who loves me for more than my looks, even if he likes to tease me about it a bit too much about my bust.”

Things went a tad blurry. They needed to dust this room more often.

“No, do not start crying, or else…” Her own eyes went misty. “Anyway, I see a man who is so weighed down that he cannot live life. Do you know why I can recognize it?” She pointed up at her face. “Because I see it in the mirror every morning. This is not about me, though. Malthus, I know you regret what you have done. I am going to say something you need to hear, and I need you to believe it. Do you promise?”

“How can I know until—”

“Promise.” Her tone allowed no argument.

“Alright, I promise.”

“You are forgiven.”

I scoffed immediately. “What nonsense! With everything I’ve—”

“Hush.” She put two fingers to my lips. “You promised me, Malthus. Do not go back on your words.”

“How can you possibly declare that?” I demanded.

“I am not the one who has to forgive you,” she replied. “You have to do that for yourself. I do, though. All of it. Because I know you have changed, and you deserve the chance to show everyone.”

What a ridiculous notion. Was she part of the Enemy’s camp, too? That sounded exactly like their pablum. I knew what was in my soul, and she was imagining whatever virtues she saw in my shriveled, demonic heart.

Yet, letting my worries go sounded so lovely. So freeing. Why not pretend for a bit?

“You’re wrong about one thing, my dear. Despite the weakness you see in me, I am a devil still, deep down. Spawn of Our Father Below, enemy of humanity and all that’s good and holy. I’ve killed so many, and hurt others in so many other ways.”

She shook her head. “Malthus—”

I smirked down at her and continued. “You might have a point about this forgiveness rubbish, though. I’m an absolutely rotten human being. However, as far as devils go? I might not be so bad. Maybe I can be a bit gentler with myself. For you.”

Mariko beamed up at me. “That sounds more like the Kasasagi I know. Now, I think you confessed to me a minute ago? In between your self-abuse. Did you mean it?”

My laughter was genuine, releasing a tension I didn’t know I had. “I suppose I did. You know, forgiving myself doesn’t take care of the devils trying to eliminate me. This is your last chance to back out.”

She shrugged. “I am not worried. You just fought off a mutant experiment stronger than any devil.”

“Only because you all were there to support me.”

“And why do you think that will change? I confessed to you, too.”

I couldn’t bear it anymore. The look of adoration on her face, her inviting lips, the cloud I’d had over my head for so long finally dissipating, the warmth of realizing somebody truly needed me? I went for it.

She reciprocated my kiss with a fervency that took me off guard, wrapping her arms around my neck to prolong it.

I had the presence of mind to check that the Zone of Silence was still in place. I guided her over to the door, shoving a chair under the doorknob.

“We should stop,” I said.

“What? Why?” She sounded confused and disappointed all at once.

“This is too fast,” I said. Despite my words, my lips were drawn to hers again, and she didn’t resist. “I know you, Ms. Yamada.” Another kiss, and my hand wandered, cupping a heaving breast. I’d imagined the yielding sensation often enough, but the real thing proved my lack of creativity.

“Y-you say that, while you…” She stopped, shuddering at my touch and letting out the most inviting little gasp. She squeezed her eyes shut. “You need to stop or keep going. I-I cannot have a conversation like this.”

“I suppose it’s a tad unfair.” I managed to (reluctantly) force myself away. “I remember you and Paul, how broken up you were that he was going to love and leave you. I-I’m the same as him. The Dark Lord knows I can’t stop myself from hurting you the same way.”

“No, you aren’t,” she insisted. “I have you figured out, Malthus. I saw you dote on Kiyo. You loved her more than anything.”

“And you saw how that ended. We absolutely need to stop, for your sake.” So much for that idea. It wouldn’t be fair to—

Mariko took my hand in both of hers. “Are you plotting with anybody besides us?”

“Well, no.”

“The demonkin and devils who know who you are, have they tried to reach out to you? Threatened to expose you, like Ms. Edwards did?”

“Besides sending the Beckers to eliminate me? No.”

She nodded once. “I thought so. They have no leverage over you, then. Even if they did? That is part of what forgiving you means: the faith that you will do better next time. I believe in you.”

“Well…”

She continued on, not giving me a moment to object. “Also, this is not too fast. I have waited twenty-one years for somebody dark and romantic like you to come along, and I’ve fantasized about you for months. No matter what anyone thinks, I am a not sexless. So do not even think about groping me like that and getting cold feet. I will simply scream.” She swallowed, a shy smile crossing her face. “I may scream anyway, but it will be… different.” She bent forward a bit, looking imploringly into my eyes, though my rebel eyes drifted downward, falling into her trap.

“I was wrong.”

“About what?” Her voice sounded hopeful.

“The sweater. The cut is a step in the right direction, but still entirely too much fabric for my tastes. We should try none and work our way back up. Besides, it will only get in our way.”

“You are ridiculous,” she said, giggling as I began to relieve her of the homemade sweater. She wasn’t protesting too much; in fact, she started helping.

“And you love it,” I replied between kisses, tossing the offending sweater aside. “You just surrendered your power, you know. Now I know you’re as randy as me. I’m not going to give you a moment’s peace anymore.”

“Good.” She took a step back and spun around. “Well? You have ogled me for months. Do I live up to your expectations?”

“And then some.” She had a bit more meat on her than I’d expected, but she carried it in all the right places. My eyes were drawn to her bouncing bosom, and I found myself swallowing, remembering the soft sensation from before. She was a match for some of the courtesans back home, and without the benefit of glamour magic. I also noticed that for once, she didn’t seem conscious of her scarred right arm.

Best to say something before she notices my eyes wandered there. “No, that won’t do at all. That skirt clashes with your underwear. They’ll both have to go, too.”

“Completely ridiculous,” she giggled, though she did unzip the tight skirt.

“You signed up for ridiculous,” I said, pouncing again. Mariko worked her way up my buttoned shirt, exposing my own chest.

Mariko’s face when bright red once my shirt was open. “Soren, do you remember when I said Hiro looked better without his shirt?”

“This hardly seems like the time to bring that up.”

She bit her lip. “I was wrong. Dead wrong. How can I make it up to you?”

“Oh,” I said, my hand tracing along her hip as another caressed her face. “I can think of a few ways.”