Chapter Text
Shane Hollander never have imagined that at the age of twenty-three years old, his life was
on the verge of to be taken out of a joint way forward, and launched into something a lot
darker, and it is irreversible. That night, like so many others, he fell asleep without a sense
that it would be the last one time to close your eyes, for someone in common. From the
outside, the silence heavy that was in the house, with a presence watching him.
On the roof, a house like a shadow, the patient, was the creature that is going to change everything. Devil with the green eyes intense, almost hypnotizing, and blonde hair, curly that contrasted so disturbing to the darkness around him. There was something of the beautiful and, at the same time disturbing to him, as if it were a piece carefully shaped in order to attract... and destroy them.
He was not here by chance.
He hoped.
He waited for the right moment, calculated with the accuracy of a cruel one, for the taking of Shane. No it was not just a death, it was a calling, a destiny that has already been the circuit long before that night. While he was sleeping, oblivious to the danger, the he would have never understood, they began to move around it and pull it slowly, in a world where all hell was not a place, but a reality and the living, breathing... and hungry.
And when the time finally came, there would be no choice or returns.
Some of the stories did not start out with that's not an accident.
They start out with, someone to be chosen.
Rozanov's been trained since she was twenty two years old, to engage in this role, he was a hunter was on the ground at the hell in a quest of those who do not have any the meaning is in the earth, and their souls were used to fuel the fire of hell, or a they had a special for those that existence is not like Leviticus morning star, the leader of the hell he was saying too much, it is not explained why he was the criterion for inclusion in a a human being is just as important, they are just following the orders.
Did a three-day Rozanov was waiting for the right moment, he will like it the despair of the humans felt, but there was fear in his eyes, and they have
the feeling of power, he's a demon, he would like to spread the chaos-and it will always be it happened too fast, so he would like to choose a point in time.
One night, Shane was coming home, on your wrist, marking the nine-and-a-half in the evening, he was exhausted and spent the day at the school he was teaching them, he was a professor of the four classes, all of which were taught this day, his head was feel the pain, and her legs too, the only thing he wanted to do was get something to eat, have a good and time-consuming to the bathroom so he could sleep in, tomorrow it would be off, and that meant that he could spend the day with peace of mind
Hollander went into his house, took off his shoes, and began to undress, he longed to most of all, a shower and felt the water from the shower could help you get rid of all the tiredness as possible. While he was in the bathroom, she heard a noise weird, but it was the neighbors, then it most likely came from the other houses.
he walked out of the bathroom and walked into his bedroom wearing his pajamas, which was a basically, a pair of pants, and socks.
The doorbell of his house rang, and that caught his attention because he hadn't scheduled anything with anyone, he thought maybe it was Hayden, his best friend always liked to show up without warning. The man walked to the front door and opened it, finding a blond man with green eyes.
"Good evening, may I help you? — he can't think of much so-that it is the man he walked towards the man held him by the neck pushing up on the wall.
Rozanov was able to feel the despair, that made him feel good, it was what he liked to feel the most.
- Stop... - The man whispered with his feet swinging, he was stuck suspended and sandwiched against the wall. - please.
Rozanov never listened to his victims, he liked them begging to stay alive, but there it was something different, he saw the brown eyes, the freckles and the lips so pink like that... the Canadian had a tear running down his face, that was never really a problem, but that in him was different.
Rozanov let go of the man who fell to the ground, the demon distanced himself, not understanding what was happening. He went to the door, locked it and took the key.
The man was still on the ground, trying to stabilize his breathing.
Rozanov bent down and took his face, with a firm grip he looked into his eyes, they were mesmerizing, as if something could suck him inside.
- Why can't I kill you? - Rozanov squeezed his face hard - tell me.
Rozanov had no weak point, that's why he was so good, he was a lonely demon who couldn't be threatened by anyone.
- Why do you want to kill me? - he cried - don't do that, please... I have money, I can give you everything.
- I don't want your money, I don't need it - he replied harshly, Rozanov changed the colors of his eyes to black, they were like two black balls, and that made the Canadian close his eyes, he was terrified - What's your name?
- Shane Hollander. - He whispered.
Shane thought he was hallucinating, maybe it was the amount of coffee he had that day, or his lack of sleep.
- Well, Shane Hollander, while I haven't figured out why I can't kill you, wait for death, because I'll come back and take you with me.
Rozanov distanced himself, went to the door, opened it and left closing it with a bang.
The demon was furious, and he couldn't go back to hell, he couldn't let Shane escape, and Leviticus couldn't know that he hadn't been able to kill one of his special humans
Shane was terrified of what had just happened, he remained on the floor for what seemed like hours, got up only when his legs stopped feeling weak, he even thought that all that had been a hallucination, and maybe he was really going crazy because of work, it was a good time to ask for a vacation, he took a deep breath, and walked to the kitchen.
- I certainly won't be able to tell anyone that I'm going crazy - he whispered - not even Hayden.
He took a glass of water and drank it, his hand was still shaking.
Shane didn't know when he had gone to sleep, but he woke up with a feeling that he was very tired, his body was sore, he got up from the bed and fell to the floor, his body was without strength. It was at that exact moment that he saw a person enter through his bedroom window. He was completely dressed in black.
It was there that he realized that what happened last night was not a dream, much less a hallucination, he didn't know what had happened to his body, it seemed too heavy, but his senses were still good, he could see very well what was happening.
The man with those green eyes like two emeralds, bent down in front of him, he analyzed him, looking for something he still didn't know what it was.
- Hollander... why can't I kill you? - it was more of a question for yourself than for the boy.
- Why are you a good person? - Shane didn't think very well
Shane didn't understand very well when the man laughed.
- I'm not a person, and I'm not good - He denied and bent down.
He looked into Shane's eyes and let his eyes go completely black, that was enough to scare the boy who panicked.
- Am I scared of you? - Rozanov felt something different in his chest.
- Yes - Shane whispered.
- I haven't even started properly yet, but it's over for now. - He got up and left through the same place he entered.
Shane woke up with a heavy body, as if tiredness had accumulated in his bones during the night. Even without having made any effort, he felt exhausted. Still, he forced himself to get up. The day had begun, and standing still only made everything worse.
From the moment he put his feet on the ground, that feeling came back - uncomfortable, constant, impossible to ignore. He wasn't alone.
It was like a silent whisper in the air, a presence that was not seen, but felt. Every step he took inside the house seemed to echo more than he should, as if someone was walking together, perfectly synchronized, invisible to the eyes, but too close to be just imagination. Shane tried to convince himself that it was paranoia, that his mind was playing tricks. But, deep down, he knew: that was real.
As he passed through the corridors, he felt goosebumps going up his spine, as if something was watching him carefully, studying his every move. Sometimes, he suddenly stopped, held his breath and looked around, hoping - almost wishing - to see something. But there was never anything. Just the silence... and the suffocating certainty that I wasn't alone.
That started to become unbearable.
Looking for an escape, any distraction that would take him away from that agonizing feeling, Shane thought about leaving. The gym seemed like a good option - a place full of people, light, noise. A place where that presence might not be able to reach him.
But as soon as he arrived at the door, his hope was dismayed.
The lock didn't turn.
He tried again, harder. Nothing. He walked to the other door, his heart starting to speed up, and tried to open it too. Locked. Both.
It was at that moment that a deep cold took over his body.
Shane didn't need to think too much to understand. That wasn't a common problem. It wasn't a coincidence. It was intentional.
It was part of a plan.
Part of that man's game.
Swallowing dryly, he took a few steps back, trying to stay calm. Or at least pretend you still had it. Panic began to grow inside him, like a tide about to overflow, but Shane refused to let him win not completely.
He knew he could die.
At any time.
And this idea, which before seemed distant, now became concrete, heavy, overwhelming.
Maybe no one missed you. Maybe his absence would go unnoticed by almost everyone. Except for Hayden or Jack, a boy he was talking to and attended the same gym as him.
This thought squeezed his chest.
Shane lost his father at the age of eighteen - abruptly, too cruel for someone so young. Since then, death is no longer a distant concept and has become a constant, silent fear, always lurking. His mother... he never met. He never had the chance to understand what it meant to lose someone like that.
He had been alone for a long time.
Used to emptiness.
But that didn't mean I was ready to disappear.
Despite everything, Shane liked to live. Even with the failures, with the loneliness, with the difficult days there was still something there that held him to the world.
And, above all, he wanted to stay alive.
When night came, he had finished making dinner when the man appeared in his kitchen. The Canadian screamed loudly with fright
- What are you doing for dinner? - Ilya approached the stove.
- You locked the doors, why? - Shane questioned a little afraid.
- Because I wanted to and anyway you have nowhere to go - Ilya said and looked at the pots - wow what a horrible menu, vegetable soup? - he made a disgusted face.
- I wanted to go to the gym... tomorrow I need to go to work. - I had tears in my eyes - I need to go to work.
- You're very stupid - he rolled his eyes and walked to the fridge, he didn't need to eat, he didn't feel hungry, but that doesn't mean he couldn't, he took a piece of meat - I say I'm going to kill you... and you tell me you want to go to work tomorrow? You really deserve to die.
Shane was quiet just watching.
Ilya wanted to know why he couldn't kill Shane, and the only thing that would make him reach his goal was to talk to him.
- Cook this - left the piece of meat on the table. - Let's go. - ordered.
Shane just obeyed, and began to prepare the meat.
- Leave the meat a little raw - Ilya watched the man nod. - Do you know what I am?
- a psychopath? Hired killer? - Shane replied focused on preparing dinner.
- Devil be hated, you put me on the same level as sick humans - he rolled his eyes.
- What are you?
- I'm a demon - He said and Shane laughed.
- You're definitely crazy - Shane replied.
He heard some steps coming towards him and pulling him, he felt when his body hit one of the cabinets and he snorted in pain, when he opened his eyes after impact what he saw was more than terrifying, he came screaming in despair.
The face that used to be white, with green eyes and reddish lips, was now a completely red face, with several bloodshed, black eyes and teeth were like shark teeth, his tongue was like that of a snake.
Ilya took the opportunity to smell Shane, it was a sweet smell, but not cloying, it was as if he were a flower, and he really looked like one, his face had shades of pink, his lips pink and he was delicate like one.
Shane cried like a baby, it was very terrifying, when he felt a relief in his body, he opened his eyes little by little, and the man was now sitting in a chair near the kitchen island.
- Cook. - Ilya ordered.
The meat was ready, Shane just put it on a plate and served the man, and gave him cutlery.
- Serve yourself with soup, and feed yourself.
Shane ate standing up, he didn't want to sit down, he just watched the man in front of him eat a big piece of meat, he left it undercooked, as he wanted. He wasn't curious about anything involving that man, but he still let out a question
- What's your name? - he asked not knowing if he would get an answer.
- In hell, they call me Ilya Rozanov. - He explained.
- You have a different accent - Shane ate some vegetables.
- It's just that I lived a time among the Russians, their accent is my favorite - Ilya explained.
Shane let the subject end, he didn't know if he wanted to continue talking to the demon who is there to kill him.
- You can go to sleep - Ilya replied finished the piece of meat.
- I'll wait until you're outside. - Shane put the dishes in the sink.
- You know that doesn't mean anything, right? If I want I go in and out whenever I want - Ilya was being harsh. - and you have no right to choose.
Shane collected himself, he was tired, he wanted that torture to end soon, he didn't say anything, he just accepted that it would work that way, walked to his room, and locked himself, even knowing that Ilya could enter whenever he wanted, he still closed the door.
The next morning, there was no sign of the devil, and he didn't feel observed, so he believed he was tired and left, got ready to go to the school where he worked, he was still apprehensive, but he was not willing to stay at home all day in fear.
He got ready quickly and took his food and put it in his bag, made sure he wasn't forgetting anything, so he just took his keys and left through the front door.
The Canadian drove to school with redoubled care, he was afraid of ilya, for not being able to kill him in a direct way, plan some kind of accident, and he didn't want that.
His day was routine, he taught his classes, had a good meal and talked to Hayden, his best friend.
- you look strange…Did something happen? - Hayden always curious.
- No, it's your impression - He smiled.
- Was it something with Jack? - Hayden insisted - I think you should go out with him once again.
- It was nothing - he sighed - he didn't send me any more messages, and yesterday I couldn't go to the gym.
- Why not? You're obsessed with that place.
- I felt unwell - he explained - I think that's why I'm weird. - he lied.
- When you're feeling like this, send me a message, I can always help you - he sighed - I'm your friend.
- I know.
When it was time to return home, Shane even thought about calling Hayden to go to his house, but his friend complained about when he was tired, so he preferred that he went to the gym, he had his clothes inside his backpack.
When he arrived at the place, they had a common group of people, nothing too full, it was the right time for him to do his exercises.
- Look who showed up - Shane was running on the treadmill when Jack appeared right in front of him.
- I just missed yesterday - Shane slows down the device - did you miss me? - he laughed.
- Of course I felt it, without you here with that beautiful smile of yours it's not the same thing - he flirted with Shane. - do you have plans for later?
- I need to organize my classes - which was a truth - but we can do something tomorrow, in the afternoon, I'm free.
- I'll think of something and let you know - he smiled.
Shane left some time after the gym, he drove towards his house and when he arrived, he still didn't feel observed, and he was happy about that.
He entered the house, took a full shower and prepared his dinner, sat on the couch and watched television for a while, while using his tablet to set up the next classes. It was close to eleven at night when he decided to lie down, walked towards his room when all the lights in his house began to blink, what he felt soon after was a hand holding his face and squeezing hard, but not enough to break his jaw.
- Who are you? - It was Ilya, he was furious - answer me.
- It hurts me... - Shane whispered and felt the pressure ease, and when he realized that they were levitating in the middle of his room. - I'm Shane Hollander, I'm 26 years old and I'm an orphan, I work in a school and I'm a history teacher.
- You're annoying me, keep it up - he sighed - maybe that way I can kill you soon.
- I don't know what you're talking about, Ilya - I was crying - I don't understand... I don't know what you want.
He felt the devil put him on the ground.
- Why did you leave? - he asked holding Shane's neck. - I told you to stay home.
- I need to work, if not, I have no place to live or something to eat - he explained.
- If you think I'm the only one who wants to kill you, you're wrong... leave once again without my permission and find a demon who can kill you.
For Shane, he was being true, and that made him even more terrified.
- Go to your room, and don't go out tomorrow - he said sincerely - did you understand me? Until I find out what you are, and why I still haven't been able to kill you, stay here.
- Can I obey you? You're going to kill me - he complained and walked away.
- You don't deserve my mercy. - Rozanov growled.
- I don't need her... if you're going to kill me anyway, I don't need anything that comes from you.
They say that when you are on the verge of death, you have some peaks of courage, that had certainly been Shane's.
- I may not even be able to kill you - he appeared in front of Shane who got scared - but don't forget that I know demons who wouldn't think twice before killing you, so watch how you talk to me.
Shane nodded, turned away from Ilya's front and walked to his room, once again locking the door, even knowing that if the demon wanted to enter, he would enter.
It was dawn when Ilya in Shane's room using the window, he had entered there that same day looking for some clue that explained to him why he couldn't kill that boy, and he didn't find anything, not even a miserable detail. Now, he would try to do that with the boy in the room, try to feel his energy connected to something, he had been analyzing Shane for days, but he could understand.
He revisited in his memory several times the first contact he had with the boy, the first attempt, but the only thing that appeared in his mind were those brown eyes and freckles, he did not want to admit that he had noticed Shane's pink lips, they were too delicate and fleshy.
He threw that thought away, and just kept watching Shane sleep, he was frustrated at not having found anything. But, he stayed there, watching the boy sleep until the first rays of sun began to appear and he left through the same window he entered.
The other day, Shane woke up sending a message to his work saying that he would not be able to attend, he lied saying that he was sick, and because he was an exemplary teacher and this was his first fault, they did not seem at all reluctant to accept his absence.
Hayd:
Hollander, where are you?
Shane:
At home, I woke up a little impatient today and said I was sick.
Hayd:
Who are you and what did you do with my friend? Your monster returns my friend now.
Shane:
Hahaha idiot, seriously I'm not very nice today, so I'll see you tomorrow.. this weekend I'll be waiting for you here at home.
Hayd:
And I'll be there. Get well soon.
Shane got up and repeated the same routine, but he didn't get ready to go to school, just like yesterday, he didn't feel Ilya's presence, but he wouldn't be stupid to leave the house, if the devil told him to stay at home, maybe he should stay, after all he already realized that he was Ilya's prey, so that would only happen if he did, right?
Shane spent most of his time apprehensive, but began to occupy his head tidying up the house, he would receive Jack later so it was good that his house was tidy.
And so, he spent the day until he heard his cell phone ring, it was a call from Jack.
- Hi Shane, how are you? - The voice on the other end of the line sounded very excited.
- Hello Jack, I'm fine and you?
Shane had already gone out with Jack once, he considered him a nice person, and they always had nice conversations when the boy texted him, but he didn't feel the butterflies in his stomach, he at most felt comfortable, he wanted to feel something for him, but he couldn't.
- I'm fine - he smiled - what are we going to do today? If you have no idea, I have some.
- You can come here - he smiled - what do you think?
- I think it's a great idea, but don't cook, we can do it together, what do you think?
- A great idea - he smiled - I'll see you at seven at night, okay?
- Yes. - he smiled. - I'll be there.
Jack knew his location, the last time they left, in an attempt to be a gentleman, he offered to pick up Shane at his house.
Hollander began to get ready, at half past six he was already ready, wearing jeans and a blue button shirt, he was confused whether or not to wear something, but as he was at home, he decided to go barefoot.
Shortly after, He heard knocks on his door.
- I brought wine - he smiled.
- I separated some things for our dinner - Shane smiled - Come in.
- Do you want me to take off my shoes? - Jack asked politely.
- Please - he watched the other take off his shoes - come, let's go to the kitchen.
Shane guided Jack to the kitchen, crossing the still half-dark corridor, illuminated only by the yellowish light that escaped from a lamp forgotten in the living room. When he pushed the door, the environment turned out to be more welcoming than the rest of the house: the clean countertop, some utensils hung carefully and the refrigerator emitting a slight constant buzz. He turned on the light, blinking for a moment until he stabilized, and then cast a quick look at Jack, as if looking for some reaction.
It didn't take long for them to start talking. The dialogue appeared a little hesitant at first, stumbling on simple questions and short answers, but little by little it gained rhythm. They talked about tastes in common songs they listened to, movies they had seen recently and, inevitably, about the gym. Jack seemed more comfortable on this subject, describing series of exercises, routines and goals with a naturalness that Shane did not share. Still, Shane nodded, smiled when he needed to, and asked questions here and there. They weren't topics that really interested him, but he made an effort. I knew, deep down, that that was the little earthly they had in common, and I didn't want to let the silence grow between them.
While they were talking, Shane got closer, leaning slightly over the bench to look together with Jack at the options they had. He opened some cabinets, pulled out ingredients, checked dates, all with almost automatic movements, but always aware of the presence of the other next to him. At a certain moment, his shoulders almost touched, and he hesitated for a second before continuing, as if that little contact had a heavier weight than it should.
- So... what do you think of this? - Shane asked, holding a package of dough and lifting it slightly.
Jack analyzed carefully, as if he was making an important decision, and ended up choosing to make a simple pasta, accompanied by a cut of meat that Shane had already stored in the fridge. Shane nodded, accepting the choice without question, and soon began to separate the necessary ingredients. The sound of the knife being removed from the drawer, the light beating of pots on the stove and the opening and closing of cabinets filled the intervals of the conversation.
Before they actually started, Shane walked to the refrigerator and took a bottle of wine that was already there, cold to the touch. He held her for a moment, observing the label, as if trying to decide something silently. Then, he came back close to Jack.
- We can open this one - he said, with a half smile.
Jack agreed, and together they opened the bottle. The dry sound of the cork being removed broke the momentary silence, followed by the slight aroma of the wine spreading through the air. Shane took two glasses, filling them carefully, watching the dark liquid rotate gently inside the glass.
The bottle that Jack had brought was on the counter, still closed, almost like a promise for later. Shane moved her a little to the side, organizing the space, but also, perhaps, postaging something he still didn't know how to name.
With the glasses in hand and the ingredients finally separated, the two positioned themselves side by side in the kitchen. Dinner began to take shape, and, between cuts, spices and small silences, there was something else there, Shane could say that something subtle, undefined, growing in the space between them, as if each gesture carried a meaning that neither of them was ready to say out loud, but it was nothing like that, he didn't feel anything, not even butterfly in his stomach.
They were having a conversation when a loud noise was heard coming from their room, it was as if something big had fallen, to the point of shaking the floor. That caught the attention of both, Shane felt a weight in his chest, after not feeling Ilya's presence all day and not even seeing him, that could only mean one thing.
- Is there anyone here with you? - Jack asked curiously.
- Stay here - he asked - Don't leave here.
Shane moved quickly towards his room, and when he opened the door, what he found was scary, there was nothing broken in his room, but everything was messy, his books were on the floor, and his clothes scattered around the room, the window was open, and his curtains were thrown on the floor. A complete mess.
What he found lying on his bed terrified him, Ilya was covered in blood, with several injuries on his body, several bruises and beyond everything unconscious, his breathing was weak. When Shane touched his body, he quickly took his hand away, he was burning, it was so hot that he could set fire to his whole house if he continued lying there on his bed.
He couldn't think much, he just ran to the bathroom and turned on the faucet of his bathtub, and let the water fill, to help, he turned on the shower, ran to his room and took a deep breath, he knew that it could hurt, but leaving Rozanov there could be worse.
Hollander took Ilya in his arms, besides being hot as hell, he was extremely heavy, with great difficulty he managed to put his body inside the bathtub, Rozanov's head was under the shower.
He felt a discomfort coming from his arms, it was a redness, he hadn't burned himself, but he got very close to it.
He was watching the water start to cover Ilya's body, he got up and walked to the kitchen.
- Jack - called the boy who looked at him curiously. - Can we cancel today? I know you're already here, but I have a problem.
- What do you mean? - he seemed confused - what happened? You look scared.
- It's just that my boyfriend ended up getting involved in a fight yesterday, and he's a little hurt and ended up falling in the room - he sighed, it was a stupid lie, but it was all he had.
- Boyfriend? Do you have a boyfriend? - Jack was confused.
- Yes - he confirmed.
- So what do you think I came here to do? - He was angry, but not aggressive.
- Aren't you my friend? - Shane deserved an award for being such an idiot.
- I'd better go - Jack passed by Shane and walked towards the living room - Enjoy your dinner and get better for your boyfriend - took his shoes and left through the front door.
Shane knew that it was terrible to do, but how would he explain that that noise was a demon that was practically living with him and wanted to kill him? Jack would call him crazy and say it was a wonderful excuse just for him to leave, and it would be even more humiliating.
Then he would send a message apologizing, now he needed to understand what had happened to Ilya.
He moved quickly towards the suite of his room, and the bathtub was about to overflow, so he turned off the shower and then the tap, took a smooth sponge and a liquid soap without alcohol and approached Ilya's face, poured the soap into the sponge and cleaned one of the bruises he had on the demon's face.
Shane cleaned carefully, wet the boy's face.
- Ilya... - called the boy - Ilya, are you there?
Ilya muttered something he couldn't understand.
He looked for his hand in the water and held it tight.
- If your temperature is good so that your body is no longer hot, shake my hand... I'll get you out of the water - it took a few seconds until the man could shake your hand - Do I need to take you to the hospital? If so, shake my hand - he waited about five minutes, even called the man once more, but got no answers, so he understood that he could leave it at home.
Shane had a problem, he had to change Ilya's clothes.
- Rozanov, I need you to stand up - he asked - I need to take off your clothes and put on another one... you won't wet my bed.
Shane helped him get up, and amazingly, Ilya managed to stand up, Shane was quick to take off his shirt and dry his body, took off his pants and underwear, and dried him completely.
He helped him walk to the room and took a pair of underwear that he had bought last week and hadn't worn yet, so he just dressed Ilya and let him lie on his bed.
The Canadian went back to the bathroom, let the bathtub empty and put Ilya's clothes in the dirty laundry basket, went to the first aid kit and took a burn ointment and passed it on his two arms, took the kit and took it to his room, he needed to treat Rozanov's injuries.
He sat on the bed, and he began to apply ointment on some bruises he had on his chest, belly, waist and legs, then he applied healing ointment on the scratches, but what gave him more work were the bruises, that he needed to make the bandages, one on his face, three on his chest and two on his waist.
Whatever fight Ilya got into, he had fought to kill, or to die, because he was very hurt.
Shane left the one with his face last, he analyzed Rozanov's face completely, it was a beautiful face, very striking, he had a sign on his cheek that was charming, his hair was beautiful and looked hydrated even though he was sure he had never done that.
- Thank you.
Shane heard Ilya whisper, he had probably gathered all his strength to say that.
- Sleep a little - Shane took his things and took them back to the bathroom, went back to his room and put on his pajamas, this time he put on a shirt.
Shane observed Ilya once again, he didn't seem threatening at all, he seemed small, and defenseless, as if they had changed sides for a moment, but he didn't know for sure what Ilya was, so thinking that he was weak could be risky. Shane sighed and decided that it was time to sleep too, he went to the kitchen and cleaned up the mess he had ugly with Jack, put away the ingredients that were already ready and put the meat in a pot to eat the next day.
When Shane managed to lie down to sleep, after taking a quick shower and putting on his pajamas, he decided to sleep right there in his room, if Ilya had a problem with that, it didn't matter, he could leave or look for any other place to sleep, that was his bed.
- Shane...
He heard a whisper and turned towards Ilya.
- Can I stay here with you?
Shane didn't know if the demon was awake or just with his eyes closed, but his breathing was slow, his lips barely moved for him to speak, but he was listening, so he was talking.
- You can - Shane sighed - just rest, so you get better soon.
Shane touched Ilya's face to see if the fever had returned, but there were no more signs of fever, he was at a common temperature.
Shane knew he shouldn’t be this kind. Deep down, he was fully aware that Ilya was the kind of man who carried disaster wherever he went — someone sent into his life to bring pain, chaos, maybe even something far worse. He knew it from the cold looks, the sharp words, the constant sense of danger that lingered whenever Ilya was near. He knew he was not a good person.
And yet, he couldn’t leave him there.
He couldn’t simply turn his back after seeing him covered in wounds, thrown onto the floor of his room as though he were just another broken thing waiting to be discarded. There was something inside Shane that made it impossible for him to ignore suffering, even when it came from the wrong person. Maybe he was too kind. Maybe it was weakness. Or maybe it was simply the unbearable weight of the empathy he had carried his entire life.
Because no matter how much Ilya hurt him, no matter how cruel he could be, seeing him like that awakened something painfully close to pity inside Shane — a bitter, aching kind of pity. It was like watching a crow that pecked at your head every single day, drawing blood and wearing down your patience, now lying helpless on the ground with a broken wing, unable to fly. You know it has hurt you before. You know that, if it could, it would probably hurt you again. And still… there is something deeply cruel about abandoning a wounded creature when it can no longer even defend itself.
When the next day arrived, Shane woke up with his head on Ilya's chest and a strong arm holding his waist. He was sleeping with Ilya, who seemed to sleep like an angel, he was one, but one who fell from the sky.
Shane didn't know if he wanted to move, he wouldn't lie, he was extremely comfortable there, sleeping next to Rozanov, feeling a woody smell, but unique, it was his smell.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep once again, a while later he woke up being the little spoon, and Rozanov's nose was in his hair.
He decided to make some light movements, being careful with Ilya's injuries, just to signal that he was awake.
- Can you be quiet? Please - Ilya said sleepy.
- So you're hugging me consciously? - Shane questioned, stopping moving.
- I woke up and you were clinging to me, so it's not my fault - ilya keeps smelling Shane's hair.
- I need to go to work, ilya - before he could say anything, Shane had his body moved, and now he was face to face with Ilya - you can't leave the house without me being with you, right? Under no circumstances.
- Why? - Shane was worried.
- The fact that I couldn't kill you, caught the attention of many people in hell... they're just speculations, some think I killed you.
- I don't understand...
- It means I can't kill you, and I don't know why, I just know that if I can't kill you, no one can. - Ilya said seriously - I won't let you... but for that to happen, I need you to listen to me.
- Do you want me to stay here, even though I know you're going to kill me? But if I leave, will I be killed by other demons? What advantage does this have?
- Because I don't know if I can really kill you - He whispered as if it were the most important secret of his life, and maybe it was - I don't know if I can... And if you leave, they're not as kind as I can be, they torture before killing a Leviticus chosen one.
- Do you want me to stay here, even though I know you're going to kill me? But if I leave, will I be killed by other demons? What advantage does this have?
- Because I don't know if I can really kill you - He whispered as if it were the most important secret of his life, and maybe it was - I don't know if I can... And if you leave, they're not as kind as I can be, they torture before killing a Leviticus chosen one.
Ilya ran his hand through Shane's hair, like a caress and he noticed the other purring.
- Thank you for taking care of me yesterday... - Ilya thanked once again. - you took care of a burning demon... it's very brave.
- I kind of had no choice, you ended up here - He explained - I came in, after a loud noise and my things were a mess.
- I don't know why I ended up here, but this happens when we are in danger and we need to go to a place that.... - He swallowed the words. - a place that... that has no danger - he lied.
- I got it - Hollander didn't seem to notice the rapid change of mood in Ilya. - You arrived here very hurt, I thought you could die.
- I wasn't even close to dying, I was tired, but there was still a long way to go for me to die, usually my body goes out when I need to heal myself - He explained carefully.
- Who were you fighting against?
- George, my older brother. - He lowered the affection to Shane's face and kept caressing his ear.
- If you arrived that way, I don't want to imagine how he looked. - He sighed.
- He didn't stay - Ilya said and observed Shane's confused face - I killed him.
- What? Are you like Cain and Abel? Only from hell? - Shane was scared.
- Don't be afraid of me, I'm not doing anything to you - Ilya said apathetically.
- I'm not afraid of you. - lied.
- Don't lie, I can feel it - Ilya closed his eyes. - And before you ask me why the fight happened, I won't tell you.
- What the hell. - Shane rolled his eyes. - And I can't go out to work and because next week my bills arrive.
- When do they arrive? - Ilya took his hand away from Hollander.
- On Monday. - Shane was a little uncomfortable with the absence of Ilya's caresses, and he felt strange for missing it.
- All right, I'll solve this.
- What do you mean by that? - Shane was confused.
- I'll get the money and bring it to you. - Ilya spoke as if it were simple.
- What do you mean? I don't need your money - he took Ilya's hand from the touch of his body, he was offended.
Ilya sat on the bed and his injuries stretched, it was not a nuisance, he smiled when he saw the bandages.
- If you want, you can leave and I'll go back to the roof - Ilya said harshly - but don't expect me to run after you, if they catch you, I'll let them kill you, because I'm trying to understand what you are, but if you want it that way, that's how it will be.
- I don't want to die, how many times do I need to say this? - Shane got out of bed kicking his sheet, it was a terrible way to start the day after an undeniable great night's sleep.
- So stop trying to kill yourself - he said apathetic, keeping his voice low, he would leave the screams to Shane. - because that's what you're doing, trying to kill yourself.
- You spent two days away and no one came here except you... - he said seriously.
- They still didn't know that I hadn't managed to kill you, but now that they know it's over, and stop filling my patience with this shit - he snorted and got up - fucking boring - went out the window, disappearing like dust.
Shane knew he was still there, he could feel Ilya somehow, but he was too upset to care about that, he repeated the same routine as always, had his breakfast and took his backpack, he didn't have lunch ready, so at his lunch time he would need to go out for lunch at some restaurant.
When he got into his car, he didn't feel anything different, he didn't even feel Ilya, so that meant he wouldn't stop him from continuing.
Hollander understood what Ilya wanted to say, but it was still too hard to believe that it was happening to him, he still thought that at any moment he could wake up, or that he would find out that he was living a lie... it was difficult to accept.
Shane started his car, a new Taylor Swift song was playing on the radio, he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the music. Driving his car, everything seemed fine, until on an avenue, at a certain moment, his steering wheel no longer obeyed him, and he changed lanes, facing a truck, even if he tried to turn the steering wheel, it was impossible as if he had a life of his own, he was terrified until he succeeded, and his car crossed the avenue entering a wooded area that fortunately was without visitors, he can stop the car, but his body lost his strength, the adrenaline made him dizzy and he fainted, with his face on the steering wheel.
Ilya noticed the moment Shane left the house, and he didn’t stop him. He had already warned him about the risks of going out after what had happened to him. However, Hollander could be extremely stubborn. Even if he wanted to, Ilya knew he wouldn’t be able to stop him, so he simply used his wings and followed the car along the entire route.
His wings, like himself, could not be seen by anyone—unless he wanted to be seen, and only when he chose to be—so that made the mission easier.
Rozanov became alarmed when the accident began. He immediately looked for whoever was responsible for it. He found one of his friends hidden among the trees, then flew toward him and pushed him away, pressing the man’s face into the ground.
— What the fuck are you doing, Ulises? -Ilya said angrily.
— Let me go, you idiot - the man moaned, still having Ilya on top of him. - I came here to help you..
— I didn't ask for your help. - he replied harshly.
— I was going to kill him and say you did it, I'm not happy to hear the demons saying you're a weakling.
— I killed my brother yesterday, and they insist on calling me weak? - he laughed - I killed someone from my family, why did you challenge me... Maybe I have to kill everyone who insists on diminishing me.
— I still don't understand what you want with this human - he snorted and got up taking the dirt out of his clothes.
— That's my business - he rolled his eyes-I don't want to hurt you, so stay away from it, okay?
— I can't promise that - Ulises distanced himself.
— Ulyses... I'm serious.
— All right, but solve this soon
Shane opened his eyes little by little, and got scared, letting out a loud scream and trying to get up from the couch, but was stopped by Ilya, who patiently held him.
- Hey, calm down - Ilya tried to calm the boy who started crying.
Ilya had never dealt with that, it had been years, and when he says that he means decades, that he doesn't approach someone who had the ability to cry. Demons don't cry, they fight, scream, get furious, but crying is not common.
He remembered a scene he watched while he was on his old hunt, one man hugging the other, while both cried, he wasn't, but Shane was, and that could reassure him.
So he just hugged Shane a little awkwardly and the man cried with his face resting on Ilya's chest.
- You can call me stubborn or stupid - Shane whispered after a while, when he finally managed to stop crying.
- You should have listened to me - He sighed - But I won't call you any of that, because you already know you made a mistake and that's what matters.
- I felt so scared... - He held Ilya's shirt.
- I'm glad I followed you and managed to locate who was doing that to you - he sighed - only then could I prevent something worse from happening.
Shane positioned himself better and left his head on Ilya's neck.
- Do you know who did this?
- Yes, but this has already been solved - he caressed Shane's hair.
- I won't be able to leave here ever again? - Shane asked with a sad voice.
- At least for the next few days I need you to stay here. - he sighed - I don't know you that well, so I don't know if you're a human with supernatural powers... or something like that...
- Why do you think that? - Shane distanced himself wanting to look into Ilya's eyes.
- Because I'm an ordinary demon, I have a position that was given to me in hell for being extremely executioner and bloodthirsty, there are demons who are afraid of me, they tremble when they hear my voice, but I can't get angry with you for ten minutes... how is that possible?
- I have no idea - he sighed - you need to find out soon... - Shane turned his head to Ilya's neck.
Ilya kissed Shane's head.
- You need to listen to me... - he repeated the sentence he had been saying minutes before - I don't know what's going on, but I know I don't want your harm... I know I arrived in an unconvenient way, and I hurt you, but I don't want to do that anymore.
Shane finally believed in Ilya, and held his shirt firmly, little by little Rozanov realized, he was there, inside him, it was dangerous and scary, it was the first time he was feeling that and he was sure he was terrified.
Shane finally believed in Ilya. His fingers closed tightly on the fabric of his shirt, as if he needed that to stay firm. Gradually, Rozanov realized what was happening inside him, as something waking up slowly, inevitable, occupying every space that previously seemed empty. It was dangerous. Scary. For the first time in a long time, he felt he was losing control over his own feelings, and that terrified him more than he should.
Because, for the first time, Ilya was feeling attracted to someone.
The discovery fell on him like a silent weight. It didn't happen at once, but in small moments that began to chase him during the day: the way he watched Ilya speak, the inexplicable need to be close to him, the strange discomfort he felt when the man walked away. It was too young, too intense, and Shane didn't know how to deal with it without feeling his chest tighten.
In the following two weeks, everything happened quickly.
Shane and Ilya were close now, in a way that previously seemed impossible, but there was still a difficult distance to explain between them. They saw each other a few times throughout the day, usually when Shane called him to eat together. They were simple moments, silent most of the time, but Shane began to wait longer than he should admit. Sometimes the presence of Ilya sitting in front of him was enough for the silence to seem comfortable.
Hayden appeared a few times during that period. He had been fired from school because of constant absences. After informing that he was taking care of a relative with serious health problems, he ended up asking for dismissal before the situation got worse. For Hayden, Shane couldn't lie completely. I just said, with some shame, that I no longer had enough patience to continue being a teacher. He didn't have the courage to explain the real reason behind that.
Even surrounded by people, Shane felt lonely.
And the worst thing was to realize that Ilya seemed more distant than before, even from the time when the two had not yet resolved. Shane kept feeling his presence on the roof during the night, like a silent shadow watching the house from above, but the man no longer went down as often. I didn't stay by his side for so long. And Shane hated how much it bothered him.
Every time he noticed his absence, something heavy accumulated in his chest.
It was strange. Confused.
Shane couldn't explain why he missed someone who was still there. I didn't know why Ilya's silence seemed colder now, or why he started staring at the door for too long, hoping to hear him come in. He only knew that something inside him had changed, and there was no way to go back.
Shane was ready to go to bed that night, but the feeling in his chest was about to suffocate him, he wouldn't say anything, but he wanted to see Ilya at least once that day.
- Ilya - He called for the boy while walking to his room - Ilya, are you listening to me? It's here.
As soon as he arrived in his room he found the blond demon standing right from the center of space.
- Did something happen? - Rozanov asked curiously, looking for any sign of exhaustion or injuries in Shane.
- No... I just wanted to know if you've already discovered something - Shane walked and sat on his bed.
Shane was beautiful in Ilya's eyes, his hair was wet, as if he had recently come out of the shower, he wore a white tank top that showed a little of his waist and black shorts that highlighted his thighs.
- No... I would need to know you better to understand, maybe to know that I'm not looking in the wrong place - he sighed and watched the boy hit the bed, inviting him to sit down. - Maybe if you want to tell me...
- Well, I don't know where to start, but I always lived with my father, until when I was eighteen, he died in an accident... from then on I was alone for a long time - he smiled because rozanov was really paying attention - My relationship with my father was common, we didn't fight, we just didn't have a father-son relationship, maybe we did, I just don't think we deserved such a cold relationship... You must be curious about my mother, I never met her, my father didn't talk about her, I never saw pictures, he just said that a Month after my birth, he came home and found me at home, crying, starving, and since then it was just the two of us.
- I'm sorry you lost your father....
- I didn't lose... - he corrected - I didn't lose anyone, my father wasn't the best, but he was and will always be my family... I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to take care of a baby alone, even more so being inexperienced - he said sadly - it was the best eighteen years of my life, because I had someone to call family... When he passed away, I tried to find some clue about my mother, but I didn't find her, I didn't find anything, it was as if she had never existed.
Rozanov approached and touched Shane's hand, made a caress to reassure the boy who let himself be touched.
- How did you manage to support yourself, where did you get money from? - Rozanov asked curiously.
- My luck is that the house was my father's, and no one could just get me out of here - he sighed - He had some real estate, like a house on the river, a car and good money in the bank, it doesn't mean that I worked, I worked a lot, because I was alone and I was afraid of simply losing everything - he laughed - I worked as a waiter in restaurants, I did my college classmates' work in exchange for money, I was a babysitter, anyway... I did a lot of things, until I finally managed to graduate from college... Meanwhile, I thought where my mother was, and When he had disappeared, after a while I started to feel angry with her, maybe more anger than my father felt when he was left.
Shane felt the grip on his hand coming from Ilya, the demon took his hand and left a kiss.
- poor creature - took his other hand to the back of Shane's neck and caressed. - You didn't deserve to have gone through so much new.
Shane purred, it was frequent when he was with Rozanov, he didn't distance himself when he felt a kiss on his back.
- Can you sleep here tonight? - Shane whispered as if it were a secret.
- I can, only if you promise to be good to me tomorrow - he said seriously - I don't want to wake up being mistreated.
- Sorry... I was offended last time - he answered sincerely.
- Now I know why, I'm sorry, I just want to help you - he got up and took off his jacket and shoes.
Shane lay down and waited for Ilya to accompany him, when this happened, he turned his back and soon the demon understood that he wanted to be hugged, and so he did.
- Is that wrong? - Shane asked while bringing his back closer to Rozanov's chest.
- What?
- Stay like this, lying down, with the person you should kill?
- I can't say... I've never been like this with anyone before, neither demon nor human, but if it's wrong, I don't care. - Rozanov left a kiss on Shane's neck. - Let's not worry about it now, just sleep.
- Do demons sleep? - Shane asked with his eyes closed.
- I can do it, but I don't need to - explained Ilya, caressing Shane's hair. - I love your hair, it smells good.
- thank you... - he smiled - sleep with me tonight.
- All right.
The next day, Shane woke up with his head embedded in the space between Ilya's neck and shoulder, the man's big hand was on his waist, he smiled as he watched Rozanov sleep with his mouth open.
It had been a while since Shane slept so well, there in Ilya's arms, he could have a quiet sleep, his body despite the position they were in, was very well, without pain, without anything, it was as if he were a feather. And especially, he felt less distressed, which he felt for a long period.
He moved a little and that made Ilya wake up, and soon opened his eyes finding Shane watching him.
- Good morning, Shane - squeezed Ilya's waist.
- Good morning... - he smelled Ilya that seemed to calm him down - For those who said they didn't need to sleep, you seem super satisfied with it.
- I won't disagree with you - he closed his eyes - I slept very well... but I don't feel like it's because I needed to sleep, but because sleeping with you was comfortable enough for me to indulge in it.
They didn't talk much, but whenever that happened, Rozanov always released something that made the butterflies in his stomach wake up.
- How about we go out for coffee? - Ilya asked.
- Ilya... I can't leave the house... - he didn't want to deny it, so he was just sincere.
- You'll be with me... - Ilya left a kiss on Shane's forehead - you'll be safe, never doubt it.
- I don't doubt you - Shane sighed - But I'm afraid of what might happen out there.
- Because of what happened? - Ilya asked curiously and Hollander's silence turned out to be an answer. - Look, I said I didn't know what could happen... but now I know. - that caught Shane's attention who looked for his eyes - I didn't know whether or not I would protect you, being very honest, but what I know now is that I will protect you, don't ask me why - he sighed - it would kill me... just accept my loyalty.
- I accept that - those words made his heart warm, it was that feeling he couldn't feel in relation to Jack, and there he was feeling for a blonde demon with green eyes and a Russian accent that made everything extremely sexy - And I also accept waffles and hot chocolate.
- All right, let's get ready.
Shane drove to a coffee maker that was ten minutes from his house, all the way, Rozanov seemed attentive, used the mirrors well, always made sure that the Canadian was okay.
They were served by a boy with natural red hair, Shane ordered his waffles and hot chocolate, Ilya took a black coffee without sugar and a carrot cake with chocolate.
- I don't know if they are good choices for breakfast. - Shane laughed.
- If they are going to make us really satisfied, there is no way not to be considered good choices. - Rozanov always had an answer for everything.
They engaged in a conversation, where Shane explained to him what it was like to be a History teacher, even though Ilya saw most of these events, he still showed interest.
- I was there - Ilya replied when Shane explained to him about the fall of the Bastille in the French revolution.
- Were you there? But that was in 1789 - Shane looked scared. - This happened two centuries ago.
- Yes... I was about twenty years old.. - he explained.
- How old are you now? - Shane asked curiously.
- I can't say for sure... I stopped telling a while ago, but I must be around 280 to 300 years old - don't care about that - I stopped telling when I found out I was a demon.
- What do you mean? Did you find out? - Shane hated asking a lot of questions, but it was the first time they talked about Ilya.
The waiter arrived with the orders, served first Ilya and soon after Shane, as soon as the waiter left, the blonde acted quickly, took the hot chocolate glass and touched a little.
That attracted Shane's attention, and soon Rozanov took a piece of his waffle.
- Wait a minute, then I'll let you know when you can eat - Ilya noticed Shane's confused face - Just to make sure it's not poisoned - He sighed.
- You're scaring me - Shane sat straight in the chair.
- Don't stay, I'm here with you - he smiled - going back to what we were talking about, I never died and went to hell, I was chosen by Leviticus... I lived in a city where hunger caused by the rich killed my parents, and soon rejected me, I went hungry, people stepped on me, until the day Leviticus came to pick me up, and took me with him, he made me a Demon. - He said without any apparent feeling - He trained me, like a weapon, so that I was strong enough to be unbeatable.
- He must have seen something in you that no one saw - Shane held Ilya's hand - I'm glad he saw and took care of you.
- There's no poison - Ilya said looking at the food
- I'll wait a little longer - Shane said fearfully.
- Why? - ilya asked confused - eat. - took a sip of his coffee.
- You'll get sick while I'm eating - Shane seemed scared.
- I didn't eat because I wanted to be poisoned - he laughed - because of the taste of the food or the taste it can leave on the tongue after swallowing, I can feel the taste of the food, in this case it has no taste of poison, you can eat it. - He watched Shane take a piece of the waffle - you need to trust me, okay?
- I can't promise to trust you from one day to the next, but I slept with you today, and we're having coffee together... This is already a start, right? - he smiled.
- Yes, you're eating a food that I confirmed is not poisoned.
- Exactly. - he smiled. - How did you end up in Russia? I mean, you have a Russian accent, but it's French.
- That's a good question... - Ilya bit a piece of his cake - After spending ten years in hell, being trained daily, Leviticus allowed me to return to earth, a century had passed, time passes differently in that place...
- So that's why you never get older? - Shane asked curiously.
- We don't age like humans, when we reach a certain age, we choose whether we want to age or not - He explains attentively - I chose my best to keep my best face - he smiled.
- You're impossible. - he laughed. - one thing I didn't understand, you keep sunbathing...
- What does that have to do with it? - he asked confused.!
- I thought you were hiding from it.
- Shane, I'm a demon, not a vampire. - rolled his eyes - I can sunbathe.
- Do they exist? ... The vampires.
- Yes, but they are idiots - Ilya replied sincerely - you will never get close to one.
- Why?
- Why do they live like wild dogs, totally out of control - he rolled his eyes.
- I got it - he sighed - you need to explain to me about Russia.
- I try, but you don't let me - he snorts - Anyway, Miguel, one of the boys who lived with me in hell, didn't want to go back to his country of origin, Norway, and I didn't want to go back to France, so we chose Russia to spend some time understanding how humans lived in that new time, we spent about fifty years meeting people in Russia, we killed many of them, then I went back to hell, and kept coming to Earth, daily, but after that I got a vacation and spent another thirty years in Russia, I set up a farm, a crack and several And took care of animals, it was a nice time.
- Did Miguel help you?
- No, this time I was alone.
- Alone? You spent thirty years alone - Shane spoke loudly and was embarrassed after attracting looks.
- Yes, Shane - finished his coffee - have you finished yet? We need to go soon if you want to organize the backyard.
- I'm done, we can go.
They fought a little to know who would pay, but Ilya won, and they managed to get out of the cafeteria and go home.
Arriving at Shane's house, Ilya took off his coat, his clothes were in his house in hell, so he only had the ones he had worn the other day.
- Shane, lend me an outfit - Ilya asked without any shame. - I don't want to dirty mine with dirt.
- You can take it from my wardrobe - He replied, going towards the kitchen.
- All right.
Ilya walked to Shane's room, and opened the large wardrobe that had a somewhat unnecessary amount for a person, he wanted light clothes, so he started with the shirts and took a black tank top, when he started looking for shorts, he opened one of the drawers and found a black box.
Ilya was curious enough to be able to ignore what was in that box, so he just took the object and opened it.
He found sex toys, they were diverse, with several different functions and sizes too, he took a large penis-shaped and transparent one.
He changed his clothes quickly, put the box in place, leaving only one of the toys out, walked to the kitchen with the dildo in his hand.
- Shane... does all this fit inside you? - Ilya said as soon as he arrived in the kitchen.
Hollander widened his eyes and spat out the water he was drinking.
- Where did you get that from? - he asked in the midst of choking.
- From your wardrobe - he laughed because he got the reaction he wanted - you didn't answer me.
- You're an idiot - he rolled his eyes - you shouldn't keep messing with my things.
Shane kept arguing why Ilya shouldn't have touched his things, until the demon stopped in front of him and held him by the waist.
- Does it fit inside you or not? - Ilya's voice was thicker, it had until the beginning of a growl that was stuck in his throat.
The human felt his body fail with himself, his legs were like jellies, soft, totally affected by Rozanov's strong presence.
His penis was hard inside his pants, a drop of sweat flowed lonely down his back, and he was about to give in.
- I won't answer you that - Shane managed to pronounce those words even with dry lips.
- Apparently, I'll have to figure this out on my own - he whispered with his lips close to Hollander's ear - but don't worry, demons like to play a lot, I'll take it easy on you.
Rozanov disappeared from Shane's field of vision, as if he had never been there, going towards the desire, leaving the sex toy in the place where he took it.
- Asshole.
- I heard that, Hollander - he replied with his Russian accent.
- You were really supposed to hear it - Shane watched him come back from the room, this time with empty hands.
- Aren't you going to change clothes? - Ilya asked curiously.
- It's not necessary, these clothes are old - He explained - let's start.
Shane took Ilya to the garden, the grass was high and his garden was a little out of the way he liked it.
They took everything they needed to do the cleaning, Ilya got the grave and Shane got the cleaning of the bushes.
Shane was the first to take off his shirt, showing his muscles, no longer so defined because of the distance from the gym, but it was still a beautiful body, he took his big scissors and began to trim the branches. Rozanov using a lawnmower.
The day was really hot, the sun made them sweat a lot, Ilya took off the tank top she was wearing and was still halfway through the lawn.
He began to feel a strange sound, in the back of his head as if it were his sixth sense trying to say something. It was a soft sound, that language was not strange.
When he turned back, he managed to locate where he was coming from, walked sneakily and took one of the other scissors options Shane had.
Hollander was focused on cutting the branches and some flowers when Ilya stood in front of him and used the scissors to cut something.
The Canadian got overturned when he saw a snake on the ground, the body far from the head, but that was not one of the snakes of hell, that one was green, and its blood was bright red.
He turned quickly towards Shane, and looked deep into his eyes.
- What are you? - Ilya asked rudely - If you're kidding me...
- What are you talking about? - walked two steps back.
They were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell, Shane looked inside his house, when he turned, Ilya was no longer there.
He got his chest tight, and this time, he couldn't ignore it.
He took a deep breath and walked towards the entrance door, he was frustrated, he wanted Rozanov not to be so extremist sometimes.
He found a blond man with blue eyes, he looked a little panting, with a red face, with the energy that he had run a marathon.
Hi Shane - Hayden said smiling.
- Hi Hayden, come in - Shane was a little surprised to see the man there and even more looking so tired. - Were you around here?
- Yes, I was close - he smiled - can I come in?
- Of course - Shane gave him space to enter - I thought you were at school at this time.
- They didn't have class today, so I was free at home - he smiled and entered the house. - and I decided to pay a visit... I hope it's not a problem.
- Of course not, you're my best friend - he smiled.
- What's that smell? - Hayden seemed uncomfortable.
- I'm cleaning the backyard, so it smells like freshly cut grass - He smiled. - Do you want a water or a juice?
- A water - he smiled - Hollander, if you need any help... - Hayden said when they arrived in the kitchen.
- No, I'm still getting my unemployment insurance, it's not a lot of money, but it's already something - he smiled.
- all right - he took the glass of water.
Shane observed and realized that Hayden seemed a little strange, perhaps restless, and that did not go unnoticed.
- Are you okay? - Shane saw the man nod. - You seem restless.
- your impression.
They engaged in a conversation about the school's news, about the gossip of the employees and how the children were doing.
After a while, when Hayden was no longer restless, Shane took a deep breath when he didn't feel Ilya's presence on the roof, he felt scared and totally unprotected, even more so after what happened in the garden.
Hayden left around six in the afternoon, after Shane said he was very tired, and that he would visit him soon, the truth was that he wanted Rozanov to show up soon and with his friend there, he would never show up.
The bad part about Hayden leaving was that now he was completely alone, with no one to distract him.
He let out an air that was stuck in his throat when he watched the blond demon appear to enter through the back door.
- Why did you disappear? - Shane ran towards Rozanov and hugged him.
That was new, he hoped he would be greeted with screams.
- You shouldn't have left me here alone, you promised you would take care of me.
- Calm down - Rozanov stroked Shane's hair and helped him get to the couch. - I'm here... I just felt like I couldn't be here.
- How not? Some could have appeared, a demon or something like that - Shane was scared.
- That wasn't from hell... that snake, it wasn't from hell - he commented, even if he didn't want to cause panic in Shane, he was also lost, he couldn't really understand what that damn Asian man was with the softest hair his fingers had ever touched.
- Does that mean that there is someone else wanting me to be dead?
Shane was not an idiot, he could make connections until he got a satisfactory result, although that was not at all.
- I can't say no, but I don't want you to be terrified for anything - he snorted - let's take this as a sign... it may be really from hell and Leviticus just did it to make us confused.
- It wasn't easier for him to have someone kill me right away - he snorted and leaned his head on Ilya's shoulder - I'm getting tired.
- He knows that no one would be able to, not while I'm breathing - he smelled Shane and that was like an energy drink - because I promised him loyalty, and even if I hadn't promised, no one can stop me.
- I was terrified without you here - Shane passed his nose on Ilya's neck.
That made the demon get goosebumps completely, but he couldn't, he couldn't get more intimate than he already was with Shane.
- Why don't we go to sleep? - Ilya couldn't just distance herself freely.
- I wouldn't accept it if it was any other day, but I'm getting tired - he sighed. - Bath, and bed?
- Yes.
It took almost twenty minutes to get to lie in bed, Shane made a cup of tea for him, Ilya was fine, he didn't eat much.
- Can I ask you something? - Shane was sitting on his bed holding the cup with both hands, while the demon was lying down.
- Yes - Rozanov replied.
- How is it in hell? - Hollander took a sip of his tea.
- It depends - he put his hand on Shane's leg - For example, for me, it's not bad, I'm a demon, all demons have, it's as if we were a city, as big as this... But for some people, hell can be a very bad thing.
- What do you mean? If I've been bothering you with this, you can talk - Shane always did that, he hated it when he kept rambling and thought he was bothering people.
- You don't bother me, I like talking to you - Rozanov liked it when Shane's cheeks turned red - as I was saying, hell was not created to be a good place, so bad people are sent there and are tortured daily, for eternity.... Leviticus doesn't usually take it easy.
- If you weren't bad and were chosen by Leviticus, then you mean the others aren't either?
- No, there are bad demons, but Leviticus doesn't like high-risk criminals... in this case he likes to torture them himself - he explained - Leviticus usually chooses lost people, who are not seen or even forgotten. - He sighed - Leviticus doesn't give everything, but on the condition that we never behave like traitors.
Shane puts the cup on his countertop not next to his bed.
- Tell me something too... a curiosity, anything - Rozanov asked watching the Canadian lie down next to him.
- I don't know what to tell you, you already know that I was abandoned by my mother, my father passed away - he sighed.
- Tell me a dream.
- I wish my mother hadn't left me... - Shane gave a smile full of melancholy - After she left, I grew up thinking I wasn't enough for her, I wasn't good enough to make her stay... I know there was nothing I could do because I was just a baby, but still. - he swallowed tears - I wanted to feel what it's like to have a mother, to feel how good it must be loved by the person who brought you into the world.
- You are more than enough - he smiled and held Shane's face - You are handsome, intelligent, you are just a little stubborn, but living with you I know that your heart is good, and you deserve all the love in the world.
Shane kissed Ilya, at first their lips just meet, without despair, it just seemed right for Shane to kiss Ilya, he was called, he was electrified by the presence of the demon there.
He distanced hised slowly.
- I'm sorry... I shouldn't.
- Breathe, Shane - He advised - It's okay.
Ilya smiled and approached, it was his turn to start the kiss, in a simple and careful way, as if the Canadian were a flower, the most fragile of all.
Shane let Rozanov deepen the kiss, but it was still in that same rhythm, light and affectionate, almost a demonstration of passion. But they weren't in love yet at least, not yet.
Shane's hands squeezed Ilya's waist, while the blonde's hands were all over his body, damn agility.
Even though it was cold outside, the room was hot, Ilya's body was hot.
- Your eye is black - Shane didn't scare, he just got curious.
- Really? - Ilya was surprised, since he hadn't done anything, but came back with his green eyes - I'm sorry.
- You don't need to apologize, I'm not afraid of them anymore - he smiled and kissed Rozanov's nose.
Ilya was watched Shane and gave him another kiss, an affectionate kiss, the one that said more than words.