The night the devil came to me I was fifteen. He couldn't have come at a better opportunity. I was young, ignorant, and confused. He appeared in the form of a beautiful woman, with long ebony locks and captivating violet eyes. Her pearly alabaster skin seemed to glow in the light of the moon, and with every step it was if her body danced to some otherworldly rhythm. She was almost ethereal in her beauty, but it was her voice that held to it an infectious poison. It was that poison that she offered to me in a crystal goblet of inciting words. And it was I who drank it.

***********

I always believed I should have been born at a later era in time. The narrow mindsets of the people of Eria were all for their own self-interests. If your parents were blacksmiths, you were a blacksmith. If your parents were farmers, you were a farmer. That was the unspoken rule of the time. My father was a firm believer of the social ladder. I had the severe misfortune of having a wealthy lord as a parent, and as such, having the heavy expectations of carrying on his legacy. Many loathed and envied me for my predetermined position. I envied their normality.

My mother passed away when I was very young from a rare and deadly illness. Her death had corroded my father's delightful spirit to a rueful skeleton. Being his only son and heir, there was an unquestionable promise binding us: I would marry and have a child to continue his line. Although it was inevitable, I brushed it off as a silly illusion. There was no fun in having one's path already tread for them.

It was usual on days when I was to study for me to steal into the stable and ready my small chestnut mare, Sky, for a ride to the orchard. My servant Lux would accompany us, riding with me, his arms encircling my chest tightly in fear of falling off. Lux was roughly the same age as me. He had been my servant and best friend from the oldest archives of my memories.

His wavy black hair extended to his shoulders, and his eyes were a piercing shade of cobalt blue. Lux had a slim build, and his character was hardened from working all his life, yet retained a familiar tenderness his face and hands seemed to steadily hold. If I'd ever had faith in the whole devil on one shoulder, angel on the other, Lux would be that angel. He was constantly looking out for my well-being, comforting me when I sank into fits of depression and loneliness.

That day the peaches were ripe and the sun's golden rays shone with an incredible happiness. That was the time I resigned to my will, the time I gave in to a hidden desire within me.

*** The horses were tethered to the tree in which Lux and I sat beneath. Its trunk was as wide as ten plump cattle, and as old as the land itself. It was peaceful, so calm you could hear all the birds rustling their feathers and singing from miles away. The grass was warm, and the air was cool and not too humid. I loved relaxing after days of studying and learning 'proper' behavior. It was so nice, especially for my stiff neck.

Lux had on his servant's uniform, which consisted of tight pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a thin vest, and ankle high boots. Everything he wore was black to distinguish the servants from the 'other' people. I found it ridiculously stereotypical.

I hadn't had the time to change into riding clothes, so I was still clad in my 'proper' clothing. My clothes made me feel like a black sheep in a herd of white. The outfit was rather expensive, the dress shirt was made of imported red silk and had a row of ruffles cascading from the collar to the chest. I felt so arrogant walking around in it my stomach ached. In an attempt to compliment the shirt, I wore dark brown pants, a silver linked belt studded with precious stones, and high boots.

I rested my head against the tree and sighed. "Thanks for coming out here with me, Lux. I really needed it."

His voice was slow and tired. "You're welcome, Master. I was done with most of my work, anyway."

"Hey, " I started, grabbed a peach from the ground by my leg, "don't be so formal. And stop calling me master! Call me Ramiel, or better yet, Rammy, you suck up!" I hurled the peach and it hit him square on the head.

He yelped, surprised. "Mas-Rammy!"

That was right-when I was with him I could let myself go. I wasn't the rich and polite Lord Ramiel. I wasn't hiding behind the nice-boy facade I put on for everyone else. I was happy and carefree, me.15

I shuffled closer to him with a sly grin. "Hey, I wasn't gonna tell you this, but...you know how you hate spiders?"

His eyes widened. "Yes." he swallowed hard.

I continued, "Well, I think there's one on you." Lux shrieked and began rapidly patting himself over. "Where is it? Get it off! Get it off! Please!"

"Shh, calm down. Hold still." I said, placed my hands on his shoulders. "It's right," I leaned close to him, so close I could hear his heart thrumming against his ribcage in panic, "here." My lips met his softly, quickly. In a heated act of passion I pressed harder, savoring his sweet taste as if it were a rare delicacy. He responded, kissed back with pleasured force. After what seemed like eternity, we broke away contently, savoring the smooth, warm feel of each other. I hugged him to my chest, stroked his hair affectionately.

His cheeks were flushed red as a lobster. I smirked and breathed, "You don't know how long I've wanted to do that. I'm surprised you didn't back down."

"Why would I back down, Rammy?" he whispered.

We stayed like that, him in my arms for a while, until the three moons were visible through the clouds and we decided to head back home. The following days our relationship progressed, and we began to know each other not as master and servant, but as young lovers.

It wasn't long until I was called into the presence of my father. Lux and I were grooming the horses when one of my father's men rode to me. "Sir Ramiel, the lord requests your audience."

I set my brush onto a bucket. "I'm coming. You can leave." I waved the man off and turned to Lux. His hand reached out to mine, and I took it, squeezed it.

"Should I put the tack away and return to my quarters?" he asked.

"No, no. I'll be back real soon. He's probably angry over some business transaction and needs my opinion on what he should do next."

His tone was wavering, worried. "Are you sure?"

"Positive." I uttered reassuringly, gave him a peck to the forehead, and left.

**********

Father sat in his favorite seat at the end of the table. It was more like a throne, the back was so high and intricately carved with designs of fantastic beasts, and it even had a plush velvet cushion attached. He loved to flash his grand fortune to everyone and anyone and it disgusted me. The smell of roasted meat and fresh vegetables saturated the dining hall. That was when I noticed the rows and rows of plates piled with various foods on the table. I was a bit taken aback-the messenger man hadn't mentioned anything about eating supper with my father. He just said he wanted me.

I sat down in a smaller chair to his adjacent right. He was a tall man, with steely gray eyes, mid-length brunette hair, and a clean cut beard and mustache, he commanded a dangerous air about him. I studied his hands, which were clasped together before him. My apatite shrank under Father's placid gaze.

"I was told you've been missing a lot of your studies over the past few weeks." he was unflinching. "Is that true?"

I chuckled, kept my stature. "Well, I might have missed a few."

He nodded. "You'll have to attend them more from now on. Anyway, Lady Lucille asked how you're doing." I jerked at the name. Lucille was the woman I was supposed to marry when she was a bit older. I didn't plan on taking her as my wife, like our parents arranged when we were younger. I'd break the news sometime soon.

"Oh, did she? How is she?"

"She's doing well." he cleared his throat. "I heard an interesting rumor earlier today."

"Oh, did you? Please tell." This was so boring! God, how I wanted to get out of there! His stare always made me uncomfortable.

"Someone said they saw you," he coughed, "and that servant boy Lux together in the woods the other day."

"Yes, we were arriving back from hunt-"

"I'm not finished." he looked past me. "Apparently you two were...kissing. How absurd! They think I'll believe that? I don't know whether I should beat that person who spread the false rumor or have them executed. I need your opinion, since it was your name they tried to dirty."

My throat constricted, my stomach plummeted. "Oh, well, um...let me see..."

"The idea itself is bizarre." he laughed. "Why would someone of noble lineage have an affair when they're already betrothed. And what's more, to a servant no less. A male servant. Now that's humorous!"

"Father, eh...er..."

"What do you think, Ramiel? It's funny, is it not? There's no question that we should definitely execute the-"44

"Father!" I yelled. "It's true!"

His mouth flew agape. "What?"

"I did kiss Lux, numerous times actually."

"Ramiel, you don't have to joke more to make me laugh."

"I'm not joking! I really do love Lux! I really have kissed him and shared my bed with him!"

He faltered, lips forming a silent O. "No."

"Yes." My face was heating up.

"No. No. I can't believe this. My son, my one and only son, is in love with another man?"

"Precisely."

"How long?"

"A few years.”

He buried his face in his palms. "Why? Why did you do this? You know that you're engaged to Lucille. You know better. You've known since you were two."

"I love Lux."

He snapped, "No you don't! He is a male and your servant! I taught you better! There's no way that you could love a...a-him."

"Yes, there is a way. He shares my affection and I his."

My father was seething with anger. His skin was red in fury, his teeth ground in rage. He raised his voice, "I never raised you to act in such a heinous way! Never! This is awful! Awful!"

"There's nothing 'awful' about it! Can't you just accept the truth and be joyful about this? For once I'm fully happy in my life. The sad part is, you're not."

“Ramiel, you are a heretic! We cannot let anyone else know this. I will rid you of this heresy.”

“Dad, don’t you love me? Your son?”

He slammed a fist onto the table. "I do but this is enough! This is partly my fault. I knew I should have remarried when your mother died, have had you around women more. I just couldn't bring myself to love another woman in her place, and that decision has tainted you."

I scoffed. "Now you're making up lies."

"I know what to do. In two days you'll go to Lucille's family's estate and live there for a while until the marriage. Yes, that's exactly what we'll do!"

"You're crazy!" I spat, stood up, and began running out of the dining hall.

My father's voice boomed, "Guards, hold him!" I was instantly caught by four men that came from the shadows of the corridor. Two grabbed my arms, and the other two took positions beside them.

"I'm leaving this hellhole." I growled, writhing in their grips.

"No, you're going to start packing in your quarters as soon as your punishment is over." Father said. He was advancing toward me, a whip in hand.

"Damn you!" I hollered. "Damn you to hell!"

“I will beat these demons from you!” He raised his hand and the whip lashed down.

That night I paced back and forth in my room. I was covered in welts, bleeding. My whole body throbbed in pain. I was mad, yes, and filled with sorrow all at once. Why did he have to be like that? Why?

I slid onto my knees and let the sadness engulf me. I didn't cry, no, just let the tears roll down my face. In that moment I hated him, my father. I hated him and everyone with him. Hated them. Detested them.

That was when she came. The woman had entered my room from nowhere, and made prey my fragile emotions. She circled me like a cat would a mouse, the deadly intent obscured by the rich crimson of her lips. I was too weak to retort. She knelt onto a knee and leaned near me, the intoxicating scent of ripe fruit and lavender wafting off her.

"What do you want?" I asked softly. It pained me to breathe, my lungs felt as if they were crushed.

She extended a slender hand and traced a line from my bruised cheek to my chin. "You want to be with someone, am I right?"

I nodded. Her voice was like a stream of satin rubbing against me, and it rang like a dark melody meant to be played by the angels themselves. "I can help you."

"How?"

A haunting grin graced her delicate features. "I can kill them, the ones in your way."

I shuddered. "E-even my father?"

"Yes." she purred. "I can rid them for you, and you can go to another country with me and your lover.

You can be with Lux, never worry about your accursed father ever again."

"Y-you'd do that? Really?"

"Yes." she repeated, caressing the curve of my jawbone. "All you have to agree to is one tiny thing."

"What is it?" I was ecstatic, wild with hurried hope. "What do I agree to?"

"You have to give me something and I will kill them all for you."

I was impatient. "Yes! What do you want?"

Her mouth hovered just above the expanse of my neck, cold breath hitting my bare skin. "Your humanity."

I closed my eyes, exhaled. I could be with Lux. I would be with Lux. Free. What was the price humanity for the bliss of love? I was willing to give it up. In that moment, desire and greed had overtaken me.

My resolve was firm. I clenched my hands into fists and uttered, “Do it. Please." She licked my skin, sending a shiver across my spine. I listened to the fast beating of my heart as she opened her mouth, reared back her head, and struck.

My heart ceased beating.