The Damned Demon

As Raziel turned around to face Matron Selene again, his eyes trembled with a mixture of confusion and sorrow, "Why did you say that? Do you..." he began, his voice trailing off, unable to complete the question that weighed heavily on his mind.

Selene looked at him with eyes that seemed to carry the weight of many untold memories, "I don't know when it started, but I began to feel as if we've had this conversation many times on this very day. It felt impossible and didn't make sense, yet it felt real," she explained softly, her gaze holding his steadily while carrying a hint of confusion, "But now, I remember... everything."

Raziel's expression crumpled as he heard her words, "No... no, you shouldn't be..." he stammered, the realization that she remembered each iteration of his failed attempts overwhelming him. It was a truth he had hoped would remain hidden, to spare her the pain.

He couldn't understand how it was possible since Drakaris said they could only remember everything in their last moments. Not like this.

Selene stepped closer, her hands gently cupping his face.

Her eyes, filled with sorrow, gazed deeply into his, "You can tell me everything, Raziel. I will help you escape whatever hell you are trapped in," she said, her voice a soothing balm to his tormented soul, "I can't bear to see you in pain anymore and endure it alone."

"No…it's impossible. I…" Raziel felt a lump form in his throat as he began to explain everything.

With each word, the reality of his torment became more evident, and Selene's eyes widened in shock and understanding.

The burden of his story, now shared, seemed to lighten ever so slightly, yet the pain never lessened.

Selene's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as Raziel concluded his heart-wrenching tale.

She tenderly caressed his face, her touch gentle yet filled with a depth of emotion that spoke volumes, "I had no idea you were suffering so much," she whispered, her voice quivering with emotion, "And to think all this wouldn't have happened if not for us..."

Raziel, overcome with a mix of relief and sorrow, held her hands tightly, "No, Matron Selene," he insisted earnestly, shaking his head, "I chose this. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you all. I wanted to see you live happily, at least for a day longer. But my naivety only made things worse. You shouldn't forgive me for dragging you into this. You never deserved to go through this."

"Raziel," Selene said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes held a gentle warmth as she continued, "There's nothing to forgive. Had I been in your place, I would have made the same choice. I can't imagine a life without you in it. We are selfish in that way."

Raziel's eyes widened while her gaze took on a distant, nostalgic quality as she added, "When I first came to your tribe, I was a broken woman, longing for the end after losing everything. But then, I met your mother, and she handed me a ray of hope – you, as a baby. In your innocent eyes, I found a reason to live again. Your happiness, your innocence, they reminded me that I could be happy again. As you grew up, your smile made me smile as well. You gave me a reason to stay, to have a purpose. That is why I can never let you die on my watch. Your death would mean the end of my world as well."

"Matron Selene…" Tears trickled down his cheeks as the weight of her words, her unconditional love and support, overwhelmed him.

Before he knew it, he leaned forward, closing the distance between them, and gently pressed his lips to hers.

Selene's brows briefly rose, but then her expression softened as she closed her eyes.

A single teardrop trickled down her left cheek as she embraced his kiss, the two conveying years of unspoken emotions.

In this serene moment, Raziel found solace as her lips entwined with his in a tender embrace.

The kiss, initiated with doleful feelings, soon blossomed into a passionate expression of their shared emotions, their bodies pressing together.

Raziel, caught in the whirlwind of feelings he had never dared to acknowledge, found himself surrendering to the moment. The kiss deepened, fueled by the affection they had bottled up inside their hearts.

Selene's response became even more passionate, her lips moving against his with a fervor that spoke of her deep-seated emotions for him. As their kiss intensified, Raziel could feel the layers of his pain and sorrow being peeled away, one tender touch at a time.

Her lips felt so soft and gentle enough to melt the cage of pain his heart was trapped in.

He never expected he would find a balm for his fractured soul like this, a soothing warmth that coursed through him, healing and comforting.

She held the back of his head as she gracefully lowered Raziel onto the ground while following suit until she was sitting atop him, below his waist.

Raziel's face was flushed, and his eyes widened as she undid the sash of her red robe, letting it pool around her calves.

"Matron Selene…" His breath caught in his throat as she revealed her unblemished skin - porcelain-pale and flawless beneath the crimson sky.

He had never seen such a beautiful sight in his life before.

Without warning, Selene took hold of his nervous hands and guided them to the swell of her curvaceous bare breasts, his hands cupping the soft pair unconsciously.

Her cheeks had a reddish hue as she said with a soft smile, "Call me Selene. In this moment, you are not my disciple. You are my man, and I am your woman. I know it's wrong for me to say, but there is no point in holding back when we have no tomorrow. Or am I repulsing you?"

Raziel knew it was taboo, but he shook his head as he said with a complicated smile, "Selene, the last thing you can do is repulse me. I have loved you ever since I met you, but now I love you as my woman."

Selene warmly smiled as her hand moved below his waist, "Then allow me to let you feel how much I love you."

With a soft sigh, he surrendered himself entirely to Selene's embrace, allowing himself to lose himself in the sweetest sin of all: the simple act of loving the woman who saved him before his soul could shatter.

Their whispers and moans mingled with the rustle of leaves and the humming of crickets as they gave themselves fully to the thrall of their feelings and the depth of their own ardor. Nothing else existed beyond those two souls entwined amidst the trees near the stream.

They moved together like two halves of one soul. Their limbs twinned seamlessly, syncing with the rhythmic beating of their hearts.

Every caress, every brush of fingertips against silky skin, carried with it a weight of longing and desire so heavy it threatened to overwhelm them both.

There were occasional sharp intakes of breath from either of them as they sought deeper connection. There was no need for words – their bodies spoke volumes, conveying the fervency of emotions unsaid.

Instead, they communicated through the language of touch alone, exploring every inch of each other with reverent care.

As they lost themselves further in the intimacy of the night, Selene felt herself drifting closer and closer to the brink of ecstasy, teetering precariously on the edge of oblivion.

With a final thrust, Raziel joined her, sending her tumbling into a sea of pure pleasure.

Together, they floated there for a short while, bound by the sacredness of their first time together.

Not long after, in the serene waters of the stream, the two found a momentary escape from their cruel reality.

The water lapped gently against their submerged bodies as Raziel held Selene from behind, embracing her firmly as if he were afraid of losing her.

Selene, sensing his inner turmoil, smiled softly, her voice calm and reassuring, "You don't have to be afraid. I am not going anywhere," she said, her words echoing in the quiet around them.

Raziel's grip tightened as he grappled with the harsh truth of their situation, "You know what is going to happen, and it hurts to know that I am too weak to do anything to prevent it from happening. Why should our fates be sealed like this?" His voice was laced with pain and helplessness, reflecting the depth of his despair.

Selene turned within his arms to face him, her movements fluid like the water around them.

She lifted his hands to her lips, kissing them softly before meeting his gaze with warmth and affection, "Don't worry about the future, Raziel. I have long realized nothing good ever comes from it. Instead, let's enjoy what we have and never worry about it getting taken away from us. The Bloodclaw Clan, or anybody for that matter, can't take it away from us."

Raziel's hands clasped Selene's tightly, seeking solace in her words, "But I trapped you in this hell. How can I live with that? I am not strong like you," His voice was a mix of guilt and desperation.

Selene's response was gentle yet firm, shaking her head to dismiss his fears, "No, you won't because we will be living it together. All of us will be with you. I know I may not remember what we shared today the next time this day resets. But I know you will find me again, and my feelings for you will never change. That is more than enough to make me happy. And I am happy now, more than I ever was," Her smile became wistful as she added, "It's just a pity that this moment can't go on forever."

Raziel felt his heart lighten hearing his words, but then his gaze lowered as he asked with a heavy expression, "But what happens if I lose you all forever? What if I am left behind alone in this cursed cycle?" Raziel's voice trembled slightly, revealing the depth of his fears.

Selene, unwavering in her conviction, responded with a comforting smile as she lifted his chin gently, "You can never lose us forever. Our bond is stronger than any curse. As long as you breathe, Raziel, a part of me, a part of us, will always be with you, guiding and protecting you. That is why you have to keep on living no matter what. If you die, we die with you. Never let anything break you, not even fate. You are stronger than you realize. You are stronger than me and anyone I know. That is why the supreme one gave you a chance to prove yourself even though we may not understand his ways."

To his tormented soul, her words were as soothing as a gentle caress. Raziel looked up, his eyes slowly igniting with newfound determination and resolve.

He gently wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close, "I promise you, no matter what happens, I won't let any of you die with me."

Selene's smile grew warmer, her eyes filled with love.

"I know..." She leaned in, bridging the gap between them with a tender kiss.

In that moment, as they shared their affection, they transcended their fears and uncertainties.

And for the first time after being trapped in this cycle, Raziel felt strength and hope trickling into his soul.