(Cera's POV)
I didn't like Snowe from the moment I saw her... only because Zai's eyes stayed trained on her no matter what she was doing or saying, and before I even got a chance to know her, I was told they were dating.
Zai, who has never shown genuine interest in anyone outside of platonic relationships, male or female. Zai protected me when we were kids and always made an effort to include me when everyone else forgot I existed.
The person I love. Not long after that, I find out that he's bound his soul with hers, making them inseparable in a way that trumps all verbal vows. There's no room left for me, even if I convince her to move away. Unfortunately, the way I found out put me on Zai's bad side. I hurt that woman, and Zai retaliated by causing me 10 times more pain.
They then kicked me out of the mansion, where I could see him as often as I wanted, and my soul plummeted into darkness, depression becoming my closest friend. I shouldn't have let jealousy get the better of me...
Days Later...
"F**k him! His loss because you're f**king awesome," Markis assured, topping off my drink with more bane.
"I don't think so... I'm timid and weak, and I haven't even fully mastered my element," I slurred out the words drunkenly, then Markis lifted my cup to my lips to help me swallow what was left.
"Then master it. Practice your ass off and show them that they were dumb to abandon you," he said encouragingly.
I nodded in agreement, even though a voice in the back of my mind was screaming that Zai wouldn't care if I was strong or not, and his opinion is the only one that mattered to me. Once my cup was emptied, Markis kissed me, moving his tongue on mine and moving his hand down into my pants.
"I'll make you feel better, Cera... don't worry," he whispered.
I woke up with him naked in bed with me.
My memory of the night before was still fuzzy, but the humans who were partying with us were sprawled out on the floor, almost depleted of energy.
I would've sent them home if I were sober; I can't risk the Infaniyan tracking me down for human energy consumption.
"What the heck did you do?!" I grumbled.
He awoke groggily, then sat up and grinned at me,
"Good morning, handsome."
He's remorseless.
Markis licked my neck, and I shivered, placing my hand over where his tongue had been and looking at him, flustered.
"Why do you look so grumpy... you should smile more," he teased.
"No! I have to get these people out of my house! If I get caught here, I could implicate everyone, even Z..."
I bit my lip... I've always ranted to Markis about Zai, so he knows how I feel, but it feels awkward now...
"I'll take care of it... don't worry. I would never do anything to hurt you," he assured me before kissing me.
Things escalated from there, and after we were done, I took a nap.
When I woke up, he and all the humans were gone.
I could tell he'd even cleaned up some.
It's unnerving looking at Markis, especially in the dark...
I'd never thought about Raijian that way, but kissing someone with a similar face was surprisingly pleasant.
Maybe I once had repressed feelings for Jey. That's the only explanation for how weak Markis makes me feel.
"Oh, you're up!" Markis greeted me, coming into my apartment like it was his own.
He left the herbs and alcohol on the living room coffee table, then came to my room with a bottle of water and an Everything Bagel.
"You definitely need to rehydrate after last night," he commented.
I snatched the bottle from him, then hung my head and muttered,
"Thank you." He forced the bagel into my mouth and said,
"Eat too..." I silently did as told, as he turned on the TV and streamed an animated action series he was into.
"What do you think about... moving in together?" he asked suddenly.
I nearly choked on my bagel.
"What?! Why?!"
He turned to me and tilted his head.
"I thought it would be fun... but never mind," Markis mumbled quietly.
Markis gets a thrill out of breaking the rules... he especially loves tormenting his little brother, who outshone him in every way from birth and who he blames for the death of their mother.
Living with someone like that would be difficult, plus I want Zai to forgive me at some point; moving in with Markis would ensure he never does.
Later that day, he suggested going to a club together, so I actually tried my best to look presentable.
Once we were there, he invited random humans we met at the club into our home.
We played cards and smoked together, and he took one of them into the guest room... I know it's just his habit to feast on humans... but today was the first day I felt it, a pang of jealousy.
The urge to possess.
I slept with one of the male humans to distract myself, but I felt gross doing it... I don't understand how Markis can tolerate touching these things.
He restrained himself enough that the humans went home unharmed... so we went to bed.
I caught myself staring at him multiple times instead of sleeping... why would I like Markis... am I that lonely?!
Is it because he's here?
He's a bad influence.
He tempts me to indulge more in my darker habits.
Verbally, he'll encourage me to train, but then he'll monopolize my time so I don't actually have the freedom to do that.
I feel weak... like I shouldn't give up on my feelings for Zai so soon... Markis laughed suddenly, tearing me from my thoughts.
"You keep looking at me.... do you need some help sleeping?"
I gasped.
"I wasn't looking at you," I replied.
He scoffed, then pulled the covers down to give me a blowjob.
Once again, it became hard to think about anything outside this room.
He wasn't there the next morning, and the only thing left was a text saying he had gone home.
"That cold bastard," I mumbled to myself...
I can't believe I was starting to like him...
I tried training to help pass the time until he returned, and I did get stronger, but weeks passed, and he didn't return.
I lost motivation and turned to drugs and alcohol to drown out my sadness.
At first, the only person I wanted to share my progress with was Zai.
Somewhere along the way, that changed.
Now the first person I thought of was Markis.
I should have just said yes when he asked me to move in.
His dad considered him worthless... his mom is dead, and all his friends abandoned him when he was made Jey's Earth Caretaker. He must be just as lonely as I am.
"I got stronger." I texted him... it was 5 hours before he replied,
"K."
The heck?! I waited five f*cking hours, and that's all he has to say?
"Aren't you curious about what I learned?" I pried. Another hour passed before he replied.
"Busy... I'll visit you soon ♥."
What is that supposed to mean? Busy doing what? It's been months since I've seen him... does he not care about me?
Was I somehow tricked by the gentle way he touched me and kissed me... yeah, he was promiscuous from the start, I was dumb to develop real feelings for him.
A few days later, I received a call from him, and I answered on the first ring.
I'm so pathetic.
"Markis?! Hey..."
I tried to calm myself, but instead of him, it was a woman on the phone.
It was Tana, asking me where Zai was...
All I could do was give her the address to our family Mansion...
A part of me hoped she'd go there and cause a scene, make Snowe feel a small bit of the pain I've been feeling.
So I liberally gave her all the information she asked for, even landmarks in case she got lost. Finally, something good is happening to me. A few minutes later, Markis called me,
"Hey."
The sound of his voice was enough to melt my heart and make me regret my actions.
"Hi." I refused to say more, so he continued,
"Tana... looks way different now, she's gorgeous... like I finally understand why my dad was going so crazy over her," He rambled.
She's pretty now?
How?
When?
Will that change how she interacts with Snowe when they meet?
"I wanted to f**k her just once, but she turned me down. What a letdown, though, I thought she'd sleep with anyone who asked," he complained.
"You... you're pissing me off!" I yelled.
"Ow... that was my ear," he grumbled.
"You left without saying goodbye, and now all you talk about is some woman you want to screw?!"
"What's your problem?" Markis asked,
"You! You're my problem! I don't care who you want to have sex with or who you actually f**k, just leave me out of it from now on!"
Then I hung up on him and deleted his number to remove the temptation to contact him... The humans I met the night before came over of their own accord, so I let them stay as drinking buddies, playing cards or trivia games to pass the time.
Later that night, Jey showed up.
I kicked the humans out so he could talk to me freely.
He explained that Tana showed up, but that Zai no longer lives there, and she somehow didn't cause any trouble...
Looks like what I wished for won't be happening soon.
The only bright side is that Jey says I can move back in since Zai no longer lives with him.
I'm not sure how I feel about that.
Jey spent the rest of the afternoon catching up with me...
And that did help fill the void, but seeing his face made me instantly regret cutting Markis off.
I couldn't stop bobbing my leg in an agitated manner till Jey finally got up to leave.
"Oh, by the way..." he began while holding the front door's knob,
"Feel free to contact my brother Markis, talk some sense into him if you can... you're not perfect, but you're a hell of a lot better than him... he could learn a lot from you."
I blushed, realizing he had been seeing my thoughts this whole while, then stood quietly in the entryway minutes after Jey had already left. I don't really want to, but I should probably go to Markis's place tomorrow...
I got into bed and closed my eyes.
Just as I was drifting off, I heard my front door fling open.
"Cera! Come out! I know you're home you!" Markis screamed...
I hope he didn't break my lock.
I groggily dragged myself over to him.
When our eyes met, he glared.
"You think I'm a mind reader?!" he snapped.
I pouted.
"Why the heck are y-"
He cut me off, shouting,
"If not, then why can't you be upfront with me!? You never said you liked me! You never even said you liked having me around," he clenched his fist tightly. "You never said I looked good or you missed me?! And how am I supposed to know something is wrong if you don't speak up?!"
I was dumbfounded,
"I... thought... you wouldn't care. Even if I told you..." I admitted.
"Thinking isn't your specialty. You're dumb, so ask questions. That way you can learn something," he said before pulling me in for a tight hug.
My heart was racing so hard I feared he might be able to feel it.
"You're right... I've been thinking too much..." I steeled my resolve and continued,
"I... like having you here, Markis... let's move in together."
I forced the words out through my clenched teeth as best I could. My heart was racing, and I felt hot, so I knew my face was changing color, but part of me hoped he didn't notice.
"Idiot," he muttered before kissing me, "Why would you like me? What's wrong with you?..." he asked softly.
"Plenty of people like you..." I retorted, and he scoffed.
"Maybe humans or people who don't know any better, but you know me."
I gave in to the hug and wrapped my arms around him,
"I guess... it's because you were here for me..." I confessed.
Markis burst out laughing,
"Is that all?! That sucks," he said cheerfully.
He released me and turned toward the door.
Wait...
Is he leaving?
"I like a whole lot of things about you... and if I thought you liked me back, I... would have treated you better..." he mumbled.
Maybe being honest wasn't as terrifying as I'd imagined.
After that day, I left my apartment and moved into his house. I spent a good while cleaning it up on the inside and out. It made more sense for me to move in with him since his home was paid off and a real home.
Once the house was clean, it was actually a nice place to live. Markis stopped inviting random people over, and we still went out to parties or clubs, but the house became a place for just the two of us.
It was about two weeks later that I received a call to return to the Mansion and talk with Tana.