The Edge of Desire

As the Truth Eater feasted on its prey, demonic screams tore through the air, creating a storm of anguish. Amid the chaos, the tormented demon cried out in agony, its voice raw and desperate. "Padre! You can't do this to us, Father! You love us. You love our Misha. We beg you, Father! Save us!"

Ru, held tightly in Jasper's arms, felt an inexplicable pain pierce through him. The demon's cries seemed to reach into his very soul, stirring a deep, heartbreaking reaction. His chest tightened, and a wave of grief washed over him, unbidden and overwhelming.

"Why? Why do I feel like this?" Ru's voice trembled, tears streaming down his face. He struggled to comprehend the emotional turmoil within him, the connection between the demon's torment and the ache in his heart.

He turned to Jasper, his voice barely audible. "Why am I feeling sorry for a demon?"

Jasper's masked face tilted slightly, his tone cryptic. "Ask your artistic soul."

"Fuck," Ru spat, his voice rising. "I should feel sorry for Vaelan and Clockmaker, not their killer!"

"I wish you'd stop yelling at me," Jasper said, his tone oddly calm.

"Oh, sorry. I thought this mask would protect your face," Ru snapped sarcastically.

Jasper leaned in closer, the nose of his mask brushing against Ru's cheek.

Sniff! Sniff!

"What the hell is this?" Ru demanded, recoiling.

"My nose is in the air," Jasper replied, his voice playful.

"Huh?"

Jasper found a luxurious balcony with an infinity pool and landed gracefully, setting Ru down with surprising gentleness. He pulled a lace handkerchief embroidered with the letter J from his pocket and meticulously wiped his mask.

"Be sad, Ru. Cry even harder. See how tragic this scene is. Your poor friend, your poor child—the giant demon—just died." He held up a small, ornate bottle, bringing it close to Ru's tear-streaked cheek.

"Stay away from me, you maniac," Ru growled, swatting the bottle away.

"Can I put some of your tears in my bottle?" Jasper asked, his voice soft, almost tender.

"Get the fuck out of my face, you psycho," Ru shouted, his anger flaring.

The demon, its legs gnawed off and buried deep in the slime, screamed in agony. "Forgive us, Father! Please forgive us!" It cried out for Misha, for Seneca, its voice a haunting plea.

"I don't even know who Misha is," Ru whispered, his voice breaking.

"You even wrote a song about her, Ru. That mysterious Purple Lady is Misha," Jasper said, his tone almost musical.

"You listened to my song?" Ru asked, surprised.

"Oh, I was listening. Or was it Notajest's song? Speaking of which, they disbanded after Vaelan's death," Jasper said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Okay, you've managed to annoy me. Congratulations. Now get out of my face," Ru said, his voice low and dangerous.

"Don't worry, you'll have your Misha back soon," Jasper said, his tone suddenly shifting. He glanced at the empty bottle in his hand, his expression unreadable behind the mask. Then, with a cruel edge, he added, "But you'll never be together. Your love will be platonic. Haha!"

"What love are you talking about? That girl might have just killed my friends!" Ru yelled, his frustration boiling over.

"You're not even sure, but I am. They're dead, Ru. Dead and in hell forever," Jasper mocked.

Shut up! Ru shouted, his voice echoing across the balcony. He pulled out the opera glasses he'd stolen from Jasper and climbed to the highest point, scanning the battlefield.

The Truth Eater had nearly finished its feast. The pyramid of scarabs crumbled, thousands of dead insects raining down. Amunet, the queen of the ruined pyramid, knelt on the ground, her palms pressed into the dirt. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she struggled to rise.

"Something's happened to the mage," Ru called out.

"Never mind, there's a replacement," Jasper said lazily, stretched out on a couch, sunglasses perched over his cat mask.

Ru glared at him. "I can't believe it. Can't you see your partner is dying?"

"Would you like me to pose, Donatella?" Jasper asked, his tone absurdly casual.

"I'm going to look for Vaelan. Maybe he's still alive," Ru said, turning to leave.

Suddenly, Jasper was in front of him, gripping his arm with surprising strength.

"There's no one left, just you and me, my Donatella," Jasper said, his voice dripping with false sweetness.

Ru shuddered. "Are you going to drink my blood again?"

"Again? I haven't even had a chance to taste it yet, my Donatella," Jasper purred.

Ru's eyes narrowed, his voice low and dangerous. "I will kill you."

"Kill me, Donatella. Please, kill me! Wash me with sakura-scented detergent," Jasper said, his tone mocking yet oddly earnest.

Ru whistled a succession of enchanted notes, but Jasper only clapped sarcastically.

"Well, that was certainly a sanitized tune. Was there a discount on fabric softener?" Jasper quipped.

"Your vampire lord will finish you off. I'm the great marionette of the dream," Ru roared.

Jasper shrugged. "It's none of my business. I saved you, so your blood belongs to me."

Ru suddenly kneed Jasper between the legs, only to wince in pain as his knee met what felt like solid steel. "How?" he groaned. "Are you made of steel or something?"

"Nah. I'm a painter," Jasper said, unfazed.

With a seamless motion, Jasper twirled Ru around, his actions graceful and exact, reminiscent of a dancer. He encircled Ru's waist with an arm, drawing him nearer.

"The dance is over. Now it's time for the bite, my Donatella," Jasper said, laying Ru back onto the ground.

"Help! Help me!" Ru screamed, struggling against Jasper's iron grip.

The mouth of the pink cat mask parted, revealing the sharp tips of Jasper's fangs. He leaned over Ru, his breath cold against Ru's neck.

Ru thrashed and struck with all his might, but his blows only left him bruised and exhausted. Desperate, he did the only thing he could think of: he headbutted Jasper.

The result was immediate—Ru crumpled, unconscious.

"It was just a joke, you idiot," Jasper said, his voice oddly tender.

In truth, Jasper hadn't been joking. The desire for Ru's blood had been overwhelming, but he couldn't act on it. His master's warning echoed in his mind: "His blood can kill you."

Jasper repeated the words to himself. "It can kill me. But I am undead."

Ru's forehead was swelling; he needed medical attention. Jasper considered taking him to Dr. Claude Leblanc or an emergency room. But something stopped him—the intoxicating sweetness of Ru's scent.

"This boy smells like fine art," Jasper murmured, pressing the tiny nose of his mask against Ru's throat. "Like an old painting, oh my!"

He hovered over Ru, poised to sink his fangs into the artery. The thought of Ru's blood sent a surge of unnatural life through his undead heart.

"The power in those transparent veins... You must be mine."

But just as he leaned in, a voice cut through the night, sharp and commanding.

"Jasper. Stop."

Jasper froze, his masked face turning toward the source of the voice. There, standing at the edge of the balcony, was Heise. His silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto Jasper. He was dressed in a tailored black coat that flared slightly in the wind, giving him an air of both elegance and menace.

"Heise," Jasper said, his voice a mix of surprise and irritation. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same," Heise replied, his tone icy. He stepped closer, his movements deliberate and graceful. "You were told not to touch him. Or have you forgotten our master's orders?"

Jasper straightened, releasing Ru from his grip. Ru remained unconscious, his breathing shallow, his forehead bruised from the headbutt. Jasper stepped back, his hands raised in a mock gesture of surrender. "I wasn't going to bite him. Just... admiring the artistry of his veins."

Heise's eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me, Jasper. I know you too well."

Jasper sighed, the playful tone slipping from his voice. "Fine. I wanted to. Happy?"

"No," Heise said, his voice softening slightly. He stepped closer, his gaze shifting to Ru. "You know the rules. You can't take him."

Jasper's mask tilted slightly, a hint of defiance in his posture. "And what if I don't care about the rules?"

Heise's expression hardened. "Then you're a fool. I will not allow you to ruin yourself due to a fleeting moment of weakness."

Jasper laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Weakness? Is that what you call it? This boy... he's different. His blood, his soul—it's like nothing I've ever encountered. It calls to me, Heise. Can't you understand that?"

Heise moved closer, his voice fading to a whisper. "I understand more than you think."

"Are you jealous of me?"Jasper asked, but Heise ignored his stupid question.

"Jasper, just a heads up—once you drink his blood, you’re going to find yourself hooked on him. This will just turn you into his slave."

Jasper hesitated. For a moment, it seemed as though he might argue. But then he sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing. "You always know how to ruin my fun, don't you?"

Heise's lips curved into a faint smile. "Someone has to keep you in line."

Jasper stepped back, his tone returning to its usual playful cadence. "Fine, fine. I'll behave. For now." He glanced down at Ru, who was still unconscious on the ground. "But you can't blame me for being curious. He's... fascinating."

Heise's gaze followed Jasper's, his expression unreadable. "Fascinating or not, Ru belongs to His Majesty."

Jasper shrugged, though there was a flicker of reluctance in his movements. "As you wish, my love." He turned to Heise, his tone light but with an undercurrent of sincerity. "But don't think this means I'll stop being curious."

"Curiosity is one thing. Acting on it is another." Heise stepped closer to Jasper, his hand reaching up to gently touch the edge of the cat mask. "Remember who you are, Jasper. And remember what we are."

Jasper's masked face tilted, his voice softening. "How could I forget? You're the only one who's ever been able to keep up with me."

Heise's lips curved into a small smile, though his eyes remained serious. "Then trust me, honey."

For a moment, the two stood in silence, the tension between them palpable. Then Jasper sighed, stepping back. "You won. I won't get too close to Ru."

Heise nodded, his expression easing slightly. "That's all I ask."

As Heise turned his attention to Ru, Jasper lingered for a moment. Then, with a glance at Ru, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Heise knelt beside Ru, his expression softening as he examined the boy's injuries. "You're more trouble than you're worth." He placed a hand on Ru's forehead, a faint glow emanating from his fingertips as he channeled a small amount of healing energy.

Ru stirred slightly, his eyelids fluttering. "Vaelan... Clockmaker..." he mumbled, his voice barely audible.

Heise's expression darkened at the names, but he said nothing. Instead, he stood, lifting Ru effortlessly into his arms. "Let's get you somewhere safe," he said quietly. "Before Jasper changes his mind."

As Heise carried Ru away, the night seemed to grow quieter, the chaos of the battlefield fading into the distance.

And somewhere in the shadows, Jasper still watched...