Free Damned If You Do by Marie Sexton

taste them. He moved his thumbs to wipe at them as best he could without breaking contact with Seth’s temples.
    â€œOh, Abaddon,” Seth said, his brow creasing with a frown. “Your eyes.” He reached up with one hand and laid his fingers against Abaddon’s cheek.
    That tiny bit of contact made Abaddon’s blood roar in his ears. He felt the full strength of Seth’s soul in that touch. The purity of his heart. The undeniable weight of concern.
    Concern for a devil.
    Abaddon’s mouth watered. The soul hunger stabbed all the way to his core. The urge to consume the boy whole, to drag him through the abyss and drink the sheer power that lingered in his heart was overwhelming, and Abaddon pulled away quickly, stumbling backward. He found himself bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath just as Seth had done earlier.
    â€œWhat happened?” Seth asked.
    Abaddon shook his head, then realized Seth was blind again. He couldn’t see the gesture. “Nothing.”
    Seth took a cautious step toward him, his hand outstretched. Abaddon waited, practically holding his breath as Seth’s fingers lit upon his shoulder. He felt the heat all the way through his shirt, the surge of temptation subsiding, but not fast enough.
    â€œWill you come to the revival tonight?”
    Abaddon laughed, the sound hoarse and grating in his throat. “Why?”
    â€œâ€˜I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.’”
    The words burned. For the first time in his memory, Abaddon felt tears behind his eyes. “No. It’s too late for me. You shouldn’t even be talking to me. You should be running away from me as fast as you can.”
    â€œYou said you wouldn’t hurt me.”
    â€œI said I didn’t want to hurt you. It’s not the same thing.”
    Seth blinked, confused. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œYou also said you wouldn’t lie to me.”
    â€œAnd I won’t.”
    â€œThen tell me what you mean.”
    Abaddon stood, stretching his back, pushing his hair roughly off his forehead. “If I were a man—a decent man—I’d leave you alone. But I’m not a man. I’m something much worse, and I’m required to hunt down certain things. And you…” He shook his head, wondering at the strength of his longing. “You’re the epitome of those things. You have the purest soul I’ve ever encountered.”
    â€œThat’s something you can see?”
    Abaddon nodded, even though the gesture was lost on Seth. “I can see it. I can smell it. I can even taste it, and goddamn it, Seth, it’s delicious. It’s like I’m an addict, and you’re the perfect fucking drug. I want both you and your soul. I hunger for you.” He took a step closer despite himself, his voice becoming thick and hoarse. “In more ways than one.”
    A slow blush rose on Seth’s cheeks. It only made him more tempting. “You can’t take it without my permission though, right?”
    The question surprised Abaddon. It felt like a sudden shift of direction. After giving voice to what he truly felt, confessing the strength and breadth of his desire, it was hard to back up and veer into a normal conversation as if nothing had happened. “Right. You’d have to agree.”
    â€œDo you intend to hurt somebody else? Somebody at the revival?”
    â€œNo. I told you the truth. I only wanted to see you. I just…” He shook his head, wishing he could explain it to himself so he’d know how to explain it to Seth. “You’re amazing, in every way. I couldn’t stay away.”
    Seth ducked his head, scuffing one toe in the dirt and leaves on the forest floor. “Will you come tonight? Please?”
    â€œI can’t be saved.”
    â€œThat’s not what I asked.”
    Abaddon sighed. He didn’t want to give