Chapter 5 Day 6 And 7: Marked, Claimed And Feverish

• Heron had no plans on showing the secret room to Marcus. It was always his secret to keep for himself. It is the safest solution this way in order to avoid complicating things between him and the boy, but when he saw how Marcus reacted with his new guests earlier this morning, his heart was hammered with jealousy — pure jealousy — and not only that, the demon in him was asking to be released in order to claim what was his once and for all. Heron battled to control himself and kept himself very patient the whole day; attending to Marcus and his guests needs like a butler and acting obedient; but as the day grew to a close, his patience began to snap.
• “Stuffed bunnies? Why stuffed bunnies?” Marcus voiced out after he took in the details of Heron’s secret room. The entire wall was shelved with stuffed bunnies of different designs, colors and sizes. Marcus’ loved the furry creature and even collected some too, but this huge collection was beyond normal. He looked at the butler with questioning eyes. He wanted to understand why so he hoped that Heron would answer him honestly.
• “It’s my way of controlling myself,” Heron replied with stern eyes studying him. Marcus felt unsettled because of it.
• “Control? From what?” Breaking their eye contact, he strolled towards a vacant shelf and placed the black bunny that the demon recently gave. When he turned to look at him again, he gasped after finding his butler inches away from him.
• “Sir...Heron.” He closed his eyes briefly when Heron touched his jawline. He wasn’t supposed to act like that. He was supposed to feel uncomfortable with it, but it felt tingly. It felt good. It felt like Heron’s hand was sending a delicious warmth all over his body.
• “Marcus, do you know how much I’ve been keeping myself from you all these years?” was Heron’s question. He pulled the boy closer to him with his strong arm around his slim waist. “It’s painful you know... I hate it.”
• “What are you talking about?” Marcus queried, but it was just an act. He knew exactly what the demon general was talking about. He felt it too deep in his bones. He felt their connection. He felt the significant pull towards each other but he tried to cut it the whole time they were in the Traugott Residence and the Clave Ancestral House, and even until now. Knowing that it wasn’t right, he had to battle the feeling of longing away.
• But all those years that they had been apart, it felt for him like it was the end of the world. Just as Heron said, it was painful for him too.
• Heron released a throaty grumble. “Still playing innocent huh?” He slipped a hand under Marcus’ shirt and in response the boy’s breath hitched. He continued by pressing him against the shelf and licked Marcus’ earlobe.
• “Ack! Sir Heron!” Marcus tried to push him away, but failed.
• “Oh, Marcus, Marcus, Marcus...” the demon drawled. “I don’t like how you ignore me earlier you know.”
• “When have I ignored you?” Marcus felt his skin hairs raise when Heron grazed his lips on the plane of his neck.
• “This lunch.”
• “I didn’t!”
• But then Heron’s hand moved to pinch his nipples. This ultimately made Marcus whimper, “ahh... Sir Heron!”
• “I couldn’t fucking fight this battle anymore, Marcus. I’m done being patient.” His hands left the boy’s shirt, traversing up and into Marcus’ tensed face. “Oh, how I love the way your lips quake Marcus. Let’s begin our training shall we?”
• And with that, Heron closed the gap of their mouths for the first time.
• It was a flurry of sensation Marcus couldn’t describe. He had never been kissed before nor had he kissed someone, so he was all innocent about it. Kissing a girl might have been a good way to give his virginal lips an experience, but there was something about kissing his demon butler — a man so to speak — that seems right. Perfectly right. He was supposed to feel disgusted about it. He wasn’t supposed to feel aroused with the way their mouth molded, but a part of him clung and wanted more.
• Heron, using his teleportation power, transferred them to a big couch. They were still in the secret room so they were surrounded by stuffed bunnies; the only witnesses of what was yet to come.
• Although Marcus’ was stiff, Heron guided their tongues to explore their mouths more. He knew it would be hard to make the boy pliant in his arms, but who says he didn’t like a challenge? Who says he won’t be aroused by his partner’s zero experience?
• He had been longing to hold the boy like this. Now that this is finally happening, he’d make sure the demon in him would make the most out of it.
• With Marcus half-lying, half-sitting in the couch, Heron positioned himself on the floor, kneeling. As their mouths still connected, he skillfully opened the boy’s zipper and released the smooth half-erect shaft.
• Marcus gasped a little in protest. His face felt hot — a sign that his cheeks were blushing furiously. When he was able to withdrew, he straightened to sit and held both of Heron’s wrists.
• “Stop,” he said in a soft tone. His eyes were pleading but confusion and embarrassment were also mixed in.
• “Open your legs more, Marcus,” Heron ordered, disregarding Marcus’ word. Without effort, he wrenched his hands out of the boy’s hold and continued wrapping one palm on the now fully erect shaft.
• Marcus jerked, sensing the delightful tingling sensation upon contact of Heron’s warm palm, but he shook his head in dismay as there was a pang of guilt that still lingered in his mind. This act in itself is a grave misconduct for him as a man and for his beliefs as a sacristan. But then again, how could this feel so right?
• “Please stop,” said he again, “this is bad, Sir Heron.” That was what his rational thought told, but deep inside him, he knew he was lying.
• The demon however still continued. He leaned near Marcus’ face and purred, “Do you really want me to stop?” He skated his palm up and down the boy’s erection — from the head to the root — and this made the owner close his eyes and bit his bottom lip. His face was contorted with half pleasure, half agony.
• A part of him wanted to stop it in respect for his beliefs but a part of him wanted Heron’s touch. He couldn’t deny that it was sending him into the clouds of bliss. It made him feel complete.
• “Don’t fight the pull anymore, Marcus,” Heron stooped low — low enough so that his bottom lip would touch the boy’s anticipating member, “Let it take over you.”
• “Ahhhh!” In one breath, Marcus groaned and moaned when Heron’s mouth wrapped around the muscle. It ignited a fire within him and because of that, for the first time ever, he acknowledged their pull towards each other; the feeling of guilt was ultimately forgotten.
• The feel of Heron’s wet tongue embracing his erection was keeping him on edge. The sucking motion, the smooth glides, and the twirling movement right above the tip of the head were beginning to make him feel delirious. He raised his head; panting, eyes half-lidded; and saw the demon in between his legs looking sexy.
• Their eyes met. Heron curved a mischievous smile as he continued to pump harder.
• It was a sight Marcus would want to stare at forever until he arched his back and whipped his head backward when he felt the flow of orgasm rushing out of his super-charged, saluting member.
• He groaned again and clutched the throw pillows in his side. His seed spilled inside Heron’s mouth but the demon simply drank it all, making a pleased sound as he wiped the extra drops in the corner of his mouth.
• “Sir Heron...” Marcus felt a shiver when the butler swiftly pulled his pants down.
• “Turn around, boy. I want to fill you,” was his directive; eyes glowing red.
• Marcus didn’t understand what he meant. He didn’t have an inkling as to what Heron was about to do, but he turned his back to him and waited... waited in the couch until he felt a hard, hard muscle nudging at his bottom.
• “Sir Heron?!” he twisted to look at the demon general with confused eyes.
• “Ready yourself Marcus for I will claim you now,” was what Heron said. He pushed the boy to crouch low and in one swift motion, Marcus cried out a painful groan when the glorious muscle entered his untainted hole.
• Heron groaned himself with the deliciousness of being inside the boy. He felt Marcus’ body tense, so he soothed him out with kisses on his back. He waited for him to adjust to his size... waited and waited, until waiting became a chore. Unable to hold his demon desires in, he moved in a slow pace first, then faster and faster, pulling and plunging his eager sword inside Marcus.
• Marcus in the other hand felt pain and pleasure once again. He couldn’t determine whether his groans were from the former or the latter. Two rogue tears formed in his eyes but he blinked it out. It was just two tears because of the pain and nothing more... or is it really just it?
• He felt Heron’s teeth grazed his nape and in one instant, felt a biting pain. He clenched his jaw in response. What was the demon actually doing to him?
• “You’re mine alone boy,” Heron hoarsely spoke, “Don’t let that man or his sister touch you.” He did two more routine plunges before succumbing in his own psychedelic orgasm.
• Marcus felt the hot liquid seep out from his sore hole. It dripped down his legs and into the couch. The feel of Heron inside him was magnificent, but it was uninvited. Never in his entire life had he thought that he’d be subjected to such an act. But to do this act with the man -er- demon he had come to respect, and care for and possibly more than that, was all worth it. However, being human as he is and shocked to the core, he couldn’t keep his heart from aching.
• Panting, they both plopped down on the couch, Marcus’ chest were against the throw pillows while Heron was on top him.
• Without a heads up, the demon transported them in his bedroom where he arranged Marcus to lie supine while he positioned himself sideways next to him. It was then that he noticed fresh tears streaming down the boy’s face.
• It ached his heart seeing that. How could he not notice it? How could he not see that Marcus wasn’t ready for his claiming? He should have prepared him more; create a circle of trust or even wait for the boy’s desire to ripen, but the demon inside him could no longer keep itself away from its mate.
• “Sleep Marcus.”
• With fatigue and exhaustion winning over him, those two words were the only things the Marcus heard before he closed his eyes. He however didn’t notice the pain laced with it, or even the regret the clouded Heron’s demon heart.
• The front doorbell’s buzzing was answered by Marcus after its third try. It was already late in the morning, about ten past eleven. Caleb was in the other side of the door wearing a wide smile.
• “Good morning Mr. Thayne,” he greeted, but surprise etched his face then when he saw Marcus’ disheveled features.
• He looked worn out and sick. He was still wearing his pajamas and his hair was unkempt.
• Marcus produced a faint smile on his visitor’s way. “Hey, good morning too Sir Caleb.” Amidst sleeping almost the whole morning, he could still feel his exhaustion and fatigue as if it was the same last night.
• Last night...
• “Can I come in?” Thankfully, his thoughts were broken by Caleb’s question.
• “Yeah, sure.“Marcus just shrugged and opened the door wider.
• Once Caleb stepped inside, he turned to look at Marcus again and asked with his brows in a crease, “Are you feeling fine?”
• Looking as if lost, Marcus nodded slowly. “Uhm, yes, yes. I’m feeling fine. I’m just having a little bit of headache, Sir Caleb.”
• “Where’s your butler?” He scanned the vestibule but there was no sign of the imposing tuxedo-wearing man.
• “He’s...somewhere I think,” was Marcus’ only reply.
• It was his honest answer for he had no idea where Heron was. When he woke up because of the doorbell’s sound, he already found himself in his bedroom, alone, tucked neatly under the bed cover and dressed in his pajamas. Normally, Heron would have already been standing in the foot of the bed, ready to greet him a good morning. In his way downstairs to answer the doorbell, Heron’s presence was absent in the hallway, in the kitchen and living room when he briefly checked on them.
• “Mhhmm, I see,” Caleb bobbed his head, “So I will just go straight to the backyard.”
• “Right, that’s a good idea,” Marcus weakly stated. He closed the door and turned to the path leading to the second floor stairs, but then abruptly stopped.
• “Uhmm, Sir Caleb?” he called.
• The plumber was about to enter the staff hallway when he twisted to look at Marcus. “Mhm?”
• “If you want something, can you just call me through my phone?” he said, “I think I need to lie down the whole day.”
• Caleb nodded, understanding what he meant. “Sure, I will do, Marcus.”
• They both went in their separate ways. Marcus, when he reached in his bedroom, fell back in his bed and buried his head on the pillow. Not only was he feeling weak and ill, his heart was also missing out someone — Heron’s immediate presence in his every day morning. Although he wanted to, he didn’t have the strength to scour the whole house to find him. He was just too dog-tired and spent for it. Wherever Heron was right now, Marcus had hoped that by the time he wakes up, the demon butler would be right near his side.
• “Marcus,” from the other side of Marcus’ door, a voice called. It was from Caleb who had been knocking for quite some time.
• “Marcus. Are you there? I’ve been calling your phone three times, you didn’t answer.”
• He knocked again, much louder this time as he suddenly felt uneasy with the boy’s silence.
• “Hey! Are you okay in there?”
• When still there was no answer, he wisely decided to take a pin from his tool belt and unlocked the doorknob like most lock pickers do. It was a skill taught in his plumber training years ago that came in handy once or twice because of his sister’s knack for losing their house keys.
• As soon as he was able to open the door, he went directly to where he think is the bedroom and there he saw Marcus lying supine, his chest in labored breaths and his face and pillow wet with sweat.
• “Marcus!” He touched the boy’s forehead and immediately, his brow’s furrowed. “You’re hot!”
• “Sir Caleb,” Marcus spoke weakly, eyeing the man’s worried face.
• “Your butler hasn’t arrived yet?” He scanned the area and found not a single trace of the mentioned man.
• “No,” was Marcus’ pained reply.
• “Tsk, where is that butler when you need him the most?” Caleb complained as he began to unbutton Marcus’ plaid pajama top. He raised him slightly up to pull the wet garment out. Tossing it in the floor, he turned to look at Marcus and said, “Close your eyes and calm yourself. I’ll go get a medicine for you.” He stood up and exited the room in long strides.
• In one of the kitchen cupboards, Caleb found a medicine box. Luckily, there was paracetamol in it. He took three tabs out, opened one and placed it in a plate. Together with a pitcher of cold water and a full glass, he took them in Marcus’ room. Once there, he guided the ill boy in drinking the medicine with his arm hooked around Marcus’ head and his face mere inches away.
• Marcus was thankful of Caleb’s services, but deep inside him, he had hoped that it was Heron who took care of him. He had hoped that it was Heron who opened his mouth and guided the tablet inside his tongue. He had hoped that it was Heron’s weight that depressed his mattress. He had hoped that it was Heron’s strong hand that lifted his head.
• He waited for him for hours, hoping that he would sooner or later show himself, but still he did not.
• Where? Where could he possibly be? Was it possible that he was back in the Traugott Residence? But why so long? Marcus couldn’t understand his absence at all.
• With what they had been through last night, he couldn’t help but think that the demon butler was just playing with him. That their connection was nonexistent. That the pull he was talking about was just the pull of lust.
• For Marcus, however, it was never lust. It was something of more value that he had never felt with others.
• And that’s it. That’s exactly it.
• He loved Heron. He loved his demon butler truly... madly... deeply.
• ‘Sir Heron... Sir Heron please come back,’ he pleaded in his thoughts.
• “Sleep Marcus. Just rest. I will be here to take care of you,” was Caleb’s tender statement. He brushed a stray hair out of his face when Marcus closed his eyes. It was just a simple gesture, but to the entity that had just teleported inside the room after hearing the boy’s supplication, it was a trespassed boundary.
• “What’s this? Why are you here? Why are you touching Marcus?” Heron spoke with an angry face. He was standing near the threshold with his arms crossed.
• “Hey man,” Caleb immediately stood up, “where were you? Marcus is having a fever.”
• “You don’t have the right to touch him.” His hands heated up with the invisible flames of Hell.
• Caleb raised his hands. “I know, but I can’t just do nothing and leave my customer ill. You are his butler. You should have been taking care of him since this morning.”
• “Get out,” Heron lashed. A few more seconds from now and he would likely burn the man alive.
• “Tsk,” Caleb pressed his lips into a thin line. “You better take good care of him.”
• “I said get out or you will regret it!” Heron successfully fought off the red glow of his eyes, but it was definitely a hard thing to do.
• “Cool. Cool. I will go,” was Caleb’s quick reply after noticing the change of atmosphere inside the room. He was no coward, but he saw something in the butler that screamed caution.
• When the plumber left, Heron closed the bedroom door and quickly approached Marcus.
• “I’m sorry,” was his first words. He touched the boy’s forehead and found that it was really hot.
• Marcus, feeling relieved of his presence, curved a small smile. “Sir Heron... please stay,” he weakly spoke, looking at him with half-lidded eyes. When Heron nodded, Marcus curved a smile again and then allowed himself a peaceful sleep.