Page 28 of Under My Bed

Quickly, I brushed over what I initially told her about soulmates last night before starting on the new information once she didn't give me a confused look. "Humans have a marriage, and soulmates have a similar thing called a soul binding ceremony, typically performed by a higher entity like Lucifer, a prince of Hell, the archangels of Heaven, or God himself. It's seldom that a pair of soulmates don't have the ceremony performed, and usually, the reason is the loss of one or the other. Either way, the ceremony is much like a marriage ceremony. Only with our vows will we literally have our souls intertwined and bound. We will become one in a spiritual sense. Until death do us part, literally. We will become each other's everything and nothing. Life will mean nothing without one or the other."

A moment of silence fell upon us as I let Stella digest the information. "So, we're like going to be really close to each other then if we go through with the ceremony?" She let out a dry chuckle to try and ease the tension from her body. "I mean, it doesn't sound too bad. Just marriage, basically, only very serious."

"Yes, marriage as it should be in its sacred sanctity." I chuckled softly as I petted her head. "But with the soul binding, we will be fully opened and exposed to each other. We'll become in tune with each other. We'll be able to feel what the other feels, hear each other's thoughts, and we can even communicate telepathically. We'll have to learn to shut each other out for some peace and privacy, and for moments we want to surprise one another, but that will be a problem later if you decide to proceed with the ceremony."

I couldn't help the happy smile from spreading on my face at the thought of us becoming one. I only hoped Stella would agree. A soul binding couldn't happen unless both parties were willing without any coercion or force. So, even if I wanted it, I couldn't drag Stella to the altar basically and force her to mingle her soul with mine, not without dire consequences that ranged from becoming a zombie of a demon or death.

"Do you want to be with me? Like, actually want me because you personally do and not because of this soulmate bond." Stella asked with a worried frown.

Grabbing her face, I kiss her deeply and passionately. "Never doubt my love for you. I have come to love you for who you are as a person, and I love how much you compliment me as a person." I spoke in a heavy voice filled with all the affection and truth I had in my body.

Stella's eyes sparkled as the corners of her lips slowly curved into an uncontrollable smile. "You love me?"

Kissing her with a soft chuckle, I held her face lovingly. "Of course. Like I said, I have liked you since you first moved in. I just didn't know how to properly get things through to you because I was an idiot. I won't throw those three dreaded words at you yet, though, until you are ready. I know how you humans like to take things slow when it comes to relationships and feelings and shit." Looking deep into her eyes with my own affectionate ones, I stroked her cheek with my thumb.

"So, you want to do the soul binding ceremony with me? I don't know why, but from how you were placing things on me saying it's my decision and all, it made it sound like you weren't really in it." Stella worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she averted her eyes from me.

Thinking back on my words, I could see how she could have mistaken it. "Oh, Stella doll, no," I assured her with an apologetic smile.

"I want to do it, the ceremony," Stella told me confidently with a determined grin that lasted a second before it turned a little unsure. "Well, maybe not like now, but like in the future, like a few months or something."

Amused, I let out a chuckle and kissed her forehead. "Whenever you want, just let me know."

Then came the moment I dreaded. Even though I was ecstatic about the fact Stella agreed to be mine and to the ceremony—in time—it wasn't enough to keep my mood up for the next part. Unfortunately, it was unavoidable.

With a sad smile, Stella reached out and stroked my face with a soft smile. "Kastoron, you don't have to talk about your past if you don't want to. We're at a good spot right now, and I don't want this moment to be ruined because of the past."

I knew better, but I was also too cowardly.

"Thank you. I promise, some other time."

Hopefully never, but that was too much to hope for.

27

Stella

3 months later

"Kas, not that I don't appreciate the gifts, but where the fuck are you getting the money for all this shit? You better not be spending my money without me knowing, this camera is expensive."

Three months have passed since we started this relationship of ours, and every day was perfect—and every night.

It was strange to be in a relationship again after so long, and I was afraid of messing it up because of my inexperience. Thankfully, Kastoron has been more than willing and patient.

"Don't you humans like gifts? And what makes you think it's your money I'm spending?" Kastoron remarked quizzically, not bothering to move from the couch where he currently lounged on in nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants.

One of the major changes Kastoron has made thus far was his lack of clothing. Yeah, it was neat that he could fabricate his own clothes with shadows, but I wanted physical clothing on him to prevent any accidental flashings when he got too comfortable or forgot to make clothes. He wasn't too thrilled about it, but he caved pretty quickly when I mentioned being able to actually strip him and touch his body more.

"Kastoron, this is overboard in terms of gifting. I mean, some people might like this, but I'm more simple and like smaller things like a bouquet of flowers or like a cute hairpin. Hell, even a new blanket would make me more than happy." I elaborated with a long sigh as I rubbed at my temples. "And where else would you get money for this stuff? You don't have a job last I checked, so between the two of us, only I have a bank account that is useable."

I had some funds stashed away, but if Kastoron went crazy like this, then I would be close to being poor and broke.

"You do not need any more blankets, woman. You already have a whole closet stocked full of them that you don't even touch, nor do you need any more mugs for your coffee addiction." Kastoron pointed out with a playful scoff and roll of his eyes. "Seriously, you humans are worse than greed demons when it comes to hoarding sometimes, I swear."

Unable to rebut him, all I could do was cross my arms and look at him mockingly. "W-well you still haven't addressed the part about where you got your funds for this stuff." Hopefully, the change in subject won't make my wallet hurt.

Averting his eyes from me, he snapped his fingers, and a shadowy hole appeared on the ground by his feet. From the hole emerged a few large boxes filled with… Wallets?

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