“Jek!” Silk screamed as he speed down the hall. His lover was faster and had way more stamina due to his demon body, but he couldn’t give up. He had a feeling something else was bothering Jek and he was using this as a getaway to avoid the actual problem. Jek ran into their bedroom and slammed the door. “Jek, let me in.” Silk pounded on the large oak doors. He pressed his ear to the door. “Jek?”
       “Go away!” Jek screamed.
       “Jek, I was only kidding.” The Arab tried to sound light hearted, but it was difficult to laugh when you were on the other side of the door from your angry lover. “Please just open the door.” He could hear scratching on the other side of the door. He imagined Jek picking at it with his nails debating what to do. “Love, please let me see you.” His gentle whisper carried through the door and reached Jek’s ears. The door slowly opened and Jek stood in front of him with tears streaming down his face. “Dearest.” Silk took him in his arms. “Tell me what’s really wrong.” He buried his face in Jek’s silky hair. Something about the way he smelled was so warm and comforting. It was as if Jek’s scent was something familiar. “Jek, what is it?”
       The demon’s arms wrapped around him so tightly Silk was afraid he wouldn’t be able to breath, but then they loosened and strayed. It was what Jek did when he was upset. No grip seemed to be tight enough for him. Without another word Silk picked him up and carried him to the bed. Jek latched onto him like a child and remain attached to Silk as they lay on the bed. “…don’t you?” Jek’s voice was muffled.
       “What?” Silk lifted Jek’s face to him. Violet eyes closed tightly as he fell into Silk’s chest.
       “You want children, don’t you?” He whimpered.
       “Jek?” He cursed himself. He knew that once he had made that comment of envy Jek would suspect, but he didn’t realize he would be this distressed over it. “Jek, that’s not,”
       “You do, don’t you?” He wailed. “Your envious of Ishatal and Alisa because you want        children, right?” His shaking body slammed up against Silk.
       The Arab was at a loss for words. What could he say? Jek was almost hysterical and he had no words of comfort for him. Instead of speaking he just held the trembling figure in his arms tightly until the whimpering subsided.
       “I wanted to be able to give you everything you wanted, but I don’t know if I can make up for that.” Jek whispered. “I admit that would like a child too, but that’s one thing I just can’t do for you.”
       “Jek, listen to me.” Silk sat up and pulled Jek close to his chest. “You know how much I love the sea don’t you?” He glanced down and the demon nodded. “Even if I could never sail again I would stay with you. I love you too much to let this get to you. All I want is you. If we can or can’t have kids is irrelevant. I’m going to love you just the same as I always have.” His hand strayed up to a delicate cheek and wiped a tear. “So don’t cry, all right?” Silk smiled. “It hurts me to see you so upset. I wouldn’t know what to do if you broke. I can hardly think of anything to say when I see you like this.”
       “Silk.” The rasped cry of the name was all that Jek could say before he stretched his neck to kiss Silk. The sweet warm kiss sent shivers down Silk’s spine and he instinctively brought his arms around Jek. “Silk, I,”
       “Quiet.” Silk whispered as he pushed Jek down on the bed.
       “But I,”
       “I said quiet, Jek.” The pirate said again as he brought his face close. “Just let me make love to you.” He brushed his lips over Jek’s. As he pulled back Jek cupped his face between his hands. “Jek?”
       “I love you more than anything, you know that right?” His inviting smile radiated over Silk and the Arab was powerless to it.
       “On second thought.” Silk pushed Jek up so his head was on the pillows. He propped himself up on one arm.
       “What are you doing?” Jek giggled. He stared up at the pirate who grinned.      
       “I just want to look at you.” His fingers traced over the lines of Jek’s face. First he ran a finger over the demon’s eyes and Jek shut them as they glided over the lids and brushed the eyelashes. Then they caressed the cheeks that had reddened as the demon blushed.        “Are you embarrassed?” Silk snickered.
       “Why do you want to look at me?” Jek opened his eyes, a look of uncertainty on his face.
       “Because you are too damned gorgeous for me to concentrate on anything else.” Silk brushed away black tendrils of hair from Jek’s face.
       “Silk!” Jek covered his face, trying to hide from the pirates piercing stare.
       “It’s true.” Silk laughed and pulled his lover’s hands from his face. He pinned them down. “I’m perfectly content with just staring at you.”
       Jek stared in shock. His violet eyes softened and he reached up to touch Silk’s face. “Me too.”

       Juda closed his eyes and tried to calm his nerves. Handria stood beside him. Today was the day that they would ask her father for his blessing. “Ready?” Handria squeezed his hand.
       “Ready as I’ll ever be.” Juda smiled reassuring at her. They entered the villa that Handria’s father, Jefeit, resided in. When they entered Juda looked back at Silk and Jek who waited outside. Ishatal and Alisa, to her great discomfort, had shown up as well for moral support. The couple clasped hands tighter. Jefeit was sitting in a large chair in a dark part of the room.
       “Father, I hope you forgive us for this intrusion.” Handria bowed and instructed Juda to do the same. Jefeit’s eyes strayed to their locked hands and he raised a brow. “Father, this is Juda.” Handria pressed Juda forward.
       “It is an honor to meet you sir.” Juda bowed again. His heart was pounding. The demon before him had a look of malice in his eyes. He had no doubt noticed he was a human.
       “What is the meaning of this?” Jefeit looked from Handria to Juda. “Handria, why have you brought this thing into my house?”
       “Father, please don’t call Juda,” Handria cried.
       “We have come, my lord, to speak with you about something highly important to the both of us.” Juda gathered himself and prepared for the definitelrage that would follow his next statement. “I have come to ask for your permission to marry you daughter Handria.”
       “How dare you!” Jefeit roared. “You dare to come into my home and expect me to allow my daughter to marry some human filth?” The demon spat at Juda. “Get out! I do not consent to this!”
       “Father, please!” Handria’s blue eyes began to fill with tears.
       “You’re disgraceful to your family, girl!” Jefeit turned on his daughter. “You dare to ask me to marry a human. You, a noble demon, want to marry that!” He pointed at Juda.
       “Father, if you refuse I swear to you I will marry him anyway!” Handria stood her ground even as her father smacked her.
       “Hold your tongue!” He roared. “I will not have this in my home!”
       “I love him.” Handria said coldly.
       “Disgraceful little,” He brought his hand up to strike her again, but he found that someone had grabbed it. The demon looked at Juda who had halted the strike. “Release me!”
       “I have a challenge for you.” Juda smirked. “I would assume that such a noble demon such as yourself won’t refuse a challenge from a lowly human.” Juda knew it was a gamble, but it was his only edge.
       “Challenge. Preposterous.” Jefeit ripped his arm from Juda’s grasp and stepped back.
       “It should be no threat to you unless,” The pirate smiled, “you are afraid you’ll lose.” That struck a chord.
       “I accept your challenge!” Jefeit glared. “What shall it be? A dual?”
       “No, a simple game of cards.” Juda crossed his arms. “Blackjack. One hand. The winner gets Handria. So if I win you will allow me to marry her.”
       “Agreed.” Jefeit turned his back on them. “Now get out of my sight.”
Juda grabbed Handria and pulled her from the villa. When they exited the house the others stared.
       “It sounded really bad.” Jek’s hands clenched up near his face, which made him appear very adorable. It was like a woman at the climax of a chick-flick.
       “Everything is under control.” Juda smiled at Handria and stroked her face where her father had struck her. “I promise that I won’t lose.” He assured her. Handria only smiled as she leaned into Juda’s hand.

       “Please tell me you’re joking?” Anaktum began to giggle.
       “No, I challenged him to a game of cards.” Juda sighed.
       “If you ask me that was wise.” Silk leaned back on the couch. “You’re luck is astounding. You should have no problem.”
       “You challenged Jefeit to…a game…of cards.” Anaktum lost it and began laughing hysterically.
       “Don’t mind him, he’s insane.” Jek sighed. “So do you think your luck will be with you tomorrow?”  
       “I hope so.” The orange-haired Arab sighed. “It has failed me before.” His hand went up to the eye patch that covered his dead eye. Over the eye was a ghastly scar.
       “I wish I could have seen…his face!” Anaktum has fallen to the floor and rolled around like a potato bug. “HAHAHAHAHA *hack cough* HAHAHAHA!”
       “Is he okay?” Silk pointed to the hysterical demon who they assumed was Jek’s father.
       “No, but he’ll live.” Jek said without looking up from his book.
       “That’s priceless!” Anaktum squealed.
       “Will you shut up?” Jek kicked his father as he rolled by. “I can’t believe someone as immature as you became king.”
       “Well, it’s not like it takes a genius.” Anaktum rested his head on Jek’s knee. “I mean look at you.”
       “Honestly.” Jek shoved Anaktum off him. “Are you done?”
       “Yes.” Anaktum wiped the tears from his eyes. “Now, tomorrow we shall have a nice little competition. However, in the event that you do lose Juda I will order Jefeit to consent to,”
       “Please don’t, my lord.” Juda stood up. “I would like to win Handria on my own.” He headed for the door as he continued. “If I can’t win a simple bet then I have no right living a life with Handria.”
       As they watched him leave Silk snorted. “Stubborn as always.”
       “I guess your plan is foiled, Father.” Jek smiled.
       “Screw that! I’m gonna do it anyways!” The demon king flopped down in a chair.
       “FATHER!” Jek screamed.