Chapter 4

Damon grabbed a prepped box of pasta and set down his four-pint bottle of milk absentmindedly, his eyes locked on to the food. He cracked open the box and without a second thought put the corner to his lips and opened his mouth wide. Damon moaned as pasta and sauce filled his mouth and he began to chew.

Asmodeus, however, didn’t know where to look. Unbeknownst to Damon, this hunger was more than just intense, it was supernatural. A few hasty midnight mouthfuls shouldn’t be having the effect that Asmodeus was taking in. As well as Damon’s mouth crammed full of food to admire, Asmodeus’s curse had also worked its magic on his belly. Already the flat belly had gone and an ample layer of fat sat there.

Asmodeus, without realising, reached out, his finger’s sparking once again. Suddenly, Damon turned, pasta box still held aloft, and he saw Asmodeus.

“Who-mmm are you-mmm?” said Damon through cheeks full of food he was still chewing and savouring.

Asmodeus blinked. Why wasn’t Damon freaking out a bit more? Yes, food now takes priority but this was very calm compared to all other times unwilling mortals had seen him. After all, Asmodeus was a demon and obviously so. White blond hair flowed down past his shoulders which were clothed with a jacket from a soldier ages past. A pair of crooked goat’s horns crowned his head, his sharp teeth glistened and his golden eyes shone.
Asmodeus cleared his throat as Damon continued to eat. The smacking of his lips caused Asmodeus’s heart to flutter for a third time. This was very strange.
“M-my name is Asmodeus. I am the Temptation. I am the Lover. I am the Judge,” stuttered Asmodeus. He balled his fists and smacked them against the top of his legs in annoyance. Why was this happening?

Damon swallowed the last of the pasta and let the box simply fall from his hands. “Are you why I’m so hungry?” he asked perceptively, as he turned back to the fridge.

“Er yes,” Asmodeus replied. He stood waiting for a response as Damon ripped open a bar of chocolate but no response came. He watched as Damon took massive bites from the bar and it was gone in seconds. Normally there was some crying. A bit of begging maybe as his victims realise they can’t stop eating and the contradiction Asmodeus has forced on them has begun to twist their minds. The torture of loving every mouthful while their brain begs them to stop.
But no, Damon contently had now begun wolfing down another bar.

“Aren’t you concerned?” Asmodeus questioned, rubbing his brow in confusion.

“I was at first, but seeing you, it makes sense. Plus it feels good.”

“And…” Asmodeus encouraged, waving his hand. Surely there had to be a little bit of badness too.

“And… it's great to just let go,” Damon completed. “I’d thought about just not bothering for a while, tried it with Alex, my ex, but he gained somehow rather than me with my cooking.”
Damon gulped down some more milk, a trail at both corners of his mouth trickling down his stubbled chin.

Asmodeus could do little but stand opened-mouthed in the mortal’s kitchen. This Damon, this mortal, this victim… He wasn’t like Asmodeus’s normal cursed one little bit. And now as Damon panted for breath, Asmodeus felt like panting too.