It was impossible to miss Melchior standing there, the red of his hair a striking contrast to the fresh coat of snow on the forest floor. Melchior didn’t even turn to face Hansel as he approached. As he drew nearer however Hansel could see a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Took you long enough,” Melchior said.

Hansel stepped beside him now. “I was a little busy.” The two stood in the middle of the forest, their figures dwarfed by the giant pines towering up into the sky around them.

Melchior faked a pout. “Oh really? I was starting to worry you were avoiding me.”

Hansel’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t see why it would matter to you. You know you’ll always get what you want in the end.”

“Mnn, well I do suppose having you play hard to get does add a little extra thrill to the whole thing,” Melchior chuckled under his breath. He moved closer now, slowly running a finger down the length of Hansel’s arm. “Did you like the little message I sent you?”

“A servant boy saw it happen. You shouldn’t use your powers so recklessly out in the open,” Hansel said dryly.

“I don’t care if he saw,” Melchior said, his voice low. “Hell, let everyone in the world see if it means they know you belong to me.” As he said this Melchior stepped forward, burying his head against Hansel’s shoulder. Despite himself Hansel instinctively tensed against him. “I missed you,” Melchior said softly. “Don’t you see how much it hurts me when you won’t even come see me to pay your debts.”

“You probably realize why I’d be a little reluctant,” Hansel said, his tone flat. “After all, it is my own life I’m paying with.”

Melchior lifted his head now. “You know it doesn’t have to be that way,” his gaze pierced into Hansel like a knife. “My offer to you still stands. You know how happy it would make me if you finally accepted. Or do you still chose death?” His lips brushed against his ear as he spoke. Hansel could feel the curl of his smile against him and the feeling made him want to throw up. “Everything would be so easy if you just chose me instead,” Melchior practically purred.

“My answer is the same. I’d rather die.”

Melchior’s expression immediately turned cold. “You’ll regret it, you realize that don’t you?” He hissed. “You know people would do anything for the kind of opportunity I’m offering you.”

“And I’m respectfully declining it,” Hansel said, hating how meek he sounded despite his words.

“Fine then,” Melchior practically growled under his breath, “if you’re so set on dying I might as well take my promised payment from you now.” He moved closer, undoing the bow on Hansel’s cloak and letting it slip off his shoulders to the ground. “But mark my words Hansel that someday,” Melchior whispered, slowly bringing his lips to his throat to press a light kiss there, “I will have you.” And with that Melchior slipped a hand under Hansel’s shirt, his fingers seemingly to effortlessly continue through Hansel’s skin and bone until his fingers finally wrapped around his beating heart. It was a sensation Hansel figured he would never get used to and the feeling still managed to terrify and amaze him all at once. He squeezed his eyes shut as Melchior slowly stole yet another year, his life force slipping from him into Melchior’s fingers. “No,” Melchior whispered against him, “don’t shut your eyes. I want you to look at me while I do it.” Hansel knew better than to defy him, especially when he quite literally had his heart in his hands. Hansel’s breathing quickened and he forced himself to look to Melchior, his gaze locking with the man’s unwavering violet gaze. “Good boy,” Melchior murmured. “Oh my...you’re still so nervous.” The corner of his mouth twisted into a smirk. “I can feel your heart pounding. It’s beating so fast. Are you really that scared of me?” Hansel refused to give him a response, simply biting his lip so hard he could feel a slight trail of blood drip from his bottom lip. “That little wolf,” Melchior said suddenly. “I could tell when I saw him last, he was going into heat soon, wasn’t he?”

“Leave him out of this,” Hansel said softly.

“I was just curious,” Melchior said, arching a brow. “No need to get so defensive.” His gaze flickered downwards. “You didn’t let him make you his submissive did you?”

Hansel shook his head which caused a cold grin to slip over Melchior’s features. “Good,” he breathed, “I want to be the only one who’s ever been inside of you.”

As he said this Melchior’s fingers unwrapped from his heart and he jerked his hands from his chest in one swift movement causing Hansel to collapse to his knees, his chest heaving. “I’ll let you know when I need my next payment,” Melchior said slowly. “And next time I expect you to pay up immediately, none of this avoiding me shit.” Hansel began to cough now and as he did Melchior snickered. “I’ve been quite lenient up till now but if you continue to push me I might be forced to take interest.” His gaze flickered to Hansel who realized he must be a pathetic sight on his knees coughing in the snow like this. “You don’t want me to snatch up any more of the few precious years you have left, do you?” He grabbed Hansel roughly by the back of the head now, jerking his face up to look at him. “Until next time my love.” And just like that Melchior’s image seemed to slip away, turning into mist before Hansel’s very eyes.