This design is similar to what I describe in the chapter (before a certain point where he is cooled down). Artist at the bottom of the photo.

Tom's Perspective

I awoke suddenly to a soldier shaking me. "Sir, sir are you okay?" He asked worriedly and helped me to get up. I stumbled slightly and he supported me. "Are you alright sir? You were practically unconscious! Your pulse was dangerously low." He told me and I tiredly blinked. "Yeah, yeah.. I just need to go to the medical center for a personal matter. Escort me, soldier." I ordered him and he nodded, allowing me to walk freely. He walked beside me and kept an arm behind me, guarding me in case I suddenly passed out. "

Honestly, it feels like a lie to say that death is final at this point. Watching the nurse slowly drain out demonic blood from my system was quite the sight. She would carefully stick a needle in a vein, drain the demon blood from that area, and then move on. By the end of it, I felt very dizzy. She told me that was normal, and let me drink some water. "Now just try to get some rest, and we'll find the object you told me about." She told me and I tiredly sighed. "Yes ma'am." I responded and closed my eyes. To be honest, I was pissed that I had been awoken earlier. However, I'd definitely take this opportunity to rest if I had it. I rested with peace, knowing that I could soon have my partner by my side.

When I was awoken, it was a gentle feeling. The nurse was just rubbing my arm to stir me. "Sir, we've found the object if you're ready to go on with it." She told me and I groaned, forcing myself to get up. I slowly sat up and stared at the object in the nurse's hand. "It was floating, so it was rather easy to find. I suppose his spirit is really still with us." She remarked and I took the strange object. Why would Tord put his soul in my pin? I guess it's practical if he wanted to stay with me, but why my pin? I rubbed the smooth metal and shivered, feeling a strange aura pass through me. "So.. How do we do this-?" I asked and she picked up the gallon of demon blood. Geez, I didn't know it was that much. "Well, I'm not a specialist in whatever this magical voodoo resurrection stuff is, but the scientist in charge told me to bring you, the blood, and the pin outside. He's waiting." She told me and I rubbed my eyes. God, I feel so tired. I guess that demon blood really is a super steroid.  "Alright, lead the way." I told the kind blond and got off of the medical bed.

She guided me out to the large natural habitat that gygjar owned, which made me smile. I could smell her everywhere. She stopped at Gygjar's favorite clearing, where a man was carefully placing red candles in a circle. That's so cliché that it's sad. "So I'm guessing I'm supposed to make a pentagram?" I assumed and took the red gallon from the nurse. "Well yes, and then the pin goes in the center. With the rest of the blood poured on top. We also need a sacrifice though." She told me and I opened up the metal container holding demon blood. I held back the urge to gag at the putrid smell. It smelled like rotting corpses and very spoiled milk. I covered my nose and mouth with one hand, pouring it out as a pentagram with the other. If I smelled this for much longer, I'll definitely puke. Once the unholy symbol was complete, I dropped the pin in the center and poured the rest of the slimy liquid on it. I tossed the gallon container away and quickly backed away from the smell, calling out to Gygjar.

The beautiful beast eagerly came over, bending down and purring lovingly. "Mother, could you please fetch a sacrifice for me? Y'know, a big juicy fresh kill." I requested and she cooed, gently nuzzling my forehead before leaving to do what I asked. Gygjar is the best mother I could ask for. I waited patiently for my mother to come back, smiling as she approached with a big, young deer. She dropped it down next to me and happily nuzzled me, expecting praise. I hugged her as much as I could in this form and nuzzled her as well. "Thank you mama, it's perfect." I told her and laughed when she licked my face. "Alright mama, I really need to get on with what I'm doing." I told her and let go, feeling her eye watch me as I struggled to pick up the dead deer. I dropped its body down on the middle, backing away as the candles were lit. I'm surprised it was that easy. Usually there was a sacrificial knife, or a chant. I guess this is an easy summoning. I waited for anything to happen, and nothing did for a short while.

Then, the candles burst into flames. The brightly burning fire quickly spread across the demon blood, reaching the pendant and deer carcass within seconds. It burst into a firey fury, burning brightly to an almost red color. The entire sacrificial area was ablaze with the brightest of fires, greatly inhuman in every way. It got to the point where I had to cover my eyes because of the brightness of the fire. The heat from the intense flame made sweat slide off of my skin. I listened to unholy screeching seemingly from the fire, growing louder and louder until it stopped. This was definitely not a moral action, but at this point I've lost all morals in life. I heard a large mass hit the ground, and peaked to see that the fire had gone out completely. Everything in and around that location was burnt to ashes. I looked around for the source of the noise, seeing a demonic being laying unconscious on the ground. The skin was that of a cooling magma appearance, ashy and bubbling hot lava. There were small magma hot plates along the spine with a red hot tail at the end, and dangerously hot claws that burnt the grass it touched.

I carefully approached the beast and looked back at the nurse who had left. Oh, I was alone. Except for the scientist, right? I looked around for any sign of the other person, seeing that he was taking pictures and samples of everything. Lame. I went back inside momentarily and stopped the closest soldier, sending him to fetch a bucket of water. I then sent the second closest to retrieve Paul and Patryk, so that they could see their son. I waited for the bucket to come, naturally patient after years of depression and disappointment. "Thank you." I said politely before dismissing the soldier and approaching the unconscious satanic being. I then did what any stupid yet practical person would do and poured water on him. His body seemingly cooled off, steam pouring off of his body as it lowered temperature. Once it looked relatively safe, I bent down and poked the creature with my gloved hand. Alas, it was okay to touch the beast. I picked up the creature in my arms and stared at its face. The strange being was surely different, but still the Tord I know and love dearly.

His expression was thoughtless and peaceful, as if he had come into the world knowing that he would be loved again. I bent down and place a kiss on his warm forehead, feeling the strange texture of his ashy skin set in. His whole body felt like a strange, smooth, ashy rock. I wonder why he would take such a form, and not something more practical. He might not have had control over it, I suppose. I lightly gasped as the once lifeless body took a deep breath. He began to breathe slowly, and his beautiful eyes opened. They were strange, foreign to me. Dark with crimson pupils that stared into my soul. They were beautiful to me. To see my loving partner again in any form made me smile the same. "Am I in heaven? Are you dead? I thought I was going to hell for sure. Are we both in hell? I didn't think that's how hell worked." He rambled and I laughed, placing a kiss on his nose. "No baby, you're on Earth. We're here together." I told him and his eyes lit up with unmistakable joy. He kissed me passionately, pulling my head down as he did so. The taste of his strange coal-like lips didn't seem to bother me. The only thing that mattered was that he was back in my arms, kissing me with all of his love.

I felt his warm hand brush against my cheek before resting on it, spreading the strange dusty powder onto my face. The feeling of his weirdly thick saliva mixing with mine felt strange. I would never get the ashy taste out of my mouth. He slowly pulled away and stared at me with lidded eyes, his pupils rounded as if reflecting his loving emotions. "Thomas, please never let us do this again. Not the kissing thing- the dying and having to resurrect each other thing. I'm fucking tired of it." He pleaded and I ran a hand through his dusty, pitch black hair. "Of course Tord, I promise." I whispered and pulled him closer. I wanted to stay like this for as long as time allowed it. "Tord! Oh my god!" I heard a distressed voice proclaim. Sounds like Patryk and Paul are finally out here. A pair of arms gently removed Tord from my grip. I watched the two happily snuggle, Tord purring loudly and smiling. Paul hugged Tord from behind and glanced back at me. "Thank you Tom. Thank you so much." He gratefully said and I shrugged. "No problem, it's totally worth it." I said dismissively and stuffed my hands into my comfy coat pockets. They were lined with fur.

"Think of it as my early Christmas present." I joked and yelped when I was suddenly pulled into the hug by a chalky hand. I laughed and gently embraced the group, grinning when Tord planted a gentle kiss on my cheek. "Ah- love, I really do need to get back to work before Matt accidentally sets off the alarm again. You go and catch up with your parents, alright?" I told the disappointed Norwegian and let go of the affectionate trio. Tord stared at me with the biggest of eyes, looking like he would sob for at least a day. "I don't want you to go. Please, please stay.." He pleaded pitifully and held onto the soft fabric of my vest. I let out a heavy sigh and removed his darkly colored hands. "My love, the responsibilities I carry are far more important than our relationship. I would die a thousand times to spend my life with you and only you, but I can't afford that luxury." I told him and glanced away, not bearing to see his upset expression. I didn't want to do this, but I can't neglect my immense responsibilities for any person. Not even someone I never thought I would see again.

I flinched when he hugged me tightly and began weeping. I can't be in this situation, it's so hard to keep a straight face. I can't do this anymore. I held the demon close and slowly rubbed his back, mindful of the spikes along his defined spine. I didn't have any words. I couldn't do anything. I took a shaky breath and comforted the crying man in my arms as best as I could. It pained me greatly to know that I couldn't devote every second of my life to him. Maybe I'm crazy for falling in love so fast. I'm chasing a fleeting feeling of affection and validation. But none of that matters, none of it. We would die for each other, and we have. "Tord." I spoke to get his attention and he looked at me with dripping eyes, sniffling. "Let's... Let's go together. I don't care if you're a burden or a distraction. Just be with me every step of the way." I offered and smiled warmly when he stopped frowning. "Really?" He asked hopefully and purred when I planted a kiss on his forehead.

"Yes, really. I'll make you a co-leader of the world." I said with a happy grin. He loosened his grip on my vest and cupped my cheek with his chalky hand. "Thank you Thomas." He said simply and slowly stroked it. "You're such a hopeless romantic." He teased and I narrowed my eyes, still grinning. "Sure~ and you're not?" I countered and laughed when he playfully smacked me. It wasn't hard enough to make me sore, and I knew he was just getting out his pent up aggression. I rubbed my red cheek and snickered. "Someone's feisty. Come on Tord, we've got some leading and serious paperwork to do." I told him and Tord settled in my grip. I gently peeled off the snuggly demon and held his hand. "Come on Tord." I beckoned once more and he huffed before reluctantly following me. "We also need to get you some clothing." I added and he shrugged. "I look hot regardless." He joked and I rolled my eyes. "Ha ha." I sarcastically fake laughed and winced when he playfully punched my arm. He's a lot stronger than before, and it showed.

"So.. Are you in this form by choice?" I asked and he shrugged, looking at his form as he walked. "I just showed up like this. My skin feels all peel-y and strange, like it'll come off at any moment." He told me and picked at some lose ashy skin on his arm. It was black as coal and sturdy as ever, but strangely peeled off like a scab. It was as if his body was still forming, and had used this rocky form as a shell. "Weird." I commented and he held out his arm to me. "Feel it. There's weird sticky stuff under the skin." He observed and I cringed at the sight. He was peeling off the outer layer of his arm, leaving a strange and sticky consistency of flesh and tan ooze underneath. It was so disgusting that I might puke on the spot. "You should leave it alone Tord. And see the doctors once we get you dressed." I advised him and he scoffed. "Oh come on, can't I just peel off the rest and see what happens?" He whined immaturity and attempted to peel off more of the outer skin. I lightly slapped his wrist and scolded him, earning a disapproving whine from the curious and irresponsible demon.

"I don't want to hear it Tord. You just got this body, you can't destroy it already." I lectured and stopped at my bedroom. "Now you get dressed, and I'll have a guard escort you. I'll be in my office when you're done." I instructed the pouty demon. He huffed and walked into the room, slamming the door shut. Wow, so moody. What happened to not wanting me to leave? I sourly glared at the door before leaving. He's making me regret my decision already. No, I know better than that. I'm happy my sweet imp has returned to me. It's just a little fight.. He was just stubborn. I know he doesn't mean it. I tried to shrug off the matter as I walked to my office, humming to myself. Later, I will show him that I still love him. He'll see.