I go straight to my bedroom as soon as we reach home, unwilling to subject myself a minute longer to Dimitra's long face, nasty remarks, and moody stares.

Having spent most of the evening trying to win over the Nephilim prince but he ended up bidding on her little sister must be hard on Dimitra's ego. Thank goodness she's leaving for Fiji tomorrow. The man who won the bid on her wants to spend two weeks there and another two weeks in Australia. It's a really good thing for me because otherwise, she'd make my life unbearable. Dimitra is a vindictive creature.

Deedee, however, isn't going anywhere far. She has a long-standing arrangement with Sterling Rosenheim, the oldest son of the shipping magnate, Robert Rosenheim. He bid on her last night just so that no one else could. But they've been doing this for years. He travels a lot but whenever he's back, he summons her, and she'll go running. I saw them together before and I always thought that he was her boyfriend. How naive was I?

I gathered all this from the conversation that I heard when I was sitting quietly in the back of the car, on the way home from the event tonight.

I close the door behind me and shed my shoes, my dress, and roll the thigh highs off as I go, barely aware that I'm making a trail across the room before I turn on the shower. My thoughts go to Sacha Gauthier, the Nephilim prince as hot water beats down on my head, cascading down my face and body. When I close my eyes, I can still see his piercing eyes...and the feelings I had comes rushing back, making my heart race, and my breathing uneven. I place my forehead and both hands flat on the white marble tiles in front of me as a strong wave of longing squeezes my heart. What is he doing now? Is he thinking about me too? Does he feel this way about me? Even a little bit?

I stay in the shower for a long time before I get out to dry myself and finally dress for bed.

I'm running a brush through my damp hair when there's a knock on my door.

When I crack the door open, one of Astaroth's Cambion bodyguards, Franco is standing there. He's in his usual black suit and tie. "Your father would like a word with you in his office, Ms. Danica," he says.

I've been expecting this. Astaroth was very mad when he saw me tonight. So, is this it? Is this my last moment? Was this morning the last sunrise I saw on this earth? At least I watched it like it was the last time I'd ever see it. The same thing I did the day before.

I nod before I place the hairbrush on the dresser and grab a wrap to cover my boyshorts and a matching lace chemise that I prefer to wear to bed.

I open the door wider to go out and follow the big and formidable guard down the stairs and through the hallways to the main part of the house.

I've been summoned to my father's office a handful of times before. That's what happens when you're a troublemaker. But I was always clever...I think. I was never caught red-handed doing something I wasn't supposed to, so all I had to do was deny deny deny. Tonight was different. Tonight I was being too stupid and too reckless and Astaroth saw me. I couldn't tell him that it was my doppelganger that he saw. I mean, I would've if I thought he'd buy it.

Astaroth likes to surround himself with beautiful things. Our house is massive and very stylish. Professionally designed. The girls' wing is modern and sleek with big windows, glasses, and all clean lines. It's filled with muted blush and white mixed with splashes of greens and aqua blues with large pieces of art throughout. It looks like it belongs in a magazine.

You know you've reached Astaroth's domain when the color palate changes to predominantly earthy tones of gold, tan, and cream mixed with splashes of jewel colors. It's tastefully ornate and flamboyant without being tacky.

When I was very young, I was only brought here by my nanny when I got myself into trouble. That was the only time I was permitted to enter this part of the house. I thought that his side of the mansion was magical. Well, not much has changed since then, but now I no longer think that it's magical. If anything, now it fills me with dread and fear. Now I know better.

Franco knocks on the thick solid oak door twice before opening the door to let me in.

"Daddy," I say when I meet his blue gaze. His eyes are a bit lighter than mine. He's sitting behind his desk without his jacket or his vest. Five buttons of his white dress shirt are undone and his tie is loosened but his wavy dark hair is impeccable.

He taps the thigh of a pretty half-dressed brunette sitting on his desk, and she quietly slinks down. Her eyes are bright and she smiles coyly at him, clearly smitten. But he's staring at me, already dismissing her from his mind.

"Danica," he acknowledges me with a nod. Astaroth's voice is always so soft. So gentle that sometimes you forget just how deadly he is. "Have a seat."

I'd rather stand but when Astaroth tells you to sit, you sit. So I lower myself onto one of the two chairs in front of his desk. The door clicks shut softly behind me indicating that the woman is now gone.

I study his face but nothing reveals how he's feeling.

We look nothing alike, my father and I. In fact, none of his children looks like him. That's because his physical appearance isn't real. I've never seen him in his real form. I don't know if any of my siblings have. I imagine it must be terrifying.

Astaroth is part of the evil trinity with Beelzebub and Lucifer. They're the three princes of hell. Of all the demons, only the three of them have the ability to exist in this world without stealing the body of a human.

They have more power than the lower demons. Even the upper echelons of the ninth circles of hell are beneath them.

The line between good and evil isn't as clear-cut as humans would like to believe. The balance is delicate and more complicated than humans could ever understand.

For the sake of not overcomplicating things, let's just say that destroy the three from this world, and chaos will ensue.

The lower demons have no respect for order. Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Astaroth keep them in line.

Yes, the three of them are power-hungry, but they are also highly intelligent. If they were to rule, they'd rather do it over stable humanity. There are lines that the three princes of hell will not cross. So, in their own way, they maintain balance in the world.

I think the Nephilims understand this. That's why there's an unspoken truce between them even though they keep a mistrustful eye on each other.

Astaroth pulls himself up and steeples his fingers together over the desk to observe me closer. His silence unnerves me but I school my expression to remain blank.

"You're one of my finest creations, Danica," he finally says. "So brave, so complicated, so beautiful, but you're also...the strangest creature I've ever encountered. I don't understand you."

He gets up from behind his desk to sit on it in front of me. He watches me like I was a puzzle to be solved before he leans in and places his nose near the side of my neck. His hands are braced on the back of my chair. Then he breathes me in. "I can smell your fear yet you defy me at every turn."

His voice is just above a whisper but my fingernails dig into the armrest of the chair. I know he could end me at any moment but refuse to back away and show my fear.

"I took away things that you loved," he says, pulling back a little bit to watch me. Yes, like taking away the nanny that I grew attached to or squashed my reptiles, or took away everything else that I grew fond of. Since then, I make sure to never grow attached to anything. Astaroth made it clear that everything is disposable, including my life and everything that I have is his to take. Nothing is mine to keep. "You dance all over the rules I set...so recklessly like you want me to punish you...or end you."

"I thought it was cute when you keep being so brave. Here's a friendly reminder; cute has the tendency to disappear, luck has the tendency to run out, dear daughter. Don't overestimate your cuteness and keep pushing your luck."

He straightens up suddenly but cups my face in his hands. His touch is gentle. "I sensed you have a question," he says. "Go ahead. Ask me."

"Why do you keep me alive?" I've been in trouble more than any of my siblings ever had, combined. To be honest, some days I wish he'd just do it. Kill me. But some days I want to keep on living.

***************************************************

Hello fellow readers!

My next update is going to be on Tuesday evening (est). If you want to read three chapters ahead, go to:

https://Inkitt.apps.link/RA_NicoleRidd3y

Have a wonderful weekend and stay safe!

Much love, 

Nicole♥

P/S: The lovely drawing above was made by my dear friend Milla. Thank you, love!♥♥♥