"I am intrigued by the smile upon your face, and the sadness within your eyes"

                                                                       ― Jeremy Aldana

I went to the living room when suddenly, I doubled over in pain. I gasped for air my hand clutching my stomach and my throat. I couldn't breathe and the pain in my stomach felt as if I've been stabbed. Beads of sweat formed in my forehead and black spots filled my vision before a smooth mischievous voice echoed in my small apartment.

"Well, it took awhile for them to leave."

Dear Lord, please help me, I thought. I fell on the rigid icy floor wheezing for air. My eyelids struggled to remain open for the owner of the voice that loomed over me. I felt strong icy hands lift me up bridal style to my room. My head unintentionally rested on the stranger's muscular chest. My breathing stabilized and the pain left when our skin touched replaced with the familiar sentiment of fear.

The stranger settled me on my bed and that's when I had a closer look of their features. His black silky hair was swept to the side emphasizing his strong jaw while his emotionless blue eyes gazed into my brown ones. It was the man I saw at the mall. One name flashed in my head when he gave me his signature smirk; Daemon.

"What are you doing here? Get out!" I rasped my throat dry. Fear crept into my skin leaving goose bumps and the hair on my neck to stand up. Thoughts of me ending up in a ditch swam in my mind as my eyes darted across my small room to look for a potential weapon I can use against him. I wished I asked Angelo to stay because I am defenseless and alone with the devil himself.

"Now now Celeste is that how you would treat your savior?" he taunted.

"Watch your tone." He warned his frosty blue eyes flashing. He paced inside my small room, speculating an old teddy bear sitting on my desk. Daemon still looked the same the last time I saw him. He wore a dark shirt that emphasized his pale muscled body and the onyx snake tattoo on his forearm. His aura screamed danger and death, yet I sat still on my bed, frozen.

"I don't have any money. Take whatever you want and leave." I blurted out.

"I don't want your money." He said slowly. He stalked towards my bed where I sat and put both his hands on the wall over my head trapping me. He leaned in close causing me to cower under his gaze and his crisp pine scent sent me into a dizzy spell.

"I want you."

My breath caught. He saw my reaction and smirked. "Technically, I want your soul." Daemon moved away and sat on the small couch across my bed and crossed his legs. I sat up straighter although his presence has taken its toll on me. My room became even smaller with him inside.

"You're crazy." I growled. I was sick of feeling weak and scared. Although the fear was still there, I refused to back down until Daemon leaves.

"My boyfriend will be here soon and he'll kick your ass." Angelo's face flashed in my mind. It was a lie, but I'll say anything for Daemon to leave.

He threw his head back and laughed. "You don't have a boyfriend, Celeste." He looked at me with amusement. I glared at him.

Daemon rolled his eyes and sighed. "Enough with the drama. Stop moving, shut your mouth, and things will go as smoothly as possible." He snapped his fingers and I lost sensation of my limbs. They remained like heavy weights; I was paralyzed.

Satisfied, Daemon continued. "From this moment onward, your soul belongs to me."

"Why?" I asked.

He opened his palms and a single red apple appeared. "Remember this? You and your friends ate this fruit tying your souls to me." He flashed me a broad smile.

"It was just an apple."

"It's the same fruit I gave Eve and in turn she gave the other to Adam."

I stared up at him confused. "What are you talking about?"

"You grew up learning about this Celeste."

I shook my head. It was hard to think and remember with him a few steps away.

"Adam and Eve were the first humans your God created." Daemon pointed up, his brows raised. "They were pure like you; however, I offered them a fruit that supposedly gave them the knowledge of good and evil." Daemon paused crossing his legs and putting his chin on the heel of his right hand.

"Instead, their souls were doomed to go to hell." I finished. It was the Bible story I've heard when I was younger when my parents took me to church. I thought it was just a simple fable to explain why humans became mortal.

"Yes, that's right." He replied, his tone reminding me of one used by a tutor when I cram for a test.

"Who are you?" I finally asked.

"I'm Daemon, Prince of the Nether Realm. I have watched over you your entire life and you, my dear Celeste and the rest of your idiotic friends, now belong to me." He replied smoothly.

His words slowly made sense to me. The sleepless nights I've suffered for many years were because of him. He was the man in my dreams. Daemon was the shadow in the corner of my room lurking in the shadows. The boogeyman I was afraid of when I was young hiding in the shadows next to my closet. Daemon was the cold haunting presence that linger every night.

"You are the devil." I whispered.

"I am the devil, baby." He snickered.

He released the spell that rendered my limbs useless. I sighed in relief. Daemon stood from his place and gripped my chin harshly.

"Stop," I begged him, gripping his chilled wrist. His jaw clenched as he grabs my right arm and showed me the black ink spreading on my once creamy white skin. An intricate rose with a snake wrapped around its thorns appeared on my forearm. I watched in horror as the design rippled on my skin before it disappeared.

"Accept your fate Celeste. There is no turning back now." He purred before he wrapped his strong hard arms around my waist holding me close to him and placing his forehead against mine. All I saw were emotionless blue orbs that hypnotized and paralyzed me. My hands found his shoulders and I attempted to push him away. His grip around my waist tightened and Daemon began chanting in a language I do not understand. I gasped in pain when I felt a hot burning sensation where my forehead touched his. Daemon snaked his hand on the nape of my neck, closing any distance between us.

I slowly felt my body growing weak. It's as if Daemon was a parasite sucking my life essence. Whatever he was doing, I can feel myself losing consciousness. "What did you do?" I managed to rasp out. I would have fallen without the support of his arms. Daemon was glowing. A soft yellow light coated his entire body causing him to look like a fallen angel. He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. "I feed off the pure souls of humans. But yours," he said smirking, "was the purest I've ever had."

I shivered under his gaze. Before darkness enveloped me, I felt his cool hand touch my forehead whispering just like he had in my dreams. "We'll see each other soon."

I dedicate this chapter to Lonesome_Penguin for the comments I always look forward to reading! :) Thank you for giving this story a chance.

Hey guys! :) I'm sorry I haven't updated in awhile. The whole month of December has been crazy with college applications, finals, and Christmas shopping. I'll be updating more over Christmas Break and I can't wait for all of you to read them! As much as I try, I'll always see Daemon as Ian Somerhaulder on the picture above haha like his face definitely screams "Daemon." Thank you for reading and have a great day! Please don't forget to comment and vote :)