Her father's first studio album, Hellhound, topped the charts years ago. 

Charvi sits in the hallway of a Hell's Gate apartment building, a bottle of vodka-mixed pop in one hand, a signed vinyl record of Osairus' album in the other. 

The hallway is filled with people. Some she has known all her life, others she barely recognises. If she isn't at home, the club or the Demon world, she's here. Across from where she is leaning against the wall, the door to the closest apartment is open. It belongs to her childhood friend, Zack. He lives there with some of her other schoolmates; Ella and Maya. Down the hall three other boys from her time Metro High, Reggie, Liam and Bikash, also live.

They're not at a party, this is just where people their age come to hang out in Hell's Gate.

"Why do you still have this?" Charvi asks Zac, who is sitting next to her writing lyrics on his worn notepad. "He's a has-been."

Zac shrugs, "Maybe so but, he came from here, feel like I should honour him."

Charvi snorts, "He does everything he can to forget he came from here."

She tosses the record like a frisbee back into the apartment. 

"In his whole career he's released four albums and sold 6.5 million of them," she mutters, taking a deep gulp of her vodka mix, "Our piece of shit song on The Beat did that in two fucking days!" 

The surrounding crowd of ten cheer and raise their bottles. Charvi wants to tell them all to shut the fuck up.

"You mean this piece of shit?" Ella, on her other side, turns her laptop towards Charvi to show her Luna Jorj's page on The Beat- Luna Jorj being Charvi's stage name.

"Mellow hit 120 million streams this morning!" She chirps excitedly.

"And," Zac continues, "Mellow is really your song. You wrote it, you sung it, I just mixed it."

Though she's pretty sure Zac did much more than her on the track, Charvi remains silent, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Since elementary school, Zac has been the calm and quiet voice in Charvi's life. He helped her through her parents neglect, she helped him through coming out. He's gorgeous, with rich dark skin, his signature well-kept afro, always wearing a hundred wrist bands and with his notepad in hand.

"How's things with Reggie?" She asks quietly, so only he and Ella can hear.

"To be expected," he responds. Charvi looks down at the lyrics Zac is writing. "How can he come to terms with who he is knowing his family would disown him?" In neat penciled poetry on a page bordered with doodles, he writes out a song about forbidden love. 

"Does he still go to church on Sundays?"

"Every week," Ella smiles painfully.

"You would know that if you came by like you used to."

Maya appears at the apartment door with her arms folded, looking upon Charvi with a grimace.

"The fuck is that supposed to mean? I was literally at a party with you three nights ago."

"Oh you mean the party you left us at?"

"Yeah, the party I didn't want to go to. The party you made us go to for your 'networking'."

"Our networking."

The two glare at each other intensely, tension filling up the hallway.

Ella closes her laptop, "Communism," she smiles, before getting up to her feet.

Charvi and Maya both falter in their glares when the joke processes.

Defeated, Maya slides down the door frame as Ella disappears into the apartment.

"Why'd you just leave us there? We woke up and you were gone," she asks.

"Alright, I'm sorry," Charvi states nonchalantly, "I had somewhere to be. But there were heaps of people around. Not like you were in danger." 

"That's not-"

"Did you get what you wanted anyway?" Tired of the back and forth, the Demon gets straight to the point. Maya rolls her eyes but takes out her phone, typing on it for a sec before Charvi's phone lights up with a message.

"We've been given studio time at Label Delta tonight, for you and Zac. Six hours from 9pm."

"11pm? What kind of favour is that?"

Maya frowns, "You were the one who didn't want to use your dad's name. Telling them it's Osairus Knight's daughter would have got you three studios for a whole week."

"I don't need him," Charvi states defiantly, following Ella's example and getting up. "Never have never will." Before heading into the apartment, she looks back at Maya, "Good job."

Maya nods back solemnly.

Their relationship had been rocky since the end of high school, when Maya was dumped by her boyfriend who wanted to be with Charvi. But she has never, will never, do relationships.

Maya and Zac were cousins, though Maya was much more confrontational and fiery than him. She always wore her hair in a close cut pixie style, bangs hanging down into her big dark doe eyes so she could judge people through them with extra pinache.

In truth, deep down, Charvi feels guilt for her missteps. She always has in someway, because she's never really been a good friend. For the last two years, her life on Earth and life in the Demon realm have merged, and the Earth one suffers for it.

She knocks on Ella's door, "El, I'm coming in."

Inside her brunette friend is face down on the bed. She says something muffled by the blankets.

"What?"

She lifts her head, "Do you have new friends?"

Her mind instantly goes to the Demon realm. Could that count as a friend? It's certainly what keeps her from frequenting Hell's Gate like she used to.

"No, El," she sighs, sitting on the bed, "I don't have new friends."

Ella looks at her, pouting, "You used to make me sad, all the time, you know?"

"Uh," Charvi frowns, "What do you mean?"

"You always wanted to be alone. Even though we were all right there you wanted to walk without anyone next to you. At the diner you'd sit there with your earphones in, or not show up to things that we planned, or disappear without telling anyone."

Charvi remains silent. Solitude has always been her friend, too.

"It always made me sad."

It's only natural. She was left to her own devices from birth. Kaiann and Osairus only fed her, bathed her and clothed her when she couldn't do it herself. Meanwhile, Mathis got all the love and attention in the world.

"But now, you're scaring me. Because I can feel you drifting away from us. You have been since..." She trails off, and the reminder of the most painful part of her life stabs Charvi through the chest like a dagger.

As best she can, she shoves the feelings, the memory down.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive."

Zac was the calm sea, Maya was the storm and Ella was the Earth. Supportive and grounded, fiercely loving and kind.

"Hell's Gate will always be my home, El," Charvi sooths. She's not the soothing type, but she'll try. "I'll always come back, okay?"

Ella curls into her pillow.

Charvi sighs, "And from now, I promise if I'm out with you guys I won't go before I tell you."

Suddenly, Ella jumps up and points in Charvi's face, "Physically tell me. Not a text."

"Yeah yeah, I'll make sure I tell you in person."

She claps excitedly, "Good!" Kicking her blankets out of her way, Ella recovers her laptop and opens it up, suddenly over her sadness. "Now, what are you recording tonight? I can get started on the cover art."

Charvi settles back against the wall on the bed next to her.

"I was thinking Isolation. It'd be cool to do a drill beat with the equipment they'll have at Label Delta. And since we have six hours I think we'll try to get Receipts done as well. Zac already has most of it mixed, it just needs some overlaying synth harmonies."

Ella nods along enthusiastically, "I want to take a silhouette photo of you. I'll edit it for isolation. As for Receipts, I'm going to do some digital art and make a fake receipt."

"Sounds good," Charvi nods, not sure what else to say. She doesn't know what she would do without any of her friends in this situation. 

Ella rolls up her blind and turns all the lights off in the room. Charvi stands in front of the window.

"Tilt your head down slightly so your hair spreads- yeah, just like that. Maybe hug yourself?...No, like cross your arms over your chest and put your hands on your shoulders," the Demon does as told, in silence, "Perfect!"

Ella takes several photos, deliberating over each before taking another.

Charvi stands there patiently, thinking only of getting home and walking straight back through the portal.

>

<

That night while Charvi is waiting in her room to leave for the studio, the head housekeeper knocks on her door.

"Mail for you, Miss Knight."

She had gone back to the market after returning home from Hell's Gate, this time to seriously shop, not just for a stroll. As a result, her bed is laden with two more dresses, several weapons such as daggers and darts, an assortment of jewelry and a lot of food. It was her personal Christmas gift to herself, seeing as her parents had been skipping out on gift-giving since her birth.

"Just a sec!"

She grabs the throw from the end of her bed and tosses it over the goods.

When she opens the door, Mrs Coin is waiting there patiently with a letter in her hand. 

"Looks like it's here," she smiles, handing Charvi the envelope. 

The Demon doesn't hesitate for a second, tearing the letter open to find her driver's license inside.

"Finally!" She cheers, pumping it in the air, "No more awkward Uber rides!"

Mrs Coin laughs warmly, "I'm glad our work has paid off."

As expected, Kaiann and Osairus did nothing to help Charvi get her license, but that's why they made Mrs Coin a legal guardian; she wouldn't have to bother them when one was needed.

"Next step must be a car then, hm?"

Charvi smiles, but it's barely there, "I doubt they'd let me keep a car here."

In fact, she knows her time will be up within the year. When she is eighteen, they'll have no legal, reputational obligation to act like parents. She'll be on the curb at midnight.

Now that she has her license, it's time to look for a car, and a home of her own.

Luckily Mrs Coin's son is the family accountant. She has assured Charvi's trust fund remains legally separate from her parents control. Though its supply will stop soon and she'll be out on her own.

"You never know," Mrs Coin says weakly. 

"Yeah...thanks, Mrs Coin."

The housekeeper nods before turning away and heading back downstairs. Charvi watches her go, knowing she's going to miss having the old woman around.

It reaches 8:00, so she starts to change. They're not far from the city, only a fifteen minute walk. It isn't snowing either, so she won't be ordering a ride. 

Owed to her Demon blood, Charvi does not shy away from eccentricities. Her species' love for glamour, avant garde and standing out is evident solely from her market trip.

She chooses a holographic space-printed crop top, with long sleeves and a high neck. Then black leather leggings and holographic platform boots to match. Being Winter, she chooses her favorite over-sized windbreaker in a dark blue and red. 

Looking in the mirror, she decides to add one of the jewelry piece she bought at the market. A navel piece often worn during ceremony, but it doesn't matter here on Earth. The long chain of red gems ties around her bare waist like a necklace. It gives her look the perfect over-the-top-ness of a Demon outfit. Her makeup remains magnified as usual, with carefully done shadow and wings.

She throws her pale pink waves up into two buns, grabs her bag and heads out. 

At the bottom of the stairs, she can hear her parents speaking in the dining room just off to the right. In any normal family, the teenager going out at 8 would tell their parents goodbye, and promise to stick to curfew.

Charvi opens the front door in silence, her curfew non-existent. Quite frankly she's sure if she never came home, they'd be overjoyed.

The last thing she sees before closing the door behind her is the case of swords, glinting at her from the back wall.

The estate is dark and cold as she travels through it towards the exit. Charvi is tempted to fly out of there, but being seen is too risky, especially when she stands out so clearly. 

Going along the path direct to the gates, she is treated to glimpses of family life inside each overpriced mansion. Children watching TV with their parents, a generational family dinner at the table, a large group of young siblings playing with discarded wrapping paper.

She knows none of it.

Charvi slips through the pedestrian gate and out onto the main street that leads directly down into the city. She opens her text conversation with Zac and lets him know she'll be there in about fifteen minutes. It's a longer trip for him and she hopes he's on the train already.

Music has always been a big part of the community in Hell's Gate. Some of Charvi's earliest memories are of huge street parties with a dumpster bonfire at it's center. There would be small groups scattered everywhere; one surrounding a man singing with his acoustic, another blasting music from a speaker while people danced, another where wannabe rappers such as her father would battle it out.

There were buskers on every corner doing their best to earn a living. Many cafes, restaurants and clubs while run-down, would have a decent stage for nights. The local churches had their own legendary singers. Charvi garnered her reputation through Metro High. It was always Zac on the keyboard, Liam on the drums and Maya on the guitar. Charvi's voice completed them.

Luckily, when the Knight family moved following Osairus' success, Mathis convinced his parents to let him and Charvi continue to go to their public school. Because it was his request, it was granted. 

For a long time, they recorded their own music for fun. They didn't get real until The Beat, a free streaming service for music, became more popular. Zac released two EDM hits using samples of Charvi's voice under the screen name Mosaic. 

It did very well. Wanting to do more main-stream songs but not wanting to effect Zac's brand, Charvi created Luna Jorj. With Maya managing them, she has been able to get them some good promos, but this is the first time they've been gifted proper studio time.

When she reaches the city it's in full bloom despite the cold. People are bustling about, working, going home, out on the town, eating, shopping. Charvi finds everything she sees repels her, unlike the Bethlehem markets. 

The footpaths are full and the city is glowing. She looks up at the flashing billboards and skyscraper lights, truly marking the place as Metropolis. Lex Luthor's polished bald head grins from the closest ad for LexCorp financing, targeted at poor people. A complete trap, to be sure.

As she passes by one of the clubs she used to frequent, a pleasant, familiar scent passes by her nose.

Smoke and magic, meaning it's clearly a Demon. Not uncommon, but rare enough to pique her interest.

Marshmallow and Miu Miu Twist also reach her nose, much more confusing.

Sure enough as the large coat-wearing man in front of her moves slightly aside, Charvi spots a head of silvery blond hair bobbing through the crowd towards her, sparkling in a way only a Demon would notice.

They get just past each other when they both stop, take a second and twist around.

"Charvi!" The girl chirps happily.

"Klavdiya..."

Despite the change in hair colour and costume, this is clearly the Demon she fought Klarion the Witch Boy with standing in front of her.

"What are the chances?" Klavdiya grins, suddenly glomping Charvi in a hug. The shorter Demon can't help but return it.

"Pretty slim, I'm glad we recognized each other."

How could they not? They both stick out. Klavdiya is adorned with a tiara-like headband filled with diamonds Charvi can tell are a thousand percent real. She wears a huge fluffy pink coat and white leather boots that go all the way up, disappearing into her coat. Her hands, ears and neck are covered in extravagant jewelry.

"What are you doing in Metropolis?" Charvi asks.

"We're visiting a friend."

Having been so focused on the other Demon, she failed to notice the tall, attractive guy standing behind Klavdiya, wearing all black, observing Charvi with sharp, cold eyes. 

"This is my love, Damian," Klavdiya explains, looking back at him. She reaches up and touches his face with a manicured hand. The touch seems to clear his disdain instantly, his green eyes softening when he looks upon Klavdiya's face.

"Hey! Sorry, didn't think that would take so long," a soothing voice calls out from behind Charvi. A second guy jogs up to them and stops next to Damian.

"Ah, and this is Jon, the reason we're here."

The instant Jon and Charvi look at each other is a moment of parted lips and near-silent gasps.

The eyes. 

That's the first thing she sees. Great big blue eyes, as blue as the Lapis Lake in the Demon realm. They stare back at Charvi's, unabashed for just those few seconds as they take one another in. 

He's gorgeous. The term is repeated in her mind while admiring his tall, muscular form. His skin is pale, black hair messy, shoulders thick and broad, jawline strong and handsome. A truly, ridiculously spot-on alpha male imagining by a fourteen year old werewolf fanatic. 

When the rush of the city returns to her ears, Charvi feels breathless, her heart racing, but she does her best to hide it. No boy, not the kid who gave her a flower in the second grade or the captain of the football team who asked her to the prom she didn't go to, had ever had that affect on her.

Klavdiya's eyes dart between the two for the solid, silent five seconds they spend staring at each other.

"Jon," she begins slowly, mischievously, "This is a friend of mine, Charvi." 

Jon smiles at her. A beautiful, genuine, friendly smile. His cheeks are adorably tinged pink, either from the cold or something else.

"It's nice to meet you," he holds out his hand. 

Charvi takes it and smiles back, "Likewise."

His hand is so enormous it engulfs hers.

I want, she thinks.

"We were just headed to dinner. Would you like to join us?" Klavdiya asks.

Charvi has to tear her eyes off of Jon reluctantly to answer the Demon.

"I wish I could..." She did, she really, really did, which is rare for someone so anti-social. "But I have some work to do."

"That's a shame," Klavdiya pouts. Charvi is pretty positive her disappointment is real. Suddenly, her face lights up. "Oh! Our family is holding a New Years gala tomorrow at our Metropolis hotel. Jewel Towers over on sixth?"

"I know it," Charvi nods. 

"You have to come! I'll put you on the list."

Charvi can't believe it. She actually...wants to go.

Glancing at Jon who is staring back just as intrigued, she smiles and nods, "I'd love to."

The Beat is basically SoundCloud.