Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I smile, thinking of her talking about them.
“We continued to sneak away to see each other and steal kisses through the night. She never once asked me who I was, but I think she knew in the end. I remember the last night I saw her. I had a feeling she was pregnant, but I couldn’t be sure if it was mine or the other children’s father, so I didn’t question it.
“She called things off”—he pauses like it causes him pain—“and told me she would never visit me again and for me to never try to contact her. I am the King of Hell, it’s not like I take no for an answer. So when she did stop showing up, I remember visiting her without her knowledge, but I think she knew. Because, as I said, your mother was incredibly good at smelling power.
“She was heavily pregnant with you, and a part of me knew that you were my child. The other part didn’t want to acknowledge the fact, as I already had one child, and he was a handful, so I left, and never returned. It was easy as that. I figured the day she would die, I would see her again, as she did sin with me after all. But your mother is as pure as snow, and not even I could have her for eternity. The gods would not be that kind.”
I sit quietly, watching him talk of her in the way of someone whom he once loved and lost, but he says he cannot love. I wonder how true that statement actually is.
“Do you miss her?”
“That is fickle, wouldn’t you say? Missing someone when you are incapable of love?”
“No, I would not say. I miss her deeply and wish I had more time with her.”
“You look just like her.”
“We all do,” I tell him. “My sisters and I, that is.”
“Yes, I remember them.” He stands and smiles. “Come, let me show you something.”
“Should I trust you?” I ask knowing full well it’s the silliest question to the ask the devil, but I do anyway.
Lucifer throws his head back and laughs. “Ah, sweet girl, you should never trust anyone.” He leans in and whispers, “Ever.” Then he proceeds to walk out of the room, and I follow.
I shouldn’t trust anyone?
I trust my sisters.
Don’t I?
At least, I think I do.
We enter another room, and this one is full of pictures. They’re of him and my mother. There are so many of them scattered everywhere. I reach for one, skimming my finger over her face, and warmth blooms in my chest.
“You can have it.” I look over my shoulder to find him watching me. “Cameras became a thing of the past as the centuries went on, but I always loved the device and kept it. I introduced it to your mother, and she also fell in love with the contraption and would take endless photos of everything, including me.” He smiles.
“Aren’t you meant to be bad?” I ask, completely thrown off by everything happening right now.
“Oh, I am, sweet girl. The worst. There is literally no one worse than me. Though my son may come in a close second, but it seems he has taken a liking to you. Tell me, do you have that effect on most people?”
“Effect?” I ask, my brows drawing together in confusion.
“Yes, are people drawn to you?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe? Possibly? No?” I don’t have a straight answer for him.
“What powers do you possess?” he asks.
I hold the photograph of my mother and look at him. “Do you plan to steal them?” I inquire.
He smirks. “No. But by that, I know you also have that power, which not even Valefar has. Interesting.” He taps his jaw as if he’s thinking. “What else?”
“We discovered I can open a portal with enough juice, but my own power is not enough.”
“We?” he asks, leaning in.
“Yes, his name is Maxilliam.”
“King Maxilliam?” he asks. My brows scrunch, and I nod my head.
“Interesting. I had heard stories of a man with both Angel and demon blood, but I would not have believed it. This King Maxilliam… did you kill him when you took his power?”
“No. He is strong.”
“Good. Strong is what you are going to need. Soon, people will know where you come from. It’s only a matter of time…” He pauses, a proud smile spreading across his face. “You will be queen.”
“I don’t want to be queen,” I tell him, almost whining. “When are people going to understand that?” I shake my head with a huff. “I have a question.”
He waits for me to go on.
“Why can’t I move through time like you?”
His brows pinch. “You should absolutely be able to move through time,” he replies. “Without a doubt.”
“Valefar does it, and Max said all I have to do is think of where I want to be.”