Page 26 of The Daughter of the Devil

“Thought I’d try my luck.”

“You always do. Either way, I thought it would be appropriate to come early and greet you. After all, you have a soul now.”

I can feel my eyes widening as I contemplate his words. He’s here early to greet me because my soul is the one he will take? Looking up, I see Alistair and Sierra waiting for me. Sierra, who also has a human soul, and Alistair, who has a piece of a soldier buried deep inside. What if it’s them?

Fear grips me as I stand up, my eyes darting between Death and my friends. “I need to go,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Death's smile widens. “Until next time, Morgana.”

I hurry back to Alistair and Sierra, my mind racing with possibilities and fears. “Is everything alright?” Alistair asks, his concern evident.

“Let’s just get to school,” I reply, my voice shaky. The weight of Death’s presence lingers with me, a constant reminder of the fragility of our situation.

25

Hope

Morgana

My mind won’t settle. There is something going on and Death taunting me as he did means that it is going to happen soon. I didn’t tell Alistair what Death said to me, I simply mentioned he was there for someone, but I didn’t know who. He didn’t think twice about it. I spent most of today making sure I could snoop on Sierra and Alistair, even skipping a class to overlook Sierra in the gym to make sure she didn’t die from collision with a basketball. It wasn’t until we returned to Sierra’s home to see a note taped to the door.

To the Princess of Darkness, her Man-Servant and new friend. We invite you to dinner with us to discuss your recent decline to humanity. The dinner will be at 7:00pm sharp. We look forward to serving you.

“This is creepy.” Sierra mutters.

“Yes,” I agree, “, someone knows who I am, and who you both are, and instead of hiding have invited us to dinner.” My thoughts trail to the possibility of demonic possession of a human who then potentially stabbed me with a magical power-sucking dagger, but I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

“We shouldn’t go.” Alistair adds.

“I’ve never declined a formal invitation.”

“There’s a first for everything.”

Sierra interjects, “You behave really well for someone raised by the Devil.” The concept caught me off guard. I’ve heard hundreds of rumors about the Devil, how evil he is meant to be, including weird stuff about goats…but I’ve yet to hear one that’s true.

“What do you mean?” I ask her, curious to hear her thoughts.

“It’s just that people always say that the Devil and his worshipers are a bad influence, they are satanic bad decision makers that strive for evil and all that. But your dad was really nice and not scary at all…well I mean the horns are a bit freaky but I can pretend that’s just a costume.” Her face lights up with a spark. “Alistair! You had horns too! Where do they go?”

“Uh,” He looks at me a little confused, probably not sure how to answer. “I have two forms, a human one and a demonic one.”

“That’s pretty cool.”

“Anyway,” I bring the conversation back. “Yes, there are lots of stories about how evil the Devil is, but just because someone rules hell, and punishes bad people, does that make him a bad person?”

“No, I suppose it wouldn’t.”

“Exactly. So be assured that the Devil, my father, is not evil.”

Alistair snickers, “Morgana, on the other hand is a different story.” I do my best to glare at him but the smirk finds a way to my face.

“Alright, alright. Let’s just go. It’ll take us about that long to walk there anyway.”

“Wait, we’re really going?” Sierra asks, following me back down the driveway and towards the address of an unknown sender.

We’re early, but I’m too curious about whomever invited us to this creepy as all hell manor. The barricades and gutters covered in rust were all but falling off. The trees out the front were overgrown but quite dead, their branches finding their way across the rooftop and seemingly into the house’s shutters as well. As I approach the door, Alistair pulls me back by my elbow and gives me a look. Clearly, he wants to go first, just in case. Not wanting to argue, I allow him to take point as Sierra and I follow him up the path to the house. Sierra jumps beside me as the front door swings open before we have a chance to knock.

“Welcome!” A voice chimes—it’s the goth girl from the store? I almost didn’t recognize her with her hair put up in two high buns at the top of her head with purple extensions curled around them. “I thought you might be a bit early. Come on in, meet the gang.” The gang? Alistair turns to me and looks just as bewildered as I probably do. Cautiously we enter the home, both occupied by the idea Sierra could also be in danger. “Come on, gosh so slow.” Following the goth into the living room we come across a table full of food and two others sitting on the opposite side of the table from where we stand. “This is my mother, Belladonna and my cousin Jasmine—twice removed. She’s staying with us to understand this unique situation.” As the three of us walk around the table and take seats where they are available, I find myself sitting at one head of the table with Alistair at the other. The young redheaded girl she referred to as Jasmine moves a glass of wine in front of Alistair.

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