Page 65 of His To Claim

My fingers tremble as I type out a response although I’m almost certain I already know who it is.

Me: Who is this?

His response comes in almost immediately.

Unknown: Don’t play coy little girl. I'm in no mood for games. Meet me at the Auditorium. We need to talk.

Me: I’m not going anywhere with you.

Unknown: Come now little lamb I hate making threats, but need I remind you what will happen to your friends if you disobey me.

My body physically doubles over in pain at the memory of his vile threats against my friends. He’s quick to remind me why I agreed to his demands, promising to help him find Lilith in exchange for him backing off and leaving my friends alone.

Knowing I have no other choice but to comply, especially since Drake is doing a hell of a job getting into trouble on his own, I text back letting him know I’m on my way.

Me: Give me ten minutes.

I quickly throw a hoodie on and sneak out of the room heading over to the school auditorium where that first assembly was held. The night is dark and misty so I blame my incessant trembling and teeth shattering on the cold weather and not the fear creeping up my spine at the thought of what I might walk into.

Agent Servite is not to be trusted, and that he needs my help to find Lilith doesn’t mean I’m safe. If anything, I’m worse off because if I can’t figure out a way to give him what he wants, I’m afraid of what he’ll do.

I make it to the auditorium finding the door unlocked and head inside. The door creaks as it opens slowly and I’m met with complete darkness. Pulling my phone out from my back pocket, I use the flashlight to light my path.

Looking around the room, I can’t seem to find Agent Servite anywhere, so I continue to descend, my body shaking as I arrive at the center stage. As I step up on the stage a loud sound startles me and a bright spotlight above the stage turns on blinding me.

“I’m not in the mood for your tricks. Can we just get this over with?” I shout, my voice echoing in the empty room. “What do you want from me?

“Such an eager little girl,” Agent Servite says as he appears from the shadows.

He stands at the top of the steps by the front door where I just entered and I wonder if he was there the whole time.

“So much like her,” he says, walking over to me, his gaze following the staggered movement of my breathing.

“I’m nothing like my mother.”

Servite laughs lightly, a wicked grin creeps across his face and it baffles me how truly handsome he is beneath all the evil. It’s truly unfair how much beauty runs in the Servite gene pool.

His frame towers over me, not as tall as Ace but still tall enough that I have to crane my neck back to look up at him. Wearing a dark navy suit with a crisp white shirt, and not a hair out of place, he’s intimidating. But I know the vile monster that lives beneath the coat of beauty.

I see the hatred he feels for my mother and me behind his deep blue eyes.

“I see the same snarky attitude. She was a fighter, you know. Always had to be right, the one in charge. Didn’t turn out so well for her. Lilith should have learned early on she had no actual power. I hold all the power.”

My breath hitches at the mention of my mother and how he speaks of her like he knew her more than he ever let on. “How do you know her? What do you want with her?” I plead.

“Not so fast Scarlett. The answers you seek will come in time. Right now, there’s only one thing I need from you,” he says, leaning forward so he’s directly in front of me. He reaches a hand out to cup my cheek, his thumb slowly grazing my chin before gripping it tight.

“What?” I spat out at him.

The edges of his mouth curve upward with precision. “I need you to lure her out tomorrow.”

“What!?” I cry out but I’m unable to pull away. His fingers pressdeeper into my chin as he leans in, the stubble on his jaw rubbing against my flesh as he whispers in my ear.

“I have some very reliable information confirming that she will be in attendance tomorrow,” he says, clarifying his earlier remark.

I swallow hard before clearing my throat. “How do you know she’ll show?”

“Lilith’s running out of money which means she’ll be desperate enough to get in touch with you. Besides, the masquerade ball was always her favorite.”

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