I bowed my head and pulled the blankets close to my chest, and I cried. I cried for what felt like hours. The tears burned as they slid down my cheeks, and I hated that I was crying. Each tear that came, I cursed, but it was so hard not to cry when I felt so helpless and confused. All I wanted was to be given some reassurance, but every time I sought that out, all I got was more hurt, and those were the thoughts that lulled me to my sleep.
When I woke up, I was sore, and my eyes felt like they grew twice the size of the sockets. I stretched out on the floor then climbed back into my bed, and I stared up at the gold ceiling and remembered Aiden. He said he was coming for me, and he was sent by my parents, Michael and Gabrella, who are archangels. Then, I remembered the reason for the tears. I always avoided them if I could, but I just could not hold theses ones back. They came, and they were the kind you couldn’t breathe around, the kind that broke other’s hearts and shattered your own. I also prayed and said little things, hoping whoever heard them could deliver the words, but I doubted they could understand what I said; the words were silent or sobbed into prayer, and they were all the things I wish I could say to my parents like how much I miss them, even though I have never met them or how much I love them even though they haven’t given me a reason and that I didn’t blame them. I felt Trinity flick her tail around my sides, and in a way, she confronted me and made it seem like she was a person who cared for me and would hold me as I cried out my grief, but there really was no one.
The doorknob to my room rattled, and I quickly shot myself onto the floor and pretended I was asleep as it opened. “Bella,” Keepers voice said, “where did you go?” I closed my eyes. I shut them tight and faked sleep as best as I could.
Keeper moved around the room, and when he got to the side I was “asleep” on, he chuckled. “Little rascal,” he murmured and scooped me up in his arms and set me on the bed. “Causing trouble even in your sleep,” I heard the evil smile in his voice, and I kept my eyes closed. “Stay there, now, you better get all the rest you can, busy day today,” he said as if he were talking about the weather and not a human being held captive. I heard his feet shuffle and, then, the door close and lock behind him.
Damn, I deserve an Emmy for that. He didn’t even question it, he totally bought it! I opened my eyes and spotted a plate of food, waiting for me by the door. “I’m hungry,” I said to myself, and Trinity flicked her tail in agreement. I smiled and took the pill out of the cup and put it with the others and ate my breakfast.
The door opened, and of course, Keeper walked in. He had a smile on his face, and he looked pleased. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“For what?” I asked and pretended like I was thinking. “Oh, I know, no one cares!” I said as if I found out I got the top score on a test.
“Nope, you are wrong.” He grinned. “We have a field trip today.”
“What?” I said puzzled. “We are leaving?”
“No, it’s more of a trip for you, not me.” He smirked. “Because of course, I can leave whenever I want, you, on the other hand, have some guests.”
“Guests? I don’t know anyone.” I groaned and smacked my head. “Really, not in a socializing mood.”
“Too bad. You better behave today, you give me one no, and I can make your stay here much more interesting,” he said, and I saw a glint of black in his red eyes.
“Tutto quello che vuoi,” I murmured.
“What was that, don’t speak different with me.” He scolded me. “What did you say?”
“I said, whatever you want. You need me to translate that too?” I asked.
“Smart mouth you have there.” He said, “You better watch it.” He turned toward the door. “And put on something nice, your guests will be here shortly,” he said and left me in my room with the dumb door locked.
“Douche,” I murmured as I got up to get ready. I put on a black T-shirt and a white maxi skirt. I had no shoes, so I just left my feet bare and brushed out my hair. I sat down on the bed and waited for someone to come and get me for my guests. Who would try to visit me? I didn’t know anyone outside the coven, and the other witches are not allowed to be at the Keeper’s house. My birthday was also coming up in five days, and that meant five days until I learned what Keeper had in store for me.
My door creaked open, and I saw Keeper there. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yep.” I stood and looked down. “Is there a chance I will get a pair of shoes?” I asked.
He threw a pair of black Converse on the floor, and I quickly put them on. I got up, and he put my arm in the crook of his. I waited for him to tell me who was coming to see me, but he did not say anything.
“Can you tell me who is here to see me?” I asked.
Keeper looked straight forward as he answered me, “Just a couple of my friends.” He turned and looked at me, He shoved me roughly to the floor. “And you better be quiet and listen, you are there only for show.”
I bit my lip to keep myself from yelling at him and carefully nodded my head. “Okay,” I said quietly.
I slowly lifted myself off the floor, and Keeper grabbed my arm and, once again, guided me down halls, and after what felt like fifty turns and ten flights of stairs, we came to a giant room with a huge oval table in the middle. There were at least twenty men. Some were mortals, and some were demons, and they were all sitting in a chair around the table. As soon as I came in the room, each one of their eyes came to me.
I recoiled back, but Keeper tightened his grip and lead me around each of the men. I followed him, only because I had nowhere else to go. Keeper sat in a chair and positioned me to stand beside him. I looked down, staring at my hands.
“Who is this?” said one of the men.
Keeper smiled and nodded in the direction of the man. “This is Bella, daughter of Archangels Michael and Gabrella.” I stared at Keeper with so much hate in my eyes that it was terribly obvious. “And I kidnapped her sixteen years ago. She will be seventeen in five days, and you all know very well what that means,” He said, and everyone nodded and cheered.
“Quiet!” he roared, and everyone stopped talking and watched him respectively. “Bella,” he said, “Bella, is going to help me take over, and I want you all to swear your allegiance to me.”
My mouth dropped open. I never agreed to help him. That was something you never did, you never made any promises, you never tell anyone that you are unsure of what you can help, and never give any demon or witch an opportunity to have you in their debt.
I heard a deep chuckle from one of the men. I turned my head and saw the source; he was a demon. He had black horns and wings, and his skin was black as well, but his eyes, his eyes were all white, and I immediately knew who he was. He was Vetis, tempter of the holy. I took a step back from him, and he smiled at me. Keeper growled. “Vetis.” He growled. “Do not even think about it, you may be Lucifer’s favorite right now, but I will not let you play your tricks on her. She is mine.”
“For now, she is yours, but not for long.” Vetis growled.
“Shut your trap,” Keeper snapped, and I silently cursed him. He brought me here to put me out as if I were a trophy; he was showing me off. “I have watched her grow. I know all there is to know about her, not any of you, especially not you Vetis,” Keeper barked. “Swear your allegiance!” he demanded. “And I will make it so we are all unstoppable!” He offered, and the demons and mortals looked mildly interested, and some even were raising their hands and shouting that they would join the fight.
Keeper stood up, and everyone had their eyes glued to him, eager to hear his words. “I am a man of my word,” he started, “and I know I am not the only one who agrees when I say that we are sick of the angels running us. We want our freedom!” He roared, and people started nodding their heads in agreement. “I have stolen and raised the greatest weapon in this realm! Nothing can stop me, even Michael will be on his knees, begging