“Manifest what?”
“You hold so much power, and you don’t have a clue. I’m here to help you, guide you.”
I look at him suspiciously and eat a few more bites of my food before responding. “And why should I trust you?”
“Because I know what you are, and I can help you harness that power.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“I guess you don’t have a reason to. But I know who your father is, I know where you belong.”
“And where’s that?” I ask him.
“On the throne of Hell,” he says in a monotone response. I can’t help the laugh that slips out of my mouth, and I cover it up quickly.
“Yeah, okay. I don’t even know your name, why should I believe anything you say?” I sass before digging back into my food. This guy is fucking crazy, but I guess the fact that I took over my camp counselor’s body is just as crazy as everything he is saying.
“Because I can help you harness your power. Help you get revenge for having to suffer this pathetic human existence for so long. Your greatness hasn’t even begun to be tapped into. You’re powerful, and I can make you stronger.”
“Why would you want to help me?”
“Hell is in need of a new leader, and you’re the rightful heir.”
My laughter can’t be contained at that point, and a few people at the rundown dinner give me some strange looks. “Yeah, okay, I’m what? The Devil’s daughter? Okay, buddy, you can move along now.”
“Have you had dark thoughts? Have things happened around you that you couldn’t explain? Like maybe how you ended up in your camp counselor’s body. I don’t see anyone else around to help you. Whether you believe me now or not, I’m your only option.”
“I don’t even know your name,” I reply, swallowing thickly, thinking he might be right. I didn’t have another plan besides getting away from camp and my previous life. He seems to know what I am, as far-fetched and ridiculous as it sounds.
“Beelzebub. And don’t worry, Princess, you can trust me.”
So, with no other options, that’s what I do. I trust the first person who might be able to give me some guidance on what I am and how I got here. I just hope it doesn’t wind up biting me in the ass.
Chapter1
Present Day
It’s been nearly a decade of living in other people’s skin, but now I have my own true form. I’m corporeal again; this is me, this ismybody. I’ve gone through countless bodies, and if I’m being honest, I lost count a long time ago. The last few didn’t last long at all. They couldn’t hold my power… well, except for my sister, Blair’s body.
Her body was the closest thing to home I’d ever felt, but now… now I feel complete. I do have some guilt over almost killing Blair, though it wasn’t my fault, truly. Her boyfriend, Dax was the one to stab her—me—with a knife and bring us to Hell.
Luckily, it all worked out. Blair and her boyfriend seem completely fine. I met daddy dearest, who gave me this sick new body, and now I’m being ushered around a gorgeous mansion.
Honestly, I don’t think life gets much better than this.
I feel better than I have in my entire life, except for the tension wafting off the company escorting me down the hallway. Dax makes it apparent by standing between Blair and me. I apologized already, what else does she want? My bare feet feel cool against the obsidian tile floors as Lilith breaks the silence when we reach a black door with gold filigree along the trim.
“Mara, this is your room. If you need anything, please just let me know,” she says.
“You’re really pretty and nice. Are you my… um… stepmother?” It’s probably a stupid question, but she is pretty, in an ethereal way. Plus, I need to know the lay of the land here. Lucifer—my father—all but apologized for never finding me and declaring he loves me, but I’m not sure if I can truly trust him. Or anyone else in this place, for that matter.
“Heavens, no. But we can talk more later,” she answers with a smile, opening the door for me. I go to open my mouth to speak to Blair, but she still seems pissed. I guess I shouldn’t blame her, but it’s all one big misunderstanding. I’ll win her over and make things right.
We will, in fact, be best friends like I promised.
A best friend sounds amazing. I never had one when I was an actual person. And then when I had to possess people constantly… well, it’s just hard to keep friendships when you’re constantly changing your meat suit.
I thought Beelzebub was my friend, but now I’m not so sure. He was right about a lot of things, but the way my father spoke to me, I couldn’t help but believe Lucifer’s words. Then again, I felt the same way about Beelzebub before too.Maybe I should stick to the policy of making people earn my trust instead of giving it out freely. Auto-trusting people only seems to bite me in the ass.
