Then…
When I was three years old, I met the devil.
I didn’t know it at the time… Turns out, everything they say about him is true.
He hides quite well in plain sight.
But he doesn’t blend into the background. No, that wouldn’t work. It would be impossiblenotto see him.
Instead, he lures you in, flatters, manipulates and comforts, giving the illusion of loyalty.
He’s very good at what he does.
El diablo está astuto.
He had woven himself into the fibers of my family. Earned their trust, and he did it well. Hewasgood… And my father was weak.
In the end, though, a debt must be paid. That is what I learned as a child, as I cowered and sniffled, hand clasped tightly over my mouth to keep quiet. Eyes wide with terror.
I saw evil that day, and it looked right at me. Itsawme.
Yet I was spared. I wasn’t taken… Notthen, anyway.
I hate to admit it, but I learned a lot from him; el diablo. And anything he didn’t teach me, I learned because of him. Oneway or another, he is responsible for so much of what my life has become. Whether that’s good or bad remains to be seen, but I prefer not to give him the satisfaction of thinking he molded me…
I’m sure he’d love that all too much.
For now, I will focus on the things I’ve done formyself, what I’ve discovered, and how hard I’ve trained. How diligently I’ve worked over the years… It’s been my sole motivation for so long, I can barely remember a life outside ofhim.
I hate it.
That’s good. I need to hate. I need to loathe, and rememberwhy. Because sometimes it’s easy to forget…When he’s close.
Teeth clamping together, I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. Reminding myself to be in the present. Not to dwell so much on the things I can’t change. It’s difficult for me…Lifeis difficult, and it has been since I was just a boy who lost his parents. Forced to grow up way too fast…
Again, because of him.
The ocean breeze brushes through my hair, and I let it settle me. The smell of saltwater and the mist of it touching my skin. When I reopen my eyes, I see it.We’re close…
I glance over myself, my body in this outfit. My hands run down the silken fabric, and I buzz inside.
I bite my lip.
“Hey,” a sultry male voice comes from behind me. I startle, tipping my chin. “Are you new? I haven’t seen you before.”
Swallowing hard, I attempt to calm my instant nerves, nodding. “I am.”
He’s very good-looking, in a fair, yet defined way, like me. Though his skin is pale, and his hair is platinum blonde. A face of all sharp angles, in contrast to his full, pink lips. He looks like a model.
I’m instantly insecure.
But then he smiles, a dazzling thing, though it’s kind, like his deep green eyes. “I always love meeting a newbie. I’m Soren.”
“Ari,” I try not to stammer. I’ve practiced this dozens of times, but it’s still overwhelming… Actually being here, so close.
“You’re, like,waytoo pretty.” He pouts playfully. “I’m not sure if standing next to you will make me look better by association, or worse by comparison.”
I have to snort at that.
