Catherine’s heart pounded as she paced her bedroom, gripping the pregnancy test with shaking hands. The two pink lines stared back, a future she could hardly fathom growing inside her. She sank onto the bed, a thousand questions swirling through her mind. She needed Phoenix. But every attempt to contact him had met only silence, and now, with his absence stretching out endlessly, her resolve began to fray.
She dialed Demi’s number, heart in her throat as she waited through the rings.
“Catherine?” Demi’s voice, smooth and composed, felt like a lifeline.
“Demi… I—I really need to talk to someone. Could you come over?”
There was a pause, and then Demi’s voice softened with a warmth Catherine hadn’t expected. “Of course, Catherine. I’ll be right there.”
Catherine let the phone slip from her hand, drawing her knees to her chest as she tried to steady herself. She didn’t know why she’d turned to Demi for support, but right now she felt completely alone, and Demi was all she had.
----------------------------------------
Demi arrived in a wash of perfume and perfect poise, a dark figure slipping gracefully through the door. She took in Catherine’s pale face, the slight tremor in her hands, and crossed the room, sitting beside her with a calculated expression.
“Oh, Catherine,” Demi murmured, drawing her into an embrace that felt as possessive as it did comforting. “What happened? You look like you’ve been through hell.”
Catherine closed her eyes, biting back tears. “I… I’m pregnant, Demi. And I’ve tried to call Phoenix, over and over, but… I don’t know. There was that storm, but no one has heard from him, and he’s never ignored me like this.”
Demi stilled for a split second, her mind racing as she absorbed Catherine’s words. So the girl was pregnant with Phoenix’s child. She felt a fleeting flicker of satisfaction, something almost fierce. The devil hadn’t heard of this, and Demi intended to keep it that way—this piece of knowledge would stay hers. Phoenix was already a valuable pawn, and this child could become even more useful. Demi tightened her hold on Catherine, a protective smile forming as her mind turned.
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“Oh, Catherine…” Demi said, softening her voice to a murmur. “I know it’s hard, but Phoenix is… distant with these things. Perhaps he believes it’s best for both of you, now that you’ve… gone your separate ways.”
Catherine closed her eyes, a part of her willing herself to believe Demi. “I thought he would still care enough to pick up, even if I…”
“Of course he cares, Catherine.” Demi’s voice held a soothing, almost motherly cadence, but in her mind, plans were already taking shape. The devil’s frustration over her inability to keep Phoenix and Catherine apart had become nearly unbearable, the looming threat of punishment casting a dark shadow over her thoughts. But now, with this new knowledge in hand, Demi felt her confidence grow. She wouldn’t tell the devil about this child, not yet. This pregnancy was her key, her opportunity to untangle Phoenix from Catherine permanently, to take full control of the path ahead.
She released Catherine, looking at her with an almost reverent softness, her gaze darkening as her thoughts turned. She pictured Catherine’s doctor ex, Jasper, always so eager to be back in Catherine’s life. If Catherine was still raw from Phoenix’s absence, still searching for a sense of stability, a nudge toward Jasper could be all it would take to open a new path, away from Phoenix and all his chaos.
“Listen to me, Catherine.” Demi’s voice was a murmur, her words like silk wrapping around Catherine’s mind. “You are so much stronger than you realize. This child—this could be a new beginning for you. A fresh start with someone who can truly be there for you.”
Catherine’s lip quivered as she nodded. Demi’s words filled the gaps where her own strength was faltering, made it feel possible that she could move forward without Phoenix.
Demi reached for her hands, her voice dropping to a soft, knowing tone. “I’ll help you through this, Catherine. Whatever you need, you have me by your side.”
A fragile smile crept across Catherine’s face, but Demi felt only satisfaction. When she finally stood to leave, she glanced back at Catherine, lingering in the doorway as her mind continued to work. Yes, Jasper would be ideal—a stable, respectable figure who could give Catherine a life far from Phoenix’s dark world. She would cultivate this carefully, make sure it unfolded as planned.
And with that final thought, Demi slipped out, her secret clutched close to her chest. The devil would never know of this child, not until the time was right, and by then, she would have the power to shape the story exactly as she saw fit.