A week had passed, and still no sign of Beleth which I suppose is good or Nathanial. Whatever Nathaniel was doing, it better be important because if I have to spend one more day training with Zarach, I'm going to lose it. The guy is relentless—he has me training from sunup to sundown, pushing me beyond my limits. Meanwhile, I'm missing everything I care about. My dance classes? Gone. My job? Forget it. And I have an audition this weekend, but Zarach thinks I should just drop everything and focus on "controlling my powers." Like that's all that matters.

Then there's Marax. He only shows up at night, usually for about an hour, cracking jokes and flirting in that annoying, charming way of his. And honestly? It's starting to get to me. I don't know if he's doing it to mess with Zarach or if, in his own twisted way, he's actually interested. It's confusing, especially since I can't even figure out if it's possible for humans and demons to... well, be anything.

But as much as it bugs me, I can't help but feel pulled in by his attention, even if I'm not sure if it's a game to him.

The room was quiet except for the soft rustle of clothes as I packed the last of my things. I had barely slept the night before—my mind racing with thoughts of the audition, the demons, and everything that had been happening. I had no idea where Beleth had gone or what Nathanial was dealing with, but if I was being honest, I missed him. It had been a week, and I had no idea what was going on.

I was so focused on trying to get everything together when I heard the door creak open.

I looked up just in time to see Marax casually stroll into my room, a smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" His eyes roamed over the half-packed suitcase on my bed, and then flickered back to me, his gaze lingering a little too long.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, even though my pulse quickened when I saw him. Something about him always had that effect on me. He was cocky, confident, and I hated how much I couldn't stop thinking about him.

"Just wanted to make sure you were ready for your big day," Marax said, pushing off the doorframe and stepping closer to me. His voice was smooth, teasing, as if he was enjoying the effect he had on me.

"I'm fine," I replied curtly, but it didn't come out as firmly as I intended.

He noticed, of course. His smile widened, the usual mischievous glint in his eyes deepening. "You sure about that?" He glanced at the scattered clothes on my bed. "I can help you out if you need it."

I tried to ignore the way his presence seemed to fill the room, making it feel smaller, more charged. "I don't need your help, Marax," I said again, but my voice was quieter this time, almost unsure. He was closer now, just a few feet away, and I could feel the tension between us growing thicker by the second.

"Oh, come on," he said, a low chuckle escaping him as he reached for a jacket that had slipped from my bed. He held it out to me, his fingers brushing against mine as I took it, and it sent a jolt through me. "I'm just trying to make this easier for you. You know, lighten the mood."

I gave him a look, but my breath caught in my throat as he moved even closer. His body was now inches from mine, his heat radiating against me.

"Marax, what are you doing?" I whispered, my heart hammering in my chest. I tried to step back, but there was nowhere to go. My back hit the edge of the bed, and I froze.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied me for a long moment, his gaze intense, almost predatory. The smirk had faded into something more serious, more hungry, as if he were savoring the moment.

"You're a little tense, Athena," he said, his voice low and silky. "I'm just trying to help you relax."

Before I could respond, he took a small step forward, his hand gently brushing against my arm. The touch sent an electric pulse through me, and I couldn't help the way my body reacted, how I leaned into it just slightly.

"I'm fine," I repeated, more to myself than to him. My heart was racing, and I had no idea what was happening, but I was sure I couldn't focus on anything but him. His eyes flickered down to my lips for a split second, and that was enough to make my breath hitch.

"Are you?" he asked, his voice now an almost dangerous whisper. "Because it doesn't seem like it. You're wound tight, Athena. Too tight for your own good."

I couldn't stop myself from leaning in, the magnetic pull between us undeniable. My body felt like it was betraying me as I inhaled his scent, something dark and intoxicating. I wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension, but I couldn't. The air was too thick, too heavy with desire.

Marax was watching me closely, his eyes scanning my face, waiting for something. I didn't know if it was a sign, a signal, or just an excuse to close the distance completely, but the moment I hesitated, he stepped closer—his lips inches from mine.

And just as I thought he was going to kiss me, I heard it. The unmistakable sound of the door opening.

"Athena, we need to—"

Nathanial's voice cut off as soon as he walked in, and I pulled away from Marax so fast I almost stumbled. I quickly backed up, my heart hammering in my chest.

Nathanial's eyes darted between me and Marax, confusion and something darker flashing in his gaze. I couldn't tell if it was anger, jealousy, or something else entirely, but whatever it was, he wasn't happy.

"What the hell is going on?" Nathanial asked, his voice low and tight.

I had no idea how to respond. I couldn't even speak. My mind was still reeling from the intensity of the moment with Marax. I avoided Nathanial's gaze, my face burning with embarrassment.

Stolen story; please report.

Marax, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered in the slightest. He just shot a casual, almost lazy glance at Nathanial, his smirk widening. "Oh, just checking in on our lovely Athena here. Making sure she's ready for her big audition, right?" He reached out and ruffled my hair playfully, his touch lingering for a second too long.

Nathanial's gaze flicked from Marax to me, and I could see the frustration in his eyes. He didn't know what had happened in the moment before he walked in, but he didn't have to. It was written all over our faces.

"Listen," Nathanial said, his voice firmer now. "I don't have time for this. We've got bigger problems, and I need to know what you're doing about Beleth."

Marax's grin faltered for a moment, and the lightness in his expression was replaced with something darker, more serious. "Beleth is dealing with his own issues," he said, his voice a little colder. "But trust me, I'm not going to let him cause trouble for Athena."

I watched as they exchanged a tense look, neither one willing to back down. The tension was thick between them, and for a brief moment, I almost forgot about the audition I had to get to. But just as quickly, I remembered.

I cleared my throat, trying to break the tension. "I need to get going," I said, forcing a smile. "I don't have time for this right now."

Nathanial's eyes softened for a moment, but only for a split second. "We'll talk later," he said, his tone gentler now.

I shook off the lingering tension from the strange moment with Marax and Nathanial, trying to focus on the one thing that was still normal in my life—my audition. I couldn't afford to let anything else cloud my mind right now. I grabbed my bag and headed down the stairs, determined to get this over with.

The house was quiet, the only sound being the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I spotted Austin sitting on the couch, casually flipping through his phone. When he saw me, he immediately put it down, looking up with a small, knowing grin.

"You ready?" Austin asked, his voice low but steady. He was always calm, the type who kept his thoughts to himself unless he really needed to say something. That's why I could always count on him to help keep me grounded when everything around me felt like it was spinning out of control.

I paused in the doorway, taking a deep breath. "I think so. I mean, I've been preparing for this my whole life, but still...what if I mess up?" I knew it was ridiculous to feel this way, but nerves had a way of creeping in when you least expected them.

Austin stood up, his usual laid-back demeanor never changing. "You're not gonna mess up, Athena. You've got this. Just remember to breathe, and show them what you've got."

I gave him a small smile, though I could feel the weight of everything that had been happening in the back of my mind. "Thanks, but it's not just the audition. It's everything else... it feels like there's so much going on, and it's like I can't escape it. I've got... a lot on my plate right now."

Austin's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't push me to explain. Instead, he reached over and grabbed my bag from the counter, slinging it over his shoulder with an ease that made me feel a little better. "I get it. It's been a lot. But today is about you. Focus on that. Everything else can wait."

I took another breath, the knot in my chest loosening a little. My brother always had a way of saying exactly what I needed to hear without making a big deal about it.

"You're right," I said, my voice more confident this time. "I can't let the stress get to me. Not today."

Austin grinned and gave me a playful shove toward the door. "That's the spirit. You've been working for this for ages. Just go in there and show them what you've got."

We walked outside into the crisp morning air, and I couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. Austin's quiet support was always comforting. Even though he didn't know about the weird supernatural stuff going on in my life, it was nice to know there was still something in my life that was... normal. Something I could rely on.

As we climbed into his car and started the drive to the audition, Austin kept the mood light with small talk. I stared out the window as Austin drove, the familiar scenery passing by in a blur. It was like my mind was in a fog—thoughts scattered everywhere. My heart still raced from the demons I'd encountered, especially Beleth, and now this audition was hanging over me like a looming cloud. I couldn't stop thinking about the things I was learning—how much bigger this whole demon world was than I had ever imagined.

Austin was talking, but his voice seemed distant. I half-listened, half-absorbed in my own swirling thoughts. The air in the car was warm, comforting even, but inside my head, there was a storm brewing.

"You're really nervous, huh?" Austin asked, breaking into my thoughts. I glanced over at him, forcing a smile. His eyes were focused on the road, but his lips were pulled tight with concern.

"I'm fine. Just a little stressed," I said, my words sounding far too hollow to be believable.

"You've been pushing yourself too hard. Between the demons, the training, and everything else... I just want you to take care of yourself." He didn't look at me, but I could hear the quiet worry in his voice.

I told Austin everything I knew, it's not exactly something I can hide from him, same with Lewis. Meghan and Aiden don't have a clue due to one staying at his new flings place and the other has gone back to university which is five hours away from here.

"I know, I know. I'll be fine once this audition's over," I murmured, but deep down, I wasn't so sure. It felt like everything in my life was building up to something, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It felt... off.

Suddenly, the air in the car grew thick, almost suffocating, and the temperature seemed to drop several degrees. I shivered as my head started to spin. My vision blurred, and before I could stop it, I felt the all-too-familiar sensation of slipping away.

Everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the car anymore.

I wasn't even sure where I was. The air around me was heavy, thick with an unsettling energy that I could taste in the back of my throat. The ground beneath me was blackened, cracked like the earth was dying, and the sky above was a sickly shade of crimson. I didn't have to look far to know that this wasn't just some random place—I was in Hell. I could feel it in my bones.

And then I saw him.

At first, he was just a figure in the distance, tall and imposing, his silhouette stark against the fiery sky. But as he stepped closer, everything about him seemed to radiate power—dark, menacing, almost suffocating. His eyes were the color of burning embers, glowing with malevolent intensity, and his features twisted into a cruel, unnerving smile. He was a presence that could freeze your blood, even if you didn't know who he was.

But I did.

Satan.

The Devil himself.

I stood frozen, unable to move as he approached, his footsteps slow but deliberate. The ground trembled beneath him, as if even the earth feared him. His voice, when it came, was deep and echoing, like thunder rolling across the skies.

"You've been causing quite a stir, haven't you, Athena?" His words were like a poison dripping from his lips, every syllable calculated, cold. "Such a shame. I had hoped you would be more... cooperative."

My heart raced, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from him. The words felt like they were suffocating me, and I couldn't move. "W-what do you want with me?" I managed to force out, my voice shaking.

Satan's lips twisted into something that might have been a smile, but it looked more like a predatory grin. "What do I want? Oh, I've wanted you for a long time. You have something I need, something that I've been waiting for... something you don't even understand yet."

I tried to speak again, but nothing came out. My chest tightened, my breathing shallow, as the presence of Satan surrounded me. I could feel his power, could almost taste it in the air, and it felt like it was crushing me.

He took another step toward me, and it felt like the world was closing in. "You don't know it yet, but you're important, Athena. More important than you could ever imagine. But you've made a mistake. A mistake I'll make sure you regret."

The ground beneath me seemed to shake as his words hung in the air, and I realized with a sickening feeling that everything I had thought I knew was wrong. I wasn't just a girl caught in the middle of some strange game. I was a part of something much bigger, something far darker. And Satan was at the center of it.

Just as I felt like I couldn't breathe any longer, the world around me began to fade. The air shifted, as if I were being pulled away from him, and everything went black again.

I gasped, the sensation of falling still fresh in my mind. My vision cleared, and I was back in the car. The hum of the engine was a welcome relief, and the bright daylight outside seemed too bright compared to the suffocating darkness of the vision.

"Whoa, Athena? Hey, are you okay?" Austin's voice broke through the haze, and I turned to find him looking at me with wide eyes, his hands gripping the wheel tight.

I blinked, trying to steady myself, but my body felt heavy, like it was still stuck somewhere else. "I... I saw him," I whispered. "Satan. I saw him. And he—he was talking to me. He said I was important."

Austin's expression twisted with confusion and concern, but he didn't interrupt me.

"Important? Athena, what do you mean? You're scaring me a little." He glanced over at me, his gaze flickering between the road and me, trying to gauge if I was alright.

I shook my head, trying to clear the lingering fog from my mind. "I don't know... It felt real. Like he was right there with me."

Austin exhaled slowly, a quiet sigh escaping his lips as he pulled over to the side of the road. "Maybe you're just stressed out. I mean, it's a big day for you, and you've been dealing with a lot with the demons and everything."

I stared out the window, my heart still pounding from the vision. "I don't think this is stress, Austin. It's something bigger. Something I can't explain."

He didn't argue, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. "Let's just get you to the audition, alright? We'll figure this out later."

But as we drove off again, the we

ight of what I had seen lingered, a shadow hanging over me. Satan wasn't just obsessed with me—he had plans. And whatever those plans were, they weren't good.