{Victoria}

Lately because of the pain in my back I've been sleeping, waking up, grabbing something to eat, taking my medicine, wash, rinse and repeat. Walter seems to be doing better than me though.

Today when I woke up the pain seemed to be worse than it was before. I sat up and my head was pounding as if it was being hit by a hammer constantly.

"Oh boy, it's that bad?" Walter asked.

I could barely open my eyes when I nodded. "Yes. I feel like I'm getting hit with a hammer on the inside of my head."

"Ouch," Walter said. "I'm going to go grab you medicine and then we can cuddle for a bit."

I heard Walter leave the room but before he came back I started coughing and felt something fall on my chest. I opened my eyes to see that I had coughed up blood. My eyes went wide in horror. "Well gee I knew I was sick but I didn't think it was that bad."

I kept coughing up blood even when Walter returned with the pain medicine.

He panicked, "Victoria, what on earth?"

"I think I'm going to puke," I said in between my coughing fit. Walter immediately grabbed the nearby trash can and handed it to me.

I have no idea how many times I coughed and threw up but the episode lasted for a while. When it finally calmed down I sat up and laid back on the headboard of the bed. "What the hell is happening to me?"

Walter shook his head. "I don't know but I think you should go to the-"

"Hospital?" I heard someone cut him off. I looked up to see a man who looked like an older version of Walter. He had light brown hair with gray streaks in it and instead of blue eyes he had black eyes.

Walter snarled when he saw him. "Alastor!"

"Well hello there son," Alastor said.

I raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"

"Ah yes, where are my manners? Introductions are in order…" Alastor said. "I am a Prince of Darkness, the future Uncle to the future Queen of Hell and Satan's second in command… Alastor. And just call me Alastor, those titles that I have are quite a mouthful to say."

"O… Kay? Why won't a Hospital help me?" I asked.

"Because human hospitals aren't equipped to help treat a fledgling demon," Alastor answered and he gave me a pointed look to tell me that I should know this information already.

I blinked. "A fledgling demon? What the hell!" I looked at Walter. "Look I know I've been sick for a while but I've been taking my medicine on time right?"

Walter sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed, "Unfortunately you did take your medicine on time. This guy is real and he only appears to people wants to appear to. I would've told you about him before but I don't think you'd believe me."

I nodded. "You damn right I wouldn't believe you. The guy is standing right in front of me and I still don't believe it."

"I guess I should sit down for this explanation," Alastor said. He snapped fingers and a chair appeared out of thin air and he sat down on it. "A long time ago when Earth was created, realms called Heaven and Hell were created as well. The first ruler of Hell ruled over Hell with an iron fist. He was very strict on demons as to when they could visit Earth and when they couldn't. He also made the Royal Family which consisted of nine Princes of Darkness.

"Each Prince had a different bloodline and all that jazz. I'm second in command so therefore I'm the first Prince of Darkness. Lucifer the first King of Hell's rule was uninterrupted for thousands of years until Satan had an argument with his brother and for whatever the reason he got kicked out of Heaven and fell all the way through Earth into Hell.

"Lucifer took a liking to Satan and took him under his wing. And then to everyone's surprise Lucifer decided to step down from his place on the throne and hand it over to Satan. Lucifer requested of Satan that he ever felt the need to retire from being King, that he make sure the next ruler is a woman. Why Lucifer specified that the next ruler needed to be a woman no one knows. Hell, not even Satan knows the reason. He's asked Lucifer on several different occasions as to why but never really got an answer.

"The other strange thing that Lucifer said was that the next ruler couldn't step down from the throne until she had ruled over Hell for 1 million years."

I tilted my head. "Why only 1 million years?"

He looked at me. "As opposed to?"

"Forever, and why can't Satan just rule forever too?" I asked.

"That's a good question, let's just say that the last time Lucifer and Satan got together and had a little chat, it seems that as soon as his daughter is of age, Lucifer wants Satan to step down from the throne," Alastor responded.

I opened my mouth and then shut it.

Alastor laughed, "Yeah I know, Lucifer's kind of a weirdo but then again, just about every citizen in Hell is either weird or just plain evil."

"I see, so if humans can't help a fledgling demon, then who can?" I asked.

"The answer is simple: only other demons can help a fledgling demon," Alastor said. "As a matter of fact, there are demons on Earth disguised as humans that can help you."

"Who?" I said.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Alastor looked at Walter. "You have a friend named Parker right?"

Walter nodded. "Yes." His eyes went wide. "You mean to tell me that Parker's a demon?"

"Yes indeedy!" Alastor said with pride. He pulled out a cell phone from his pocket and I gave him a look of disbelief. He tilted his head. "What?"

"Demons have cell phones?" I said.

"Yes we do," Alastor said. "We find them to be rather convenient than just using magic all of the time. You'll figure it out once you become a full demon."

"Oh," I said.

Alastor dialed Parker's phone number and when Parker picked up he had a short conversation with him and hung up. He smiled. "Parker has agreed to help you but we need to get moving as soon as possible."

"Wait a minute, what about Jenny and Jaxon? Shouldn't we let them know what's going on?" I asked.

Alastor shook his head. "Nope but just tell them you won't be home at least. Maybe you could leave a note?"

"I'll take care of it," Walter said. "Jenny's downstairs anyway."

"She's downstairs huh? Alright we'll be leaving through the basement of the house," Alastor said.

He snapped his fingers and I noticed that I wasn't in my pajamas anymore but I was wearing a black t-shirt and black pants. I looked over at Walter to see that he was wearing the same.

"Um, what about my dog?" I asked.

"Don't worry about him, he'll be fine," Alastor said. He opened the door to my room and helped me get to my feet.

We walked downstairs and Walter told Jenny that we were going somewhere and didn't know how long we'd be gone. She took it at face value and left the house. Once she was gone we headed towards the basement.

"Now let's see here…" Alastor said as he went over to a nearby wall. He tapped on one of the bricks and it lit up. He smiled. "Perfect!"

He pulled the brick out and a door opened leading to a secret passageway. He motioned for us to follow him. "Come along now, Parker will be meeting us at the end of this tunnel."

Walter and I exchanged a look and shrugged. We followed Alastor and as soon as we got towards the end of the tunnel the pain in my back acted up again. I fell over and passed out.

***

{Delilah}

The divorce proceedings went off without a hitch and Ben and I were married a week later. The news of my marriage didn't go over well with the media of course. They resorted to calling me all sorts of names including saying that I was a gold digging whore who only married Frank for his money.

I didn't deny it because it was the truth that painted me in a bad light. I was even getting death threats and Frank didn't care. He ultimately told me that I deserved it and wouldn't do anything to protect me and that I was on my own.

It was then that I knew I had to do something but I didn't know what.

After I married Ben I was moved over to his house and not the original house that I thought he had. The original house that I would normally meet up with him to have the affair. His actual home was a mansion. It was just as big as Frank's and just as well decorated.

I looked over when Ben led me up the stairs to the front door of the mansion and said, "Why didn't you tell me that you had this much money?"

Ben looked at me and frowned. "Why do you think? You only married Frank for his money and you straight up told me that you'd only marry me if I had more money than Frank. Do you think I'm going to tell a gold digging whore like you how much money I have?"

I deadpanned, "Good point."

Ben nodded. "Now follow me, I shall lead you to your room."

I followed him down a hallway and every room we passed by had a beautiful wooden door with symbols scratched on them. I didn't think anything of it until we stopped at a brown wooden door that had the symbol of a pentagram on it.

I gulped and hesitated once Ben opened the door. He raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter?"

"That symbol on the door isn't that a witch's symbol?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes. "It's just a symbol and this is your room whether you like it or not."

I stood there hesitating again and Ben grabbed my hand and pulled me into the room. I looked around the room and it was beautiful. There was a huge walk-in closet off to my right and the bathroom was off to my left. In the middle of the room was a giant King sized bed that was decorated with black sheets, comforters and black pillows. There was a flat screen Tv that hung on the wall in front of the bed.

"Wow, this room is beautiful!" I said with a smile.

Ben smiled back. "I'm glad you like it because you'll be staying here most of the time. You will not be allowed out unless you are accompanied by a guard. Now sit down on the bed, there's something that I need to give you."

"Okay," I said. I sat down on the bed wondering what he was going to give me.

He knelt down and grabbed my ankle and just right when I thought he was going to do something sexual he put a silver ankle bracelet. I looked down and the bracelet had a simple plain silver chain on it with a butterfly pendant at the center of it.

"It's beautiful," I said.

Ben smirked. "Uh-huh, it's about as beautiful as you are. Whatever you do, don't take this bracelet off. If you take it off there will be consequences."

"What kind of consequences?" I said in a flirting manner.

He laughed, "Oh honey, you don't want to find out. Now, I have some things to take care of and I'll see you when I have the time to."

He gave me a kiss and when he left the room I heard a click telling me that the door was locked. It left me wondering what type of marriage had gotten myself into that Ben felt the need to protect me by locking me in my room.

***

{Victoria}

The next time I opened my eyes I wasn't in my room. I was lying on the ground in what looked like a cave. It was possibly a dungeon because when I looked in front me there were what looked like bars.

"Well it's about time you woke up," I heard Alastor say.

I looked closer to see that he had a tray of food in his hands and raised an eyebrow because it wasn't your typical prison food. "Do prisoners here always get gourmet food?"

Alastor looked down at the food and laughed, "Really? You think steak, potatoes and lobster is gourmet food?"

I nodded. "Yes, because steak and lobster are expensive and most people can't afford it. Anyway, why am I in a dungeon?"

Alastor walked into the dungeon and set the tray of food at the table. "Well remember how I said you were a fledgling demon? The reason you're here is because when you shed your skin you'll be a danger to people around you. Only experienced people will be able to handle you. So before everything gets started I suggest you eat something."

Alastor left and I shrugged as I sat down to eat.

***

I opened my eyes again and couldn't figure out when I fell asleep. The last thing I remembered was eating and that was it. It made me realize that the food was drugged.

"Seriously Alastor?" I growled. "You fucking drugged me?"

"I wouldn't worry so much about being drugged and take a look around you," Alastor said.

I did as I was told and saw that I was hanging from a ceiling by my wrists and they were tied up with a silver chain.

"You're not a prisoner," Alastor said. "You're just being contained and in case you're wondering Walter's in the dungeon next to you and he'll be going through the same thing."

Before I could say anything I felt a sharp pain in my back. It was similar to the pain I've been having lately but worse. I screamed in pain.

"Annnd it begins!" Alastor said.