Demon's Path

Chapter 9 Death of an Aristocrat

I woke up in a moving carriage, Father staring at me intensely and I was in Elijah's arms. "Oh, my lady is awake." Elijah grinned.

"Zera, you know better than to fall asleep in the carriage." Father scolded.

"My lord, I was the one who had her fall asleep." Elijah covered for me.

"I would like to talk with you later Zera." Father's starred with his anger ever growing.

"Y-yes F-Father." I almost whispered, but my punishment would have been more severe if I had, but mostly my throat ached.

The carriage ride home was silent and the air was heavy with tension, once we arrived Father left to his studies and waited for me there. "My lady, shall I go with you?" Elijah asked, but was he being protective, or possessive?

"No, he'll just send you away, wait for me in my room." I said and saw the servants cleaning, I walked to Jenaveve. "Jenaveve." She turned to me.

"Yes my lady." She asked, her usual smile was gone from her face, was she that affected?

"How is your back doing?" I asked politely but with a regular tone.

"My lady what did he do to you?" She asked, I panicked.

I attempted to hide my hesitation with a stern tone, "Who are you talking about?"

"Your father..." She said and I looked to the side and left to Father's study before he had to call for me.

I knocked on the door of his study, "Come in." Father called and I entered. "What did you do with Elijah?" Father set down his papers and glared at me.

"Nothing, we went to the bookstore and I got tired, we went back to the carriage and he got me to fall asleep." I said hesitantly, what was he thinking? What was he getting at?

"Don't lie to me Zera." Father pressed and I began to shake.

"I-I'm not lying, I swear Father." I panicked.

Father stood instantly and grabbed my throat his grip was strong, his eyes were filled with rage, I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I felt a hot tear run down my cheek, he slammed me into the wall. "You damned brat, your mother died, and you can't be the least bit grateful to be alive!" He shouted, his breath held a hint of alcohol, I froze.

He grabbed the bottom half of my dress and ripped it off, then ripped away my corset, to my horror, he had an evil grin on his face. I cried, "F-Father, please..don't do this! Not again!" I begged him, I couldn't handle this, not again.

"Don't beg you disgusting, worthless whore." He said angered, my suspicions were correct, but I nearly cried as he undressed himself. I tried to escape and I cried out, but all faded to black.

~♥~

"My lady?" I heard a distant Elijah, but my eyelids were heavy, my head hurt, and my arm was out of it's cast, I knew because I didn't feel it wrapped around my arm. "My lady, please wake up." Elijah repeated, his voice was becoming clearer.

"E-Elijah?" I asked, I managed to open an eye, but everything was white.

"My lady are you alright?" Elijah asked, his worried face became clear in the white room.

"Wh-what happened?" My eyes closed, I couldn't stand the brightness of the white room. I felt Aviana find her way to my side, her tongue tickling my arm.

"I am afraid your father has gone too far once again." Elijah said plainly, my eyes opened and I felt the tears fall. "My lady?"

"Damn that bastard!" I cried out and threw the ragged wolf doll at the wall. "Damn him, damn him, damn him! DAMN HIM!" I shrieked kicking on the bed.

"My lady, make a contract with me, I didn't want to have one such as you being this young in a contract. However, you are in desperate need, and other demons are beginning to swarm you. Make a contract with me and I will obey you and make whatever you want happen, whatever you wish, I can make it happen, sign a contract with me my lady." I looked at Elijah in complete shock, I heard Aviana be angered, hissing at Elijah.

"Could you free me from my father?" I looked at Elijah expressionless.

"Yes." He answered and Aviana circled me and covered my mouth. "My lady!" He yanked Aviana off of me and threw her out the window. "She doesn't want you to make the contract, quickly give me your answer and your terms."

At his words I thought for a moment, "My terms...would be...my father...he must suffer until my twelfth birthday, then I will be taking over his affairs and I will find my purpose, those are my terms." I looked at him with pure determination in my heart, voice, and soul.

"Once your goals are reached, your soul will be mine. Is that understood?" Elijah said, I became irritated.

"Of course, just make the damn contract!" I nearly screamed at him.

He put his hand on the side of my neck, his eyes turned ice blue, I gasped and I felt as if he was slowly draining me of consciousness and energy. "It's done...my lady..." With those being Elijah's last words, I faded into darkness.