14 He Calls Himself Laurent

𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞

"Who the fuck was that?" Wynona asked as we all watched the fire died down, I was still staring at the pentagram, angry that Laurent was too early. I knew he was coming but not this fast. I had plans but Laurent coming here and Alarik confirming it meant it was too early.

I unclenched and clenched my fists, all these contracts I have, served a purpose but it's not enough. It's not enough. Time was not my friend now, especially with Laurent walking around in the mortal realm.

I just hoped that Alarik finds what I asked for before it's too late. I can't protect myself from Laurent but I can outsmart him.

"That was a royal demon," Taran said. He may not well educate with the royals but all demons could feel the royals, I was told that royals had this aura of predatory power that almost the same with the princes. I knew Taran felt my power from the moment he saw me but he didn't say anything, which I'm grateful for him. "Someone powerful but I don't know from. I'm not well versed in the underworld realm."

"I need more contracts," I muttered to myself.

Wynona looked confused. "What?"

I'm doing this for everyone, so everyone can be safe when Laurent comes for me. Wynona. Bellona. Eulia. My girls. Deimos. Taran. As long as I have what I needed, they'll be safe when he comes to me.

Deimos can survive anything but not from the likes of Laurent. Laurent was a cruel bastard who loved to see people suffer. I've seen his handiwork.

"Cerise?" Wynona called out as she went to touch my shoulder.

My train of thoughts broke when she shook me. "Yes?" I blinked at her.

"You okay? You look paler than I am when I'm a wraith." She said even though, she added a joke. It felt dry to me.

"I'm fine."

"Who was he?" Wynona said to me, almost a mother-like.

The tone of her voice made me miss my own mother. The way her hands braid my hair, humming while telling stories of my father and my siblings would always ask a question about him. It's been too long since I saw them, seeing Alarik was like a shotgun to my heart. Shooting me a lot of memories back at home.

"Former lover," I said.

Wynona didn't like that I was too curt, none of my girls knew I was royal; it just didn't happen. I didn't get a chance to tell them and let them believe I was a low common demon under the succubus cabal.

Keeping this a secret won't end good for all of us, it's time to come clean—well, on most parts.

I can't tell them the whole truth but I could tell them some.

"Cerise, you know I won't push you but how do you know a royal demon?" I could hear the fear in her voice, I knew most of my girls had suspicions but I never gave them an answer until they forgot about it and move on.

"I think it's best if I tell you that when Bellona and others are back."

__________

Back at the estate, I had called in for an emergency meeting; didn't care that I was pulling the girls from their contracts because this was important. I had the girls and Taran sat in the office, all of them waiting for my announcement because I rarely do call them off their duty or whatever it is they do right now.

"So, I'm calling for this unexpected meeting for three specific things. First, we have a new member of the family. A cambion named Taran, come here sweetie, and introduce yourself to the girls." I motioned to Taran who looked surprised to be the center of attention. His eyes were nearly bulging from its sockets, while all heads turn towards him all watching him.

"Hi," he said, once he was beside me.

The girls waved. "So this cabal consists of twelve girls and you. You're the only cambion and boy here, so far."

"Way to add more pressure," he murmured. The girls snickered and chuckled under their breath, they knew I was messing with this guy. Every new member faced this initiation.

"Since you decided to stay with us, your room will be yours to decorate. I don't care if you're nineteen and Mr. Hotshot to other girls but we have a strict rule of never have someone in here unless they are your mate or food source and you have attained permission from me. In short, no one night stands." I explained to him.

Taran's face was beet red and he was fidgeting in his spot. He just nodded.

"Good, you'll get a chance to talk with the other girls once this meeting is done." I clasped my hands together and rested it against my collarbone. Taran didn't waste time and he went back to his seat. "Second, we need a group name because calling you girls makes me sound like your pimp."

I saw in their eyes that they didn't expect that from me, some of them frowned, some of them choked on their drink, and some of them looked confused. I was slowly removing any tension I have in the room, everyone was curious why we were all here. I get that. I'm just diffusing the tension. "I was thinking Fembots or Rack Pack but seeing that we have a guy here, well made it weird. After this meeting, you could always write down your suggestions and we'll pick our names."

I'm glad that everyone was patient with me because I would have snapped at me if I were them. "Thanks for keeping up with my bullshit anyway," I added. "Now, lastly, we all know our contracts with each other. I cannot stress enough about what I'm about to say to you. I know the contract forbids you to tell anyone but I just wanted you to know that I had to add it as a safety precaution for everyone in this house."

"We all know why you added that we already accepted that and we're all thankful for the help you gave us when we needed help. We're here for you until the end." Bellona said the girls nodded in acknowledgment.

That's what I actually feared they would say and do.

"I'm grateful for you guys, I just hope you understand why I had to do it."

Bellona nodded, gesturing for me to continue.

I went straight for the kill. "I'm the Eldest Daughter of Avyana from the Asmodeus's Bloodline."

The whole room was quiet, tense, and uncomfortable. They had to know who they're bond to, I trusted all of them but this knowledge could put them in danger.

Bellona broke the silence, "I think I need tequila."

Snapping my fingers, a quick burst of flames erupted in the middle of the table, and bottles of alcohol stood there waiting.

"So, that snapping fingers trickery is not only for contracts?" Bellona said as she reached over and poured herself a drink.

"Yes,"

"Let me get this straight," Wynona said, Bellona downed the drink in one single gulp. The other girls grabbed their own drink, even, Kiana—a Black Dog—took a bottle and just went straight for the kill. "You're one of the Asmodeus children? A royal succubus, the heir?"

"That one."

"Royal Highness," Taran bowed—it was a horrible curtsy but I didn't care.

I glared at him. "Don't call me that, stand up."

His eyes were wary and he quickly regained his composure, unsure of how to handle the information.

"Why are you here?" Verena asked the question she yearned to ask since we met.

I sat on a chair near me and leaned back, crossing my legs. "Naïveté." I shrugged.

"You left everything for this realm?"

"It was a spontaneous decision, to be honest, I was smothered with pressure and royal responsibilities that I saw a chance of new life."

"You don't miss it?"

I sighed, remembering the good things I left behind. "Sometimes," I said with a ghost smile on my lips.

The people in this room knew more than Deimos, the girls knew who Aiyana was to me, they knew I had a lover from Lucifer's line.

But they didn't know Laurent.

As much as it pains me to tell them this, their safety was my priority. I brought this upon them when they met me, the least I could do was protect them from my mistakes and past.

"There's a man after me, he's no other man who has held a grudge for me. This one's different. He won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"You," Taran said as he put things together, the only thing he doesn't know was my connection to Laurent.

The girls frowned, confused how this one guy put the fear in me. He's everything I avoid and never speaks of for decades.

"He calls himself Laurent, a sadistic motherfucker, he's determined to win." I saw Bellona took out a tablet and began typing. "We met as children, he harbored an obsession in me as we grow up. I never realized how it got worst until it was too late."

"He's a Royal," Verena whispered in realization but everyone heard it.

"Yes. He has long connections even in this realm. I advise you all to take caution steps from now on. He may target one of you to get to me. Don't engage him a fight because you will lose—not because I'm telling you're weak but he has no morals. He only cares for himself." I rubbed my fingers in my temples, before summoning his picture I kept so I'll never forget his damn face.

The picture slowly lowered on the table and everyone leaned to stare at the frowning man in the picture.

I remembered the day that picture was taken, it was the annual gathering of the royals, and Kiernan who was an avid lover of photography took his camera and began taking pictures.

He took a lot of pictures, we didn't saw Laurent for years because his father sent him to kill the rising rebellion from their region and it took them years to end it.

I was young, I didn't remember and recognized Laurent.

From what Kiernan told me was he took that photo while Daleka and a Daughter of Leviathan were yappering to Laurent.

The whole night Laurent watched me, I entertained his attention because I was always attracted to stronger and powerful men. When Laurent finally approached me, he was awkward which at that time I found it cute, then we spent the night talking.

We enjoyed each other's company but didn't spend the night together because I already enjoyed Alarik and his toys.

He never forced himself on me, he was actually decent.

The gathering ended without any problems, Laurent would then spend his free time with me at first, I thought he just wanted to be friends. He accompanied me to some places for weeks until one day, he found me fucking Alarik in the library of my estate.

Hell broke loose in... Hell.

Laurent almost killed Alarik until my grandmother had to intervene.

The Laurent who became my friend died within that day and a very dangerous Laurent showed himself to me that day.

To say Lucifer's cabal was angry was an understatement, they were prideful people and knowing that the eldest son was almost killed in the midst of throes of passion. The Lucifer cabal almost declared war against Laurent's cabal. If it weren't for the Asmodeus, Mammon, and Beelzebub's cabal backing Lucifer, Laurent's family wouldn't declare that the eldest was dealt with.

Since then, Asmodeus and Lucifer cabal grew closer since there was no law to not allow both cabals to be in a relationship, it ended up making Laurent look bad. Everyone in Hell knew Asmodeus's succubus were horny creatures so they understood why I was fucking Alarik.

But there was a law that no blood shall be shed by the other cabal in the respective territories.

Laurent was let off the hook easily than others would be.

After that, the following years would be horrible for me.

"He's handsome," Wynona commented.

She's not lying, he was good looking for a psychopath bastard.

Laurent was like Alain Delon in his youthful days but slightly more muscled than Alain.

All royals were attractive, it was one of our weapons, our beauty was for disarming weaker creatures and humans, but their beauty couldn't compare to our cabal.

"This is Laurent, don't let his charms fool you. The blood signature you have also given you the ability to be immune in any form of compulsion." I told them. Taran stared at the back of his wrist and the mark shone. "Later, I'll teach you all how to summon me. Summon me when you badly need me."

I didn't bother to ask them if they want end the contract we had because I needed to be sure Laurent was no problem for them once the deal was over.

The girls now were informed, now the problem was what to tell Deimos without spilling everything to him.