chapter 2

Life has not always been like this. It used to be green and peaceful and the forest outside our house and the river flowing near it. It's peaceful like that if you take out the hateful people from the equation. You see, my family was cursed by the hateful people from our town. They condemn us to be the pariahs. I think I'm the only one who escaped this destiny. I ran from home and never looked back. I keep tabs on them through my assistants. And the more I think about it now, the more I think that my family let me out, willingly. I miss my cousins. They can show me a good time better than this shit that they call an after party.

It's like groundhog day, you know. It keeps repeating each time! The blinding lights, the deafening sound of the "music," this song is freaking trash. It's getting old. I get to meet about hundreds of people who tell me, "Oh, Deia! I'm a fan of your music!" and will definitely be silenced by the question, "What's your favorite album of mine, then?" The Hollywood life is fake. I hate living in LA so I don't stay if I really don't have to.

So, I'm here in Kris's club, sitting in a sofa, watching people have fun, and drinking a glass of whisky. "The models are here." Kris is my partner in crime, my rock. But we're purely platonic. I know, I know. I know I said he's the king of my heart but that's just me being a fan-girl.

I rolled my eyes at him. It's basically the same routine every party. We hit up the models. Yeah, he likes models but would never take them seriously. This man needs a girl to hold him down but he never lets anyone do that. He's complicated.

"You getting tired of it?" I pouted at him. "I have a surprise for you." He shuffled my hair. "You're gonna like this." I highly doubt that.

But as the models enter our VIP section, I just have to say, I stand corrected.

Normal models walked into our place. But there was one who caught my eyes immediately. I've never seen an angel before but this is what I would imagine it would feel like. His beauty overthrows that of Adonis. Of Dorian Gray. Of Eros. You name it, and I can assure you he looks better. Stars pale next to him. And that's when it happened.

There are only a handful of moments in one's life that can take one's breath away. this is one of it for me. My heart raced like it's catching up with a formula 1 car. My mouth dry, my eyes felt like tearing up. He was it. My muse.

His eyes met mine. I never knew such beauty exists. His eyes were like burning embers, poured with cognac. They were fiery with passion.

apparuit iam beatitudo vestra.

"Deia. Deia. DEIA!" I snapped out of the daze. "This is Alejandro." I honestly couldn't care less. Kris smirked at me as I rolled my eyes at him. He smiled and pointed at where I was looking earlier. "And that, is Rafael Milanov." Rafael smiked at us. "Bro!" The guy came over to us.

Holy shit. He is a foot taller than I am. Thank Gods, I'm wearing high heels. "This is Deia Infernas, I'm sure you've heard of her." I smiled and extended my hand. Rafael accpted it. We shook hands but he did not let it go. "I hear her everywhere I go." Kris pretended like it's a bad thing. It's really not.

"Enchanté, baby doll." I froze as he kissed my hand.

I know that voice.

nooooo. It cannooooot be. It probably is hust my imagination. "Deia? You good? You look a little pale." I blinked hard and now it registered. Holy fuck.

"Yeah. I'm good. It's just a little crowded here."I pretended to be okay and totally not bothered by the creepy smirk Rafael is giving me right now.

"You should stay hydrated. Cheers?" I bit my lip and clinked my glass with him.

"To us! May we get what we want, May we get what we need, But may we never get what we deserve. Here's to the wine we love to drink, and the food we like to eat." Kris toasted, oblivious to my worries.

"To us." we repeated.

Everyone is laughing. I drak all of my liquor. I got asked to dance. Well, more like dragged but I felt an arm snake on my waist. A chilling voice I can never tell if it frightens me or excites me said, "Take care of yourself, baby doll. Debts cannot be paid postmortem, you know." I felt a bite on my ear. I think it's getting more and more confusing. Do i like it or am i afraid of it.