Chapter Three
Serenity
I know I am going to have to see whomever that man was again. He’s the reason I have this mark on me. I know it.
The next day, I head to the coffee shop at the same time hoping he will be there. Just as I thought, he is there again.
“You!” I say pointing at him.
He stands up with a grin.
“I got your usual,” he says, gesturing to the table.
“We need to talk,” I grumble.
“We do, but not here,” he states while grabbing everything. I follow him and realize we are walking towards my apartment.
“How do you know where I live?” I ask warily.
Am I about to invite another stalker into my life?
“I’ll explain everything in private,” he says and keeps on walking.
“If you are thinking of killing me, then you have to know I won’t go down easy,” I tell him, trying to sound more confident than I feel.
He lets out a chuckle that sends shivers down my spine.
Do not feel any attraction to this crazy guy. He could easily want to get you alone to chop you up and keep your organs in jars.
The walk to my apartment is quiet but, thankfully, it doesn’t take long.
When we are inside, he looks around as he sets everything down.
“Talk,” I say crossing my arms over my chest.
“You were marked for me as my bride and, when I touched you, the bond started to form,” he starts.
“What do you mean marked for you? As your bride? I’m not fucking marrying you,” I say, dropping my arms in shock.
“My father had wanted my brothers and me to find women, so he searched the earth to find you and six others that he thought would be perfect for us. He left that mark that looks like a bruise and, when it formed into a crown where I have mine, it’s proof that you are my bride.”
“You are crazy. There no such thing as someone being able to do that,” I snap at him.
“It’s true. I know this sounds crazy, but he didn’t tell me the mark would bring you pain, or I would have waited to touch you,” he states.
“Things like that don’t exist,” I say slowly.
He nods his head.
“I know it’s hard to believe. We have kept hidden for so many years to ensure that humans wouldn’t know we existed. It’s the only way we can freely travel here.”
“You are leaving something out,” I say.
“I don’t want to tell you everything right away because it’s clear you will try to have me committed, but I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that this is real,” he pleads.
“You said you have a mark in the same place. Prove it,” I say while crossing my arms over my chest.
He smirks at me as he lifts up his shirt and pulls his pants slightly down. It’s the exact same as mine, except it doesn’t say “Lust.” I move closer to see what it says.
I gasp and throw a hand over my mouth. “Why the fuck is my name on you?” I ask in shock and outrage.
“That appeared just after I met you. It didn’t always say that. It was blank before,” he says with a shrug.
“Then explain why mine says ‘Lust’ and not whatever the fuck your name is,” I say, feeling a headache starting to form.
“That’s something I will have to explain at another time,” he tells me.
I’m starting to get angry that he’s being so vague.
“What is your name?” I ask.
“My name is Silas,” he says.
Okay, that’s a pretty hot name.
“You are going to have to explain more to me. I’m freaking the fuck out here,” I tell him.
He lets out a defeated sigh.
“You will not believe me, and that’s why I don’t want to tell you,” he states.
“Try me,” I state.
“Okay, here goes nothing. My father is Lucifer,” he starts.
My eyes widen. “Lucifer as in…” I start, and Silas nods his head.
“As in the ruler of Hell. Yes, the very one,” he says.
I start to get freaked out. This guy thinks that his father is Lucifer, as in, the devil? He’s really fucking crazy. Why do the gorgeous ones always have to be crazy?
“He had informed my brothers and me that he wanted us to find his daughters; our brides. He had chosen seven women; one for each of us. The woman would have a bruise like mark on her body and, when we touched them, the bruise would turn into the family crest,” he explains.
“His daughters?” I stare at him in shock.
I’m a daughter to Lucifer?
“Yes. He looked all over the world for girls that he thought would be our perfect match. He said they would be immune to our gifts.”
“Gifts? What do you mean, what kind of gifts?” I ask. This is all sounding so bizarre.
“You have ‘Lust’ written on you because I’m the deadly sin of Lust. That’s my gift. I can control the lust in people when I am around them. Make them feel more or less. My six brothers are each one of the deadly sins,” he says.
I move over to sit down on my couch. This can’t be real. Can it?
This guy is telling me he’s one of the deadly sins. There is no way that shit is actually real.
“I know this all doesn’t sound real. I can see the doubt on your face, but I am telling the truth. When you are ready, I will show you my home and prove it to you,” he tells me.
I stay silent, thinking of everything he just told me.
There is no way what he is saying is true. I need to get out of here. I have to sneak away when he isn’t paying attention.
Silas
I can tell that she doesn’t believe me.
She has that look in her eyes that she’s just agreeing with whatever I say to make me happy.
How could I convince her without scaring the shit out of her?
Maybe the only way she will believe me is if she sees my home, but I know that once I have her there I won’t want her to leave.
I can already feel the pull of our bond.
Once she accepts that this if her life now, the easier it will all be.
She gives me a fake smile that I can see right through.
“How about you pick us up some food, and we talk about this more. It has just been a long time since I have had anything to eat,” she says, putting fake cheerfulness in her voice.
I pretend to go along with her plan, but I can tell she’s going to run. She won’t look me in the eyes, she keeps glancing towards the exit, and she seems to be shaky; but I need to see what she is going to do.
From the research I have done about my bride, I know that she moves every few months. I’m not sure why, but she always leaves in a hurry and leaves no trace. Thankfully, my father is who he is and was able to keep an eye on her.
From what I gathered, the mark always helps keep an eye on his children. He had them on all of us when he made us so that he could always find us, so he did the same to our brides.
No matter where my bride takes off to, she can’t hide from me. Her fate has already begun tying itself to me.
This seems like it will be more difficult than I had anticipated to get her to fall for me. As someone who has never had to work for anyone’s attention, I find myself enjoying the challenge. At the same time, I also can’t wait until I can hold her in my arms and kiss her whenever I want to.
“Is there anything you want in particular?” I ask, playing along.
“Anything is fine. Burgers?” she says nervously.
I nod my head and leave the building. I don’t go for burgers though. I stand in the shadows and wait for her to run.
My father had always said to follow your gut and that’s what I’m doing. I can’t help but smirk when I see her glancing both ways outside to see if I am around.
She makes quick work down a couple of blocks and gets into a beat-up car.
I shake my head at my her before deciding to head back home until she makes it to her destination. I’m sure my brothers and father will want an update.
Of course, everyone happens to be in the main room when I pop in.
“Finally. We have been waiting forever to hear how you’ve failed again,” Gareth says with a grin.
“I told her the truth. She had seen the mark and demanded to know. I had no choice, and she asked me to leave to get food so that she could run,” I tell them with a sigh and drop down onto a chair.
It only takes a couple of seconds before laughter fills the room.
“I never thought it would be so entertaining to see you fail at this. My brother who always got anyone he wanted has to actually work for his bride,” Fredrick says through his laughter.
I shake my head. “It’s difficult; she’s guarded and scared, but I know that once she lets me in, it will be worth it.”
“That’s why you will be the perfect husband for her. You will have the patience to break down those walls but, once her walls are down, you will always appreciate everything she gives you,” my father states.
“I know you won’t tell me why she is protecting herself, but I have a feeling she will tell me when she trusts me. You said our brides have all gone through challenges, so I know life hasn’t been easy for her,” I tell my father.
“When are you going to see her again?” Otis asks.
“Whenever she gets to her destination. I’ll show up with burgers just like requested. She already knows about us, so I don’t need to pretend I just ran into her somewhere,” I tell him with a shrug.
“What if that makes her run again?” Jasper asks quietly.
“She can try, but I’ll have to explain to her that I will always be able to find her. She will see in time that she doesn’t need to be afraid of me,” I tell my family.
“I’m glad you were the first one to find your bride; then I can see what not to do,” Gareth says with a grin.
“Laugh all you want, but your time will come and you will see these brides won’t just fall at our feet,” I tell him.
I look over at my dad, and he’s smirking and giving a nod. Yeah, I had a feeling he made sure it wouldn’t be easy for us; and it seems like he is quite enjoying this all.
“When she is ready, bring her home,” my dad says as he gets up and leaves the room, chuckling as he does.
“He’s having too much fun with this,” Otis grumbles.
I nod my head. “Yeah, he seems happier and lighter now that we are looking for our brides.”
“He has been waiting for this for a long time,” Jasper says.
I agree with my brother before I head to my wing. I can feel the changes that are about to come. These women will make our family stronger, but I have a feeling we will need that strength for something more.