The week flew by without any memorable events. The looming presence following Nyx's every move ceased, and she didn't cross paths with any 'angels' or 'demons'.

"Are you gonna see him tonight?" Selene asked, scooping a tablespoon of Nutella into her salivating mouth.

"Yeah. At his club. So it'll be full of people, and I'm sure he won't kill me."

They sat in their living room on their thread-worn, third-hand couch with an old rom-com playing quietly in the background. "Do you want me to come?" Selene asked, pulling a face that showed she very much did not want to come.

"No, Selene. I'll be fine. I might need to borrow an outfit, though." Nyx didn't want to look too sexy, but she couldn't go to a club looking like a frumpy rat.

"Why? You have plenty of good dresses."

"Yeah, but I want to look more than good." A blush crept up Nyx's cheeks, and Selene frowned.

"Sounds like you aren't taking this Demon thing seriously. Nyx, come on!"

"I am!" Nyx defended quickly. "I am, okay? I just want to look nice. Please, will you help?"

"Ugh, fine."

After a few minutes, they settled on an emerald, velvet formfitting dress with black pumps with forest green trim to match. It was fast approaching nightfall, and Nyx changed, letting Selene apply a gentle layering of make-up before she handed her another essential item. Her silver cross necklace.

"I'm not wearing that, Selene. It might get lost."

"Please, okay. You don't have to believe or anything. It just makes me feel better. I bought it for myself when I was little, so if you lose it, it's not dire, okay. Please?"

She held up the dainty chain and cross- no bigger than a thumbnail and fastened it around Nyx's neck. The instant it touched her skin, she felt a tingling burning sensation mixed with a sense of calm.

"What's this made of? I feel like I'm reacting to the metal."

Selene clucked her tongue and looked beneath the chain. "There's nothing there. Just go now, alright? I don't want you to be late for your Demon date. Uber's almost here too."

Nyx rolled her eyes with a smile and embraced her friend. "I'll see you later."

"You better."

The ride to Demonology in the dark went quickly; before she knew it, she was standing in front of the building staring at the red neon sign.

"Miss Knight?" The same bouncer from the last week called out to her, ignoring the growing line around the block.

"Yes?" She wandered closer, tentatively reaching inside her small clutch for her I.D.

"That won't be necessary. Master is waiting by the bar."

A shudder trailed down her spine. That's the second person to call him Master. Is he some kind of enslaver?

Her thought got pushed down as she walked into the thumping darkness. This time the space felt smaller, more suffocating, and she almost buckled when she pushed past the curtain. The bodies gyrating to the strobing lights sickened her instantly, and she walked the perimeter of the room looking for Neo.  Jostled by many dancing bodies, Nyx kept her hands carefully tucked beneath her arms. One stray finger brushed against a sweaty body, and she saw a blackened, rotting soul. "Oh, God..." When her eyes went to find the soul's owner, her gaze dropped to their shadow and shook, seeing dozens of shadowy outlines seeping away from their owners against the light of the strobing lasers. That's weird. Kinda like what Selene said. But, Demons aren't actually real. Right? 

She smiled nervously at the man, and his sharp teeth gleamed as he grinned back at her. She quickly turned and shuffled away.

Pulling her phone from her clutch, she dialled Neo and held the device to her head, plugging her finger in the other ear. The answering machine picked up quickly, and she left a breathy message. "Hi, it's Nyx. Where are you? Call me back...."

She dodged a few more wayward limbs and pressed herself against the cold walls, her breath starting to quicken. Her mouth dried as she looked around and couldn't see past the giants. "Excuse me?" she called out to a woman beside her, who casually glowered into the crowd. The woman's eyes were dark, but her inch-long hair glowed white under the black light above them. Her skin was melanin-rich, and her leather corset and pants left little to the imagination. Nyx quickly regretted bothering the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. "Sorry."

"What is it?" Her voice held a velvet depth that ended in a harsh bite.

Nyx withdrew slightly. "I-I'm looking for the bar."

"Straight ahead," she grumbled, jutting her head through the thickest part of the crowd.

"Oh, uh, thanks!" Nyx yelled, staring ahead but not seeing. Her back felt glued to the wall, and she resisted the temptation to slide down into a puddle on the floor.

Neo, where are you?

Mustering her very quickly dwindling courage, Nyx stepped forward. Once. Twice. Shadows seemed to leap at her, and her dark companion returned with a vengeance. It felt like dozens of evil eyes stared holes into her skin. Her pace quickened, but the bar was nowhere in sight. Then, turning to retreat, she found the wall, and the woman had disappeared. She stood stranded in the sea of bodies. "Neo?" she whimpered. This is such a bad idea.

Turning back to what she hoped was the direction of the bar, she shuffled forward when an elbow connected with her cheekbone, and she staggered back into a sweat-drenched body. Rough hands shoved back, and her heel buckled, causing her to drop to her knees. The vibration from the concrete clacked her teeth, and she bit back a sob as more bodies bumped into her. 

On all fours, Nyx tried to stand when a stranger's heels dug deeply into her hand, and a hard kick in the ribs took the breath from her lungs. Tears of pain poured from her eyes as she desperately tried to stand. Bringing one foot beneath her, she lifted her head and had no time to move as a kneecap drove into her nose, eliciting a terrifying crack. Nyx's eyes rolled back, and she vaguely remembered thinking about the man at the bar waiting for her. Neo. Neo Mephistopheles. Help me.

As if suddenly dropped into a body of water, Nyx felt like she was floating. Warm copper poured into her mouth, and she coughed, turning her head to stop the torrent from her nose going down her throat. A garbled voice filled her ears as she floated upright; her eyes still squeezed shut from the throbbing pain.

"Miss Knight? Nyx, answer me." A gentle brush along the edge of her nose made her tremble, but instead of blinding agony, the pain eased.

All she could muster was a weak whimper, and she heard a string of curses in her ear. Then, all sound ceased as large and tender hands embraced her. She buried her face into a warm crook, keeping her nose and bruised cheekbone clear of any obstacle.

"Yekai ut ka! Yek ut te. Vekai."

The strange guttural speak from the man above her felt directed outward, but when her tear-filled eyes finally opened, they were alone. Neo's eyes seemed to be aflame. The pupil was bright and glowing, like a miniature sun, until he gazed down at her bloody face and softened. "Can you move?"

"Hurts."

"I know. I'll take you upstairs and clean you up."

She nodded slightly as he stood, clasping her tightly in his arms. The sharp pain in her ribs stopped her attempt to hold him, and he clicked his tongue. "Don't worry, Nyx. I won't let you fall."

This time around, Nyx let herself settle into Neo's bed, feeling safe and secure under its weighted bedding.

Her nose had stopped bleeding and, surprisingly, didn't appear broken. Neo ran a hand across her battered ribs and clenched his jaw. "They are very bruised, but your bones are not broken. You will heal."

"Thanks," Nyx mumbled, staring at his beautiful face. All furious angles and edges, she just wanted to touch him. He saved her again, and she couldn't fathom him being a Demon. He was far too kind. Neo's brows rose, and his mouth formed a grim line before he got up and disappeared into the bathroom.

He returned with a wet cloth and gently wiped her face clean of blood and smeared mascara. His gentleness warmed her, and she stared at his full lips. If I didn't look and feel like shit right now, I would totally kiss you.

Neo cleared his throat and avoided eye contact. "I have a conference ball this Saturday and need a date."

"I think I need to go to the hospital because I must be concussed. Did you say ball? Like gowns and dancing, ball?" I don't own a freaking gown. What is this, the regency era?

He brushed her hair away from her face and gave her a once-over. "Yes. I will pay for anything you need for it before you tell me you don't have the right attire."

Nyx sighed, but a rush of giddiness surged through her. She came to confront him about being a demon, not to accept an invitation to a ball like some Disney princess.

"You should stay here tonight. To recover. I will leave-"

"No!" Nyx negated him far too quickly, the level of enthusiasm drawing a pained gasp. "I want you to stay, please. There are too many people around, and someone might come in or something."

"I can assure you," Neo started, settling beside her, "no one would dare come in here unless they had a death wish. Those Vekaiae oaj are all banished anyway."

"What does that mean? What language are you speaking?" The timbre of the strange language had Nyx shivering. Its guttural tones and harshness seemed, unlike anything she had ever heard.

"The language of the dead. Its meaning doesn't concern you, just know it isn't particularly kind."

Nyx smiled, still confused and patted the bed beside her. "Stay here, okay?"

"I have places to-"

"Please, Neo. Don't make me beg." Her mouth felt so dry as he rounded the bed and sat with his back facing her. Her vision was blurry, but she swore she could see his shadow undulating and squirming beneath him.

"What are you?" Sleep had almost taken her consciousness, but she held on by a thread as her saviour faced her. Her hand lay limply on the duvet, and he brushed his fingers against hers.

"You know what I am. You just need to accept it."

Nyx heard the words, but it was too late. Sleep embraced her. 

A/N

She knows the answer, but will she accept it?

Who knows... well, I do. Mwahahaaaa