Delia stared at the mirror and hoped for the drama like makeover that moment. But it was not happening to her anytime soon or ever. It has been five days since she started a part-time job. It was true that the job was sucking the soul out of her. She could barely rest thanks to her insomnia and her overtired mind and body, she spent her day at the college, evening at the job and night time trying to complete her tasks and homework. Being a scholarship student she didn't want to mess it all up.

This was the best she could do for the dinner she was excited for.

"I can still lend you the dress but I can't help with those dark circles." Wendy offered as she herself dressed up for her weekend party with her classmates and friends.

"Um no, I think this is fine." She said pretty sure it was not.

"Who is picking you up?" Wendy asked as she skilfully put on some mascara.

Delia just looked at all the makeup on the dressing table in front of them, all of which belonged to Wendy. She could never afford any of it and thankfully she didn't desire. The best thing she had was a chapstick and eyeliner. And all that was already applied on her face that lacked luster.

Wendy did help her straighten her hair which was a mess before that since they were wavy and not in an organized glossy kind of way. She chose the blue blouse since it did make her eyes pop out and paired it up with one good pair of black skinny high waist jeans and a pair of black formal ballets.

"You look like you are going for a job interview for media." Wendy gave her a once over.

"That's the best I can do."

"Can you click a picture for me so I can see your prince charming at least," Wendy said.

"He is just helping me out," Delia said feeling that Wendy was exaggerating a bit and that was when she didn't even tell her about the kiss on the cheek that still made her heart thump.

"Fine, if you say so."

And with a sly smile and a see you later, she left.

She recognized the black car while she was waiting outside the studio after her shift at work. The lady at the reception desk was glaring at her for not working overtime today but she didn't really care at the moment as adrenaline made her jittery thinking about the dinner which in no sense was a date and yet it felt like one.

Paulo stepped out and gave her a kind smile and opened the back door for her and she noticed that it was empty.

"I will sit at the front." She said feeling guilty about making Paulo feel like he was her driver.

"No, please make yourself comfortable at the back seat." He said.

"I insist Paulo. I feel weird if I sit back." She said giving him a sheepish smile.

He gave in and opened the front door for her instead.

"So where are we going?" She asked starting the casual conversation.

"You will see." And with that, the talk was ended.

He drove in silence and the chaos in her heart worsened with passing second. Why was she even this nervous?  It was just a thank you dinner. 

She tried to enjoy the scenery outside when she realized that they were climbing up the hill. She should be feeling slightly terrified of meeting an almost stranger but she only felt excited. When they crossed the cafe sign, she knew the dinner was in his house. She felt a little deflated at the thought because she was supposed to buy him dinner.

But she didn't say anything to that as they drove for a little longer while Paulo remained silent all this while which was good because she herself was not a talker.

"Miss Miller we are here, you can get down. I need to take the car to park." He said and she nodded.

She stepped out in front of a large iron gate which again opened into a stone walkway surrounded by garden much similar to the cafe decorations. Crossing the garden there was a patio with a single white chair made out of straws was placed paired with a wooden small table. There were a wine glass and a book placed on the table.

And just out of curiosity she picked up the book and started reading the summary. It was titled, Myths about Pandora. But before she could even read half the summary, the door opened and she looked up to find her host waiting for her.

"Welcome, Delia." He said but his tone didn't convey the emotions.

Maybe because he was closed off person and didn't like people in his home.

"I remember saying I am buying dinner as a thank you." She said trying to act normal in front of a man as handsome as him.

Even though his attire was just black trousers and a plain white shirt, he looked unreal. She tried not to act awkward or let the heat rise in her cheek as he stared at her intently as she walked in with him.

The last boy she had a crush on dated her for a bet while the rest of the life she was either hated or ignored, she had no idea why someone like him would be so willing to help her. That could only mean that he was a man with a good heart.

"Now what would you like to have, Paulo can get it for us and as you said you can pay." He said but he realized she was looking at the house with awe.

It was mostly just cream walls with few paintings and a large wooden shelf covering one side of the room. There were a couch and a TV with a wooden table in between. Electric lamps hung on the wall instead of simple light bulbs.

"That is so beautiful." She pointed out at the large shelf.

"Come sit." He said and she followed linking her fingers together so that she could calm down a bit.

He went and sat down on the couch and after a slight hesitation she sat down too but a distance.

Devian noticed everything about her and even though everything was almost similar, there were some differences that caught his eyes. 

The body posture, she did not hold herself up like the Queen did with pride. She looked tired and ... sad. She could not make eye contacts and socially awkward. And even though there were just two of them she didn't even look at him staring at anything else just to escape making eye contact with him. She had a soft look to her.

But then she cleared her throat like she was rehearsing what to say in her head.

"Umm...so I have an idea. Why not I cook for you instead?" She said with a dual plan in her head.

To cook and to escape his presence because she realized she couldn't interact with a guy like him and not make a fool out of herself. 

And that surprised Devian, this was not how it suppose to happen. He was supposed to charm her slowly but for some reason, she couldn't interact with people well like she had a guard up. He couldn't let her walk in his personal space and cook for him. No one ever did that. Paulo always ordered him something and that would be all.

"I don't think I will have anything you can cook." He said trying to make excuse now.

"That's okay. I can just ask Paulo to get it if that's okay." She said with a small scared smile.

"That would be okay," Paulo answered as he entered the house and placed the key on the table.

Devian gritted his teeth in anger but couldn't refuse her outright.

She gave Paulo a list who rushed out and then they were left alone again.

"So how do you like the job?" Devian asked to get to know her if he was to make her fall in love.

That brightened up her face and Devian tried not to think about that.

"It's good actually. And it's helping me to learn more types of artwork and managing it. Thank you again for that." She said.

Then she rummaged her brain for a question that she wanted to ask, "So do you have a girlfriend."

And as soon as the dumb question was out of her mouth, she stabbed her brain mentally zillion times. Why the hell would she ask that? She noticed Devian's lips corner slightly lift at the question.

"No, not now. Do you have someone you like?" He asked even though he knew there was no one.

"No, well I always have someone I like but I don't have a boyfriend." She said.

"Why?" He asked realizing that he wasn't supposed to ask the why.

"I don't know." She gave a shaky laugh, "Maybe I am not likable enough."

And with that, she lifted the water of glass in front of her and drank so that she doesn't have to look at him after what she just said and hoping that he would not suddenly dislike her now.

"But you are beautiful." He whispered to himself not understanding her lack of male suitors.

No matter her cunning nature or her betrayal, the Queen was always beautiful.

"No one has helped me as much as you did." She confessed with a sheepish smile.

He looked at her with a slight tilt of head as if deciphering a code.

"So thank you." She said and her ocean blue eyes sparkled under the light.

Devian looked at them and felt an ache in his heart he can't explain and he blurted out, "You have beautiful eyes."

And hid back amusement as he literally saw her jaw drop in surprise. That clearly meant she was never complimented and she didn't know how to take them. And then he snapped back to sense as the door opened and Paulo walked in.

What the hell was this? He brought her here for a reason and this was not it.

"Things you requested Miss Miller." He said.

She happily grabbed the packets and rushed off to kitchen and Devian felt his heart constrict in suffocation of the things happening in his house.

Paulo guided her to the kitchen and then left her after telling him locations of other things she might need.

Devian leaned against the kitchen door and noticed her pulling out the ingredients. She was making Spaghetti Pasta. How in the world did she guess that he liked it? Was it Paulo?

Delia turned to him to ask him to go and sit but her breath was caught in her throat as she looked at him. She felt weak in her knees just by looking at him and for a second she wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips. She shook her head at the ridiculous thought and smile at the fine piece of masculine beauty in front of her.

"You can go and sit while I make the food." She said and he nodded with a smirk that made her heart crash into her ribcage.

~*~

She hummed as she cooked and her sound in the house was haunting him. She can't just walk in and try to rule his life again. No matter how naive she pretended to be, she was after all an incarnation of the Queen. He trusted the Queen before she cursed him for life.

The empty silent house was filled with the scent of delicious food, a peculiar fragrance of that girl and the sound of her humming. The house felt less like a lavish prison and more like a home. But Devian couldn't allow that luxury in his life, he had one goal and that was revenge and getting his mortal life back.

So he decided to the guy who was containing all the black power in him.

With a casual snap of his fingers, he caused the microwave wire to caught fire. She didn't even realize as she worked to finish her dish, adrenaline rushing through before she could bring the final product to Devian. She was happy as he tasted the food when she felt the heat rising behind her.

She turned to see and a scream escaped her mouth as she saw the slow fire rising behind her. Her mind started going numb and threat started building. And she was in the car with her parents now, the hot flames of fire surrounded the car as six-year-old Delia cried while her parents lay unconscious, blood on their forehead. 

Something was aching as she tried to breath and she cried for help in his weak voice but no one was coming to help her. Breathing was getting difficult for her as she gasped sharply but it felt like there were thorns in her lungs and piercing pain shot through her body as she was back to reality caught in the fire in the kitchen.

She gasped for breath as tears rolled down her eyes but she couldn't move. Her body was frozen with a panic attack and she was terrified.

~*~

Devian thought he this would bring him relief and that he would enjoy seeing her in pain. As the flames started getting bigger, her form shrunk lower. Her eyes begged for help as she cried and he realized she was distraught. She was not here but reliving some painful memory. He thought that he would scare her and make her realize how living with those fears are like.

But it was far worse for and he realized she couldn't rush out. She had a panic attack and was frozen at the point.

As fear gripped her body, it gripped his as well. He was afraid that she would die as he rushed inside lifting the girl up in her arms and brought her out of the fire he himself set caused. 

The girl was trembling in his arms before she fainted.

Honestly, how do you feel about Devian at the moment and the pace of the story?

If you hate him, trust me it's not getting better anytime soon! xD

Also usual rantings:

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3. NEXT UPDATE: WEDNESDAY