Heaven woke up with headache and chest pain. Her heart was beating too slow, that it was painful to breathe. Carefully, she pushed herself up in a sitting position. 

More candles were lit, illuminating the room. The scent of freshly baked bread replaced the musty smell from earlier. Heaven’s stomach growled loudly, and her gaze hunted the scent. Far in a corner, food was served on a clean table. 

Was it for her? 

She didn’t care. 

Removing the blanket, she swung her legs down off the bed and then stood up slowly. She made sure she could hold her balance before stalking to the table. Sitting carefully down on a chair, she ate without hesitance. 

Heaven knew she shouldn’t. It could be poisoned. But she knew the stranger didn’t want to kill her. He had other plans. To know his plans and be able to escape, she needed to refill and regain her strength. 

While stuffing bread and meat in her mouth, she thought of what this stranger could want from her. And why was he locked in a coffin with a spell? How long was he locked and by whom?

All this time that he had appeared in her dreams, he had wanted her to release him. But why her? He could lure any witch to perform the spell. Maybe the witches knew he was someone who shouldn’t be released, and she was stupid enough to free him. 

What had she done? 

He would probably seek revenge on those who locked him inside. Heaven hoped her grandmother had nothing to do with it, but since he abducted her, she probably did. 

Pain shot down her neck, making her hiss. 

Oh no. She had a bigger problem now. He had bitten her! Marked her! How could he?

Marking was like marrying someone in human language. It was a bond even more sacred than marriage. How could he have done it so easily? She did not want to be his. 

Or wait! He was probably going to kill her at the end so he didn’t care about the mark. She was part witch after all, and demons hated witches, especially this demon since they locked him in a coffin. He was just waiting for her family to come looking for her so he could destroy them all together. 

She had to escape.

Getting up hastily, she turned back but came face to face with the silver-eyed stranger. A gasp escaped her mouth, and she stumbled back, hitting the table behind. 

“Didn’t you like the food?” He asked. 

Heaven let out a deep breath. 

“I did. But there is no need in feeding me if you are going to kill me.”

The stranger chuckled darkly. “I haven’t decided what to do with you yet. But if I spared your life, it would be a pity if you died from starvation.” 

“Why don’t you just tell me what you want?”

“I wish I knew what I wanted. It’s the first time in my life I am confused.” He said. 

Heaven had this strange feeling when he spoke. She believed him. She could easily tell when people lied, but this man spoke his mind every time he opened his mouth. 

“So, you are not my father’s enemy or my grandmother’s?” She asked. 

“Your father must have many enemies since you seem so concerned. Who is he?”

“Lucian. The king of Decresh. Son of the devil. He won’t be happy that you are keeping me here.” 

“Son of the devil?” He furrowed his eyebrows. 

“Yes.”

“Then is it your mother who is the witch?” He asked. 

“No. My grandmother.”

Suddenly he laughed cynically. “The devil and a witch. That was unexpected.” 

Heaven had hoped he would be a little scared knowing her grandfather was the devil. But it only seemed to amuse him. 

Smiling evilly, he went to sit on a chair. He didn’t mind that it was covered with dust. 

“Please sit.” He told her and she sat down without hesitance just to realize later that he had compelled her for a short moment. 

“How did you do that?” She asked. 

“What?”

“Compelling me.” 

“The benefits of being ancient.”

“So you are a demon? A smoke demon?”

“I don’t like to be called demon. The devil’s puppets and those who follow in his footsteps are called demons. I am a Djinn.”

Djinn? Heaven had never heard of such a thing. 

As if sensing her confusion, he decided to explain. 

“Djinns are beings created from smoke and fire. Therefore, smoke djinns and fire djinns. When djinns choose to corrupt people in order to disobey God, they are called demons. That’s why people associate demons with evil.”

Heaven nodded while trying to digest what he said. So was he a demon or not? Clearly, he didn’t like the word demon. 

“So you are not evil?” She treaded carefully. 

“I have no intentions of making people sin or turn them against God. The rest you can judge for yourself.”

“So you are not a demon? I need to know because you bit me and…” She shook her head, unwilling to believe it. 

“People call all kinds of Djinn demons so yes. In you language I am what you call a demon and…”

Before he could finish the sentence Heaven stood up angrily causing the chair to fall backwards. “Then why did you bite me? Do you know what that means?” She almost yelled. 

His face hardened as if trying to control his anger. “I know what that means.” He said with clenched teeth. “Trust me, I had no choice.”

“You needed my blood?” 

“Yes.” 

“Why?”

“To recover. I was in there for a thousand years.”

A thousand years? Heaven couldn’t believe her ears. Then he could not be her father’s enemy. 

“Why? Who locked you inside?” She asked. 

Suddenly the silver in his eyes looked like storms ready to destroy everything in their path. His anger frightened her. 

“A witch.” He said with clenched teeth. 

Since the topic seemed to anger him, Heaven didn’t pry. The last thing she wanted was an angry ancient demon who was already provoked by a witch. 

If he didn’t want to harm her father or her, then could she just leave? Would he let her go?

Heaven decided to not ask and just go for the door. If he stopped her, then it meant he disapproved. But why would he?

Even if she was part witch, she had saved him. He owed her. 

“Alright. I’ll take my leave now.” She said and walked toward the door. 

Suddenly he stood next to her with a hard grip around her arm. “You are not leaving anywhere!” 

************

📚 Hello guys!

Just wanted to say that please don’t freak out if I don’t update according to schedule sometimes. Remember I am human and could be going through something. If I don’t update according to the schedule a day or a few days please be patient. I am just saying this because I have had a tough time recenlty. Nothing serious so don’t worry. Just informing in case. 

Anyway, let me know what you think so far. 

Lot’s of love ❤️