Lucifer's Daughter is dancing with Fire

Nora’s POV

His eyes widened in shock- just for a second. He was intently staring at me as if he was trying to figure out what the hell had come over me and my gaze never wavered. I was defiantly staring right back at him, as if daring him to say a word if he had the nerve– something I had never done before. Not even when my mother was on the verge of death.

He hadn’t expected that – I mean none of the people present had expected such a response from me. Every one of them was stunned into still silence – injured Alaric wasn’t left behind.

But just as quickly as it came, my father’s astonishment vanished. He cleared his throat, straightened his shoulders and put on the dreadful mask he had always worn his entire life.

I had expected him to lash out at me or even worse, hit me like he had always done, but he did neither of those.

He turned away from me, facing his soldiers.

“Take him to his room and tell Vannessa to come over” he instructed coldly, before walking away as if nothing had happened. Vannessa was our family doctor – or should I say our gang doctor? And I could also say she was the only friend I had.

As soon as he left, I released the frightened breath I had held back, breathing heavily.

“What the heck just happened? I spoke back at him, and he didn’t react?” I thought with my eyes following him till he disappeared out of my sight, to his study room.

My heart was racing, but deep down in me, I knew tides had turned and a crack had formed in the walls my father built around me.

I made my way to my room, each of my steps heavier than the last – not because of exhaustion, but because of the weight of what I had done. I had broken a rule, a rule that had kept me caged for years – ‘never to speak back’.

I dared to look him in the eye and speak.

I dared to challenge and exist outside his control.

As soon as I stepped into my room, I locked my door from behind. I rested my back against it, sliding down till my buttocks hit the cold floor.

I buried my face in my knees, my heart thumping heavily as if it would burst out of my chest anytime soon. I was still scared – scared of him but not as I used to be.

I had caught a glimpse of something in his eyes earlier – fear, and that gave me the courage that I needed. The courage to fight back and never allow him to trample on me again.

He didn’t expect the fire he had started to burn him; didn’t expect to become the food of the Tigress he had raised. But now he knew - they all knew that I wasn’t someone they could joke with.

I rose to my feet and walked to the mirror, looking at the new version of me that wasn’t ready to back down. The woman staring back at me wasn’t the obedient, broken and naive daughter he had trained for years, but a woman who was ready to fight for love and her freedom.

Love, my freedom – I would get them, even if it meant burning down that mansion to ashes.

I entered the bathroom, took a shower before lying on the bed to take a nap. As I laid on the bed waiting to slip into wonderland, a question struck my mind.

“How did Liam get to the club that day? I was sure he slept off before I left his apartment and the dosage of Flunitrazepam I injected in his coffee was more than enough to make any human being sleep until the next day. So, how come? How did he get there?”

That question was quite disturbing, and I wanted an answer to it, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask Liam that because doing so would be like pouring salt on his wounded heart – reopening my lies he was trying so hard to bury.

Eventually, I surrendered to sleep’s arms. I slept peacefully for hours, like a baby that had just been reborn, but a knock on my door interrupted my sleep and jolted me awake.

Sluggishly, I rose from bed and dragged my heavy legs to the door flinging it open - only to be met with my sworn enemy’s face, his bandaged shoulder hung loosely beside him.

“Look who we have here. Seems like the bullet didn’t hit you hard enough for you to take the day off. Don’t worry. Next time, I will make sure to aim for your heart” I coldly said, my voice laced with acrimony and a murderous pledge.

Alaric didn't say a word, nor did he look me in the eye. His head was bowed, with his eyes fixated on the floor. That satisfying sight of him being obedient gladdened my heart and made me grin.

“So, what do you want?” I queried; my arms wrapped around my chest.

“Your father seeks your presence, Ma’am” he said in a low, calm voice - and I was quite impressed by that. So, Alaric could be that obedient and respectful? Seems like my new personality was working in my favor.

“Okay. Tell him I have to take a shower. I would join him in thirty minutes” I replied, banging the door in his face.

Normally, I would have rushed out of my room to meet him as soon as he called, but that time around, I didn’t. I elegantly walked back to my bed, lying on it. I wanted him to know that I wasn’t the Nora he used to know- the one he molded. I was a new me - someone I had molded myself.

“Why does he want to see me now? Does he want to rebuke me? Is he going to put a gun to my head and make me beg for my life?” I contemplated, being skeptical about his call.

Mind you, I wasn’t scared – should we say I was just curious? Sincerely speaking, I was really scared, but I just kept telling myself that I wasn’t.

I kept watching the time as I fiddled through my phone and when it was exactly 30 minutes after, I got up, adjusted my dress and majestically strode out of my room – a storm brewing in my chest.

If I was going to face the devil, I might as well be the Lucifer he never thought I could become.

I got to his study room and unlike before I would have hesitated before entering, I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door without knocking, walking in like I was in control.

He was seated in his usual place, puffing his smoke - surrounded by his men.

“You called for me?” I said, grabbing a seat and sitting without his permission. I could feel his weird gaze on me, and I caught a glimpse of him smirking.

“Why did it take so long for you to get here?” his intimidating voice asked, his left leg placed on top of the right.

That voice of his always made me shiver, but I refused to be intimidated anymore.

“I was engaged in an activity before Alaric came to call me, and I had to finish that before running over here. Is anything wrong with that?”

There was a thick silence in the room – even the smoke from his cigar seemed to have paused – unsure of what to do with my boldness.

His men exchanged dreadful glances, but I could care less. My father just sat there, watching, calculating my every move.

“No, not at all. I am just surprised you didn’t come trembling like you used to do” he replied puffing his smoke, his smirk deepened.

“Well, times have changed and so have I” I responded, my eyes locked with his.

“So, I have noticed that” he leaned in, puffing his smoke at my face.

“But don’t you think you are playing with fire? Aren’t you scared it would burn you?” he asked, his question more of a threat than concern.

Bringing my face close to him, I said: “I don’t mind getting burnt but trust me, I won’t be burning alone. Your mansion and you will be my partners in my burning adventure. Do you mind if we try it out?” I smiled – not the kind of smile that gladdens the heart, but one that makes demons shiver.

He chuckled darkly and I knew - the real game was about to begin!!