2

Daemon Druft in his early thirties in his signature shoulder length hair and arm sleeve tattoo looks as gruff and as ruthless as ever. Devon first saw him on a convention for the arts when her college buddy asked her to accompany him. He's with Maddy then while picking up an impressionistic painting in the gallery.

She spent her whole time staring at the man who stood the tallest among the people there. In awe of his majestic hold of himself, of the power she knows he is proud of controlling.

That's when she realized about the reason of her father's obsession for power and that's when an idea began to take a seed inside her.

"Are you sure you are a Farrows?" asked the man while still looking at her ring.

"I am. If you are still doubting then why don't you call Daemon for him to see me himself. He knows who I am," she said with her head high.

But the truth is, she's just lying. There's no way Daemon will recognize her. He didn't ever had the chance to meet her even in the banquet held by the old and wise Farriah. Daemon came to the event but she hid in the kitchen throughout the whole time trying to prevent herself from seeing Joffrey.

"I will bring you to him but if I found out that you are lying, I will wring that small neck you have and feed it to my ducks."

"Oh, you are a little too hotheaded," I softly said that turned into a gasp later when he dragged me inside the humungous building.

The interior of Daemon's lair is just like him. Dark, foreboding, and intimidating. The whole walls are covered with paintings. Even the ceiling is painted with the familiar scene from Michelangelo's Sistene Chapel painting.

Inside the big hollow building are glass boxes which house something she can't clearly see from her position. On each of the glasses are two guards with guns on their sides while the guests look.

This must be the relics Daemon loves to sell every night. Rumor has it that aside from drugs and gun cartel, Daemon also has the monopoly in the district when it comes to art smuggling.

"Stop looking kid and watch where you're going," the man's voice rose when she almost tripped on the boxes on the floor.

They had walked down to the basement area of the building where the light is so dim.

"Where are we now?" she asked with a tinge of fear when they stopped behind a metal door.

Devon looked around the floor with the help of the faint light coming from a small bulb in the low ceiling of the basement.

"You're here to see the boss so you'll see the boss."

The man pulled her arms and opened the door and pushed her inside. She squeaked in low pain when she hit the floor but immediately got up when a moan of a man in pain startled her.

"Lost are you, little one?"

A chill run down her spine when a rich dark tone of a voice sprang from behind her. She slowly turned around and batted her eyes to adjust to the glaring light of the room. Devon blinked when she is finally face to face with the man she never thought she would have the courage to meet.

She shook her head nervously and tried to appear courageous but she immediately drop it when she saw Daemon grinned while studying her face.

"N-No... No, I'm not. I... I am here to see you."

He cocked his one brow and put his foot on top of the head of the man lying on the floor that she just noticed by now.

"Oh, you're here to see me. Why would a little kid like you like to see me? Hmmm?"

He crossed his leg and put his hand on his cheek while his other hand reached for his pocket and took out a cigar.

"Could you light it for me?"

She immediately walked to the table where the lighter is and picked it up avoiding the sight of the man on the floor that is now unconscious. She lit his cigar and took steps back to regain her composure.

"Thank you. Now why would you want to talk to me, Ms. Farrows?" He said it in the most casual but probing tone that she can't help but took a long breath.

"I... I need your help..." She stopped when she realized something. He knows her?!

"Wait, you know me, Daemon?"

"The same way you know me, Ms. Farrows. Now what would the only daughter of my sworn enemy be doing in my own territory? Care to share it, Devon? Share it to me. Depending upon the circumstances, maybe I could be generous enough to help you."

She gulped and prepared herself. This is it. It's now or never.

"I..." She breathed again before looking directly at his droopy wild eyes. "I want you to take me in, Mr. Druft. Take me Daemon, please."

There. She finally said it but the obvious nonchalance in Daemon's face tells her he is not liking the idea.

After a minute of awkward silence, the man laughed and then stood up to stalk her. She took a step back and then another before finally resting to the wall when her back hit the doorknob.

"Could you please repeat what you just said, Ms. Farrows? You want me to what?"

He puffed out a smoke on her face and smiled dangerously.

"I... I wanted you to take me in for the time being. You see, my father wanted to marry me to Joffrey Dylan and I don't want that."

"And you would rather be with the enemy of your family?"

She nodded. "Yes, because I know you don't hurt children and women."

Daemon put off his cigar by sticking it to his own flesh in the hand. They both watched it create a searing burn on his hand.

"You are not just a simple child or a woman, Devon. You are a Farrows, a child of my enemy. What makes you think I would get myself involved in whatever family matters you are experiencing right now? I only want to be the only surviving leader of the entire district. Nothing else."

She swallowed the lump in her throat to ready herself.

"That's how I hated to be with Joffrey that I'd rather be with an enemy."

Daemon walked away from her and sat back to his chair.

"Everything has a price in this world, Ms. Farrows. What could you offer me?"

She thought for a moment. What a dumb thing for her to not think of this. Of course, Daemon would always want to get something from every deal especially when it involves the wrath of her own father.

"Are you now willing to take me in at least for a time being? If you do, then I could work for you day in and night. I will do everything you wanted me to do. Just please, let me stay here. They will never think that I'd run here of all places."

"Nah, nah." Daemon clicked his tongue. "I have enough workers, Farrows. But I lack something that only you, a woman, can give me."

Her eyes widened in confusion. What could be that?

"I... I don't have enough money," she softly said which elicited a laugh from him.

"Ms. Farrows, I will give you money if you ever give me what I wanted." He clasped his hands and stared at her bossom. "Bear me a son Devon and I'll protect you forever."