3. Pandora

It was August.

Two months had passed in a blur since my father had found me soaked in my own blood, chained to the floor in a cellar, and clutching a kitten skull with my mother’s soulless body across from me.

Daryl Gravesend was everything I’d hoped for in a parent. I’d come to accept it was just another thing my mother cheated me out of.

He made sure I was fed, hydrated, clothed, and cared for. He’d even bought more books—fiction books. Including a copy of my first and favorite romance novel, Fate Hollow Academy. It was about an arctic fox shifter and her seven fated mates, and it was historically accurate. It took place during Kalista’s Second War. It was also the first book I’d read about fated mates. My mother never gave me any books about fated mates or mate bonds, but reading that book always sparked my interest. I wanted to be loved the way the main heroine had been loved by the seven mates who had accepted and protected her from the start—after her first mate had rejected her.

He had provided me with an entire wardrobe full of clothes. They were stunning garments that I could’ve only ever dreamt about before, and each one fit perfectly. There were tailored jackets, blouses, A-line dresses, and skirts. All of the fabric was high-quality, such as wool, silk, and cashmere, and the colors were all neutral. My favorites were the black and gray.

Daryl had said they were timeless and classic pieces that exuded quality, nobility, and a sense of effortless style. He’d also read that from something on his tablet, word for word, with a red face as if explaining fashion had been difficult for him. But he did it anyway, and that meant a lot more than he could’ve ever known. I’d teared up, and he didn’t quite know how to act, so he awkwardly patted my head until I got my emotions under control.

Our relationship since he’d found me had been good but awkward. He was my father. That couldn’t be denied. I was a soul eater like him, and we had the same facial features and hair. But he didn’t know I existed until I was already an adult. It was no fault of his or mine, and we were trying to salvage a relationship that my mother had taken from both of us.

Black goo spilled from Nebula’s eye holes and onto my hands. “You’re not sick anymore.”

I shook my head, and smooth, straight hair fell into my face. I had no idea what the true texture of my hair was until recently. It was always matted and knotted. But it tumbled down my back to just past my hips like silk, and it was just like Daryl’s.

“But your magical reserves are dwindling,” he warned. “You need to feed.”

“I can’t,” I rasped, squeezing my eyes shut and filling my lungs with a forced inhale.

The rotten sensation that had bottomed out in my gut from eating my mother’s soul threatened to take over again.

My father had tried to teach me to feed on souls, but the thought of using my powers made anxiety spur deep in my gut. He said my body had probably reacted like that because it was my first time feeding, but snuffing out life shouldn’t be as easy as it was for me.

Shehad deserved it, but I didn’t want to kill anyone who didn’t.

“Death said that you didn’t have to kill to feed. Just let him teach you,” Nebula hissed, the sound of his voice filling the room.

My nose scrunched. “You’re calling him that too?”

“It’s his infamous name,” he defended. “And it’s amusing, no?”

“No!” I insisted, bringing Nebula eye-level as I stared into the blackness that was his soul. “His name is literally what I’m trying to prevent more of!”

“Having the power of death isn’t so bad, Pandora,” my father murmured, startling me as I glanced over to see him leaning against the doorframe. “It’s rare anyone crosses a soul eater.”

“It doesn’t sound so bad.” Nebula’s soul rolled back into his skull as he dissipated.

“Sure. Take his side.” Letting out a small groan, I placed Nebula on my nightstand and walked over to meet my father. “If I knew how to control it without killing, I’d be more confident.”

I hadn’t been able to bring myself to tap into my powers since I devoured her soul. Just thinking about it made my stomach roll.

“I’ve been thinking about that.” He tore his gaze from Nebula’s skull and jerked his head, indicating for me to follow him.

I walked next to him down the stone corridor, my bare feet making fast thumps as I doubled my strides to keep up with him. “About what?”

“Your knowledge about your own powers and the Demon Capital,” he explained, stopping in front of his office and gesturing me inside first.

I made a bee-line toward the plushy chair in front of his large stone desk. “I know some.”

“Thanks to reading what you had access to, yes.” He nodded, circling around and taking his seat. He picked up a small white band from the desk and sighed. “Even with the basics, your knowledge is textbook-based only. You have no real-world experience at no fault of your own.”

I shifted in my seat as I crossed my ankles, and I placed a hand over the raised white and pink scars covering my right thigh. They reminded me of the way my mother’s shadows had sliced into my skin like it was butter. I’d found that other demons quickly took note of my scars, including those who worked under my father. I knew it was unusual for a demon to scar, but the long stares made me uncomfortable.

I loathed it.

“I know,” I murmured.

He rolled the ring in his fingers, staring at me with a pensive expression. “How would you feel about attending an academy to learn how to be a functional demon?”

“An academy?” A surge of excitement washed over me. I’d read all about the different academic institutions in Kalista. “I’ve always wanted to attend one. Any education I have comes from reading alone, like you said. I’d like to learn even more and gain real-life experience.”

A small smile spread across his lips before he placed the white band on the edge of his desk toward me. “This is for you.”

Before him, I’d never been given anything but pain. He’d supplied me with more than enough. Why was he giving me a ring on top of everything else?

I reached for it, carefully holding it in my hands and staring at the sparkling white band of some type of crystal. “It’s so pretty.”

“It’s enchanted,” he explained as I slipped it over my ring finger on my right hand. “It will turn black when someone around you wishes to cause you harm.”

“That’s incredible,” I murmured, staring at how pretty and sparkling it was as it stayed white. “Thank you so much, Daryl.”

It would’ve turned black had my mother been here. She loved to cause me harm—but I’d stopped her for good. She couldn’t hurt me anymore.

“You’re my daughter.” He shrugged as if it explained everything. “All supernaturals are predatory, but demons are ruthless. Not as much as dragons, drakes, or basilisks, but they’re right after. If a demon senses weakness, they enjoy tormenting.”

“And I’m weak?” My breath caught, and I glanced down at my scarred thigh. It looked awful.

“The opposite, actually,” he chuckled lowly. “You’re a soul eater. We’re considered stronger than any other supernatural in Kalista, including drakes since we can literally eat someone’s soul without any prep.”

Shock rippled through me as I jerked my head back up. I’d never been told I was anything but weak. He’d been telling me the opposite since he’d found me, but I couldn’t shake the unfamiliarity. “Thank you, but why are you warning me about demonic nature?”

His lips curled up in an impressed smile. “Demon Reform Academy is an academy built for demons who need to hone their magical abilities. Most demons sent there have done something to be qualified in being reformed…”

“And I—” My throat seized, and I curled my fingers around my neck. “I killed her.”

Was he sending me to a reformatory to be reformed due to murdering my mother?

“You saved yourself.” His response was instant and full of vigor, obliterating my worries. “Nothing more to it, and I don’t want you to see it any other way. The only reason I want you to go is so you have the opportunity to learn. You’ve grown up utterly isolated. You’re malnourished of magic and have been for some time. You need to learn how to properly feed. This academy will help you do that and more.”

“Okay,” I rasped, pulling my hand from my neck and forcing my hands together in my lap. “I’ll go.”

His shoulders dropped slightly as he nodded. “You don’t have to go if you don’t wish to, but I do believe it’s the best choice for you. Every student at the academy has mandated counseling, but I know one of the counselors.”

I let my hair fall around me like a blanket as I took in a deep breath. “Who?”

“Councilman Darkmore,” he stated, and a ripple of sparks spread through me. “He’s the vengeance demon representative on the Demon Council. You’ll find him to be very empathetic.”

“Darkmore,” I whispered, loving the feeling of that name on my tongue. “Is that his first or last name?”

“Last, of course.” Daryl crossed his arms and leaned back against his chair. “Demons refer to each other by last name unless family or close friends or more. Nobles tend to call each other by their last names, and the council members do as well.”

I twisted the ring on my finger, loving the comforting white it stayed. “I remember reading that.”

“Remember that you’re a Gravesend now, and we are nobility. Hold your head up high.”

A warm flutter filled my chest as I nodded. “Thank you.”

His eyes widened like he’d forgotten something. “I have one more thing for you.” He started to rifle through his desk before setting a roll of medical dressing in front of me. “Personally, I don’t believe scars should be hidden as they showcase strength. But I’ve seen the way you cover yours, and your new wardrobe includes a lot of popular outfits in season. Most are skirts and dresses. You can use this to cover your scars if it makes you feel better.”

I grabbed the soft roll of dressing with my heart thumping in my throat. I hadn’t realized I’d been so obvious about hiding them. “Thank you so much. When do I go to the academy?”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me,” he muttered softly, but my demonic hearing picked up on it. My hearing had even gotten better after my magical reserves had filled. “You start classes on Monday next week since that’s when the school year starts, but you’ll move into the dormitory on Sunday. Darkmore had suggested your attendance, actually. I can’t take full credit.”“Wow.” Goosebumps spread up my arms, and I rubbed them out.

“I can introduce you to Darkmore if you’d like,” he offered. “He’ll be your counselor, and he’s a friend of mine. At least, we work together.”

I shook my head as heat licked up my spine, making my posture stiffen. “That’s okay. I can meet him when we get to the academy.”

“Are you sure? He’s not that much older than you are. He’s thirty-one, so I guess that’s only nine years,” he contemplated.

“Only?” My brows lifted.

“Well, I’m over five-hundred.” He scratched his jawline, and my mouth fell open.

“Five hundred?” I squeaked.

“Over,” he added with a sly smirk. “Soul eaters live a long time. Something to look forward to. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to meet him? He’ll be the demon you’ll go to when you need something while attending the academy.”

My heartbeat picked up as I shook my head. “I’ve never been around men before. You and the butler are the only men I’ve spoken with in my entire life, but my mother has warned me about men and their wanton desires. She said horrible things.” I winced. “But I have also read about them, so I know they’re not all bad. Just most of them?”

Hurt simmered in his gaze, but he nodded. “All demons can be horrible. Men and women. Keep that in mind, but don’t let it dictate how you live your life. You can quite literally end any demon who tries to oppose you, Pandora. Don’t be afraid of anyone.”

Knots tangled my stomach at the finality in his tone. “Can I ask you something?”

He nodded.

“What about fated mates?” I chewed on my bottom lip, worried about some kind of backlash. I asked Mother once before and got the first scar over my stomach. “I’ve read little about them but enough to know they’re soulmates. They’ve always interested me. That love…it seems worth the pain of life.”

His amused smirk fell, and he cleared his throat. “Fated mates are soulmates. They complete your soul. A magical soul bond links souls together. Some supernaturals can have more than one, except for wolves and penguin shifters, of course. A mate’s lifespan automatically extends to the mate who would live the longest…” His expression tightened. “Unless they are killed by an outside force. Demons don’t always find their fated mates, but when they do, they’re usually instant. Not always. But it’s just as perfect as they say.”

“Thank you.” I worried my bottom lip between my top and bottom teeth as my chest ached.

His brows were drawn together, and there was a grimace on his lips. He’d spoken so solemnly, but he answered every question I had. Somehow, I felt like I hurt him by asking about mates.

“I wish I knew about you sooner.” He took a deep breath before expelling it, but there was agony in his dark gaze.

“Me too,” I mumbled, clutching the dressing in my hand until I started to shake. Maybe if he did, I wouldn’t be so broken.