Prologue: Just A Dream

"You can't be serious. He's just using you!" He shouted at me and my heart throbbed painfully at those words. It was painful to hear from the mouth of the one person that was always there for me. Always stood by my side when things were rough.

"I hate you Keegan. I absolutely abhor you." I wouldn't let the tears fall, but the look of pure agony on his face made this worse. I don't mean those words. Please, don't believe me. Help me. He reeled back, and I flinched as a sudden memory of Vilician slapping me pulsed through my mind. I braced myself for the onslaught of pain I was sure was coming. My eyes slammed shut but all that I heard was a bitter chuckle.

"You're not the Nyxia you used to be." Those words burned my ears, but I refused to look up at him. My lungs burned. Was I holding my breath? Was he leaving? I didn't hear him moving at all. "You need to get your s**t together Nyxia. If you think I'm being harsh wait until Nyke hears about this. This is only the beginning of your problems. Dating a demon." He snorted at me and then the sound of his feet crossing the floor made me stand up straighter. My eyes cracked open slowly, and I peeked up at him.

He curled his lips at me showing me his sharp, and pointed fangs. His eyes were a deep silver boring into my own purple eyes. "Don't expect me to pick up the pieces."

"What the hell do you know? I'm the one that's dating him. I'm the one that's trying!" He shook his head and immediately I could see Vilician's eyes glaring at me. My blood chilled and I snapped. "How many girls have you used? Picked off? Broken? Who says you'd know how to fix someone anyway?" I needed help, I knew I did. But who was stupid enough to get themselves tied to a demon, who used women as he pleased? That's right, me.

Keegan chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "We'll just see what happens. By the way, your father has requested you be at that meeting with the council. You know full well, Lady Death expects you to break that bond by any means necessary." I could see the pain in him, but I couldn't, I wouldn't acknowledge it.

"Leave Keegan."

"Not until you say it. This time mean it. Stop being a little b***h and just say it."

I flinched. How many times did Vilician call me that word? How many times did I ignore it and let him continue his verbal assault? Too many, but each time Keegan uttered the word my heart broke.

"What happened to that little boy that used to kiss my scars? That used to push me in the mud just to piss me off? What happened to the boy that used to pull my hair? The one that threw me off the cliff because I whooped his a*s in wrestling?" I asked my voice cold as ice.

"He died the day you decided you didn't need him anymore. Now stop stalling and say it, or so help me I'll say it for you."

He began stalking towards me and my heart skipped a beat. He looked as though he was ready to snap my neck. I could feel my body starting to tremble. How did I let it come to this? How did I become this trembling mass of nothing? By letting myself be tied to such a monster.

I shook away those thoughts and began to rock on the heels of my feet. "I don't need you Keegan! I don't. I don't need you, I don't need Nyke, and I don't need my father..." Lies! All lies! Please Keegan, see it. See the truth.

He nodded at me and suddenly his face became blank. He turned on his heel, walked towards the door and slammed it behind him. I should have gone after him, should have told him I lied. But what good would that do? If he couldn't see the truth, then what good could I have done him telling him the truth.

I took a deep breath and meandered over to my couch then took a seat. I laid down, and suddenly I was tired. More so than I had been in months.