In a chair in the middle of the room sits a man with a very chiseled jawline and sharp blue eyes. His legs are crossed and his hands are folded in his lap. Around him are puddles of blood and a few chopped up bodies. He smiles widely when his eyes catch mine.

“Nova Allandis, the princess of the Duke and the granddaughter of the famous Donatella Family.” His voice is just as deep as I remember. “Those two did well in bringing you here.” He nods at the two who stumble into the room behind me. “Don’t worry girls, the Jorein Family’s son will be released as soon as I’m done here.”

Karen lets out a sob and I look back at her, scoffing. “Stop dramatizing the situation. It’s not like what you do will actually affect what happens to Jennis.”

“Yet you come here, understanding full well I could be lying and the Jorein son could be attending his class,” the man says.

“I was wondering more what they were up to, and who could be ordering them. Turns out it was you.” I smile and walk around the room. “Prince… was it? Do you have a last name?”

“What does that matter? I can torture you all the same.”

My hands tremble and I clasp them in front of me. “So you do not. Then, what’s your value to the Donatella family? What ties them to you and you to them?”

“I have no reason to tell someone who will be dead soon anyway.”

“Are you sure I will be dead soon? Didn’t you need me to control the lesser demons for you? Have you seen what happens when you kill one of the clones, if the demons controlled by that clone go out of control or not? How far have you experimented?”

He exhales. “I’m sure that’s not what you’re here to talk about.”

“You’re right. You’re not going to do anything to those girls, right?” I look back at the two, both now white as sheets. Pointing at them, I say, , but nothing happens.

Prince laughs. “You can’t use magic in here. This entire underground is filled with jam stones. It is quite ironic to see a magic school built above a natural jam zone.”

Smirking, I mouth, , and the two girls instantly fall to the ground like flies. “Who said I couldn’t use magic in a jam zone? I was just testing to see if what those two said was actually true.” I glance at Prince to see him staring at the two girls. “What, did you not know I could use magic in a jam zone?” Arriving back at the entrance, I grin at him.

“I didn’t expect your spells to be so effective. You could be a huge asset to us.”

“To think I would even consider joining you is an insult to my existence.” I place my hands on my hips.

He stands up and hisses, “I’m the one who saved you from being seen as a demon. You should be thankful.”

I laugh. “Did I ask for your help? You traumatized a little kid, keeping her locked up in a dark basement and cutting her arm every few hours. You put my blood in jars and you used them for your experiments and you have the gall to say that I should be thankful.”

“Without me blood-letting you you would not be able to survive in this world.”

“I would survive just the same. Besides, with the Donatella Family’s innate ability, who’s to say I had to be blood-let?” I walk up to him and push him aside, sitting in the chair myself.

“You-”

“What, after all this time of serving the Donatella Family, you suddenly wish to rebel?” I grin. “Did you vow yourself into servitude? Or are you mere partners? Should I test the abilities I’m supposed to have on you?”

He takes a deep breath and smiles. “Go ahead and test your abilities. I would be honored to be your test subject.”

Raising an eyebrow, I let out a laugh. “What, if I use my demon abilities, will I fall into depravity?”

His lips twitch. “You said it, not me.”