Prologue

Athena Raven Lark had always lived a life of abundance.  Her childhood was a picture of perfect peace till a storm came and shattered her blissful ease.

Her family loved and adored her. Different fathers raise their children on their shoulders, but Damien raised Athena on the crown of his head, like a precious gem. She was the center of Damien's world, and he spared no expense in showing her how much he loved her. She was his everything, his reason for living, and he would do anything to protect her and see her thrive. When she wanted an elephant, he didn't just bring her one; he brought her an entire farm of them. The girl never knew a dark day in her life.

But that all changed when she turned nine. It was as if fate had already written her story, and she was hurtling towards a tragic end with no way to change her course. Little did she know her fears were not unfounded and that the storm brewing on the horizon would soon shatter her idyllic life and plunge her into darkness. Tragedy struck when her parents died. But was it all to their death?

They passed away, leaving her 2-year-old brother and her behind. She was forced to leave her home and move in with her aunt, who was less than loving. Suddenly, her world was turned upside down. Life with her aunt was difficult. She was constantly belittled and made to feel like a burden. Despite this, Athena persevered and did her best to excel in school. But even that was not enough to shield her from the world’s cruelty and from the devil’s eyes.

Then there is him, Azazel Black. He was the son of a devil, cruel and fierce, and Athena was his target. His heart pierced with a twisted obsession when it came to her. His feelings for Athena went beyond mere infatuation. It was an all-consuming obsession that bordered on madness. He would stop at nothing to possess her, even if it meant destroying everything in his path, including her.

His obsession with her was like wildfire, consuming everything in its path and leaving only destruction in its wake. He was willing to give up his life for her, but only on the condition that she was his and his alone. His obsession blinded him to everything else, making him see only Athena and his own desires, which he believed to be justified by his overwhelming love for her. But his obsession had twisted and distorted any notion of love he may have once had, leaving only a destructive force that threatened to consume them both. He believed a lie and punished her with a heartless eye. His love was dark and twisted, one that threatened to consume them both in a fiery inferno of passion and pain. Azazel was a creature of darkness, consumed by his desire for Athena, willing to stop at nothing to make her his own.

At twenty-one, Athena's life took a sharp turn when she was accused of a crime she did not commit: the murder of Azazel’s mother. Despite vehemently protesting her innocence, she was subjected to relentless torture and abuse by Azazel, the one who had once promised to protect her.

The evidence against her was damning, and it appeared the world was conspiring against her. The bloodstained knife found in her hand, his mother’s unconscious body near her feet, and the security camera footage that went missing showed her as the perpetrator. What happened that night was a mystery. All of it pointed to her guilt. As her tormentor grew increasingly convinced of her culpability, Athena was left to wonder if she could ever prove her innocence and escape the nightmare that had become her reality.

From that moment on, Athena's life became a living nightmare. Isolated and alone, with no one to turn to for help, she endured the psychological torment inflicted upon her by Azazel, the man who had once professed his love for her. He used every tactic at his disposal to break her spirit, convinced of her guilt despite her protests of innocence. The emotional and mental anguish she suffered was just as agonizing as any physical abuse, leaving her shattered and hopeless.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Athena lost track of time as her tormentor held her captive. The once vibrant and lively girl was now a shell of her former self, broken and defeated. But even in her darkest moments, there was a glimmer of hope. A small part of her still held onto the belief that she would one day be free, that justice would be served, and that she would be vindicated.

As she lay battered and broken, Athena wondered if she would ever escape Azazel's clutches. Would she survive his trial of obsession, or would she become his victim, forever lost in the darkness of his love? Only time would tell, but for now, she could only pray for a miracle and hope that someday, she would break free from his hold.

……….

As Azazel's gaze fixated on Athena, his eyes gleamed with a dark and twisted obsession. He will go to any lengths to possess her, even if it meant inflicting unimaginable pain and suffering upon her.

At that moment, he held her fate in his hands, and he reveled in the power it gave him over her. Athena's heart raced with fear as she pleaded for her boyfriend's life. But her relief was short-lived as Azazel demanded something in exchange, something far more precious to her than anything else.

As he toyed with her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust and horror at his twisted desire. His grip on her head tightened as he turned her to face him. He demanded that her eyes meet his, asserting his dominance and control over her. His tongue licked her lips as he made his vile proposition, and Athena recoiled in horror at the thought of being subjected to his depravity.

“You want him to live?” Azazel gazed his teeth on her cheek.

Athena shook her head eagerly. “Fine, I will let him live,” Athena let her shoulders loose in relief. “Not so fast, darling. I need something in exchange for letting your precious boyfriend live,” Athena wasn’t looking at Azazel. She was looking at Nevin lying on the ground, which pissed Azazel off.

He gripped her head and turned it toward him. “When I am talking to you, your eyes should meet mine.” he yanked her hair. “Do you understand?” she shook her head.

He licked her lips, “Give yourself to me,” Athena’s eyes went wide in horror but changed to disgust in the next minute, “let me have you tonight, sweetheart.” he rubbed his cheek to hers, kissing it lightly.

“You are my sister’s fiancé,” she tried to penetrate his lustful mind. Her disgust egged him.

Squeezing her throat, he ran his thumb over her trachea. “I didn’t ask for your permission. If you want him to live, be my personal slut.” he yanked her hair harder until she shed tears. And he relished drinking every single of those.