The Seven Deadly Princes

Jessie 4: The Name is Pepper

JESSIE

It’s still hard to grasp. A few hours ago, I was just a regular student and now I have Pride. Tall, domineering and unbelievably frightening. The eldest of the Princes of Hell and the most powerful of them all is my demon. 

Didn’t I have a choice in all of this? Why did I have to be assigned to him? Couldn’t it be another person? 

Pride quietly munches on the food on the table. He carries himself proudly with his posture immaculate and his head held high. His clothes look expensive and well made.

In this brightly lit place, I could get a better look at him. He’s dangerously handsome that much is true. The moment we walked in the girls around us all turned to watch him with awe. 

Pride is all dark and mysterious. Dark clothes and dark features. He has shiny black hair that was slightly messy like it was windy outside. It falls a little on his forehead and I had the urge to push it back for him.

What I like most about him is his eyes. Dark grey orbs that just suck you in. Pride could get whatever he wants with just those eyes. 

“Where are your other brothers?” I ask when he catches me staring.

Pride shrugs effortlessly. “Near.” 

“You’re all in one area?” 

He nods continuously attacking the muffin on his hands. “Yes. I will be meeting them once everything is settled.” 

I wonder how the others look? Are they as handsome as Pride? Not likely. I don’t think anyone can top his inhumane beauty. 

“You will not be meeting with them.” There’s a sharpness to his voice and the command is evident. It must work on others well but for some reason it didn’t on me. 

My eyes widen a little. “How come?” 

“Safety.” I now understand that Pride doesn’t speak much. From his name, it might be above him to explain things. 

“Do you think your brothers would attack me?” 

I notice immediately the spark of anger in his eyes. He doesn’t show much emotion but this one I could see clearly. “No and no one will harm you. They wouldn’t dare.” 

“But one did try to attack me.” I shoot back more playful than anything else.

“It took advantage of your distance from me. Lesser demons are mindless. They don’t know any better.” He explains finishing his cup of coffee. 

The sudden thought of him being ashamed of me plagues my mind. I purse my lips having the sudden desire to be the best human out of all the rest. “How can I be the best?” 

Pride eyes narrow at my words urging me to continue. 

“Out of all the seven humans connected to the brothers. How can I be the best?” 

A devilish smile forms on his dangerously beautiful face. 

Pride and I walk side by side in the dark cold empty streets. It’s much later now. After much discussion on our connection, I feel a lot confident. 

“Give me your hand.” He commands quietly. 

Surprised, I offer the hand closest to him and he takes it. Warmth immediately goes through me and I stop shivering. 

He doesn’t let go of my hand as we make our way to my small apartment. I share the small place with my roommate who is almost never home. She likes to stay over with her boyfriend. 

I couldn’t blame her. Our apartment is small and compact with barely any room to walk whereas her rich boyfriend lived in a penthouse.

Pride looks around our surroundings like he was memorizing everything. It wasn’t that bad of a neighborhood but it could be better. There were little to no cars here because of the amount of tires being stolen or slashed but no one has died recently so that’s a good thing. 

“If demons don’t kill you, that man three blocks down will.” He says blatantly with a tilt of his head. 

I turn back to check behind us. “Who? Tammy? He wouldn’t!” 

“You know a criminal by name?” The utter disbelief is evident in the tone of his voice. 

“He’s not a complete criminal.” I playfully joke a small smile making its way to my lips.

Pride scoffs at my words. “What he’s just partly a killer or a pickpocket?” 

“Hush! Don’t let him hear you say that.” I squeak out pulling at Pride’s hand. “He might just kill us for it.” 

Despite the darkness I see him roll his eyes. It’s obvious he’s not the least bit worried about our resident criminal. “How you survived this long without me, I’ll never know.” 

It takes another few minutes to make it to the small rundown brick building at the edge of the neighborhood. It looks ready to fall apart but for now it was home.

Pride blankly stares up at the pile of bricks. It’s impossible to read him. He’s certainly not impressed but what was he thinking? 

Without wasting another second, I climb up the stairs and wedge my key into the door of the building entrance. I push open the rickety door and make way for Pride.

He wordlessly walks through and waits for me to climb the wobbly staircase. I silently hoped the steps could take his weight. Pride is not at all fat but he’s a rather large man. 

Three flights of stairs and a ruckus of sounds of different kinds later and we make it to my door. I’m suddenly very nervous. 

Pride patiently waits for me to fumble with my keys. Finally after much effort, the door opens and I flip open the lights revealing my small apartment.

There’s not much to say about the place. Small, cramped complete with a low ceiling. Pride towered over my small home. He remained quiet taking in my ratty old couch and the mismatched seats of the small dining table.

“Do you want more coffee?” I offered him moving around to the small kitchen area. 

He shook his head eyes still scanning. There wasn’t much to see.

Not knowing what else to do, I drop my books and bag on the dining table and proceed to the door that led to my room. There were only two doors. One for the bathroom and one for the room I shared with my roommate.

Hesitantly, I open the room to the bedroom and it’s nothing impressive. Two single beds cramped in a small room and a window that overlooked the quiet street. If you looked close enough, you could see Tammy pickpocketing innocent people.

Pride peers into the room from over my shoulder. 

“You can sleep on my bed.” I tell him pointing to the bed on the right which had blue sheets. My eyes shift to the bed beside mine which had yellow sheets. “I can sleep on my roommates bed. She doesn’t really sleep here often.” 

“I wonder why.” He says amusement laced in his tone. 

I showered slowly with anxiousness tingling my stomach. Pride had showered first. It only took him a few minutes. I provided him with a towel, a spare toothbrush and some of the clothes that my roommate kept from her boyfriend. 

He came out hair still dripping from his shower with the loose cotton shorts hanging low on his waist. The shirt I gave him is small. It stuck to him like a second skin. 

I blinked away the images of Pride and continued lathering my skin with soap. By the time I was finished, I was sure Pride was already asleep. 

I crept to the bedroom soundlessly and softly opened the door. 

Pride was facing away from the door already under my fluffy comforter. He looked too big for my bed. Quietly, I close the door and fall into my roommate’s bed. 

I look up at the ceiling and try to calm my mind. It’s been quite a night. I don’t know how I’m taking this all in without breaking down but I am. It’s confusing but for some reason I’m more worried if Pride is comfortable in my bed than having to share a room with a demon. 

Just before sleep takes over me, I hear Pride’s voice. It’s melodic and calming nothing like his usual tone.

“I’ll make life better for you.” 

I wake up to the sound of my alarm. I had such a bizarre dream about demons and...

My eyes shift to the bed beside mine and I sigh when I see that it wasn’t a dream at all. On my bed is the eldest Prince of Hell. Sat up with one of my school books on his hand, emotionless Pride read quietly. 

“How long have you been up?” I ask turning to my clock to see that it’s seven in the morning. I had class at ten. Plenty of time to prepare breakfast for the both of us.

Pride’s eyes don’t leave the book. “A while.” 

I yawn and fall back to bed sleepily. 

“How can you afford university when you’re obviously poor?” His brazen words nearly slapped me off the bed. 

“I have a scholarship.” I tell him proudly. “An athletic scholarship.” 

Pride pulls his eyes away from the book and turns to the end of my bed where my spare googles lay. “Swimming.” 

It wasn’t a question but a statement. I answer happily anyway. “Yes. Speaking of, I have training later this evening. It usually ends late. I won’t be able to help you find a new place.” 

Eyes back to the book, Pride nods. “I’ll take care of it.” 

Now fully awake, I climb out of bed and stretch. I had a peaceful sleep. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t have any nightmares. Usually, my dreams always-

I gasp turning to my companion. “You’ve been in my dreams!” 

Pride looks up at my words and scrunches his nose up in confusion. “What are you babbling on about?” 

My mind reels at my new found discovery. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve been having dreams of a man.” 

“What makes you think I’m the one in your dreams?” He bemused. 

“The feeling. It’s always warm. You have the same warmth as my dream.” Now that I say it out loud, I felt foolish. How could I connect the warmth from Pride to the warmth from my dream? 

The spark in Pride’s eyes however wipe my concern away. I could tell he didn’t think it’s foolish but he wasn’t the type to agree with things. 

“Whatever. Forget what I said. I’ll make us breakfast.” I say when his blank stare started to bother me.

I usually only have a piece of toast for breakfast. The dining hall at school was free because of my athlete’s meal plan and they always had good food. With Pride here, I felt the need to show him I was actually good at something. 

Scrambling some eggs and frying a few pieces of bacon, I decide to pull out my favorite orange juice that I only drink for competition games. Pride comes out of the room a few minutes later. 

He smells the air and smacks his lips together. Pride takes a seat and eagerly eyes his plate full of food. If I didn’t know better, he was showing signs of gluttony. He must of caught himself because Pride clears his throat and sits up straight. 

“You have class?” He asks in between bites. 

I nod digging into my own plate. “At ten.” 

“I’ll walk you. Wouldn’t want to tempt Tammy the not so criminal criminal.” 

“Tammy could take you.” I tease knowing well that Pride can effortlessly crush bones with one hand. 

Pride smirks leaning across the table towards me. “I think I’ll survive.” 

I roll my eyes at his cockiness. His self confidence is astonishing yet admirable. “What are your plans for the day?” 

He pauses a thoughtful look covering his usually emotionless face. “I’ll have to check if it’s safe in your university. Demons rarely attack in crowded places much more in broad daylight. You’ll most likely be safe there but it’s still worth my time to check the area.” 

I’m not surprised by his concern about my safety. After all, inside me is his life force. If I die, he dies and goes back to Hell. 

“When I’m certain of your safety, I’ll move us into a more appropriate living space. A place with no Tammy’s.” 

I pout catching Pride’s eyes. “Aw. I like Tammy.” 

“The ever present concern for your life must be such a thrill.” 

Grinning, I stand from my seat already finished with my breakfast. “I’ll have you for that now.” 

Pride’s dark grey eyes narrow at my words but doesn’t comment any further.

-

Pride and I walk to school in comfortable silence. It’s busier now than it was yesterday with cars passing by us and crowds of people gawking openly at Pride. 

I couldn’t blame them. He’s truly a sight to behold. Confident and uncaring he effortlessly strides beside me. I can tell he’s having a hard time matching my slower pace. 

It wasn’t entirely my fault. I had shorter legs than him. The height difference is insulting if I was being completely honest. He’s standing at six feet or taller and I’m barely five feet. 

Once we arrive at school, the looks we were receiving tripled. We could literally hear screams of glee from some of the girls. Pride didn’t seem to care not even acknowledging their presence. 

I point a few places to him and he nods wordlessly. It’s like he was memorizing everything again. 

“Jessie!” 

Pride stiffens at the call of my name and carefully stands closer to me.

I turn and face my fellow athlete, Zeke. He’s a senior and on his final year of university. He’s so good that he could be in the National team. 

Zeke runs to my side and grins widely. “Good morning! You missed morning training.” 

I notice him look up at my very broad and brooding companion. Zeke’s smile falls a little. 

“Is this your brother? I’m Zeke.” He thrusts his hand up at Pride who glowers at it.

I feel Pride snake a hand around my waist and pull me impossibly closer to him until I’m pressed up at his side. 

“Boyfriend.” I hear him grit out and I nearly choke on air. “I’m Pepper."