Liora had imagined quitting her job many times.
None of those imaginary versions involved walking home with her pride intact and absolutely no idea how she was going to pay next month’s rent.
She stared at the small purse in her hand.
Inside was enough money to survive for a little while.
Not enough to relax.
Definitely not enough to celebrate.
“This is fine,” she muttered.
It wasn’t.
She continued walking.
By the time she reached the small apartment she rented, her feet hurt and her patience had completely disappeared.
She pushed open the door and dropped her bag onto the chair.
“I’m officially unemployed.”
The room remained silent.
“Very supportive.”
Liora kicked off her shoes.
She wasn’t actually worried about finding another job.
She was good at working.
What worried her was finding one that paid enough.
Her savings were meant for something important.
Moving out.
She had already calculated the amount she needed at least six times.
Rent.
Food.
Transportation.
Emergency money.
And, if possible, enough left over to start a tiny business.
She had even written everything down.
Liora pulled the notebook from her bag and opened it.
Then she stared at the numbers.
Her savings suddenly looked much smaller.
“Wonderful.”
She closed the notebook.
“Excellent financial planning, Liora.”
A knock came at the door.
She frowned.
Nobody usually visited her.
She opened it.
Her coworker, Mira, stood outside.
“You look terrible,” Mira said.
“So do you.”
“I came here to help you.”
“Then you definitely look terrible.”
Mira rolled her eyes and walked inside.
“I heard you quit.”
“News travels quickly.”
“Your family made a scene.”
Liora groaned.
“Please don’t remind me.”
Mira sat down.
“I have something for you.”
Liora looked suspicious.
“If this is money, I’m refusing.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what is it?”
“A job.”
Liora immediately became interested.
“What kind?”
Mira smiled.
“My aunt works with an employment agency.”
Liora sat beside her.
“Go on.”
“She has a client looking for a live-in maid.”
“A maid?”
“Yes.”
Liora hesitated.
She had never worked as a maid before.
Mira continued quickly.
“The pay is very good.”
“How good?”
Mira told her.
Liora’s eyes widened.
“That much?”
“Exactly.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s suspicious.”
“It’s a job, Liora. Not a criminal organization.”
“You don’t know that.”
Mira laughed.
“My aunt says the household is wealthy. They want someone reliable, hardworking, discreet and willing to live on the property.”
Liora considered it.
Live-in meant she wouldn’t have to pay rent.
The salary would allow her to save faster.
And if the family was as wealthy as Mira claimed, there was probably plenty of food.
She looked at Mira.
“When can I meet your aunt?”
The following morning, Liora found herself sitting across from Mira’s aunt in a small office.
The woman looked through her documents.
“You’ve never worked as a maid.”
“No.”
“But you’ve managed households before?”
“My own.”
The woman raised an eyebrow.
“That’s not quite the same.”
“I cook. I clean. I organize. I budget. I repair clothes. I know basic herbs and remedies.”
She paused.
“And I’m very good at following instructions.”
Mira’s aunt smiled.
“You don’t look like someone who follows instructions easily.”
Liora smiled politely.
“I follow reasonable instructions.”
The woman laughed.
“I think my client might actually like you.”
“Who is the client?”
The woman hesitated.
“A very private household.”
“How private?”
“They don’t want gossip.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“No.”
Liora sighed.
“Fine.”
The woman slid a contract across the desk.
“Three-month initial employment. Live-in position. Food and accommodation provided. Salary paid monthly.”
Liora scanned the page.
Everything looked normal.
Almost too normal.
“Is there anything unusual I should know?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“You’ll meet the head of the household when you arrive.”
Liora looked up.
“Who is he?”
“A very important man.”
“That sounds suspiciously vague.”
“You’ll find out.”
Liora didn’t like that answer.
But she liked the salary.
Very much.
She signed.
Three days later, Liora stood outside the largest mansion she had ever seen.
She stared upward.
The building was enormous.
Dark stone walls rose several stories high, covered in elegant carvings she couldn’t identify.
Tall windows reflected the afternoon sunlight.
Iron gates surrounded the property.
And guards stood outside.
Liora slowly lowered her bag.
“Why does a household need guards?”
One of the guards looked at her.
She smiled awkwardly.
“Never mind.”
The gates opened.
Liora stepped inside.
The grounds were even more impressive than the mansion.
A perfectly maintained garden stretched across the property.
There were strange silver flowers growing beside the path.
A fountain stood in the center, its water glowing faintly blue.
Liora stopped.
She stared at it.
Was the water supposed to do that?
She shook her head.
“Rich people are strange.”
A maid approached her.
“You’re the new employee?”
“Yes.”
“Follow me.”
Liora followed her through the entrance.
The inside was breathtaking.
Crystal chandeliers.
Polished floors.
Massive paintings.
Expensive-looking furniture.
And absolutely no noise.
It felt less like a home and more like a palace where everyone had forgotten how to breathe.
Liora lowered her voice.
“Does everyone here always look so serious?”
The maid glanced at her.
“They’re usually busy.”
“Right.”
They reached a long corridor.
The maid stopped.
“Your employer is waiting.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
Liora swallowed.
She knocked.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
A man stood near the tall windows with his back to her.
He was dressed entirely in black.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Still.
For some reason, the room suddenly felt colder.
The man turned.
Their eyes met.
His were a striking shade of crimson.
Liora immediately understood why nobody had bothered telling her what he looked like.
There was something intimidating about him.
Not just his appearance.
His presence.
He looked like the sort of man who expected the entire world to move when he told it to.
Liora straightened.
“I’m Liora. I’m here about the maid position.”
“I know.”
His voice was calm.
Deep.
Unnecessarily intimidating.
He looked her over for a moment.
“You’re late.”
Liora glanced toward the clock.
“I’m actually five minutes early.”
His expression didn’t change.
“You’re arguing with me already.”
“I was correcting you.”
A pause.
Then his gaze returned to the documents on his desk.
“Show me what you can do.”
Liora frowned.
“That’s it?”
“What were you expecting?”
“Instructions.”
“I expect competence.”
She stared at him.
This man was going to be difficult.
Very difficult.
She smiled politely.
“Fine.”
She turned toward the door.
Then she glanced back at him.
For some reason, she suddenly thought:
Who does he think he is?
A king?
The man’s voice came from behind her.
“Something like that.”
Liora froze.
Slowly, she turned around.
He was still standing beside the window.
She narrowed her eyes.
“Did I say that out loud?”
“No.”
“Then how did you—”
“Go to work, Liora.”
She stared at him suspiciously.
Then she left.
The moment the door closed behind her, she whispered,
“Demon.”
She had no idea how accurate that description would eventually become.