Maddy POV

The quiet town of Victoria Creek didn't have many residents. The nightlife was pretty much non-existent and people kept to themselves. I found an apartment here instead of signing up for the dorms because it didn't seem fair to other students when I wasn't even planning on finishing college in the first place. Okay, it's not just that. My own apartment meant no snooping from anyone. I doubted a human would find my research normal and this saved me from any potential problems.

My target was Dr. Elias Grimstone, who was the best in the occult and mythology field. If anyone knew how to summon a demon from the Underworld, it would be him. Over the years I tried looking for information in the non-human communities, but they wouldn't speak to an outsider. Mainly, I tried convincing witches to help me, but they either outright said no, or wanted a lot of money, which I didn't have at the time. 

That's how I got Elias Grimstone's name in the first place. A witch, who denied helping me with the summoning took pity on me and told me about him. It was rumored that his wife was also a witch. She said that if anyone would be powerful or crazy enough to do it, it would be her. It paid off to use the "puppy-dog eyes" on her to get that information.

...

My first few weeks at Millenium Highland College were boring. I went to classes followed the rules and laid the groundwork. I needed Dr. Grimstone to trust me before pitching the idea. I made it my mission to be the best student he ever had. Unfortunately, we were stuck with his teaching assistant because of a "personal" matter and I still hadn't even seen him.

In my free time, I worked on controlling the one thing that made me supernatural - the side I inherited from my father. I didn't have any cool powers like levitating or teleporting, the only thing that made me different was that my eyes changed from my normal blue color to pure black. Not only my irises either. The pupil expanded and sort of "leaked" around the iris itself turning my whole eyeball black. It only happened when I was really angry, but I've been working on controlling it, so it wouldn't expose me in front of a human by accident. Also, it would help to be able to scare the shit out of someone by looking at them if I wanted.

My mother has mentioned a couple of times that I could inherit some of my dad's abilities to instill fear into others, but I haven't been able to use that at all. Whenever I complained about that to her, she would only tell me "True love is the cure for everything, I am sure you will be able to do it someday!"  What was that supposed to mean? I still hadn't figured it out.

...

It was a typical Tuesday and I was waiting in Dr. Grimstone's lecture hall. Early as always, I finished outlining the next chapter in the study materials the teaching assistant had given us. The topics we were studying now didn't help me, particularly for my purpose, but it was cool stuff to know. I always took the front-row seat next to the aisle. I needed to make myself seen and sitting somewhere among a sea of people wouldn't get me points. 

To an outsider, I probably looked like a lovesick teenager, always raising my hand to answer or debate and intently listening to the lectures, while the rest of the students preferred to distract themselves using their phones. The guys had already dubbed me a "teacher's pet," but the only problem with that was that we still hadn't met our teacher. Some of the more brave girls even accused me of flirting with the teaching assistant. When I denied that I would ever go for someone like him, they changed their tune and "warned me" away from what was theirs... Weirdos. All of them were strange and I can't wait to get out of this place.

The hall filled up pretty fast and there were hushed whispers all over. I didn't expect Dr. Grimstone himself to enter the lecture hall. I perked up when that happened and put on a confident smile.

"Hello, students. I apologize for missing the first few weeks of the semester, but I am back now. My assistant informed me of everything I need to know and I've reviewed the quizzes that you filled out on the first day." He paused for dramatic effect. "I have to say, I am not impressed with your knowledge so far, but I hope that in my absence you took the time to study the materials my assistant gave you."

The room was quiet now and people didn't dare speak. He was a man with authority and no one dared to speak out. In my other classes, there were always those "class clowns" who made jokes when the lecturers were trying to be serious, but this time you could hear a pin drop. He handed a stack of papers off to his assistant, who started handing them out to students. Another test? Looking at the paper in front of me, I found that it was a worksheet of some sort, but this time it wasn't formatted like a test. 

Groans started to fill the room and Dr. Grimstone only had to look up once for them to stop. "Anyone who wants to object is free to leave this room and never come back. I prefer to teach students who are actually interested in what I have to say. Maybe this class isn't for you if you can't handle quizzes and tests."

It was a questionnaire with open answers and I did perfectly. That's all I was here for after all. In fifteen minutes I was ready and stood up to hand in my paper. "I am done!" On the inside, I was grinning because of the impressed look on the professor's face, but I kept my cool on the outside.

"Sit back down Ms. Sullivan, I will review it now." Now it was my turn to be impressed. He knew my name! I guess all that hard work wasn't for nothing. He paid closer attention than I assumed even if he was technically away. When the class ended, the students all handed in their tests and hurriedly left the hall. "Ms. Sullivan, do you want to see my notes on your test now, or receive it later with the rest of the class?"

"Now would be perfect, Dr. Grimstone." I stood up with my bag on my shoulder and went to his desk. He handed the paper to me. Perfect score! I knew I could do it. The only message he wrote was "Keep up the good work." I smiled and thanked him. I could have pressed and talked to him more, but I didn't want to make it obvious. I had to play things cool.

...

After I got home that night I dialed my Mom's number and sat on my table. My apartment was bare with only one room, a bathroom, and a closet. There wasn't a kitchen, but I didn't need it. It was all I could find that didn't require the use of the family bank card, which would let my mom know exactly what was happening. 

"Maddy! Hey baby, how are you?" I heard my mother's voice on the other end of the line. She sounded so happy.

"Hey, Mom! I just got back from classes. I'm about to go out and eat something. What's going on at home?" I asked her curiously.

"Nothing much. I've been keeping up with the garden." We talked for ten minutes when she suddenly got quiet. I waited for her to speak first. "It's quiet here without you baby, but I know how much you love painting. You deserve this opportunity to show the world how good your art is." I felt even more guilt-ridden. I missed her too, but I needed to find my father and I couldn't tell her about it.

Suddenly, I got angry. How could he do this to my mother? He claimed he loved her, yet abandoning her was his only option. I only had four years with him, but he was a good father. The moments I remember anyway. I was pissed off for myself, but mostly for my mother. They were soulmates, but it wasn't enough. Claiming he was protecting us by leaving because their relationship was forbidden was a lie. I knew it without a doubt.

Without addressing her last statement I hurried to hang up "I'm hungry, so I will call you tomorrow. I'll probably lose track of time once I start painting tonight. Love you, Mom!"

"I love you too, baby! Make it a video call tomorrow, I miss seeing that cute face of yours." Ending the call, I got up and entered the tiny bathroom. I stared back at the mirror's reflection taunting me. My eyes were onyx and I loved them. I tried really hard to focus on controlling the change. If I made myself calm down, they would turn back to normal, but shoving my emotions into invisible boxes in my mind and locking them away wasn't healthy. Doing it for the sake of controlling the change isn't the best way, but it's the only way I have, for now.

I saw that the black returned to my pupils. Finding him as fast as possible, so that I could return home to my Mom was a matter of utmost importance. I didn't need a college degree anyway. Thanks to the bank accounts that Deimos left my mother, we were set for life. But the need to know why he left was eating me alive at this point. The more time passed it turned into anger, but at the base was the hurt. Who would have thought that a half-demon could have abandonment issues? Not me, but apparently I wasn't immune to that particular form of anxiety.

After I got myself under control, I went to the fast food place that was closest to my apartment. It was at a gas station. I ran there because I was starving. There was a stretch of road I had to pass to get there which was usually barren. Since I don't have a car, I bike to campus most days because who wants to be a sweaty mess in class? The hunger clouded my judgement and I didn't even think to take my bike.

Ordering their biggest veggie burger plus fries, I waited not-so-patiently for my order. I am not a vegetarian, but the meat they used in this place tasted rotten, so I preferred their veggie burgers.

I heard the door behind me open and a weird feeling took over. I've never felt this way before. My neck hairs tingled which was the feeling of someone stating, but I wasn't jumpy or irritated. I wasn't afraid either, it was more like anticipation. The footsteps stopped just behind me and the person's breath was tingling my shoulder. Who was standing so close? I couldn't contain my curiosity and turned around.

Staring back at me were the most beautiful light brown eyes. The man had a four o'clock shadow covering his face and his hair was messy on top and buzzed on the sides. The god before me looked at least six feet tall, while I was a foot shorter than him. His gaze would be branded in my memories forever. It was so raw and filled with pure desire. I felt like he could devour me if I let myself get closer. The sexy kind of devouring that only exists in books.

"Your order is ready. Here you go and thank you for choosing us to satisfy your needs!" The cheery voice of the worker behind me startled me and I flushed. Was I staring at the tall and handsome god behind me? Well, who could blame me, but he started it, so it's not my fault. I took the bag with the food and rushed out without saying a word.

On my way back I changed my mind about eating outside and enjoying the late afternoon. I couldn't wait to get home and use the minuscule bathroom for one cold shower. It needed to be freezing because suddenly my body decided to feel hot all over. I've never had this immediate reaction to someone before. I've had boyfriends in school before, but none of them made me feel this way. I only dated them for the experience anyway. I wasn't impressed with their skills.

Tall, hot, and handsome from the burger joint managed to do what no one before could. I bet he could satisfy all my needs, not the burgers. Getting home this fast was a new record for me. Hurriedly I undressed and as soon as I took off my panties the smell of arousal pervaded the tiny space. Before I jumped under the spray I glanced at my eyes in the mirror. They weren't all black like when I was angry. This time my pupils were only dilated enough to hide the colors of my irises. Strange. That has never happened before.