Thief's Honour

Chapter Three- The Demon

After a great night in Vegas, Madeleine returned to her apartment in Los Angeles. It wasn't super-expensive, with one bedroom, one bathroom, and a huge living room that also had a desk, so she used it as an office as well. It was perfect, for one person living alone. She hid her newfound treasures in a secret alcove in the bathroom, where no sane person would look for them. Then, she collapsed onto her bed, without even bothering to change. Hey, even professional thieves needed sleep, and she'd had a few busy days.

The next morning, she went into the bathroom and scrutinized her reflection in the mirror, wondering if she was still presentable in this state. She ran a brush through her auburn hair, but decided that her chocolate-coloured eyes were acceptable without makeup.

She was walking to a nearby coffee shop, fantasizing about a large cup of coffee and a doughnut for breakfast, when her day was single-handedly ruined by an extremely attractive blond guy she had never met before.

She was walking past a dark alley, when he called to her.

"Hey, you. Come here."

She turned sharply, to see a blond, blue-eyed guy leaning against the wall of the alley casually. He was wearing black silk, trimmed with gold.

It took her a minute to realize that she was looking at a demon. Not just any demon, judging by his clothes. A demon prince. Of course. Who else in their right minds would be wearing black silk in Los Angeles?

I'm screwed, She thought, but approached the mouth of the alley. She had no choice. The demon would pursue her if she didn't, and then he'd be pissed off. Pissed off demons weren't a good thing to deal with. Madeleine Hart had only two fears: demons, and the Boss. Only one of them needed her skills and as a result tolerated her lip, and it wasn't the one who was looking at her like a meal that was already caught.

The demon also had an arrogant flair about him, like he could do whatever he wanted and get away with it. Which he probably could.

"Should I bow, or would you be satisfied with a curtsey?" She asked sarcastically, despite herself. She really didn't like the way he was looking at her.

He arched an eyebrow, as if surprised that she could recognize what he was. "The proper thing to do is get on your knees." He replied, casually moving away from the wall, closer to her.

"Not gonna happen." Showing submission to a demon like that, if you could avoid it, was never a good idea. It was practically like telling them that they could do whatever they wanted to you. Which was never good to acknowledge, no matter how true it might be.

He moved behind her, quicker than she would've expected, and struck her in the head. She fell to her knees. A sharp pain in her neck- steel, probably a dagger- forced her to keep her head bowed.

"You would do well to remember your manners." He snarled.

"Apologies, Your Highness." She shivered. She was no match for any demon, much less a pissed-off demon prince. Warm blood trickled down her neck.

"That's better." She could hear a smirk in his voice. He took the dagger off her neck.

She kept her head bowed, as she knew was expected. He could probably tell how scared she was trying to pretend not to be. Demons, especially royalty, seemed annoyingly adept at sensing fear. "What do you want?" She asked nervously.

"What do I want?" He repeated, laughing. "Many things. Specifically, though, I'm looking for a master thief."

She looked up at that. What in the world could she steal, that he couldn't get a bunch of demons to do themselves? "A thief?"

He nodded. "Not just any thief. A master thief, preferably one without normal mortal weaknesses. You, I believe-" he grabbed her jaw and turned her head- "will do nicely... Madeleine Hart."

"That's not my name."

"Not your real name, I know." He replied, "But the one you're currently using. And unless you'd like to share your real name, Madeleine it will be."

"I have no name." She replied. "Not anymore."

"Madeleine it is, then." He sighed, as if he had been hoping that she would be so foolish as to reveal her long-abandoned birth name.

"What's your name? And why do you need a thief?" She asked, deciding to stand up.

He didn't stop her. "My name is Damien, Prince of Hell. And I need a certain, skilled someone to steal something very important from the angels." His eyes glittered dangerously.