The Devil's Masquerade: The Poison Read Online Free PDF

afraid of me. I would never hurt you. I only want to protect you from the rest of the world, to give you everything you have ever wanted. I want to marry you, to live a long life with you. Please don’t run from me. I would die inside.” Her feet catch my tears, but I fear she isn’t truly hearing me. “I can’t help who I am Sophia; I can only help who I love.” I look up at her with pleading eyes, and she looks down on me, falling to her knees with me.
    “I love you too,” she says, embracing me. “I promise to allow you to hold and protect me and our child for the rest of our lives, Dante.”
    Our child, my child, I look down at her and feel the need to quickly bring her back to my chest, to wrap my arms protectively around her more than ever. I know what this means, and I am going to do everything possible to make sure she never knows the threat of my father and his need to be the ultimate decider of who lives and who dies in his family. The only hope of protecting my family is to deal with my father face to face, bargaining for my future.

    I tried to keep it simple, keeping my distance from her in hopes that I would be able to lose interest in her at some point, but nothing worked. So instead, I am diving in head first, hoping that I can talk my father into accepting our relationship, but I abstain from telling him about the child we are expecting.
    “Dante, this woman is not right for you! You did not give my choice for you a chance.”
    “She was boring and no challenge at all.”
    “She would do whatever you asked her to do, Dante!”
    “Exactly! Father, I love Sophia. I am going to marry and be with her. I don’t care what you say.”
    My father doubts my love for Sophia and threatens to disown me. His fiery anger is directed at me with more force than ever before, but I remain solid in my decision. I want to marry her and be with her forever. When my stepmother comes in the room with Saldean, my father smiles and gives me last warning. “You either leave that woman and stay here and see to your responsibilities to this family or I force you out and make Saldean in charge. You will never be allowed back and will receive no protection from me or any of the other Lords who will surely want you dead the moment you step out that door. So what will it be Dante?”
    I look over my stepmother and brother before looking back at my father with my head held high. “I choose her. I choose my freedom, and I know for a fact that no Lord will come after me if they know you have disowned me. I am no threat to them then. Don’t try and fool me Father. I am the smart one remember?” I grab my things and walk out of my longtime home with no regrets.

Chapter 5
    Dante
     
    Since leaving the family, I have been working with Sophia, helping her until I can find a more suitable job for myself. The few things Father let me take are moved into Sophia’s house. I leave with very little money. My father cut me off from all accounts, and I am forced to depend on Sophia, something she doesn’t mind, but I do. I try and do everything I can to find a better life for us. Every possible opportunity I attempt, my father blocks. He threatens anyone who helps me, and his efforts are beginning to affect Sophia’s business. She will be forced to close soon if I don’t do something.
    If not for my sister, I would know nothing of what is happening with my family. If my stepmother has her way, I will be killed, but for some reason Father resists this idea. I have never understood why he protects me from her, or why he seems to prefer me over my siblings. He never speaks of my mother, leaving me to assume she didn’t mean that much to him, but maybe she meant more than I realize. I am hoping that, whatever is keeping him from killing me, is something I can use.
    I show up at my father’s door, and my old tutor answers. Rabbie stares straight ahead and shows no emotion. “Hello Rabbie,” I say, but he says nothing. “I would like