Lascivia

STELLA

It was already dawn. I felt the sun hitting my face hard, disturbing my sleep.

I didn't sleep so well all night though. Since my father's death, it's impossible for me to sleep well. The bed lost its comfort, now they are pure springs that dig into my back, my ribs, making me not sleep perfectly.

But I have learned to deal with it.

Before opening my eyes, I stretch. The bones of my body respond and I yawn. I'm still sleepy. I rub my eyes with the back of my hand, and I open them, getting a big shock.

"Fuck!" I yell. My heart starts beating like crazy. I close my eyes again, rub them again, and open them again. No no no. Look, we don't have money, you won't find anything here, I...

The man, who is sitting in an uncomfortable little chair, laughs.

I feel pale, weak, scared.

What is happening? Is it a dream? If not, how did she get into my house?

"You have a very dirty mouth to believe in God," he mutters, and hearing his voice sends a chill through me.

It sounded real. Her raspy, hard and thick voice sounded throughout the entire room of my room.

"Wh-how do you say?"

That man gets up. He scares me even more and I sit slammed on the bed backing up until I hit my back against the top of the bed.

This can not be happening! Will he rape me?

"Where is my family?" What have you done with her? What do you want? God, this can't be happening, no...

I hear the man laugh as I put my hands together and begin to pray internally, asking for help, asking that my family be...

-Do not do that. Not with me here-I open my eyes. She has her arms crossed and looks at me expectantly, annoyed.

-That...?

"Pray." I saw him swallow and raise an eyebrow.

I am not understanding anything.

Why is it still there?

What does he want?

"Stella, do you remember what you ordered last night?" And whom?

I frown.

Taking some courage, I get out of my bed and take more distance. The man moves to the left, which is where the door to my room is. I swallow thickly when he has realized my intentions.

"Don't even try, Stella.

-Who are you? What are you doing here?! Reply! Where are my mother and my brothers?" she yelled at him, tears in my eyes.

His face turns red.

"I just asked you a question, Stella.

-You've broken into my house, my room, my privacy, our privacy, and you're incapable of telling me who the hell you are and what you're doing here?!

The man smirks, in an evil, frivolous way that scares me.

"You have guts, and I like that" is the only thing he says and makes me lose my fear, patience and fear. My name is Constantine.

I frown.

"Constantine?"

-Yeah.

My mouth goes dry.

"And what are you doing here, Constantine?" How come...you know my name?" I keep asking.

The man named Constantine laughs.

"I asked you something a while ago, Stella, you didn't answer," he says again and I swallow.

My heart is beating faster and faster.

I look at his face. I look at every detail. Her blue eyes, her perfect nose, her thick eyebrows, her straight and well-groomed hair, her beard, how clean she is and how good she smells... even, the branded suit she was wearing.

Where had it come from?

"Stella," he calls me again and I fix my attention directly to his eyes, which seem to sparkle with stress. Reply.

"I... w-what did you say?"

"Do you remember anything from last night?" What did you ask for?

I remember.

Before sleeping I did not pray to God.

Before going to sleep, I did not implore God for a miracle, I did not ask Him for help.

"No...impossible" I walk further back, hitting the wall.

"Stella!" I hear my little brother Owen call me and something inside me eases. They're fine, they're fine-, Stella, breakfast!

Constantine watches me, waiting for me to say something.

"I...I'm coming, Owen, give me a moment!" I yell back. I remain silent, my breathing agitated and my heart racing, fear taking over me again.

"I won't hurt you, Stella," he promises and I frown.

"How can I be so sure of that?" You're...you're a demon, God, it can't...it can't be happening," she murmured nervously.

Constantine rolls his eyes.

"Stop naming him, Stella, please," he asks and after swallowing, I nod.

"What do you want, Constantin?"

He smiles again in that way that scares me.

-I love you.

-Me?

"You offered two things last night, and I listened. I love you. I'll give you money, comfort, stability, happiness, if you give me what I want," he explains seriously. Like a businessman.

I don't know what to say, I...

"I'll be back tonight, Stella," he interrupts me. If you agree, I won't force you to do it with me right away. I will give you your time, you will know me. I'm not going to hurt you.

"You're... you're a demon."

"I won't hurt you," he reiterates.

I shake my head.

"Where will you get the money?" I ask him.

This time, if he smiles in a normal way.

"I have a life outside of Averno, Stella. I have work, money, comfort. I have qualities, I don't live locked down there, I have privileges-and with that, it disappears.

I fall to my knees to the ground, shocked.

I am in a state of shock.

I feel... in a dream?

But it seemed real. Her voice felt real, the fear she transmitted, her truth... I have it soaked into my bones. They exist, yes. I believed it, yes.

But knowing it, seeing how real it is, trauma. It is shocking.

No...

I have no other words to describe what I feel right now. Have I found a solution to my family? maybe.

But, I would be selling myself...

All for a good reason, right?

I was tired of listening to my mom complain and cry at night.

I was tired of not seeing my brothers happy.

I was tired of pity.

My miracle?

Constantine.

***

When I finished cleaning myself, I hurried downstairs to the kitchen. My stomach was screaming for even one bite of food. Upon arrival, I observed my mother in the living room watching the news and knitting.

"Good morning mom" I greeted her with a kiss on her hair.

"Good morning honey," he returns, "who were you talking to?"

He asks when I turn around and stop dead.

Damn, did you hear us?

-With nobody mom, I was practicing my part in the play, but not quite. Yes, I have to practice for a play.

-So early? I swore I heard a man's voice, Stella-she sounds convinced. But I say no more and go to the kitchen.

I get myself with Owen and Mary playing Ludo.

-Good morning my little ones-I give each one a kiss-, how did you sleep?

Mary made a face.

"Not so good, not so bad," says Mary.

"I eat a baby," Owen mutters, then groans in defeat as Mary beats him, "hey Stell, you got a mail, it's by the door."

I frown, puzzled.

-A mail?

-Yep-emphasizes p .

I shrug one shoulder and turn around. I open the microwave to find half of a lukewarm sandwich. Well, that's what it is today.

Perhaps our breakfasts, lunches and dinners are no longer like this.

maybe...

Because I'm still not sure.

I take the sandwich and eat it little by little. It's turkey, and it's delicious. Mary and Owen are still playing and I leave the kitchen to go to the door and get the mail.

It's rare that I get an email, it could be from the University, but it's too soon for the grades to be delivered to me. I swallow the last piece of sandwich and pick up the envelope that is on the floor, to one side.

To: Stella Moritz

From: c.

-C? Who the fuck is C?

"Stella, that mouth!" my mother scolds me.

-I'm sorry!

My next course is to run up to my room. I throw myself into the uncomfortable chair that demon was in and I feel a chill run through me.

"Okay, let's see."

I took a pair of scissors and cut the envelope. What was inside, he left me speechless.

There was money. It seemed like a lot.

Was...

It was impossible to believe.

"C for Constantine," I said to myself.

I took the money out of the envelope, and began to count them. They were large bills, one hundred. And in total, there were a thousand dollars.

-What is this? What does it mean? I kept talking to myself.

I left the money on the table in front of me.

-I wouldn't lose anything by accepting, I would have a good future ahead of me, my mother would be fine with her anxiety, my brothers would also have a good future...

"And you would be full of happiness, wouldn't you?"

-Ah, damn!-I scream to heaven when I see and hear him again-, could you not appear like that out of nowhere? Please," I asked, still scared.

"Stella, are you okay?!" I hear my mother yell and I look at Constantine angrily now.

"Yes mom, it's just a cockroach!"

I'm not hearing anything from you now.

-What do you want? You said you'd come by at night-I blurted out, crossing my arms.

Constantine shrugged his shoulders.

"I was watching and listening to you. I only said what is true.

I swallow. Was he watching and listening?

"What did you show up for?" Why that money?

"It's a gift, Stella. You should go out now to buy food, don't you want?

I swallow again. My heart is sinking a bit because it has hit what I love the most.

"Constantine..."

"Buy food, bath soap, whatever you want, it's a gift, even if you don't accept it, it's a gift," he tells me and I see him scratch his chin. His blue eyes are attractive and very bright, although if you stare at them for a while, they start to scare you.

-I accept. But under my conditions-I release safely.

Constantine crossed his arms and crooked a smile that seemed to agree.

-Under your own conditions they will be, Stella-he accepts and I can release the breath I was holding. Now... I'll give you this.

He walks over to me and pulls a wallet out of his back pocket.

-You can do what you want and spend what you want-she hands me three credit cards that, it seems to me, are unlimited-, they are, Stella.

I open my mouth, surprised.

"It's a lot of Constantine, I'm not going to accept that much, it's not like I'm a lot," she laughed nervously and looked away.

"You're a lot, Stella," he snaps and I return my gaze to him. I don't understand why, but my cheeks are flushed. Constantine looks shocked and clears his throat, "they're yours now.

He takes my arm and then my hand, leaving the cards there.

-I only want something monthly, no...

"Don't reject it Stella, don't do it, I'm giving it to you and that's it, okay?" Don't worry," she keeps saying but I refuse.

"It's a lot of money!" I whisper in a gasp that I choke back.

Constantine rolls his eyes.

-And? I have more, seriously, Stella, leave it at that, I'll go.

"They consist...!"

And it disappears, leaving a black smoke in the place where it was. A few seconds later, Owen jerks my bedroom door open.

"Who were you talking to, little sister?"

I frown and try to hide it with a confused smile.

"No one, silly," I say, but he doesn't seem to believe me, "I was rehearsing." Hey Owen, do you want to come with me to the mall?

His eyes light up.

"Will you buy me something delicious?"

-I'll buy you something super delicious!-I exclaim happily and approach my brother to give him a hug followed by a kiss-, something very delicious.

He ran to his room to change and I did the same. Although, I only got a gray sweater and clean black shorts.

I took the cash and put it in my back pocket.

"Stell, I'm ready!" he yells from the ground floor.

Before leaving my room, I let out a loud sigh.

"Thank you very much, Constantine." I spoke loud enough, perhaps, for him to hear me.

If it did.

That night, after asking any ghost of the underworld or the Devil himself for a miracle, I thought they would ignore me, just like God did me.

Maybe God thought I didn't deserve it. Or that my family didn't deserve it. But it doesn't matter, I'll forget all that, now I wanted to start a life again.

No more crying. No more suffering.

Owen was very happy to see that I ordered two pieces of chocolate cake, one for me and one for him. We had already forgotten what chocolate tasted like. We had already forgotten what a sweet was, a sugar.

But now, we would have that happiness from when we were children.

Thanks Constantine. A demon that...

Damn it, Stella, don't think about it right now, my subconscious whispered.

I closed my eyes and counted to three.

Enjoy, buy. Shopping for the house, shopping for clothes.

It was the point of this afternoon.

"Stella, are you okay?" Owen asked me, his little face creased in concern.

"Perfectly champion" I smile, transmitting happiness. Although I also felt a little bad, you don't have to worry.

Dessert arrived about five minutes later. Owen's eyes sparkled like never before and he began to devour the cake like there was no tomorrow. My cheeks hurt, from smiling a lot at this moment.

Owen's happiness was mine.

And he was very cheerful and happy.

But then he stopped, and looked at me strangely.

"What's wrong?" I mumbled, reaching out to stroke his hand.

"How... how will you pay for this?" he asked, confused.

I swallowed.

I inhaled a lot of air and then let it out.

"I've got a very good job that will help us with expenses, Owen. Don't worry, eat-I lied and gave him a lopsided smile.

His little brown eyes light up

-A new job?! That's amazing Stella, mom will be so happy!" he yells very loudly, making some people notice us. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. Owen notices, and tries to look like he hasn't yelled.

I laugh internally.

"Calm down Owen," I whispered.

He looks at me sadly.

-I'm sorry.

I give him a sympathetic look.

I understand your emotion.

I am too. But there's something about all this that makes me think it's not real.

"Don't worry," I say after a few seconds, "we're going to make a big purchase today, are you in?"

"Yes, of course I'm in!"

He laughed with happiness when he saw him finish gulping down his cake.

This was what he wanted so much. What I wanted so much to have again.

This kind of happiness is unique. Seeing your little brother, happy that things will change, is something... that gives you peace of mind, relief, because you know that now nothing will be missing.

No more.

A few hours after doing all the shopping, both food and clothes, and some toys for my brothers, I asked for an Uber. Now we were in front of my destroyed house with a minimum of twenty-five bags. The driver, without asking, helped us lower the bags and place them in front of the door.

Once everything was taken out, I paid him and wished him good luck, he was kind to us.

Now came the best and worst part.

"Are you ready, pup?" I muttered, grabbing what bags I could and opening the door.

Owen winked at me.

"Super smart," he replied.

I chuckled.

I opened the door all the way, and yelled:

"Mary, mom, please come down!"

The next thing I heard was Mary's feet sprinting downstairs.

"Watch out, Mary!" I murmured as I saw her running down the stairs.

When he finished going down, he observed all the bags, with food and clothes.

-And what is that? Did they loot a store? Mom, Owen and Stell...!

"Shut up, shut up." I covered her mouth with my hand before she finished what she was going to say. First, we haven't looted any stores, Mary. We would not be able. Second, I have good news for you-I whispered the last thing in her ear.

Mary agreed.

"Okay, I believe you" and he walked away from me to help Owen with the bags of food to the kitchen.

I went back to the door and took the last ones that were left, I closed the door securely and when I turned around, I met the inquisitive and terrifying look of my mother.

"Where did you get all that, Stella Aileen Moritz?" she asked suspiciously, "you've spent at least more than three hundred dollars there and we don't even have fifty to spend, so tell me," she demanded now, adopting her threatening posture.

The bags that I had in my hands, I put aside. I let out a long snort and opened my mouth to say something but she held up a finger to shut me up before saying anything.

"No lies, Aileen. I know you very well," she asked.

And I got more nervous.

What the hell am I going to tell him now?

"Mom... I got..."

"Mommy, look, Stella bought all kinds of cereal!" And she brought me a Barbie doll, and some pretty dresses!" My sister ran to me and hugged my stomach tight. Mary and Owen are thirteen-year-old twins, almost my height now, "Thank you, Stell." Sorry to interrupt, I'm leaving-and she ran back to where she came from.

"You got what?"

-A...

The doorbell rings and I roll my eyes. "Shit!" I exclaimed, losing my patience.

"That dirty mouth, Stella!"

I turned and flung open the door.

Constantine was in front of me, wearing casual clothes and not a suit, with a cocky smile.

I frowned.

"What are you doing here?" I blurted out, puzzled.

"And who are you?" my mother asked further back.

Constantine fixed his gaze on her and smiled kindly.

"Mrs. Gabrielle, it's nice to finally meet you." My mother and Constantine shake hands and he kisses her on the back, like a gentleman. My name is Constantine Agatone. Stella and I have known each other for months. I wanted to hire her at my famous hotel in the city and one thing led to another," she said and I almost fell on my ass to the ground.

My mother's face is a poem.

I think mine is even worse.

Because what he has said has left me speechless and upset.

***

"Why did you say that?"

He chuckles.

-Why lie?

"Isn't what you said a lie?"

"We kind of have a relationship now, don't we?" he says questioningly, arching an eyebrow. Her blue eyes penetrate every part of me and I feel intimidated.

"On my terms, Constantine," I rebutted.

He nods.

-What did you want to do?

"Wait some time, dammit!"

His brow furrows.

"Don't yell at me." His voice sounds completely rough and I stay still in my spot.

"I'm sorry," I apologize, "I'm stressed, okay?" All in one day, Constantine. You could have waited I don't know, a week? Three days? I do not know! But in one day? Argh!

I turn away from him, and I start to hear his laughter.

With a frown I turned around.

"Do you think I'm kidding or what?" I say, annoyed.

Constantine stops laughing and looks me square in the eye.

"Okay, sorry, you're just...cute?" In that state, I'm not good with compliments.

I make a face and shake my head.

"I don't want your compliments," I tell him.

Constantine cracks his neck and I wince in horror.

-And why not?

I remain silent, watching him.

No compliments, no flirting, no crush, I say to myself.

"You said something about having a famous hotel in town, right?" I changed the conversation.

I sit on my uncomfortable bed, crossed my legs and watch him.

-A chain, rather-specific and I raise my eyebrows-, I also have a restaurant. Here.

I swallow.

"Are you very well known?"

Constantine winces.

-Ehmmmm, yes-he ends by saying-, if they see me with you, you would already know what to do or say, right?

I frown.

"Of course not," I blurt out quickly. They won't see me with you yet-loose.

-Oh no?

His look intimidates me.

"No, Constantine. Wait a month. I... I want to recover from everything, and if you want me to appear in a newspaper with you, about which they say that you are already dating someone, I would have to make some arrangements, right?

Constantine shakes his head and tilts a smile.

"If you want we can say we're friends," he proposes and I roll my eyes.

"And are you sure that's what the press will just say?" I adopt an amused but false face.

I watch Constantine bite his bottom lip as he stifles a giggle.

They knock on my bedroom door and then I hear my mother's voice:

"Lunch will be served shortly, come down in ten minutes," he warns and then I hear when he goes down.

"You're not staying to eat, are you?" I ask.

-I have things to attend to in Averno, see you tomorrow?

"Sure," I accept, "and please, don't scare me again." You learned to knock on the door.

Constantine laughs and nods.

Together, we went downstairs and entered the kitchen, Constantine wanted to say goodbye to my mother and brothers. I have to say that Gabrielle tasted good, but I'm still not sure if it's for the money.

I watch him say goodbye to Mary and Owen, then drive off in a blue Porsche. The neighbors here are stunned to see such a handsome man leave my house in such an expensive car. I have to bet they're calling me a bitch right now and I don't know how to feel.

I close the door of my house and enter the kitchen, where they are waiting for me to eat.

"Why is he gone, darling?" I have made lasagna.

I look at her after sighing.

"I had things to do, mom," I mumble and sit at the table.

The lasagna smells amazing. My palate is watering and my stomach quickly asks me to eat everything and enjoy.

"I understand," he says, "and where did you meet?"

Here came the typical questions, but which, I did not know what to answer. So I would say the first thing that crossed my mind.

-Square.

My mother frowns.

-Square? What rich man spends his time in that square ?-She ​​looks at me suspiciously, again.

"Mom, he's going to jog there." I'm starting to get nervous.

Out of the corner of my eye I look at my brothers who are listening to everything in silence and attentively.

"Yeah, sure," he huffs. You're lying.

-Maybe-I release what is different from the "no" so that he gets confused.

And that's exactly what it does, get confused.

"Could we start eating now?" I'm hungry and this looks delicious," she exclaims, Mary. And now mom, it looks like Constantine is a good man, for giving Stella a job.

I smile at my little sister and stroke her hair.

-Let's eat. Profit-I say.

I sat on the bed and began to fold the new clothes that I had bought. A few hours ago I started packing up the old one, to donate it, and now I was filling my old closet with new clothes.

I felt full and happy to see that I will be able to put on something decent, without gaps or discoloration.

From my room I could hear the screams of Mary and Owen playing with their new dolls.

And there was nothing that made me happier.

"Are you thinking of changing your bed?"

-AHHH!

My breathing becomes agitated from the great scare that hit me. I take a deep breath and then release all the air, I repeat this several times.

-What do you have with scaring me? You've scared me three or four times in one day, Constantine.

I see him laugh.

"I'm sorry, Stella. I want to see you.

I put my hands on my hips.

-For?

Constantine shrugs.

-To see you.

I frown.

"See me and that's it?" I repeat, confused.

Constantine turns his head to the side and I see him tip a smile.

"Shall I help you?" He changes the subject.

I wince, ignoring what has eluded me.

"To what?" I question as I turn around to put the clothes away.

"To ask you for a bed," he says, "or a house...

A week later

STELLA

Constantine blindfolds me with a black tape, so I can't see anything.

"Why are you blindfolding me?"

"I already told you, Stella. It's a surprise.

I frown.

It's uncomfortable having a blindfold that doesn't let me see anything, being practically at his mercy, because I'm sure he traveled more than an hour to bring me to this place and I still don't know where I am.

I can't help but feel suspicious.

-I do not like surprises. I refute.

I hear Constantine let out a loud snort.

"You'll have to get used to them then."

My brow furrows even more.

"Are you ready?" he asks me and I just nod, "give me your hand." I will guide you, walk very carefully Stella, do not rush.

I roll my eyes when he says the last thing. I'm desperate, distraught and a little anxious to find out what it is.

It's been a week and honestly getting to know a demon hasn't been easy at all, it hasn't stopped appearing just like that, and I just think I'd have to get used to it.

Damn.

I have found that Constantine is a very interesting, intelligent, perceptive and very annoying demon. Being with him and getting to know him as he is tickles my whole body and stomach.

-Some small stairs come, go down carefully, that...

His grip is firm, careful and restless. I don't know why, but it seems to me that Constantine is a little nervous about keeping one of his hands on my hip and the other firmly gripping my left hand.

Constantine stops and I follow.

-We arrived.

"Where are we, Constantine?" I sound desperate and annoyed.

Constantine laughs at it and I just roll my eyes.

Definitely behind these bandages I can't see anything at all.

"You'll see, precious." Hearing him say "precious" makes me blush without being able to avoid it.

Constantine moves and perches behind my back, to untie the blindfold, and it's only right now that I'm most desperate to know where the hell I am.

I feel the knot coming undone but Constantine still hasn't pulled the blindfold all the way off my face and he's keeping just enough force to avoid hurting me.

"Are you ready?" he asks me.

-Yes, damn, yes!

"You're very restless, Stella," he whispers in my ear before letting go of the blindfold.

What is displayed before my eyes is impossible to believe. It seemed like a dream, a hallucination, a delirium, but he didn't believe it was true. On the other hand, I wanted to dismember a demon that would surely cut my throat in 0.1 seconds. Right in front of me, there was a gigantic three-story house, sky blue, white and beige, with windows on the second floor, where you could see a nice living room, maybe a library...

"Fuck," I mutter.

I was shocked.

And annoying.

Constantine was next to me and I turned immediately, to look into those enigmatic blue eyes with my enraged hazel eyes.

"I will not leave my house. My home, for this, Constantine, is very nice of you, but...

Constantine cups my face in his big hands, cradling my cheeks for a closer look. My pulse races and I turn red as a tomato. With this closeness to his eyes... damn, it was impossible not to get nervous.

"They live in a pigsty, excuse me for saying it in such a crude way, but it's more expensive to renovate than to buy, so I did it for you," he snaps with his soft, thick voice. It makes my heart clench but the harsh truth is, it's a precious gift, for you and your family.

I strongly inhale air, so as not to drop the tears that want to fall. I feel... Grateful? Happy? Outraged?

Outraged why, are you stupid?

Damn problem with the voice in my head.

I kept breathing heavily to control my emotions. Constantine is still waiting for an answer from me, something, but I really don't know what to say to a demon that's being nice to me so I'll give it back.

"It's a very big house for four people," I mumble, letting out a nervous and forced laugh.

"It's perfect for you," he says to convince me. Perfect for Mary and Owen, I designed their rooms, it has a pool, a large patio for...

-You designed what?

-Their rooms, what they like.

I open my lips in shock.

"Why are you doing all this?"

Constantine shrugs his shoulders and looks away.

"I don't know, Stella," he whispers.

"May I see... the house?"

"It's yours." He takes my hand and places the house keys in my palm.

I swallow.

"Constantine...fuck." I give up, accepting the key in my hand.

My heart is beating fast, with excitement and some rejection.

"How many hours are you from town, Constantine?"

"Ten minutes, Stella," he mutters, walking toward the house, and he expects her to follow.

-That?! I swore I counted more than an hour! Damn.

I hear Constantine laugh and follow along.

Well, apparently I exaggerated, but that's what it felt like to be in that car next to Constantine, not knowing where the hell I was going.

"I'm sure you were asleep, Stella," he mutters, and he may be right.

-Maybe. You woke me up very early. Maybe it's still ten or nine in the morning, maybe my mother wonders where I got myself into without warning-I say the last thing with some annoyance. A fight awaits me at home.

-Oh Stella, calm down, and look at your new home-she smiles at me. Constantine smiles at me and it's impossible not to melt at that sweet smile he gives me.

"Me alone?" Why don't you come with me?-I invite, tipping a shy smile.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

-Why not?

"Because ever since I saw this house and the main room I imagined inappropriate things, to be honest, Stella, I'd better stay outside." His sudden confession has made my cheeks and my whole face explode with embarrassment.

This time my heart seems to want to get out of my chest.

Damn.

That was an insinuation, a confession, which to tell the truth, caused me shame and intrigue. Maybe, he left me wanting to find out what impure thoughts went through his head, and maybe... Damn. Constantine turned me on at all costs, I had to accept it, he's hot, handsome, and with bloody heart-stopping eyes that didn't stop intimidating me and trying to cajole me.

Constantine was a fucking danger.

I bite my inner cheek.

He wanted to say something inappropriate, morbid. But she didn't know what.

He didn't want to ruin a moment when he felt like there was strong sexual tension in the air.

"Why don't you explain to me in the room what improper things those were?"

***

"Thank you for bringing me back," I say, placing a kiss on his beard.

-I had to. She couldn't leave you alone there-Constantine rolls his eyes-, in two days the moving truck will come, pack the most important things, Stella, we'll see you soon.

He turns around but I stop him, grabbing his arm.

"Don't you want to come by and get something to eat?" I offer, shy.

Although you shouldn't feel shy after what happened.

"I'm not hungry right now, Stella, but thanks." He slips out of my grasp and I frown. See you, call me anything, okay? Say hello to your mother and the children.

And so, he ends up turning around, getting in his car and leaving.

I don't know, but Constantine suddenly got weird. Had something happened? Had he done something wrong or something that made him uncomfortable? Well I don't think so. Constantine was sincere and direct. I don't think he was for me.

Without further ado, I turn around and enter my home since I was five years old. The home he would leave in two days. A change would not be a bad thing, leaving the bad vibes here, envy, the bad times we spent here... it would be very good to move and really start again.

Two naughty little ones come up to me hugging me tight, and asking me how it went with Constantine. These two children are very intelligent, mischievous and gossipy.

"He gave me a surprise and for you, where is mom?" I ask.

"She's baking chicken pot pie!" Mary squeals happily and runs to her room.

Owen may be playing with the Nintendo Switch Constantine gave him in his room. Since he has it, he leaves his room to eat, bathe, eat again and almost to see how his twin sister is, Nintendo has become a vice for him or perhaps his love in videogame. Anyway, I'm glad he's happy.

"Mommy, I'm here!" Uhmmm, it smells delicious-she exclaimed entering the kitchen. I watch her hum a song and chop vegetables.

"Where were you, Stella?"

His way of being sometimes scares me, for example, asking questions and going straight to the point.

"I was with Constantine, Mom," I said, sitting on a stool across from the table. She turns around and arches an eyebrow mischievously. I can't help but turn red. He...

I clear my throat when I see Mary listening.

"Mary, could you go up to your room?" Your sister and I will talk about something private-asks my mother and Mary politely nods and leaves the kitchen.

It's too quiet. She hadn't even heard when she came down from her room, nor her footsteps heading here.

Anyway.

I was about to tell my mom about the new house.

"He what, honey?"

My mother turns around and continues chopping vegetables.

I pull the house keys out of my coat and hit them, so they ring, just like that, I put them on the table, getting my mother's attention. Immediately her sight flies to those keys.

"What is that, Stella?"

And he approaches, to take them and examine them with his eyes.

"A house, Mom," I blurt out, just as she does.

From the impression, he drops the keys on the table and his face is a total poem.

"What do you mean a house?" We can't accept a house, Stella!

I frown.

"I can't, you mean," I correct. And yes I can. It's... it's a gift mom, we'll leave here Wednesday at noon.

"I'm not leaving our home, Stella," he refuses and I bite my lip.

-We live among cockroaches and insects, mother! The house has been dirty for years, without maintenance, the pipes are bad, everything is bad here!-I yell loudly, so that he comes to reason-. The house needs a remodel, but right now I can't afford it and Constantine bought it for us," I finish by saying.

His eyes are watering.

He turns his back on me, to watch the chicken pot pie in the oven, and pulls it out, my gut roaring with hunger.

"You're right, I... I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize mom.

"That man is being kind to you, and kind to us, but it's too much and... it's impossible for me to accept it too," he murmurs and I wrinkle my face a little.

He's being nice about what we'll have. Not because it is born to him.

Or that's what I think.

"Yes, I understand you, mom." I approach her and start helping her with the food. You have to pack the most important things, okay? And tomorrow we'll go shopping, you and me, just like old times.

I make her smile and her beautiful smile full of happiness infects me. I do not hesitate to give you a hug full of peace and happiness.

STELLA

Today was Wednesday. And I was watching Constantine along with another boy, they loaded the boxes that we had packed with clothes, souvenirs, dishes, sheets, utensils, food, and a little more. I was also looking at my mother who seemed to cry to the small garden in front of her, but if she knew that we had a new house with a big piece of land, those tears would not even be remembered.

I'm sure the little front yard doesn't either.

I liked seeing her dressed like that. My mother was young, she had me at 20 along with my father who was also the same age and then she had my brothers at 32. Today she is 45 and her face still looks young. Just careless. But I would take care of that later, I would make my mother shine and focus on her now. Anyway, she was wearing a red panty made of soft fabric, with a white jacket and red heels. I combined it perfect.

I bought her some pearl earrings and a pearl necklace too, she looks gorgeous.

"I don't want to leave my home, Stella." She rests her head on my shoulder. I listen as she sniffs at hers and I bite my cheek.

-Oh mommy, we'll come when the house is ready-lies, I still won't have anything done, maybe in two years I will.

"How much would it be?"

"I don't know mommy. They will completely knock it down.

I play sad.

But the truth is that I felt excited and that reason was because of Constantine, who was making my life happy by seeing my little brothers happy. Also my mother, of course, but she still didn't show that she was, but deep down, she knew that she was.

I sighed when the door was closed for me and put the keys away. It was the end, we were moving. I turned around and looked at Constantine who was right in front of me.

-That?

In between I closed my eyes suspiciously. Constantine tipped a smile that I found both creepy and cute.

"No, nothing." He shrugged. Let's go?

-I think so.

He turned around and started walking. I followed him later, and as I was about to get in the car, I took one last look at the neighborhood that was disappearing, I took one last look at the house where I had grown up. And I realized that to start over you have to leave things in the past. But the memories, the memory, would keep him present.

I got in the passenger seat, and my brothers bombarded me with questions.

"Stella!" Tell us please!

-Yeah! We want to know where it is and what it is like!

"Kids, leave your sister alone and stay still," my mother snapped, and they immediately fell silent.

"I want the biggest room!" Owen exclaimed.

I laughed and rolled my eyes.

The way to the new house was extremely short. We passed through the city until we reached the urbanization where we would live now. Owen and Mary gaped at seeing beautiful, luxurious and big houses, while my mom was without saying a single word. She watched silently.

I don't know why, but I felt very nervous.

Constantine pulled up in front of my new house, and he got out before us to help the boy from the moving truck with the boxes.

-This is beautiful! I love it! Can we go down now?!-Mary yelled, looking excited at the house in front of us.

I laugh internally.

-Mother?

She was in some state of shock. She was staring at the house with her mouth half open from the sure shock. On her face there was a trace of recent tears and her eyes were still full of water. My heart clenched seeing her like this.

"I...can't...believe it," he blurts out word for word. Is...

"Lovely," I finish for her.

He didn't know if it was what he was going to finish saying or what, but it was. I got out of the car, and soon my brothers did too, running straight to the house without a care. I opened the door on the side where she was and invited her to come down, she accepted my hand and went down carefully, her hand was sweating and trembling very gently.

He perched next to me, still watching the house. I kept taking her hand from her, and I began to walk directly with her, so that she would know her from the inside of her. My brothers had turned around and were surely looking at the pool. I take the keys out of my jeans, and open the front door. My mother enters before me, she walks slowly watching the whole place in silence, she doesn't say a single word and it terrifies me.

Seeing the place again makes me shudder, I saw the living room with its matching furniture, the glass table in the middle, the fireplace turned off, the television that covered the size of the fireplace above, the windows that let view of the pool, the children sitting on the edge of it with their feet in and splashing water, that scene made my heart feel very happy and comfortable.

When I walked in here with Constantine, I couldn't believe my eyes. He looked so unreal and magical that it was hard for me to understand that my life had already been restored, that I was no longer upside down, but well focused thanks to him, the demon that listened to me that night.

My mom lay down on the black sofa, crossed her knees, and ran both her hands over her face.

-Everything is alright?

-Everything is fine? perfectly? Everything looks good, Stella.

He beckons around us. And I get it.

-Do you like it?

He seems to doubt it.

"I don't know," she yells, "I'm not used to this luxurious life, Stella.

I wince.

"Me neither, Mom."

We snort at the same time.

"Constantine is very... good to you." I see her half smile.

That makes me feel a little bad. Because he's being nice to me for his benefit and mine.

-Yeah...

We hear quick footsteps and from one moment to the next my brothers are inside the house looking everywhere, watching her.

-Is beautiful! I love it!

"The pool is so cool, Stella!" Mary exclaims happily.

Owen walks over to me and I stroke his hair. I touch his nose with my finger, pooping and making him smile.

"Can we go see the rooms?" he asks me.

"Sure, come on. Constantine designed them for you.

"For us?" Owen frowns.

"How did you get all this?" Mary pouts.

Smart. We stop in front of the stairs.

"Well, I'm your...

"Partner," his voice sounds behind me.

-Partner, yes, that.

Owen and Mary shrug their shoulders and point up the stairs.

"Come up with no problem, okay?" It is already our house.

I wink at them and they run happily, but halfway up the stairs they stop and turn around.

-Thanks Constantine!-they exclaim at the same time and next up.

I let out a very long breath.

-Thank you.

Constantine tips an amused smile.

"What were you going to tell them?"

"Honestly, I don't know. Ah, I was going to tell them that he was your assistant, but on second thought...

"Sounds really bad, Stella," he finishes for me.

Seat.

Is right.

Sigh. I put my hands in my back pockets and take a close look at Constantine Agatone. I think he does the same with me too.

-And good? What does your mother think of the house?

I start to walk into the living room at a slow pace and he follows me. Upon arrival, she was not there.

"Actually, she doesn't even know." We are not used to Constantine luxuries, and for my mother this is a lot.

"They'll get used to it, honey."

Darling.

"He says you're very good to me," I laugh, making my body vibrate.

I stop laughing when Constantine has cupped my cheeks and brought his face very close to his. I can almost feel his breathing. My heart begins to beat like crazy and the nerves invade me.

-What are you doing?

"I'm good to you, Stella.

It sounds sincere, it really does. But it is impossible to believe it. He wouldn't believe her. Not yet.

"You haven't given me facts."

He raises his eyebrows for the first time since I've known him.

"You want facts, Stella?"

"I want... I want you to not be doing this just for sex.