The Lucifer's Muse

ng, 3rd Fl

as the only sound f

00

for the bathroom. A splash of cold water jolted her awake. Minutes later, she was dre

le. Three years at Star Academy and not once had she been chosen for

, she stumbled

or hated noise - and in this cheap apartment she hadn't pa

hone

as R

ractically burst through the speaker. I

n - tonight we're celebrating at Midsum

Yeah, thanks. I almost

gain. Once I'm off shift, we're runni

salary of yours

? He's probably planning something special. Yo

nth now. No calls, no message

reparing the best

ught her eye. From her small balcony, she spot

's his car."

ere, gotta run! Lov

out... and opened the passenger door for a girl. The gi

art cr

not

ling, she dia

up. He glanced at the caller

ignor

g on her birthday. His promises of forever. His gentle care. And then four

Diana - her former roommate, who

sent you a red envelope!

yden's new number? I lost mine." I

pa

guys broke up t

ha

w girlfriend three weeks back. Hera. The

room

?" Diana asked, her vo

" she whispered, but

aware. I kept meaning to tell you bu

Thanks for b

t, okay? Don

were no tears left. She trusted him

lit up h

crazy day at work

r a moment... then

age. Just

l from Dire

d, but one of our top sponsors wants Tasha to play it

ha

It'll keep you afloat for the year.

Last year it was her accent. The ye

reflected a girl she

pt

Loose blue jeans, an oversized white T-shirt, white canvas sneak

stairs, she heard

u later

iss on th

art st

hone

ay," she sai

d high, she walked steadily past Jayden's car

lanced at his phone,

wrong?" H

pocketed his p

Aca

tepped into the ac

d on her like in

he hadn't said a word abo

xo

ver, her ever-goss

mething happen?" sh

from Tasha you're giving

knitted togeth

give up such an opportunity? Do you realize how many endorsements and overseas

anything." Ixora

Only a fool would give that up. It's been

, a voice dripped with fa

g for you in the director

glare. "Spreadin

d, but she turned on her h

is the sponsor's from the Colton fami

l nod and walked

r Wendy

t looking up. Tasha and Elisha stood nearby. Elisha's face lo

You can sign it." Wendy

it record on her phone, tucking it into

id evenly. "This morning you didn't even

ha whined in a

You have no choice. Didn

debut between 18 and 21. After that, what kind of Swan Princess could I be? I've worked myself to the bone for three ye

why I let you study here, among people you don't belong with. Now you want t

Elisha tried, but

enter the competition. Either she s

Follow your heart. Do what won't sha

re accept you. No one crosses Star Academy without paying for it. Thi

n, voice syrupy. "Please? Just

rs slid dow

just go abroad now? Why st

you elevates your status

. I'll leave. It's obvious I don't belong here." She

word, she turned

ract on the table. "What's the big deal? I was

lenched

tor, s

, Elisha, and you

fell