After lunch, Dad and I returned to his club. I sat on the balcony of his penthouse texting my cousin Jessica. Los Angeles spread out before me. It was a nice view. A cool breeze cut through. It gave me a slight chill. Jessica sent another text which made me burst out with hysterical laughter.

"What's so funny?" My father was standing there. He held a drink in his hand.

"Oh something Jessica wrote. You remember Jessica, my cousin."

He shrugged. "You have a lot of cousins."

"Jessica is Aunt Karen's daughter."

He nodded. "Oh yes. I remember now." He shuddered. That just made me laugh. He sat on another chair beside me. I kept texting. He was silent for a moment.

I could feel his eyes on me. I glanced over at him. "What?"

"I was wondering if you wouldn't mind performing some songs tonight in the club?"

I slowly turned to him. "Huh?"

"You know sing."

"Yeah I got that. But I'm not really into that sort of thing."

"Could have fooled me." He took a sip of his drink. He wrapped his fingers on the glass table between us. "You sounded wonderful last night."

I sighed. "That was a fluke."

He didn't say anything. He just sipped his drink. His fingers rapping upon the table. It was driving me nuts. I glanced at him. He was looking out at the city. His fingers just kept rapping.

I shook my head. "Fine. Just a couple of songs."

He smiled and shot to his feet. I reluctantly got up and followed him into the penthouse. He disappeared into his bedroom then came out with a box. He set it down on the coffee table. "I got this for you to wear."

My eyes narrowed. "You bought me a dress?" I opened the box. I pulled out a short black dress. My face tried real hard to remain neutral but it was difficult. "Where is the rest of it?" I said.

He scoffed and shook his head. "You are a beautiful woman. You shouldn't hide it." He gestured to me. I was wearing my maternity jeans and the same purple t-shirt from earlier. "You are Joanie Lynn's daughter."

I looked at the ground. "What's the catch?"

"No catch Persephone. Just thought others should experience that voice of yours. It's just one night." He turned and walked into his bedroom.

I picked up the box with the dress and walked to my room. I set the box on the bed. My phone buzzed. Another text from Jessica. I sat on the bed and laughed. I leaned back against the pillows. Before long I was asleep.

There she stood in a field. Her blonde hair blowing in the breeze. She wore a white dress with made her already pale skin seem even more pale. Her blue eyes sparkled. "Mom?" I said to her.

"Persephone." I took her hand and we stood there for a moment. Then like the blink of an eye she was gone. I was standing in a blackened forest. The trees all grotesque face reaching for me. I tried running from their grasp.

"Persephone" Their haunting voices called. Then I was running. Trying to get away but my legs wouldn't carry me.

"Persephone." I woke with a fright. My father was standing over me. "Persephone, we are going to be late. Get dressed."

I looked at the clock. I had been out for a couple of hours. I sighed and got up. After I was showered and dried off, I put on the dress. I scoffed at the image in the mirror. I felt naked. The dress was black with thin straps. The front was deep cut. I felt like my breasts were going to fall out. There was no back and a slit up the side to my hip. My pregnant belly was on full display. I shook my head. I did not want to do this. Why did I let him talk me into it?

"You look great." I jumped at Mazikeen's voice. The demon was standing in the doorway. "I don't understand why you hide?"

"I don't hide. I just don't like to dress like a…a prostitute."

"You mean like me." She said sharply. She had on a leather bodice with leather pants.

"No, that's not what I meant. This just is not me,"

She shook her head and walked towards me. She came to a stop beside me. "You'll do fine."

I shrugged. "I guess." As a cop I had full confidence. I could take down criminals. In Iraq I had come face to face with insurgents and not flinched. But singing in front of people, made me sick to my stomach. "I don't know why my father, pushes this so much."

"He just wants what's best for you." Maze said as she fixed my hair.

"But I have a good life. I like what I do."

"I don't know then."

She had pulled my hair into a high pony tail. I looked at myself in the mirror. I tried real hard to see what others saw. My husband would like it. I wasn't sold on it.

"Be down soon." She attempted a smile and walked out of the room.

I sighed and smoothed the dress. I put on some makeup before heading downstairs.

The elevator dinged as it hit the club floor. I could feel eyes on me as I walked out and down the stairs into the club. I wanted to hide. My father walked up to me with a huge grin. "You look exquisite."

I attempted a smile. "Thank you." I said quietly. He lead me to the piano. I could feel my nerves starting to kick in. The bright lights were making me hot. He sat down and began to play a familiar song. I said a small prayer and began to sing.

People stood around watching. I tried not to focus on them. I would glance at my father who beamed while he played. When the song ended I attempted a bow. They clapped and cheered. I made it through a few more songs without incident. At last I bowed again. MY father rose from the piano and stood beside me. He held my hand and spoke into the microphone. "Persephone Morningstar." His smile made me smile.

I then walked off the platform and towards a table. There was a glass of water. I drank it down. I started to sit down. "My god, Lucifer. This is Joanie's little girl." The voice was familiar. I knew it from my childhood. And it made my stomach turn. I turned to the man standing with my father. He was short and somewhat fat. He had almost no hair on his head. I recognized him as my mother's manager, Stu Mannon.

"Persephone. You remember Stu don't you?"

I attempted to be polite. "Barely."

Stu bumped my dad's arm. "Oh Lucifer, she was just a tiny kid last I saw her."

"Oh right." My father laughed.

"Persephone, let me say you sounded divine up there." Stu said in between coughs. "I could have you in the studio and cutting an album next week."

My eyes narrowed as I looked at the two men. "No thank you."

"This is not an opportunity you want to pass up. We just need to work on this." He gestured to my belly.

"My baby?" I was starting to feel anger build. I shook my head and turned away. Stu kept talking. Mostly to my father. I was mad at him right now. I wanted to just get out of here. I looked out into the crowd and I saw a beacon of light. He smiled as our eyes met. I practically ran to him. As well as a pregnant woman in a tight dress could. I threw my arms around him and kissed him.

He kissed back. We just held each other for a moment. I was so happy to be in his arms. "Persi." My husband said as I kissed him again. I looked at him. He was wearing black jeans with a band t-shirt and a leather jacket. No man in the entire club looked better.

"What are you doing here?" I said to him.

"I needed to see you." He said with a smile. "And you look absolutely gorgeous." I could help but smile as tears fell down my cheeks.

"Oh Persephone." My father's voice broke through our moment. "Care to introduce us."

I pulled away from Bryan. I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Dad, this is Bryan. Bryan, my dad Lucifer Morningstar."

Bryan held out his hand. I watched as my father and husband shook hands. "It's nice to finally meet the famous Lucifer." Bryan said to him.

"I bet it is." My father said as he looked Bryan over. "Me aren't you a good looking chap."

I swear Bryan blushed. He wasn't used to being complimented by men. "Um thank you."

My father looked at me. "Care to do a couple more songs?" He smiled. Seeing my husband had boosted my spirits.

"Sure." I walked towards the piano. I stopped at the table to drink some more water. I looked back to see my father speaking with Bryan. At first they were smiling then my father leaned into Bryan. I watched as the color drained from my husband's face. Fear was not something I saw an opt of in his face. When my father was done speaking they both walked over to where I was standing. I looked at my father. "What did you say to him?"

"Oh nothing." The Devil said nonchalantly. "I just told him that if he ever hurt you that I would punish him in ways he didn't think possible." He shrugged. "You know the old protective father speech." He walked towards the piano.

Bryan was standing next to me. Some color had returned to his face. I kissed him. He smiled a bit. "I'm going to do a few more songs."

He nodded and sat down. My father was already starting the next song by the time I made it to the stage. My nerves had dissipated as the only person I noticed Bryan. A few minutes later though I noticed something odd in the crowd.

Stu was standing there watching. Beside him stood, I swear it was my mother. She wore the same white dress from my dream. She glanced at Stu. Then it hit me. My knees felt weak and the room started spinning. Then I felt my earlier dinner moving north. I ran off the stage. I hurried as best I could towards the lady's room. I ran by the line winding its way out. I shoved another woman out of the way as I ran into a stall.

"HEY BITCH!"

I heard as I hurled. I retched a few times. I leaned against the stall. MY hand on my stomach. Memories flashed through my head. I remember Stu being at our home the night before my mother died. I remember them fighting. The argument finally was coming back opt me.

I stumbled out of the stall and to the sink. I was rinsing my mouth out. "Persephone." Mazikeen was standing beside me. "Hey, are you alright."

I had my hands on the sides of the sink. I was staring down. I nodded. "Yeah. I just felt sick."

"Well, your husband is flipping out."

"Tell him I am okay."

She snorted and walked out of the bathroom. I stood there a few more minutes before I felt well enough to leave. Electronic music was pulsing against the walls. It made me feel dizzy again.

"Hey." I heard a female voice behind me. It was the woman who I had shoved out of the way in the bathroom. "Bitch."

I turned to her. "I'm really sorry." I tried to be nice. But instead she shoved me. I stumbled back against a wall.

"Sorry isn't good enough." One of her friends tried pulling her away.

I shook my head and started to walk away. I felt her hand on my shoulder. Turning to glare at her I felt fire in my eyes. She screamed. Her friends screamed. One of the bouncers rushed over. It was my friend from the first night.

"What's going on over here?"

"Bruno, this woman threatened to beat me up."

He nodded. "I'll take care of them Ms. Morningstar." He then turned to other woman. "You need to leave."

I walked away as Bruno struggled to get the women out of the club. My husband and father were standing by the bar. Bryan walked over to me and put his hands on my arms. "Persi are you alright?"

I nodded. "I'm fine."

Stu walked over and said something opt my father. I glared at him. He smiled at me. "My offer still stands Persephone."

I didn't say a word to him. My father looked at me with a frown. "Persephone you are being rude."

Turning away I walked to the elevator. I pushed the button. I could sense Bryan right behind me. "PErsi, what's going on?"

I didn't say a word. Ding. We entered the elevator and rode to the top. We walked into my father's penthouse. Bryan looked around in awe. Wordlessly I walked to my room. I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes. I felt someone sitting on the bed. "Persi, will you tell me what is wrong?"

I opened my eyes and looked at my husband. His brows were furrowed and his blue eyes laced with concern. But I didn't say anything. I sighed.

"you mind telling me what that was all about?" I heard my father's voice.

"Persi." Bryan said.

Sighing I sat up. I put my hand on Bryan's back. I looked between him and my father. "He killed her."

They looked at each other than back at me. "Who killed who, Persi?" Bryan said.

"Stu killed my mother."