9
Evelyn
After Seven, I’m nowhere near ready for my next lesson, but I don’t say so.
Luci carefully removes the contents of the shopping bags and rearranges them on the table before turning to beckon me over. I approach, eyeing the items laid out before me.
“What exactly are you supposed to be training me in now?” I ask.
Luci rubs a hand across his face as if he’s been asking himself the same question.
“How to behave like a lady around Valentine.”
“Um, okay … but does that really matter? If all I’m meant to do is seduce him, is he really going to care how I act?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Luci sighs. “Valentine isn’t one to stay interested in a woman for long, unless there’s something more intriguing about her. He likes a challenge, something he can’t easily attain.”
“Seven said the same thing. What exactly do you mean by that?”
“What you choose, and how you act around him will influence how long he decides to keep you around.”
“Keep me around?” I ask, turning to look up at him and noticing that he refuses to meet my gaze. “Exactly how dangerous is this mission you’re sending me on? Why does Dante want me to seduce his father?”
“You’ll have to ask him.”
“Don’t you know?”
“Yes.”
“Then why can’tyoutell me?”
Luci sighs deeply.
“You’ll just have to ask him, Evi,” he says. “Valentine ishisfather. Dante will be far better at explaining things to you than I.”
“Fine, then what’s all this for,” I ask, gesturing toward the table.
“Pick something.”
I stare at Luci for a few seconds before looking at the items laid out in front of me.
“Okay, this,” I say, pointing to a simple white dress.
“Interesting choice. Why did you pick it?”
“I guess because it’s a little more modest than the rest of the options. I don’t normally walk around half naked in tattered men’s shirts.”
Luci’s mouth twitches at this, but he otherwise remains as stony as ever.
“Okay, so is that what you’d choose to wear around Valentine? Assuming you were given an option.”
I ponder his question for a moment before shaking my head.
“I guess not. I’d probably pick that for myself, but I suppose it wouldn’t be the right choice if I were trying to seduce someone. So, maybe this?” I say, grimacing as I reach for the handful of red string I’d found earlier.
Luci’s mouth does more than twitch this time, and I watch as he has to force himself to remain composed.
“Why?”