Page 67 of Dark Captivation

“You got all of that from a thumbs up?” I asked.

“My men are well trained; they can communicate volumes of information to me just with their eyes.” He cut off a piece of lamb and ate it.

My nerves ebbed a bit and I sank back into my chair. I accepted that Mellow was probably mistaken and I continued eating with Malek.

We’d been having fun dimension hopping for well over twenty-four hours, though it was hard to tell in all these changing dimensions exactly how long we’d been there. After dinner, my body felt as heavy as a bag of bricks.

After dessert, Malek and I walked along the river to the cabin he’d reserved for us. We went inside to see all our luggage was already there. Overfilled with dinner and exhausted, the moment I found the couch, I passed out on it.

I awoke to bright sunshine streaming in through the window. I was on the couch with a warm wool blanket pulled over me. I didn’t remember putting it there nor did I remember placing a pillow under my head. Malek had to have done it.

The scent of cinnamon and sugar spiraled into my nose and I practically floated into the kitchen. Malek stood over the stove frying up some bacon, a tall stack of French toast towering on the counter. God this demon was good at vacationing.

We ate breakfast together and chatted. Doing the dishes together was the best part. Watching this ancient Demon King, fighting to scrub the burned bits from a frying pan was pure, hilarious bliss.

We washed up and got dressed and went to a new dimension Malek had reserved just for us.

We jumped through the portal and stumbled into a seemingly untouched world of virgin forest and lush, green landscape.

It was like a forest, but the tree leaves had a blue hue to them, and the grass was a chocolate brown. A stream of bubblegum pink water split the forest right down the center, cooling the air.

He took my hand and led me away from the water as the trees enveloped us. “This land exists in the same dimension as ‘Euphopia’. The believed birthplace of all magics. From the moment you arrive, this dimension reaches inside of you and touches your soul. Here you can watch your sweetest memories play out right in front of you.”

“Look over there.” He flicked a finger to his left, a smile warming his face.

A tall and beautiful woman with long black hair strolled through the forest gracefully, her long white dress flowing behind her making her look almost spirit-like.

Her skin was gray and she bore a striking resemblance to both Malek and Ferina though she appeared more willowy and frail than they did.

“She’s gorgeous. Who is she?” I hastened to catch up with her, but Malek gently tugged me back.

“Some memories are best left seen but untouched.” He followed the woman with longing eyes as she drifted away, through the trees. “She is my mother. This is exactly how she looked on the last day I saw her.”

His voice trembled.

“Then I take it she’s…” I didn’t finish my sentence.

“Yes. She was a kind and loving mother. She died of Blue Spot Plague centuries ago. The only disease to ravage demonkind in known history.” Joy and sorrow fused in his dark eyes as he watched his mother fade away.

“Is this why you ended up coming to Earth? To escape the sad memories of her?” I asked, not meaning to pry, but more to understand and comfort him better.

He stared off, seeming to contemplate his answer.

Two children raced by, a boy with gray skin and a girl with glossy green hair. Both appearing to be around twelve years old.

“I was hoping the dimension would show us this memory.” He chased after the children, pulling me along.

He suddenly stopped running, and I collided with his back.

A look of pure fascination and wonder was imbued in Malek’s expression as he watched the children kneel down in a patch of daisies.

The child-like image of Malek made the child version of me a flower necklace as she braided his long, black hair.

“Beautiful.” He murmured as if losing himself in the sweet innocence of this memory.

This was the happiest time of my life. I had my loving parents and I had Malley, my adoring best friend. The world had tested me in unimaginable ways since this memory happened. I barely recognized that little girl who was braiding hair. I’d seen too much and struggled for too long to be as innocent as she was.

“Wouldn’t it be great to be like them again?” Malek asked.

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