Page 83 of Dark Captivation

“It’s a win win then. Let’s help save the library.” I took one of the dozen brooms that had been left near the door and gathered the pieces of broken shelf near the smashed-up water cooler.

Ferina assisted two demon males who replaced a destroyed bookshelf in the science fiction section.

The other sweepers nearby welcomed me with animated expressions of awe and curiosity. They tried to convince me this type of work was beneath people of my and Ferina’s stations.

I then explained to them that all beings were created equally, regardless of where the road of life takes them. I became even more hands-on, sweeping more vigorously and trying to be as helpful as possible.

I hated the idea that some of us were made to serve and others only to reap the benefits of being served. Any idea that some were superior to others was a man-made idea. One that men like Alpha Prometheus were only too happy to embrace.

After two hours we’d gotten most of the floors in this part of the library clean enough to eat off of. Many of the shelves that weren’t too damaged had been put upright and the hammering continued as the workers repaired the shelves that had been only marginally damaged.

I helped by returning books to the erected shelves. Then the sweepers and I moved to the adjoining section. The disfigured door to the restricted section laid behind some rubble.

The sweepers started up on the dust and then powdered the floor near the metal door. I stood with the broom hanging loosely in my hand. I imagined what lay just on the other side of that door.

Secrets, maybe? Secrets about Malek’s past that he refused to divulge. Possibly the kind of secrets that might help me stop his war. Maybe there was information I could use to understand him better. Then I could reason with him or maybe even force his hand. Then I could prevent him from starting a war.

My thoughts fluttered off the instant Malek strode across my path. Smiling like the sun, he diverted to me the second he noticed it was me.

He drew me into his arms and the broom fell. He smelled of pine and aftershave, my nostrils stretched as I greedily drank it all in. My face nestled in the safety of his sturdy pecs; I hoped nothing would ever tear me away from this.

All thoughts of the restricted section and hunting for secrets drifted away like a coin down a bottomless trench.

“I’ve been looking for you. Did you like the gifts I sent?” He asked with a childlike excitement dancing in his eyes.

“It was like Christmas when I woke up and saw them. I love them. Thank you.”

He carefully rubbed a speck of dirt from my neck with his thumb. “I knew you would. Anything for my bride.”

This feeling was so new to me. I felt so cherished by Malek. For the first time in my adult life, I was the apple of someone‘s eye. It was an addictive sensation, so sweet I couldn’t remember life before the taste.

“I’m planning a ball for the night after tomorrow. We’ll be opening the ballroom to a select number of invited guests. That’s why I brought in the cleaners and asked them to put a hurry on the repairs.” He said while watching someone hammer nails into a reading table.

“A ball? So soon after a hostile mage invasion? Don’t you think we should lay low for a bit?” I absently wiped my mouth.

“I refuse to give my enemies the satisfaction of affecting my life or plans in any way. We survived our first invasion without a single casualty on our side. I think that calls for a celebration, don’t you?” His chest puffed out and chin went high as he watched my reaction.

“Okay, that’s fair. But I never took you for a ‘boogie all night,’ type of demon.” Bending my knees, I swayed my hips from side to side.

“Ha! I may be ancient, but I’m far from a stiff old man.” He turned away, bursting into laughter.

“Come on, a ball will be fun and besides I want the demons of the city to get to know you better. The minute they see your warmth and charm, you’ll be an instant hit with the public.” He said confidently.

“Ummm, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. I wouldn’t be so sure.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

“They will love you just as I do. I promise you. Just wait and see.” He kissed me sweetly, silencing my dissent and drowning me with his delicious scent.

Ferina poked out from behind a bookshelf. Seeing that we were kissing, she spun around mid-stride, allowing us privacy.

Malek joined in on the cleaning effort and with his help, we manage to get close to fifty percent of the undamaged shelves back up and most of the debris removed. It was so much more fun with Malek there, he cracked jokes and made a game of everything.

Even the cleaners seemed surprised by how cool and down to earth Malek was. He was so different from the cold, scary image he showed the world.

Outside the window, I saw there were even more workers. A cool two hundred worked on removing the fallen giant from the garden. The entire palace was abuzz with crew, getting the palace back to its usual glory.

We called it a day in the early afternoon and Ferina invited me to go with her to the shopping district for an afternoon of fun.

Malek insisted we take bodyguards because no one knew if there would be another mage attack. They were determined to prevent war by killing Malek before he could declare it. While I understood their motives, their tactics were brutal and inexcusable. Senseless violence only birthed more senseless violence.

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