Page 2 of The Demon Who Loved Me

The woman, clearly frightened by my sudden appearance, takes a step back, clutching the artifact tightly to her chest. "W-who are you?" she stammers, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "What's happening?"

I roll my eyes, annoyed by her ignorance. "I am Malakai, a demon Lord of the underworld," I declare, my voice laced with impatience. "And you, foolish mortal, have summoned me here with that cursed artifact. Now, break the bond and send me back!"

The woman shakes her head, her brow furrowed in disbelief. "I don't understand," she says, her voice trembling slightly. "What bond? What are you talking about?"

I sigh heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose. Humans can be so dense sometimes. "The artifact," I explain slowly as if speaking to a child. "It holds an ancient power. Who is in charge here? It can’t be you."

“I’m in charge.” The woman scoffs, her fear giving way to skepticism. "That's impossible," she retorts, her grip on the artifact loosening slightly. "Magic and demons don't exist. This must be some kind of trick."

I bare my fangs in a wicked grin, my eyes glinting with malice. "Oh, I assure you, my dear," I purr, taking a step closer. "I am very, very real."

Just then, I hear a disturbance outside the temple. Men shouting. And I know that can’t be good.

"Listen to me, human," I growl, my tone urgent. "Men are approaching, and I can assure you they mean us not a single amount of good. We must leave this place at once."

The woman narrows her eyes, her skepticism still evident. "And why should I trust you?" she challenges, her chin tilted defiantly.

I let out a bark of laughter, amused by her bravado. "Because, you foolish girl," I sneer, "I am your only chance of survival."

As if on cue, the sound of heavy footsteps fills the temple room. A group of heavily armed men have breached the entrance, their weapons at the ready. There’s shouting in alarm, then gunfire. "Stay behind me," I command, pushing the woman aside as I step forward to face the intruders. “It’s too late for them.”

The mercenaries pour into the chamber, their guns trained on me. They falter for a moment, clearly not expecting to encounter a demon in their midst.

I grin savagely, relishing the fear in their eyes. They point their guns at me, their hands trembling slightly as they try to comprehend the sight before them. I can't help but chuckle at their confusion and terror.

They have no idea what they've just walked into.

I step forward, my muscles rippling bare-chested. I can feel the energy crackling around me, the very air seeming to shimmer with the force of my presence. "Well, well," I taunt, a smirk playing across my lips as I crack my knuckles. "Looks like you boys picked the wrong temple to rob. Didn't anyone ever warn you about the dangers of meddling with ancient artifacts?"

The mercenaries exchange nervous glances, their fingers tightening on the triggers of their guns. I can hear their hearts pounding, the sound like a drumbeat in my ears. They have no idea how outmatched they truly are.

Suddenly, one of the mercenaries loses his nerve and fires off a shot. The bullet whizzes past my head, close enough that I can feel the heat of its passage. I grin, my eyes glinting with malice.

"Pathetic," I snarl, my voice dripping with contempt. "Is that the best you can do?"

With a casual flick of my wrist, I summon a ball of infernal energy and hurl it towards the mercenaries. It explodes in their midst, sending them flying like rag dolls. They crash into the walls and pillars of the temple, their bodies crumpling under the force of the impact.

I move forward, my steps smooth and predatory. The mercenaries scramble to their feet, their eyes wide with terror as they realize the gravity of their mistake. They fire off more shots, the bullets tearing through the air towards me.

But I am too fast for their mortal reflexes. I dodge and weave, my body a blur of motion as I evade their attacks with ease. The bullets ricochet off the walls, sending up plumes of dust and debris.

I close in on the nearest mercenary, my hand shooting out to grab him by the throat. I lift him off the ground, my fingers tightening around his windpipe as he gasps and chokes. "Foolish," I growl, my face mere inches from his. "Did you really think you could stand against me? Against the power of a demon lord?"

I throw him aside, his body smashing through a crumbling statue before crumpling to the ground. The other mercenaries, seeing the fate of their comrade, turn to flee, their courage shattered in the face of my overwhelming might.

I let them run, a dark chuckle building in my throat as I watch them scramble over the rubble in their haste to escape. They will carry the tale of this day with them for the rest of their short, miserable lives, a warning to all who would dare to cross my path.

I turn to face the woman, my expression one of smug satisfaction. "Still doubt my powers, human?" I ask, arching an eyebrow as I cross my arms over my broad chest.

She swallows hard, her eyes wide as she takes in the scene of carnage around us. "I... I don't know what to believe anymore," she whispers, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and awe.

I chuckle darkly, extending my hand towards her. "Believe this, mortal," I say, my voice low and dangerous. "You and I are now bound by forces beyond your comprehension. And if you want to survive the coming storm, you'd best start trusting me."

3

EVELYN

"Stay back!" I shout, my voice trembling as I grab a nearby artifact and hold it out in front of me like a weapon. "Don't come any closer, or I'll... I'll..."

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