Page 63 of The Princess and the Demon

The creature approaches me slowly before lowering himself in front of me. Without a word, he reaches for me, his clawed fingers reaching under the hem of my nightgown to run over my ankle.

I let out a sob, attempting to back up further. With nowhere to go, my heart begins to hammer in my chest, and my fight or flight kicks in.

“Don’t touch me.” I whisper.

The creature pauses, tilting its head before reaching for me again. I shake off its touch as it runs a claw up my shin.

“I said don’t touch me!”

Fear blossoms, and the pitch of my voice rises as well. The demon’s ears twitch in response.

“Pretty…no be afraiiid.” The demon says softly, reaching for me again. He lowers himself to a kneeling position, reaching out to finger a lock of my hair. He lets out a deep growl as he wraps my hair around his finger, thumbing it gently.

“So prettyyyy.” He growls.

I squeeze my eyes shut as hot tears start to fall unbidden.

The demon seems to like that, because he reaches out, brushing one away.

I gasp as he leans forward, inhaling deeply.

My body begins to tremble as clawed fingers wrap around an ankle gently.

“Pretty no cry.” He says as he nuzzles my hair. I let out a sob, and he leans back to look at me, his expression completely unreadable. He pulls on my ankle gently, and I panic, kicking out at him.

The demon snarls, wrapping his hand around my ankle tighter.

“Pretty be nice.” He growls through fanged teeth.

“Don’t touch me!” I scream as he reaches for me again, pulling on my ankle. He yanks me to my back, and I scream again. Unfazed, he chuckles, wrapping a clawed hand around the other ankle.

Panic blooms in my belly, and I kick out, connecting with the creature’s chest. A whoosh of air escapes him, but his grip only tightens.

“Pretty want to scream for me?” He growls again, yanking me towards him a second time.

I let out another scream, and he seems to enjoy that, because he lets out a breathy moan as he tries to settle himself between my legs.

His hands pull at the skirt of my nightgown, and I try my hardest to hold it down.

The demon thrusts a knee between my legs, forcing them open.

“Please, STOP!” I scream again, pummeling at him. He grasps my wrists in one hand, leaning down to look at me. I squint my eyes closed, turning my face to the side in defeat.

Suddenly all the air is pulled from the room, and the beast is yanked away from me by an unseen force.

21

AMON

Isearch the castle endlessly, looking for any sign of Elora. Panic blooms within me when my search comes up empty. Stalking from room to room, I throw open doors, upending tables and chairs in my anger.

I fling open another door, stopping instantly as the scent of jasmine infiltrates my senses.

She had been here.

I stalk through the door, flinging furniture and tapestries.

Another scent mingles with Elora’s, and my nose crinkles. It smelled of sulfur and burned wood. Snarling, I throw my head back, bellowing my anger.

---