Page 6 of Fated to the Demon

His words cut deeper than any blade. Tears prick at my eyes, and I blink them back furiously. No. I can't give up. Narina needs me.

His words echo in my mind, taunting me. Useless. Weak. A tasty morsel. But something nags at the back of my thoughts, a half-forgotten memory struggling to surface.

The ravine. The shrine. The tales...

My breath catches in my throat as the pieces click into place. Old stories, whispered around fires on dark nights. A demon's lair hidden in the depths of the ravine. A place of power and danger.

I'd always dismissed them as superstition, ghost stories meant to keep children from wandering too close to the cliff's edge. But now...

My eyes dart around the cavernous chamber, taking in the otherworldly architecture, the strange symbols etched into the walls. This is no natural cave. This is...

"The shrine," I whisper, my voice trembling. "It's real."

The demon's eyebrow arches, curiosity replacing the cruel amusement in his mismatched eyes. "Oh? You know of this place, little Claudia?"

I swallow hard, gathering what little courage I have left. "There are stories... legends of a demon who grants power to those who find his shrine."

My voice grows stronger as I speak, desperation lending me strength. "Is it true? Can you... can you give me the strength to save my sister?"

He tilts his head, studying me with newfound interest. A slow, wicked grin spreads across his face, revealing those deadly fangs once more.

"Power comes with a price, dear," he purrs, trailing a claw along my jawline. "Are you willing to pay it?"

Hope and desperation blaze in my heart, giving me the courage to ask, "What is the price?"

His mismatched eyes gleam with wicked amusement. "If you want my power, little morsel, you'll have to prove your worth." He gestures to the ground at his feet. "Kneel and lick my feet. If I find your worship... satisfactory, I might consider your offer."

My stomach churns at the thought. Degrading myself before this creature? But Narina's face flashes in my mind, her terrified screams echoing in my ears. For her, I'd do anything.

I grit my teeth and try to push myself up. Pain lances through my body, sharp and unexpected. My arms buckle, and I collapse back onto the cold stone floor.

He looms over me, his mismatched eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Look at you," he sneers. "You can't even stand. Truly useless."

His words sting, but the truth in them hurts more. I am useless. Weak. Pathetic. Narina is in danger, and here I am, sprawled on the floor of a demon's lair.

"I-I'm not..." I start to protest, but the words die in my throat.

"Not what?" He leans closer, his breath hot on my face. "Not useless? Oh, but you are. Completely and utterly useless."

Tears blur my vision. I want to fight back, to prove him wrong, but my body won't cooperate. I'm trapped, helpless, at the mercy of this cruel demon.

Suddenly, his lips crash against mine. The kiss is brutal, demanding, nothing like I've ever experienced before. I gasp in shock, and he takes advantage, deepening the kiss.

A strange warmth blooms where our lips meet, spreading through my body like wildfire. It races along my nerves, setting every cell alight. The pain that wracked my body moments ago begins to fade.

I should push him away. I should be disgusted. But as the warmth intensifies, I find myself responding, pressing closer, craving more of whatever this is.

The energy pulses through me, stronger with each heartbeat. I feel it seeping into my bones, knitting together unseen wounds, washing away the ache of bruises.

I blink, realizing the pain is gone. Tentatively, I flex my fingers, then my arms. No resistance. No agony. I push myself up, marveling at the ease of movement.

4

SATURUS

Her lips taste like ambrosia. Sweet. Intoxicating. A flavor I've craved for centuries without knowing it. My tongue dances with hers, and a spark ignites deep within me. What is this feeling?

I purr, trailing a finger along her jawline. She shivers, and the reaction sends a thrill through me.

---