Page 13 of Damsel to the Demon

Helpless. The word ignites something primal within me. I imagine my hands around his throat, squeezing until the light fades from his eyes. I picture driving a blade into the captain's black heart, twisting it as he begs for mercy. These vivid fantasies of violence should frighten me, but instead, they bring a perverse sense of comfort.

"You have no idea what I'm capable of," I growl, my body tensing for a fight.

They laugh, but there's an edge of unease to it. They've never seen me like this before - feral, unhinged, dangerous. I'm no longer the docile human they thought they knew. I'm something else entirely, something born of pain and rage.

As they move to surround me, I scan the area for anything I can use as a weapon. A heavy branch, a sharp rock - anything to make them bleed. My heart pounds in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

The first blow catches me off guard, a fist slamming into my stomach. I double over, gasping for air. The pain is intense, but it only fuels my rage. Another strike, this time to my face. My head snaps back, and I taste blood, metallic and warm on my tongue.

"This is what you get for running, you stupid bitch," one of the elves snarls, his breath hot on my face.

I don't respond. I don't even look at them. My mind is elsewhere, filled with visions of vengeance. I see their bodies broken and bleeding at my feet. I hear their screams of agony. It's all that keeps me going as the blows rain down, each impact sending shockwaves of pain through my body.

They drag me back to the base, my feet scraping against the rough ground. I don't struggle. What's the point? I bide mytime, knowing that soon, very soon, I'll have my revenge. The forest gives way to the dark, imposing structure of the elven stronghold, its black stone walls looming ominously in the night.

The dungeon is dark and damp, the air thick with the stench of fear and despair. They throw me inside, and I hit the cold stone floor hard. Before I can catch my breath, they're on me again, boots connecting with my ribs and back.

"You deserve this," one of them spits, landing another kick. "You and your whole pathetic family."

Something inside me snaps at the mention of my family, but I hold it in. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. Instead, I focus on memorizing their faces, their voices. I'll need to know who to kill first when the time comes.

"At least we're not giving you to the captain dead," another one laughs, landing a final blow to my head. Stars explode behind my eyes, and for a moment, I fear I might lose consciousness.

The rage that's been simmering inside me finally boils over. I no longer care about consequences. My humanity slips away, replaced by something feral and monstrous.

"You think this is over?" I snarl, my voice dripping with venom. "I'll hunt every last one of you down. I'll tear the flesh from your bones and feast on it while you watch!"

The elves exchange uneasy glances, but I'm not finished. The words pour out of me, each one dripping with hatred and promise.

"I'll drink your blood like fine wine," I continue, a maniacal laugh bubbling up from my chest. "And I'll savor every scream, every plea for mercy. You'll beg for death long before I'm done with you!"

One of the elves, his face twisted with disgust and fear, grabs my hair and slams my head against the wall. Pain explodesbehind my eyes, but I welcome it. It fuels my rage, sharpens my focus.

"Shut your filthy mouth, human!" he growls, his grip tightening painfully.

I spit blood in his face, grinning like a madwoman. "What's wrong? Scared of a helpless little human?"

He raises his fist again, but another elf grabs his arm, his expression wary.

"Stop! The captain wants her alive. He hasn't had his way with her yet."

The first elf hesitates, then shoves me to the ground with a snarl. "You're lucky, bitch. But your time will come."

They file out of the cell, locking the door behind them. As their footsteps fade away, I'm left alone in the darkness, my head throbbing and my mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. Every breath sends sharp pains through my ribs, and I can feel my eye swelling shut.

Silence envelops me as I sit in the dank cell, waiting. Minutes stretch into hours. The cold stone leaches the warmth from my body, and I start to shiver.

Where is he?The demon promised to return, to grant me the power for revenge.

Did he lie?Panic claws at my chest, threatening to overwhelm me.

A shadow materializes in the corner, darker than the surrounding gloom. My heart leaps. "You came," I whisper, struggling to my feet.

The world spins violently. My knees buckle beneath me. Strong arms catch me before I hit the floor, their touch burning hot against my chilled skin.

"Careful, little one," his silky voice purrs, sending shivers down my spine.

I blink, trying to focus through the haze of pain and exhaustion. The demon's face swims into view, his eyes glowing like embers in the darkness.

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