Page 2 of Demon's Claim

In an instant, I’m torn from my realm and thrust into a dim, unfamiliar room. A human space, and not one of luxury—a museum. The smell of dust and old artifacts surrounds me, but one scent stands out, fresh and warm. Her scent.

There she is, staring at me, her green eyes wide with fear. It’s almost laughable how terrified she looks, clutching her wrist where the cursed bracelet clings. Symara’s mark pulses from it,and anger boils within me. That bracelet should’ve been buried. Destroyed. But no, it’s somehow found its way here, binding me to this mortal’s side. Again.

I advance, watching her tremble. “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you?” My voice is a low growl, filled with fury and something darker. She flinches, but doesn’t look away. I give her credit for that.

“W-What are you?” she stammers, voice barely a whisper. Her fear is palpable, almost delicious, though it’s tainted by her obvious confusion. She has no idea what kind of power she’s meddling with, and for a moment, the absurdity almost makes me laugh.

“What I am?” I lean in, letting my red eyes bore into hers. “I am the one bound to you, thanks to your carelessness. That bracelet you’re wearing—it’s a curse. My curse.”

She takes a shaky step back, clutching her wrist tighter as if she could rip it off. “I didn’t… I didn’t know!” she protests. Her voice shakes, but her eyes are sharp. Defiant. “I was just… I found it. I thought it was just some artifact!”

“Foolish human,” I sneer. “You thought you could simply claim it? That you could meddle in powers beyond your comprehension and escape unscathed?”

Her face pales, but she swallows, gathering her courage. “If this is a curse, then… can’t you just go back to wherever you came from? Leave me alone?”

I almost laugh, the sound hollow. “It’s not that simple. This is magic from a sorceress who knew no boundaries. Once it’s triggered, there’s no breaking it. Not without severe consequences.”

She blinks, taking another cautious step backward. “So… what happens now?”

I cross my arms, feeling the weight of the curse tighten around me, binding me to this human—this mortal who hassomehow undone years of carefully guarded solitude. “What happens is that you’re coming with me.”

Her mouth falls open. “What? No—I’m not going anywhere with you!” She turns, darting toward the door. Brave, I’ll give her that, but naive.

I raise a hand, flicking my fingers, and the door slams shut, locking with a snap that echoes through the room. “You don’t get a choice in this, human,” I say, voice low and dangerous. “The bond is forged. Your fate is now tied to mine.”

She stares at me, defiance sparking in her gaze, though I see the fear beneath it. “You… can’t do this. You don’t own me.”

The corner of my mouth lifts, just a fraction. “Perhaps not. But you’ve left me no choice.” In one swift motion, I step forward, catching her by the wrist. She struggles, but her strength is nothing compared to mine. Her skin is warm beneath my touch, her pulse fluttering like a trapped bird, and for the briefest moment, something stirs—a feeling I thought long dead.

But I crush it, my gaze hardening. “Enough. We’re leaving.”

With a final, terrified glance at her surroundings, she realizes the futility of escape. She looks up at me, a mixture of anger and dread in her eyes. “Fine,” she spits, though her voice trembles. “Take me wherever you want. But I won’t make it easy for you.”

I chuckle, a dark sound that reverberates through the room. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

With one last look at the dim museum around us, I pull her close, feeling the curse pulse between us, binding her life to mine. The human world fades, swallowed by the shadows of the Underworld, and the last thing I see in her eyes is fear… and a spark of something else, something reckless and unyielding.

3

ELARA

The world around me is wrong. I blink, trying to clear my vision, but the darkness remains, pressing in from all sides. The air feels thick, heavy, like it’s laced with shadows themselves. It’s cold but not in any way I recognize—more like a chill that seeps into the bones, making my skin prickle.

Where am I?

I try to sit up, feeling the rough, uneven ground beneath me, only to see a pair of boots step into view. My heart leaps, and I look up to see him—the man, or whatever he is, from the museum. He stands over me, arms crossed, his red eyes watching me with a faint look of impatience.

“Welcome to my world,” he says, voice smooth but filled with something darker. “Comfortable?”

I scramble back, my hands searching the ground for something to defend myself with, but it’s just cold stone. “Where am I? What… what did you do to me?” My voice shakes, but I force myself to meet his gaze, refusing to show fear. “Take me back!”

A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, though there’s no warmth in it. “Back? You triggered the curse, human. This is where you belong now.”

“Curse?” I stare at him, trying to make sense of his words. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to! I didn’t know!”

He scoffs, stepping closer, and I see a faint glow of fire flickering in the distance, casting an eerie light across his face. “Ignorance doesn’t absolve you of the consequences,” he says coldly. “You took something that wasn’t yours, and now… you’re bound to me.”

I shake my head, my heart pounding. “This… this can’t be real. I’m just dreaming, right? Some horrible nightmare?”

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