Page 6 of Demon's Claim

She folds her arms, standing her ground. “If you’re going to keep me here, the least you could do is let me understand where I am.”

“Understand?” I laugh softly, the sound echoing through the shadowed hall. “You don’t belong here. You could spend a lifetime exploring these corridors and still know nothing of this world.”

She stiffens, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. “Maybe you should try explaining, then, instead of keeping me in the dark.”

I step closer, letting my presence fill the space between us. “You want answers, human? Fine. Tell me—what did Kieran say to you?”

Her expression hardens, a flash of defiance sparking in her eyes. “Nothing that you wouldn’t want me to know, I’m sure.”

I smirk, watching her closely. “He likes to stir up trouble, that one. If he hinted at weaknesses or vulnerabilities, take his words lightly. I’m not as fragile as you might hope.”

Her gaze narrows, but she doesn’t look away. “Everyone has weaknesses,” she says softly. “Even you.”

Her words hit closer than I’d care to admit. I’ve buried those weaknesses for centuries, concealed them behind layers of power and darkness. But her persistence, her refusal to back down—it stirs something I thought long dead. I step closer, close enough to see the pulse fluttering in her neck, her breathing shallow.

“Perhaps,” I murmur, watching her expression carefully. “But any weakness you find will cost you more than you’re willing to pay.”

She meets my gaze, her voice steady. “You don’t scare me.”

I chuckle, a dark, hollow sound. “Oh, I think I do. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”

Her jaw tightens, and she takes a step back. “If you think you can just keep me here, playing games, you’re wrong. I’ll find a way out, no matter what it takes.”

I can’t help but smile, though there’s a strange pang in my chest, an echo of something almost like admiration. “And what if there is no way out, Elara? What if the only choice is to adapt, to become like this world?”

She hesitates, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “Then I guess I’ll find a way to survive. But I won’t become like you.”

I tilt my head, watching her carefully. She’s stronger than she knows, but that strength will only get her so far. “You have fire, I’ll give you that. But fire can be extinguished, and if you keep challenging me, you might find yourself snuffed out.”

She glares at me, her hands clenched at her sides. “Why do you care if I survive? I’m just a… a curse, a nuisance.”

For a moment, I almost respond, almost tell her of the countless years I’ve spent alone, the silence that claws at my mind, the darkness that has become both home and prison. But I stop myself, masking the flicker of vulnerability. She doesn’t need to know.

“Perhaps I enjoy watching you struggle,” I say instead, my tone sharp. “Or perhaps I want to see just how long you can last before this world breaks you.”

Her eyes flash, anger flaring to life. “I won’t break,” she says, her voice low but firm. “Not for you. Not for anyone.”

I chuckle, the sound rich with amusement and something darker. “We’ll see. But if you’re determined to stay, then you’ll have to adapt. This world has its own rules, and ignoring them will only make your time here that much more… painful.”

She shudders, but holds her ground. I can see the fear in her eyes, but she’s stubborn, refusing to let it control her. Admirable, if foolish.

“Then teach me,” she says suddenly, catching me off guard. “If I have to stay here, then teach me. Show me how to survive.”

For a moment, I’m silent, taken aback by her request. There’s a strength in her that both irritates and intrigues me, and against my better judgment, I find myself tempted. I don’t respond immediately, watching her with careful eyes.

“Very well,” I say finally, my voice soft but laced with menace. “If you truly wish to survive, I’ll show you what that means. But you won’t enjoy it.”

She nods, defiance blazing in her gaze. “I didn’t expect to.”

I turn, gesturing for her to follow. She hesitates, but falls in step behind me. As we walk, a strange, heavy silence stretches between us, charged with tension and something deeper. I glance at her from the corner of my eye, and for the briefest moment, I wonder if perhaps she’ll last longer than the others. Perhaps.

“Welcome to the darkness, Elara,” I murmur, feeling her tense beside me. “If you’re going to stay, then learn to embrace it.”

The look she gives me is equal parts anger and determination, a look that says she won’t yield easily. Good. Breaking her spirit would be a waste, and part of me… part of me wants her to prove me wrong.

As I lead her deeper into the shadows, I can’t shake the feeling that this is only the beginning. Whatever fate has in store for us, it won’t be simple. And for the first time in centuries, I feel something stir within me—a spark that might just be hope.

7

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