"How would you like to return to Protheka?" I ask.
She stiffens in my arms, her breath catching.
"Protheka?” she says. “But why-"
"To find Mariel's killer," I interrupt, a wicked grin spreading across my face. "To exact your revenge."
Narina's eyes flash with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
"You'd... you'd do that for me?" she asks softly.
I chuckle, pulling her closer.
"My love, I'd tear apart worlds for you,” I declare. “This is but a trifle."
She hesitates for only a moment before a slow smile spreads across her face. It's a dangerous smile, one that makes my demonic heart sing. "When do we leave?"
I capture her lips in a searing kiss, relishing the taste of her growing bloodlust. When we part, I whisper against her mouth,
"Humans may think revenge is an empty pursuit, but we demons know better,” I say. “It's as sweet as ambrosia, as intoxicating as the finest wine."
Narina shivers in my arms, her eyes alight with anticipation.
"Tell me more about your plan," she breathes.
I spell out my scheme, and her eyes gleam with delight. After a sufficient time for lovemaking and rest, we prepare ourselves for the sortie into the mortal realm.
We cover our bodies with thick, dark cloaks complete with hoods. It's important that we take our prey by surprise, lest they escape our trap.
I flick my fingers, summoning a portal with a smirk.
"Ready for a little chaos, love?" I ask.
Narina's eyes gleam with anticipation.
"Always." She says eagerly.
We step through the portal, emerging right outside the grimy auction house she'd escaped from earlier. The stench of despair and filth hits me like a wall, but Narina's face is a mask of determination.
"Stick close," I murmur, pushing open the creaky door. We stride in, hoods up, blending with the grim crowd. Theauctioneer is barking prices, and the air is thick with the reek of unwashed bodies and fear.
I scan the room, taking in the pathetic display of chained humans and... something more interesting. A manticore, its lion body twitching with restrained fury, and several goblin mutants, their jaws dripping with acidic saliva. Perfect.
Narina tenses beside me, her eyes fixed on the humans. I can feel her rage simmering, ready to boil over. But I have a better idea than just wrecking the place.
I lean in, whispering in her ear, "Watch this."
With a subtle flick of my wrist, I send a pulse of magic through the room. Chains rattle and fall to the ground, freeing the slaves. The manticore roars, its scorpion tail lashing out, and the goblins hiss, their grotesque jaws snapping.
The auction house erupts into chaos. Dark elves and orcs scramble, caught off guard by the sudden rebellion. The manticore pounces, its powerful jaws clamping down on an orc's neck. The goblins surge forward, their acidic blood spraying as they tear into their former captors.
Narina's eyes widen, a mixture of shock and satisfaction flashing across her face.
"Dazirus, what did you do?" Narina asks.
I grin, pulling her closer as the bloodbath unfolds around us.
"Just evening the odds, love,” I reply. “Without the monsters causing chaos, it would be too easy for me to slay all of them."