12. Darizus

12

DARIZUS

I lean against the doorframe, my eyes fixed on Narina's sleeping form. Her chest rises and falls in a gentle rhythm, each breath a reminder of her fragility. Something about her pulls at me, an inexplicable force I can't shake off.

How did she get here to the demonic realm? The question gnaws at me, refusing to let go. I've been digging, searching for answers, but nothing adds up. That damn necklace glows faintly around her neck, taunting me with its secrets.

My pocket vibrates. I pull out my communication crystal, scanning the message from my informant. My eyes narrow as I read the words.

"By the Hellspont," I mutter under my breath.

Days of research have led to this. The necklace isn't just some trinket - it's an ancient artifact.

I stare at the message, my mind reeling. Five thousand years old? That's ancient, even by demon standards. My fingers tighten around the crystal, knuckles turning white.

The necklace glows softly in the dim light, innocuous at first glance. But now? Now it's a ticking time bomb around Narina's neck.

"Damnation" I mutter, running a hand through my hair.

A low-ranking demon creating something this powerful out of spite? It's almost laughable. Almost. But I've seen what desperation and anger can do.

I move closer to Narina's sleeping form, my eyes fixed on the artifact. The urge to rip it off her neck is overwhelming, but I hold back. Who knows what kind of safeguards that spiteful bastard put in place?

The legend echoes in my mind. A demon smith, obsessed with a noble demoness, crafting this to bind her to him forever. My stomach churns. What kind of twisted magic is woven into its very essence?

I've seen countless magical items in my time, but this? This is on another level entirely. The power radiating from it is subtle, insidious. It makes my skin crawl.

And its purpose? To control a demon.

My jaw clenches as I process this information. Is that why she's here? To enslave me? But she seemed so lost, so desperate when I found her. Could it all have been an act?

I rake a hand through my hair, frustration building in my chest. This doesn't make sense. If she wanted to control me, why hasn't she tried? Why go through all this?

My eyes drift back to Narina, studying her face. She looks peaceful, vulnerable. Not like someone plotting to enslave a demon.

But appearances can be deceiving. I've lived long enough to know that.

My eyes narrow as I process the information. Take control of a demon? Is this why I feel strangely drawn to her? Is this artifact manipulating my emotions?

I've never heard of this item before—it's one of a kind. A powerful relic, capable of bending the will of demons. Is Narina doing this unconsciously? She's never tried to use it, but could the magic be working on me without her knowledge?

I step closer to the bed, my eyes fixed on the necklace. She looks so peaceful, so vulnerable. Why do I feel this protectiveness towards her? Is it genuine, or merely the artifact's influence?

My thoughts spiral.

"This feeling... it can't be real, can it?"

The contract we signed shouldn't make me feel such gentleness, such care. It has to be the necklace, right?

I reach out, my fingers hovering inches from the glowing pendant. The urge to touch it, to rip it away from her, is overwhelming. But I hesitate. What if removing it triggers some kind of curse? What if it hurts her?

The thought of Narina in pain makes my chest tighten. Is that the necklace's doing too? Or is it... something else?

I clench my fist, pulling back. I'm a demon lord. I shouldn't be feeling this... this weakness. And yet, as I look at her sleeping form, I can't deny the warmth spreading through me.

I reach out, my fingers trembling slightly as they brush against Narina's skin. The necklace comes loose easily, its chain sliding across her neck. She stirs, a soft murmur escaping her lips, but doesn't wake. My breath catches in my throat as I hold the glowing artifact in my palm.

Its power pulses faintly, a subtle throb against my skin. I can feel the magic within, ancient and potent. My fingers close around it, gripping tightly. I should crush it, destroy this dangerous relic before it can cause any more harm.

But as I start to squeeze, something stops me. A hesitation, a doubt. What if destroying it triggers some unforeseen consequence? What if it hurts Narina? The thought makes my chest tighten uncomfortably.

I can't do it. I can't bring myself to crush this damned thing.

I take a deep breath, centering myself. If I can't destroy it, I'll have to contain it. I focus my demonic powers, weaving a complex seal around the necklace. The magic fights me, resisting, but I'm stronger. Slowly, I feel its power receding, locked away behind my barriers.

With a sigh of relief, I tuck the now-dormant necklace into my cloak. It's not a perfect solution, but it'll have to do for now.

I look back at Narina, still sleeping peacefully.

"Now, let's see if these feelings fade," I mutter to myself.

I turn to leave, but something stops me. My gaze is drawn back to Narina, lying there without the necklace. I should go, but my feet won't move. Instead, I find myself climbing into bed beside her.

Narina stirs, her eyes fluttering open. Confusion clouds her features as she registers my presence.

"What are you doing?" she asks, her voice thick with sleep.

I can't help but smirk as I pull her close, my arm snaking around her waist. The warmth of her body against mine sends a thrill through me. "I want to sleep with you," I say casually, trying to mask the strange emotions swirling inside me. "Nothing beats having someone beside me."

I feel her stiffen in my arms, clearly uncomfortable with our sudden proximity. "But—" she starts to protest.

I cut her off, my voice dropping low and commanding.

"You're mine. You can't refuse."

The words come out harsher than I intend, but I can't take them back now.

Narina stiffens against me, her body tense and unyielding. I expect her to fight, to push me away, but she doesn't. She just... stays there, rigid in my arms. I hold my breath, waiting.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, she begins to relax. The tension ebbs from her muscles, her breathing steadies. I feel her body soften, molding against mine. It's... unexpected. Pleasant.

I release the breath I've been holding, careful not to disturb her. My hand moves of its own accord, fingers threading through her soft hair. The silky strands slip between my fingers, and I find myself mesmerized by the sensation.

A sigh escapes me, unbidden. This is... different. New. In all my years, I've never just slept with a woman. Sex, yes. Countless times. But this? This quiet intimacy? It's foreign territory.

I've taken countless women to my bed, used them for pleasure and discarded them just as quickly. But lying here, simply holding Narina, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest against mine... it's oddly satisfying.

My fingers continue their gentle exploration of her hair, tracing patterns on her scalp. She shifts slightly, nestling closer. The scent of her fills my nostrils - a mix of earth and something uniquely her . It's intoxicating.

I find myself studying her face in the dim light. The curve of her cheek, the slight part of her lips as she breathes. Without the necklace, without its influence, I expected these feelings to fade. But they haven't. If anything, they've intensified.

It's unsettling. Demons aren't supposed to feel this way. We take what we want, when we want it. We don't... cuddle . And yet, here I am, holding this human woman like she's the most precious thing in the world.

I should be disgusted with myself. I should push her away, assert my dominance. But I don't. I can't. Instead, I pull her closer, burying my face in her hair and inhaling deeply.

As I hold Narina close, an unexpected wave of comfort washes over me. My body relaxes into hers, tension melting away. It's a foreign sensation, this ease. In all my centuries, I've never felt quite like this.

"Go to sleep," I murmur, my grip tightening slightly.

But even as my eyes close, my mind refuses to quiet. Questions swirl, relentless and maddening. Why do I still feel this way? The necklace is gone, its influence sealed away. So why does this warmth persist?

I try to focus on Narina's steady breathing, the soft rhythm of her heartbeat against my chest. It should be just another sound, meaningless. Instead, it's soothing, almost hypnotic.

Doubt gnaws at me. What is real here? What's left over from the artifact's influence? I don't know anymore, and that uncertainty is maddening.

I've lived for centuries, confident in my understanding of the world, of myself. Now? Now I'm adrift, caught between what I've always known and these new, unsettling feelings.

My fingers absently trace patterns on Narina's skin. She sighs in her sleep, nestling closer. The simple action sends a jolt through me, equal parts comfort and confusion.

As sleep begins to claim me, one last thought echoes: What have I gotten myself into?