13. Narina

13

NARINA

E erie shapes loom in the half-shadows shrouding my path as I flee through the forest. Dark Elf arrows whizz past, missing me by a hair's breadth. Mariel's cries of agony linger in my ears long after I can no longer hear them.

I have to find Claudia. She's the only one who can help me. As I race through the dense trees, everything twists and deforms. All of the sudden it's not verdant green, but the onyx black of Dazirus' castle that I flee through.

Dazirus stands, implacable, looking out into the distance. I come up and clutch at his shoulder, begging him to show me Claudia.

"Certainly,” Dazirus says. “How do your people say it? A deal's a deal. You gave me your soul, and now you can have your sister."

He points to the end of the hallway. Framed in sunlight, I see Claudia. I can't see her face, but I know it's her. I race up and grab her by the shoulder.

"Claudia,” I say. “I've found you at last…"

My voice trails off when Claudia turns to me, only it's not Claudia. Not anymore. Hideous scales bump and bubble up from her once smooth skin, and her eyes glow a sickly, sinister yellow.

Her hand grabs my throat, and I cry out in anguish. Sitting bolt upright, I realize that I'm alone, in Dazirus' bed. I was dreaming, or more aptly, having a nightmare.

My fingers grope at my neck, searching for the familiar weight of the necklace. It's gone. Panic floods my chest as I bolt upright, heart pounding.

"No, no, no," I mutter, frantically patting the sheets around me. Nothing. I leap out of bed, shaking out my clothes from yesterday. Still nothing.

Shit. That necklace was my only link to this realm, to Claudia. Without it... No. I can't think about that now. I force myself to take a deep breath, pushing down the rising tide of fear.

Focus, Narina. One problem at a time.

I glance around the opulent bedroom, my prison and sanctuary in this demon's lair. Dazirus is nowhere to be seen. Good. I need to think without his distracting presence.

The necklace matters, yes, but finding Claudia is more important. She's the reason I'm here, the driving force behind every decision I've made. Even... even signing that contract with Dazirus.

I shudder, remembering the feeling of his lips on mine, the strange mix of desire and revulsion that courses through me whenever he's near. But he's my ticket to Claudia, to answers, to revenge.

I'll deal with the missing necklace later. Right now, I need to corner Dazirus and make him fulfill his end of the bargain. No more delays, no more excuses.

I throw on my clothes, jaw clenched with determination. Time to find my demonic "partner" and get some real answers.

I march through the winding corridors of Dazirus' mansion, my determination fueling each step. A demon servant materializes before me, all sharp angles and glowing eyes.

"Take me to Dazirus," I demand, surprised by the steel in my own voice.

The servant bows, leading me through a labyrinth of dark halls until we emerge into the crisp air of the stables. The scent of hay and something distinctly otherworldly fills my nostrils.

There he stands, Dazirus, his silver hair gleaming in the strange light of this realm. He's fussing over a coach unlike anything I've ever seen. It's a behemoth of black metal, intricate silver flames dancing across its surface. But it's the horses that steal my breath away.

Six of them, each as dark as a moonless night, with manes of living fire. Their hooves strike the ground, leaving brief, burning imprints. A week ago, I'd have run screaming. Now, I can't look away.

Dazirus notices me, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Care to pet one?" He asks.

I hesitate, eyeing the flames warily.

"Won't I get burned?" I ask.

He chuckles, the sound sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

"Only if they want you to." He replies.

Swallowing hard, I approach the nearest horse. Its eyes, burning embers in the night, regard me curiously. Slowly, I reach out, my fingers trembling as they make contact with its fur. It's impossibly soft, warm but not scorching. A small gasp escapes me.

"They're beautiful," I whisper, unable to hide my awe.

Dazirus' hand appears in my periphery, outstretched towards the carriage.

"Shall we?" He asks.

I take it, allowing him to help me up into the coach. The interior is a shock of crimson velvet, softer than anything I've ever felt. As Dazirus climbs in beside me and shuts the door, I can't help but marvel at the luxury surrounding us.

The carriage lurches forward, and my stomach drops. We're moving at an impossible speed, the landscape of Glacies blurring into a smear of dark colors outside the window. I grip the velvet seat, my knuckles white.

"How are we moving so fast?" I gasp, unable to tear my eyes away from the dizzying view.

Dazirus lounges across from me, utterly at ease.

"We are not bound by your mortal limitations." he says.

I swallow hard, trying to quell the nausea rising in my throat. A thought strikes me.

"Wait, why don't you just teleport us to Saturus' lands?” I ask. “Wouldn't that be faster?"

Dazirus raises an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his crimson eyes.

"My, aren't we impatient?” He asks. “It's considered quite rude to teleport into another demon's fiefdom without permission. Not to mention illegal."

I huff, crossing my arms.

"How long will this journey take, then?"

"Many hours," he replies, stretching languidly. "We have quite a distance to cover."

My heart sinks. Hours trapped in this carriage with him? I can barely handle being in the same room for five minutes.

"You can't be serious," I groan. "There has to be a faster way."

In an instant, Dazirus is beside me, his face inches from mine. My breath catches in my throat.

"Oh, I'm very serious," he purrs, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "But I'm sure we can find a way to pass the time."

Before I can react, his lips crash into mine. The kiss is fierce, hungry, stealing the air from my lungs. My mind screams at me to push him away, but my traitorous body responds, heat blooming in my chest.

I smooth down my dress, fingers trembling as I try to erase the evidence of our... activities. Dazirus' hand remains on my thigh, a possessive weight that both thrills and unnerves me. His claws flex, pricking my skin through the fabric. A reminder of what he is. Of what I've become entangled with.

"Don't tell him we're coming," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "I want to surprise Claudia."

Dazirus raises an eyebrow but nods.

"As you wish." he relies.

The carriage slows, and my heart races. This is it. After all this time, all the pain and sacrifice, I'll finally see Claudia again. My palms are slick with sweat as I peer out the window.

And there she is.

My breath catches. Claudia sits on a bench, her golden hair shimmering in the strange light of this realm. She's braiding the hair of a young demon girl, her fingers moving with practiced ease. The sight doesn't make sense. The girl can't be Claudia's, and yet...

I lean closer to the window, drinking in the scene. Claudia's face is relaxed, a small smile playing on her lips. She looks... happy. Content. It's a expression I haven't seen on her face in years.

Movement catches my eye. A tall, imposing figure approaches - Saturus. My fingers curl into fists, ready to leap out and confront him. But then he does something unexpected.

He leans down and kisses Claudia. It's not rough or demanding, but gentle. Loving. Claudia's smile widens as she returns the kiss.

My heart shatters.

This can't be real. It has to be some cruel illusion, a trick of this demon realm. But as I watch them share that intimate moment, a cold realization settles in my gut.

Claudia isn't a prisoner. She's not being held against her will.

She's happy here.

My vision blurs as tears well up, distorting the idyllic scene before me. Claudia, my sister, the one I've searched for endlessly, sits there looking... content. Happy. As if she's found a new life, a better one. One that doesn't include me.

My hands tremble against the carriage window. "She's found a replacement," I whisper, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. "She's forgotten about me."

The thought is a dagger to my heart, twisting and splintering what's left of it. After everything I've endured, every sacrifice I've made to find her... and she's moved on without a second thought.

I turn to Dazirus, my voice barely audible.

"I don't want to see her anymore,” I say. “Take me back."

His crimson eyes flicker between me and the scene outside, a frown creasing his brow.

"You should speak to her," he says, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. "You've come all this way."

I shake my head violently, feeling hot tears spill down my cheeks.

"No, I can't," I choke out. "She's happy. She doesn't need me."

The words hang in the air, heavy with finality. I've never felt so alone, so utterly abandoned. Without another word, I turn away from the window, away from the sister who no longer needs me, and curl into myself on the plush seat of the carriage.