14. Darizus

14

DARIZUS

I watch Narina from the corner of my eye as our coach rumbles back towards my mansion. Her shoulders slump, eyes vacant. The sight of her like this... it twists something inside me. Uncomfortable. Alien.

I've seen countless souls in despair. Humans, demons - their anguish usually amuses me. But this? This feels different. Wrong.

My hand instinctively reaches for the sealed necklace in my pocket. The artifact's magic is contained, dormant. Yet these emotions persist, gnawing at me.

"Narina, are you well? Is there anything you need?" I ask, my voice gruffer than intended.

Narina doesn't respond. Just keeps staring out the window, lost in her own world of pain.

I clench my jaw, frustrated by my own concern. I don't…should not…care about the feelings of some human girl.

But as I watch a tear silently track down her cheek, that heavy feeling in my chest intensifies. I want to reach out, to comfort her somehow. The urge is so strong it startles me.

"She's not wearing the necklace anymore, " I think, frowning. "So why do I feel this way?"

The question haunts me as we ride in silence. Could these emotions be... real? Not just some magical influence, but genuine feelings?

The very idea is absurd. Terrifying, even. I'm not supposed to care. I'm not supposed to feel this... protective.

Yet here I am, my thoughts consumed by her pain, desperate to find some way to ease it.

As soon as we return to the mansion, Narina mumbles something about being tired and retreats to her room. I watch her go, an unfamiliar ache in my chest. Shaking it off, I stride to my study. Paperwork. The bane of my existence, but right now, a welcome distraction.

I bury myself in reports and ledgers, determined to focus on anything but her. Hours pass. The words blur together, my mind wandering. Narina's tear-stained face. The devastation in her eyes. Why can't I shake these images?

Night deepens. I growl in frustration, shoving aside another useless document. This isn't working. She's there, in every corner of my thoughts, refusing to leave.

A timid knock at the door. One of my servants enters, trembling.

"What?" I snap.

"M-my lord," he stammers. "The human... Narina. She hasn't come down for dinner. We checked her room, but..."

I'm on my feet before he finishes, my chair crashing to the floor. Fear, sharp and unfamiliar, claws at my chest.

"What do you mean, she's not in her room?" I say. My voice is low, dangerous.

The servant cowers. "No one's seen her, my lord. For hours."

The world tilts. Narina. Missing. The thought sends ice through my veins.

I grab the servant's collar, hauling him close.

"Find her," I snarl. "Now."

I storm through the mansion, my footsteps echoing off cold stone walls. Every room, every corner—empty. No Narina.

I snarl, slamming my fist into a nearby pillar. The stone cracks. I barely notice.

Where is she? The question pounds in my head, relentless as a war drum. My chest tightens with each passing moment. This feeling—it's foreign, unsettling. I've never felt so... helpless.

I burst into the library, hoping against hope to find her curled up with a book. Nothing. Just rows of silent tomes, mocking me with their stillness.

I stand in the empty library, my eyes drawn to the spot where Narina first marveled at my collection. The memory hits me like a physical blow.

Her eyes had widened, sparkling with wonder as she took in the rows upon rows of leather-bound tomes.

"There are so many," she'd whispered, her fingers trailing reverently over the spines.

I'd felt... proud. Eager to impress her further.

"You can read any of them," I'd told her, relishing the way her face lit up with joy.

That light in her eyes. It haunts me now, making me feel weak in a way I've never experienced before. For three centuries, I've pursued power relentlessly. More potent spells, deadlier weapons, higher positions in demon society. I've achieved so much, clawed my way to the top.

But now? Now I realize none of it means a thing without her to share it with.

Seeing my world through Narina's eyes has changed everything. The beauty I'd overlooked, dismissed as inconsequential - it's everywhere. In the way sunlight filters through stained glass windows. In the intricate patterns carved into stone pillars. In the soft glow of fireflies at twilight.

Those fireflies. Before Narina, they were just insects. Pests, really. Now? Now their gentle light warms something deep inside me. Reminds me of her wonder, her innocence.

I clench my fists, overwhelmed by these foreign emotions. What has this human done to me? How has she wormed her way so thoroughly into my cold, demonic heart?

I continue my search, growing more anxious with every moment. When the library proves fruitless, I move on to other areas of the manor.

The gardens yield no better results. Moonlight casts eerie shadows across empty paths. No sign of her delicate footprints in the soil.

As I stand in the moonlit garden, my mind betrays me. Suddenly, I see Narina here, vibrant and alive. Her laughter echoes in my ears, a sound I've come to crave. She's wearing that thin dress, the one that clings to her curves in ways that make my mouth go dry.

In this vision, she takes my hand. Her touch sends electricity through my body, awakening parts of me I thought long dead. She tugs me deeper into the garden, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Come on, Dazirus," she teases, her voice like honey. "Don't you want to explore?"

I let her lead me, entranced by the sway of her hips. The moonlight makes her skin glow, and I can almost see through that flimsy fabric. My hands itch to touch her, to pull her close.

In my mind's eye, I give in to that urge. I crush her against me, feeling every soft curve of her body. Her gasp of surprise turns into a moan as I capture her lips in a searing kiss. I imagine the taste of her, sweet and intoxicating.

But then reality crashes back. The garden is empty. Silent. No laughter, no Narina. Just me and the cold night air.

I shake my head, growling in frustration. What am I doing, indulging in fantasies when Narina is missing? I need to focus. I need to find her.

The urgency returns full force, driving out the lingering wisps of my daydream. Where could she be? What if she's hurt? Lost? The possibilities gnaw at me, each one worse than the last.

I clench my fists, steeling myself. No more distractions. I have to find Narina, no matter what it takes.

"Narina!" I roar, my voice echoing across the grounds. Only silence answers.

Hours blur together as I search. My servants scurry about, fear etched on their faces. They know the consequences of failure.

But their fear pales in comparison to the icy dread gripping my heart. What if something's happened to her? The thought of Narina hurt, alone... it's unbearable.

This is my territory. I should be able to protect her here. And yet...

I pause, leaning against a wall, chest heaving. Why? Why does this matter so much? She's just a human. A pawn in my games.

Isn't she?

The truth hits me like a physical blow, leaving me breathless. These feelings churning inside me—they're real. Raw. Uncontrolled by magic or contract.

I cover my mouth with my hand, stopping cold in my tracks. The realization hits me like a thunderbolt, shaking me to my core. Everything I feel for Narina... it's real. Painfully, terrifyingly real.

My hand trembles against my lips as the full weight of this truth settles upon me. I'm not just searching for some human I've contracted with, or even a favored slave I've taken a fancy to. No, this is so much more.

Narina has become my world. And now, I'm on the verge of losing everything.

The panic rises in my chest, threatening to overwhelm me. My breath comes in short, sharp gasps. I've never felt this vulnerable, this exposed. For centuries, I've prided myself on my control, my power. But now? I feel like a fledgling demon, lost and afraid.

I close my eyes, forcing myself to breathe deeply. I can't give in to this fear. I won't. Narina needs me, and I'll be damned if I let her down.

With a growl, I push off the wall, my fists clenched at my sides. I have to find her. There's no other option.

I stride through the halls with renewed purpose, my eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. My senses are on high alert, straining to catch any hint of her presence.

"Narina!" I call out, my voice echoing through the empty corridors. "Where are you?"

The silence that answers me is deafening. But I refuse to let it deter me. I'll tear this mansion apart stone by stone if that's what it takes.

As I search, memories of Narina flood my mind. Her smile, her laugh, the way her eyes light up when she's excited. Each recollection fuels my determination. I can't lose her. I won't.

"I will find you, Narina," I whisper, pushing off the wall. "Whatever it takes."