18. Dazirus

18

DAZIRUS

I run my fingers through Narina's silky hair as she nestles in my lap, her warmth seeping into me. The fire crackles in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across her face. My chest tightens with an unfamiliar emotion. Love. It's still strange to me, this overwhelming desire to protect and cherish another being.

But I know her heart isn't at peace. The thirst for vengeance still burns in her eyes, a smoldering ember waiting to ignite. I can't bear to see her suffer any longer.

"Narina," I murmur, tilting her chin up to meet my gaze. "I have a proposition for you."

Her emerald eyes widen with curiosity.

"What is it?" Narina asks.

I take a deep breath, savoring the anticipation.

"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. The auctioneer 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."

I watch in awe as Narina takes charge, her voice ringing out clear and strong above the chaos. The former slaves, moments ago cowering in fear, now rally to her command. Her emerald eyes blaze with determination as she organizes them into groups, directing them towards the exit with calm efficiency.

"Impressive," I murmur, a surge of pride swelling in my chest.

But our victory is short-lived. The dark elves, momentarily stunned by the uprising, regain their footing. They turn on the goblins with savage fury, cutting them down with ruthless efficiency. The manticore, sensing the tide turning, lets out a bone-chilling roar and bolts for the forest.

Time to even the odds again.

I draw my vorpal sword, its blade humming with dark energy. With a whispered command, I imbue it with loyalty to Narina. "Catch!" I shout, tossing it to her.

She snatches it out of the air, her eyes widening as she feels its power. I summon a flaming whip, its heat searing the air around us.

"Ready for round two, love?" I grin, positioning myself at her back.

The dark elves surge towards us, a sea of gleaming blades and hate-filled eyes. Narina and I move as one, our weapons flashing in deadly arcs. My whip cracks through the air, leaving scorched flesh and agonized screams in its wake. Narina's sword sings, cleaving through armor and bone with terrifying ease.

Despite the overwhelming odds, we stand our ground. The pile of fallen elves grows around us, their dark blood staining the auction house floor. It's exhilarating, this dance of death with my beloved at my side.

Finally, we spot him - the lead dark elf, the one responsible for Mariel's death. His eyes narrow as he recognizes Narina, a sneer twisting his features.

"You," Narina snarls, her voice dripping with venom.

We charge towards him, but he's ready. His hands crackle with arcane energy, and before I can react, a bolt of lightning arcs through the air. It strikes me square in the chest, the force of it sending me flying backward.

I hit the ground hard, my body convulsing from the electrical assault. Through blurred vision, I see Narina facing the dark elf alone, her sword raised in defiance.

Pain sears through my body, every nerve ending screaming in agony. I struggle to focus, my vision blurring as I watch Narina face the dark elf leader alone. Fear grips my heart - not for myself, but for her. I try to call out, to warn her, but my voice fails me.

Through the haze of pain, I see Narina's sword flash. The dark elf leader howls in pain, blood spurting from a deep gash in his side. He stumbles back, his sneer replaced by a grimace of shock and fear. Before Narina can press her advantage, he turns and flees, disappearing through a side door.

"Narina!" I manage to croak out. She's at my side in an instant, her face etched with concern.

"Dazirus, are you alright?" Narina asks. Her hands are gentle as she helps me to my feet. I lean on her, my legs still unsteady.

"I'll live," I grunt, forcing a smirk. "But that bastard won't if I have anything to say about it."

Narina nods, her eyes hardening with determination. "Let's finish this."

We stumble out of the auction house, following the trail of blood left by the wounded dark elf. The night air is cool against my skin, helping to clear my head. As we round the corner of the building, we both freeze.

There, lying in a pool of his own blood, is the dark elf leader. His eyes are wide and glassy, staring sightlessly at the sky. Standing over him, a bloody sword gripped tightly in her hand, is a woman I've never seen before. But I know who she is even before Narina's shocked gasp.

"Claudia?" Narina says.

Narina's sister looks up, her eyes widening as she takes us in. For a moment, nobody moves. The air is thick with tension, and I can feel Narina trembling beside me.

I watch as Claudia's eyes fill with tears, her gaze locked on Narina. The tension in the air is palpable, thick with unspoken words and years of separation. My heart aches for Narina, sensing her conflicting emotions.

"Narina," Claudia whispers, her voice trembling. "I thought... I thought I'd never see you again."

I feel Narina stiffen beside me, her breath catching in her throat. I squeeze her hand gently, offering silent support. When I glance at her, I see a storm of emotions in her eyes - hurt, confusion, longing.

Claudia takes a hesitant step forward. "Hours ago, a servant demon brought back the token I gave you. He said he found it in a dark elf market in Protheka." Her voice cracks. "All this time, I thought you didn't need me. I thought if you did, you'd activate the token."

I watch as understanding dawns on Narina's face, followed quickly by a flash of pain. The lost token - the reason for their years of separation.

"I couldn't... I couldn't interact with you freely," Claudia continues, her words tumbling out in a rush. "It's against demon law unless you're under contract. But when I heard you were captured by the auction house, I had to come. I had to find you."

Narina remains frozen, her grip on my hand tightening. I can feel her indecision, her fear. Gently, I nudge her forward, meeting her eyes with an encouraging nod. This is her chance - the reunion she's longed for.

I see the moment Narina finds her courage. Her eyes soften, and she takes a shaky step towards her sister.

"Claudia," she calls out, her voice barely above a whisper.

It's all the invitation Claudia needs. In an instant, the sisters are in each other's arms, clinging tightly as if afraid the other might disappear. Their tears mingle as they hold each other, years of separation melting away in a single embrace.