15. Catandria

15

CATANDRIA

J avan stumbles back into our camp, his dark elf disguise slipping, revealing the gashes and bruises marring his body. My heart clenches, worry bubbling up. I rush to him, ignoring the protesting groans from our captives.

“Who did this to you?” My voice trembles with barely contained fury as I press a damp cloth to his wounds.

“Chalan,” he grunts, wincing as the cloth touches a particularly nasty cut. He drops them onto the ground unceremoniously. “And his little bitch, Darana.”

My grip tightens on the cloth, eyeing the two dark elves with pure malice. “Those bastards.”

He chuckles, dark and amused. “Careful, little human. Your anger might consume you.”

“I won’t let them get away with this.” I set the cloth down, a plan forming in my mind. “I’ll make them regret ever touching you.”

Javan’s eyes gleam with interest. “Do your worst, Catandria.”

I turn my attention to the captives, chained and gagged, eyes wide with fear. The memory of my friend’s lifeless body fuels my resolve. I stride over, yanking Kynor up by the hair.

“You like causing pain, don’t you?” I hiss, dragging the dark elf to a tree. “Let’s see how you like it.”

I tie the rope around his neck, throwing it over a branch and hoisting him up just enough for his toes to barely touch the ground. He struggles, gasping for air, eyes bulging.

Javan watches, a dark smile playing on his lips. “Interesting choice.”

“Just the beginning,” I mutter, turning to the other captive. Chalan. His bitch is lying on the ground, crying silently beside him. “Your turn.”

I drag him to the muddy ground, forcing his face into the dirt. “Eat it,” I command, pressing his head down. He chokes and sputters, trying to resist, but I press harder. “Eat. It.”

Javan’s laughter echoes through the camp. “I didn’t know you had this in you, Catandria.”

I meet his gaze, my own eyes burning with a fire I’ve never felt before. “They deserve worse.”

“True,” he agrees, leaning back, wincing slightly. “But you should save some of that rage for the ritual.”

I nod, though my hands tremble with the intensity of my emotions. I release the dark elf, who falls back, coughing and retching.

“I want them to feel every bit of pain they inflicted on me and my people,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “They’ll pay for what they’ve done.”

Javan’s eyes gleam with approval. “You’re going to make a fine demon, Catandria.”

I turn back to the captives, my mind racing with ideas. “Let’s see how much they can take.”

The night is filled with their screams, but for the first time in months, I feel a sense of control. A sense of power. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.

Javan watches me as I drag Chalan across the ground over sharp stones and branches that pierce into his skin. Javan's face is a mask of barely contained amusement. “You look beautiful in your cruelty,” he murmurs, his voice like velvet wrapped in barbed wire.

A grin spreads across my face, a dark thrill racing through my veins. “I feel like I’m already a demon.”

He steps closer, his presence enveloping me. “You seem to be a demon only to these dark elves,” he says softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “It’s intriguing, really. You retain your humanity, wanting to help humans, while showing such cruelty to these creatures.”

I tilt my head, considering his words. “Do you want me to be cruel to humans too?”

He shakes his head, a smirk playing on his lips. “No. Humans are weak beings, already suffering. I have no issue with them.”

I frown, my grip tightening on Chalan’s hair. “Are you against me helping humans?”

His eyes bore into mine, amusement mingling in those depths. “You’re no hero, Catandria. You can’t protect everyone.”

I swallow, the weight of his words settling over me. “But if I can save even one?—”

“Then what?” He interrupts, his tone harsh. “You’ll spread yourself thin, trying to save every pathetic soul. You’ll lose focus. You’ll lose yourself.”

I glance at the dark elf captives, their eyes filled with terror and pain. "The dark elves have caused so much pain to my people, though."

He lifts my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You’re meant for more than saving the weak. You have a greater purpose.”

His words ignite something inside me, a fire that burns brighter than my hatred. “What purpose?”

“To become a demon,” he says, his voice low and intense. “To gain power and take your revenge.”

I nod, determination hardening my resolve.

Javan’s eyes bore into mine, his voice a low growl. I suppose he notices the thoughtfulness on my expression. “You can’t return to the past, Catandria. What’s done is done. But you can look forward to the future. A future where you’re a powerful demon, standing with me.”

The words hit me like a bolt of lightning. “With you?”

He nods, a predatory grin spreading across his face. “Together, we’ll be unstoppable.”

I take a deep breath, the weight of his words sinking in. “I agree. I want that future.”

“Good.” He picks me up effortlessly, his muscles straining against his injuries. “Soon enough, you’ll become like me.”

His lips crash against mine, and the world fades away. The only thing that matters is the fire igniting between us. His kiss is demanding, consuming, and I respond with equal fervor. The groans of pain and humiliation from the captives are a distant backdrop, a symphony of suffering that fuels my desire.

Javan’s hands roam over my body, his touch electrifying. “You’re going to be magnificent,” he murmurs against my lips, his breath hot and intoxicating.

I cling to him, the promise of power and revenge swirling in my mind. “I want it all,” I whisper, my voice filled with determination.

"And I'll give it to you," he says against my lips.