" Hmm..."
Little One hummed as he drowsy nibbled on Amon's hand. Amon jolts up awake in slight pain at Little One's only tooth press up against the nerve and bone in his thumb. Amon turned to Little One who was clinging onto his right hand and drooling all over it but thankfully no longer biting down on it. Sleepy Amon survey his surroundings and recalled that they spent the night in the cabin. His glance sweeps around the cabin, the bedroom was just a distance away from the dining table. It was a one-bedroom cabin which meant Amon had to make himself comfortable on the couch. An old curtain divided the bedroom from the open area of the rest of the cabin.
There was a staircase leading up to the second floor but there weren't any lit candles there. Which made Philomel and Amon both agree that the dark nature spirit didn't want them going up there. So they avoid that area completely, fearing that it would anger the helpful spirit.
With a groan, Amon got up, cradling Little One in his arms and moving to the bedroom. Pulling back the curtains, his breath hitched at the sight of Philomel, asleep. Her long black hair spread behind her, and the sleeve of her pink nightgown slipped over her left shoulder. Revealing her neck and sunkissed shoulder, Amon swallowed hard as his hand moved to pull her nightgown back over her shoulder. Amon couldn't help but wish to do more to her as his hand lingers for much longer than it should. Amon bit his lip and pulled back her covers, placing sleeping Little One next to her as he had always done. A frown immediately appears on Amon's face when he noticed the book on the edge of the bed.
"She fell asleep reading that book again? That stupid story. How could she even come to like such a dumb tale anyway?! She's too smart and too good to be entertained by such a tale."
Amon glared at the cursive beautifully designed book cover that decorated the title "Starlight's Guide" so beautifully. His thoughts then wondered if Philomel actually didn't like the story but rather, liked the guy who gave her the story. Amon clicked his tongue and he snatches the book from Philomel's bed.
" Hmm?"
Philomel groans as she sleepy opens her eyes a bit. Amon instantly hid the book behind his back as he gently pulled back the covers over her. Philomel notices Little One sleeping next to her and places a hand on his belly, to make Little One feel more secure as she goes back to sleep.
Amon lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he brought the book in front of him to look at. Frustration overcome him as he recalled Lenny flirting with Philomel and the way she blushed at that darn Holy Knight. Amon huffed as he turned away from Philomel and toss the book onto the dining table. He sat down feeling dejected, his arms resting on the dining table as his hands cradles his face.
Amon couldn't help but recall Lenny holding Philomel like a princess as he smiled and stared into her eyes. The way Philomel turned away from Lenny with a cute sound as she placed both the tips of her fingers to cover his lips. The way she silently panic when Lenny kissed her fingers. How Philomel was still blushing and staring at her fingers even though she was a distance away from Lenny. Amon couldn't help but growl at the memory of Lenny kissing Philomel's cheeks. His hands fisted as he slammed them against the table.
" I have been with her longer than Lenny! I have been more considerate and patient with her! I'm the one helping her on this deathly mission! I have narrowly escaped death so many times for her! I'm out here risking my life for her!! She should belong to me!!!!"
Amon mentally screamed as he grind his teeth, glaring at the book, from the corner of his eyes, he noticed the fireplace with a strong crackling fire.
" What are you hesitating for?"
Darzirak suddenly appears on Amon's shoulder whisperings into his ear. He was much bigger and could have been the same size as a full-grown lion but weighted as light as paper.
" Darzirak?"
Amon exclaimed in slight shock as he turn his head to look at the Demon.
" The story is beneath her. Lenny is beneath her. He only sees her for the beautiful light elf she is. He doesn't deserve her. He didn't sacrifice anything for her, unlike you. Burn it, burn away all her temptation. Save her, save her from heartache. Love is sacrifice. Sacrifice your friendship to save her. That's the meaning of true love. Protect her from all harm, no matter how much it hurts."
Darzirak whispers into Amon's ear as he stared at the book on the dining table.
" Don't you despise it? A vulture swooping in and pecking away at your love. Pealing its flesh off bit by bit, changing it, changing her like she belongs to him. All you have ever done for her and that slut is spreading her legs for a shallow vulture like that. "
Darzirak questioned and taunted as he prowls, back and forth on Amon's shoulders, whispering each line in his other ear. Without realizing it, Amon's hands suddenly reach out for the book.
" Doesn't it anger you? Don't you hate it? Using this sham of a story to chain her up, change her up, making her heart beat for him. A stuck-up, privileged light elf, that had everything handed to him because he was blessed by your Goddess Luna. The very same Goddess you and your people love. Love so much to the point they are willing to sacrifice.
Sacrifice their future for the future of their race. Your ancestors sacrificed themselves and you to save those privileged Light elves. You'll never get the love of your Goddess but Philomel's love belongs to you. She is your kind, Lenny will never understand her like you do. Are you really going to hand over Philomel to a privileged guy like that? He has everything, love from everyone he wants, and here he is, trying to take away your only means of love from another. Your only source of love."
Darzirak growled with much excitement. Without knowing Amon finds himself standing in front of the fireplace. Amon's eyes never stopped staring down at the cursive beautifully designed cover.
" Sacrifice. Sacrifice. Sacrifice yourself for her! Sacrifice all you are for her! Sacrifice to save her! Save her from the path of heartache! That's what it means to be a true hero! That's what it means to prove your love to another! BREAK THE CHAINS OF DESPAIR! SACRIFICE THE BOND! FOR HER HAPPINESS, SPARE NOTHING!"
Darzirak bellowed in Amon's mind as the sound of the crackling flames rang in Amon's ears. The orange-flicking flame that glowed red was all Amon could see as he held the purple book in hand. His eyes no longer even noticed the book that he was glaring at so hard moments ago, all he could see were the flames. The flames calling for sacrifice.
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