The Devil's Dominion
Elowen woke to the sensation of cool silk beneath her fingertips and the faint scent of burning incense. Her eyes fluttered open, and the sight above her stole her breath. A ceiling unlike any she'd ever seen arched high above, carved from a black stone that shimmered faintly, as though it held stars trapped within. Gold inlays curled across the ceiling in intricate patterns, forming constellations she couldn't recognize. The room itself was vast, too vast to be real—walls of dark obsidian reflected the faint light of glowing sconces, and the floor beneath her was smooth as glass, warm despite its stone-like appearance.
The bed she lay on was enormous, draped in black and crimson fabrics that looked too fine to touch. Everything about the room was magnificent yet unnervingly cold, like a painting too perfect to belong to the world she knew.
Elowen bolted upright, her heart racing. This wasn't the palace. It wasn't her modest chamber, tucked behind Selene's grand room. The events of the previous night rushed back to her—the forest, the lake, the man with the golden eyes. The devil.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head as though denying it would make it false. Her pulse thundered as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet touching the warm stone floor. She needed to leave, to find her way back to the palace before Selene realized she was gone. The punishment for sneaking away would be severe, but it would be nothing compared to whatever fate awaited her here.
She ran to the door, her lavender gown fluttering behind her as she pushed it open with trembling hands. What lay beyond froze her in place.
---
The world outside was unlike anything Elowen had ever seen. A sprawling city stretched out before her, vast and alien, built of obsidian towers that pierced the dark sky. The air shimmered faintly, as though laced with magic, and strange creatures roamed freely among the streets.
She blinked, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. A group of witches floated effortlessly above the ground, their robes billowing as though caught in an invisible breeze. Wizards conjured bright flames and streams of water with a flick of their hands, and the very ground beneath their feet pulsed faintly with magic.
But it was the creatures that truly made her knees weak. Great winged beasts, their scales glinting like molten gold, lounged lazily atop rooftops, their tails coiling like serpents. Sleek, feline-like creatures with glowing blue eyes prowled the streets, their movements fluid and silent. And then there were the demons.
They were breathtaking in a way that felt wrong—men and women with flawless features, their skin smooth as marble and their eyes glowing in shades of crimson, violet, and gold. Their sharp cheekbones, perfect symmetry, and inhuman beauty made them look like gods, not monsters. Yet their horns, wings, or shadowy auras betrayed their true nature.
As Elowen stepped forward, her presence did not go unnoticed. The demons turned their glowing eyes toward her, their murmurs rising like a hum around her.
"She's human," one said, his voice deep and lilting with curiosity.
"Does she even belong here?" whispered another, her violet eyes narrowing.
"She's marked," a third voice said, and the others fell silent.
Marked? Elowen felt a chill run down her spine.
Before she could make sense of their words, a low, resonating hum filled the air, vibrating through the stones beneath her feet. A trumpet's deep, mournful cry echoed across the city, and as if commanded by an unseen force, every creature, witch, and demon fell to their knees.
Elowen's heart thundered in her chest as she turned her gaze upward.
---
Morris descended from the sky like a god from legend. His black coat billowed around him, the fabric glinting faintly like the surface of a calm lake beneath moonlight. His golden eyes burned brighter than the sun, sharp and unyielding as they scanned the bowing crowd. Two figures followed behind him, their features just as perfect yet lacking the terrifying presence of the man who led them.
His boots touched the ground with a soft thud, and the world seemed to hold its breath. His aura was suffocating, a heavy mix of raw power and arrogance that pressed against Elowen like a physical force. He walked with slow, deliberate steps, each one radiating authority, his posture a portrait of pride.
Morris's beauty was both mesmerizing and terrifying. His flawless face was a cruel masterpiece, his sharp jawline and full lips made to tempt, while his piercing eyes seemed to strip her bare, reading every thought she tried to bury. The faint glow of crimson lingered at the edges of his skin, and shadows clung to him like loyal servants, swirling at his heels.
Elowen's knees felt weak, and she grabbed the doorframe to steady herself. She wanted to run, but her feet wouldn't obey.
Morris's lips curved into a smirk as his golden gaze landed on her. He tilted his head slightly, as though appraising her, his eyes alight with amusement.
"So fragile," he drawled, his voice a low, velvety caress that sent shivers down her spine. "You look as though a gust of wind might break you."
Elowen forced herself to stand tall, though her knees wobbled. "Where am I?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "I need to go back to the palace. If I don't return, I'll—"
"Be punished?" he finished for her, his smirk deepening. "Oh, little lamb, you've already left their world behind. Whatever punishment they would give you is nothing compared to what you've stumbled into here."
"Please," she said, her voice softening, desperate. "I didn't mean to intrude. If you let me go, I swear I'll never come near the lake again."
His laughter was rich and cruel, the sound wrapping around her like a noose. "You think you can bargain with me?" He stepped closer, and the shadows around him seemed to writhe in excitement. "You walked into my domain, little lamb. And now, you belong to me."
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "That's not true."
"Oh, but it is." In one swift motion, he closed the distance between them, his hand brushing her cheek. The touch burned, not with pain, but with an intensity that made her gasp.
"Here's how this will work," he said, his voice soft yet commanding, as though he was explaining something trivial. "You have two choices. You marry me, as penance for trespassing, or…" His smirk returned, wicked and mocking. "You remain here as my prisoner. Either way, you will stay."
Elowen's breath caught, her mind racing. "Marry you? That's absurd!"
"Is it?" he said, arching a brow. "You'll find I'm a man of my word, Elowen. Choose wisely."
Her heart thundered, her fear and fury battling within her as she glared at him. But Morris only smiled, his golden eyes gleaming with the promise of her inevitable submission.
Elowen opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, Morris stepped closer, his shadowy aura wrapping around her like a cage. "The choice is yours, little lamb," he murmured, his smirk widening. "But you'll find that refusing me comes with…consequences."