Chapter 3 THE CURSE

My eyes widened in horror and I wriggled in his hold as he continued drinking my blood.

“Mhm.” A sharp wince tore out of my throat.

My eyes became heavy and I struggled to keep them open. Slowly, I drifted into oblivion.

…

A choked gasp escaped my throat and my eyes flew open. What just happened?

I could feel a pair of eyes, boring into my body. I raised my body from the surface I was lying on and snapped my head around. My heart stopped beating in an instant. Standing in front of me was the most ethereal and most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life.

Tall. No, very tall, pale but flawless skin with a slight iridescent sheen, midnight black, long, slightly tousled hair, almost flowing like shadows themselves.

His sharp, piercing, crimson eyeballs bored into mine and I burned slightly. My heartbeat thudded unevenly, each beat echoing in my ears.

“Wh-Wh-Who are you?” I stuttered, my eyes not leaving him.

He was putting on an all black, regal robe adorned with stones of topaz, jade and pearl. He was barefoot but small chains of gold adorned his feet.

Wait — are those real?

I coughed slightly, taking my attention back to him. I was still expecting an answer from him. He didn't respond, but instead continued staring at me.

My head banged hard and I staggered, grabbing my head in my palms. The previous incident flooded into my brain in a rush and I paled.

He bit me.

Quickly, I placed my hand on my neck, trailing it for a bite mark.

I didn't see the mark, only a faint burning sensation when my fingers brushed on my neck.

“You woke me, human.”

An icy, cold voice stopped me and I raised my head with caution.

“Who…are…you?”

Suddenly, like lightning, he moved from his spot and was in front of me, his icy palms brushing on my neck.

“Uh!” A soft whimper escaped my throat the cold from his palms hit my skin.

He moved closer, his presence overwhelming, and I instinctively recoiled. His cool breath brushed my cheek, and a shiver ran down my spine, not just from cold, but from the sheer force of his aura.

Who exactly is this man?

“You're a witch.” He muttered, his eyes deadpanned. “Where is your Witch Queen?”

Why does everyone mistake me for a witch?

“I'm not a witch. Why is everyone mistaking me for one”

A slow smirk curled up on his face but he didn't say a word. Instead, he brushed his fingertips on my collarbones, his slender fingers brushing on my neck as if to pass a message.

“Are you a vampire?”

“Are you Semaen?”

We chorused simultaneously, our voices overlapping. Our eyes locked for a tense moment before I quickly looked away, rolling mine.

“Don't compare me with those midnight creatures that can't even see the daylight.”

“Then who are you and where are you from?”

He roamed his eyes on my face briefly and pulled backwards, moving away from me.

“Overlord Azmiel, King of Ithyka.”

I stared at him incredulously and burst into a round of stifling laughter. My hands clutched my tummy and tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Overlord Azmiel, King of Ithyka,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. My hands shook slightly as I laughed, more from disbelief than amusement.

“Demons don't lie, human.”

My eyes locked on his for a few minutes and I pulled away. I could still feel his eyes on me.

He could be a demon, but not Demon King Azmiel. According to Mother Dusha, legend has it that he was sleeping somewhere in Abyss after being cursed for a thousand years by a powerful witch, under the will of the Heavens.

It wasn't even a thousand years yet, so there's no way he could be him.

“I still don't believe you. If you're The Demon King of Ithyka, then I'm a Demon Queen.”

His head snapped at my statement and slowly, a smirk curled up on his lips, his eyes gleaming with an emotion I couldn't pinpoint.

“You don't believe me.”

“Exactly.”

We stared at each other for a few seconds without saying a word.

“Who are you really?” He asked, coming back towards me.

My eyes dimmed in anger and I snapped at him. “I said I am not a witch or anything related to that. Is that too much to comprehend?”

His eyes remained expressionless. Instantly, his palms raised my head upwards and grabbed my forehead tight, as if reading my memories.

“Nyksina Zharyn. Semaen healer. Have magic energy in her.”

My face paled. Indeed, he had read my memories.

Our eyes locked for a brief second and I felt the rush and surge of electricity pulsating in my veins. His eyes darkened and he recoiled away from me, a frown settling on his face.

“This damned curse.” He seethed under his breath.

“Curse. What curse?”

“You broke my curse and freed me from the spell locked coffin, but by so doing, you bound yourself to me.”

I stared at him in confusion. I didn't even understand what he was saying.

“What does that even mean?”

“Our lives are intertwined. We cannot do without each other at this point and if you die, I die. If you live, I live.”

A loud bang echoed in my head and I staggered. “How is that even possible?”

“It’s the curse attached to me. Anyone who freed me would be bound to me.”

“I didn't ask to free you. I never wanted this! As a matter of fact, you summoned me. Why did you summon me if you knew about the curse?” I screamed at him, my chest rising and falling and my nose flaring.

He was silent.

Suddenly, the ground vibrated and shook slightly.

“Did…you feel that?” I questioned, turning back to him.

“Hmm.”

The ground shook again, this time with a loud tremor. I stumbled backwards and fell on the floor, my eyes bulging in their sockets and my mouth parted in shock —