Bound by Prince of Darkness

Decission

After the discussion with her parents ended, Maya returned to her bedroom and sat on her bed, feeling the weight of the day's revelations pressing down on her. She absentmindedly reached for her phone, and as soon as the screen lit up, she saw multiple missed calls and a flood of messages from her best friend, Anya. Guilt settled in her stomach. She hadn’t spoken to Anya since yesterday, too engulfed in her own pain and confusion. Now that she thought about it, Anya must be dealing with her own heartbreak.

Maya sighed deeply, realizing she had been a selfish friend. She knew how Anya felt about Kaian: her unrequited love for her brother had been an open secret between them for years. Despite Maya's warnings, Anya had always held on to hope, never accepting the inevitable reality that one day Kaian would find his mate. And last night, in front of everyone, that reality came crashing down on her.

Maya shook her head, thinking how stubborn her friend could be. Anya had a golden heart but could be as hard-headed as a brick. She knew this would be a painful day for her, yet she hadn't been there for her.

Feeling the need to reach out, Maya dialed Anya’s number. After just two rings, Anya answered, her voice immediately panicked and full of emotion.

“Maya! Oh my god, finally I have heard back from you!” Anya's words came in a rush, her tone full of relief and anxiety. "I’ve been so worried. I know I’m the worst friend ever for disappearing, but I just couldn’t stay any longer at the celebration last night. The pain was too much, seeing him find his mate, right in front of me. You warned me, I know, but the heart... it just wants what it wants, and I—"

Maya couldn’t let her continue. "Anya, stop." Her voice was firm but gentle. "You’re the one who's heartbroken, and you’re apologizing to me? Stop it, silly girl."

Anya sniffled at the other end of the line, her voice shaking as she spoke again. "Oh, Maya, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you like that, especially after I heard you fainted. What happened? Are you okay? Your father made an announcement saying it was just nerves, but I know you. You’re not weak like that. What really happened? How are you feeling?"

Maya leaned back against her pillow, pressing the phone closer to her ear as she struggled to find the right words. Anya’s concern was genuine, as always, but how could she even begin to explain what had happened to her? A demon marking her, her soul bound by a blood pact, her whole life upended in ways Anya couldn’t even imagine.

"I’m... I’m okay," Maya began hesitantly, though she knew it was far from the truth. "Yesterday was... a lot. More than I ever expected."

"You fainted, Maya! That’s not normal for you," Anya persisted, her voice now full of both worry and curiosity. "I know something else is going on. I can hear it in your voice."

Maya closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She couldn’t burden Anya with the full truth, not when she was already dealing with her own heartbreak. But she also knew she couldn’t lie, not to Anya. They had been through too much together.

"I... found out something last night. Something big. It wasn’t just the nerves, like my dad said." She paused, trying to steady her emotions. "Anya, it’s complicated. I’m not sure if I can even explain it all right now. But just know that... everything’s changed for me. And it’s not something that’s going to go away."

Anya’s silence at the other end of the line was telling. Maya could hear the faint sound of her friend’s breathing, could almost picture her biting her lip, trying to figure out how to respond. Finally, Anya spoke, her voice soft and full of compassion.

"I’m here for you, Maya. Whatever it is, I’m here. You don’t have to tell me everything right now, do what makes you comfortable, but please, don’t shut me out. You’re my best friend. You’re the only one I have in my life."

Maya’s chest tightened at those words, and she felt tears prick the corners of her eyes. She had already felt so alone in this mess, and hearing Anya’s unconditional support gave her a small sense of relief, even if it was fleeting.

"I won’t shut you out," Maya promised, her voice thick with emotion. "I just... need some time to figure things out. But I appreciate you, Anya. More than you know. We will speak but when we are face to face."

Anya sniffled again, and Maya could hear her trying to hold back tears. "And I appreciate you. Always. Just don’t do anything crazy, okay? You’ve always been the strong one, and I know you can handle whatever this is, but... promise me you’ll take care of yourself."

Maya smiled weakly, though Anya couldn’t see it. "I’ll try. That’s all I can promise right now."

There was another pause before Anya spoke again, her voice lighter this time. "And if you ever need to escape, you know where to find me. I’ll buy us a huge tub of ice cream, and we can just binge on the worst rom-coms imaginable."

Maya chuckled, the image of the two of them holed up together, laughing through tears, was a comforting one. "Deal," she said softly.

They chatted for a few more minutes, Anya doing her best to keep the conversation light, making jokes and distracting Maya from the weight of her reality. When they finally hung up, Maya felt a little more grounded. But as soon as the call ended, the heavy silence of her room returned, reminding her that despite her friend’s comforting words, she was still bound by forces far beyond her control.

With a sigh, Maya set her phone down beside her and stared at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling.

Without realizing it, Maya drifted off to sleep, still sitting in her bed. Her body succumbed to exhaustion, and as her consciousness slipped away, she once again found herself on top of that familiar mountain. The air was cool and crisp, the horizon stretching out in endless shades of twilight, but this time, the eerie familiarity of it all filled her with frustration.

"Damn it," she muttered to herself as she looked around, already knowing where she was. Her stomach twisted in anticipation, because she knew what, or who, was coming next.

She felt it before she heard him: the unmistakable weight of his presence. His aura filled the space like a storm gathering at the edges of the sky. Then, his voice cut through the silence, rich and amused.

"What a pleasant surprise," Tay drawled, the smoothness of his voice grating against her already frayed nerves.

Maya turned around slowly, bracing herself. Of course, there he was. Tay stood just a few feet away, his tall, imposing magnetic figure cloaked in effortless grace. His silver hair shimmered in the dim light, cascading down his shoulders, and his glowing orange eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched her closely, like a predator enjoying the thrill of the hunt.

Now, armed with more knowledge about who, and what, he really was, Maya saw him differently. His cunning, his intelligence, and the cruel history that shaped him, all of it played in her mind. She knew now that she had to tread carefully with him. He was no ordinary demon, and she couldn’t afford to underestimate him or fall in any traps.

But even with that knowledge, her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of fear, anger, and something else she didn’t want to acknowledge.

Tay’s lips curved into a disappointed smirk. "What happened, my little flame?" he asked in a mockingly sweet tone. "You’ve suddenly become shy?"

Maya’s breath hitched at the name he called her, a flicker of both irritation and something she couldn’t quite place rising in her chest. She held his gaze, refusing to back down, even as his intense, almost predatory stare made her feel like he could see straight through her.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and finally spoke. "I’m not shy," she said, her voice firm, though she could hear her own heartbeat thundering in her ears. "I just know better now."

Tay raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? And what is it that you know, little flame?" His tone was casual, but Maya could sense the sharpness hidden beneath his words.

"I know who you are," she replied, keeping her voice steady. "You’re not just some demon who made a deal with my mother. You’re the youngest son of the Lord of the Underworld. You’ve been lurking in my dreams for years, watching me, waiting for the right moment."

Tay’s smile widened, the glow in his eyes intensifying. "Ah, so you’ve been doing your homework." He took a step closer, his movements slow, deliberate, like a cat stalking its prey. "You little stalker. And does knowing all that make you fear me more? Or less?"

Maya swallowed hard, refusing to let him intimidate her. "Neither,.. And I am not the stalker! You are," she said, lifting her chin. "But it does make me realize that I have to be smart when dealing with you. I’m not going to let you control me, Tay."

His laughter was rich and full of amusement, echoing across the mountaintop. "Control you? My dear, I don’t need to control you." He reached out, and before Maya could step back, his hand cupped her chin with surprising gentleness. "You belong to me. There’s no need for control when you already wear my mark."

Maya flinched, her mind flashing back to the mark on her shoulder, his name burned into her skin. But she quickly jerked her head away, breaking the contact and stepping back, her eyes blazing with defiance.

"I may wear your mark, but that doesn’t mean I’m yours," she spat. "I am my own person. I make my own choices. Plus, my soul belongs to you, not my body or my free will."

Tay’s expression shifted, a flicker of something darker passing through his gaze. His smile faded, replaced by a more serious, calculating look. "You’re bold, I’ll give you that," he said, his voice low and almost... admiring. "But you still don’t understand."

Maya’s jaw clenched. "Then why don’t you explain it to me? Why do you want me? What do you gain from this?"

Tay’s eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, the playful facade dropped. He stepped closer again, his presence overwhelming, suffocating. "You’ll find out in time," he said, his voice a mere whisper. "For now, all you need to know is that you are mine, Maya. There is no escape, no way to buy back your freedom. You’re bound to me: by blood, by fate, by the very essence of your soul. So whatever thoughts you have in mind... drop them."

His words sent a cold shiver down her spine, but Maya refused to be cowed. "I don’t care what kind of power you think you have over me. I’m not going to live my life on your terms."

Tay’s eyes glowed with a fierce, almost dangerous intensity. "You can fight all you want, little flame," he said softly, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "But the sooner you accept your place, the easier it will be for you."

“Never,” she replied in anger, but he just laughed, amused.

Maya woke up suddenly agitated and as she looked around, she noticed that she was back in her room. Her heart was beating hard while her head was still spinning, while she recalled her interaction with Tay.

She just realized with dread right then and there that there was no way out. If her parents were unsuccessful for 18 years in finding a way, the same would happen to her. Plus, he looked hell-bent on staking his ownership.

But suddenly, a devious idea came to her mind: “So, if my soul belongs to him, he will have it … after I die. So, what is under my control is to enjoy the present! I will shoot two rabbits with one bullet: live the maximum that I can on my own terms and piss him off in the process!”

Her eyes glowed while she took her mobile and noticed that it was 6pm. She called Anya, and when her best friend replied, she did not let her talk, before she told her, “Anya, be ready in one hour when I will come to pick you up. We are going clubbing tonight!”