Bound by Prince of Darkness

Party Preparations

Less than an hour later, Queen Elena knocked on Maya’s door, her heart heavy with worry. Elena, was burdened by guilt, knowing it had been wrong to keep the truth from her youngest daughter for so long. But at the same time, she believed it had been the right decision. Maya had grown up free from the weight of a future she couldn’t change, or so Elena had hoped.

As the door creaked open, Elena braced herself, expecting to find Maya sad or crying. But the sight that greeted her left her frozen in shock. Maya stood before a large vanity mirror, dressed in a short, tight, pink bandage dress, easily the most provocative outfit Elena had ever seen her daughter wear. Her makeup was almost finished, bold lipstick accentuating her features, and she was delicately applying mascara with practiced ease.

"Maya… what are you doing?" Elena's voice was soft but tinged with disbelief. She took in her daughter’s appearance, still trying to process the scene before her. The Maya she knew was always so proper, so composed, princess-like in every sense of the word. But the girl standing in front of her now, in that daring outfit, looked more like someone about to walk into a nightclub than a royal daughter.

Maya glanced at her mother through the reflection in the mirror, momentarily conflicted. She paused, lowering the mascara wand before answering with forced nonchalance. "I’m going to meet with Anya."

Elena’s eyes narrowed as they darted back to Maya’s outfit. "Dressed like this?" she asked, her eyebrows arching with both confusion and concern. Maya blushed lightly but didn’t back down. She turned to face her mother, determined to own her decision.

"I’m planning to go to a club," Maya said, her tone clear and unflinching.

Elena blinked, completely taken aback. "Clubbing?" She repeated the word as if it were foreign. Elena knew Maya wasn’t the type to frequent such places. Sure, Maya had gone to a few parties, but those were formal, controlled affairs, not reckless outings to clubs.

"Yes, clubbing." Maya crossed her arms, preparing for the inevitable judgment. "I figured I might as well be upfront about it. The royal guards will tail me, and you’ll know everything anyway, so I’m not hiding it."

Elena’s lips parted slightly in surprise. "Maya, what is going on with you?"

Maya’s smile was laced with sarcasm, her eyes hardening. "Aside from the fact that my soul belongs to a demon?" she said with a mocking edge. "I’m just peachy."

Elena paled at her daughter’s bluntness, the words hitting her like a physical blow. She had feared Maya’s reaction would be anger, but this… this felt like something else entirely. It was rebellion born from a deep sense of hopelessness.

Maya let out a long breath, recognizing the pain in her mother’s eyes. "Sorry, Mom... but I just realized there’s no way out. Whatever you and Dad tried, you couldn’t find a solution. Eighteen years of searching for a way to break the contract, and nothing. Even when I met Tay in my dreams, he made it crystal clear, he's not changing his mind."

Elena’s face fell as Maya continued. "So... I’ve decided to live my life on my own terms. At least while I’m alive."

Confusion clouded Elena’s expression as she tried to grasp what Maya was saying. "What do you mean?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling slightly.

Maya looked down for a moment before meeting her mother’s eyes again. "You made a deal for my soul, Mom. My soul will be his... once I’m dead." She shrugged as if accepting the reality. "But until then, until that day, I’m still here. I’m still alive. And I’m going to live the years I have left in this realm the way I want to. My body is mine, not his."

"Oh, Maya," Elena whispered, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes. She felt a profound sense of failure, both as a mother and a Queen. She had tried to protect Maya, tried to shield her from the horrors of this deal, but it had all come crashing down. And now, her daughter was forced to confront the truth in ways Elena had never wanted.

Maya saw the tears beginning to fall, and without hesitation, she moved toward her mother and wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace. "Don’t cry, Mommy," Maya whispered, her voice softening. "Please."

Elena’s tears flowed freely now, her arms tightening around Maya as if she could somehow shield her from the cruel reality of the situation. "I’m so sorry," she choked out, the words heavy with guilt. "I should have told you. I should have prepared you better."

Maya shook her head, resting her chin on her mother’s shoulder. "It wouldn’t have changed anything," she said quietly. "I would’ve grown up with this shadow over me, knowing there was nothing I could do to stop it."

Elena sobbed softly, her fingers gently stroking Maya’s hair. "I just wanted you to have a normal life, even if it was for a little while. I didn’t want you to be weighed down by something you had no control over."

"I know," Maya whispered, her voice gentle. "I understand why you did it. And I don’t blame you. Not anymore." She pulled back slightly to look into her mother’s tear-streaked face. "But I need to do this, Mom. I need to feel like I have some control over my own life. Even if it’s just for a little while. Please try to understand me."

Elena nodded, though her heart was breaking. She could see the determination in Maya’s eyes, the quiet strength her daughter had always possessed. And while she feared for her, she knew that Maya had to walk her own path, even if it led to uncertainty and danger.

"I love you so much," Elena whispered, brushing a strand of hair from Maya’s face. "I just... I want you to be happy. Safe."

Maya smiled softly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I love you too, Mom. And I’ll be okay. I promise."

As Elena reluctantly released her daughter, Maya stepped back, ready to face the world on her own terms, even if it was a world shaped by the shadow of a demon.

Half an hour later, Maya arrived at Anya's house. Anya had been raised by her aunt Tilly, a stern and tough woman who wasn’t known for her warmth. She wasn’t cruel, but Aunt Tilly’s strictness often made Anya feel more like a tenant than family. Still, Anya was grateful for the roof over her head, never complaining outwardly about her situation.

Maya knocked on the door, and soon enough, she was inside Anya’s room. The small space was cluttered with books and clothes, a reflection of Anya’s chaotic but vibrant personality. As soon as Anya saw Maya’s attire, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Wow… Maya… you look…” Anya’s voice trailed off, stunned by her best friend’s bold choice of outfit.

Maya flashed a confident smile and shrugged. “Now, it’s time for you to get ready. Let’s enjoy our lives, Anya. We’ve had enough heartache, and we deserve to live, especially now.”

Anya’s smile faltered slightly, the weight of the previous night still hanging heavily over her. She glanced away, her heart tightening at the memory of Kaian, Maya’s brother, finding his fated mate. Maya knew that Anya had been in love with Kaian for years, despite Maya’s warnings that this day would come. And now, it had.

“I’m not going to ask you how you’re feeling,” Maya said gently, stepping closer to Anya. “I know your feelings for my brother, but you need to move on, Anya.”

Anya’s eyes filled with tears, her voice catching in her throat. “It’s so hard, Maya…”

Maya’s expression softened as she reached out, placing a comforting hand on her friend’s arm. “I know. But sadness won’t bring you anything. We’re both going through stuff, and the only way forward is to live. So, pick out a sexy dress, and let’s go.”

Anya gave her a small, grateful smile. Even through her pain, Maya was always the one pushing her forward, reminding her to be strong. “Maya… do you want to talk about what happened to you? I heard you fainted, and everyone’s been so worried.”

“Not really,” Maya replied, her tone dismissive. “Tonight isn’t about that. It’s about us. Let’s go.”

With that, Anya nodded and began rummaging through her closet, finally pulling out a striking red dress that hugged her figure, mirroring Maya’s daring pink one. She quickly slipped it on, the two of them now looking ready to conquer the night. As they prepared to leave, Anya caught sight of something on Maya’s back as she bent slightly to check her shoes in the mirror.

“Maya…” Anya’s voice was tentative as she stared at the dark lines peeking out from under Maya’s dress. “You have a tattoo? When did you get that?”

Maya froze for a second, realizing what Anya had seen, the black tattoo of Tay’s name etched across her back. She hadn’t even thought about it while getting dressed, and now she cursed herself for being so careless.

“Who is Tay?” Anya asked, her tone a mix of shock and confusion.

Maya’s expression faltered briefly, her pale complexion betraying her discomfort. She grabbed her foundation from the vanity and handed it to Anya. “Please cover it for me. I can’t reach it myself.”

Anya hesitated, but took the foundation, starting to carefully dab it over the tattoo. “Maya, what is this? Is it permanent? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Maya sighed, feeling the weight of Anya’s questions but unwilling to explain right now. “I’ll tell you about it,” she said, her voice firm but not unkind. “Just… not tonight. Tonight, we have a party to attend. Maybe even... to lose our V-cards.”

“What?!” Anya nearly dropped the foundation, her eyes wide in shock as she stared at Maya. “You can’t be serious!”

Maya smirked, amused by Anya’s reaction. “Why not? Life is short, Anya. We’ve both been through hell. It’s time to take control of our own stories. Who knows? Maybe tonight’s the night.”

Anya, still stunned, let out a nervous laugh. “Maya, I didn’t expect this from you. Usually I am the daring one. Are you sure you’re okay?” Anya asked one last time, her voice gentle.

Maya gave her a small, reassuring smile. “I’m fine. I promise. Now, let’s go have some fun.”