The Demon King's Bride

Chapter 2: Meeting the Demon King

Ethelred stopped walking and turned to face her. “There’s always a choice,” he said quietly. “Even if it doesn’t feel like it. You chose to face this with dignity. That takes courage.”

She met his gaze, her heart pounding. There was something in his words, in the way he looked at her, that made her feel seen in a way she never had before.

The Castle: A Vision of Beauty

As they crested a hill, the castle came into view, and Amethyst’s breath caught in her throat. It was even more magnificent than she had imagined. The main palace was a towering structure of black, its walls shimmering with veins of gold and red that seemed to pulse with life. The spires reached high into the sky, their sharp peaks glinting in the light of the twin moons.

“Welcome to Pendragon’s Keep,” Ethelred said, his voice filled with pride. “It’s been the heart of the Demon Realm for centuries.”

Amethyst stared in awe, her earlier fears momentarily forgotten. “It’s… breathtaking,” she whispered.

Ethelred smiled. “Wait until you see the inside.”

As they approached the castle, Amethyst noticed the intricate carvings that adorned its walls. They depicted scenes of battles, of love, of sacrifice—each one telling a story she longed to understand. The gates opened as they approached, revealing a courtyard filled with glowing flowers and fountains of shimmering water.

“This is where I leave you,” Ethelred said, his tone regretful. “Pendragon is waiting.”

Amethyst’s heart raced, but she nodded, determined not to show her fear. “Thank you,” she said, meeting his gaze. “For… everything.”

Ethelred bowed slightly, his golden eyes gleaming. “It was my pleasure. I have a feeling you’ll do just fine here, Amethyst.”

The throne room was vast, its high ceilings adorned with chandeliers that glowed with an eerie, golden light. The walls were a deep, rich purple, accented with veins of gold and red that seemed to pulse like veins. At the far end of the room, seated on a throne of black obsidian, was Pendragon.

Amethyst’s breath hitched as she approached, her footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. He was unlike anything she had imagined. His presence was commanding, his tall, broad-shouldered frame exuding power. His hair was a cascade of dark waves, and his eyes—piercing and silver—seemed to see straight through her. He was dressed in black armor adorned with intricate gold filigree, and a long, crimson cape draped over his shoulders.

For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

Amethyst’s heart pounded as she stopped a few feet from the throne. She had expected a monster, a creature of nightmares. But Pendragon was… breathtaking. His silver eyes bore into hers, and she felt a strange pull, as if he could see into the very depths of her soul.

“He’s not what I expected”, she thought, her mind racing. “He’s… beautiful. But there’s something in his eyes, something dark and dangerous.”

She forced herself to stand tall, refusing to let him see her fear. She had survived this far; she wouldn’t let him break her now. But as she met his gaze, she felt a flicker of something she couldn’t quite name—curiosity? Attraction? She quickly pushed the thought aside, her cheeks warming.

“Focus, Amethyst”, she told herself. “This is the Demon King. The man who demanded you as a sacrifice. Don’t forget that.”

But despite her resolve, she couldn’t help but notice the way he looked at her. His gaze was intense, almost searching, as if he were trying to unravel her secrets. It made her feel exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn’t expected.

“Why does he look at me like that?” she wondered, her heart racing. “Like he’s trying to figure me out?”

For a long moment, they simply stared at each other, the air between them crackling with tension. Amethyst felt her breath catch, her pulse quickening under his scrutiny. There was something in his expression, something that made her feel… seen. It was unnerving, but also strangely exhilarating.

“What is he thinking?” she wondered, her mind racing. “Does he see me as just another sacrifice, or is there something more?”

She wanted to look away, to break the connection, but she couldn’t. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew her in despite her better judgment. She felt a strange mix of fear and fascination, her emotions swirling in a chaotic storm.

Just as Pendragon opened his mouth to speak, the doors to the throne room burst open, shattering the moment. A demon guard rushed in, his expression frantic. “My lord!” he exclaimed, bowing hastily. “Forgive the intrusion, but there’s been an incident at the border. The Shadow Wraiths have breached the wards.”

Pendragon’s expression darkened, his earlier intensity replaced by a cold, steely resolve. “I’ll handle it,” he said, his voice sharp and commanding. He rose from his throne, his cape swirling around him as he turned to leave.

But before he did, he glanced back at Amethyst, his silver eyes meeting hers once more. There was something in his gaze—a promise, perhaps, or a warning. Then he was gone, leaving her standing alone in the vast, echoing throne room.

Amethyst’s heart was still racing as she watched him leave. The interruption had left her feeling strangely unsettled, as if something important had been left unsaid. She glanced around the throne room, her mind reeling.

“What just happened?” she thought, her cheeks still warm.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. This was the Demon King, the man who had demanded her as a sacrifice. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down, no matter how captivating he was.

But as she was escorted to her chambers by a silent servant, she couldn’t shake the image of his silver eyes, the way they had seemed to pierce through her defenses. There was something about him, something that both terrified and intrigued her.

“Who are you, Pendragon?” she wondered, her thoughts swirling. “And what do you want from me?”

Amethyst followed the servant through the winding corridors of the castle, her mind still reeling from the encounter with Pendragon. The servant, a small, hooded figure, moved silently, their footsteps barely making a sound on the polished stone floors. The castle was even more magnificent up close, its walls adorned with intricate carvings and tapestries that seemed to tell stories of a world she had only just begun to glimpse.

As they walked, Amethyst couldn’t help but notice the strange beauty of the place. The air was filled with the faint scent of incense, and the soft glow of the chandeliers cast flickering shadows on the walls. It was both enchanting and unsettling, a reminder that she was far from home.

The servant stopped before a large, ornate door and pushed it open, gesturing for Amethyst to enter. She stepped inside, her breath catching at the sight before her. The room was spacious and elegantly furnished, with a large canopy bed draped in silken sheets of deep purple and gold. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of the Demon Realm, and a large window offered a breathtaking view of the glowing forest below.

“These are your chambers,” the servant said, their voice soft and barely audible. “If you need anything, ring the bell by the bed.”

Amethyst nodded, her throat too tight to speak. The servant bowed and left, closing the door behind them, leaving her alone in the opulent room.

Amethyst walked to the window, her fingers brushing against the cool glass as she gazed out at the landscape below. The forest stretched as far as the eye could see, its glowing trees casting an ethereal light over the land. The twin moons hung low in the sky, their silvery light bathing everything in a soft, otherworldly glow.

She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass and paused, her eyes staring back at her. Two light blue-colored eyes that seemed to mimic the ocean—a trait that had always set her apart in Eryndor, since they do not have people with such eye color. Her parents who both possess soulful brown colored eyes had called it a curse, a mark of her strangeness. The townsfolk had whispered that it was a sign of demonic influence, proof that she was destined for a dark fate.

“Maybe they were right”, she thought bitterly, her fingers tracing the outline of her reflection. “Maybe this is where I belong.”

But as she stared at her reflection, she felt a flicker of defiance. Her eyes were a part of her, a reminder of her uniqueness. She wouldn’t let anyone—human or demon—make her feel ashamed of who she was.

As Amethyst explored the room, she noticed a small, leather-bound book on the bedside table. She picked it up, her fingers tracing the intricate designs on the cover. It was a journal, its pages filled with handwritten notes and sketches. She flipped through it, her eyes widening as she realized what it was—a record of the previous brides.

Her heart sank as she read the entries, each one detailing the fate of the women who had come before her. Some had been sent back to the Human Realm, their minds broken by the horrors they had witnessed. Others had simply disappeared, their fates unknown. A few had even chosen to stay, their entries filled with tales of love and loyalty to the Demon King.

Amethyst’s hands trembled as she closed the journal, her mind racing. “What will my fate be?” she wondered, a chill running down her spine. “Will I survive this place, or will I become just another entry in this book?”