Chapter 1: The Devil’s Realm

Darkness.

It wrapped around her like a curse. The air stung her lungs with every breath — thick, hot, and heavy like fire in disguise. Aeris coughed and stumbled to her knees on cracked black stone that radiated heat.

Chains slithered over her wrists, glowing faint red like iron fresh from the forge.

She looked around, dazed. This wasn’t the forest ruins where she’d dared to explore. This was... somewhere else. Somewhere wrong. The sky above was blackened, and the land groaned with something alive — something furious.

Then she saw him.

A towering figure stood ahead, surrounded by a swirling storm of embers. Wings stretched wide, casting jagged shadows against the flames. His body was chiseled like stone, inked with ancient symbols and shadows that moved like they were alive. But it was his eyes — burning crimson, ancient and cruel — that froze her.

The devil.

The one she was warned never to awaken.

The one from the old legends she mocked.

“You broke the seal,” he spoke, voice like thunder wrapped in silk. “You released me.”

Aeris stared. “Oops?”

His eyes narrowed.

“Listen,” she began, raising a hand with the same care one might use with a wild animal. “That was... probably an accident.”

“You performed the ritual.”

“I was just exploring!” she protested. “Messing around. I didn’t think that old circle would work!”

“You spoke the incantation.”

“I mispronounced half of it!”

He took one slow step forward. The heat intensified.

“Do you realize what you’ve done?”

“Unsealed a centuries-old grump in a lava cave?” she muttered under her breath. Then louder, “Seriously, calm down. I’ll just... put you back?”

He stopped. His mouth curled slightly — not a smile. A warning.

“You freed the King of Hell. And you insult me?”

Aeris scoffed, defiant despite the fear clawing at her chest. “Well, technically I saved your royal butt. You’re welcome.”

Silence.

And then—

Chains flew, wrapping around her waist and yanking her toward him. Her feet scraped against the stone, breath caught in her throat.

“I could kill you,” he growled, inches from her. “Snap your neck before you scream.”

“Yet here I am. Breathing.” She looked him in the eye, fierce. “Why?”

He tilted his head. “Because you belong to me now.”

“Excuse me?”

“You broke my seal. You offered your blood in the ritual. You. Are. Mine.”

Aeris blinked, then burst out laughing. “Oh please. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. What am I — your hellish house pet?”

Lucien — the Devil himself — looked stunned. For a second. Then furious.

“You dare mock me?!”

“Well, you’re dramatic,” she said, grinning. “It’s kind of cute, actually.”

The ground trembled beneath them.

He raised his hand, and the chains tightened. Pain shot through her arms as she dropped to her knees.

“You’ll regret those words, little human.”

“Probably,” she whispered through clenched teeth. “But not today.”

Then she smirked. Even chained in hellfire, she never bowed.

ADd 1–2 short lines like:

“To be continued...”

“She didn’t know her real nightmare had only begun.”

“This was only the beginning.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***