The Demon King rose up from the crimson flames of hell, his talons swiped through the smoke viciously as he climbed the ragged steps to his throne. I watched as he slid gracefully into his seat upon the charred stone and narrowed his eyes in my direction. Gulping nervously, I pushed myself to my feet, my eyes locked with his, I couldn’t seem to look away. A deadly dance of golden fire sealed me in place, sweat dripped from my brow but I made no move to wipe at it. “Why have you come here?” He asked with an incline of his chin, his eyes narrowing further. I shivered involuntarily and opened my mouth to reply but no words would come, a sense of loss washed over me, why was I here? What had I been doing exactly? Panicked now, I tore my eyes from him to stare at the ground and collect my thoughts. A calming presence drew my attention to my hand, I realised I was wielding a sword. It glinted brilliantly in the firelight, a jet-black shine of steel. It was heavy, but a good heavy, comforting. My eyes snapped back to the Demon, and I lifted my chin defiantly. “I have come here to slay you, Demon King, your reign is over.” I gripped my sword tighter as I climbed the steps. His eyes followed my movements lazily as I rose to stand upon the platform before him, surrounded by hellfire. “You are to fight me with my own sword?” he smirked and lounged further back in his seat, his dark hair falling slightly into his eyes, my stomach flipped, “that hardly seems fair?” His hand reached up to sweep the strands of hair out of his face as he watched me intently. A shock of confusion passed through my body as his words echoed in my head. Why would he claim my sword as his own? “Come take it back then,” I growled and stepped forward, dismissing his trickery. I did not miss the glint of approval in his eyes as he moved to block my attack. My body hummed with delight, making me frown internally at the thought. I jumped back away from him, shaking my head violently. What the hell was I thinking? Realising my distraction too late, I snapped my attention back to him only to see an empty throne. Growling at my mistake, I twisted on the spot and crashed against his chest. Heat flew to my cheeks, I clutched the swords hilt tightly, but he already had his hand atop mine, guiding the blade away from him as he lifted my chin with his other hand to stare down at me. I froze, feeling conflicted. Lost, I was lost. Why did I want to kill the Demon King? His reign was over? Those words didn’t sound like my own. Why was I even here? I moved to pull away, but his eyes held me in place. He smiled down at me, his thumb gently stroked my cheek, his hand began to trail down my neck. The familiarity made me want to vomit. My eyes hardened and I pulled for my sword. Hurt flickered across his face as he held me firmly, my lips pursed. “Unhand me, Demon.” “Have you so easily forgotten me?” I stared hungrily at his lips as he spoke. Pain exploded in my head as the confusion hit me again. Everything felt so wrong. Why was I here? Why was I feeling so torn? The Demon King had ruined everything, destroyed everything, I had no home, nothing to go back to, all because of him. I met his eyes once again, the pain behind them intensifying. He had to be playing with me, some kind of filthy mind magic? “Stop looking at me like that,” I snapped harshly and tore myself away from him, releasing his sword from my grasp and calling forth my magic. Black flames erupted from my palms, and I hurled them at him one after another furiously. The Demon King lifted his sword to deflect each attack with a dejected grace. This only fuelled my anger further, my fire increased in size and power as I roared and charged towards him. I threw everything I had into each blow as he danced away from me. My chest heaved with the effort and my aggression soared ever higher the more he avoided my attacks and refused to counter with his own. “Fight me, damn it!” I snarled and slammed my fist into his pretty face. My mouth stretched into a wicked grin as his body crashed down the stairs. I chased after him quickly, smashing my boot down atop his chest. The ground concaved around his body at the force of the impact and before I’d realised it, I’d created a fireball dripping of dark magic, so large it devoured him entirely. Gasping, I wobbled backwards and dropped to the stone beneath my feet feeling utterly drained. What had I done? A hideous laugh erupted behind me, and I tensed, turning my head to find the old priest chuckling maniacally. He was joined by a group of people dressed similarly to him, though I didn’t recognise the others. “It’s over my brothers, my sisters! The King of Darkness has been vanquished at last!” Cheers echoed throughout the cavern however they were quickly met with roars. Demons poured out of the crevices and began to pick them off one by one. The men and women immediately met the demons with magical force, hurling a colourful array of attacks at the swarm. The priest joined my side as I stood shakily, dread filled my bones as I watched the two parties clash violently. “You did well Rovenia, the demon is dead.” Those words shattered me beyond repair. A whimper escaped my throat and I gagged. I gripped at my throat uncomfortably and found a thick band surrounded it, a collar of sorts? I snarled and pulled at it, electricity jolted through me unexpectedly and I dropped to the ground screaming in agony. “Yes, you forgot about that didn’t you. Defiance is an ugly thing. You never did learn your place did you, girl?” The priest spat at me and slammed his foot into my side. I cried out and curled in on myself as another wave of shocks tore through my body. I remembered now. They’d taken me from this place, from him. “Lucien,” I whispered hoarsely and turned my head, stretching to peer into the hole in the ground beside me. His body was still, his face pristine, like he was sleeping, but I knew what I’d done to him. What they’d made me do. Every ounce of dark magic that I’d thrown into each attack. Everything around me crashed to a halt as something snapped inside me. I ripped the choker from my neck and slammed it into the priests face ferociously. His body slammed into the stone with a sickening crack. He didn’t move again. My body set ablaze with a dark fire as I stalked towards the group of men and women. The first to attack me crumbled to dust, the second followed, and the third, till I’d incinerated the entire group. The demons eyed me silently as I crept back to Lucien’s side. I crumpled beside him, my heart fractured as I leant in and kissed his forehead lightly. I placed my hand atop his heart and stilled as I delved into the deepest parts of myself, drawing up every drop of magic I had within me. Magic poured from my fingertips, leaking out of me in waves and seeping into him. My love for him grew ever more apparent as my memories of he and I together flooded back to me. Our love was turbulent, chaotic, but true. It was fierce and so very strong, and I had ruined it, I had ruined everything. My vision blurred and I wiped at my eyes furiously with my palm before returning it to his chest. I concentrated harder on directing my magic into his heart, my body wavered, and I clenched my teeth stubbornly as I willed myself to continue. I knew the power would be intense, like I was battling against myself, but losing him was not an option. I gave everything I had to him, down to the very last and final drop, and so empty I became as I clutched tightly to him, begging him breathlessly to return to me. I watched for what felt like hours though I’m sure only minutes must have passed and then some more. When he didn’t stir, a part of me broke. The demons left us one after another until we were left alone in that barren cavern. I curled up beside him and waited. The fires surrounding us died and I waited still, so empty I felt, and so heavy, but my arms were full. When I finally began to fade away from this world, I clutched him tighter and dreamt of his golden yellow eyes as my world turned to black. -xxx- I awoke to a comforting warmth enveloping me entirely. I reached out only to feel the leathery hide of what was unmistakeably beastlike. My eyes snapped open and landed upon a magnificent creature, black as the night, rows of talons and eyes glowing a scorching yellow. My power had returned to me, though it felt different now. The beast nuzzled against me, and I snuggled back against him. My magic no longer felt dark, but bright. I hadn’t expected it to manifest like this. I didn’t believe my power would return at all. Smoke wisped its way around the dragon and slowly disappeared to reveal a man, Lucien. He placed his hand atop my head and smirked down at me. “Rovenia.” My heart skipped and I melted into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a searing kiss, “don’t ever forget me again,” he murmured against my lips. I chuckled lightly, “if this is how it plays out each time, then what’s a little memory loss every now and then?” His eyes narrowed and I shivered deliciously. A dragon’s wrath is dangerous indeed.