Caged By the Lich

2. Olvaar

2

OLVAAR

I stride into Ilreth's mansion, my black armor adorned with pulsing demonic runes. It helps channel my magic so it’s not so potent as it builds in me – and scares people around me. The crowd parts like a sea before me, their fear a palpable thing. Good. Let them cower.

My eyes sweep the room, taking in the opulent decor and the trembling forms of lesser demons. Pathetic. They call this a soirée? More like a gathering of sniveling preslen.

"V," someone whispers, and the name ripples through the crowd. "He shouldn't be here." I feel their gazes on me, a mix of awe and terror. It's intoxicating.

I flex my fingers, feeling the crackle of destructive magic at my fingertips. The air around me shimmers with barely contained power. A nearby vase shatters, and several demons flinch. Weak.

"Where's Ilreth?" I demand, my voice a low growl that carries across the now-silent room.

No one dares answer. Smart. I doubt I can even trust their worthless tongues if they do.

I take another step forward, and the crowd retreats further. The fear in their eyes is delicious. They know what I'm capable of, the devastation I can unleash with a mere thought.

"I asked a question," I snarl, my eyes flashing with irritation. The temperature in the room drops, frost creeping across the windows. "Don't make me ask twice."

A zonak demon, trembling so hard he can barely stand, points towards the far end of the hall. I dismiss him with a contemptuous glance and stalk forward.

Let Ilreth hide. Let him cower like the rest of these insects. I'll find him, and when I do...

My lips curl into a cruel smile. This night is about to get interesting.

It doesn't take me long to hunt him down, though. He just so happens to stride into the ballroom, talking with another noble and noticing a beat too late that the ballroom is tense.

He lifts his head, his eyes widening as he takes in the scene. Fool. Did he think he could avoid me forever?

I’ve grown tired of our back and forth so I decided to confront him where he can’t lie or hide. There’s one thing more important to Ilreth than his money – his pride.

Without hesitation, I stride towards him, my footsteps echoing in the deathly quiet room. The other noble with Ilreth scurries away like the coward he is. Smart move.

I close the distance between us, my eyes locked on Ilreth's face. The air crackles with tension, and I can practically taste his unease.

"Ilreth," I drawl, my voice dripping with venom. "Trying to avoid me?"

He straightens, attempting to maintain his composure. Pathetic. "V, this is hardly the time or place-"

I cut him off with a harsh laugh. "Oh, I think it's the perfect time and place. In front of all your sycophants and boot-lickers."

Murmurs ripple through the crowd. Good. Let them see their precious lord for what he truly is.

"You owe me," I snarl, taking another step closer. "Or have you conveniently forgotten our deal?"

Ilreth's eyes narrow. "I've paid you what was agreed upon."

"That's shit," I snap, my magic flaring. The chandelier above us flickers ominously. "You think you can shortchange me? Me?"

"Our business is our own," Ilreth says, his voice low and warning. "This isn't the place-"

I grab him by the front of his expensive robes, pulling him close. "I don't give a fuck about your soirée or your reputation. You'll pay me what you owe, or I'll take it out of your hide."

Gasps echo through the room. No one touches a lord like this, especially not Ilreth. But I'm not just anyone.

"You're making a scene," Ilreth hisses, trying to pry my hands off.

I laugh in his face. "A scene? Oh, I'll show you a scene."

With a flick of my wrist, I send a burst of magic through the room. Glasses shatter, tables overturn, and demons scramble to get out of the way. Chaos erupts, and I revel in it.

"Stop this madness!" Ilreth shouts, his own magic flaring to life.

But I'm not done. Not by a long shot. "Pay up, Ilreth," I growl. "Or next time, I won't be so gentle."

He tries to compose himself, but I see the fear in his eyes. Good. He should be afraid.

"I will! I will, but not right—" he starts, but I cut him off, sliding my hand up from his robes to grip his throat. The ballroom has gone completely silent as everyone watches.

"I decide when and where," I snarl. "And I want my payment here and now."

Ilreth struggles against my grip, his face turning an interesting shade of blue. "I-I need more time," he chokes out. "We can work this out."

I laugh, a cold, harsh sound that sends shivers through the crowd. "Time? You've had plenty of that." I release him, watching with satisfaction as he stumbles back, gasping for air.

"Perhaps you've forgotten who I am," I say, my voice dangerously low. The air crackles with energy, and several nearby glasses shatter. "They call me V — and some say it stands for vengeance for a reason, Ilreth. Would you like a demonstration?"

I raise my hand, dark energy swirling around my fingers. The other demons press themselves against the walls, desperate to avoid my wrath. Ilreth's eyes widen in terror.

"No! Please, I'll get you your payment. Just... Tomorrow. Come back tomorrow," he pleads, his earlier composure completely shattered.

The tension in the room is palpable, every demon holding their breath. I straighten up, casting a contemptuous glance around the room. I can tell that he’s hoping I’m contemplating his request.

I’m not.

"Quite the party you've thrown, Ilreth," I mock. "Shame if something were to... happen to it."

"Now, just wait one second—" He starts, drawing himself up to his full height — three inches shorter than me. I shoot him a glare that has him shrinking back. "Like I said, we can handle this later. Maybe we could…"

As Ilreth stammers out pathetic excuses, my gaze sweeps the room. These weak-willed demons disgust me, cowering in fear. But then my eyes land on something... interesting.

A human. No, two of them. Standing apart from the crowd, defiant. One catches my attention more, standing protectively near the other, chin raised in challenge.

I freeze, my gaze locked on the human woman. The world around me fades away - Ilreth's stammering, the cowering demons, even my own anger - all of it disappears.

She's... magnificent. Tall and proud, with raven hair pinned half up and the other half cascading down her back and stunning green-gold eyes that burn with defiance. My breath catches in my throat, a sudden, primal hunger clawing at my insides.

I want her.

The thought hits me like a physical blow, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. My fingers twitch, aching to touch her, to claim her. The air around me crackles with renewed energy, but this time it's not from anger - it's pure, raw desire.

My mouth goes dry as I drink in the sight of her. The way her midnight blue gown hugs her curves, the elegant line of her neck, the slight flush on her cheeks. Every detail sears itself into my memory.

I take an involuntary step towards her, drawn by an invisible force. The crowd parts, but I barely notice. All I can see is her.

My heart pounds in my chest, a rhythm I haven't felt…ever. It's as if I've been sleeping, and her presence has suddenly awakened something primal within me.

I want to run my fingers through her hair, yank it free from its partial updo, to taste the skin at the hollow of her throat. I want to hear her gasp my name, to feel her body tremble against mine.

The intensity of my reaction startles me. I've never felt this... this overwhelming need before. It's intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

The magic within me surges, responding to my desire. The air around me shimmers, and I hear gasps from the nearby demons.

But I don't care. I can't tear my eyes away from her. Who is she? How dare she affect me like this?

Then it hits me who they are. Ilreth's daughters. The human pets he's so fond of. I've heard of them.

A cruel smile plays on my lips as an idea forms. Oh, this is perfect.

"Perhaps we can come to a different arrangement," I purr, my voice silky smooth but laced with venom.

Ilreth's eyes widen. He knows that tone. Knows it means nothing good for him.

I stride towards the human girls, my boots echoing on the marble floor. The crowd parts before me, demons scrambling to get out of my way. Smart. They know better than to be caught in my path.

"You," I say, pointing at the taller one. "What's your name?"

She glares at me, defiance radiating off her in waves. "Astrid," she spits out.

I chuckle, amused by her bravado. "Astrid," I repeat, tasting the name on my tongue. "How fitting. Divine strength, isn't it? Let's see how strong you really are."

I reach out, faster than any human could react, and grab her arm. She tries to pull away, but it's utterly futile.

"Let her go!" Ilreth shouts, panic clear in his voice.

I turn back to him, Astrid still firmly in my grasp. "I think I've found my payment, Ilreth. Your precious human daughter."

The room goes deathly silent. Even the air seems to still, as if the very elements fear to draw my ire.

"You can't–" Ilreth starts, but I cut him off with a snarl.

"I can do whatever I want," I growl, my eyes flashing dangerously. The temperature in the room plummets, frost creeping across the windows. "Or have you forgotten who I am?"

Ilreth's face pales. Good. It would do him well to remember.

I turn back to Astrid, who's still struggling in my grip. Her defiance is... intriguing. Most would have broken by now, reduced to sobbing wrecks. But not her. There's fire in those eyes.

"What do you say, little human?" I ask, my voice a dangerous purr. "Ready for a real adventure?"