Damsel to the Demon

2. Azaruk

2

AZARUK

T he scent of blood and fear hangs thick in the air as I materialize in the shadows of the dark elf's opulent chamber. My talons itch to sink into flesh, but I resist the urge.

Business first.

I've been summoned here often enough to know the drill, yet each time, the lavish decor takes me aback—crystal chandeliers, tapestries woven with threads of gold, and furniture carved from the bones of long-extinct creatures.

"Azaruk," the elf drawls, his silver eyes gleaming with malice. "I have a job for you."

I cock my head, tail swishing behind me. "I'm listening, Lord Vexus."

Vexus saunters to an ornate altar, his robes swishing against the polished obsidian floor. My gaze follows, curious. He lifts a velvet cloth, revealing a crystal jar.

My breath catches. Inside float two perfect orbs - eyes of the most exquisite shade I've ever seen. Iridescent, shifting between deep purple and vibrant teal as the light hits them. Rare. Precious. I must have them.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" Vexus's lips curl into a smirk. "Plucked from a water nymph. One of a kind."

My tail twitches with excitement. These would be the crown jewel of my collection, outshining even the golden eyes of the sun phoenix I acquired last year. "What's the job?"

"Simple. An assassination." He produces a scroll, unfurling it to reveal a portrait. "This noble elf. He's been... inconvenient."

I study the face. High cheekbones, pointed ears, haughty expression. Typical elf nobility. "Where?"

"Protheka. The Summer Palace."

"Protheka?" My interest piques. The city is a hub of dark elf politics, ripe with intrigue and danger. Perfect for a demon like me. "Consider it done."

Vexus's smirk widens. "Excellent. Complete the task, and these beauties are yours." He pauses, his silver eyes narrowing. "But be warned, Azaruk. This target is... well-connected. Failure is not an option."

I nod, already savoring the thought of those exquisite eyes in my collection. One-off contracts like these suit me perfectly - no messy soul-binding, just a simple exchange. My freedom remains intact, and I get to indulge in my... hobbies.

"This should be an easy job," I muse as I materialize in Protheka's bustling streets. The Summer Palace looms ahead, its ivory spires gleaming in the sunlight. I blend into the shadows, my red-tinged skin and demonic features hidden from prying eyes. The city thrums with life—dark elves in elaborate robes, humans scurrying about on errands, and the occasional demon like myself, cloaked in illusion.

But as I observe my target, my confidence wavers. This noble dark elf isn't just any pompous aristocrat - he's pureblood, his status evident in the way others defer to him. And those guards... they never leave his side, forming an impenetrable wall of steel and magic.

"Damn," I hiss, tail lashing in frustration. My keen eyes catch a glint at the elf's throat - an amulet, pulsing with anti-demon magic. This complicates things.

I retreat to a nearby rooftop, mind racing.

Why such heavy protection? Has word of recent demon attacks reached the higher echelons of elf society?

The thought unsettles me. If they're on high alert, this job just got a lot more challenging.

As night falls, I prowl the palace perimeter, searching for weaknesses. But every entrance is warded, every guard alert. This won't be the simple in-and-out I'd anticipated. I'll need to be clever, patient... and perhaps a bit more ruthless than usual.

I slip into the mansion, my borrowed dark elf form a perfect disguise. The servant's uniform chafes against my skin, but it's a small price to pay. My eyes, now a dull silver instead of their usual demonic glow, scan the opulent halls for any sign of my target.

Days pass in mundane servitude. I polish silver, scrub floors, and bite back snarls when the noble elves bark orders. But my patience pays off when I overhear a crucial conversation.

"My lord, the preparations for your visit to Thornhaven are complete."

My ears prick up. The noble's voice follows, dripping with disdain.

"Ugh, those filthy human settlements. Still, duty calls. We leave at dawn."

My lips curl into a grin.

This is the opportunity I've been waiting for. Away from the heavily warded mansion, vulnerable on the road - it's perfect.

That night, as the household sleeps, I slip out of my cramped servant's quarters. The forest looms dark and inviting beyond the manicured gardens. With a final glance at the silent mansion, I melt into the shadows of the trees.

Once hidden in the depths of the forest, I shed my elven disguise like a snake shedding its skin. My true form emerges - demon-red skin, razor-sharp talons, and a tail that whips eagerly behind me. I flex my claws, relishing the feeling of freedom after days of constraint.

As I prepare for the ambush, my mind wanders to my collection. Eyes of every color and shape, each with its own story. The piercing green of a forest sprite, the fiery red of a dragon, the mesmerizing swirl of a dream weaver's gaze. But these nymph eyes... they'll be something special.

"Time to prepare for a little road trip," I mutter, a predatory grin spreading across my face. The hunt is on, and those exquisite nymph eyes will soon be mine.

I can almost feel their cool weight in my palm, see their iridescent shine in the dim light of my lair. The thought sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine. This noble elf doesn't stand a chance.

As I melt into the shadows, ready to stalk my prey, I can't help but wonder about Vexus's warning. What makes this target so "well-connected"?

What am I really getting myself into?

But the lure of those eyes is too strong to resist.

Whatever comes, I'll face it. After all, I'm Azaruk, demon assassin extraordinaire. And I always get what I want.