Damsel to the Demon

9. Mercedes

9

MERCEDES

P ower thrums through my veins, a heady cocktail of exhilaration and terror. My body aches, but it's nothing compared to the electric current dancing beneath my skin. Azaruk's talons comb through my hair, oddly gentle for a creature of such darkness.

"How do you feel, little one?" His voice rumbles against my back.

I swallow hard. "Alive."

He chuckles, low and dangerous. "That's putting it mildly."

The cold stone of the dungeon floor bites into my flesh, but I barely notice. Everything pales in comparison to this newfound strength coursing through me. I flex my fingers, marveling at the faint red glow pulsing beneath my nails.

"What... what am I now?"

He shifts, his muscled arm tightening around my waist. "Something new. Not quite demon, not quite human."

I turn to face him, searching those otherworldly eyes. There's no warmth there, no affection. Just hunger and satisfaction reminding me that this isn't love. It's a business transaction, sealed in blood and pleasure.

My mind races with questions, each one fighting to be the first off my tongue. I sit up, ignoring the chill of the dungeon air on my bare skin.

"Azaruk, this power... what can I do with it? How do I use it?"

His eyes gleam in the dim light. "Whatever you desire, little one. Your rage will fuel it."

I clench my fists, feeling that new energy surge. "I want to tear them apart. To drink their blood and feast on their flesh."

"Such delicious darkness." He traces a talon along my jawline. "Tell me more."

"I want to start with that bastard captain. Make him suffer like he made me suffer." My voice drops to a growl. "But how? Where do I even begin?"

Azaruk's lips curl into a wicked grin. "Your instincts will guide you. The power responds to your will. And I’ll be here every step of the way. I have to see what you do with the power I’ve given you."

I close my eyes, picturing the captain's smug face. Something stirs within me, hot and violent. When I open them again, my nails have sharpened to points.

"What else can I do? Can I shapeshift like you?"

He shakes his head. "Not yet. Your abilities will grow with time and... practice."

A thought strikes me. "The other dark elves, the ones who helped him. I want them to suffer too. All of them."

"Patience, my pet. One step at a time."

I growl in frustration. "But I need to act now! Before they come back, before-"

His hand clamps over my mouth, silencing my outburst. His eyes flash with a mixture of amusement and irritation.

"Hush, little one. Your time will come, but not yet. I have a proposition for you."

I force myself to take a deep breath, tamping down the rage that threatens to consume me. "What kind of proposition?"

"A mission. Your first, in fact." His grin widens, revealing sharp teeth. "One that will serve both our interests."

My heart races. A mission? Already?

"I'm listening."

He leans in close, his breath hot against my ear. "There's a noble elf I need to... dispose of. But he's well-guarded, difficult to reach."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Everything, my pet. Your dear captain is our key." His talons trace lazy circles on my skin. "With his help, we can get close to our target. And you... you'll get your revenge."

My breath catches in my throat. The captain. The thought of facing him again sends a shiver down my spine, but it's not fear I feel. It's anticipation.

"How?" I whisper.

"We use your newfound powers to manipulate him. Make him believe you've broken, that you're his willing slave." Azaruk's voice drips with dark promise. "He'll lower his guard, take you to the noble's gathering. And then..."

"And then we strike," I finish, a wicked smile spreading across my face.

He nods, approval gleaming in his otherworldly eyes. "Precisely. You'll have your vengeance, and I'll complete my contract. Everyone wins."

I consider his words, feeling the demonic power pulse beneath my skin. The thought of playing submissive to that bastard turns my stomach, but the promise of retribution is too sweet to ignore.

"When do we start?"

His eyes gleam with wicked intent as he outlines the plan. My skin prickles with a mixture of anticipation and revulsion.

"You'll seduce the captain, my pet. Use your newfound charms to bend him to your will."

I recoil. "Seduce him? After what he did?"

"Precisely because of what he did." Azaruk's talons trace my jaw. "I'm gifting you the power of control. He'll be putty in your hands."

The thought of touching that monster makes bile rise in my throat. But the promise of revenge... it sings in my blood.

"How?"

"Your very presence will intoxicate him. A look, a touch - he'll be helpless." Azaruk's grin is all teeth. "Lead him on, make him believe you've broken. He'll take you right to our noble target."

I clench my fists, nails biting into my palms. "And then?"

"Then, my dear, we strike. The noble falls, and you..." He leans in close, breath hot on my ear. "You get to make the captain suffer."

My heart races. The thought of finally making that bastard pay...

"What about the others? The whole camp?"

His laugh is dark velvet. "Once our primary goal is achieved, we'll raze it to the ground. Together."

The promise of wholesale destruction should horrify me. Instead, it fills me with a sick thrill.

"When do we begin?"

"Now." His eyes flash. "Let's see what you can do with your new... talents."

My heart hammers against my ribcage like a caged bird fighting for freedom. The taste of vengeance is sweet on my tongue, and I'm eager to spill the blood of those who've wronged me. But before I can leap into the fray, Azaruk has other ideas.

"Mercedes," he purrs, his voice a low rumble that resonates deep within my core. "There's one more thing we must do before we embark on our quest for vengeance."

I turn to him, my eyes alight with the fires of retribution. "What more could there be? I'm ready to--"

His finger presses against my lips, silencing my protest. "You must learn to master your new powers, and I must ensure that our bond is secure."

I frown, confusion clouding my thirst for revenge. "And how do we do that?"

His eyes darken, a predatory gleam that sends a thrill of both fear and excitement coursing through my veins. "You must ride my cock. Our union will solidify our pact and awaken your full potential."

A flush creeps up my neck as I realize what he's asking of me. The thought of joining with him again, so soon after our first encounter, is both daunting and exhilarating. I want to resist, to deny him this intimate act, but the pulsing need for power—for revenge—is too strong to ignore.

"Very well," I say, my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions within me. "Let's get this over with."

Azaruk's lips curve into a wicked smile as he takes a step back, allowing me to take in the full sight of him. His demon form is both terrifying and alluring, a testament to the raw power that now flows through my veins as well.

I approach him, my movements deliberate and full of purpose. This is not an act of love or even lust; it is a means to an end, a necessary step on the path to retribution. As I reach out to touch him, my fingers trace the contours of his muscular chest, feeling the heat of his skin and the steady thrum of his otherworldly heart.

“Good, little human. You’re so good at this.”

He groans as I straddle him, his hands gripping my hips with a possessiveness that sends a shiver down my spine. I close my eyes, focusing on the sensation of our bodies merging, the way his power mingles with mine, creating a maelstrom of energy that threatens to consume us both.

“You like that? Am I making you feel good?” I ask. I’m trying to make it seem like I’m only here to please him, not that I’m actually enjoying every minute of this.

“Fuck yes. Don’t stop.”

I move atop him, a dance as old as time, yet it feels as though I'm discovering my own body again. Each sensation is heightened, each touch ignites a cascade of power that ripples through me, potent and wild. Azaruk's eyes are locked onto mine, a silent command for me to embrace this transformation, this rebirth into something more than human.

“Look at me pretty girl. Let me see those eyes.”

I look into his eyes and a warmth washes over me. There’s something in them that makes me feel safe. Makes me feel like this is more than a business transaction.

His hands grip my hips tighter, guiding me, urging me on as our rhythm intensifies. I can feel the coiling tension within him, a storm about to break, and then—release. His climax hits us both like a bolt of lightning, a jolt of pure energy that courses through our connected forms. His seed spills into me, and with it, an electrifying surge of power that makes my very soul vibrate with newfound strength.

"Drink," he commands, his voice a guttural growl that resonates deep within my chest. Before I can question him, his talons rake across his chest, drawing crimson lines that seem to glow with an otherworldly light. The scent of his blood fills the air, rich and intoxicating, and without a second thought, I lower my mouth to the wound.

His blood is a revelation, a taste unlike anything I've ever known. It's warm and alive, carrying with it the essence of his demonic power. I sip it as though it's the most exquisite delicacy, each drop sizzling on my tongue before sliding down my throat, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

Azaruk watches me with hooded eyes, a look of satisfaction painting his features as he observes the transformation taking place before him.

“Good girl,” he says, pleased at my willingness to follow his directions.

After a couple seconds, I can feel it happening—my senses sharpening, my thoughts clearing, my resolve hardening into something unbreakable. I am no longer merely Mercedes, the human girl from a small, oppressed town. I am something else, something fierce and fearsome.

The power that flows through me is intoxicating, a heady mix of lust and vengeance that fuels my every heartbeat. I am alive in a way I've never been before, awakened to a world of darkness and danger that I am now a part of. As I pull away from him, licking the last traces of his blood from my lips, I know that there is no turning back.

I have made my choice, and I will see it through to the very end.

His hand comes up to cup my cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle despite the savagery that lurks just beneath the surface. "You are mine now, Mercedes," he says, his voice laced with possessiveness. "And together, we will bring this world to its knees."

I nod, accepting my new reality.

“I’m yours.”

With Azaruk by my side, I will have my revenge against those who have wronged me, and I will revel in the chaos that is sure to follow. The captain, the noble elf, the entire dark elven encampment—none will be spared from the fury that I am about to unleash.

As I rise from the dungeon floor, I feel a new sense of purpose coursing through my veins. The time for mourning is over; now is the time for action. With a resolute look in my eyes, I turn to Azaruk, ready to embark on the deadly mission that awaits us.