Dark Sorcery

I couldn't help but discreetly stare at Ludwig's physique. His strong, elegant arms were all burned, from his long fingers to his sharp shoulder blades. The right side of his body had endured more damage, with even half of his neck burned on his right side, extending up to his chin and jaw, near his fine cheeks.

I had never expected that the man who had purchased me would possess such features. I had imagined his possible facial structures countless times, even visualizing him as a grotesque monster with horns and a long beard. But even though I anticipated the worst, I was still surprised by his appearance.

He had a very normal human face. No, a very handsome one. How could this be? Yes, he was burned, but the parts untouched by fire were immaculate. He didn't have any tail or weird animalistic features at all. 

He furrowed his brow when he realized I was staring intently at him, causing me to blink repeatedly.

The dim moonlight cascading from the mighty moon above us bestowed upon his countenance a magical caress. I couldn't deny the truth before me: he resembled the princes who ruled kingdoms and millions.

His deep azure eyes were mesmerizing and dense, his unruly almost-inky hair as dark as nightfall. His stubbornly chiseled jaw, aristocratic nose, and blood-red lips all added to his allure. Damn. He looked like a freaking angel in the dark, fallen from the heavens.

His burns lent him an enigmatic allure. The scars and bruises adorned his form. Despite his injuries, there was an undeniable attractiveness to his bold and rugged demeanor. However, I found myself puzzled by his inability to heal himself. Why did he bear such wounds, and yet remain so remarkably handsome?

Attempting to shake off my bewildered thoughts, I resorted to a physical gesture, slapping my cheeks in a futile attempt to regain focus. I averted my gaze, unable to meet his eyes, as I questioned my own actions. 

What was I thinking, allowing myself to be drawn to someone so otherworldly? It was absurd to entertain such notions, considering his non-human nature.

My mind raced with irrational fears, contemplating the implications of my attraction – a perilous path leading towards bestiality or necrophilia, depending on his true nature. Certainly his line of thinking was absurd, and I quickly admonished myself to regain composure.

In silence, he closed the distance between us with a single step, enveloping us in a warm embrace. The space between us seemed to vanish, leaving us mere inches apart. My knees trembled beneath me, weakened by the intensity of the moment.

He hissed softly as he caught me in his arms, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. His eyes flickered and glowed, shifting from the deep hue of the sea to the radiant brightness of the sun. His lips parted slightly, and I caught a hint of their freshness in the air.

"What happened?" Alexa's puzzled voice boomed, echoing into the sleepy night.

I immediately scanned the surroundings for Alexa's figure but couldn't spot her until she descended from the air on her broomstick.

She surveyed the scene, taking in the remnants of the defeated monsters.

"Golems," Ludwig mumbled softly. He crouched down and inspected my feet, which were still injured from before. A soft light emanated from his veiny hands as he began to mend my broken bones. I instinctively stepped back a bit, wary of his touch.

Another figure appeared midair, his mysterious eyes locking onto me. "I checked the border," his voice was gentle but firm, "but I couldn't see anything strange." He descended to the grassy ground, no longer wearing his cloak. "It's quite impossible for them to enter without leaving a trace."

Alexa's disbelief was palpable as she voiced her confusion. "How could that be? If they didn't enter through that, where else, Liam? There's no other way."

Liam, suspicion clouding his features, examined the remains of the monsters that had attacked us. He picked up something from the ground and brought it to his nose, only for it to turn into dark ashes and scatter in the breeze. Alexa stood bewildered beside him, her expression mirroring his shock.

"Dark sorcery," they both mumbled in unison.

Ludwig's demeanor shifted, his muscles tensing as fury etched onto his face. Even his grip on my feet tightened slightly.

Alexa's expression shifted, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Could it be," she started, unable to finish her thought. Liam and she exchanged shocked glances, realization dawning on them.

"The fucking bitch," muttered Ludwig under his breath, though his focus remained on patiently healing my injuries.

"Are you certain, Ludwig?" Alexa inquired, crouching beside Liam to inspect the remnants that hadn't entirely melted. "She sent a Ghoul before, and now Golems. Ghouls typically align with the Ravagers, and Golems are independent beings. What I don't understand is how they came to ally with Amelia? And for what purpose?"

As Alexa collected scattered stones, Liam silently propelled himself once more to inspect the destruction from above.

Liam spoke, his voice weighted with concern. "I can feel her presence nearby. She's left her mark on the spell that she used to transport those creatures here," he added, deep in thought.

"But it doesn't make sense, Liam," Alexa countered. "Golems don't team up with anyone else. Especially not with a Fae like Amelia."

"They could've been controlled, why not?" Liam suggested. "Dark sorcery corrupts anything it touches."

Ludwig's teeth audibly ground together, like cracked bones. "I don't give a damn about what she's done. I'll kill her with my bare hands," he seethed.

I shuddered at the intensity of Ludwig's words, feeling his anger and determination to carry them out, no matter the cost.

As a normal human being raised in a lawful and conventional environment, I was unaccustomed to the magical world and its customs. The casual discussion of killing felt utterly foreign to me, as if it were a mundane aspect of life, akin to breathing or eating. This notion struck me as nothing short of insanity.

Ludwig carefully inspected my legs for any further injuries before his gaze shifted to my arms, and then to my faintly swelling waist. As his hands gently explored, I felt butterflies unfurling in the cage of my chest, liberated by his innocent touches. My world spun in a blurred motion, my heart thudding audibly.

Sensing my reaction, Ludwig looked up at me with a perplexed expression.

Yes, this was indeed insane, but strangely exhilarating.

Ludwig's touch lingered on my waist, his eyes searching mine for something I couldn't quite discern. As the silence stretched between us, broken only by the crackling of distant flames, a sense of tension hung in the air like a heavy fog. I instinctively leaned closer to Ludwig, seeking solace in his presence amidst the uncertainty surrounding us.

For a moment, it felt as though time stood still, the world narrowing down to just the two of us in this secluded corner of the forest. Despite the danger lurking in the shadows, there was an undeniable sense of comfort in being near him.

But reality soon intruded, reminding us of the perilous situation we found ourselves in. With a heavy sigh, Ludwig reluctantly withdrew his hand and rose to his feet, his expression unreadable.

"We need to keep moving, Liam… Alexa…" he said, his voice filled with urgency. "It's not safe to stay here any longer..."