Chapter 1

The darkness has drowned me again and if I was smart, I would let it swallow me whole. But I guess I was just another fool leading a way to my own doom.

I tried dragging myself back to consciousness. All I could feel was the terrible, terrible pain. My head felt heavy and my mind swimming in the endless sea of pain. My throat was dry, so I tried to swallow, but the metallic taste of blood hit my senses and a chill settled down deep in my bones.

I cracked open my eyes, but I couldn't make myself see my surroundings as a wave of pain crashed over me, trying to drown me in darkness again. I didn't let the darkness consume me.

Slowly, I tried to raise my hand up to my now swollen lips. Everything ached with a protest on that little effort I managed to make. But I pulled back my fingers almost as immediately as I felt the wet creep on them. Blood, as red as the hundred rubies nestled in my father's crown.

Blood has never made me queasy, but it still brought that very painful memory I had learned in these two months could drown me in my own guilt and grief ridden darkness. Another wave of pain dragged me into the abyss of pain and darkness, and this time I let it take over me.

***

The shadows shifted. The restlessness I felt just a moment ago increased even more that I took the final step out of my closet. I unsheathed the only knife which was strapped to my thigh. I was preparing to go to bed that I took off most of my weapons, but when I heard the rustle of curtains, I stepped out of my closet into my room. A hooded figure melted out of the shadows of the closed window curtains, sword raised. Lights blew out. I stood in a fighting stance, but in a blink of an eye, I was disarmed and bound. I didn't even have the time to process what just happened before another figure stepped out of the closed curtains. With the speed, I couldn't discern, I was gagged and forced on my knees. An agreement was made between the two hooded figures, and they knocked me unconscious. When I finally woke up, I found a gruesome scene waiting for me. My parents laid in the pools of blood. I screamed.

***

''NO!'' I woke up in a cold sweat. I was still in a dungeon chamber. But at least my aching body was cooperating a little, that I could take in my surroundings. A torch lit at the far end of the chamber. I didn't know how long I've been in dungeons. I was still in pain, but not as much to make me fall unconscious again. One good thing was that I wasn't tied up. But considering the fact that I was injured and also that my current company won't need me tied up.

Just when I was about to try to stand up and run the hell out of this room, the said current company showed up in the room. The sapphire blue eyes always hit me first when I looked up at the new king, Arius — The Demon King incarnate. But I never let that beautiful face make me forget what I've lost. This very Demon killed my father and mother. The King and the Queen of my kingdom.

Well, sorry to interrupt fellow reader, but I forgot to introduce myself. I am Stella Alynski, Princess of Azurijel. Two months ago, King Arius aka The Demon killed my parents. And I know it's kind of a cliché, but I happen to be marrying the Demon. Now back to the story, shall we?

Seeing him here, in front of me, takes me back to that night two months ago when I first saw his face. Every time I remember that night, I feel like time is stopping, and I am stuck in that moment forever. I tried to stay in the present, to stay and see what's this whole thing is about, but the memories have an overwhelming effect on my mind.

***

Someone pulled my hair to make me open my eyes and look up. It was him, the Demon. His blood stained hands snaked around my throat, almost choking me.

'' Speak up. '' He demanded. '' So do I have to force you to walk down the aisle, or are you willing to do just that?"

Every eye in the room was on us, on me. Waiting to see how I'll react. My ministers were nodding their encouragement and shouting their oh-so advises to say yes as to save theirs and my own life. Fear crept in me, trying to drown me in it. A girl stepped to the demon's right side, whispering something to him. But I heard her anyway.

"Why are you even considering this, Arius? Let's just kill her, and we'd have a little less trouble for the future." she blurted out.

"Silence." He commanded her. He took one look around the room as the silence fell across every corner of the throne room, and then settled his gaze back on me. The blues of his eyes burned like a violent flame about to burn down anything that would dare touch him.

I tried to speak, but my voice came out as a squeak. He realized it too as he loosened his grip around my throat. My first thought was to kill him. Every cell in my body screamed to defy him. To get up and kill him for once and for all. To destroy him utterly, but I wasn't that strong, I knew. I was bound and helpless. And I needed to follow my duties as a Princess. I needed to make sure my subjects will stay safe in demon's care. I knew if I died here today, there will be no hope for Azurijel. And so without any protest, I said yes to marry him.