You Who I Wish Would Stay Away 

>>Ariston

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to will my panic away. 

Think! Do something! Think. 

But my mind was blank, consumed by the terror of what would happen if I was discovered.

In that moment, I hated myself for getting into this situation. I hated him for his smug smirk and his infuriating words. And I hated the tree, the dome, the whole damn night for conspiring to bring me to this point.

The sound of footsteps grew louder. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my ears. Please…just turn around. Don't come this way.

But I knew luck wasn't on my side tonight.

The sound of footsteps grew louder, and with it, the deep rumbling voices of demons. My blood ran cold, and I held my breath, pressing myself against the shadowed edge of the tunnel.

"This is the Duke's secret garden," one of them said, his voice smooth but tinged with malice. "Reserved for… fun play."