CHAPTER THREE:

Emily's nose twitched as she inhaled a sweet cinnamon smell. She gradually opened her eyes and looked around.

 She felt a sharp pain in her neck and stretched her hands to grab it. Bringing her palm back to her face, she saw two drops of blood from the area she had grabbed. 

 "Fucking Remi. Ugh." She hissed. Finally looking around, she saw she was in an unfamiliar room and it was huge. 

 The room had an open balcony and she felt the soft plushness of the bed as she tried to get up. 

 The room was more of a chamber adorned with velvet drapes. The air was thick with incense, smoke and cinnamon. There was also a golden glow of candelabras which cast an eerie light in the room. 

 Emily noticed it was still very dark and guessed she had not been out for too long. Memories finally flooded her brain and she abruptly stood up before hissing from the pain she felt. 

 "Careful." A firm voice called from the shadows. 

 Emily screamed as she looked into the darkness that called out to her. 

 "Who is there? Stop playing games with me, I'm sick of this!" She screamed out of frustration. 

 "You need to calm down." The velvety eerie voice of a man called out again. 

 Emily felt the air shift as the figure came into light. She could swear her heart fell to the ground as her lungs refused to function because standing in front of her was no ordinary man. 

 It was a creature, a thing she couldn't describe and one she had never seen before. 

 In front of her was a huge man with two very thick dark horns that twisted on top of its head. His body was large and huge. He had markings and writings all over his skin. 

 His face was set in a firm look as he stared at her. The man had sharp jaws and an out worldly beauty that could drop her to her knees. 

 He carried a dark menacing aura that seemed to creep around the room and keep her at alert. 

 "What are you?" She whispered with pure fascination and fear as she stared at him. 

 His body was adjourned with jeweleries and piercings and the only piece of clothing on his body was a long dark trouser. 

 The creature looked around trying not to face the human in front of him. He felt an odd feeling he had never felt before in his long years of existence. 

 No one had ever stared at him like that without fear of death. He had also never ever felt awkward in the presence of another and definitely not a human. 

 Deep down, he knew she was no ordinary human. She was his wife. 

 His bride. 

 One he had been waiting for and in front of his very eyes, the one he had sworn he would never meet was in front of him. The one that was going to liberate his pathetic soul, she was here, right here before him. 

 And she was beautiful. 

 "I- I got you tea. I heard humans like it."

 Emily whipped her head towards the table next to her as she saw the cinnamon tea. She let out a breathy sound as she stared at it with disgust. She hated cinnamon tea. 

 "You hate it?" The creature said. "Tell me which you like, I'll get it for you." He said, his voice stern. 

 Emily carefully turned back to stare at him again. She was undeniably scared of the creature in front of her but her fascination and curiosity of him clouded her fear. 

 She felt a hum in her stomach drawing her towards him. Again she said, "What are you?" 

 The man in front of her finally looked into her eyes. The red slits in his eye moved as he tried to reign in his emotions. 

 "I am Xandros. A demon." 

 "So it's true?" She said, looking at him with wide eyes. 

 Now confusion slipped into Xandros' expression, "What is true?" 

 "You roam graveyards?" She said with utter disbelief. 

 "I don't roam graveyards Emily." He replied, still staring at her. 

 "How do you know my name? Why am I here?"

"I heard it in your mind. And you're here because you came to me. You called me." He replied. 

 "I have no idea what you're talking about" Emily turned away from him as she stared out the balcony. The view was very unfamiliar. 

 She saw a huge bat-like creature fly past the balcony and gasped. The sky was a hint of red and black and the atmosphere gave off a very unwelcome heat. 

 "Where the hell am I?" She said, still observing the view from her balcony. 

 She heard no hint of playfulness as Xandros replied. "Hell. You're in the City of Erebus, kingdom Nyxoria."

 Emily whipped her head towards the handsome monster standing still at the other side. "I still have no idea of what you're talking about and I would love it if you take me back home."

 She said as she walked towards the door she assumed was going to be the exit.

 "This is your home now Emily." Xandros replied with a disturbing eerie voice. 

 Before Emily could blink, she felt him right behind her before he gently grabbed her waist. Emily felt her self jump out of her skin but remained still with wide eyes refusing to take a breath.

 "You're crazy. Let me go."

 "Unfortunately, I can't." She heard Xandros say as he breathed down her neck. She felt his wet tongue lick a drop of sweat on her skin and Emily felt her body twitch. 

 She felt aroused and scared all at once and it was very odd. She could feel herself relaxing and welcoming his presence and this seemed to leave her mind in a frenzy.

 "Why is that?!" She whispered harshly with wide eyes as he continued to slither his wet tongue down her throat. 

 "Because dear Emily, you're my wife."