In your arms

Lunastia's POV____

I walked behind Zeph, my bare feet brushing softly against the icy black marble. The corridor grew darker with every step, lit only by flickering blue flames floating in the air. I didn't dare speak — I was scared… but I couldn't afford to show it.

The hallway opened into a massive chamber — wide, cold, and carved entirely from obsidian stone. The ceiling arched high above us, lost in shadow. Tall columns wrapped with dark violet vines lined the edges. At the far end, behind a sheer black curtain that shimmered like midnight silk, sat a silhouette — broad shoulders, one leg crossed lazily over the other.

Zeph stopped and bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty," he said. "She's here."

A low voice came from behind the curtain — deep, slow, and cold enough to freeze my spine.

"Come forward, little star."

My hands trembled. I took a step. Then another. My shadow stretched before me, trembling just like I was.

The curtain shifted with the breeze from nowhere. He sat on a high-backed throne carved from bone and black steel, a dark crown resting slightly tilted on his head. His crimson eyes gleamed like blood-lit coals through the gloom. Azrael — the Devil King.

He didn't stand. He didn't need to.

"Zeph," his voice was smooth now, almost teasing. "Bring me the little creatures that belong to her."

"My... fairies?" I whispered, my voice barely leaving my throat.

"Hmm," he leaned his chin on his hand, eyes locked on me. "Those trembling sparks you call friends. Yes. Bring them."

Zeph bowed again and disappeared into the shadows.

My heart raced.

Azrael's eyes didn't leave me. They scanned me slowly — from my tangled hair to my muddy dress, to my bruised knees and bare feet. His lips curled into a slow, wicked smirk.

"You've been crying," he said.

I bit my lip and lowered my gaze.

He chuckled — low and dangerous. "Trying to cry your way out, little girl? Or was that kiss still burning your lips?"

My head snapped up, eyes wide in shock.

He laughed again — softly, like he was savoring my reaction.

I looked away, scanning the room instead, desperate for something — anything — to distract me. There were weapons mounted on the walls — blades black as the void. Strange glowing orbs floated midair, humming gently. A massive map etched into the floor pulsed with red light beneath my feet. And right beside the throne — a single cage.

Empty… for now.

"I don't belong here," I whispered.

"Then run," he said, lazily tracing a rune into the air. "The door's behind you."

I turned — but the entrance had disappeared. Only walls now. Cold and alive.

"I didn't say you could leave."

I turned back slowly, throat tight.

Azrael was standing now.

And he was walking toward me.

My heart screamed, my body begged to run, to scream, to throw everything in this cursed room at him. But I stood still. Even if I trembled a little inside, I kept my feet rooted. I raised my chin and looked straight into his eyes — those cruel, glowing crimson eyes.

He smiled again, slow and deliberate, as if he was enjoying my resistance.

Then he raised his hand — fingers gliding up toward my cheek.

I immediately stepped back, eyes wide with disgust. My voice came out sharper than I expected, filled with fury I didn't even know I had.

"Don't touch me, you disgusting creature."

The air shifted.

His smirk disappeared.

Gone was the teasing devil. In its place, a silence so heavy it pressed against my chest.

His eyes darkened — like the last glow of a dying flame being snuffed out. The shadows around him thickened, curling like smoke, as if they too had heard my words and taken offense.

Azrael took a step forward, just one, but it felt like the entire room moved with him. I couldn't hold his gaze anymore. It was like staring into death itself. I looked away, my jaw clenched tight, my fists curling at my sides.

The silence stretched.

Then his voice came — cold, low, and sharper than a dagger at my throat.

"You have fire… little Luna."

A pause.

"But fire can be extinguished."

I flinched. My breath hitched in my throat,

"Who gave you the right to call me that?" I snapped, eyes burning with defiance. "Only my loved ones can call me Luna — not a heartless man like you."

Azrael didn't flinch. He just stood there, silent, gazing into my soul with that suffocating stillness. It was maddening — like he was reading every broken piece of me and daring me to fight back.

Then the heavy door creaked open behind me.

I turned sharply.

Zeph entered, holding two things that shattered my world in an instant — a golden plate, and a small enchanted cage.

Inside the cage — my fairies.

And on the plate... my Sole.

Shaking. Pale. Her light flickering weakly like a dying candle in the wind.

"Sole!" I gasped, the breath stolen from my lungs. My legs moved before I could think. I ran straight to her, collapsing beside the plate. The fairies began shouting from the cage.

"Luna! Luna, please don't cry!" Fari's soft voice cracked with panic.

"We're here! Don't leave us!" cried Sol, slamming her tiny hands against the cage bars.

"Your tears will give him power! Don't let him win!" Rina sobbed, her glow dimming.

"It's a trap, don't touch the plate!" Ivy screamed in desperation.

But I heard nothing.

Their voices faded beneath the sound of my own heart cracking open.

Without warning, a tear slipped down my cheek. Then another. And another. Until I couldn't stop. I knelt beside Sole, her body trembling like a leaf. I cupped her gently, but she didn't react. The golden plate beneath her hummed with dark energy. I could feel it poisoning her light.

"What did you do?" I choked, my voice rising. I turned to Zeph, my eyes wild.

I grabbed his collar and screamed.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?! LOOK AT HER! SHE'S DYING!"

Zeph's face tensed. For the first time, I saw something flicker in his eyes — guilt? Or fear of Azrael?

"I-I had orders," he muttered. "I was told not to harm her… just to weaken her..."

"She's not some tool!" I cried. "She's my heart! My soul!"

Azrael still hadn't moved. He stood there in silence, watching. Like this was just another play in his game.

"Enough," he finally said, voice low and commanding. "You care... too much for such fragile things."

I glared at him through my tears. "Because I have a heart. Something you'll never understand."

He smiled then. A twisted, slow, dangerous smile.

"And that… is exactly why you'll break."

I ignored Azrael's voice, his cold words meant nothing now — not when Sole was lying so still in my hands.

My trembling fingers hovered over her tiny chest. I inhaled sharply and rubbed my palms together. Blue light sparked from my skin, then turned into glimmering dust that coated my fingers like frost from a winter star.

"Come back to me, Sole…" I whispered.

I pressed two fingers to her chest.

The glow pulsed. Faint at first, then brighter. Her trembling slowed… her tiny silver wings twitched. Her body lifted just slightly in my palm, shimmering with light.

Then I heard him.

Azrael's voice… low, cold, amused.

"I can't believe she'd do all this for a powerless little sparkle…" he murmured.

I turned to him, anger blazing in my eyes.

"That 'sparkle' has more light than your entire kingdom of shadows."

"She's my heart. And unlike you... I protect the things I love."

His smile vanished.

His eyes burned into mine — quite literally. Blood-red flooded his irises, glowing like molten fire. For a second, my knees went weak. I took a step back.

But before the fear could swallow me—

A soft, bell-like voice called from behind me.

"Luna…"

Sole.

She was awake.

She floated up and hugged my cheek with her tiny arms. Her soft silver glow flared to life like moonlight. Her wings fluttered in a dazzling blur, scattering gentle flakes of light around us.

"You brought me back," she whispered, her voice full of awe.

From the cage, the other fairies gasped in joy.

"Sole!"

"She's okay!"

"Luna did it!"

"She's back! She's really back!"

Inside the cage, the fairies began dancing — spinning midair, their colors lighting up the dim, cold chamber.

I smiled through my tears, holding Sole in my hand as she twirled above my palm. Her silver trail formed a glowing circle, and I couldn't help it…

My own magic responded.

Blue glitter rose from my feet and spiraled around me. I moved instinctively — a spin, a graceful lift of my arms. Just like I used to do in my room when no one watched.

Sole giggled and joined me, twirling through the air around my head.

"Luna, let's dance like we used to!"

And we did.

Even inside that dark chamber, even with those red eyes watching — we danced. My glow clashed with her silver, creating bursts of light that echoed against the stone walls.

We danced like we were safe. Like we were free.

Until I saw them.

Azrael. Zeph. Even the guards.

All staring.

In silence.

In wonder.

I froze, suddenly aware — embarrassed.

My cheeks burned. I had always been too shy to dance even in front of my brothers…

Now I had danced in front of him.

Azrael.

The Devil King.

But he didn't mock me. He didn't smirk.

He just watched. Quiet. Unblinking.

I scratched the back of my head, cheeks burning with embarrassment. My voice came out small.

"I… I'm sorry. I thought I was in Lunaria."

The fairies burst into soft giggles from inside the cage.

I shot them a look. "Are you serious right now?" I muttered.

Before I could say more, Azrael's deep voice cut through the moment.

"Zeph. Take the fairies away."

My heart dropped. I stepped back instinctively, placing Sole behind me, trying to block her from his line of sight.

"No—wait! Please—she just woke up! Let her stay with me!"

Sole, sensing the danger, climbed up my shoulder and quickly hid beneath my hair, curling close to the nape of my neck.

"Don't let him take me, Luna," she whispered fearfully.

I swallowed my pride and begged.

"Please… she's not dangerous. She just came back to life. Just let me keep her… please."

But Azrael didn't even blink.

With a single step, he crossed the space between us. His hand reached out, and before I could stop him—

He grabbed Sole.

"No!"

He yanked her from my hair and threw her toward the cage. She hit the bars with a tiny cry, then fell inside, dazed.

"Can't you be a little gentle?!" I snapped, fists clenched. "She's not a toy—"

His eyes darkened, glinting like molten metal.

"I'll be gentle… to you. In my bed."

I froze. My entire body tensed.

"H-How dare you…" I whispered, voice trembling. "Once I reach home—once I'm back in Lunaria— I'll make you pay for this."

I didn't realize I'd said it aloud until he tilted his head, amused.

"You won't."

Zeph came forward silently and collected the cage. Sole clung to the bars, reaching toward me.

"Luna! Don't worry about us!"

"We'll be okay! Just stay strong!"

"Find us, Luna!"

"Promise!"

"I promise," I said under my breath, watching helplessly as Zeph took them away.

At least they were alive. I'd find them again. No matter what it took.

Azrael turned to the guards and gave a sharp nod.

"Leave."

The guards hesitated.

"Now."

The room emptied.

I took a deep breath and turned to leave, my eyes stinging.

But I didn't make it far.

A strong arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back with a force that stole the breath from my lungs.

I gasped, my back colliding with his chest, his breath ghosting against my ear.

"What are you—"

He pulled me tighter.

Face to face.

Eye to eye.

My eyes widened in shock, chest rising and falling with panic.

He smirked, gaze locked onto mine.

"Don't forget this moment, little Luna. You danced in front of your enemy… and now you're in his arms."