CHAPTER FIVE

Later that night, after spending quality time with my family, I returned to my room. As I entered, a chill raced down my spine; the balcony doors stood wide open, and the only illumination in the room came from the moonlight streaming in. It was a breathtaking sight. I stepped into the moonlight, and at that moment, a brilliant white light materialized before me. It morphed into a radiant figure, a person glowing with an ethereal light. His hair shimmered like spun gold, and his eyes sparkled like glowing jade. My breath caught in my throat, and my eyes widened; this man was the most breathtaking being I had ever seen. I was entranced, unable to look away, 

I stepped forward. Majestic white wings, adorned with glowing gold edges, enveloped me, drawing me closer to him. He extended his hand, gently cupping my cheek, his gaze fixed on me. His touch was as soft as silk, sending delightful shivers throughout my body. My skin began to glow white, mirroring his, and I looked down at my arms in astonishment before meeting his gaze again.

             "Who are you?" I asked. 

He stared at me intently for a moment before responding in a smooth, deep voice,

            "I am Agathocles. I sensed your awakening and came to find you." 

Confusion washed over me. What did he mean? 

           "I don’t understand," I replied. 

His expression shifted to one of sadness as he said, 

           "It seems I arrived too early. I’m sorry, but I must leave you for now." 

          And before I could utter a word, he vanished, leaving behind a trail of golden dust and a few delicate white feathers. 

I bent down and collected the feathers, then walked over to my desk to place them in the pencil holder. As I turned around, the moonlight illuminated the scattered gold dust. I was still in a daze, wide-eyed and bewildered. I sat on my bed, burying my head in my hands. My thoughts were a whirlwind, and I felt nauseous, the taste of bile filling my mouth. What is happening? I've lost my parents, my home, and now I discover I might not even be human. Strange things are occurring; werewolves exist, my parents weren't human, I'm drawn to a man I just met, and now some celestial being has appeared. What has my life turned into? Before my parents' death, I was just an ordinary, content person, and now, less than a year into this new life, everything feels like it's been set ablaze. I leap up and head to the bathtub, filling it with water and adding lavender oils and bubble bath. I undress and plop into the tub, splashing some water onto the floor. I sink into the large tub until the water is just below my nose, and I begin to feel my anxious energy start to dissipate. I was yanked beneath the surface, and in my shock, I ended up swallowing water as I was dragged deeper. The light filtering from above became warped and far away. I glanced down but saw nothing pulling me, just an endless void of darkness. As I was drawn into the shadows, my vision blurred and my heartbeat slowed. I sensed my consciousness fading, my body turning numb and rigid. I drifted into the abyss. Suddenly, my eyes flew open, and I shot up, expelling water from my lungs onto the floor. I gasped for the much-needed air, my heart racing as I surveyed my surroundings in alarm. I thought I had perished; I felt it. But where was I now? I found myself in a large bed adorned with a red velvet headboard and a black satin comforter. The room exuded a Victorian charm, with black-lined walls painted a deep red, thick red velvet curtains, and a black marble fireplace that crackled with life. Everything appeared luxurious and antique, untouched by the modern world. I quickly rose, careful to avoid the puddle of vomit, and approached the door, tugging at the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. I pounded on the door, shouting,

  "Hello! Is anyone there?!" 

I banged again, then paused to listen, but there was nothing—no response, no sounds. Frustrated, I began to pace the room, eventually collapsing onto the couch in front of the fireplace, where I dozed off. I was jolted awake when the door swung open, and a man with an aura of danger stepped in, exuding an irresistible charm. What was happening today that I was encountering so many striking gentlemen? The man before me was clad in a sleek black suit, complete with a black tie and shirt that showcased his perfectly sculpted muscles. His hair was emerald green, thick and meticulously styled, and his eyes were sharp and feline, possessing an otherworldly quality. His gaze was breathtaking, predatory, with snake-like pupils glowing yellow, fading into a blood-red hue. He observed me intently, focused on my every reaction as I took him in from head to toe. In a deep voice, laced with a slight hiss, he asked, 

"What are you to the Demon King?"

I stared at him, my eyebrows raised in confusion. I shouted,

"Why am I here and who are you!?"

My voice was almost a roar. His face twisted with rage, and in a flash, he had me pinned down on the couch, his fangs extending and sharp, their tips dangerously close to my neck. He pressed his body against mine, his hand gripping my wrists above my head. He hissed,

"Don't test my patience, little one!"

His fangs retracted as he pulled back, his gaze roaming over my body, and in that moment, I became acutely aware that I was completely naked.

 "Get off me!" 

I screamed, kicking in an attempt to escape his painful hold on my wrists. He simply met my gaze and smiled as he released my wrists, making a tsk sound,

 "If you disobey me, I will mark you, and even your Demon King won't be able to save you."

My eyes widened in terror, and I began to tremble, 

"Please let me go," but he just grinned wickedly at me and shook his head.

It appears he has no intention of letting me leave; does he really expect me to just sit here exposed for this discussion? I shoot him a glare and inquire, 

"Could I at least have some clothes since you so rudely pulled me from my bath?"

 He bursts into laughter and replies with a sigh, 

"Alright, little one, I will fulfill this request," 

then calls out, "Miranda!" 

A woman enters the room, and my eyes widen at her beauty—her skin is a soft green, her wavy golden blonde hair cascades down past her backside, and her eyes glow a bright yellow. She curtsies and asks, 

"How may I serve you, my king?" 

A king? How many kings exist? He gestures towards me, saying, 

"She will need some clothing; once she is dressed, bring her to my study." 

She glances at me and then back at him, responding, "Yes, your majesty,"

 before leaving. I turn to the king and ask, 

"What is your name? Since you've seen me naked, I should probably know it." He chuckles again, stands up, and walks toward the door, saying, 

"It's Mushussu," before shutting the door behind him.

Miranda steps into the room, trailed by several female maids who push a cart adorned with an array of dresses, accessories, and shoes. The maids bear a striking resemblance to her, and while I hesitate to inquire about their identities, I can't help but admire their beauty. In perfect harmony, they curtsy to me, but it is Miranda who breaks the silence, saying, 

"My lady, we are here to assist you in getting dressed." 

I respond, "Thank you, please proceed as you wish." 

With a warm smile, she directs the other maids on what to do. An entire hour passes before they finish, leaving me utterly drained. Miranda steps back, her smile beaming as she exclaims, 

"My lady, you look stunning! Take a look!"

 A maid presents a full-length mirror, and I gasp in disbelief. I can hardly recognize myself. My hair is elegantly pinned in curls cascading down my back, and my makeup is so delicately applied that it enhances the sparkle of my blue, crystal-like eyes. My lips are a striking blood red, and against my pale skin, my features stand out beautifully. The necklace of blue rubies complements my eyes perfectly, while the ball gown, layered in various shades of blue, shimmers as if sprinkled with glitter. The back of the dress is adorned with matching rubies lining the train, and my dark blue shoes echo the rubies' brilliance. I feel like a princess from a fairy tale, and I adore this transformation, but I can't help but wonder why Mushussu is dressing me in such a manner. Miranda claps her hands, commanding,

 "Everyone, please leave. My lady, follow me to the king's study." 

I nod and carefully trail behind her, mindful not to trip over my gown. It's my first experience in such attire, and I can't shake the image of myself tumbling face-first to the ground; that simply cannot happen! The corridor resembles a medieval castle, adorned with stone walls and flooring, torches affixed to the sides, and spiral stone staircases that ascend or descend as we glide past side openings. After a few moments, we take a turn and traverse an identical corridor, though this one boasts more wooden doors lining the walls. We turn once more and descend a grand stone staircase that leads to a vast open chamber, where the ceiling is decorated with paintings that evoke memories of the Salon d’Hercule in the Palace of Versailles. I had glimpsed it in one of my art books, but witnessing something so magnificent in person leaves me utterly breathless. I halt in my tracks, my gaze locked onto the artwork above; instead of Hercules and the gods, it features dark figures with horns and individuals with serpentine bodies. Miranda clears her throat, 

"My lady, the king is waiting."

Understanding her cue, I tear my gaze away from the stunning artwork above and follow her down another corridor. This place feels like an enormous labyrinth; I doubt I could ever find the room I was in again. We emerge into a courtyard and stroll through a magnificent garden brimming with vibrant plants that seem foreign to me, some even emitting a faint glow. After another ten minutes of walking, we arrive at a grand iron door entrance, where towering guards wield heavy axes attached to long poles. They notice us and swing the doors open. Stepping inside, my eyes widen in astonishment; the entire room—yes, the entire room—is gilded! The floor is made of gold marble, the ceiling glimmers with gold, the walls shine in gold, and even the grand stone staircase is painted in gold. We ascend the stairs, and as we turn, the opulence fades to normalcy with stone floors and walls. We continue down the hallway until we reach a large iron door, flanked by guards. They open it for us, and we enter a room lined with bookcases that stretch from wall to wall, overflowing with books. Comfy black leather couches are arranged around a grand stone fireplace, where a fire crackles warmly. On the far wall, a large wooden desk is cluttered with stacks of paperwork, and there sits Mushussu, looking less intimidating than before, wearing reading glasses as he peruses a document. Behind him, a floor-to-ceiling window frames the sunset. I find myself inexplicably drawn to him, his emerald green hair cascading around him like a waterfall; it was once styled, but now it’s tousled and utterly breathtaking. He looks up at me with his yellow-red eyes, and my heart begins to race. Miranda exits the room, closing the doors behind her, leaving me standing there, captivated by him. He smiles and says, 

"That dress suits you well; do you like it?" 

I snap out of my reverie and glance down at my dress, running my hands over the fabric.                                            "Yes, I like it very much, thank you." 

He stands up, and I shift my focus back to him as he circles around the desk; each step he takes towards me sends my heart into a frenzy. When he finally reaches me, I lock eyes with him. He gently touches my face and says, 

"You're beautiful, come sit down, let's talk."

 "Felicity, I apologize for my behavior today; I was just angry and unfairly took it out on you. I need to understand your connection to the Demon King."

 I reply softly, still entranced by his gaze, 

"I don't know, who is the Demon King?" 

His eyes widen in surprise, 

"He hasn't informed you of his identity yet?" I look at him, puzzled, "Who?" He chuckles,

 "Ezekiel is the Demon King!" 

That makes sense; he did mention he wasn't human, but a demon king? What does that even entail? 

"What is a Demon King?" 

He explains, "He is the ruler of nearly the entire supernatural race."