The Shadows Within Me

A short stare-off erupted between Brielle and Astred, who quickly placed her hands on her hips.

"Well, I'm not going anywhere until I speak to my king and future queen alone." She didn't back down.

"Hah, it's fine. Leave us," Finn sighed, brushing my hair away from my face.

"But…" The grey wolf trailed off.

"She can't do any harm with me here, and I don't think I'll lose it again." He assured, tugging my head into his chest.

"Fine, just alert me if you need me. If I have to stop you from making a stupid decision, I will." She mumbled, turning away from us.

Rizak was already gone as Finn smiled at his cousin.

"Thank you, Brie." He whispered as she disappeared.

It wasn't long until Astred retook the stage, drawing our eyes onto her.

"M'lord, you know that owl's using me as a scapegoat." She announced, crossing her arms.

"What?" Finn scoffed.

His grip on me was unyielding, which left me feeling smothered by him.

She rolled her eyes, huffing. "You can't be serious. This whole situation smells of Maxwell. I was wondering why that maniac was so quiet recently."

Her words weren't trustworthy, yet the way Rizak gazed at me earlier made me feel off.

Maxwell… Is that who Brielle was talking about?

I had never met him because Finn had never let me into the town where he lived. Rizak always made trips to him, though. He was the reason my potion was found and probably behind the bracelet on my wrist.

According to Finn, this bracelet is Rizak's idea, the same as the ritual that might kill us both. What if… this is a…

"No, he wouldn't dare—" Finn began, only to be stopped by her.

She didn't let him get the upper hand.

"That old owl would indeed dare, m'lord. This ritual you were supposed to have with Sylvia had a safe plan. Think about it! There must be more! That fool wouldn't let everything go to waste." she declared, walking towards the map in the middle of the room.

Can this be real? Any of it? Did Rizak really make this possible? But why? Or was it this Maxwell's doing?

"He has always been loyal to the royal family. More than you can say." Finn growled, clenching his hands into fists.

"That probably hasn't changed. I know I fucked up and played into his hand, but this could be Maxwell's doing too. Rizak could never say no to his brother. They both want to lift the miasma at all costs. He wants the humans to live, too. Fuck, I'd even say the fool wants to be one again." She countered.

It almost felt like we fell into a conspiracy theory that made little sense to me.

"And what's their goal then?" I asked, tugging away from Finn's warmth.

Finn tightened his tail around my waist, keeping me close.

"Oh! I don't know. Let's take a wild guess." She shrugged, turning towards us. "Maybe, to create a new breed of demon. One that doesn't fully depend on humans to live and is immune to miasma. Perhaps it can turn demons into humans and humans into demons!"

She was onto something in her mind, but this all sounded ridiculous. Rizak was always kind to me, yet I didn't know anything about him other than he wanted the curse gone. He always appeared to be loyal to Finn, though.

Yet I knew the owl also knew his king didn't share his views even though he did entertain them.

"Those two madmen always wanted to surpass the miasma's curse. You could ask any of us. Even Brielle knows Maxwell isn't the most stable person." Astred added, tapping her fingers on her shoulders.

Gazing back at me, she pointed towards my left arm. "That bracelet is probably related to the being growing in your womb. It's hard to say, but you're an experiment for the brothers."

The flower was fully blossomed, shimmering with a light blue tone.

Wait… Didn't I and Finn have to fall in love for this to work? It wasn't a ritual but just love. Even if it was one-sided? Unless…

Hope filled me when I glanced at Finn, who was staring at the succubi. Rizak had been his teacher since childhood, meaning their bond was more profound than regular friends. He wouldn't have told him everything unless he knew the demon king would never go through with the ritual.

Was the goal of this always to get me knocked up? But why? Why would that be important? Wasn't this for Finn to gain my powers?

"I've never seen something like it in person, but I know you know the stone on it, don't you, my king?" she continued.

Everything needs to slow down! I can't keep up!

"Yes, it's an Opal, the saint's stone, which is said to create miracles," Finn said, grabbing my hand.

Astred smirked, wagging her tail. Solas was by my feet, resting again. He was more awake than before, but all the feasting made him groggy, triggering him to yawn.

"Wouldn't you say this is one? My curse doesn't procreate, m'lord. I assure you that the owl and rat have objectives different from your planned goals. We thought Rizak was an idealistic fool, but what if he found a way to do it? One you wouldn't have agreed to." The succubi continued, prancing around like a detective.

Who knew sparing her would cause such a headache?

"Rizak's goal has always been to lift us off our curse. He wouldn't…" Finn trailed off, shaking his head. "No… impossible."

"Well, then maybe the child plays a part in it." She pointed towards my abdomen.

My eyes opened wide, and I realized this was never meant for Finn to wield power. No, it was…

"It'll be a half-saint, half-demon, and of your blood Finn. A direct connection to the source of the hex that binds everyone." The words that left me shook my core.

There was never a ritual to do. This… child is the key to… Damn it! I'm just the body to grow it!

That was why Rizak never sought to advance my studies more than the basics I was on.

You knew… I wouldn't be able to do this by myself. Ah… that…

He knew it would take time and planned to save some, not all, the humans while the demons were freed, restarting the world.

No… It will transform it into something else.

"Hah! Everyone will want a piece of that demon baby!" she smirked.

However, before she could do anything else, her feet suddenly weren't on the floor anymore. Finn had captured her in a spell by her throat with a simple hand raise.

"And that excludes you?" he questioned, growling.

His fangs flashed, and his mouth warped. At any minute, he would turn into a dragon, and if that happened while he was curse-bound, no one was safe. His emotions were all over the place, much like mine, which was odd as he was good at holding them at bay.

Well, unless Soren ticks you off.

Yet Astred didn't seem afraid of him as this was normal for them to experience.

"I owe Sylvia for not letting me end up like that forsaken King. I dislike debts and intend to pay them even if you don't believe me." She rolled her eyes.

I titled my head, "End up like that forsaken king? What?" I mumbled, making Finn grip onto me tighter with his free hand.

"Wait, you don't know?" she scoffed, holding back her laughter.

A sharp growl came from the demon, fuming smoke from his mouth. His claws were getting sharper, too.

"She doesn't need to know." He stepped away from me towards the succubi.

"Oh? A lady you want to marry doesn't deserve to know about your secret dungeon of death! How bold of you, m'lord!" she continued to entice him.

A crooked snicker came from the succubi; the only thing stopping her was when he squeezed her neck.

"Astred!" he snarled.

I grabbed his arm before he could launch at her, "Stop!"

My sudden declaration triggered Finn to turn towards me. I saw a familiar expression on his face—one I knew too well.

The pain in those eyes… No, more…

"Please, Finn, show me. I want to walk in your world, so I must see it!" I declared unwavering.

Even though his limb was shifting into a dragon, my hands didn't tremble.

He shook his head before shifting his eyes away from me. "No, I can't show you that. You won't…"

"Hah?! Show her the cells! Then we'll know if she has the stomach to stay by your side, dreaded king!" Astred mocked us.

Finn's eyes were colder than before, which reminded me of the times I felt everything was hopeless.

I can't remember how often my world has crashed and burned, but not this time. No one is taking my home, and that is you! Your world isn't ending but changing!

Before I could say anything, Finn's aura broke out again.

"Fuck you, Astred." He coldly voiced; a second later, she was a splatter on the floor.

Blood pooled where her body was crushed. However, that didn't stop her from speaking, as her head remained intact.

"Oh, m'lord, you know I'm right." She snickered, bones crushing back together.

Seeing it was grotesque, yet I stood firm, even though my stomach would turn.

"Plus, if she sees that, then maybe she'll want what you call a parasite out of her," Astred added, making me boil.

Letting you stick around was a mistake, but you also had your use.

Thanks to her, I was seeing a new side to this king and if something was sure in my heart. It was…

"No matter what I see! I won't be leaving Finn's side ever!" I declared.

Immediately, the demon king's eyes found me, "Sylvia…"

This was what I decided when we were in the rose garden. I can't turn away from this. Not now, not ever, I'll always…

Astred smirked, fixing her legs. "Feisty! You'll need that when the humans come to murder you. Even if we survive this, that baby will have enemies on both sides."

What?

"Like I'll let them touch her." Finn huffed, clenching his hands into fists.

"You can't be everywhere. I think I showed you that. It won't matter if it's a half-demon or not; it's the offspring of a saint. The first one ever since the last saint died young." The succubi countered, getting up from the floor.

Her healing abilities were almost identical to Finn's, alerting me she was a general to be wary of.

All of them want to use me. I need to get better at this. Walking straight into their trap isn't the most effective way, but…

"Astred, you're playing with my patience." He growled, pulling me towards him.

"Go on, show her. Let her decide if this is what she truly wants." She didn't back down.

I didn't know if this was another way for her to turn us against each other or something else, but it was the perfect opportunity to…

"It's okay, Finn. I don't want secrets between us. Let me see your darkest moments, and I'll accept everything you have to, I assured him, turning to him.

His eyes were still crimson when he slightly shook his head.

"You won't like what you'll see." He sighed, touching my cheek.

I leaned into his hand, smiling, "I promise, my feelings for you won't change even if I disagree. So, please don't take them lightly."

There, I reached for him, cupping his cheeks in my hands.

"You'll always be my home, Finn. I'm sure of that." I professed, triggering his eyes to widen.

His eyes flickered, "Ah… Shit, I can't win against you. Can I?"

"No, so don't even try." I smiled, drawing myself to meet with his lips as a soft, gentle kiss followed, leaving me fluttering.

"Boring," Astred sighed, prompting me to tug away from my demon.

"Hey! Eno—" Finn followed my lips, claiming them again instead of letting me pull away entirely.

The next moment, we weren't in the room anymore. We were in my room, a place I hadn't been in since I was kidnapped. Before I knew it, my back was against the wall. Tugging away from my lips, he pressed his forehead against mine.

"You… I don't know anymore." Finn's hard shell was finally breaking.

For the first time, I saw the layers of sorrow this man held. The past few weeks' events had stripped away all the layers he had built to keep anyone away. He was finally opening up to me in ways I had only hoped, and it all started that night when I finally gave myself to him.

"It's okay not to know. Baby steps, remember?" I simpered, feeling happy about this.

On the different flip of the coin, his cracking like this showed all his generals his weakness. One he had been trying to deny having, and with the being I had growing within my womb, it broke him.

It's the perfect target for them to take down the dragon before me. Breaking your will isn't something I'll allow to happen.

Finn shook his head, closing his eyes. "No, it's not. Ever since you were taken, my mind's a fucking mess. I don't know what to feel about the thing you've got in your womb, and now you want to see the darkest part of me."

I touched his cheek, tracing my fingers down his skin.

"Okay, we took strides instead of steps. Are we moving too fast for you?" I tried to lighten the mood.

His eyes opened, wincing upon hearing those words.

"It terrifies me how fast we're going. This is something I haven't felt in a long time." He sighed.

It almost felt like all the years were falling on him. Immortality wasn't something I ever wanted.

Hey Finn, I thought this world was crap, but you changed my view. It has beautiful things that I was blind to and want to show you, too.

"Let me keep proving you wrong. Finn, let me walk in your world with no blindfolds." I simpered, not backing down.

Shaking his head, he kissed my forehead.

"You've got no danger sense, Sparky." He released a nervous chuckle, leaning into me.

I reached to touch him, only for him to pull away as his eyes grew cold once again.

"Sylvia, promise me if what you see isn't what you want, if I'm not what you want and it's really mine, get rid of it." His voice was chillier than anything.

Ah… My words are meaningless.

Instead of answering him, I nodded.

"Okay," A soft, broken smile rose on his lips, "Change, the place we'll be going to isn't one you want to wear that."

I wasted no time getting dressed. Grabbing onto my hand, the next moment, we were in front of the entrance of the catacombs of the castle. In front, there always used to be a demon, who was nowhere to be found.

Unlike the crystal room, I didn't stumble into this house of horrors alone—the hate behind this door was something I willingly would see. Solas was right behind me as Finn led me inside the dark corridor. What awaited me at the end was a destined encounter.

One that would challenge me in ways I never thought it would, but one thing was sure in my mind.

I'll never let go of this hand. No matter the cost.