The Devil's Plaything: A cursed affair

Bound by Darkness

The devil surely did know everything, and with that knowing glint in his eye,  Ralph pressed his lips to my cheek, leaving me in a state of utter shock and bewilderment. As he scurried away, I was left to ponder the implications of my actions. “Did I just agree to bind myself to him voluntarily?” I thought, my mind racing with the possibilities.

The idea of being a queen, and ruling by his side, was a tantalizing prospect, but whom was I kidding? He was the future Hell King, a being of unimaginable power and malevolence. What need would he have for a mortal queen, other than as a plaything or a slave? The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

“I could end up as his slave forever.” I thought, my heart heavy with fear. “Or worse, what if he kills me once he's bored of my existence around him?” The idea of being exiled, of being cast aside like a used toy, aroused a deep-seated terror within me. I was but a mere mortal, after all, and he was the master of the underworld.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. Would I be able to survive in his world, or would I become just another casualty of his whims? Only time would tell, but one thing was certain - I was now bound to him, body and soul, and there was no escape from the devil's grasp.

-TWO DAYS LATER-

He lounged on the sofa, his legs dangling from the armrest, his eyes fixed intently on me as I held the violin in my hand, carefully unboxing it. The instrument's sleek, curved body seemed to gleam in the dim light, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation.

“Do you even know how to play this thing?” He asked, his voice laced with skepticism, his eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded me.

I shook my head, a light smile playing on my lips. “No, I don't. I got this one today, hoping to learn it soon.”

He scoffed, a low, dismissive sound that made me feel a flutter of defensiveness in my chest. “You humans always manifest and wait for good stuff to come along your way,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “When there's something you desire, you gotta try your best to claim it at that very moment.”

As he spoke, he murmured some sort of spell under his breath, his hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. Ralph gestured at me, his fingers beckoning me closer, and I felt a strange, almost imperceptible pull, as if the very fabric of reality was shifting to draw me nearer to him.

“The art of violin playing isn't something you can simply pick up overnight,” he continued, his eyes glinting with a knowing light. “It takes dedication, passion, and a willingness to surrender yourself to the music. But I suppose that's what makes it so alluring, don't you think?”

“Try playing it now,” he said, his voice firm and commanding, leaving no room for hesitation or debate.

I was confused, my mind racing with questions. “Ha? I don't even know how to move this stick.” I protested, my eyes fixed on the violin in my hands, the instrument seeming to mock me with its intricate curves and mysterious strings.

But he just rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin. “I said do it,” he repeated, his tone brooking no argument, his words a clear command.

I hesitated for a moment, my mind rebelling against the idea of attempting something so far beyond my capabilities. But then, almost as if my hands had a mind of their own, they began to move, the fingers deftly dancing across the strings, coaxing out a melody that was both haunting and beautiful.

Astonishment was etched all over my face, my eyes wide with wonder, as if I had stumbled upon a hidden talent that had been lying dormant within me all along. It was as if I had known, deep down, exactly what it took to be an ace skilled violinist, and my hands were simply following the script that my mind had written.

Ralph chortled, a low, husky sound, as he rose from his seat, his eyes gleaming with amusement. And then, in a move that left me breathless, he plucked the violin from my hands, holding it aloft like a conductor's baton, the instrument seeming to come alive in his grasp.

"He wrapped his hands around my waist, his fingers splaying across my skin like a possessive claim. “Don't you think you ought to reward me something for gifting you this skill?” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of my nape.

I trembled, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and trepidation. “I-I have nothing that could please you,” I stammered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my pulse.

He raised his head, his eyes locking onto mine, his fingers tracing the curves of my face as if memorizing every feature. “You do,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “You have everything that I need. Everything that I'm searching for.”

He snapped his fingers in front of me, the sound echoing through the air like a challenge. “Dance with me, Amor,” he commanded, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. “I'd consider that as you paying me back.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with the implications of his words. But before I could respond, my body seemed to move of its own accord, my feet gliding across the floor in time with the haunting melody of the violin. The chords seemed to shift and change, the music weaving a spell around us, drawing us closer with every step.

A slow yet steady rhythm filled the air, the melody weaving a hypnotic spell that seemed to draw us deeper into its embrace. Ralph's hands guided my body, moving me in perfect sync with his own, our steps blending together in a beautiful, fluid motion.

“Now, if I'm the only one dancing, it won't be considered fair.” He whispered, his breath hot against my ear, his words sending shivers down my spine. “Come on, show me what you've got.”

With a gentle spin, he twirled me around, his hands brushing against my back, sending an unknown feeling coursing through my heart. I felt myself getting lost in the music, my feet moving in time with his, the surrounding world melting away into an unrealistic haze.

As we danced, I felt myself being transported to an entirely new realm, one where nothing else mattered except the rhythm and the man holding me close. And then, without thinking, the words slipped out of my mouth like a confession: “Ralph, do you love me?”

But he didn't stop, didn't even falter in his steps. Instead, he fastened his pace, rushing me along with him, his lack of answer leaving me disheartened, yet somehow, I couldn't help but follow him deeper into the unknown.

There was nothing to expect from him, for he was the Death Preacher, after all. Once the music had stopped, and I stood there, tired and huffing for breath, Ralph's gaze bore into mine, his eyes piercing through the silence.

And then, he finally spoke up, his voice low and husky, his words dripping with an unsettling intensity. “You, my love, are my biggest concern. Since the second I laid my eyes on you, you were destined to be mine. Love is not even an appropriate word to describe the insanity I've developed towards you. What I feel for you is beyond that.”

A sly grin spread across his face, and with a flicker of his eyes, he vanished away, leaving me standing there, feeling bereft and frustrated. A displeased chuckle escaped my throat, followed by a yell of agony as I fell to my knees. “Ralph Lumen! Where the fuck did you run off to?”

Unbeknownst to me, Ralph was in the bathroom opposite my room, listening to my yells and curses directed at him, a sly smile spreading across his face as he gazed at his reflection in the mirror. “Being obsessed is a bad thing, they'd said. I'm fucking obsessed now, ready to see where's the bad in it?”

His eyes gleamed with a manic intensity, his obsession for me burning brighter with every passing moment, as he stood there, plotting his next move, his mind consumed by the all-encompassing passion that had taken hold of him.