Dark Desire-Caught between duty and desire (englisch version

Chapter 11

Corvin's POV:

The room was filled with a flickering light that emanated from the tall candles on the walls and the massive crystal chandelier above us. But I barely noticed any of it. Not the gold-adorned walls of Zeus' temple, not the dozens of spectators staring in silent expectation from the benches — all I saw was her.

Despina.

She stood at the altar, draped in a breathtaking gown of shimmering silver that reminded me of the distant light of an unreachable star. The veil framed her face, but I could see the tension in her eyes, the trembling of her shoulders. Even from afar, I could see how much she struggled to keep up the façade, to hide the fear and hatred that simmered just below the surface.

Her gaze sought mine, and when our eyes met, the world around us seemed to disappear. All I wanted was to rush to her, to tear her away from this hell, to free her from the pain and fear that had plagued her for weeks. But I had to wait. Just a moment longer.

My grip on the hilt of my sword tightened as I slowly glanced to the side. Lux stood next to her, like a hunter who had finally cornered his prey. His face was twisted into a mocking grin as he looked at Despia, and my stomach twisted with rage.

The ceremony had begun. The high priest was speaking the ancient words in a booming voice, but it was only a distant murmur in my ears. Time seemed to stand still as Despia slowly reached out for Lux's outstretched hand, forced to accept the bond that would drag us all into the abyss.

But then, it happened.

A loud crash, followed by a startled cry. All heads turned to the side as the heavy double doors of the temple were flung open. Hera strode into the room with regal composure, followed closely by Ares, his face illuminated by a dangerous gleam. The audience murmured in surprise, but their words quickly faded as Zeus rose from his seat, his gaze blazing with fury and suspicion.

"What is the meaning of this?" His voice thundered through the hall, reverberating off the stone walls. Lux stiffened beside us, his posture radiating tension. For a moment, he hesitated, his gaze flicking uncertainly between Zeus, Hera, and the altar. But then, the uncertainty gave way to his usual arrogance, and he took a step closer to Despia, as if to claim her before something unforeseen could unfold.

"You dare interrupt our ceremony, woman?" Zeus growled as Hera stepped forward with a calm that made the air around her hum with tension. Her presence radiated such authority and resolve that even the mightiest beings in the room seemed to hold their breath.

"Enough, Zeus," she said softly, her voice carrying a quiet power that silenced the whispers. "This farce ends here."

I saw Lux's face contort at her words. A look of pure, unbridled rage flickered in his eyes, and he gripped Despia's arm so tightly that she flinched. In that moment, the sight burned itself into my memory forever: Despia, so fragile and yet so strong, her eyes wide as she searched for something — a spark of hope. A way out.

My resolve was made before I could even breathe. Without a second thought, I drew my sword and lunged forward before Zeus or Lux could react.

"Let her go," I growled, my voice a dangerous rumble that surprised even me. Lux turned to face me, his lips curled into a sneer, but I saw the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Or it will be the last thing you do."

"You?" he scoffed, laughing derisively. "You really think you can stop me, bastard? You're nothing, Corvin. Nothing!" He yanked Despia closer with a brutal jerk, making her gasp for air. That was enough.

"No, Lux," I said with deadly calm. "You're the one who's nothing."

And as soon as the words left my mouth, I moved. Adrenaline surged through my veins, my senses sharpened to a razor's edge. Lux's surprise was my advantage — he hadn't expected me to attack him directly, especially not here, in front of his father and the assembled gods. He hadn't recognized the danger.

With a single, precise strike, I severed his hand from Despia. Blood splattered onto the altar, and Lux let out a howl, a furious, shocked scream that echoed through the hall. But I gave him no time to recover. With another step, I was in front of him, and before he could even think to retaliate, I drove my sword through his chest.

His scream turned into a gurgling choke as he stared at me, disbelief and rage burning in his gaze. "You ... will ... pay ... for this," he gasped, blood staining his lips. But I looked back at him with nothing but cold detachment.

"No, Lux," I whispered, my grip tightening around the hilt. "You'll never hurt anyone again."

With a swift, merciless motion, I pulled the blade out and brought it down on his neck. A heavy, dull thud, and his head rolled onto the floor. Silence filled the temple. Lux's body crumpled to its knees, then collapsed forward, his severed head slowly rolling across the marble to rest at my feet.

For a moment, there was absolute silence, broken only by the faint dripping of blood. I took a deep breath and lifted the severed head high. His eyes stared blankly, the expression of shock forever frozen in his features. Slowly, almost ceremoniously, I stepped over to Despia, who was still trembling at the altar. Her eyes were wide, but there was no terror in them. Only a deep, overwhelming relief.

With a soft thud, I placed Lux's head on the altar, right in front of her, as a symbol of our victory. "It's over, Despi," I murmured, my voice suddenly hoarse. "The nightmare ... is over."

Tears filled her eyes as she stared at me, her face filled with a stunned disbelief. "Corvin ..." Her voice broke, and she raised a trembling hand to my face, as if she couldn't believe I was really there, that this had truly happened. "You ..."

"I did it for you," I said quietly, leaning closer to her. "So you would be free. So you'd never have to be afraid again."

Her fingers brushed my face, tentative, hesitant, as if she feared I might vanish into thin air. Then she closed her eyes, and a shaky smile appeared on her lips as the first tears fell down her cheeks.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. "Thank you, Corvin."

In that moment, the world was still. All the horrors, the pain, the anguish — everything faded away. It was just her and me. And in her eyes, I saw something I had longed for: peace.

But before I could say anything more, a deafening roar shattered the silence. Zeus, who had broken free of Ares and Hera's grip, stormed forward, his eyes blazing with a fury that threatened to consume everything.

"You dare ...!" he roared, the air around him crackling with raw, divine power. But I remained calm. I had done what was necessary.

Lux was dead.

And now ... we would finally bring Zeus to his knees