Under His Spell

28. Smile of A Magician

The Return to Darkness

Eno sprinted down the dimly lit street, his heart racing as the echoes of Den's laughter faded behind him. Each step felt like an act of rebellion against the dark magic that had ensnared him, yet the weight of uncertainty hung heavily in the air.

But midway through his frantic escape, doubt crept into his mind, freezing him in his tracks. What had he done? A wave of regret washed over him.

Images of Detective Tar flashed before him, his career shattered, his spirit broken, all because of Den's twisted games. Eno remembered the way Den had spoken about Tar, her voice laced with a sinister thrill as she promised to destroy anyone who dared come between them. If Den could do that to a respected detective, what would stop her from eliminating anyone who threatened her hold on Eno?

Suddenly, Eno's legs felt heavy, weighed down by the realization that his flight may have sealed his fate. With every instinct urging him to turn back, he slowly pivoted, his mind racing as he retraced his steps toward Den's house. The light from the windows flickered like a beacon, drawing him in, even as every part of him screamed to flee.

As he approached the front door, his pulse quickened. He hesitated outside, his eyes on the ring. Eveytime he resisted, the ring would tighten, bending him to its will.

His breath came in short gasps as he wondered if Den might be waiting for him, furious at the brief escape? What would happen when he returned to that dark room filled with bones, hair and dark secrets?

With a shaky breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The familiar scent of tea wafted through the air, mingling with the sense of impending doom that hung in the atmosphere.

To his surprise, he found Den sitting in the living room, a delicate porcelain cup cradled in her hands, steam rising gently from the tea. The sight of her was both soothing and unnerving. She looked up as Eno entered, her expression shifting seamlessly from surprise to an eerie calmness.

"Welcome back," Den said, her voice smooth and inviting, like a warm blanket wrapped around an ice-cold heart.

Eno stood frozen in the doorway, his mind racing. "You... you weren't worried?"

Den chuckled softly, setting the cup down on the table with an almost theatrical flourish. "Worried? Oh, my dearest Eno, I always knew you'd come back to me. You're far too enchanted by my magic to resist for long."

"I hate you." Eno shot back, the defiance in his voice feeling weak against the oppressive atmosphere.

Den leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile curling at the corners of her lips. "But you see, that's where you're wrong. Magic has a way of binding people together, don't you think?"

Den's eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and something darker. "Whether you realize it or not, you've already danced in my strings. You feel it, don't you? The pull of the magic? The allure of what we could create together?"

A shiver ran down Eno's spine. He was caught in the web of Den's madness, and it terrified him. "You can't just..."

"Can't just what?" Den interrupted, his tone suddenly sharp. "Can't just ensure that you're mine? The world is full of chaos and betrayal. I only want to protect what we have."

Eno hesitated, feeling the weight of Den's words pressing down on him. Deep inside, he felt the tug of the familiar, the way Den had captivated him with her charm and charisma. But that was all part of the illusion, wasn't it? The truth was buried beneath layers of deception, and he couldn't allow himself to forget the darkness lurking behind Den's charming façade.

"Why me? You can't keep doing this?"

Den's expression shifted, and for a moment, the mask slipped, revealing a flash of hurt and anger. "You keep repeating the same words to me over and over again! Can't do this-can't do that! Enough! I need to work on your speech and vocabulary! It's getting on my nerves."

Den stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor as she closed the distance between them, her gaze intense and piercing. "And what if freedom means losing me? Eno! I'm the only one who truly understands you!"

With every word, the tension escalated, each syllable pushing Eno closer to the edge of desperation. "Stop getting in my head!" he cried, feeling the walls of Den's world closing in. "You have to let me go!"

Den's expression hardened, and she leaned closer, the warmth of her breath mingling with the tension in the air. "And what if I can't? What if I don't want to?"

Eno felt his resolve wavering as he looked into Den's eyes, a mixture of madness and obsession swirling within them, the tightening of the ring. "You're scaring me," he admitted, his voice trembling.

Den's demeanor shifted again, softening as if she were attempting to reel Eno back into her spell. "I don't want to lose you. Is that too much to ask?"

"But at what cost?" Eno whispered, searching for the remnants of the woman he once knew behind the curtain of magic.

Den's smile returned, but it lacked warmth. "You'll understand soon enough. In my world, nothing ever truly disappears, remember? You're mine, and that's where you'll stay."

With that, the tension between them reached a breaking point, and Eno realized that he was standing on the precipice of a dark abyss. He had to make a choice; embrace the illusion or fight against the darkness that threatened to consume him.

As the steam from Den's tea swirled around them, Eno knew the battle for his soul had only just begun. He was caught in a web of magic and madness, and to escape, he would have to confront not only Den but also the deepest parts of himself. Would he find a way to break free from the enchanting illusion, or would he be trapped forever in Den's twisted world of secrets?

Only time could tell, and a bit of undetected wit.