The cold stone walls of the dungeon echo with every breath I take, the silence pressing down on me like a heavy weight. The air is damp, thick with the scent of earth and decay. But none of it matters—not when I'm trapped in this place, this cage he's created for me. The God of Death's presence lingers like a shadow in the room, his power suffocating, inescapable.
The night has passed, and I'm no closer to finding a way out. He hasn't returned, but I know it's only a matter of time before he does. The plan is simple now—simple in theory, at least. I'll break free. I'll end it.
I've made up my mind.
And yet, as the first light of morning filters through the narrow bars of the dungeon, I hear the sound of footsteps. Slow, deliberate. I brace myself. He enters, his figure tall and imposing, a force of nature made flesh. His eyes lock onto mine, unreadable, but I can feel the weight of his gaze, the pressure building between us.
He stops in front of me, his posture casual, as if we're not standing on the precipice of everything I've worked toward. "You're still here, I see," he says, his voice cold, smooth like velvet wrapped around a blade. "I wasn't sure you'd last the night."
I don't respond. There's nothing to say to him anymore.
Then, as if reading my thoughts, his lips curl into a cruel smile. "I'm not going to keep you here forever. I'm not a monster." He pauses, his smile deepening. "Unless, of course, you keep pushing me."
A chill runs down my spine, but I refuse to let it show. He's trying to play with me, to break me before I can break free. But I won't let him. Not this time.
He steps closer, his eyes scanning me as though deciding what to do next. "I know what you want. You think you can end it all. You think you can break the bond. But you're wrong."
I stay silent, gripping the edge of the stone bench beneath me, fighting the urge to run—though I know it would be futile.
"You think you can escape me, don't you?" His voice is soft now, almost affectionate, but it holds an edge that makes my skin crawl. "You think you can break our bond. But you forget something important. You forget who I am."
The words hang heavy between us, like the threat of an inevitable storm. I know exactly what he's talking about. The bond. The piece of his soul buried deep inside me. The thing that makes me his, no matter how hard I fight. But I won't give up. I won't go down without a fight.
"You're wrong," I whisper, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions churning inside me. "I'm not yours. I never will be."
He doesn't flinch. In fact, his smile widens, and something dangerous flickers in his eyes. "You say that now," he murmurs. "But when the time comes... you'll remember that you belong to me."
I swallow, fear creeping into my chest. But there's something else now—something deeper. Something cold and sharp. The knife. The magical knife I had hidden, tucked away for a moment like this. I reach into the folds of my gown, feeling the cool steel beneath my fingertips. My only hope.
The God of Death watches me closely, sensing the movement. "You think you can end it with that?" His voice is mocking, but there's an edge of concern there now. I can see it in the way his posture shifts, the way his eyes flicker. He knows what I'm holding.
I pull the knife from my side, holding it in front of me, its blade gleaming in the dim light of the dungeon. "This is the only way. I'll end this, once and for all."
The God of Death tilts his head slightly, studying the knife. Then, with a soft laugh, he steps forward, his eyes glinting with something dark. "You think you can end me with that? You think I'll just let you?"
I hold the knife steady, my hand trembling only slightly. "I will. I'll end it. I'll destroy the bond and everything it means."
His gaze darkens, the air between us thick with his power. "You don't understand, do you?" His voice drops to a dangerous whisper. "You need to stab me first. You need to use the knife with my blood on you... and it has to be on your heart. That's how it works, sweetheart."
I freeze, the reality of his words crashing over me like a wave. The weight of it sinks into my chest. It's not enough to just destroy the bond. I have to destroy him. And I have to destroy myself in the process.
My breath catches in my throat. The God of Death stands before me, his face cold, calculating, and somehow, impossibly, he's giving me an out—an option.
But I know better than to believe it.
"You won't destroy the bond," he continues, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. "Because deep down, you're afraid. You know what it will cost you. You'll never have the courage to use the knife."
I shake my head, trying to banish the doubts creeping into my mind. "I will. I'll end this."
But then, something shifts in him—his expression hardens, and a new understanding dawns in his eyes. "And now that you know how to break it, I won't let you go. You won't escape again. Not after this. Not now that you know everything. I've already lost too much to let you go."
His hand reaches out to grab mine, his grip like iron. "You belong to me, and you will always belong to me. Forever."
The words echo in my mind, drowning out everything else.
He's made up his mind. He won't give me a chance at freedom now. Not when I know how to destroy him.