Meanwhile, back in the Demon Kingdom, Natasha was absolutely shocked as she spotted Jax's actual face once he removed his helmet.
"Y… It's you…"
Natasha's voice came out broken. She stuttered as she pulled against the chains, trying to point at Jax's face to signify her recognition.
Her eyes were wide and shaking, locked onto Jax's face as if seeing a ghost from her past. She looked at every feature, desperate to see something to prove he wasn't who she thought he was, but she couldn't find anything.
"No," she whispered hoarsely, "No, that's not possible…"
The chains rattled softly as her body trembled a second time, all the while Jax watched her, a smile slowly appearing on his lips.
"Guess my reputation really did travel farther than I thought. You didn't even live near us and you still recognize me immediately," he said mildly.
That was what broke her.
"You were....." Natasha swallowed hard, throat bobbing against the suppressor collar as she tried to squeeze out her sentence,"You were on Earth. You were...."
Her mind scrambled, images flashing uncontrollably. Her own friends sending pictures of Jax in their group chats, her classmates talking about rumors of him being insanely good sexually, and even hearing her fellow heroes talk about him during their time in Terra.
"You were one of the most popular guys at Killian's school," she blurted out, disbelief sharpening into something almost hysterical, "Everyone knew you. Even people who didn't go there knew your name,"
Jax's smile widened just a fraction as he heard that, "That's what surprises me," he said. "You didn't even live in our city, yet my glorious reputation spread to you," He said, chuckling as he praised himself.
Natasha stared at him, "You think people didn't talk?" she snapped weakly, "Killian talked. A lot. He complained about you constantly."
That earned her a quiet chuckle, "Figures. That dork always annoyed me too, though I guess I'm constantly getting the last laugh.
Her hands clenched against the chains, knuckles whitening as she tried anything she could to escape the chains, "This doesn't make sense," she said, voice rising, "You should be back on Earth, and yet you're here, as this so called Demon King,"
Jax took another step closer, the pressure of his presence increasing just enough to make her skin prickle, "Not quite how you imagined my career path, huh?"
Her gaze hardened, fear mixing with fury. "What are you doing here?" she demanded. "Why are you in this world?"
For the first time since she'd woken up, the anger found something solid to latch onto.
"Answer me!" she shouted, "You slaughtered an entire Holy Order. You crushed us. You took me. Why?!"
Jax looked at her silently for several seconds, admiring her looks. His eyes brazenly traced across her slim but sexy body, before he finally answered.
"I was summoned obviously," He said, with a 'are you an idiot,' expression on his face.
Natasha froze as she heard that, "Summoned…?"
"Yes."
By the Demon Goddesses, he didn't say, but he didn't need to, as he was sure Natasha would eventually piece everything together.
Her lips parted slowly as she finally took in what he said, "That's impossible," she whispered, "Only Heroes, "
"—are summoned by the Goddess of Light," Jax finished for her. "I know."
He tilted his head slightly, golden eyes burning with quiet amusement, "That's the difference."
Natasha's mind reeled.
"You're saying…" Her voice trembled. "You didn't come here by accident."
"No."
"You didn't get caught up in the war."
"No."
Her breath hitched.
"You came here on purpose."
Jax nodded once.
"Yes."
The finality in that single word sent a chill through her bones.
"To do what?" she asked quietly.
Jax stepped close enough that she could feel his presence fully now. That overwhelming dominant presence of a King who held her life in his hands, and could toy with her in any way he saw fit.
Then he spoke, "To stop you obviously,"
Natasha's heart pounded as she heard that, "To stop us?" she echoed, "From what?"
"From calling yourselves Heroes while you burn cities," he said calmly, "From slaughtering an entire Kingdom under the excuse of divine righteousness."
Her face twisted, "We were fighting demons! We are saving the world,"
"You were invading," Jax corrected, "There's a difference, maybe you should learn about it,"
"You don't get to judge us!" she snapped, "You weren't there! You didn't see what demons did to...."
"I see everything," Jax interrupted softly.
Natasha recoiled as his words settled in, her breath coming faster, panic and fury tangling in her chest.
"I see everything," Jax repeated, his voice low, almost bored, "And I see how this ends."
She bared her teeth at him, defiance flaring despite the chains, "You think you've already won?"
"No," he said, "I know I have. All you've been doing is playing into my hands,"
He straightened, hands folding behind his back as he began to pace slowly in front of her, boots echoing against the stone.
"One by one," he continued conversationally, "your friends will fall. Not all at once. Not quickly." He glanced at her, eyes gleaming. "That would be too kind."
Natasha's eyes widened, "Don't you touch them," she hissed. "Killian, Touka—"
"Oh, I will," Jax cut in pleasantly. "And when each of them realizes how hopeless it is, I want you to remember this moment."
He stopped in front of her, leaning down just enough that she could see her reflection in his golden eyes.
"You're going to sit right here," he said calmly, "and you're going to feel every second of it."
Her voice trembled despite herself. "Why are you telling me this?"
Jax smiled.
"Because I want you awake for it."
Her heart sank as he turned away, already losing interest.
"Oh," he added over his shoulder, almost as an afterthought, "and don't worry."
He paused at the doorway, glancing back at her one last time.
"I'll come back for you soon."
Natasha froze. "Come back for me…?"
Jax's smile was slow, assured, and utterly merciless.
"To claim you," he said simply. "As mine."
The words hit harder than any blow.
"Y–You're insane!" she shouted, thrashing against the chains as despair finally cracked through her anger. "I'll never!"
The heavy prison doors began to close.
"We'll see," Jax replied calmly, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Sit tight, Hero."
The doors slammed shut, plunging the chamber into silence broken only by the faint hum of suppressive runes, and Natasha's ragged breathing as the reality of her situation fully set in.