Aurelia's voice cracked with fury.
"No. I'm not going to kill myself… I'm going to kill you."
She grabbed the knife from the floor and launched herself at him, every part of her burning with rage.
She didn't get close.
Tenebrarum didn't even bother to fully turn toward her.
His hand flicked through the air—effortless, annoyed—
and something invisible slammed into her.
The knife tore out of her grip like it rejected her touch.
A heartbeat later her body crashed against the stone floor.
Her shoulder hit first, then her ribs, then her cheek, each impact stealing more breath than she had left.
The floor felt like it reached up and struck her, punishing her for even trying.
Aurelia gasped, choking on pain.
Her vision blurred.
Her legs twitched uselessly beneath her.
Tenebrarum finally looked at her,with the cold irritation of someone stepping over a broken thing in their path.
"You deserve to die," Aurelia spat, her voice shaking as she pushed herself off the floor.
What did she think she was going to do.
Fight the all mighty lord Tenebrarum — with what exactly?
She didn't stand gracefully—
her legs trembled, nearly gave out, but she forced them straight, forced herself toward him.
Her shoulder hit the edge of the table as she staggered forward, but she didn't stop.
She used it to shove herself onward, chest heaving, fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms.
Tenebrarum didn't move.
He watched her come—
slow, unsteady, furious—
as if witnessing a wounded animal limp straight into a predator's jaws.
Aurelia swung.
Her hand sliced through the air, wild and fast, every muscle in her arm screaming with the effort—
Aurelia's fists slammed into his chest—
small, frantic blows that did nothing but echo her desperation.
Her shoulders jerked with each strike, her breath tore out of her in broken gasps, her legs shaking beneath her like they could collapse at any second.
How weak, does she think she'll hurt him with this effortless blows.
Tenebrarum didn't move.
Not an inch.
Not a flinch.
He stared down at her like she was hitting a stone pillar.
Her punches grew weaker.
Her arms trembled, swinging wildly, more like someone drowning than someone fighting.
Her hair stuck to her wet cheeks as she gasped for air, her whole body trembling so hard she could barely stay upright.
Then he moved.
His hand snapped up with terrifying speed—
faster than her eyes could follow.
His fingers locked around her wrist so tight her entire arm jolted, her breath catching in her throat as pain shot through her.
Her knees instantly buckled, folding under her like she was nothing but paper.
He didn't help her stay up.
He held her there—
dangling between falling and standing, his grip the only thing keeping her from crashing to the floor.
"Look at you," he said quietly, with that deadly calm that felt worse than yelling.
"Shaking like a leaf."
Aurelia tried to yank her arm back.
She pushed against him with her free hand.
She twisted, pulled, clawed—
None of it mattered.
He didn't budge.
Her feet dragged uselessly across the floor as she struggled, her movements growing more frantic, more wild, more terrified.
He dragged her a few inches closer without effort, her toes scraping against the stone as her body lurched helplessly forward.
"You really thought," he murmured, leaning in, "that you could hurt me?"
She opened her mouth to speak—
but his grip tightened again, cutting her words off with a choked breath.
He released her wrist without warning.
Aurelia fell instantly.
Her palms slapped the floor first, elbows buckling, her body collapsing in a shaking heap.
Her breath stuttered, her hair falling over her face as she tried to push herself up—but her arms trembled too violently to hold her weight.
Tenebrarum stepped forward.
One slow, deliberate step.
Then another.
Each footfall echoed, heavy, final, the sound of someone who knew nothing could stop him.
His shadow swallowed her entire body as he stood over her.
"You can't even raise a knife without falling apart," he said coldly.
"And you think you could touch me?"
He reached down.
His mask faceless looking straight at her.
His hand fisted in her hair—hard—and yanked her head up just enough for her eyes to meet his.
"You belong to me," he said, every word an iron verdict.
"And you will learn what that means… properly."
He let go.
Aurelia hit the floor again, breath breaking, body trembling uncontrollably—
and he watched her like a predator studying prey that didn't know when to stop fighting.
"I hate you so much… I hate you so, Tenebrarum!" she screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks, her body shaking violently with rage and despair.
Her voice bounced off the walls like a knife. Did she just say that? To him? What was wrong with her?
Before she could process, a shadow moved. His hands shot out, gripping her with terrifying precision.
"I care for you," he said, voice low and cold, jerking her off the floor.
She kicked, clawed, and thrashed, fists pounding his chest, nails scraping across his armor, trying to break free. Her legs bucked, each kick striking like a desperate plea for survival.
He didn't flinch. Not once. Every blow, every scream, seemed to excite him, yet he held her as if she weighed nothing at all. Her body slammed against his, the wind knocked out of her with each movement.
Her hair whipped across her face, eyes wild and frantic. Her chest heaved; every breath burned like fire. The storm inside her—rage, grief, and fear—collided with the unyielding force of his strength.
"You're pathetic," he murmured, pressing her against his shoulder. Her nails dug into him, leaving shallow scratches, but he barely noticed. "And yet… I love this. I love the way you break."
Aurelia's scream tore through the room. She thrashed harder, legs and arms lashing, but he adjusted her easily, one hand on her waist, the other steadying her shoulders. Her body battered his, her strength useless against his.
Every beat of her heart felt like defiance. Every gasp a challenge. And he bore it all, unshaken, watching her crumble and rage in equal measure.
Where was he taking her to?
-------------------------------------------
To be continued...