Bound by the king of destruction

Somewhere in a spacious, extravagant room that looked more like a private suite than a bedroom, polished marble floors gleamed beneath velvet curtains that swept the ground. A crystal chandelier scattered golden light across the ceiling, illuminating sleek shelves lined with rare collectibles and walls adorned with framed art worth more than most cars. A king-sized bed lay draped in silken sheets untouched, almost too perfect, like a room meant to impress guests rather than comfort its owner.

Elyen sat at a side table, hunched over his computer, sharp green eyes narrowing at the search bar. His fingers tapped rapidly as he typed: The Book of Vanik'shur.

The screen blinked, cold and unhelpful: No results found.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue and leaned back slightly. It felt like the city itself wanted to keep its secrets buried.

With a quiet sigh, he pushed his chair back and stepped toward the window. A notification flashed on the screen: CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. The words lingered, almost taunting him, before fading away.

He paused, looking at the city lights glowing against the dark skyline as the night breeze slipped through the slightly open window. Below, the city stretched out like a field of stars, bright, restless, alive.

"A lot is happening tonight," Elyen muttered, his voice low and thoughtful. "And for some reason… I feel restless."

---

It had been almost an hour, but Nellie's gaze was still fixed on my chest.

She hadn't spoken, just sat there like a statue, staring at me as if waiting for something to happen.

I shifted uneasily and finally turned toward her.

"Nellie… when did you last talk to Van?"

Her lashes lowered slightly. "Wednesday evening," she said after a pause. "He sounded… panicked."

Wednesday evening, the same day I was kidnapped. Was this all connected?

Her voice softened, but the words hit me hard. "I've been looking for you for two weeks now." She paused, her gaze sliding to my chest. "…And here I find you, lying in a place like this, with your heart missing."

The way she stared at me, I almost felt like she could see the hollow space where it used to be.

Something about her felt different. Colder but more… talkative.

I forced a weak chuckle. "What happened to your hair, Nellie?" It wasn't the time, but the question slipped out anyway.

"I cut it," she replied flatly. "Figured I might creep you out less this way. But first… where is your heart?"

So, she knows she creeps me out. Great.

I hesitated, then squinted at her. "Nellie, why are you suddenly so talkative today? You're not usually like this."

Her eyes flicked toward me, sharp and cold as if the question had offended her. "You've never given me a reason to talk," she said. "You always sit there, quiet, like you're scared of me."

Because you do scare me.

She tilted her head, her dark hair brushing her cheek. "Who took it?"

Her voice was steady but darker now. Even her presence felt heavier.

Oh boy. This is her mad face. Might as well just tell her.

"Some demon took it," I muttered, unsure if I should have said that out loud.

She rose to her feet, not a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She'd seen me in worse conditions, but the fact that I was still breathing—heartless—was a first, and she didn't even blink.

"Nellie…" I called, my voice low. "I know you're going to look for it, but if you find whoever has it, promise me you won't hurt them?"

She turned her face slightly. "I won't… if they haven't eaten it yet. But that also depends on how they handle my presence."

With that, she walked away. Her long skirt brushed the dirt softly, her barefoot steps making no sound. She looked like a shadow gliding over the ruined streets.

---

She drifted between the scattered homes like the ghost she was, her movements slow but deliberate, until she stopped before an abandoned chicken coop. Its door creaked open.

Blood streaked the floor.

Inside, trembling in the corner, sat an old man. His eyes widened in terror, and clutched in his hands… was my heart.

"Are you planning to eat it?" Nellie's voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet.

The man froze.

The heart shook in his trembling hands. "If… if it's the heart you want, take it. I mean no harm, I swear."

"Neither do I," Nellie replied calmly, plucking the heart from his grip without a struggle.

---

She returned quietly, stopping a short distance away, her silhouette dark against the faint dawn light. "Ash… are you still alive?"

I forced my eyes open and nodded weakly. "Yeah… barely."

She knelt down and held the heart up, staring at it. "Now… how do we even fix this?"

"Just… place it there, am sure my body will handle the rest."

When she pressed the heart back into my chest, her hands were so cold it burned. Slowly, my breath returned, and I felt my body stitch itself back together, skin knitting, veins sealing, the wound closing just like my back had.

But all the scars remained. From this life, and from the experiments I'd endured.

Nellie didn't seem surprised. She sat beside me, silent now, her gaze steady as the pale light of dawn spilled over the ruined homes.

---

After some time, soft footsteps crunched against the ground. An old man approached, hesitant.

Nellie's eyes narrowed instantly. "You said a demon took the heart?"

"Umm…" I nodded.

"Well… I found the heart with that man. I think… he followed me back here."

We both stared at him.

He stopped a few steps away, wringing his hands. "Excuse me," he muttered. "Would you… mind coming to my house? There's something I need to talk to you about."

I hadn't expected such an invitation. My stomach growled, it had been two weeks since I'd last eaten. I didn't have the strength to refuse, so we followed him.

---

His house was small and weathered, but surprisingly warm inside. He'd prepared a feast of breakfast dishes, like he was trying to make peace with ghosts.

I didn't wait for an invitation. I dug in.

Nellie, as always, didn't touch her food. Her voice was cold and to the point. "What do you want to talk about?"

The man shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "First… let me apologize."

We both frowned. "For what?" Nellie asked.

"I was asleep when I heard the chickens scream," he explained, his voice trembling. "So I got up to check. Just inside, a demon stood holding something covered in blood, like he wasn't sure what to do with it.

"When he saw me, he sneered, 'Ah… what are you doing here, old man?' smiling wide.

"I snapped back, 'I should ask you the same thing, Drazel.'

"He laughed short, cruel bursts. 'Brought you a souvenir. You should hang it on a frame,' he said, tossing the heart at me before vanishing like smoke.

"I stumbled, fear seizing my bones, and that's when Nellie arrived. But… I couldn't stop myself. I followed her, curious."

---

"So, you saw what happened, didn't you?" I asked, my tone low.

He hesitated, hands twitching. "Yes. I saw… your heart grow back. I saw you heal, like a demon."

Nellie groaned softly.

The man raised his hands, a weak smile on his face. "But I won't tell anyone. I promise."

"The problem isn't telling anyone," I muttered, glancing around. "It's what you think."

His shoulders dropped. "I think… you're just a kid trying to survive."

I stared at him for a moment, then nodded. "Good. You mentioned his name. Do you know him?"

The man's lips twitched. "He's my son."

Nellie's voice cut in, sharp. "Then what do you want from us?"

The man lowered his head. "I just… wanted to apologize, that's all."