Chapter Two
1604 Words
The Man in Chains
...
“Who are you?”
Elena's voice trembled beneath the stranger's grip.
His fingers were wrapped around her throat, yet he wasn't squeezing hard enough to kill her. It was as if he were holding himself back.
His golden eyes remained fixed on hers.
“Who sent you?”
“No one.”
“Don't lie to me.”
“I’m not lying!”
His gaze sharpened.
“You expect me to believe that a human girl simply wandered into my prison?”
“I didn't wander anywhere!”
Her voice cracked with frustration.
“They threw me here!”
“Who?”
“My village.”
“Why?”
“Because they think I'm a witch.”
For the first time, his expression changed.
“A witch?”
“Yes.”
“Are you?”
Elena stared at him.
“Do I look like one?”
His eyes slowly traveled over her torn dress, bloodied leg, and tangled hair.
“You look like someone who has had a terrible night.”
“I have.”
He released her.
Elena immediately stumbled backward, one hand going to her throat.
She glared at him.
“You could have asked without strangling me.”
“I don't ask my enemies politely.”
“I’m not your enemy.”
“Then prove it.”
“How?”
He looked at her.
“Tell me why you're here.”
Elena hesitated.
She didn't know why, but something about his voice made her feel that he genuinely wanted an answer.
So she told him.
“The mayor's son accused me of witchcraft.”
“Why?”
“Because I hit him.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“You hit the mayor's son?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He tried to force himself on me.”
The amusement vanished from his face.
“He touched you?”
“He tried.”
“And you struck him.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Elena blinked.
“What?”
“I said good.”
She stared at him.
“You're not angry?”
“Why would I be?”
“Most men would defend him.”
“I don't care what he is.”
He leaned back against the stone.
“If a man needs to force a woman to touch him, he is not worthy of being called a man.”
Elena went quiet.
She hadn't expected that answer.
For the first time since falling into the Abyss, she felt a strange sense of relief.
Then she remembered who was standing before her.
“You still haven't told me who you are.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Why do you care?”
“Because you nearly killed me.”
“You're still alive.”
“That doesn't make it better.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“You're quite bold for someone who was terrified of me a moment ago.”
“I am still terrified.”
“Good.”
“That's not something to be proud of.”
“It is when I'm concerned.”
Elena frowned.
“What does that mean?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, his gaze fell upon her hand.
“Touch me.”
She immediately shook her head.
“No.”
His eyebrow rose.
“You're afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Of me?”
“Yes.”
“Yet you gave me water.”
“You were dying.”
“And now?”
“Now you're threatening me.”
“Fair.”
He extended his hand.
“Touch me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because something strange happened when I touched you.”
His eyes glinted.
“Exactly.”
Elena looked at the chains around him.
The dark symbols carved into them seemed to move faintly.
“What are those?”
“A seal.”
“Who sealed you?”
“People I trusted.”
His answer was so cold that Elena didn't ask anything more.
She stared at the chains.
“Can you break them?”
“No.”
“Have you tried?”
“For centuries.”
Her eyes widened.
“Centuries?”
“Yes.”
“You've been here for centuries?”
“Yes.”
She looked around the cavern.
“Alone?”
His expression became unreadable.
“Yes.”
Something tightened inside her chest.
She didn't know why.
Perhaps because she knew what loneliness felt like.
“What happened to you?”
“They wanted my throne.”
“Who?”
“Dragons.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“Dragons?”
“Yes.”
“You know other dragons?”
“I am a dragon.”
She stared at him.
Then at the chains.
Then back at him.
“No, you're not.”
His lips curved.
“You don't believe me?”
“I think you're injured and delirious.”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
It was the first time Elena had heard anything other than coldness in his voice.
“You're amusing.”
“I wasn't trying to be.”
“I know.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said,
“My name is Kaizeren.”
Elena repeated it softly.
“Kaizeren...”
Something strange happened when she said his name.
His gaze lingered on her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“So are you.”
Elena immediately looked away.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“I was curious.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
His smile returned.
“That is dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because curiosity tends to bring people closer.”
“And?”
“And you shouldn't come any closer.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
His gaze darkened.
“Because I don't know what will happen if you do.”
Elena glanced at his chains.
Then at his wounds.
Despite her fear, pity stirred inside her.
She took a cautious step forward.
Kaizeren's eyes followed her.
“Don't.”
She stopped.
“You told me to stay away.”
“Yes.”
“But you also told me to touch you.”
“Yes.”
“You're confusing.”
“I know.”
Elena sighed.
“You really are impossible.”
“And yet you're still here.”
She looked at the lake.
“I have nowhere else to go.”
Kaizeren's expression softened almost imperceptibly.
“Neither do I.”
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, the cavern seemed strangely quiet.
Then Elena looked down.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For saying that.”
“You don't need to apologize.”
She looked back at him.
“You've been alone for centuries.”
“So?”
“So... that's cruel.”
His expression hardened.
“Cruelty is the only thing that kept me alive.”
Elena didn't know what to say.
She looked at his wounds instead.
“You're still bleeding.”
“I've survived worse.”
“That doesn't mean you should ignore it.”
She tore another strip from her dress.
Kaizeren watched her approach.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“Don't.”
“I'm only going to cover your wound.”
“I don't need your help.”
“You're bleeding on the stone.”
“I've done worse things on this stone.”
She frowned.
“That wasn't reassuring.”
“It wasn't meant to be.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Give me your arm.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I said no.”
“Fine.”
She turned away.
Kaizeren watched her take two steps.
Then—
“Wait.”
She stopped.
He extended his arm.
Elena smiled faintly.
“I knew you would change your mind.”
“Don't become arrogant.”
“You started it.”
She gently wrapped the cloth around his wound.
Her fingers brushed his skin.
Kaizeren went completely still.
Elena looked up.
“What?”
He didn't answer.
“Kaizeren?”
His golden eyes were fixed on her hand.
“What?”
“Your skin is warm.”
“So?”
“And your heart...”
She paused.
“It's beating faster.”
His gaze lifted to hers.
“Is that a problem?”
“I don't know.”
She suddenly became aware of how close they were.
His face was only inches from hers.
She stepped back.
Kaizeren's eyes followed her.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
“You're nervous.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you're staring at me.”
“Should I stop?”
Elena hesitated.
“I... don't know.”
Something unfamiliar flickered in his eyes.
Then the seal suddenly pulsed.
Elena gasped.
“Kaizeren!”
He looked down.
A faint golden crack had appeared across one of the chains.
His expression changed instantly.
“That wasn't there before.”
Elena reached toward it.
“Don't touch it.”
“Why?”
“It could be dangerous.”
“But I touched you before.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
He looked at her hand.
“I don't know.”
Elena slowly placed her palm against his chest.
Kaizeren inhaled sharply.
The moment her skin touched his—
Crack.
A golden line spread across the seal.
Elena's eyes widened.
“Kaizeren...”
He stared at her.
His centuries-old prison was breaking.
And for the first time since he had been betrayed, the Dragon King felt something far more dangerous than hope.
He wanted her to touch him again.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD