Taken by the Demon King and Forced to Become His Queen

Chapter 7

I'm in a freaking castle.

Victoria's eyes darted nervously as she followed Nicholas. She'd been shocked at first seeing the enormous castle. It had an ominous feel to it that made her skin crawl.

The interior may have been beautiful once, but was now dark and cold, dim lanterns lighting the vast hallways. Nicholas led her to a set of tall double doors, opening them for her and gesturing her into an unlit room.

"Your bedroom," he informed her.

"Thank you." The room was too dark for her to make out anything more than a few pieces of furniture and a massive four poster bed. She eyed the bed with trepidation, her stomach fluttering.

"I do apologize for not lighting a fire." Nicholas walked further into the room, brushing dust off a side table. "The master requested it be so. He has also requested that the lights remain off."

"Why?"

"He is concerned that his appearance will frighten you. He doesn't wish for you to see him yet."

Victoria swallowed nervously, placing a hand over her fluttering stomach. What did he look like? Her mind conjured up image after image. Was he deformed? What would he feel like? Cold and slimy, or maybe scaly like a snake? She cleared her throat. "When will I be meeting him?"

"Shortly," Nicholas confirmed.

"I'm...really nervous," she admitted bashfully.

"I understand." He pressed his lips together before exhaling loudly. "I have orders for you from the master."

Victoria blinked up at him, her heart stuttering.

"He would like you to undress and wait for him on the bed," Nicholas instructed. "No clothing, Victoria. He would like you to kneel on the bed facing the back wall. You are not to look at him under any circumstances. Do you understand?"

She nodded, her breathing uneven.

"Do not turn on the lights." Nicholas softened. "And try not to be too frightened. Just relax. And don't run, it will only excite his inner demon and he will catch you."

She thought she might faint. "What if I can't do this?"

"If you truly believe that I will inform the master."

But then what? What would happen to her father? "What will he do, if I say no...during?"

Nicholas gave her a stern look. "I truly don't know, but his inner demon may not give him the ability to stop. You must be sure, Victoria. Can you do this?"

Biting her lip she thought fast. She'd brought herself to this point, knowing full well what it meant. Even still, she'd never allowed herself to dwell on what would happen to her after the auction. If she had she knew she would have chickened out.

Now she was here, and it was all coming into focus. Did she run or did she face her fate?

Pursing her lips she nodded. "I can do it."

"Very well." Nicholas gave her cheek a pat before leaving the room, shutting the doors quietly behind him. She stood alone, in the dark, dragging in ragged breaths.

Oh god, this was really going to happen. She was in a strange castle, in the middle of nowhere, about to be taken by a demon.

"Holy shit." Pacing in a circle she shook her wrists, fighting to remain calm. She could not afford to go into panic mode now. This was her choice.

She could do this. She had to do this!

With trembling hands she undressed, shivering as the cool night air hit her skin. I can do this, I can do this.

Feeling her way through the dark she managed to climb onto the bed, remaining on her knees and facing the back wall as instructed. "Maybe it won't be so bad," she whispered into the darkness. Either way it was going to happen.

Clenching her hands into fists over her knees she waited, fighting every instinct to run. Normally she would feel self-conscious, naked and exposed like this, but her fear and nervousness squashed all other emotions.

Her mind raced, minutes ticked by. Her heart felt like it might beat out of her chest.

The doors opened and closed softly.

Oh god, he's here.

Tensing she squeezed her eyes shut, even though the room was too dark for her to see more than shadows.

The hairs on the back of her neck pricked as she sensed a presence directly behind her.

A deep, feral growl sounded in the dark.