West Kingdom – The Home of Mama Dories*
Ani lay still on the soft bed, her face pale, her breath shallow. For a moment, the air shifted. The grip of darkness loosened. Her eyes fluttered open with a gasp, and she jolted upright, drenched in sweat.
"W-Where… where am I?" she stammered, her voice shaky.
She stumbled toward the door, heart pounding, disoriented but determined. She made her way down a narrow hallway and into a warm, humble kitchen, where a kind-looking woman stood stirring a pot.
Before Ani could speak—before she could even warn the woman—the darkness inside her surged. A deep, cruel voice echoed within.
*"Where do you think you're going?"*
Ani froze. Her hands trembled as her face twisted into a smirk not her own. The prince of slavery had taken over again.
The woman turned around, noticing Ani. "Oh, you're awake!" she said, relief washing over her face. "Thank heavens. I was worried. You passed out at the gate. Poor thing."
She walked toward Ani with a warm smile. "Come, sit down. I made soup. You must be starving."
Ani's lips curled, but not with gratitude. It was the demon now, wearing her face.
"Where am I?" Ani asked coolly.
"You're in the West Kingdom, child," the woman replied. "Safe and sound."
Ani—rather, the prince—tilted her head. *West Kingdom.* That was all he needed to hear.
"And where are you from, dear?" the woman asked, kindly.
"I don't know… ma'am," Ani replied.
"Oh, don't call me ma'am!" the woman chuckled. "Call me Mama Dories. Everyone around here does."
"Alright, Mama Dories," the demon responded, his voice layered beneath Ani's.
Mama Dories smiled, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Now go on, take a bath. I prepared hot water for you. You stink."
She left the room laughing softly to herself.
Ani—no, the prince—remained still, her eyes narrowing as she watched the woman disappear.
*"This body is weak,"* the prince of slavery muttered under his breath. *"But it will do for now. I don't need to switch hosts—not yet. First, I gather intel. I must know every crack in this kingdom… before I strike."*
She turned toward the hallway, her steps slow and calculated. The demon had entered the West… and now the clock was ticking.
*INSIDE THE NORTH KINGDOM *
Nathan—still under the possession of the Prince of Deception—wandered the cold stone streets of the northern kingdom, cloaked in rags. He looked every bit the homeless traveler, unbothered by his appearance. It was all part of the plan. The demon needed information. Access. And for that, he needed to blend in.
A girl passing by glanced at him with pity. "Are you alright?" she asked softly.
Nathan didn't respond. He kept walking, his eyes fixed on a small bar tucked between two watchtowers. A place like that? Full of gossip, drink, and loose lips. Perfect.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The smell of smoke and spice filled the air.
"What'll it be?" the bartender asked, drying a glass.
"Something strong," Nathan replied, his voice low.
"I've got just the thing for you," the bartender said with a wink, already reaching for a dark bottle behind the counter.
Nathan sat at the bar, watching the room quietly as his drink was prepared. Moments later, the door burst open and a group of young, loud men stormed in, laughing and cheering. They wore pieces of armor and carried weapons with polished insignias—they were newly minted soldiers.