It was 8 A.M and the sun pierced through her window into her face.
"Damn it! Windows, by my order, hide your face behind the curtains!"
The curtains quickly closed off and she continued to sleep. But now, she couldn't anymore.
Just then, her door burst open.
"My lady! Wake up," said the maid. "Sleeping for this long is unladylike. Well, I guess you can afford to sleep but from next week—"
"I know I know. I'm getting married in a week from now and I should act ladylike to get favor from my husband which is the King. That's what you were gonna say, right?"
The maid nodded. Then she walked up and drew the curtains back.
"My word, it's so stuffy in here. You need sunlight. Your bath is ready, so feel free to... you had one of those dreams, right?"
Mira didn't answer. Her pale face said it all. She could still feel his cold touch tracing along her face.
The maid came and sat beside her on her bed. "This is why you must get married, Lady Mira! When you do, it shall all stop"
"But..but I... I don't want to get m-married," said Mira, her voice breaking.
"I wish I could help you. Maybe a bath will help you to relax, yes?"
Mira smiled and hugged the Maid. "You're the best, Yara. Thanks for everything. It's a shame I can't take you with me."
A tear rolled from Yara's eyes. "Don't thank me, lady Mira. I'm... I'm only doing my j-job. I'm sure you'll meet better maids than me!"
The maid excused herself out, leaving Mira alone. She fell back on her bed looking at the ceiling.
Her mother had said the reason for this dream is because she's the last unmarried pure Witch, and if she gets married, it'll stop. But the way her mother sounded as if she wasn't convinced entirely.
"I really hate you, demon," she whispered.
But was this truly the only way?
"They just wanted to get me married off, for political reasons, I bet!"
Then she slammed her face into her pillow screaming.
When she couldn't breathe, she threw the pillow from her face, gasping for air. She gritted her teeth in annoyance and frustration.
Why did a demon want an unmarried pure Witch? Why was the demon sealed forever?
Now that it came to mind, her parents never gave her a direct answer.
In her dreams, he called himself Valen, a man of the shadows, hunted by his trauma and grievance, who wanted to be free.
But she was told he wasn't a man, or a human being, but a powerful devil known as a Primordial.
A few days ago, she snuck into her father's library searching for answers in the "Restricted section." She found a book she wasn't supposed to read. It was titled the Book of Demons
The pages described Primordials as pure evil—creatures that stole, killed, and destroyed. Demons that fed on human flesh, that could take beautiful forms to lure their prey. Second only to the Devil himself in power.
"Could they have emotions?" she wondered.
The pages were filled with so-called illustrations of demons, depicting some of them as humans with horns. Some were just ugly creatures and animals.
A page caught her eye: "A sealed demon can only be freed when conditions set by the caster are met. But after a specified period, if the seal remains unbroken, the demon ceases to exist."
The dreams started when she was fifteen, but for the past few months, it had intensified.
Her breath caught. Could it be his... what if Valen's time was almost over?
"I get it now," she whispered. Her chest tightened. "I... I-I'm the key. This marriage would..."
She held her chest. "He'll cease to exist!"