MAD END'S DECEPTION
Sakiah Zee
Through tear-blurred vision, she saw a figure emergeβa man walking toward her, the fire parting in his wake. His eyes and claws gleamed gold in the firelight, and black and gilded scales covered his face and body, reminiscent of a serpent. But something more specific hovered at the tip of her tongue.
His beastly form slowly faded, leaving a beautiful man with warm skin and firm flesh behind.
βHelp me,β she croaked. βI don't rememberβ¦β
βAnything?β the stranger asked, his voice deep and ominous.
βOnly my name. Araheen,β she whispered, her lips trembling.βWhat happened to me? What is this place?β
βYou fell behind the Mad End's Wall.β
A shadow of a smile crossed the stranger's lips, though it was far from reassuring. Before she could dwell on it, he slid his powerful arms beneath her, lifting her effortlessly as though she weighed nothing at all.
βWho are you?β she asked, feeling small in his grasp.
He studied her with an enigmatic gaze before replying, I'm Gildeon.β A pause.βYour husband.β