Little Doll

Dyvian's POV

I have spent years living in the Underworld, a place of unending darkness where evil flourishes and evil is born, where the cries of the damned blend into a tune that eventually becomes monotonous.

A world in which humans are insignificant, frail creatures with fleeting lives. It’s a place I belong to. A place I love… and yet, a place I’ve grown to loathe.

But no matter how far I wander, I belong to it, just like I now belong here.

Returning to the Human Realm was supposed to be boring. Predictable. Tedious. My intention was to go unnoticed through this fragile world. And yet, all it took was him to shatter my plans.

A single human.

I stood at a distance, watching Theodore, ever the uptight, insufferable little prince, speak to him. Avaris stood stiffly, his shoulders tense, his lips pulled into a grim line, while a whiny man with a ridiculous mustache—who I assumed was his servant—hovered nearby.

“Make sure he stays close to the chambers,” Theodore’s voice carried just enough for me to hear.

That darn little prince. He always made it sound like I was a burden. If he only knew how much worse I could make his life.

After a while, Avaris inclined his head toward Theodore, mumbling something I didn’t bother to catch, before turning and walking toward me.

He walked slowly, as if he were dragging his feet to stay away from me. Theodore remained where he was, his eyes like a dagger piercing the distance between us.

I winked at him, just to rile him up. Predictably, his expression twisted in disdain, his upper lip curling. Ah, he was too easy to toy with.

“Your Highness,” Avaris said, finally reaching me. The man with the ludicrous mustache, quickly bowed beside him.

“I’m Adeus,” the man piped up. "Pleased to meet you, Your Highness."

“He is with me,” Avaris added abruptly, in a clipped voice.

I grinned, taking pleasure in his uneasiness. “Just call me Dyvian, Avaris. Titles are so stuffy, don’t you think?”

Avaris didn’t look pleased. Not one bit.

We entered the chambers of a magnificent villa that might have belonged to ancient kings. The ceilings were adorned with beautiful patterns of silver and gold leaves that glistened in the light of hanging candelabras, reaching impossible heights.

Beneath us were marble floors that were polished to a gleaming sheen, and each room was surrounded by heavy wooden doors and had elaborately carved archways leading to it.

There were guards at every turn. Some of them were mine, vigilant and dark-clad, with unreadable faces. Others were from the Grand Dukedom, stiff in their posture and dull in their eyes, as though their only purpose was to breathe and take up space.

I looked at Avaris, observing how, despite his best efforts to conceal it, his eyes lingered on the villa's splendor.

I pointed to a hallway to the right and said nonchalantly, “You can stay in the room close to mine.”

Avaris’ head snapped up. “Who am I to share the same space as Your Highness?” His words were brimming with controlled contempt.

“Just call me Dyvian,” I said, sounding a little sharper. “I don’t like seeing you so docile.”

His glare could’ve burned a hole through me. Something alive, something defiant, flickered in his eyes, and I smiled.

Adeus bowed his head and cleared his throat. “Young Master Avaris, I’ve packed some of the things you need. I’ll remain close. Please don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”

Adeus then shuffled away, leaving Avaris standing in front of me still looking displeased.

“We need to be close,” I said abruptly, folding my arms as I leaned against the wall. “The bond will drain you otherwise. I’m doing this for both of our sakes.”

Avaris’ expression shifted slightly. His annoyance was replaced by suspicion. “Why have you been nice?” His tone was piercing and inquisitive. “And for our sake? You said it was for your sake the other day. Something changed, didn’t it?”

Smart human.

I looked at him, saying nothing at first. Letting the silence stretch until it became uncomfortable. Then I pushed myself off the wall with a sigh. “Go prepare,” I said. “We have somewhere to be.”

His brows furrowed, and he stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. It’s night, and I have to sleep.”

I arched an eyebrow while a slow grin pulled at my mouth. “Aren’t you curious?” I asked softly, voice like a hook catching prey. “Curious about me, about the bond? I told you I’d find a way to fix it. But for that, you have no choice but to be cooperative.”

He crossed his arms. “Are you threatening me?”

I laughed in a low, derisive voice. “I can’t threaten you, little Doll. It’s just how things are done. You don’t want to feel hellish pain, do you? Or worse—death? And I don’t want to lose my powers. It’s even.”

His fists were shaking at his sides as he gazed at me with a troubled and dark expression.

“Get in and change into something comfortable,” I said, stepping closer. “We have somewhere to be. Little Doll.”

The nickname made him bristle again, but this time, he didn’t argue. He just glared at me, eyes full of questions he wasn’t ready to voice yet.

With his small face and brownish puppy eyes, he did resemble a doll.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But you’re insufferable.”

I grinned. “You’ll get used to it.”