Fated to the Demon

Chapter 1

Claudia

The pickaxe swings down, biting into coal-streaked rock. Sweat trickles down my spine, soaking my threadbare shirt. Another swing, another chunk of coal freed.

"Watch it, Claudia!" Mack's gruff voice echoes through the cramped tunnel. "You're getting awfully close to my section."

I squint through the dim lamplight. "Sorry, Mack. Hard to see down here."

He grunts, returning to his own work. The rhythmic clanging of metal on stone fills the air, punctuated by labored breathing and occasional coughs.

"How's your sister?" Sarah whispers from my left. Her face is barely visible, streaked with coal dust.

"Fine," I mutter, not wanting to draw attention. "Thanks for asking."

Sarah nods, understanding my reticence. We all keep to ourselves down here. It's safer that way.

The air grows thicker, heavier with each passing minute. My lungs strain against the coal dust and stale oxygen. But I can't stop. Not if I want to make quota.

"Water break!" The foreman's voice booms from further down the tunnel.

A collective sigh of relief ripples through the miners. We shuffle towards the main shaft, careful not to bump into each other in the narrow space.

"Here." Old Tom passes me a dented canteen. His gnarled hands shake slightly, years of mining taking their toll.

I take a sip, savoring the lukewarm liquid. "Thanks, Tom."

He nods, moving on to the next person. We don't waste words down here. Energy is too precious.

The break ends too soon. We file back to our positions, shoulders hunched against the low ceiling. My pickaxe feels heavier now, each swing more of a struggle.

"Keep it up, folks," the foreman calls out. "Just a few more hours till shift change."

A few more hours. I close my eyes briefly, picturing Narina waiting at home. It's for her. All of this is for her.

The mines swallow us again, darkness pressing in from all sides. But we keep swinging, keep digging. It's all we can do.

The rhythmic clang of my pickaxe against rock fills my ears, drowning out the ambient noise of the mine. 

"Claudia!" Vic's urgent whisper cuts through the din.

I pause mid-swing, turning towards his voice. "What is it?"

Vic's face looms out of the darkness, his eyes wide with worry. "I need to talk to you. Now."

Glancing around, I make sure no one's paying attention. "Can it wait? We're in the middle of a shift."

"It's about Narina."

My heart skips a beat. I lower my pickaxe, moving closer to Vic. "What about her?"

"I saw something on my way here. A group of dark elf soldiers, roaming the outskirts of town."

The blood drains from my face. "Dark elves? Here? Are you sure?"

Vic nods grimly. "Positive. Full armor, nasty-looking weapons. They seemed to be searching for something."

My mind races. Narina's alone at home. Vulnerable. "Did they see you?"

"Don't think so. But Claudia, they were heading in the direction of your place."

I grip my pickaxe tighter, knuckles turning white. "I have to go. Now."

"Wait," Vic grabs my arm. "You can't just leave. The foreman-"

"I don't care about the foreman," I hiss, yanking my arm free. "My sister's in danger."

Vic's expression softens. "I know. But rushing out there half-cocked won't help anyone."

I don't hear anything else Vic has to say as I run toward the outskirts.

My lungs burn as I sprint through the winding streets, coal dust still clinging to my skin. The outskirts of town loom ahead, and my heart pounds with each step. Narina. Please be safe.

As I round the final corner, my worst fears materialize. A group of dark elves, their armor gleaming in the fading light, surround a struggling figure. Narina.

"Let her go!" The scream tears from my throat before I can stop it.

The elves turn, their laughter cutting off abruptly. Narina's eyes widen as she spots me, a mix of relief and terror on her face.

"Claudia! Run!"

But I can't. I Won't. My feet carry me forward, even as the elves move to block my path. Their weapons glint, deadly and precise.

I lunge forward, aiming for the gap between two elves.

I barrel through the gap, but a gauntleted fist slams into my stomach. Air rushes from my lungs as I double over, gasping.

"Claudia!" Narina's scream pierces the air.

Another blow catches me across the jaw. Stars explode behind my eyes as I stumble backward. The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth.

"Stop it!" Narina pleads. "Leave her alone!"

I blink, trying to focus. The elves' laughter rings in my ears as they circle me. One lunges forward, and I barely dodge his fist. But another catches me from behind, sending me sprawling to the ground.

Boots connect with my ribs. Pain lances through me with each impact. I curl into a ball, trying to protect myself.

Suddenly, the assault stops. I look up to see Narina throwing herself over me, shielding my body with hers.

"Please," she sobs. "Don't hurt her anymore."

For a moment, everything stills. Then rough hands grab Narina, yanking her away from me.

"No!" I reach for her, my fingers brushing against hers before she's torn from my grasp.

Adrenaline surges through me. I scramble to my feet, ignoring the pain screaming through every nerve. My hand closes around a piece of broken wood lying nearby.

With a roar, I swing it at the nearest elf. It connects with a satisfying crack against his helmet. He staggers back, stunned.

But my victory is short-lived. Another elf snatches the wood from my hand. Before I can react, it comes crashing down on my skull.

The world tilts sideways. My vision blurs, darkness creeping in at the edges. I slump to my knees, fighting to stay conscious.

"Narina!" I scream, my voice hoarse and desperate. The world spins around me, but I force my eyes to focus on her terrified face. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

Rough hands seize my arms, dragging me across the rocky ground. My body screams in protest, every nerve ending on fire. I try to dig my heels in, to find some purchase, but it's useless against their inhuman strength.

"Let her go!" Narina's voice cracks as she struggles against her captors. "Please, I'll do anything!"

The dark elves laugh, a cold, cruel sound that chills me to the bone. They don't slow their pace, pulling me relentlessly toward the edge of town. My heart pounds in my chest as I realize where we're headed.

The ravine.

Panic surges through me, giving me a burst of strength. I thrash wildly, twisting and kicking. "No! Narina!"

For a moment, I break free. I scramble forward, reaching for anything of purchase to hold on to, but then I'm yanked back, lifted off my feet. The world tilts crazily as they swing me, once, twice-

And let go.

The air rushes past me. My stomach lurches as I plummet, the ravine's jagged walls blurring around me. A scream tears from my throat, raw and primal.

In that endless moment of freefall, one thought crystallizes in my mind:

Narina. My little sister. I failed her.