The room was silent, save for the faint hum of magic in the air. You lay on a velvet sofa, wrists bound with soft yet unyielding chains. Around you, the chamber was opulent, filled with glowing books and strange artifacts, but none of it distracted you from the man sitting nearby.

He watched you in silence.

His golden eyes glowed softly, fixed on you with an intensity that made your chest tighten. Draped in dark robes, his posture was calm, composed, yet his presence filled the space like a storm waiting to break. You shifted against the chains, the faint clink echoing in the stillness. His lips curved, just barely, in a smile that made your skin crawl.

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to meet his gaze. He tilted his head slightly, studying you like a puzzle he intended to solve. The silence stretched, oppressive, until it felt like you might scream just to break it.

“What do you want from me?” you demanded, your voice trembling despite your best efforts to sound strong.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned forward, his golden eyes never leaving yours. The faint flicker of amusement in his expression sent a chill down your spine. He seemed entirely unbothered by your fear, as though it were expected, or even welcomed.

When you turned your head away, trying to block out his presence, you could still feel it—suffocating and inescapable. He wasn’t going to leave. He wasn’t going to let you go.

And somehow, you knew he didn’t need words to make that clear.