I paced in my large parlor, watching the fire in my fireplace dance. I watched the flames burn together in harmony, spinning and leaping around each other, like they belonged together.

I grew jealous of the flames.

I turned back to glower at the woman tied to one of my armchairs. She was a nuisance most of the time, but when she was quiet, I couldn’t help but yearn.

I didn’t exactly kidnap the young lady. She came to me, at the verge of death, and I humbly accepted her. I just had trouble letting go.

I sighed and knelt down in front of her, reaching over to brush her hair off her face.

“All I want from you…just one single thing.” I murmured.

“Don’t make this hard for us both.”