Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 34: Two different Forces

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Two different Forces

Malakar’s boots barely made a sound against the cold, polished stone floors of the palace as he wandered through the dimly lit hallways. It was well past midnight, and the corridors were eerily silent, with only the flickering torches casting faint glows along the walls. The palace seemed to breathe in the darkness. Its massive pavilions and majestic pillars extend into the darkness of night.

But he didn’t give it a second look. Because his mind was preoccupied with a singular thought: Princess Aurelia.

He had to find out if she was the same witch he had met all those centuries ago or if fate was playing some cruel trick on him. The resemblance was too uncanny to ignore—the face, the aura—it had unsettled him in ways he hadn’t felt in eons.

But it was impossible to confirm during the day. There will be too many eyes and too many risks. And Prince Dorian. He was always watching, always alert, especially when it came to his sister. If there was even a hint that Malakar was getting too close to his sister, the prince would surely intervene.

Vincent wasn’t a fool; he knew when to retreat and advance; he maybe could challenge Prince Dorian, but still he didn’t have the guts to directly confront him. Who knows what will happen to him if his Lord finds out about this? Malakar thought while rubbing his neck. He still remembers that painful day.

That was why Malakar had chosen this particular hour—the dead of night when the palace was asleep, and the shadows provided the perfect cover for his silent search. No one would question his absence at this hour, and if anyone did, he could always find an excuse, though he preferred not to. It was best if no one knew where he was or what he was searching for.

As he turned another corner, his gaze flickered briefly to the grand draperies that adorned the walls, their intricate designs barely visible in the dim light. The path to the princess’s chambers had been easy to find. He had memorized the layout of the palace soon after his arrival—always anticipating the need for such knowledge in case things went awry.

He hummed softly to himself as he moved through the hallways. A slow, haunting melody started resonating through the empty halls. It was a tune that most demons were familiar with, one that carried with it the weight of ancient memories and forgotten times. The sound was low, almost hypnotic, as it echoed off the stone walls, creating an unsettling harmony in the quiet darkness.

But suddenly, he stopped.

Malakar’s eyes narrowed, his senses sharpening as he felt a disturbance—a presence behind him. It was faint at first, like a subtle shift in the air, but it grew stronger with each passing second. Whoever or whatever it was, they weren’t just anyone. The power radiating from this presence was undeniable. Someone powerful and more powerful than him.

For a moment, Malakar’s entire body tensed, his hand instinctively moving to his side where his blade would normally rest. But he hadn’t brought it tonight. There had been no need—or so he thought. He didn’t want to use his demonic power here because it would leave traces in the air, and he didn’t want anyone to find a demon’s presence in the human world.

Slowly, he turned his head, scanning the darkness behind him. His sharp eyes searched the shadows, but there was nothing to see. The presence remained hidden, cloaked in the shadows of the night. Yet he knew they were, watching him silently.

He didn’t speak. Instead, he let his senses stretch out further, trying to pinpoint exactly where the presence was coming from. His demonic instincts flared, warning him that this was no ordinary being. The energy was too strong, too focused.

The melody he had been humming ceased entirely, leaving only the sound of his slow, controlled breathing as he faced the unknown figure in the dark.

Who was following him?

The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity.

But then, as the silence grew heavier, the realization hit Malakar like a blow to the chest. His eyes widened slightly, and he immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head low in reverence.

"My Lord, you are finally here." Malakar’s voice was a strained whisper, filled with a mixture of disbelief and awe.

He hadn’t recognized the presence at first, which was alarming in itself. The power was familiar and yet... different. His heart raced; confusion started swirling within him. The supreme lord of the Demon Realm—the one he had served for eons—was standing before him, but something was off. Something had changed.

The Lord’s aura used to be overwhelming, an ancient and primal force that could crush any lesser demon with its sheer weight. But now... there was a strange subtlety to it. It wasn’t as oppressive, not as all-consuming as before. Malakar could feel it, but he didn’t fully recognize it, and that terrified him more than anything.

He remained calm, his mind racing with questions. How had he not sensed his own Lord approaching? The realization gnawed at him, and a chill crept down his spine.

The Lord had changed.

Seconds stretched into an eternity as Malakar kept his head low, struggling to comprehend what this shift meant. His Lord had been dormant for centuries, and when he had last seen him, he had been in his full demonic glory. But now... there was something different.

"What... has changed, my Lord?" Malakar finally asked, his voice hesitant, almost fearful. He dared not raise his head yet, unsure of what expression he would find on his master’s face.

The power that now radiated from the Lord was still potent, still overwhelming in its own right, but it no longer felt purely demonic. There was something else. Something unsettling.

It was no longer giving the demonic aura. Instead, it felt like there were two very different forces clashing within it, each trying to take control.