Garden Of Poison

Bound in the room, Anastasia struggled to free her feet with the help of the thorns, which moved back and forth along the ropes. However, progress was slow. After a few hours, the door suddenly swung open, and in stepped the man who had previously ordered her to be thrown into the sea.

Wasn’t he supposed to be imprisoned in the dungeon? Anastasia asked herself, noticing the thorn attempting to pry her free had moved away from her.

"My, my my." The Vizier clicked his tongue at the thorns projected towards him. "In the beginning, I kept wondering why Dante avoided every other woman but you. Because, you see, archdemons don’t have soulmates. It took me a while to realise that, unlike me, who never experienced birth, he was born as a lowly earthling, with his demonic self suppressed. And I finally figured it was your doing."

Unaware of the Vizier’s true identity, she asked, "How did you escape from the dungeon? Where is Dante?"

Anastasia saw Noor standing outside the room, watching her with a resentful glare. She then heard the man reply,

"In Versailles, searching for you like a mad man." Magnus chuckled, seemingly enjoying the idea of Dante’s plight. He removed his glasses from his face and said, "We have spent so much time together, yet you look at me as though I am a stranger, Anastasia. When all I wanted to do was become better acquainted with you, especially after what you did to me." He crushed the glasses into dust before their remnants dispersed onto the ground.

Anastasia turned stunned and whispered, "You are the demon..."

Magnus used his fingers to sweep his side-parted hair backwards, and he offered her a maddening smile that was capable of unsettling anyone. "Looks like you finally figured out who I am." Looking around the room, where the thorns continued to thrive, he added, "You have built quite a fort here."

When Magnus touched one of the thorns, his skin sizzled, as if he had touched molten lava. He laughed before questioning her, "You think you are safe in this? Think again, Anastasia." He turned to where Noor stood and ordered, "Bring Alrad here."

Feeling worry and nervousness creeping under her skin, she asked, "Why am I here?"

Magnus clapped his hands, his smile ever-constant, which appeared crazy in Anastasia’s eyes. He said, "Now that you ask, the curse that you placed upon the three demons weakened me, even though I never set foot inside the coffin you designed for me. I have been waiting for Dante’s arrival, but then I realised, I can make use of you too, along with him. You know, one stone, two birds. All I need is for you to be restored to your former power and strength."