Death Defying Book: The Devil Watches

Early Morning Resolve

Darius woke to a gentle tap on his shoulder. The light of dawn filtered faintly through the heavy curtains.

"You should eat now," Lady Aurelia said softly, her voice stronger than it had been the night before. Her face looked less pale, a touch of warmth returning to her cheeks.

Relief flooded Darius's chest as a smile broke through his tired features. "How do you feel now?" he asked, his voice tinged with lingering worry.

"The gods be praised," she said, "I'm much better, my child."

Darius nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat. With a hesitant glance, he rose to his feet and left the room, closing the door gently behind him.

The hallways felt colder than usual, the air almost biting, but Darius paid it little mind as he descended the stairs with his shoulders slouched. The weight of the night pressed heavily on him, and he is lost in his thoughts, depressing thoughts.

"Good morning, Darius," a soft, familiar voice greeted.

He stopped mid-step, turning toward its source. A faint smile lit his face when he saw Angelina standing there, holding a tray. Concern clouded her gentle features.

"How are you? Did you get any rest?" she asked, stepping closer.

Darius offered a small nod. "I'm fine, Angelina. Thank you... for yesterday." His words were genuine, but his eyes betrayed his exhaustion as he sank into a chair by the window.

Angelina didn't respond immediately. Instead, she followed him, pulling a chair to sit across from him. Placing the tray between them, she said, "You should eat."

Darius shook his head. "I'm not hungry." His tone was flat, distant.

To his surprise, Angelina didn't argue. He turned away, gazing at the flickering hearth, only to be startled when a piece of bread was shoved into his mouth.

"Eh?!" he exclaimed, pulling back slightly, but not before the bread found its way between his teeth. He chewed reluctantly. "I said I didn't want to eat... That's so—so unladylike!"

Angelina smiled playfully, breaking another piece. "You should know by now I won't take no for an answer," she said, holding it up.

Darius sighed, exasperated yet oddly comforted. "Fine," he muttered, reluctantly taking the piece from her hand.

"Good," she said, beaming as she broke another.

As he continued eating, the sweetness of the filling caught him off guard. His eyes widened slightly.

"Do you like it?" she asked, watching him eagerly.

"No," he replied teasingly, his lips curving into a smile.

Angelina gasped. "Oh no, I—"

"Don't worry," he interrupted, his voice soft. "I don't like it—I love it. Thank you, Angel."

She exhaled in relief, a blush dusting her cheeks. "I'm glad... I made it for you."

Warmth spread through Darius's chest, a feeling he hadn't allowed himself to embrace in a long time. But as he looked at her, a shadow of doubt crept into his mind.

'Am I even worthy of someone like her?'

"Angelina," he said, his tone serious.

She tilted her head curiously, meeting his gaze briefly before looking away. "Yes?"

"I... I'm a failure of a man," Darius admitted, his voice tinged with bitterness.

"You are not!" Angelina said sharply, leaning closer. "You're amazing, Darius."

He let out a dry chuckle. "Amazing? I've failed at nearly everything. My Aether abilities are weak, and I'm not cut out for beast mastery. The best I can hope for is to be a mediocre soldier or maybe a court official one day."

Angelina shifted her chair closer, her presence warm and unwavering. To his surprise, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a gentle embrace.

"You don't need to be anything more than yourself," she whispered, stroking his hair. "It's you I care about—not your profession, not your strength. Just you."

Her words struck something deep within him, a mixture of solace and guilt.

"And if I can spend my life by your side," she continued, her voice trembling slightly, "then that's all I could ever want."

Darius inhaled sharply, fighting the sting in his eyes. "But what if I'm not strong enough to protect you?"

"Then I'll protect you," Angelina said firmly, her hold tightening.

Darius chuckled weakly, resting his forehead against her shoulder. Something shifted within him—a flicker of resolve that hadn't been there before.

"I'll strive with all my might to be someone worthy of you," he whispered.

"You already are," she replied softly, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes.

A sharp cough interrupted the moment.

They both turned to see Annabelle standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and an incredulous expression on her face.

"What... what were you two doing?" she demanded, her eyes darting between them.

Angelina quickly pulled away, her cheeks flaming red.

Darius smirked, grabbing his plate and cup as he rose from the table. As he walked past Annabelle, he paused by the door, turning to flash her a mischievous grin.

"Hugging my future wife," he said lightly before stepping outside.

---

The Training Grounds

The cold morning air greeted him as he exited the manor, the faint sound of steel clashing drawing his attention.

Near the training grounds, a shirtless man was practicing with his sword, each swing precise and controlled.

Darius frowned slightly, sipping his tea as he observed the figure. Something about the man's movements exuded a quiet intensity, as if each strike carried more weight than it should.

'What drives someone to train like that?' Darius wondered, curiosity beginning to stir, and surprisingly, he felt a sense of familiarity with the figure.

For the first time in a long while, a spark of determination lit within him.

'If he could find his path, then so could I.'

The thought lingered as he continued to watch, the cold morning breeze brushing past him.