Chapter 1: Wish Granted

Morning arrived with violence, as it always did. Ben’s calloused hands shook her awake, his fingers digging into her shoulders with enough force to leave fresh marks. The bitter smell of his morning coffee breath assaulted her senses as he leaned in close, his face contorted with its usual morning rage. “Get up you worthless piece of trash. I’m going to work and this house better be spotless.” When she didn’t move quickly enough, his hand cracked across her face like lightning, the sound echoing off the bedroom walls. The sting spread across her cheek , tears welling up in her eyes.

She lay there, holding her throbbing cheek, listening to his heavy footsteps storm through the apartment until the front door slammed with enough force to rattle the windows. The silence that followed was deafening.

In a realm beyond mortal comprehension, Malachai stood before his father, their forms shrouded in shadows. “Before you go down to grant her wish, I’ll need to show you a condensed version of everything she has gone through up until now. That way you can understand her and fulfill her needs.”

“Ok dad, I’m ready.” Malachai’s voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed his apprehension.

The images that played before him were a nightmare gallery of human cruelty. Lia’s body had become a timeline of abuse – fresh bruises layered over healing ones, creating a twisted rainbow of pain across her skin. The footage showed her carefully applying concealer in front of mirrors, her hands shaking as she covered each mark, a ritual performed with practiced precision born of necessity.

Nights were a symphony of muffled sobs while Ben sat in his private room, the blue glow of his computer screen illuminating his face as he watched other women perform for his pleasure. Lia’s pain meant nothing to him – it was simply background noise to his evening entertainment. The footage showed countless moments of her pressed against walls, cornered like prey, enduring his rage for infractions as minor as a misplaced sock or a delayed meal.

“Ok Dad, I’ve seen enough. I’m ready to change her life.” Malachai’s voice carried an edge of steel now, his determination evident in every syllable.

“Good luck. If you need anything, I’m here.” The father-son embrace was brief but meaningful before Malachai disappeared in a shower of obsidian sparks.

He materialized In the apartment, finding it heavy with the scent of cleaning products and despair. Lia was in the bathroom, her knees pressed against the cold tile as she scrubbed at imaginary stains, her soft sobs echoing off the porcelain. With a casual wave of his hand, supernatural energy swept through the apartment. Dust vanished, surfaces gleamed, and every trace of grime disappeared. Then he settled onto the couch, his tall frame elegant against the worn fabric, waiting for her to discover his presence.

When Lia emerged from the bathroom, her face was flushed from exertion, wisps of dark hair clinging to her damp forehead. Her eyes widened at the impossibly clean apartment, fear immediately flooding her features – fear that quickly transformed into wonder as she noticed the striking figure on her couch. He was everything the forum had promised and more: tall and elegant in a perfectly tailored black suit that seemed to absorb light, with diamonds winking at his cuffs like captured stars. His hair fell in perfect waves past his shoulders, but it was his eyes that held her captive – pools of liquid sapphire that seemed to glow with their own inner light.

“Who are you?” The question escaped her lips in a breathless whisper. He moved with supernatural grace as he approached her, taking her hand in his. His skin was warm, almost hot to the touch, as he brought her fingers to his lips for a gentle kiss that sent electricity racing through her veins.

“I’m Malachai. You summoned me.” His voice was rich velvet, wrapping around her like a warm embrace. Their eyes met, and she found herself drowning in those impossible blue depths. “You don’t need to say anything. Just sit with me.”

She sank onto the couch beside him, and his arms enveloped her. His lips pressed against the crown of her head, and for the first time in years, she felt her racing heart slow not from fear, but from a growing sense of peace.

“When he gets home, he won’t be able to hurt you anymore. I’m going to send him through a portal where he will be tortured in the shadow realm for eternity.” His words carried the weight of an unbreakable vow.

“Really?” Tears spilled down her cheeks, but these were different from her usual ones – these held hope.

“Yes sweetie. No one will ever hurt you again. I’ll make sure of it.” His fingers were gentle as they brushed her hair back, his lips warm against her forehead. The tenderness of his touch made her shiver.

“Thank you,” she whispered, offering him a genuine smile.

“No need to thank me. I’ll have your soul in exchange. I’m going to enjoy spending eternity with you. Treating you like a queen.” His words should have frightened her, but they felt like a promise of salvation.

“Why did you answer my wish?” She burrowed deeper into his chest, inhaling his sweet vanilla scent.

His arms tightened around her, his chin resting atop her head. “My dad showed me everything you went through and I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve that and I’m here to be the man you deserve. I’m here to shower you with love. I’m here to make your dreams come true.”

The moment of peace shattered as a key scraped in the lock. Her heart launched into a familiar panic, but Malachai’s presence remained steady. “Shh princess, I’m here. Just get behind me.” He rose to his full height, positioning himself between her and the door like an avenging angel.

Ben burst in, his face twisting with rage at the sight before him. “Ohh so you cheat on me while I’m gone. I don’t care. I’ve been cheating on you this whole time anyways.”

Malachai’s movement was fluid as he closed the distance between them. His supernatural height made Ben look like a child in comparison, his 6'7" frame towering over Ben’s modest 5’5”. “I’m not her side piece, you worthless excuse for a human, but I will be her king and I’m going to treat her the way she deserves to be treated.” His hand shot out, fingers wrapping around Ben’s throat with supernatural strength, lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.

Something snapped inside Lia at that moment. Years of suppressed rage burst forth as she approached her tormentor. With all the force she could muster, she drove her foot upward, connecting solidly with his groin. His face contorted in silent agony, unable to scream through Malachai’s iron grip.

With a casual wave of his free hand, Malachai opened reality itself. A portal of pure darkness appeared, edges crackling with otherworldly energy. He hurled Ben into the void like discarding trash, the portal sealing behind him with a sound like thunder.

Ben’s scream echoed through the infinite darkness as he fell, tumbling through nothingness until he finally crashed into the bottom of the shadow realm. Massive figures emerged from the gloom – the orc guards, their misshapen forms a nightmare made flesh. Their leader, Cyrus, approached with a whip that seemed woven from darkness and pain itself, metal chains interlaced with wicked thorns. The first lash tore through ben’s shirt and flesh alike, his screams lost in the vastness of his eternal prison.

Back in the apartment, Lia stared at the spot where the portal had been. “Where did he go?”

“A place where he will be tortured forever for the things he’s done to you.”

“Good.” Their smiles mirrored each other, hers tentative, his assured.

“For now, why don’t you rest? You can nap and not worry about anything. I’ll be right here when you wake up.” She chose the couch over the bedroom, unable to face the bed she had shared with her tormentor. As she drifted off beneath a soft blanket, Malachai began his work.

The apartment transformed under his power. Every trace of Ben vanished like morning mist. A new king-size bed materialized in the bedroom, dressed in sheets black as night and piled high with pillows that promised comfort. He erased every painful memory embedded in the walls, replacing them with fresh energy and possibility.

Her sleep was interrupted by a nightmare, her body jerking awake in panic. “Shh sweetie, it’s ok, it was just a bad dream. You are safe.” His arms encircled her immediately, lips pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek.

“I’ve never been safe before.” Her voice cracked with emotion.

“You will always be safe now.” Another kiss, this time to her forehead. “I got rid of all his stuff and got us a new bed.”

“Us?” The question held equal parts hope and nervousness.

“Yes, when you are ready for it.” He watched her heart rate quicken, a smile playing at his lips. “You will fall in love with me.” His confidence was both terrifying and thrilling.

When she looked down, unable to meet his gaze, his touch was gentle as he lifted her chin. Their eyes met, and then his lips were on hers, stealing her breath with a kiss that felt like coming home. When he pulled away, she trembled.

“Wow.”

“Did you like that?”

She bit her lip, a gesture that made his eyes darken. “I loved it. He never kissed me.”

“Well, I’ll kiss you anytime you want, sweetie.” He claimed her lips again, drawing a soft moan from her that made him chuckle and hold her tighter, his supernatural warmth seeping into her bones.

“Are you hungry? I can feel your tummy grumbling.”

“Yes, I haven’t eaten all day.”

“What is your favorite meal, sweetie?”

“Chicken and cheddar broccoli rice.”

“Ok, I’ll make you a nice dinner. Just sit and relax.” Another forehead kiss, and then he was in the kitchen. A snap of his fingers summoned ingredients from thin air. Soon, the apartment filled with aromas that made her mouth water – herbs, spices, and the promise of a meal made with genuine care. She watched him cook, still unable to believe how dramatically her life had changed in a single day.

The kitchen now boasted a new table that had appeared as mysteriously as everything else. He served her with flourish – perfectly seasoned chicken cut into bite-sized pieces, steaming rice that smelled of sharp cheddar and fresh broccoli. A glass of rich red wine completed the setting. Their glasses clinked together in a toast to new beginnings.

A strange sensation against her leg made her jump. “Oh, are you playing footsie with me?” She giggled, then looked down. Instead of a foot, she found something else entirely. “Ah!”

He caught her hand, thumb stroking soothing circles across her knuckles. “I forgot to mention I have tentacles and a tail. I won’t use them to harm you.”

“Ok, just please warn me next time.”

“But that ruins the surprise.” He chuckled.

She frowned playfully and took a bite of her food, pretending to ignore the tentacle that continued its gentle caress against her leg, though secretly, she was beginning to enjoy this new, strange form of affection.

The clink of silverware against plates filled the dining room as they continued their meal, Malachai’s tentacle occasionally brushing against her ankle like a silk ribbon In the water. Meanwhile, in the shadow realm’s depths, Ben’s torture continued unabated. His blood painted abstract patterns across the cold concrete floor, each droplet a testament to his crimes. His screams bounced off the ancient stone walls, creating a haunting symphony that pleased his tormentors. “Please, I’m sorry,” he begged, his voice raw and broken from hours of screaming. Cyrus’s twisted smile revealed rows of sharp teeth as he brought the thorned whip down precisely between Ben’s legs. The resulting shriek echoed through the dungeon’s labyrinthine corridors, a sound that would have shattered glass had there been any.

Back in the apartment, Lia set down her empty wine glass, the crystal catching the soft overhead light. “That dinner was delicious.” Her words carried the warmth of contentment and just a hint of wine-induced mellowness.

“I’m glad you liked it, sweetie.” Malachai rose with supernatural grace, gathering the dishes. The wine had left Lia’s head pleasantly fuzzy, and when she attempted to stand, the room swayed like a ship at sea. Before she could stumble, Malachai’s leather tail wrapped around her waist with gentle precision, drawing her against his chest. The fabric of his suit felt cool against her flushed cheek.

“I told you no surprises,” she murmured, her words slightly slurred, though there was no real annoyance in her voice.

“You almost fell. I was helping.” His grin was playful, dimples appearing in his otherworldly perfect face. The warmth of his body seemed to seep into her very bones. “I’m kind of tired. Could I go to bed?” Her eyelids felt heavy, the wine and emotional day taking their toll.

“Sweetie, you don’t need to ask to go to bed. I’ll get you there safely, then I have some matters to attend to, ok?” His kiss on her forehead felt like a blessing, warm and protective. They made their way to the bedroom, his arm steady around her waist.

The bedroom had transformed into a sanctuary, nothing like the prison it had been that morning. “I laid out some new PJs for you. I hope you like them.” On the bed lay folded pajamas in the softest shade of pink, like cherry blossoms at dawn.

“I love them! Thank you!” Her embrace was spontaneous and full of genuine gratitude. His arms enveloped her completely, his hands making soothing circles on her back. She pressed her face into his chest. Time seemed to lose all meaning as they stood there, connected in that perfect moment.

“Ok honey, get ready for bed and I’ll be in shortly to tuck you in.” His voice rumbled in his chest before he disappeared, leaving behind a trace of warmth where he had stood.

Alone in the room, Lia shed her clothes down to her underwear, noticing how the bruises that had marked her skin were already beginning to fade, as if Malachai’s presence was healing more than just her heart. The pink pajamas felt like wearing a cloud – soft, warm, and impossibly light against her skin. Each movement sent ripples of comfort through the fabric.

The new bed welcomed her like an embrace as she slipped between the silk sheets, their cool touch a delicious contrast to her warm skin. The mattress seemed to know exactly how to cradle her body, supporting every curve perfectly. Malachai materialized beside the bed, his movements graceful as shadow. With tender care, he tucked the blankets around her, creating a cocoon of safety and warmth.

“Goodnight, sweetie pie. I’ll see you in the morning.” His lips brushed her cheek like a butterfly’s wing, and she drifted off to sleep with the lingering sensation of his kiss, feeling truly safe for the first time in years. The last thing she noticed before sleep claimed her was the s

oft scent of lavender and vanilla that seemed to emanate from the pillows, lulling her into peaceful dreams.