Chapter one Breaking free.

Author’s Note

This short story dives into the backstory of my new character for an upcoming Dungeons and Dragons campaign. It’s not for the faint of heart—I delve into some pretty dark and twisted territory here. If you’ve read my other work, you already know what to expect. Avery’s journey isn’t a clean one, and her world is as brutal as she is.

Enjoy the chaos, and remember: this is just the beginning.

Prologue

Manipulation is easy when you know your victims. But when your target is a fae, it’s almost effortless—especially with the power of a deal. I found her stumbling through a market of shadows and whispers, a young, lost pup of a girl. Barely eighteen, eyes wide and hopeful, clinging to the frayed edges of innocence as she hunted for her missing parents. She practically radiated vulnerability, a naive little thing caught in a world that was always going to eat her alive. And me? I was the perfect predator in disguise.

We had chemistry, the kind that makes sealing a pact feel like second nature. I dangled the promise she craved: I’ll help you find them. She hesitated, her gaze wavering between suspicion and the kind of hope that only comes when you’ve run out of other options. I could practically see her thoughts, weighing the risk, but in the end, desperation always wins. They always choose the devil when they’ve got nothing left.

She didn’t flinch when she learned what I was. That was a surprise. Most would run, or at least try to bargain for some other way out. But not her. Avery was different, capable in ways I hadn’t expected. I held up my end of the deal and reunited her with her parents, and when the moment came to collect my due—to bind her as my foot soldier, my attack dog—she didn’t resist. There was no fight, no sobbing plea for mercy. Just a strange, knowing smile, like she’d been waiting for this moment, like she’d seen through every layer of my game from the start.

She simply watched me, eyes glinting with something I couldn’t quite read. Not fear, not anger. Something else. It wasn’t submission, but acceptance—with a twist. As if she had plans of her own. And in that moment, I realized that I hadn’t just found a pawn—I’d found a partner in the dance of manipulation. And maybe, just maybe, she was playing me as much as I was playing her.

Chapter One: Breaking Free

"Like hell you are!" Avery screamed, her voice brimming with fury and fear. She tugged at her bindings, writhing against the leather straps that cut into her skin, each frantic movement a desperate bid for freedom. Her heart hammered in her chest, a relentless drumbeat of panic that drowned out everything else. She could barely breathe, the air thick and stifling as her torturer loomed closer, eyes gleaming with sadistic satisfaction.

He had told her they were done with conventional torture. She hadn’t broken, hadn’t uttered a single word about her patron’s name. They had burned her, cut her, pushed her to the edge of death and back, but she hadn’t given in. Now, he promised something worse, something she hadn’t anticipated, and that terrified her more than any knife or flame. But they didn’t understand—this was more than a battle of wills. She wasn’t just defying them; she was defying her, the one they could never reach, the one whose name would stay locked behind her teeth.

Her torturer grabbed a knife from the table, his grin widening as he sliced open the front of her shirt. Avery’s eyes blazed, not just with rage but with something deeper—an untapped, primal fury that simmered beneath her skin. She braced herself, waiting for the inevitable pain, but then everything changed. The room grew colder, the shadows deepened, and time seemed to stutter and slow as Andromeda appeared.

Not in the flesh, but as a shimmering astral projection, her form flickering between reality and the ethereal. Andromeda’s presence filled the room, commanding, dark, and utterly unearthly. She moved like smoke, her eyes locking onto Avery with a blend of frustration and something that almost resembled concern.

"Goddamn it, Avery," Andromeda’s voice rang out, echoing off the stone walls. "I’ve given you the power to free yourself from this. You just have to use it." Her tone was sharp, cutting through Avery’s defiance like a blade. "You’ve held out longer than I expected, but now isn’t the time to play martyr. Use the gifts I’ve given you."

Avery’s defiance wavered, exhaustion pulling at her every word. "Even if I wanted to, I’m tied down to this table." Her voice was barely a whisper, each syllable dragged from the depths of her dwindling strength.

Andromeda watched Avery’s resolve falter, her expression darkening. She couldn’t afford to lose her most promising tool, not now, not like this. If Avery broke and gave up Andromeda’s name, the consequences would be catastrophic. But killing Avery wasn’t an option. Andromeda’s mind raced—there had to be another way.

"You’re going to use those gifts, and I’m going to set you free," Andromeda said, stepping closer, her form wavering like a mirage. She drew a knife from her side, its blade glinting with a cold, dangerous light. "But it’s going to cost you."

Avery glared, suspicion flashing in her eyes. "What do I have left for you to take? Look at me. You’ve taken everything already."

Andromeda chuckled, a sound as cold as ice cracking in the dark. "You’ve still got your secrets, your thoughts. I’m going to give you another gift, but it’s going to cost you your privacy. Every thought, every sight—mine."

Avery’s brow furrowed, a flicker of hope cutting through her confusion. "What does that even mean?"

Andromeda held up a small, glittering gem, its surface shifting with a sinister light. "This little beauty will let me see what you see, hear what you hear. A direct line between us."

Avery was desperate. She didn’t trust Andromeda, didn’t trust this so-called gift, but the need to escape outweighed her doubts. "Fine," Avery snapped. "Whatever it takes, just help me get out of here."

Andromeda’s smile was cruel and knowing. "Oh no, Avery. This isn’t some trinket you wear around your neck. Hold still. This is going to hurt like hell."

Before Avery could react, Andromeda slashed beneath her left eye, cutting a sharp line into her skin. Avery clenched her teeth, refusing to scream as Andromeda pressed the gem into the wound, the sharp sting replaced by a burning sensation as it settled under her flesh. Pain flared, intense and immediate, but Avery had endured worse. She would endure this too.

Satisfied, Andromeda slashed through the straps that held Avery down, her astral form flickering as she began to fade. "Kill that son of a bitch," she hissed, her voice echoing in the air. "And bring me what I want."

Part 2: Payback

Time snapped back into motion for Avery. Her jailer leered at her, too preoccupied with his own twisted intentions to notice that her hands were no longer bound. His voice, rough with arrogance and lust, filled the dim chamber.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn’t going to—"

Avery didn’t bother listening to the rest. Whatever he had planned for her no longer mattered. She felt a fierce surge of energy explode inside her, a dam breaking open and unleashing a torrent of raw, untamed power. Dark magic, sharp and electric, flowed through her veins like molten metal, setting her nerves ablaze and sharpening her senses.

Without hesitation, she thrust her palm forward, her movements fueled by fury and desperation. Dark tendrils of energy coiled around her arm, and with a violent thrust, she slammed her hand into his chest. The force of the blow was immense, sending him hurtling backward. Bones snapped, stone cracked, and the sickening sound of his body colliding with the wall reverberated through the room. He collapsed in a crumpled heap, lifeless, blood pooling beneath him like a dark, blooming flower.

Avery’s gaze swept the room, her eyes landing on the twisted array of instruments that had been used to torment her. She raised her palm again, summoning her newfound strength. A short sword, gleaming and deadly, answered her call, flying into her grip as if it had been waiting for her all along. With swift, decisive movements, she slashed through the last of her bindings, the leather straps falling away. She stepped down, her bare feet meeting the cold, unforgiving stone.

She moved with purpose, her steps echoing with the weight of her newfound freedom. Circling her jailer’s body, Avery felt a dark satisfaction swell within her. His face, frozen in shock and pain, stared blankly at the ceiling, and Avery couldn’t help but smirk. She didn’t need his screams or pleas—his silence was victory enough.

I didn’t want to kill him yet, Avery thought, feeling the residual power still thrumming in her veins. But I can’t complain about the results.

Andromeda’s presence lingered, a dark whisper at the back of Avery’s mind, urging her onward. This wasn’t just about survival anymore; it was about reclaiming her power, about exacting her revenge one agonizing step at a time. With Andromeda’s watchful eye still upon her, Avery felt unstoppable.

She snatched up the keys her jailer had left carelessly on the table, her fingers wrapping tightly around the cold metal. The sound of the key turning in the lock was a sweet, liberating symphony, one that she had longed for during countless nights of pain and silence. The door swung open, creaking on rusty hinges, and she stepped out of her cell, free for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

The corridor stretched out before her, dimly lit by flickering torches that painted the walls with dancing shadows. The air was thick, laden with the scent of blood and decay, a suffocating reminder of the suffering that had taken place here. Avery’s senses were heightened, every nerve alight with anticipation and the promise of vengeance. The stone walls, stained with the remnants of past torments, bore silent witness to her resolve.

Avery’s steps were sure, her bare feet slapping against the cold stone, each stride a defiant act against the place that had sought to break her. She moved cautiously, ears straining to catch the distant clinks of chains and the low murmur of guards who remained blissfully unaware of the storm that was brewing. Dark magic hummed beneath her skin, coiled and ready to strike at the slightest provocation.

As she made her way deeper into the fortress, Avery’s thoughts sharpened. She wasn’t just escaping; she was on a mission. She had endured this hell for a purpose—the artifact, the object of her patron’s desire. It was close, almost calling to her, a faint pulse that resonated with the dark power surging within her. She tightened her grip on the sword, her eyes narrowing with determination. No one would stand in her way.

Then a voice, slick and mocking, cut through the darkness. “Avery, my dear… I’ve just been to your cell. What did Cameron do to deserve such a gruesome fate?” The voice was rich, dripping with condescension, each word drawn out like he was savoring every syllable.

Avery’s muscles tensed. She knew that voice. It was Darius, the overseer of this miserable place, one of the masterminds behind her torment. He stepped out of the shadows, his presence suffocating, a blend of arrogance and barely concealed malice. Avery turned slowly, her grip tightening around her sword as she met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest.

Darius continued, his voice bouncing off the stone walls with cruel amusement. “How did you manage to break so many bones in his much larger body, hmm? A small thing like you… it’s almost unbelievable.” He strolled closer, his expression one of feigned curiosity, though the wicked glint in his eyes betrayed his delight.

“Did you finally accept the dark gifts, Avery? Embrace what your patron offers? Are you finally becoming the warlock you were meant to be?” His words were a mix of scorn and excitement, as if he had been waiting for this moment, eager to see her transformation firsthand.

Avery’s anger flared, her magic surging at the provocation. Darius had seen her at her lowest, watched her suffer, and now he had the audacity to taunt her. She felt Andromeda’s influence within her, a constant, insistent whisper urging her to unleash the full extent of her powers. But Darius’s presence, his smug confidence, only fueled her fury.

Avery took a slow step forward, her expression hardening. “What I am, what I choose to be, is none of your concern,” she said, her voice cold and venomous. “But if you’re so eager to find out, why don’t you come closer and see for yourself?”

Darius’s smile widened, eyes gleaming with twisted anticipation. “Oh, Avery,” he murmured, almost affectionately. “This is going to be fun.”

The tension crackled between them, the air thick with the promise of violence. Avery and Darius stood on the precipice of something dangerous, both poised to strike. Avery’s heart raced, her power bubbling just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed. She was no longer the broken prisoner he had known; she was something else entirely now, and Darius, for all his arrogance, had no idea what he was up against.

With a furious snarl, Avery lashed out, a surge of dark energy shooting from her hand in a wild, uncontrolled blast. But Darius was ready. He sidestepped with a fluid, practiced motion, his staff swinging up in a wide arc. Before Avery could react, her sword was knocked from her grip with a resounding clang, and Darius was upon her, closing the distance with terrifying speed.

He struck her hard, his boot slamming into her chest, sending Avery sprawling to the ground. Pain exploded through her ribs as she hit the cold stone, her vision blurring. Darius loomed over her, triumphant, his expression twisted with delight as he kicked her again, harder this time. Avery’s breath was torn from her lungs, agony spreading through her body like wildfire. But beneath the pain, anger and fear ignited something fierce within her—a desperate, unrelenting will to survive.

Gritting her teeth, Avery raised her trembling hand, dark magic coalescing at her fingertips. The air around her crackled with power, and Darius’s smug smile faltered as he felt the shift. Avery’s magic surged, manifesting as a swirling vortex of razor-sharp energy. It wrapped around Darius like a whirlwind, blades of darkness tearing into him with relentless fury.

Darius’s screams filled the corridor, a cacophony of agony as invisible blades slashed through his flesh, ripping and tearing with savage precision. Blood sprayed in all directions, staining the walls as Darius was shredded by Avery’s unleashed power, his body reduced to nothing more than a tattered mess of flesh and bone in seconds.

Avery lay on the cold ground, gasping for breath, the toll of her magic leaving her drained and shaking. She stared at the blood-splattered floor, her mind reeling from what she had just done. The power she wielded was wild, unpredictable, and now that it was free, she knew she had to control it—or it would consume her entirely.

Slowly, she pushed herself up, her limbs trembling as she steadied herself. Darius’s remains lay scattered before her, a grim testament to the force she now possessed. There was no time to dwell on the cost of her actions. The artifact was still out there, calling to her, and Avery knew that her fight was far from over. The corridors of this fortress had seen her broken, but they would also witness her rise.