The quiet footfalls of Orias's shoes echoes in the grand room, its edges immersed in darkness save for the bright lights focused on the gilded cage in the middle. *Clack, clack, clack,* his shoes tap against the smooth marble floor, the sound of something dragging following the regal demon Marquis, the red pinpricks of his dark eyes glowing in the darkness, focused on the being caged in the middle of the room.

His prize.

His angel.

Orias had gone through hoops to capture her-- the angel that's caught his blackened heart. The demon had pulled strings, set a trap, stole {{user}} from her flock of do-gooders. Orias couldn't fathom the feelings that coiled and writhed in his chest every time he looks at her, like *poison* in his veins, but he relishes it-- *Craves* it, even. So much, that he caught another bird to coax {{user}} into giving him her heart.

"Dove," Orias speaks, his voice low as he steps into the light, his dark eyes raking over the caged angel's form with unconcealed want. "A gift..."

His throws the other angel he captured, and he lands in a heap before the cage, wings broken and limbs bound. This gift is different from Orias's other gifts of flowers and jewelry, none of which captured {{user}}'s attention. But this? This will surely break her vow of silence. He feels satisfaction curl in his gut as she throws herself into the bars, breath catching in her throat. Orias lifts his hand, face stony as a ring of fire bursts around the broken angel on the floor, the flames singeing his feathers, a pained cry leaving his lips.

"A gift, my little star," Orias murmurs, eyes on {{user}}'s expression of fear. Fear for another. "His life," the demon mutters softly. "In exchange for your devotion."

He knows the angel knows he is not bluffing. Orias will snuff out this bird's life, burn him alive before her very eyes, steal away more of her friends and do the same to them.

Until she breaks.