The Blackened Thorn

HAITUS.I haven't abandoned this story...actually, I had a major life event that took me away from it for a time; once I opened my notes back up I was dissatisfied with many aspects of it, and found myself COMPLETELY reworking this tale. So I'm taking down the chapters for now, because the new version will retain the core themes, and the driving plot of Elias trying to save his cousin...but everything else will be much more developed, from the setting and the characters, to the interpersonal relationships and lore. This started as something I piddled around with casually, but I've been sucked in more and more, and I think the new version will be much better. Apologies for taking down the original to anyone who enjoyed it; I'm leaving the page up for now, but this will likely have a new name as well once I'm ready to start posting chapters again.

When a young mortal named Elias arrives in Gehenna and is chosen to be a pet - to be trained in the arts of beauty, conversation, music, pleasure...all so that he might one day serve a demonic master - his bold attitude sets him apart. He is expected to submit without question, but Elias is full of secrets, and driven by a secret ambition. Failure is not an option. Everything that this hell has taken from him will be stolen back, even if it kills him in the process.

Asmodeus, Lord of Desire and once one of Gehenna's most powerful demons, finds himself fascinated by Elias. Despite his efforts to remain detached, Elias keeps slipping past his defenses, awakening feelings long thought buried. As intrigues and drama swirl around the two, Asmodeus resolves to uncover Elias's true purpose.

But Elias plays a dangerous game, a gamble with eternal stakes. With sinister forces manipulating from the shadows, Elias must walk a knife's edge between desire and vengeance.

CW: manipulation, power imbalance, age gap, non-consensual situations, torture, self-harm/suicidal ideation, violence/death/murder, loss of autonomy/imprisonment, slavery

Note: this is a M/M / gay romance story set in a fantasy world with dark themes, intended for adult audiences only. Please read the warnings carefully before reading. (If I missed any content warnings please let me know and I will add them to the list.)

This fiction is also being published on Wattpad under the same user name.