"No... I can..." he said to me with difficulty, with his teeth clenched and his entire face contorted with pain."Yes, yes you can," I insisted in a small voice. She is responsible for you being here, for you being what you are.—L-I… I owe…—You don't owe him anything! —I interrupted him—. You are not a slave. Not hers, not Azazziel's. From no one! You can decide for yourself!"It's over," Naamah spoke, with a surly and authoritarian tone. Khaius, that's a fucking order. I want you to kill Amy. NOW!The demon next to me uttered another short cry, while wrapping my arm tighter than before. An anguished hiss escaped me.—Khaius, please …He crouched down to one knee on the ground, forcing me to go down with him. She opened her amber eyes, which seemed to shine with an anger she had never seen in him. And yet, I could glimpse in them the struggle that raged within them.I had to appeal to that side."D-don't obey him, you don't have to," I said in a broken whisper, just for him. You can
-It is a joke! —Naamah let out an incredulous laugh—. You too, Akhliss?"You love dressing like a slut, don't you, Naamah?" —She replied, sketching a smile, as she began to advance towards us—. Cover yourself a little, don't you realize you're hurting my eyesight?"I expected more from you," Naamah muttered."Get away from that girl right now, or I swear you'll regret it, bitch." —Amazement crossed me when I perceived the cold and intimidating tone with which Akhliss spoke."Will I regret it?" I grunted in pain as another tug on my hair forced me to take steps back. Do not make me laugh!From our spot, I was able to hear a couple of low, guttural growls, but I couldn't identify who made them.My breathing accelerated extremely. I wanted to do something, I really wanted to be able to cause him harm, but I was aware that I couldn't, that any blow on my part wouldn't cause him the slightest pain. Plus, the coward was totally hiding behind me.A faint and unintelligible murmur, but this t
My eyelids closed, and suddenly I was no longer in the middle of the altercation between the demons.I was in a playground, full of children around me. My body was not the current one, but rather the one that coincided with that time. I knew the place, I kept it as one of my childhood memories. I was in Seattle, the city where I was born, and I knew it was from the time shortly before we moved. Anthony—the little blue-eyed boy with a big smile next to me—was talking to me and playing with some action figures while sitting on the grass, but I couldn't pay attention to him because I was focused on someone else: a man who was staring at us from behind. the end of the park. A tall man, with very pale skin, dark, tousled shoulder-length hair, who was wearing a long black coat. In that vague memory, I was disconcerted, but not because of his strange clothing, nor because of the interested way in which he looked at me, no.It was because of the intense black color of his pupils.I blinked, a
Curiosity crossed my mind when I saw the change in Akhliss's face; His once confident expression faltered and his jaw clenched. At my sides, the two demons also seemed to react to his words, but I wasn't sure.Naamáh took several steps back from Akhliss, who did not stop her. She directed one last look with those strange eyes at Azazziel, and then at Khaius, a look I could not interpret, before transforming his injured body into dense black smoke. In that instant, that unbearable icy and heavy presence that burdened her atmosphere disappeared with her.I gave a sigh that failed to relax me, and I placed my hands on the ground. For some reason, the fact that he was gone only made my unease grow.I watched as Akhliss dropped to her knees and hit the ground, as if the beating she had given the demoness had not been enough to release her rage."Son of a bitch..." she mumbled between her teeth. If the damn thing wasn't so well known, I swear that... —His sentence was interrupted by a growl
"I'm fine," I murmured reluctantly. It's not serious. I will cure myself at home.—Do you want to stop being stupid? "Him," she asked through clenched teeth and stretched out an arm toward me, but this time I did move away.“I said I'm fine,” I lied, in a voice I didn't recognize as my own. She sounded too hoarse. Too full of feelings...I didn't know what he saw in my face that, for a second, made his stern expression turn surprised, but he composed himself quickly."Amy, you should go rest," Akhliss said.A corner of my lip twitched. In fact, I was so sore and tired that all I wanted to do was lie down and forget everything I saw. However, I also had a whirlwind of thoughts that were torturing my psyche, and I didn't know if they were contributing to the headache.—I don't want to go home yet."It's not up for discussion," Azazziel interjected, his tone sullen. I'll take you home.I stared at the ground to avoid looking at him.—I would prefer not."Hey, leave your jealousy for anot
She remained taciturn even when we managed to leave the park. My heartbeat calmed a little as I caught a glimpse of the tall buildings and cityscape. I was sure that at that time it would take us a while to get a taxi, but the company of the devil managed to alleviate that tiny concern. Nothing could happen to me being next to him. But, like the incessant headache, it was not enough to reduce my frustration.The night ended totally different than how it started.Although it never in a million years would have crossed my mind that Azazziel would be at that party, seeing him there had excited me to a degree I didn't even think possible. And now I regretted it. I couldn't help but wonder if this would have been avoided if he hadn't shown up there. Or if, otherwise, perhaps, it would have been worse.An unknown weight on my chest began to make me desperate, and I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe easily. Akhliss noticed my outburst and put a hand on my back as we stopped on the sidewa
I didn't wait a minute when my shift was over, I left as soon as it was time to do so. I didn't even stop when Diana wanted to intercept me to talk about the "handsome guy who kissed me at the party." I ignored her somewhat—quite—rudely, and ran away from the cafeteria. I was aware that every time she was alone there was a chance that something bad would happen to me, that Mabrax might find me, or that Naamah girl. But if they were both stalking me now, it was preferable for me to do it alone than with my family.I walked through the streets of the center at a calm pace, with my headphones on. The music couldn't distract me at all. The regret for what was happening was still there. Everything continued to pile up and feel like a heavy burden. I was afraid because perhaps Nat had found out something and no longer wanted to see me, I was saddened not to know anything about Khaius or Akhliss. About Azazziel...Because, above all else, I felt very alone.The sky was dyed a dark blue with
-As?-It's not important. —Suddenly, he was right next to me and I saw out of the corner of my eye that he rested his hands on the metal railing that prevented him from falling into the river. It is a less uncomfortable way for you, although not as safe, which is why I don't like it.His answer did not satisfy me, but I let it go.—Have you heard anything from Mabrax?He remained silent, so, after several seconds, I dared to look up at him. The mere sight of his profile made my stomach clench. His jaw tensed, and he remained staring straight ahead, not turning toward me."Mabrax has diminished his participation in every way," he replied in a low, cautious tone. Nobody has seen him, nobody knows where he is. He's hiding from all of fucking Hell and we don't know why.The weight of those words settled in my stomach. I could almost feel the blood drain from my face.—He's planning something. —My voice was barely a whisper. He nodded, even though it wasn't a question. The fear I felt at w