♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱
I needed time, I needed certainty, and as much as it was just an extremely vivid dream, I needed to make sure that I didn't alter things too much or that everything would get out of hand.
I blinked a few times in front of the mirror, it was still amazing how attractive Asra was; I had envied her when I first read the book, but now, seeing her delicate face, her naturally pink lips, and the way she looked like she had been carefully drawn... it all made me envy her even more.
Asra could have had any man, demon, or angel, she just needed to want it and still, she preferred death to losing something she never had. Callisto's love.
I sighed and the maids, who rushed into the room, dressed me without delay.
It was obvious that I was scared, after all, Asra was never known for her kindness and charity, much less for her patience and gentleness.
"P- sorry ma'am" one of them stammered as she tried to tidy the hem of my dress after stepping in without me noticing.
I sighed again.
"Don't worry" I spoke simply "just make me as pretty as possible and don't overdo it" this was all I could ask because when Calisto arrived at the cathedral, he would see Elaine, and she would be the very sight of angelic beauty.
Her blonde hair falling down her shoulders, and her almond eyes, were blue as the clear sky. Her white, immaculate skin, as well as her robes, simple as they were, accentuated her beauty.
Elaine was the most beautiful, whether in heaven or hell. There was no competition, but at least I would try to keep Callisto's attention on me.
"You're already in the carriage, ma'am," one of them murmured as if afraid of being reprimanded, and looking to the side in the mirror, I came across one of the young women trying to pin up my hair.
"Leave them loose," I said bluntly and stood up from the chair, "I can't keep the king waiting".
The opinion of those people didn't matter to me, not when Callisto was waiting for me downstairs, not when I could change something, and not when I looked stunning in my walking clothes.
The tight pants accentuated my hips and thighs, the corset outlining my waist, and the delicate sleeves of the black shirt emphasized the beauty of my absurdly pale skin.
"She'll be hours! Let's go at once, you can always apologize later" Azrael was saying at the carriage door "Sir, this is really urgent... It could cause a ruckus, and you know Miss..."
I didn't want to finish listening, because I knew he would say something stupid again, so I hurried to huff as loud as I could, cutting Azrael off from the front of his speech.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting," I said, stopping Azrael from continuing to try to get in my way.
Callisto in turn looked at me with surprise and something that felt like satisfaction.
"Come" he held out his hand to me and I could briefly see a smile on his lips, "you really do look beautiful, although I can't remember the last time you were dressed like this".
I smiled.
Asra never wore clothes like that, especially not in front of the king. She preferred expensive dresses and delicate silks, embroidered with silver and gold, daring necklines, giant slits, and seductive patterns.
They were not ugly, of course not, and since her body was something that attracted Callisto, he didn't dislike what she often wore, but the first time he saw clothes like those on Elaine, he lost his breath and thought that nothing had ever made a woman so attractive when such simple and practical clothing.
I wouldn't let this chance pass me by.
"I'm trying out new styles," I lied, and Callisto pulled me close to sit beside him, close enough for his hand to hold my hip with some force.
"I think your new style is dangerous" he purred "I might want to test how to destroy these pieces, one by one after I'm done dealing with this nuisance".
I smiled.
I wanted to believe that this was what we would do at the end of the day, but I knew it was far from reality.
When he saw her for the first time, he would feel his chest heavy and remember his dead wife, the only being he truly loved. The only one who got his heart.
"I would never say no to you" I replied, snuggling up to him. Callisto's scent was too good to resist, and his touch was warm.
I had dreamed of this touch so many times, so I just allowed myself to enjoy it.
To my misfortune and displeasure, it didn't last long. Soon the damn carriage stopped in front of the cathedral and Callisto's warm lips parted from my neck.
I bit my lip hard, I couldn't be spoiled and asked him to continue, so I just pulled him gently by the collar of the shirt he was wearing and kissed him.
A long, enveloping kiss. A kiss where my tongue invaded his mouth and dictated his every move, a kiss so that he wouldn't dare think about anything but me, at least until he came down and saw Elaine.
"There," I whispered, "now you can go".
He grunted.
"When did you become so unfair?"
I didn't have time to answer. Azrael was slamming the door with an impatient face.
We were there.
Callisto glared at him, but still opened the door hard enough to get out.
"Let's go, sir," the fallen one said, ignoring my presence. Perhaps he had taken my threat a little too seriously.
I should wait in the carriage and stayed away, but I took another risk. The worst answer I was going to get was no.
"If it won't be in the way" I muttered, "could I watch?"
It was obvious that Azreal would deny it. It was obvious that Callisto would deny it, but still, I hoped they wouldn't, and when the fallen man opened his mouth, I heard Callisto laugh.
"Sure" his reply took me by surprise, "but you should stay back, I wouldn't want you to end up getting hurt".
I smiled.
Sometimes the demon in front of me forgot that Asra, in fact, was not only a hellish woman who dedicated her life and loyalty to him, but a witch from a lineage worthy of imposing fear even on someone like Prince Asmodeus.
⋅• ♱ •⋅
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱She was floating above the cathedral, her eyes golden, her body completely covered by the white blanket. It was like seeing Mary herself - the virgin chosen by heaven to bring forth the life of the one who would save all mankind.Elaine was equivalent to Mary, but her beauty was certainly superior.I was not surprised that Callistus fell in love with her, or that he accepted death because he loved this woman. Elaine was like a divinity in a fragile, delicate and mortal body; she was a strong and determined heroine who was willing to do anything to achieve what her God had commanded.I couldn't deny that I admired Elaine. Not only for winning over Callisto - my big literary crush - but also for giving herself to a cause like she did (even if I secretly considered it dumb when the cause was something like religion and ancient, archaic beliefs like hers)."By the 9 hells" Callisto grumbled, and I could see his pink eyes glisten with the anger he felt at that moment.H
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ She was strong, too strong, and I could feel my breathing becoming more and more labored as she lunged towards me again. I would have an opening, Elaine always left an opening when she took an offensive stance - that was the point that Callisto used several times to knock her to the ground, earning us readers a few sighs when they almost kissed. I would use this opening. Was Callisto watching? Was he still paying attention to me? My thoughts were silly, I confess, but I can't say I'm ashamed, because even if it was a dream, it would be nice to be the only source of his interest. The only one he would look at, even if only in a fight. Even if out of self-interest. But if that's what I wanted, I couldn't give in, I couldn't fall, much less let Elaine knock me down or hit me. "Come to me" I muttered almost inaudibly, and I could feel my body heavy and my skin burn as the magic runes appeared, cutting into my flesh. It was the mark of Asra's family, but this dr
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱"You... were you worried?" I couldn't help asking, and Callisto looked at me as if that was the stupidest thing Asra had ever asked him in his entire life.Of course, I should know.Callisto couldn't care less about his concubine, but then... what the hell did it all mean?"You..." he paused, his lips ajar.I smiled."I'm sorry, darling," I said, sitting down on the bed.I should leave."What exactly are you apologizing for?" Her voice was serious again.I didn't know how to answer, this was certainly one of the few answers I didn't have to give him, so I looked to the window for anything I could use. He snorted."Are you apologizing for almost killing yourself? For being impulsive? For..." he stopped and even without looking I could hear his footsteps approaching the bed, "what the hell do you have on your head?""Brain matter and horns" I replied with a smile, turning my face to look at him, but Callisto didn't smile back."I could..." he stopped again."I'm fine
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱He was still there when I woke up, and he was still there the next night and the next.He was always there when my eyes opened, his fingers touching my skin with an almost theatrical care. It was different from history, it was almost the complete opposite, and I could remember Asra's words perfectly.He did not come to see me that night, and the next night he did not come either. After Azrael came to my room and took Callisto with him, I did not see the king for many, many days. At least until I walked through the garden and came across him and a beautiful girl one night with a crimson moon, talking in front of the blood fountain.He was smiling.That was the moment Asra knew that she had lost Callisto. That nothing could bring him back into her arms, because Elaine could give him something she could not: a love beyond physical touch. A love like that of his first wife.Pure, friendly, and that pushed him to be someone better.But Asra could never achieve something
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱Callisto's arms wrapped around my hips."Are you sure you want this?" He asked me, and in his eyes there seemed to be a mixture of doubt and fear.It was obvious why. Asra was trouble, but, besides, I had hurt myself the last time I tried to help. He must have thought that there was nothing I could do without nearly screwing everything up along the way.I sank my face into his chest.I wouldn't give up."Yes, that way you can work, and you won't have to endure Azrael on your foot... and..." I smiled, kissing his chin gently, "you can stay by my side too."He squeezed me tighter in his arms and I knew he was thinking, was really considering, but if I let him leave without giving me an answer, he would ask Azrael and that damned angel would go out of his way to make sure I didn't get involved in anything he considered "serious," like, for example: anything involving Elaine."Please" I spoke getting on tiptoe and sealing the king's lips, "I promise... I won't cause an
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱There were many stories within the world of the novel that I read. Among the various stories, there was one that told about the first love of the demon king. The king of all monsters and the one who brought about the destruction of peace and balance. The one who caused the chaos.Particularly, this was always my favorite story. The one that told in the sweetest way how Callisto - the king of the entire underworld and lower plane - fell madly in love with the purest being ever created.The story said many things about that love, but among them was a truth that would probably never be accepted by the faithful few left in the place where the mortal world had once been: it was not the Black King's fault that everything happened.It was God's."Ma'am?" The maid called me again, and I forced myself to smile."Just prepare it the way you think best, I trust your taste" I spoke finally, trying to get rid of all that and especially something as tedious as caring about the d
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱"Who are you?" the childish voice questioned me, and bluntly, I stared at the little being who was sneaking around the gardens of the emerald palace.What was I supposed to say? It was obvious who this child was, for there, in the midst of hell - children, were rare. As rare as dreamy happy endings.That little boy was Loren, Callisto's son and his one true love until then.The being to whom the king dedicated his life and the reason he opened himself to Elaine. There were even some fans who said that Elaine was not so good and had blatantly used the boy to get closer to the king.At the time, I remember disagreeing and defending the heroine."I am Asra" I replied simply by extending one of my hands to him to help him stand up.The little boy wore black clothes that stood out on his excessively pale skin. There were reddish circles under his crimson eyes, and he smiled briefly as he took my hand."Asra? Like the phoenix that swallowed the deadly sun?"He looked exc
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Calisto ⋅• ♱"He's gone again" Azrael said and I felt my body heavy.What the hell was left to happen?Asra had practically thrown me out of her room after an argument where I couldn't even go against what she said."How can he run away again? What the hell are these maids up to?" I growled, sinking into my chair.Loren had been doing this quite often lately, and I knew in part that this was just a response to my actions, but it didn't get me rid of Azrael.He loved to remind me of this damned fact."Well, maybe...""Shut up" I spoke, interrupting him before giving him a chance to continue, to finish whatever the damn rant was.The truth was that Azrael hated Asra for all the things she had ever done, and I... well... I forgave her and I forgave her, because I know that it is exclusively my fault that Asra is the way she is.I condemned her."You really have no way" he grumbled, and I could only sink further into the chair."He can't have gotten far" I muttered
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Azrael ⋅• ♱I watched her without realizing it, watched until the sun was setting and the barrier surrounding Samael’s plan was thinner, until the rune fragment she sent me was strong enough to enter."Don’t be an idiot," I remembered as my wings throbbed, "there’s no room for kindness, not after all you’ve done, don’t be such a hypocrite".I swallowed hard and a smile easily appeared on my lips when I crossed. It was like a fog touching my skin, a comfortable cold, a feeling I had missed even without realizing it.What the hell was I thinking? What was going on with me?I closed my eyes tightly, but my wings just beat, just took me there, to that breathless breath and that smile that could be felt in her voice when she called me."Azrael!" His arms wrapped around my neck and... had they always been so warm?"I thought you couldn’t come..." whispered her face down to my neck, I could feel her lips arched into a smile "okay? Did you get hurt getting past the barri
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Azrael ⋅• ♱The child began to be able to move gradually, in a way that was still a little time consuming and different from his usual, from the child who ran around and insisted so much to have his little body in that garden.His speech had returned too, his voice was less guttural, more understandable and a smile that was not painful could be seen, one that was not put on that face just because of the melancholy of Callisto."Look! You can move your arms better now" the quartz eyes were flickering as you said that as something equivalent to Loren’s first steps, as if that was some kind of novelty that should be celebrated with various gifts and a party "how is your breathing? Something still burns?" tried to caress that small face as if it was something that would break by any slip on his part.Loren was now like a valuable piece of porcelain, one that could not risk being damaged after being restored."I’m fine, Dad..." the child’s voice was still low when to
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Elaine ⋅• ♱"I like stars," he said while playing with a pearl between my fingers "I like how they look, how they’re bright and beautiful. I like purple, I like how the sun in this world is red, even though here where Samael lives he looks different."Keir smiled, his hands still playing by my hair."What else?" asked me with her face resting on my thighs."I like salty foods, slightly spicy, bittersweet and especially the dessert that the boss of the mansion always makes." The one that looks like jelly with syrup."Pudding? ' She asked me smiling from the corner and I nodded."That’s right, pudding.""Um, um, uh...""I also like pretty dresses, braided hair, flat shoes, delicate swords..." I continued to list "I like hardcover books and slow songs.""And old scrolls? You live surrounded by them" Keir joked, his lips arched in a mischievous smile that made my heart beat."Silly" I hit with my fingertips on his nose."I know, I know" gave up "continue... what els
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Quinn ⋅• ♱His arms wrapped around my body and then everything seemed to be fine.I no longer felt the blood, nor the weight of the souls that I plucked, that I hurt."Everything will be fine" he repeated as a melodic song and if it was Calisto who told me those things... I naturally believed."How can you not like it here?" I asked as I stared at that landscape, the sky, the grass that resembled a red foliage. The stars that always shone in the sky almost always cloudy.Calisto snorted."I don’t know..." he said sincerely "maybe... I just can’t see the beauty of hell when I didn’t have you by my side."A twinge struck my chest, a twinge of happiness and hope."Fool" I mocked wrapping my arms around his neck.I loved that being.He loved his color-changing eyes, loved his foolish way of thinking that the world was more beautiful outside of hell. He loved the way the rebellious waves of black hair he had struggled to unravel around his delicate face.I loved the
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Calisto ⋅• ♱I could not sleep.My eyes weighed and weighed, but I could not sleep - because there, in my arms -, there was a fragile being who did not seem able to open his eyes again.Whenever everything was cloudy and sleep pulled me down, I saw myself awakening in fright and looking at him.Checking.Checking to see if he was still alive, if he was still breathing.It was every day, every second - more complicated to watch, to watch."You should rest," Azrael told me one night, his eyes sharply in pain as he stared at the child, my child."How?" I heard myself ask, Loren’s sleeping face was so pale I had to put my fingers close to her nostrils to make sure he was still alive."Samael is good" he said hoping to console me, but it didn’t work.How would it work?"Then why haven’t we heard from you?" I practically growled, my hands closed in fists, tears burning in my eyes "I sent letters and more letters... I... I did everything I could... I DEMANDED answers a
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Asmodeus ⋅• ♱"Asmodeus is a great...""This time it’s going to work," I said ignoring the voice of that damn demon in my earring as I focused on that crystal, that crystal I was able to form from Quinn’s blood."You’ve been repeating this since...""Shut up" growled tearing the earring from my ear and throwing it at the wall.I wasn’t in the mood to be careful about whether or not I could hurt him or even break his prison.I was just tired.I wanted to see her."It needs to work" I muttered as I imbued more and more magic in that little crystal "work, work..." I kept repeating, as if somehow that was a stupid mantra - strong enough to make everything work; but nothing could be easy when it was for me, right?Nothing worked as it should.I bit my mouth hard, the fangs thrust into my lip until a sliver of blood came down my chin.I couldn’t see her, I couldn’t be with her or protect her. I couldn’t go to her even though time was passing and yet, the least I was a
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Loren ⋅• ♱My eyes weighed, my belly looked strange and at times it was like floating in my own body.I could feel my father’s affection as he tried to talk and distract me, but now even opening his mouth was a complicated task."It’s going to be okay" he repeated and at that point I already knew he was saying it more to himself than to me."I know" I wanted to answer while smiling, but my mouth did not move, in fact, opening my eyes was already a gigantic effort, so I was content to grunt and hold her hand.It wasn’t a squeeze, I couldn’t even call it anything but touch. A soft, almost nonexistent touch that my father should be questioning if it was real.He was sad, wasn’t he? Abbadon should also be, but after I started sleeping more than 17 hours a day, she was no longer there, just Dad.A version of Dad who stared at me with a red face from crying."Do you want to hear a story?" He asked me with a broken voice and I forced myself to smile, forced my face to
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Samael ⋅• ♱I blinked."What was it?" she asked me as she sat in the armchair and the red-eyed duchess stared at me with an raised eyebrow."I did not expect... the two" I spoke sincerely, after all the agreement I had made with Elaine was already a clear way to make the duchess calmer with all that; even so, the sharp gaze of Asra shot me as if my mere mention of her being there was an offense. Maybe it was the result of years on the battlefield, but I knew when I wasn’t able to win a war, so I sighed winning "but since you’re here..." I muttered indicating with one hand to the armchairs - sit down."Where will you start?" Asra questioned, the red hair falling with perfectly braided waves on her back, the sharp eyes staring at me and looking for any sign of flickering in my attitudes or decisions."I’ve been thinking about tears..." I said remembering Quinn, the way he had acted.Since that day, the bastard did not even give me a mere sign of life and Callisto’
♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱ •⋅ Elaine ⋅• ♱Samael did as he said he would, but from the day we arrived at the camellia mansion - a name given by Keir, since the garden was full of camellias -, I did not even see the slightest sign of the priest’s existence, but now, when morning came by the door of our house.The huge smile on his face made me question my own sanity as he said - what was sweet? If you keep looking at me like that, I’m gonna think you don’t like my presence.I opened my mouth to confirm that assumption, but I chose not to."Just... I thought it was too early for you to be here," I lied and apparently that wasn’t one of my best lies, as he just smiled as he drank his tea."Early? We have a lot to study, especially if we want the child to experience one of my theses before dying."I swallowed it hard."Is he... very ill?"Samael laughed quietly."Does it really matter to you?"'No' I realized as I pressed the skirt of my dress between my fingers.My concern for Loren... was mini