Chapter 23: Chapter 22
Fear was a tangible presence, etched across the faces of the three men. The mere sound of Azrael's words had sent shivers down their spines, leaving them frozen in a chilling moment of dread. Their bodies tensed, and Azrael, with his heightened senses, could practically hear the rapid drumming of their hearts, the staccato rhythm of their terror echoing through the silent, moonlit forest.
The first man, his voice trembling, managed to stutter, "What do you want from us?" He tried to sound commanding but every words that left his mouth gave him out.
"What do I want from you?" Azrael raised a brow followed by a loud chuckle. "Redemption for your wicked desires. I'm here to ensure that the darkness you brought upon yourselves doesn't spread any further." He said leaning closer then whispers. "I am doing you a Favour. A painful Favour."
The third man's face blanched further, realizing the dire situation they had stumbled into. "Please, we were wrong. We won't harm anyone. Spare us!"
Azrael gaze shifted the third man, who at first glance one could confuse for the toughest but seemed to be most terrified as his heart beat the loudest. Azrael's sly grin widened as he leaned in closer to the third man. "Spare you?" he whispered, his voice laden with a chilling amusement. he continued, "I have already given you an heads up remember? You have until the count of ten to run as fast as you can away from here. when I do reach the last countdown, I will hunt you down and when I do…,"He hissed.
"One ..." As he uttered the first number, he suddenly lunged, his iron grip wrapping around the second man's throat, squeezing the air out of him.
In the face of this horrifying grip, the third man's eyes widened, and he bolted for his life, disappearing into the depths of the forest.
The first man who appeared to be the leader of their sinister trio, attempted to step forward to escape, but to his horror, his feet remained rooted in place, as if some unseen force held him there. Azrael's smile widened as he lifted the second man further off the ground. "Leaving so soon?" Azrael asked, his grip tightening around the man's throat, fingers digging into the skin. The man struggled for air, his face turning a shade of purple as panic overtook him.
Azrael whispered an incantation in an ancient tongue, invoking a hint of his vampiric hypnotic power. The second man's eyes glazed over, and his body became unnaturally still. He released his grip, and the man fell to the forest floor, a lifeless statue even though he was still breathing.
The vampire's gaze shifted to the first man, his voice dripping with dark promises as he counted, "Five..." He took deliberate steps toward the immobilized man. The first man watched helplessly, his heart pounding in terror, as Azrael approached, his eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.
Suddenly, the paralyzed first man's face contorted in pain, and he grunted with effort. His struggle to break free intensified as the vampire drew nearer. Azrael's voice filled the air, taunting, "You think you can escape? How entertaining."
The first man continued to strain against the unseen force that held him, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Despite his efforts, he couldn't break free, his body trembling from the exertion.
With a cruel grin, Azrael circled the struggling man, his steps graceful and unhurried. The fear in the first man's eyes intensified, but he refused to give in to the paralysis that held him. Azrael's voice dripped with menace, "You mortals, always fighting against your inevitable fate."
The man's fingers curled into a fist as he tried to land a punch on Azrael. However, as his fist came within inches of Azrael, it froze mid-air, suspended as if time had come to a standstill. Azrael's eyes glittered with a cold amusement as he observed the man's futile attempt.
"Cute," Azrael remarked with a chilling tone, watching the man's efforts with an air of condescension. "But you should know better than to challenge a vampire."
The man's face twisted with frustration, his eyes locked onto Azrael's. His veins pulsed with an intense mix of anger and fear, but he remained helplessly frozen in place.
With an almost lazy grace, Azrael circled the man, his predatory nature on full display. "You see, my dear mortal, you're entirely at my mercy. There's no escape for you now." His voice was laced with cruel satisfaction, knowing that the man was utterly powerless before him.
Azrael eyes bore into the first man's, he seized the man's out stretched hand, frozen fist in his own powerful grip. His vampiric strength was astounding, and with a slow, deliberate motion, he began to twist the man's hand into a distorted, unnatural position.
The man's eyes bulged with terror as he felt his bones snapping and grinding beneath Azrael's sadistic grip. A guttural scream erupted from his throat, echoing through the silent, moonlit forest. The sound was filled with agony and despair, the man's body wracked with unbearable pain as Azrael continued to twist his hand mercilessly.
Azrael leaned in closer, his voice dripping with malevolence. "You should have thought twice before coming here tonight," he hissed, his grip tightening even further.
The man's screams were met with nothing but cold, heartless laughter from the vampire as he continued to torment his prey. "Nine…" he muttered.
Meanwhile, the third man continued running past the thick forest. It was pitch black making it hard for him to know in what direction he was running. Stopping for a moment to catch his breath, his hand rested on a tree. "Ten…" he heard a voice causing him to slowly lift his head up meeting face to face with the vampire he had been running away wearing the same creepy smile.
"Times up." Azreal said.
The man fell to the ground, his head on the floor. "Please have mercy." He begged.
"Mercy? That's a word I do not quite comprehend." Azreal remarked.
Knowing there would be no way out of this, without warning, the man, driven by a surge of adrenaline, lunged at Azrael. His fist was a blur as he aimed for Azrael's face, but the vampire's supernatural reflexes allowed him to effortlessly sidestep the attack. In one swift movement, Azrael grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it with inhuman strength, and sent him crashing to the ground.
Azrael sigh. "I really thought we were getting along." He remarked staring down at the human who struggled on this floor.
Though trembling, the man on the floor was not about to back down. He pulled a wooden stick with sharp edges he had found on the ground. He held it up, and shouted at the vampire, "Get back! I'm warning you!"
Azrael let out a hiss of annoyance, but halted its advance. "You are quite bold, for a human," he said. "Do you really think you can defeat me with a puny stick?"
The man's grip on the stick tightened. "I'm willing to try," he said, his voice trembling.
Azrael regarded him with amused, calculating eyes. "Very well, then we shall see how well your courage serves you in a fight. I warn you, however, that your chances of survival are quite slim." His eyes flashed its golden color and it bared its fangs, revealing the sharp, pointed teeth that glistened in the night.
The man stood his ground, despite the fear that threatened to overcome him. He raised the stick, ready to defend himself. "I'm not going down without a fight," he said, his voice wavering only slightly.
The vampire's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Oh, this will be fun," he growled.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone