Chapter 15: Fading Dreams

Rey

The entire room grew as cold as a cruel night, as silent as a grave. Rage, that hot burning anger was digging its claws deep in my chest, blinding my eyes and clouding my mind. I was no longer before the King, I was standing right in front of my father, and nothing made my rage burn as bright as when my father would deliberately push me into passivity.

I had to swallow my anger and avert my eyes away from the vague figure hidden beneath the the darkest swarming shadows. I could hear him lean back, his finger idly tapping against the black marble throne. I had always wondered what he looked like. Thanatos; the God of Death. Yet again, I was more concerned about the poor souls that caught a glimpse of his surely terrifying appearance before their final trip to the afterlife. He was a truly formidable being and I hated any resemblance I bore to him.

"I believe you owe us an explanation as to why your task remains unfulfilled, Azriel. Has collecting a single human soul proven to be such a challenge for you, son? We are thoroughly disappointed." His scornful tone earned a snicker or two from the crowd that stood behind my back.

"Father," I slowly turned my gaze towards him, "I believe it was my task to pass judgment on the soul, and I found that she did not deserve the tragic fate you decided for her." I could not see his eyes, but I felt his piercing gaze nearly freezing me in place.

"And you decided to keep her chained to a world she no longer belongs to? That, my son, is a fate worse than death."

Avalyn's smile flashed into my mind. Her radiant smile that seemed to illuminate the darkest corners of my heart, a smile that extended to her gleaming eyes and reached deep into her soul. There was indeed a fate worse than death, a fate where that smile would no longer brighten such a cruel world.

"It appears that I misjudged you, Azrael. Unfortunately, you seem rather unfit to perform such a simple task. Because of your failure, we have sent someone in your place to handle the situation; someone who takes their responsibility very seriously."

I could not believe what I had just heard. I opened my mouth but the voice died on my lips. He sent another angel to claim Avalyn's soul.

I got to my feet, both my fist clenched tightly at my sides. I could hear dissatisfaction dripping from each word my father uttered, but it was not his apparent disappointment that worried me, I was more concerned of what was to happen to Avalyn. Rage was once again boiling inside of veins. The air grew dense, almost slowly suffocating me.

I could no longer stay still, and I could feel my control beginning to slip away. I I had to stop myself before I would become what I hated the most about myself. I looked death in the eyes, and even though I could not possibly see him, I knew for a fact he could feel my piercing gaze, my rage that burned hotter than Hell's eternal flames.

"Perhaps there is a fate worse than death after all, father," I could not hear myself over the pounding in my head, over the dark voice that kept running through my mind. "that is our existence." I spat before turning on my heel, there was nothing more to say. I had to do something, and I had to do it quickly.

I paced down the massive hallways before I heard someone following me. I did my best to ignore that person but eventually they caught up to me. I cast a quick glance in their direction and found myself staring into a set of the deepest blue eyes. I stopped, turning to the side to face my older brother. If I recall correctly, he was present in the throne room the whole time.

"That was such a dramatic exit, wasn't it, brother?" He mused, His lips curling to the side. I raised a brow and earned a light chuckle from him. His blue eyes sparkled as brightly as the early-morning sky. Only a tiny cream piece of fabric, carelessly wrapped around his waist, covered his lack of a top. He was the angel of dreams, and he surely looked like one.

"You know, I'm beginning to feel that I got you in so much trouble. Although, it was rather foolish to bring a human here."

"So I keep getting told." I sighed.

Jerahmeel's sapphire eyes softened. He has always been a gentle being, the kindest of the seven of us, and he was always the closest to me.

With a pat on his shoulder I gave him a reassuring smile. "No, it was never your fault. In a way, you helped me, Jerahmeel. For the first time in eternity, I was able to get close to a human, to watch them laugh and cry, to feel their sorrow and fear, and to see their emotions portrayed in their eyes."

"Did you fall for the human girl?" He mused.

I was silent for a brief moment.

"I just don't believe she deserves to die, not yet. Do you know who father has sent in my place? Please don't tell me it's-"

"Samael."

Well, fuck.

I stepped inside the rather dull, depressing room where the bear walls were a sharp contrast to Avalyn's. I could hear nothing but the buzzing of the fluorescent lights in the ceiling and the faint breathing of the human. Carefully, I got closer to her. The rising and falling of her chest assured me that I had fortunately made it in time. She was still alive. I let out a breath that I did not know I was holding.

Slowly, I brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, carefully avoiding any contact with her pale skin. My heart ached at the sight of dark circles around her closed eyes as well as the purple hue of the dry, cracked skin of her parted lips.

I studied her face closely and began to wonder about what she could possibly be dreaming about, what day she was having, and whether she noticed that I was gone.

"You're finally here, Prince Azrael. What took you so long?"

I was frozen in my place, my fingers just mere inches away from the girl's face. I knew that voice, that dark, grating voice that belonged to none other than the most ruthless of all Angels of Death, the seducer and destroyer; Samael. Sucking in a deep breath, I turned around and locked eyes with him.

He was sitting in a chair, legs crossed, with a haughty look on his face that made my blood boil. His russet brown skin glistened in the dim light, and his chin rested comfortably against the palm of his hand. He was in the same attire that I was in, though his was the rich color of blood.

"Stand up, Samael. This is no way to talk to your Prince."

He stared at me before finally deciding to get to his feet. He crossed the small distance between us, his wild grin getting wider with each step he took, until he was standing before me, arrogant, challenging eyes were now fixed on my face.

"Pardon my insolence, your highness. It's just that I was getting tired of waiting for you. "However," he said as his eyes darkened and I could feel how the air around us thickened, "someone who does not respect his duty is no Prince of mine, Azrael."

I took a step even closer until I was towering over the male. Without even a flinch, he stared at me with pure hatred and arrogance clouding his crimson eyes.

"Careful, Samael. I may have allowed a human to live, but I won't promise you the same fate."

He tore his gaze from my face and shot a glance at Avalyn before turning his eyes back to me. A wide grin was now plastered to his face.

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