Bab 14: Burning Emerald

Rey

I could see the massive castle looming on the horizon. Built of the blackest obsidian, it stood proudly against the blood-red sky, seemingly floating amid thick, stale air, a scene that I had witnessed -and grown tired of- for centuries now. Immediately, I thought of the human that I had carried here and how horrified she must have felt upon seeing my father's castle.

She felt so small and fragile in my arms and I could remember her lustrous emerald-green eyes, shining brightly and staring right back at me. They were overflowing with clashing emotions, emotions that were mostly foreign to someone like myself, they were full of regret and eagerness, sorrow and contentment, of life and... death. My chest clenched at the thought. As much as I hated to admit it, the human was slowly changing me.

Eventually I stopped at the gate and felt my leather armor immediately hug every inch of my body, feeling like a second skin. In all honesty, I had come to enjoy my human form. Although I very much struggled with finding a fitting attire at the beginning, I actually ended up feeling quite comfortable in the loose-fitting and plain clothes, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

I shot the guards a quick glance and was greeted with a long, deep bow. I sighed and gave them a small nod before stepping inside. It had always been like this. Whenever I tried to make the smallest of conversations with anyone, they would end up bowing in reverence, or worse, they would just fake-laugh at my lame jokes.

Sometimes, I truly envied humans; they could either be everything in the whole world, or nothing at all. A man could be the most powerful leader, but at the end of the day, he would just slip off that power and go to bed as a nobody.

I was almost at the door of my room when I heard a feminine voice calling my name. I paused for a brief moment then turned around.

"Aniela." I tried to mask the annoyance in my voice with the small smile that tugged on my lips. She crossed her arms tightly against her chest, her heels tapping impatiently against the carpeted floor; a typical Aniela behavior. Her auburn hair glittered as brightly as the mighty flames of hell. The female was truly a seraph; a heavenly being that burned with a fiery blaze of passion.

The young woman shook her head with a sigh escaping her rosy lips. She walked over until she was standing right before me, her eyes burning with something that I had seen countless times.

"Where have you been?" She asked, a frown planted on her face.

"Listen Aniela," I could feel my voice soften, "you are a dear friend of mine, but trust me when I tell you that it is simply none of your business." I stated.

"You've been spending time with her, I know that. We all do," I could feel ice dripping from each word that left her lips. "I don't care, I really don't, it's just that the King has asked for you, and you couldn't even begin to imagine how embarrassing it was for me to tell him about your foolish, outrageous antics." Aniela snared.

Was he already back? The king, the ruler of the netherworld, the God of Death; my father. I was gone only for one day, but I had to remind myself of how differently time flowed in the Netherworld. I cursed under my breath and turned my gaze away from Aniela, choosing to focus on one of the painting that hung peacefully against the wall, I remembered her, Avalyn, with the black cascading curls that almost fell to her waist, strikingly attractive features, and her green eyes that only spoke the language of the soul, emotion.

Seemingly noticing how my attention drifted away from her, Aniela growled, "I just can not understand why you're so obsessed with that girl, she is just another lowly human, a dead one for Heaven's sake!"

"She's not dead."

"Well, she should be!"

I flashed her a cold look and could almost see the shiver that ran through her body. Her cheeks were now the exact reddish hue of her hair and her piercing gaze was all but glued to my face.

"Go bother someone else, Aniela." I said as I turned around and pushed the door open. I heard her mutter something under her breath before the sound of her heels tapping aggressively against the floor echoed throughout the hallway. I let a heavy sigh escape my lungs once I was back in the room. I then proceeded to walk to the large window that overlooked the entire city from afar. Raising a hand, I wrapped my fingers around the metal band that sat peacefully around my head before tossing it to the side, there was a loud clunk as the metal hit the floor.

'She's not dead.'

'Well, she should be.'

The words had hit me like a hundred daggers, Avalyn was supposed to be dead. It was why I was sent to the human realm in the first place. However, ever since she carelessly bumped into me that day, I could not get her out of mind. There was something in her eyes, an emotion lurking behind those emerald orbs that was somehow alien to me. It was not fear; I've seen it countless times in the eyes of the dying. It was not happiness either, only a few humans were glad to see me, as if they had been waiting for far too long, as if I was truly their one and only salvation.

Not Avalyn, though. There was a challenge in her eyes, a desire to keep going, to live. It was only then that I began to understand why Jerahmeel sent me there. With her faded t-shirt that clung to her wet skin, her black hair that was partially sticking to her face, she looked a mess. Yet, the fire in her soul was evident.

I tore my attention away from the stained glass when a knock at the door broke the comforting silence.

"My Prince, the King is asking for you." I heard a guard state.

Of course, he was.

It was not long until I stood at the massive entrance to the throne room where I was confident an audience was awaiting me. I ran a hand through my hair and straightened my posture. The two guards that stood before me nodded in my direction.

"Wish me luck." I scoffed before they pushed the doors open.

The crowd's voices died in the air as soon as I entered, the whole space fell silent. I walked across the room, their burning gazes following me and tracing every inch of my body. I could hear their indistinct murmurs and faint whispers, but I chose to ignore them.

I eventually stopped right before the throne and got to one knee, bowing my head slightly.

"Father..." I spoke quietly before glancing up at the God of death. The darkest of shadows obscured his figure, with nothing visible but his hand.

"Where is your crown?" His dark voice filled the air and I could not help the cold shiver that ran down my spine. I cursed internally before the metallic band materialized around my forehead.

"I believe you are done with the task I bestowed upon you, son."

"No, my King. I would greatly appreciate it if you gave me more time."

"More time, you say." I heard the crowd snicker in amusement, but I paid them no mind.

"Perhaps you are not worthy of such a task after all." I could feel the rage begin to bubble inside of me, but I said nothing. I was reckless, perhaps, but I was no fool to argue with the God of death.

"Aniela," I heard him call her name and she was suddenly right next to me, "is what you said true?"

"Yes, your majesty. The Prince seems to enjoy the company of a lowly human, his highness has even brought her here without permission. I am afraid that he is choosing to neglect his duties for a nobody like that human."

I glared at her, "Is that because I won't fuck you, Aniela?" I spat.

"Azrael!"

I could have sworn that the floor trembled beneath me.

"Do not forget that you are in the presence of your King!"