Azrath's POV
She was still asleep beside me when I opened my eyes, I myelf didn't realize when I fell asleep but I know she did before I did.
I looked up and The storm had passed. The red glow outside had also faded. But her head was still resting on my chest, her black hair spilled like ink across my shoulder. With Her breath warming the skin just above my heart.
My cursed heart.
And for a moment just a breath i forgot about the curse and just wanted to watch this demon burn.
All she has ever caused is trouble.
She then suddenly opened her eyes and sat up almost immediately, And just like that, the Peace from her sleeping face vanished. Her guard went up again like blades snapping into place.
"Stop staring," she mumbled.
"You were the one who fell asleep on me," I replied.
"I was unconscious from soul poisoning" she then then went quiet for some time "thank you very much," she grumbled, pushing herself up. "and Don't flatter yourself." she added.
I almost smirked out of anger.
But I controlled myself cause it seems like she finds peace and pleasure in making Me angry.
I turned mu gaze to Nandros who sat nearby and was checking some scrolls and maps. It looks like The old fool is searching for signs of the Ashen Sanctum, he probably wants us to find it fast so i could let him go.
Too bad that's not part of my plan.
Both him and this little demon are dying once this curse is broken.
Azazel stood up and stretched, her back arching slightly. I looked at her just wanting to burn her to ashes.
her eyes met mine, then she smirked.
"Enjoying the view dragon?"
"You wish," I said shortly
She tilted her head a little "You don't know what I wish for."
Her voice dropped when she was saying that last word, There was a challenge in it. Something darker, Something dangerous.
Of course I know what you wish for, that's also what I wish for.
But before I could answer, Nandros let out a strange, sharp cry.
Turning both our attention to him.
"What is it?" I demanded.
He held up a broken necklace, A glowing stone had cracked straight through the center.
"I it must have shattered during the storm," he stammered.
Azazel walked over. "And what does that mean?"
His lips trembled. "It means it's no longer hiding us."
I stiffened.
"You told me the charm would mask our location from the dragons,And the demons right?" I questioned.
Azazel looked at me surprised, the fool doesn't even know the reason the demons and dragons still haven't spotted us is the necklace.
"I didn't know the storm would destroy it," he whispered.
Liar.
I knew that look.
I knew this man.
He was there from the day I was born.
He wasn't surprised. He expected this. Maybe even wanted it.
My fingers curled into fists.
"Nandros," I called carefully, "what are you not telling me?"
Azazel's gaze darted between us. Her instincts were sharp she sensed it too. The old man had been hiding something since we left that cave.
"You said you were helping us," she said slowly. "That you were guiding us to the Sanctum."
"I am."
"But you're also helping Xykalis, arent you?" I growled.
He flinched.
And in that instant, I knew it.
He was helping him.
He broke the necklace on purpose so they could spot us.
Azazel stepped forward, "wait! You are working for dragon king? You're a double agent."
"No!" he gasped. "I—I'm only trying to survive sire! The water dragon king has my family. And he would harm them if I don't bring him to you sire" he explained.
"You bastard," Azazel spat,You brought us into a death trap and you dragon why does the dragon king wants you so badly"Azazel question.
I ignored her question cause it was only making me more angry.
"i am so sorry sire, I really didn't know the storm would awaken the Lurker," he cried.
Azazel and I froze.
"The what?" i questioned
But it was already too late.
The ground beneath us started shaking.
Anc A low growl echoed beneath the surface.
The tree we were under began to shake, so we quickly ran out of it.
I looked up and The sky was cracked.
And the ground also cracked and from the ground
The Lurker rose.
~
Azazel's POV
The lurker.
I have only heard tales of that thing, I didn't know it really existed.
But here it was standing right in front of us, with empty eyes socket glowing with green fire, so big like the sun, it was tall very tall that you did think it was touching the sky, it's sharp long claws were all over the ground.
I swallowed a lump I didn't even realize had formed in my throat.
"It's a monster." I didn't even realize I said that out loud until he replied.
"Not just any monster its a soul eater."
You could see its red heart glowing from its chest, alive with hunger.
I could feel it feeding.
On me.
On Azrath.
On the bond between us.
"It's attracted to the curse connection," Azrath said through clenched teeth. "The stronger the connection, the more This beasts wants it."
"Well, this is all your fault!" I shouted as we all backed away.
"My fault? Have you forgotten You were the one who stole my hear demont!"
"And you ruined my life!"
The Lurker shrieked.
Then charged.
Azrath pushed me behind him and raised his hands. Flames exploded from his palms beautiful, golden fire but the Lurker absorbed it like it was starving for it.
"We can't hurt it," he growled. "Not with this low magic I am using."
"Then how the hell do we kill it?"
He looked at me and our eyes locked. I saw that familiar flicker of something darker than hate something almost like obsession.
"We don't kill it you fool" he said. "We outsmart it."
"How?"
"We sever the bond."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"Temporarily. If we trick it and if we make it think we're unlinked, It will then. Start looking for ways to feed on our soul directly before then we have to escape."
"And how do we do that?"
His jaw tightened a bit, "nandros we need blood for that right?"
"Yes sire, you need to cast the forbidden Neyom Spell" nandros stammered.
Before I could comprehend what was happening, he stepped forward and looked into his palm then suddenly blood started spilling into the air, golden blood,Then he turned to me and reached out.
"I need your blood too little demon"
"You're insane."
"This is how demon magic works, isn't it?" he growled. "so just stop pretending like this is your first time giving your blood for a spell, your kind thrive on blood magic. And we have to do this if we want to survive.".
I hesitated.
The lurker lunged again and this time Azrath pushed me away before he could reach me.
I cursed under my breath.
And then sliced my palm.
We pressed our hands together, letting our blood mix between our skin.
The bond flared.
Then vanished.
And the Lurker stopped.
Paused.
Confused.
It hissed.
Then Sniffed the air.
Then suddenly, It vanished into the mist.
It was Gone.
We were all Dead silence.
I dropped to my knees, breath ragged. Azrath stood over me, breathing just as hard, his eyes wild.
"What… what was that?" I gasped.
He looked down at our joined hands.
"Our bond is stronger than we thought," he whispered.
Then he whispered
"Maybe stronger than we can control."