Azazel's POV
Something changed the moment our blood mixed.
The curse didn't just quiet it seemed like it shifted a bit, Like it recognized something deeper between us now. Like it had been… fed or something like that.
I tried to shake off the feeling as we moved forward, deeper into the broken Deadlands, that leads to the demon realm, But it clung to me, humming in my bones. And the worse part is My skin still burned from Azrath's touch, and not because of his fire.
Because it had felt good.
Too good.
And I hated that more than anything.
He was walking ahead now, silently and unreadable, as usual. But I watched him. Closely.
His strength.
His control.
His command over flame and shadow and silence.
He wasn't just any dragon.
He was something more.
And if u want to kill him and take his heart, And I needed to know what he was.
By the time night fell, we found shelter in the ruins of an old temple because of the shadows that lurk in the night looking for what to feed on, the temple was half-buried in ash and swallowed by vines.
It used to belong the demons, but we abandoned it after the realms were separated.
Nandros sat in the corner like a punished child, wisely keeping his mouth shut. Azrath hadn't killed him but his threat hung over him like smoke.
Azrath stood near the broken altar, i looked at his palm were he cut and flame was flickering in it, casting wild shadows across his sharp features.
I walked over, trying to get him to speak.
"You've been awfully quiet," I said.
"I don't waste words," he replied.
"Well, maybe waste one or two now and then." I crossed my arms. "Like explaining how you knew about all those spells and bloodbinding. Or how you can control forbidden fire like it's second nature. Or how you keep feeling everything I feel, before I even realize it myself, and how do you even know nandros?"
He didn't answer.
He just ignored me as expected
My voice sharpened. "You're not just a traitor dragon are you Azrath?"
I watvhed His jaw tensed.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Who are you really, you already know who I am while I don't even know your full name? What crimes have you committed against your people and realm Azrath?" I kept questioning trying to get him to speak.
"Stop." His sharp voice cut through the air, quiet but lethal.
And that made My pulse jump.
He turned to me slowly, stepping forward.
"You think you're clever don't you demon," he said, with his piercing gaze burning through me. "But you're playing with things you don't understand."
"Then make me understand."
"I'm not your teacher," he growled. "I'm your curse."
By now Our faces were inches apart.
I could feel the heat rolling off his skin.
Every breath, every heartbeat of his synced with mine.
"I don't need you to teach me then dragon," I whispered. "Just stop lying to me."
He stared at me for a long, heavy moment.
Then his voice dropped to a whisper.
"You really want the truth, demon?"
"Yes."
His mouth twitched, as if he was about to say something, confess something.
But then he suddenly pulled back.
"No," he said simply. ".just stay away from me you demon"
I narrowed my eyes. "i won't "
But he was already walking away.
Azrath's POV
I almost told her.
Gods help me, I almost gave her my real name, so she could burn to ashes, so I could finally be free from all her bugging.
But I saw the look in her eyes, it was sharp, hungry, and curious , and thats when the hurtful truth hit me, if this pathetic little demon dies, i will also, and I knew if I told her that truth now, she will weaponize it and use it against me, since she knows she can be able to Harm me.
And I couldn't afford that.
I can't afford being control by a demon.
And i also needed her alive. Close and Controlled.
I have to keep her under control cause She was getting under my skin. And not just because of the bond.
It was the way she challenged me.
The way a lowly demon like her dares challenge Azrath pyrelord.
The way she made me feel weak?
And that was the real threat.
Because no one has ever dared to make me feel weak, apart from my brother Xykalis when he sealed away, and he used the trust I had for him.
I will find a way to get her under control soon.
I clenched my fists.
Cause i won't let her or the bond distract me anymore.
No more slip-ups.
No more weakness.
She wants to play with fire?
Then I'll let her.
But only until she burns.
"Let's continue to the demon realm" I said before I walked out of the temple, not caring about whats lurking outside.
~
Azazel's POV
The last place I thought I'd return to was here.
The Demon Realm.
But this wasn't home anymore.
It didn't feel like home anymore.
Not since I walked away from it to come back with a weapon that could eliminate the dragons, only to end up with blood on my sword and a dragon's curse tied to my soul.
Azrath walked beside me in silence as we crossed into the ruins of the old capital. The sky above was covered in black clouds and red lightning. The wind carried the scent of sulfur and ash. The land had never really recovered from the wars.
And everything was just how I left it.
And i can't believe i allowed a dragon to wlak freely on my land, the thougt of that alone made me felt the urge to just stab a dagger into Azrath's heart.
But I can't do that, not because of the curse alone, but because for now he isn't here for war.
We were here for clues.
"The Temple of Lost Truths, its hidden deep beneath the dark mountains, it's were I studied it has the hold of forbidden scrolls, seer markings, and broken relics from before" I said to Azrath.
"It's dangerous, going to that temple I'd dangerous demon" nandros said quietly.
"I know, but we need to find clues to locate Ashen sanctum, so we have to risk it".
I didn't wanted to talk about the temple at first cause it contains Things even the Demon Queen had tried to erase.
But I knew it might be helpful in some way so I had to talk about it.
Cause If there was any real trail to the Ashen Sanctum, it would be buried down there.
"This place is charming," Azrath muttered with sarcasm behind me. "Did your people decorate it with bones on purpose?"
"Shut up," I snapped. "And don't breathe too loud. If they catch your scent, we're all dead."
"Oh, so I shouldn't set the whole place on fire to announce our arrival cause I really wanted to do that?"
I ignored him.
Knowing even talking too loud might grab the attention of a demon close by.
We walked past the ruins of the western gate, it was ducked through collapsed arches, and it descended into the temple's main corridor. The deeper we went, the colder it got. And Not the cold of winter this was soul-deep, and ancient.
And then I felt it.
The Magic of the temple.
It was Old.
Twisted.
Hungry.
And ancient
"We're close," I whispered.
But He said nothing, but I could feel the tension rolling off him. His magic was reacting to this place like it remembered war.
We walked into the temple, I knew the demons could spot us at any moment cause only the royals had access to this temple.
"We have to hurry" I muttered.
The archives were just up ahead. I could see the old script etched on the walls. There were relics, and shattered tomes, and even powerful blades that belonged to ancient warriors, its evidence of something powerful buried here.
I stepped forward, about to grab a scroll
And that's when I heard it.
A sound I hadn't heard in years.
Cause it was only heard during the times of wars or attack.
The howl of a hellborn hound.
And then Followed by another.
Then another.
"Shit," I hissed, while spinning around. "We're not alone."
Azrath's eyes narrowed, but he was surprisingly calm "What did you do demon?"
"I didn't do anything. They must've felt you. The realm can smell foreign blood."
As if their were summoned by our fear, shadows exploded from the cracked walls. And A dozen of demons emerged, some half-beast, some half-shadow, with claws like obsidian knives and eyes glowing red and black.
They didn't hesitate.
They charged.
Azrath lit up, his fists coated in golden fire as he slammed the first creature backwards, burning it mid-air.
I didn't want to fight my own kind, it felt wrong but if I want to survive I had too.
I launched hellfire from my palms, sending two more screeching into the dark.
But for every one we dropped, three more took its place.
"Their are too many," nandros shouted
"shit!" I cursed.
Azrath yanked me back just as a claw missed my face by an inch.
"We can't win this." nandros shouted
I hated hearing that.
And Azrath too obviously hated hearing it.
But I knew he was right.
"We need to run." I shouted
"I don't run," he snapped.
"Then die," I said looking at Azrath"Your choice, dragon."
He clenched his hands before He grabbed my wrist.
And for once, I didn't fight him.
We ran.
Past burning walls.
Past the ruins of what held secrets and answers, and might know the location of what we are looking for.
We ran through the temple halls with death following behind us, I could hear the snarls, and could feel the heat of claws behind me.
But Azrath didn't let go of me.
He ran like the fire in him had found a purpose.
We burst into the open air just as i turned abd cast a spell on the temple it was then covered in a wave of cursed dark flame behind us. The demons didn't follow past the sacred barrier i cast they couldn't.
But I collapsed to my knees, gasping.
Azrath stood over me, fire still curling around his hands, his chest rising and falling like a beast who hadn't finished the fight.
We didn't find a single clue.
Just death.
But one thing is for sure, there is a clue Inside that temple and we need to find it, which means we have to return to the temple.
But not now.
And now it felt like I owed him my life.
Again.
"I told you this was a bad idea demon" nandros sudden appeared and muttered.
"Next time," I gasped looking at Azrath "let me die."
He looked down at me.
And said something that made my blood and entire body freeze.
"I can't little demon"