Chapter 8 Chapter Three Part Four - Orenda
Not a moment later, I feel my entire body become rigid. An intense, overwhelming wave of energy comes over me almost knocking me off my feet, and it takes all of me to remain standing. I can feel it approaching like a cold, dense fog skimming across the water and cloaking the land with a cloud of unease. I’d know that feeling anywhere. A feeling I should loathe and shiver at, but I don’t. It makes my body feel alive and my essram rejoice in ways I can’t begin to explain. It feels like a black hole sucking me into its depths, and never have I wanted something so much in my whole life. As disturbing as that thought should be, it brings me nothing but comfort.
I look to the end of the ballroom, my heart skipping several beats as that energy intensifies. A moment later, the grand double doors are pushed open, and stepping over the threshold without a single care is none other than Azadou himself.
The God of Malice.
The Demon God.
My animai.
His bright purple eyes glance around the room with ambivalence as he takes slow strides, guests quickly stepping out of his path with trepidation written all over their faces. Everything I know about him tells me I should fear him, but all I feel is joy and excitement to finally see him again. His 7’9” muscular frame screams danger, but my eyes are drawn to the jet-black three-piece suit he’s wearing that clings to his body so perfectly and in a manner that makes me irrationally jealous. Voluminous, shoulder-length hair blacker than the blackest black, frames his face making his eyes appear deep and more intense. His matching beard and goatee look so soft and follow the perfect structure and sharpness of his jawline, accentuating his cheekbones to the point I yearn to reach out and touch them. The closer he gets, I’m able to notice his crocodile skin loafers that fade from a deep purple to black with a decorative tassel, and I can’t help but smile. His attire says strict, unenthusiastic and threatening, but the shoes tell me there might be a playful side lurking under his imposing exterior. If only he’d let me get close to him.
“Azadou, what a pleasant surprise,” Zarseti greets warmly as he comes to stand in front of her.
“Surprise? You? I find that unlikely,” he says boorishly, his deep bass voice sending chills down my spine as I feel it vibrate through my stomach.
Hang on…he’s right. That’s why she’s here! She foresaw his appearance and came to keep the peace. I knew she wasn’t just eager to see her bonds take form, although I’m sure much of that was true. But then…if she knew he would come…is that why my brother and I were begged to come?
“I’m glad you came. You have as much a right to be here as anyone else. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for unification,” she says hopefully.
He snorts with cynicism, “I didn’t come to make friends. I just figure I’m overdue for a party since I’ve spent thousands of years buried in the ground like the dead family pet.”
“What is it you want, Azadou?” I hear Oshmin suddenly announce. He reluctantly lets go of Yildiz and makes his way over to them, standing at Zarseti’s side. “We don’t want to fight with you, but we will if we have to,” he warns.
“Oshmin,” Azadou greets, eyeing him up and down only to begin laughing almost maniacally, “I see Jartre finally lifted your curse. I must say, I’m surprised. I didn’t think he had it in him.”
“It seems his animai has been a positive influence on him,” Zarseti says offhandedly, but her words only seem to anger Azadou as he glares at her with disdain.
Azadou steps back and begins to slowly look around the room, but never once does he even appear to notice me. Does he really not realise I’m here? Can he not even sense me?
“Look at all of you. All here seeking to be placed under the spell of a God. You gather like cattle, eager to be brainwashed by the power she possesses. I deeply sympathise,” he says with mock sympathy, placing his hand over his heart.
“I doubt you’re capable of sympathy,” Alpha Amelia snorts, surprising me and causing wide eyes to look at her in fear and awe. I can see why she was named Alpha Ambassador.
Azadou turns his attention to her, a surprised though intrigued look on his face. He walks towards her, bringing him closer to me and sending that cold chill through my body that only excites me further, like feeling ice being trailed down your overheated flesh.
He comes to stand in front of her, analysing her with curiosity, “So this is what an Alpha looks like. You’ll be happy to know you’re my first. Mutolupus’ didn’t exist back in my day.”
“Keep getting in her face like that and my animai will be all too glad to show you what a real Alpha is like,” Luna Marcus taunts confidently, sliding his hands into his pockets as he stares down the God before him. I can’t help but be stunned. Is this what it means to be an animai? To love and trust someone so deeply that it cancels out all fear in the face of a God?
Azadou chuckles in amusement, “Oh, it’s not her Alpha Spirit that intrigues me.” He leans down to Alpha Amelia’s level but doesn’t get too close and I feel myself breathe a sigh of relief at that. “You can’t hide your malice from me little wolf. I can smell it buried deep inside you, almost overwhelmingly so. I’ve never met someone who could carry so much hatred yet bury it so deep like it doesn’t even exist. I wonder, does it cause you pain?”
“Just because you sense something doesn’t mean you understand it,” she says calmly.
He smirks, “How much of that hatred is directed at me, I wonder. After all, you lost pack members because of me, didn’t you?” he says with a malevolent smirk.
His words set off whispers around the room, but Amelia and Azadou just continue a staring match of wills.
“I don’t hate you, Azadou; I don’t even know you. Yes, we lost people. I lost people I loved more than you could ever know, and I feel sorry that you don’t understand what it means to love someone so much that their death causes you that kind of pain. But no one murdered my family or my pack members. They died fighting for what they believed in, and sometimes bad things just happen. So, I don’t fear you or hate you. I pity you.”
The room gasps and I can see the tick of anger in Azadou’s jaw. His eyes begin to glow brightly, and I know in my heart of hearts this won’t end well for the Alpha.
I quickly jump between, placing my hand on his chest, “Stop,” I calmly implore, locking eyes with him.
The glow of his eyes dims as they widen in fear, his head whipping to look down at my hand on his chest. He stares at my hand almost frozen in place, the seconds passing between us feeling like an eternity as I fight to keep my breathing steady even though I can hear my heart pounding in my ears. The fear in his eyes is quickly replaced with confusion and astonishment, and as he finally looks up and his eyes meet mine, that impassive mask returns to his face. We stare at each other, the air between us feeling frigid yet electrified, all at the same time. He says nothing, and I wish now more than ever that I could know what he’s thinking.
I step closer, closing the space between us, our eyes never breaking contact. “Please, stop. It doesn’t have to be this way,” I say softly.
I see his eyes assess me carefully, his thoughts unreadable on his face. This is the first time I’ve ever been able to touch him and even though there is a veil of fabric keeping us apart, it’s a relief to just be this close to him. To be within his orbit again and feel the connection between us. I take a breath and breathe in this indescribable musk that fills me with desire yet inexplicable comfort.
Yearning to feel his skin on mine just once, I reach up to caress his cheek as my eyes take in his breathtaking features, but before my palm can graze his cheek, he disappears. My hands drop and I stare at the empty place where he stood, my heart fracturing in two as that energy that filled the room and engulfed me with a feeling of completeness, vanishes. I feel the tears coming but I refuse to let them come to my eyes.
“Orenda, are you alright?”
I look up to see Oshmin, standing beside me with a compassionate look on his face. I nod, unable to articulate the right words and not wishing to be called out for lying by every irshiust in the room.
“Excuse me,” I mutter.
I feel everyone’s eyes on me as I walk across the ballroom and out onto the balcony. I gasp in the sea air, letting it fill my lungs as I rest my hands on the stone railing fighting the urge to break down.
I was so close! For just a moment I thought I could reach him. For a moment I saw real emotion on his face. I saw fear from him, and I don’t understand why. Does he fear me? Is it because of what I am?
I feel a hand on my shoulder and almost jump out of my skin, only to realise it’s my brother. He looks at me with understanding and patience, holding his arms open for me. Without any hesitation I step into his arms and hold onto him tightly, taking solace in his comfort.
“For what it’s worth, that was a brave thing you just did,” he murmurs in my ear.
“I really thought I could get through to him,” I whisper brokenly.
He rubs my back in soothing motions, “Maybe you did. You definitely left him speechless.” He sighs, “I don’t like this, you know that, but…I saw how he looked at you and it…was like he was under your spell. So, don’t count things out just yet.”
I hold him tight, taking comfort in his words. I know that was hard for him to say, but it means a lot and gives me the hope I need right now.
Maybe there is hope for me and Azadou.