Fire & Shadows

This is it, right in front of her. Death was directly in front of her, and it was not the Lord of the Underworld who had captured her soul for a long time. It is this, the shadows. She will die in a cold, dark place, far away from anything, everything, and everyone she cares about.

“I will…I will…” the rest of Natasha’s words garbled, and her tongue felt numb.

“Do you want to say you’ll be a lost soul?”

Natasha nodded, finding it difficult to think.

“Not yet; you still have an hour,” He stated dryly “if you can return, You are free,” He shrugged. “Do will have a deal?”

“Do I have a ch- choice?”

“No, but saying it is disrespectful,”

“How do you want to die?” He asked

“Leave me here for a few more moments; my heart will ultimately fr-f-freeze,” she sneered.

“No! Is that not clear? You can’t die from this cold; it makes you wish for death, but it never comes.”

“I am not…an-an an idiot.” “Why should I believe anything you’ve said?” It was getting increasingly difficult to speak, think, or breathe. “Death is inevitable, dear,” a knife appears in his hand, “you think simply because the Lord of Death will not reap you, you will never die. Don’t you think it’s a little narcissistic?”

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Soon, your body will disorient on its own, every organ will fail, and if Azrael continues to resist, he, too, will face punishment,” He loops about her as though studying her.

“What retribution?”

“When he claims he’s cursed, he means it. Whenever he refuses to take a soul, the underworld burns, and he burns with his realms. “Alas, he has never refused to take a soul since this curse was placed on him until now,” Sahir said, looking at her.

“Will he burn because of me?”

“For all eternity,” Natasha recalls the flames in her dream. Could it be for him because he did not reap her?

“You see when you die…”. The shadow king extends the knife toward her. “You help everyone, myself, Azrael,” Natasha says as she takes the knife.

“No!” The knife was knocked out of the way in a flash of light. Aris’ glowing wings first materialized, and she stood between her and Sahir.

“You said that you would not harm her!” She pushed him.

“Relax, Red, you’ll be exposed.”

“That’s why I agreed to assist you!” Aris completely disregarded him.

Natasha shivered as she felt the cold penetrate her bones; she had no idea what was happening. Aris… Aris is familiar with the Shadow King. She had only recently met her, but she assumed Aris was a friend. Was what she said true? Can I believe her now?

“Stay away from her,” Aris says, pulling out a blade. Sahir holds her wrist and looks her in the eyes with nonchalance.

“Calm down; where is Azrael?” He inquired.

“I’m not going to help you!” He twisted her arms, turned her body, and trapped her neck in an arm lock when she tried to kick him.

“Tell me where Azrael is!” Aris looks down at the blade he’s holding to her side, and she looks at Natasha.

“The celestial armies have arrived, and he is dealing with them,” Aris responds between clenched teeth.

“You left him with celestial soldiers,” he snarled, “and he’d be here in no time!” He lets her go, pushing her out of the path.

“You will not-” Sahir’s eyes flash menacingly at Aris as shadows appear from nowhere, tangling her in their grasp.

“What do you want? Leave her alone!” Why don’t you go into the shadows yourself?” Natasha clenches her teeth, attempting to suppress her body’s chill and think clearly. Trying not to think of Aris’s reason for being here. If nothing else, Aris knew Azrael. Aris was his friend, but now she doesn’t know her all that well, and Aris could not do it willingly.

“I have my reason, and you have a reason to die,” Sahir said as the knife flew back into his grasp.

“Don’t do it, Natasha!” “Killing oneself is a huge crime; it marks one’s soul; you must not do this!” Aris strained in her bonds.

“Even if she doesn’t, her soul is doomed,” Sahir explained. “I’ve already told you, remember Azrael, he might suffer for your cowardice,” Sahir said as a wall of shadow descended on Natasha and Aris like a dark tsunami. Natasha had dodged death many times; one day, it would all catch up.

“How will this work?” She asked.

“No, Natasha!” Aris yelled.

“You stab yourself, you die, and typically it would be a guardian of death or Azrael, but today I am at your service, having the advantage of being the Lord of the Lost Souls, I reap your soul, and you will go into the shadow.” You’ll have an hour; there’s a spark inside that I can’t reach, but you can. All you have to do is look for it and bring it back.”

“A spark?”

“It might be anything, like a stone,” Sahir said.

“What makes you want it?”

“Does it make a difference?”

“Yes!” Natasha hissed.

“I’m providing you with everything you need,” he sneered.

“If you do not follow my instructions. I’ll be here, I’ll find another soul on the point of losing itself to find this, but you… you’ll lose the one thing you have,”

Natasha looked at Aris, who was shaking her head. A chance for the afterlife with Azrael.

“Was what you said about Azrael and me true?” Natasha wasn’t sure why she asked, but Azrael had been doing everything he could to keep her away from all of this. She does not know this world or its dimensions yet has been walking between them. How was she supposed to get through this?

Aris looks down. Natasha stumbled upon seeing her expression.

She lied.

Natasha’s hands reached for the knife, but a scorching feeling caused her to cringe.

The flames exploded around her, reaching for the sky as though responding to their master’s call. Azrael emerged, his wings extended across the dark sky, and the flames followed. The flames gave much-needed warmth, but she stood there imprisoned between a wall of fire and shadow. When she stared into Azrael’s fiery eyes, she saw savagery and malice she had never seen before. The shadows beneath his eyes grew darker, a scowl developed on his face, his black undertone receded, and his red eyes burned with an unending fury. He is the King of the Dead, not only a figure in her nightmares or the shadow she pursued during the day. He is well beyond her comprehension. The shadows turn around, morphing like serpents to entangle the blazes; they murmur something that Natasha couldn’t understand. She couldn’t close her eyes or take her focus away from what was pounding so hard against her ribs.

Azrael avoids making direct eye contact with her.

“I told you to stay away from her!” In his chase of Sahir, Azrael tore through the air. Her pulse accelerated as the ground beneath her feet rocked. The flames encircling Azrael’s fist collided with Sahir’s shadows. The crash sounded like thunder tearing the sky apart. Sahir found himself in the night sky after being shoved by Azrael.

“They must stop.” Aris stands in the heart of the flames, unconcerned by the approaching darkness.

“Is there nothing we can do to stop them?” Anxious, Natasha asked. While she could feel the flame’s heat, she knew it didn’t burn her. She tries to approach the fire and finds her hand in the crimson, orange flames, feeling nothing but heat. Is its sole purpose of causing Azrael pain? He’s being punished because of her. She bucked, spun, and fought her way out of the mile-long inferno, but the snow didn’t melt, and the fire didn’t go out.

“It’s impossible; even if they are cursed, they are the kings of the two most powerful realms,” Aris’ look is one of despair.

Natasha’s pulse rate increased, and her nerves were wrecks. She can only see the fire and the darkness. That should have been her death toll by now.

“There had to be a way out, Aris!” Natasha yelled.

Aris’ fight came to an end as soon as she looked up.

“Give me a moment to think! Give me a moment to think!”

Natasha was trying to capture sight of Azrael or the Shadow King while Aris struggled with her shadow holds, but all she could see was the flames and shadow warring against each other. Her heart fills with helplessness; she knows nothing. Natasha is new to this world. She had no idea how to stop it; Natasha’s thoughts were confused by doubts, and as her doubts grew, she stopped feeling the flame’s heat, and the shadow began to capture her in her clutches.

“You are no one and nothing,” the shadows murmured as the blackness tightened around Natasha. Natasha’s body stiffened, but she didn’t feel like the shadow pierced through her human skin. Blood poured from her arms, lighting fire, yet she felt nothing.

“Natasha!” Aris’ eyes widened as she noticed Natasha in a trance, walking across the flames toward the shadows.

“Natasha! Don’t go into the shadows! They feed on human flesh! Natasha!” Aris could not break her grip, and Azrael’s gaze shifted from Sahir to the ground.

“Natasha,” he muttered, realizing what had already transpired and turning to Sahir.

Sahir closes his eye and sighs in disappointment, looking at Natasha going towards the shadows, the corner of his mouth swollen with blood. Both of them rushed to the ground.

Natasha pulled away from the flames as the heat seared one side of her body, and the darkness blurred her vision.

“Azrael!”

She had gone blind. She couldn’t see or feel anything. Fear engulfed her from all sides, and she had no idea how to stop it. Everywhere she goes. She feels the heat of the flames or the grip of the shadows on her. When she believed every cell in her body was about to burst from fright, She closed her eyes. The feeling of helplessness gives birth to another emotion: fury. Something unknown, yet it felt like a dormant part of her rising. She doesn’t comprehend it but feels it raging within her.

Is it already too late? Has she truly gone missing? Is she supposed to be here? Doubts began to creep in. The truth was in front of her; how insignificant she was? She had no right to be here.

This is the voice of the shadows, don’t allow them to get to you, said a childish voice, innocent and sweet. Natasha had no idea where the voice was coming from. They’re attempting to apprehend her. Azrael, where have you gone?

Come with us; you don’t belong with him, the vile murmurs crept into her mind like a snake grip.

“Ignore them; you don’t have to stay here.”

“This place isn’t nice,” the child-like voice said again, like a spark piercing the darkness. Then, Natasha noticed a tiny spark in the impenetrable darkness, flickering like a firefly, and her senses returned.

“Natasha!” Azrael’s anguished voice reached her, and she could feel tears filling her eyes.

No way, this isn’t true. ‘I’ve always been pulled to him. She was sure she would be at ease with Azrael. She is not yet lost.

“No, no, no….” Natasha’s lips move, but no sound is come out.

“Azrael is also nearing the end,” one voice stated.

“He broke the rules,” the other said quietly.

“He won’t survive this struggle,” the shadows continued to whisper. Natasha hurriedly moves her hand, attempting to look, to focus. The murmurs go on.

You must accompany us, little forlorn soul.

“No,” Natasha says emphatically.

“Natasha!”

“Azrael!” She opened her eyes, stuck inside the black haze. She could feel the pain of thousands of cuts, blood bathing her, and torment weakening her knees.

“Don’t move, Natasha. “Please wait for me!”

“Azrael, where are you?!”

The scream, “Natasha, don’t-Natasha!” jolted her to her core.

“Azrael,” She runs towards the sound, her legs trembling and her stomach jerking, her mouth full of her own blood.

The shadows sing, “He’s gone, he’s gone, he’s gone.”

“No, no, no….” STOP!” she screamed. A roar tore down the shadow walls. Fire goes out by itself, and tears gather in the corners of her eyes. Azrael was directly in front of her, with Sahir pinned to the ground, but Azrael’s head nocturne looked at her.

Natasha was covered in her own blood, the cuts on her arms and legs flowing, her knees quivering, and black-blue bruises developed on her neck and forehead. She was having trouble breathing. Azrael rose to his full height, his terror in front of him. The blood stained the snow, the fire went out the minute it touched her blood, and the shadows retreated.

She notices the noise emanating from her. She couldn’t explain it, but she felt seething wrath inside her, like fire in her veins, and the pain was excruciating. Sahir used Azrael’s preoccupation to throw him off balance and charge at him.

The wrath within her ignited her heart, and she felt the earthquake. She felt it as if it were inside her.

“I said, Stop!” the earth under us shook.

“Right Now!” She growled. The roots broke through the ground, the snow fell, and the thick root-like serpent coiled around Sahir at the twist of her hand. If it was possible, Sahir’s face shifted to smug.

“Natasha,” Azrael approaches her.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her gaze fixed on Sahir.

“This isn’t going as planned….” He tightens his jaw as She tightens her grip, the roots nearly crushing him. She could feel it as if those roots had joined her muscles. With boiling wrath, power pours through her. She had a bloody cough.

Azrael touches Natasha and says, “You have to stop.”

“No,” she snarled.

“You will now perish in pain; your power was not meant to be employed in a mortal body,” Sahir concluded.

“You have to let him go, Natasha,” Azrael says, touching her shoulder. Her body began to relax.

“Why?” Her tears mixed with her blood, her muscles loosened, and her grip weakened. Azrael’s eyes softened, yet his pain was palpable.

“You’re in pain. I can’t watch you like this,” his voice cracked as he felt what her body was going through. Natasha looks into Azrael’s eyes, the blue color in his eyes blocking the red.

“He tries to kill you,”

“No, he attempts to stop me from going into the shadows; he is my brother,” Natasha’s enraged gaze met Sahir’s blank one. She noticed the root that was tying him and her hand together.

“I can feel the roots…” she says, her voice shaky. How can I feel the roots?

“Let him go,” Azrael said, touching her bloodied hand in his. Natasha’s breath was trembling.

“I’m going to die,” She let go of the trees, and the roots returned to the ground.

Azrael caught her as she fell. He takes her hand in his.

“Now…” She coughed, her feet becoming numb. “You may do whatever you want,” Natasha says as he pulls her closer to his chest.

“Are you going to…send me away?” she asked quietly.

“I can’t bind you to me,” he says. He caressed Natasha’s cheeks, and she shuddered and closed her eyes. Tears gather in the corners of her eyes.

“I always felt so…grounded when you touched me, like if…the earth….”

“If the earth slipped from under my feet, your hold on me would never slip,” she said, taking a small breath.

“You can go wherever you wish, Realm of Light or earth….” He cupped his palm around her face. She could feel his breath on her.

“I wanted to stay with you; please let me….” It was her last chance; if he let go of her, she had no idea what would come next. All of this would be for naught.

“Don’t be afraid,”

“Please,” she cringes, her hand slipping from his shoulder.

Azrael’s eyes well up with tears as he rubs his fingers through her bloodied cheeks and lips. When she saw the paleness of his skin against hers, she grabbed his hand. She’s chilly now, halfway there, and he won’t, he won’t…he doesn’t.

“You don’t feel the same way, do you?” She shivered.

“No, Natasha…” his breath trembled.

“You and I are real, but we…we are not real.”

“You don’t understand what I……” tears stream from her eyes. The lingering heat and the vitality she felt on the point of death was the gut-wrenching emotion of love she felt for him, but it meant nothing. All of this was for nothing.

She raises her gaze to meet his, unsure what he must be feeling, but is there any more point? Would she even have a choice now?

“I love you, Azrael,” she says as her hands slip away from him, and her eyelids close.

Azrael strokes her cheeks with his. “I love you too,” He touches her lips, and she feels the whisper of the touch, her lips curving upwards on the corner, and her body becomes limp.

But She didn’t hear him.