CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN
ALARIC'S POV

There was no clarity about this plan of mine as I ran towards the bridge, ignoring the wild beasts that by now, simply stared at me as I darted past them.

I had unlimited strength in my demon form so I was faster, I knew I'd never be able to beat the time frame I was subjected to but it would be easier for me to do damage control the quicker I could get back.

I didn't really have a clear plan, I was simply going to offer my immortality in exchange for protection.

After all, heaven is always looking for more souls, hopefully mine isn't too dark to be cleaned.

It was difficult navigating the tough terrain while running at such a fast pace but I knew my boots would sustain me till I got back, although it's as good as useless.

I was on my second day, not running as fast as when I'd started but still with urgency in my steps when I felt pain on my arm, and I looked to see a virus inflicted on it.

I gasped, stopping right in the middle of a dark alcove that had rough but beautiful flowers. One wrong movement and I'll become their dinner for the next two years.

So enduring the pain, I ran out of there, my night vision only serving to show me the next few steps ahead of me as here was perpetually dark.

I stopped to look at the festering wound, wondering what had happened. While down here, no matter how dangerous the plant, animal or being, I've been avoided ever since I began reabsorbing Aria's energy from where I put them.

It was how I knew this journey will take two weeks instead of the usual three in human time and nine days by the speed of the underworld.

So it made no sense that while the shiny multicoloured eyes of the dark forest I was in stared at me with interest, I was here, bleeding.

Then it hit me; Aria!

She must have gotten wounded by the Fallen I'd committed her to.

I thought about turning around, but I needed this journey over as quickly as possible and the time frame wasn't helping, if I went back, I'll get to hell first and have to face my father.

I don't want that.

So with a heavy heart, I preserved on and hoped that the contract would keep them in line.

By the third day, the wound had gone from a small cut to my entire arm burning and feeling like it was going to be chopped off.

I had very low pain tolerance, every time I was in a fit with my family, I ensured I was the one giving it, not receiving it.

Having to push ahead, ignoring the voice in my head screaming at me to go back and make sure she's fine.

I'm sure getting heaven's blessings would include the healing of the hand so I could get two things wrapped in one.

Besides, I couldn't face my father in that sorry state, he'd eat me raw.

I was seeing the bridge in the distance when I felt a slap on my face, harsh and painful and I screamed, sending birds flying and animals making noise in the forest.

I crumbled to my feet as the pain increased and that was when I realised she'd also been hurt in the leg.

‘Goodness, why wasn't she fighting them back?’ I groaned in my head, she's stronger than them and must have felt too guilty about using her powers after the death of her friend.

It was messed up but I pushed on, forcing myself to put one foot in front of the other, painful and I was tired too.

“Ugh! This is pathetic, go get him!” I heard someone snap from the distance and I squinted my eyes to get a closer look.

Everything hurt at this point, even using the powers I was allowed to use on this horrendous path.

After a few seconds, I understood what was happening.

Someone had definitely been waiting for me as two Angels got to where I was struggling to move closer to me.

I looked at them as the silently grabbed me on both arms, despite the pain and the echo of a scream I let out, moved me quickly to the bridge where am Arch was waiting for us, his physique not something that should even he described.

A blend of perfection and danger in one, especially with that dagger by his side.

One slice and his opponent is turned off from complete existence.

This was a power my father once had and decided he wanted more.

Crazy if you ask me but hey, I've betrayed my family more than enough.

“I have been waiting for you,” he said, his voice echoing as I tried to get my body away from the intense pain I was in due to the force they carried me with.

“Thank… you for coming,” I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut in pain.

I'd expected to spend another day here waiting for someone to come and get my request and probably another day for a response.

No one was aware of my journey here so I couldn't even fathom how he was here already waiting for me.

“You're okay sacrificing your entire existence just to get a short time with her?” he asked me, as though he'd read my mind and plans for coming here. I ignored the weirdness and replied, who knew how things worked up there anyway?

“Yes Arch. I'm not going to be able to hand her over to my father. I could never live through that existence knowing he has her,” I explained, my voice sturdier as I got the pain under a bit of control.

Or maybe someone was finally smart enough to give Aria an elixir.

I suppressed all the anger I was going to let out on those fools once I'm done with my father but for now, I had to focus on the Archangel looking at me like he didn't believe my words.

“You really want me to believe that a selfish being like yourself is willing to sacrifice your power, throne and immortality just for the love of a woman?”

“If I had more to sacrifice, I'll still do it. There's no need debating all of that, she's currently in danger and I need to head back and rescue her. I left her with the Fallen and it seems the contract book doesn't work again.”

“Oh it definitely does, in fact, that's what's keeping her sane through your father's punishments,” he said to me, sending dread through my mind.

“You mean Lucifer is the one causing her harm?”

“You sound surprised,” he snickered, “he's your father, you know he'll do whatever he can to get whatever he wants. But we're going to work together to end his tyrany, okay?”

“But how?!” I exclaimed, recoiling in pain immediately, “I came here to get under the protection of the Almighty by becoming one of his beloved humans. I need that to happen as soon as possible so I can get back to her and save her from whatever he's doing. But I hope I'll be able to rescue her before the process is completed?” I asked in a smaller tone, I was begging at this point.

If he turned me here, I'll get eaten up before I would make it halfway through the forest path.

But the Arch looked at me, then placed his hand on my shoulder and looked at me.

“We're not going to strip you of your powers Kaiden, we're going to give you more. From today on, you will be Aria's protector so she can fulfill her mission.”