Chapter 9: Take her, Leave her or Lose her?

Azrael. She became aware.

Something feather-like stroked her cheeks, and the heavy amber aroma swamped her to the point that she could taste it. When she opened her eyes, it was pitch black. The calm, steady movements of Azrael’s chest under her cheek relaxed her, but she couldn’t feel a heartbeat. She took a deep breath, and his aroma swept through her mind like a current. She felt his arms tighten over her and made a fist on his back. Cocooned in him, she felt protected. The confusion was gone now that she had her memories back, but there were still things she needed to know.

When she stepped back, the blackness around her divided, like a new world opened to her. The city lights glistened from where they stood, and she could see the entire city, from the most miniature house to the tallest glass structure. The sunlight shone underneath her like stars on Earth.

A chill raced down her spine as the wind blew. She encircles herself with her arms. Goosebumps appeared all over her body.

She then turned to face Azrael. She stares at him, her mouth gaping. The whoosh of the wind on her face, the feather-like object touching her cheeks, and the heavy aroma of amber and ashes came from Azrael’s’ massive black wings attached to his arms. It was like he put his arms inside the wings. They were not like Aris and were part of him like a bird’s wings. Those were the blackness that surrounded her a few minutes earlier. She never saw them in her dreams and had no idea he had them.

“Those are wings,” she foolishly stated.

“You don’t have to be afraid; I won’t hurt you.”

“No,” She shook her head and licked her parched lips. “You misunderstand me,” she said as she moved closer to him. She looked him in the eyes, reaching out her hand to touch them. Her pulse raced, and her nerves went into overdrive, weakening her knees. The wings flex. She looks at him again, quietly pleading, and the wings bend towards her, granting her permission. The black feathers glided in her hands, and she couldn’t keep the smile from extending her lips.

“How? This is different. I have never seen you like this,”

“I am from a phoenix clan,” He answered, watching the awe in her eyes.

She felt her heart warm, and the wings slid from her grasp. It seemed like silk went through her hand, and the flow of how they vanished behind Azrael’s back was like water. He was completely back in his human form.

Her smile faded as she returned her eyes to his. He took her hand in his, his thumb gently touching the center of her palm. He wouldn’t do anything more than embrace her, she remembers from the meadow. How had she been yearning for more?

“Azrael…” She muttered.

He sighed and drew her to him, burying his face in her hair. She melted in his arms.

“You can’t put this off any longer,” she said, sinking into his embrace.

“No,” His aggravating voice jolted her to the core.

“Then let me go,” she said, her voice trembling. She’d be lost if Azrael kept refusing like this. Because without him, there would be no Realm of Light.

“No,” he answered emphatically. He leaned away from her, his gaze fixed.

Let’s end this today. Azrael and Natasha just stared at one another as time stretched between them.

“You should end this.”

“Yes, I should,” he says, “so why don’t you?” She asked.

“I can’t,” he says. “Why not?” She rebuked

“I. Can’t.”

“I. Can’t.” He repeated

“After remembering those moments with you,” she muttered between tight teeth. “I’m not going to Realm of Light if you’re not there.” She blinks her tears away.

“Have you been listening?” He slipped into a blank mask, his dispassionate words casting a shadow over her heart.

“Have I not told you? I’m cursed,”

“Then take me to where you’d be,”

He shook his head and looked away.

“It’s time, and I’d like to take you to Realm of Light,”

“You could have done it ages ago,” she charged, and if her decision didn’t matter, why would he let her live for so long? Why would he show up in her dreams? Why would she fall for the Lord of Death himself?

The wind rushed past them, the cold numbing, but his icy, vicious silence was freezing her heart.

“Yes, brother, make a decision.” The shadow king manifested himself. She jumped out of her skin when she heard the cold, terrible voice. Azrael drew her close to his side.

“Don’t worry, I’m not that mean; I’ll give you ten minutes to say your goodbyes.”

“As I previously stated, I will handle this.”

“I think you’re missing the point; she’ll lose her soul in…” He looks up at the night sky, “Realm of Lights officials don’t want her in beyond one hour, twenty-four minutes, and forty-two seconds,”

“Ishah would never breach the rules,”

“Yes, our older brother is a rule follower, but you see, His majesty is busy doing his other…kingly stuff,” he said, pointing at Azrael and rotating his fingers.

“He’s always so busy,” Sahir mused, clicking his tongue.

“But rules are rules, and Big Brother will not like them. Therefore your 10 minutes start now,”

She felt a tug in her gut and was instantly at the shadow king’s side.

“Besides, come with me….” He looks at her with a strange sparkle in his eyes. “It’s not like you’ll be able to stay with him in the underworld forever; you’ll drift….” He repeated it in hushed tones, his lower voice tormenting her. She fixed her gaze on Azrael. What does he mean by drift?

“Say your farewell, and we’ll be on our way…” his words faded, leaving behind a heavy, ominous sound.

Azrael glanced at her, his eyes filled with pain once more. The clouds thunder overhead, and they have the sensation of an air balloon exploding in their faces. Azrael and the Shadow King both raise their heads, the latter with a grin as if he couldn’t conceive of a better time and the former with a frown.

“Aha! Isn’t it nice now? “Realm of Light is coming to the party, brother,” his delight made her stomach turn. She takes a step back from him.

“What are you going to do? Take her, leave her or lose her?”

What happened next happened all at once.

“Azrael!” As Aris emerged from the sky, her dazzling wings were the first object to appear beneath the stars; Azrael turned to her, and Sahir waved his fingers at them.

“I can’t stop them; they’re on their way!”

Sahir and Natasha vanish in front of them.

“Natasha!” When Azrael turns around, he sees the shadows fade away.

Natasha collapsed and felt a cold, stiff, and wet something under her knees between her fingertip, goosebumps raised, and then the deadly chill entered her bones. She lost her voice for a moment at the impact, it felt like a thousand needles were piercing her at the same time, and when she managed to open her eyes, her teeth shattered, and she shivered violently. Natasha opened her eyes to see snowflakes brushing past her eyelids while her teeth stuttered. She scrambled in the snow, trying to stand up but fell for a few moments before getting up.

“I’m sorry about the cold,” Sahir said as he stepped around her, his black robes brushing the surface and the shadows following. Natasha struggles to turn her head to meet his gaze.

He lowers himself to meet her eye level. Natasha’s eyes couldn’t move away from his terrifying face. Dark hollow eyes and shadows came from the corner of his eyes like a vapor, his hand and movement floating with it, and behind him, the darkness gathered in waves creating a wall around them. She could feel the crisp air turning to frost against her skin.

“Would it make you feel any better if I told you that this cold isn’t going to kill you?”

The chill freezer Natasha’s legs and lungs, and she couldn’t feel her legs or lungs, but she managed to raise her frozen eyelids to gaze at him, “what do you want?!” her voice scratchy and strangled? She tries to wrap her arms around herself, her teeth shuttered. How is she going to survive this?

“Whatever you want,” Sahir replied.

“Wh-wh-what?” Natasha closed her eyes.

“Truly,” Sahir’s dark sunken eyes expand, followed by a sneer, “all I want to do is help you.”

“Why don’t I….” Natasha flinched so hard it hurt to breathe, “Believe you,” “You still got your snark!” He stood up. “There is no reason for you to believe me except….” “I can make sure you and Little Rae stroll to the sunset and have a happily ever after,” he hesitated.

“What exactly do you mean?” She shuddered.

“This is what you need,” something resembling a rope materialized in his grasp as the golden glow faded, adopting the form of a root.

“This is a root from a rare and extinct tree from the Garden of Creation,” Sahir’s voice changed, almost human-like, it was hard to think clearly in this cold, but Natasha attempted to gather some sense to listen to this.

“The Garden was destroyed in the conflict, and the tree with it, leaving only this one thing behind.”

“Words are power; our master uses to say. In ancient times, people promised their eternal mates their souls and bound them together. The roots of This tree were used to create a celestial union; once two souls are bound with the sacred promise, it doesn’t matter who or what you are; it will keep them together,” his eyes shifted. He returned his gaze to Natasha, his eyes empty and his voice sinister, “You can tell that this is your only chance,” He extended it towards her, and she raised her shaky hand to grab it.

“Aa! No! Of course, there is a catch,” he said.

Natasha’s hand slipped back to her side.

“You didn’t expect it to be so easy, did you?” With his head tilted, he nearly appeared concerned.

“What…” Natasha was at a loss for words.

“I only need a tiny little favor with this tiny little thing; there’s a spark in the shadows,” says the Shadow King, his face hardening, “You must find it.”

A flood of darkness washed over them, ready to devour them or her whole.

“However, there is something you must do before you can enter the shadows,”

“W-w-what?”

“You must die.”