Chapter 234: 234. CLAWS OF DEATH

~Odette

Holy fucking goddess!

My heart exploded as the new idiot jumped into my perfect plan. Ruining everything!

"Shit!" Camille cussed under her breath. “Not this guy again.”

My senses instantly stood alert at her words. It was clear that the new fool wasn't random.

I scanned him carefully using Dahlia's memory paths. At first I found nothing, until I saw it.

He was an old acquaintance of Lyon— the real Lyon. And his pathetic name was Kai.

My eyes then took in everyone's expression and it confirmed my discovery.

Camille's eyes were wide as she tried to figure out what was going on…

But I pieced it together.

This Kai didn't just stumble out of nowhere. He must have been the intuition the witch Kalista kept having.

He must have been eavesdropping on their conversations and then trailed them all the way here…

“Huh,” I scoffed as my racing heart calmed.

Maybe my plans were ruined, but seeing the look on Azarel's face, it was clear that Kai didn't know what he was up against.

The fool thought he would be dealing with his dear friend, Lyon… well, he was in for a very long and dangerous ride.

“Yes, they all cooked up this plan!” Kai continued speaking out.

His eyes flashed as he pointed fingers and ratted out everything he heard.

“That failed excuse of a king is also in on this!” He turned, scanning the area like he could see Viktor. “Even the girl too— Morgan! They want to poison you and snatch back the kingdom!”

Azarel's dark eyes simply rolled over him and I could clearly see the boredom rolling off him.

But of course, the foolish boy didn't take the hint.

“I know they are hiding somewhere, waiting for the right moment to jump out and attack you, man!”

His silly eyes then met mine and he dared point at me too.

“—even your precious Dahlia is in on it too! They want you dead—”

Azarel suddenly broke into laughter as his gaze now met mine.

“Is this true?”

His eyes flickered with an emotion that was suddenly not bored anymore.

“It seems like I underestimated you… I thought you couldn't make your move soon but it's clear that you will do anything…”

When I didn't say anything, he slowly nodded.

“You did all this even after I warned you that killing me will set the boys off a rampage?”

My heart skipped at the intensity in his voice. But I remained calm. Because that statement he just made, was my assurance—

—Assurance that he didn't understand the full message Kai just blew off.

“Young man,” Azarel's voice continued as he turned to Kai. “Thank you for giving me this information.”

Kai bowed, beaming from ear to ear like a naive little sacrificial lamb.

“I remember you,” Azarel went on and I saw the cold glint in his eyes. “You are a loyal subject and for that… I shall leave you in Odette's mercy…”

Kai’s pathetic grin instantly vanished and I couldn't help but scoff.

“Ly—Lyon, what are you saying?” He asked, taking a bold step towards Azarel.

“Yes, Odette will decide your fate,” Azarel repeated in that same tone. “After all, it's your plan he ruined. Not mine.”

“B—but… Lyon… I— I am helping you…” Beads of sweat formed on his face as he stared helplessly at the one whom he thought was his friend.

But of course, Azarel broke into a dark chuckle and his entire aura shifted.

Darkness began to ooze out of him and that was when it dawned on the fool, Kai.

He staggered back, his eyes wide in shock and confusion. “Lyon… what— who are you?”

The air stilled and I watched as Azarel showed his true color. He grabbed him by the neck.

“Lyon— Ly—” Kai croaked through the pressure on his neck.

But Azarel was no longer playing host.

“Lyon is long gone. I am Azarel—”

He lifted him off the ground, and his eyes glowed with such darkness, Kai went pale…

“—the greatest vampire elder to have ever walked the earth and I will be the one who ends the era of all the moon goddess’ creations… along with all the other gods’ creations—”

Kai’s eyes widened so much, it was a miracle they didn't fall to the ground as Azarel's darkness continued growing.

“—Vampires, humans, werewolves… all of them!”

It was at this point that realization hit the poor fool. His entire body slumped and tears of fear began to descend down his face.

“P—please show mercy—”

He barely finished his pathetic cries when Azarel suddenly threw him in my direction.

“He is all yours my love… deal with him,” Azarel growled, his burning eyes flashing at me.

My face morphed into disgust and I calmly stepped away from Kai’s pathetic body.

“I have no use for cheap peasants like him, Azarel.” I snarled. “If you need to hurt him so badly. Do it yourself!”

Yes, he had ruined my plans. But I cared less for him than what stood before me.

Azarel was no fool. He might have not understood the entire plan, but he wasn't going to let it go.

If I dealt with Kai, he next target was going to be me. I preferred keeping Kai alive as long as possible.

He was my only source of stalling.

“Oh Odette,” Azarel sighed. “You still don't get how this is supposed to play out. Do you?”

From the corners of my eyes I saw Camille stiffen. But like me, she also tried to play it cool.

“I don't want to know. This is your problem, not mine,” I countered, trying to remain in control.

But Azarel smiled. That slow dark smile that crawled through my bones.

“If you don't do something to Kai, then…” he drawled as his eyes moved to Camille. “Your precious human mother will die.”

I wanted to shrug it off. But the words hit deep. Too deep.

And it wasn't just the threat on Camille… I saw my original mother too… the one Azarel had taken away from me… for his selfish gains…

My fists folded as I felt a surge of fury pump through me.

Without breaking eye contact with Azarel, I hit Kai hard on the back of his head.

Instantly the pathetic fool slumped to my feet.

“Beautiful… that wasn't so hard, was it?” Azarel exclaimed.

Each word he spewed only fueled my rage. In a blink, I closed the distance between us and I grabbed him by his shirt.

Then I pulled him closer so I could glare straight into his cold dark eyes.

“You will pay for my mother's death, Azarel,” I hissed. “I promise you that.”

His eyes danced with amusement. “Will I?”

“If you don't want to get on my last nerve, then you had better not hurt Camille!”

The amusement in his eyes expanded and he smiled. “Oh my love, now I really want to get on that last nerve… I want to see how far you can go…”

He snapped his fingers at that and before I could blink, the boys grabbed Camille.

“Azarel!” I warned, but strong arms suddenly grabbed me too.

Azarel spread his arms and stepped back. “Hold her down good, Cassius… I don’t want her to do anything but to watch…”

My heart dropped and I felt the world shift before me.

“Azarel, what are you doing?” I snarled, trying to contain my emotions.

But Azarel knew how to get me.

He snapped his fingers again. Vladimir and Orion's beasts dragged Camille and held her down.

“Watch, my love… watch as your lovers kill your human mother…”