Page 56 of The Angel's Kiss
“Fuck!” I ran over to him, rubbing his back as he heaved. “What’s wrong with him?” I asked the other two.
“Worried about your demon?” Michael sneered.
“Yes, happy?” I shot back.
“No, I’m not,” the Archangel retorted.
“You know, he may be a demon, but you’re acting like a dick right now,” I snapped because I was tired of his shit. I continued to rub Azazel’s back until his heaving stopped. “Are you okay?”
He spit the last of the bile out, then nodded. “I haven’t felt that sickness... in quite some time,” he said between pants.
“What happened?” I asked, because I needed to understand.
“Go on, explain it to him, Azazel,” Darius said.
Azazel rose and I did the same, looking up at him for answers. “I can’t harm the innocent or anything celestial for that matter. If I try, I get violently ill, the pain is pure agony.”
“So, as you can see, a demon is a demon. Only thing holding him back from being his old self is the curse,” Michael taunted.
I turned to him. “So, what’s your excuse?”
Michael tilted his head to the side and Darius chuckled. “Excuse me, human?” the Archangel said.
“Sure, I saw what happens to Azazel if he tries anything, but I also saw your ass thrown back too. Which means you’re not supposed to harm your own kind.”
Michael’s face twisted in contempt, so thick I could taste it. “He isnotmy kind.”
“Yes, he is, or you would have been able to harm him.” As soon as I said that, I felt something tingle inside of me, drawing me closer to Azazel. I felt... protective of him. I didn’t like anyone looking down on him or me... I’d had enough of that my entire life.
“Well, now that we’ve all seen the proof that Azazel is on our side, shall we go so that we can stop whatever it is demons are trying to do?” Darius looked at all of us as if we were being a bunch of school kids, and though I kind of agreed... I also felt that what happened was significant. I was glad it did, even though Azazel had to suffer. I didn’t like that part.
“Okay, let’s go,” I said.
Darius held his head back, arms out, and before our eyes, Michael turned into a bright, blue light and flowed into Darius’ body. When my mentor opened his eyes, they were illuminated for a second, the color of blue before turning back to brown, with flecks of the light in them. I wondered what it would look like when I finally merged with Azazel.
“Come,” Darius said, and he held his hands out. I took it and Azazel took the other.
The teleportation was quick and something only a Guardian could do once they were bonded with their champion. It didn’t feel weird at all, in fact, it was pleasant without any side effects once we landed.
“Ugh,” Azazel groaned and staggered a little before he caught his balance.
Okay, so I didn’t feel any side effects. Couldn’t say the same for my demon. My eyes widened as I realized what I had just said. I called Azazelmy demon. Why was I getting so possessive over him lately? Was it because he saved me? Or was it because I knew he’d been watching over me all those months—no, years, while I pretended I didn’t know he was there? Was I feeling something more toward Azazel? As I thought about it... it wasn’t my first time referring to him as mine. How long had I felt this way?
I closed my eyes to shift my focus and when I opened them, I finally took notice of where we were. It looked like a beautiful garden and in the direct path of us was a golden cage where the biggest demon I’d ever seen stood watching.
“Holy shit,” I gasped and took several steps back as my eyes took in a demon that stood eighteen feet tall, with red scales covering its black skin. He glared at us with glowing, red eyes with black pupils and sneered at us, baring a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. His black claws looked deadly as did his black horns that were massive with pointed tips. At least his feet and wrists were chained up and I was certain those weren’t made from regular iron.
I’d heard stories about Baal, and even seen drawings, but none of that could have prepared me for what I saw face-to-face. Now, I understood even more why Darius said my swords wouldn’t mean shit to a demon like Baal.
“Gather yourself, Guardian,” Darius whispered to me.
Damn, okay, yeah... he was right. I cleared my throat, swallowed, and straightened my back. I was the only one caught off guard by how massive the demon was. Darius approached the door of the gate, opened it, and then walked inside. Both Azazel and I followed.
“Long time, Beelzebub,” Darius said.
Baal growled. “Call me by my name, maggot!” the demon roared in a voice so deep, it must have come from the abyss. The ground shook with each word he spoke.
“I won’t keep you long,” Darius said and I watched the master at work, learning from him, always. “Why are demons looking for the key to unlock Satan’s cell?”
