"Are you feeling better, Elysia?" The voice was soft, almost sweet—a tone I wasn’t used to from her. Barely waking me up from my sleep.
“Hmmm… what happened?” I mumbled, still groggy, trying to piece together my last coherent memory.
“You fell asleep while we were flying, I thought it’d be nice to bring you to another hotel.”
The words snapped me fully awake, my instincts flaring.
“Again with this?! You’re just doing whatever you want—”
“Shhh! Don’t make noise! We’ll get discovered.”
“Oh… ok”
“ Besides, I needed to rest somewhere decent after that fight. You’re welcome, by the way.”
I deflated a little, lowering my gaze. “…Right. Thanks, Elene.”
She raised an eyebrow. “What’s with that look?”
“I thought you were going to leave me.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Elene’s grin softened into something warmer—almost genuine. “Of course not. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
For some reason, I wanted to believe her. But a part of me, the cautious, overthinking part, still remembered her behavior during the fight. She could’ve left me back then, and for a moment, it really felt like she might. Still, I decided to let it go. The point was, we were safe now.
She claps her hands together, breaking the silence. “Alright! Now that you’re awake and in one piece, what’s the plan? Do we go find Maria?”
“And what about the priest?”
Elene tilted her head thoughtfully before flashing a mischievous smile. “Maybe we can split up. I’ll be the bait, keep him busy. You use the talisman to find Maria.”
“Good idea, Elene.” I decided not to press her further. Even if her bravado was an act, I couldn’t ignore the determination in her voice.
.“But you sure about that? Sounds risky.”
“Oh, relax! I’m more than capable of dealing with him.” Her grin wavered slightly, betraying a flicker of doubt she tried to hide.
----------------------------------------
At 3 a.m., we take off into the night. The wind rushes past us, the city below still and silent.
“Do you remember the place?”
“Yes, we’re close,”
"Then I’ll start descending. Hold tight! I’m going to fall like a meteor!"
As we descend, I scan the area carefully. My eyes dart to every shadow, every corner, searching for any sign of exorcists lying in wait or stray citizens who might call the authorities.
“We’re good,”
Elene touches down beside me, her wings folding neatly. She reaches into her pouch and hands me the talisman. “Alright, you’ve got this. Go ahead. I’ll…”
“..”
“..”
I raise an eyebrow. “And you’ll?”
“Hehehe…” Elene lets out an awkward laugh, filling the silence. “I was kinda hoping they’d be here already. Makes it easier, y’know?”
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “No, it doesn’t make it easier.”
“Huh?” Elene tilts her head, her confusion almost endearing.
“It’s not hard to understand,” I mutter, letting it slip. “I’m going to start looking for Maria. You go and fly around—but not too high; they might notice you. So, in other words, be a good bait.” I pat her head lightly.
“Good,” she says, nodding, then reaches into her pocket. “Umm, take this.” She hands me a small, sharp piece of nail. “It’s sharp as a knife, just in case you get into trouble.”
“Thanks. Then I’ll go,” I reply.
Her confidence is both reassuring and, somehow, infuriating. “Fine. Good luck.”
I take off, clutching the talisman tightly. As I glance back, I see her waving at me, a carefree smile on her face.
That smile—was she really confident, or was she masking her worry again? It doesn’t matter. I need to focus on finding Maria.
Minutes pass, and I begin to notice something about the city below. The lights in the houses are off, which would normally be expected at 3 a.m. But this doesn’t feel like the quiet of a town resting peacefully.
As a human, there’s a subtle difference you can sense between a house with its lights off, where a mother or family member sleeps in the other room, and this—a suffocating feeling when you are completely alone in the house after watching horror movies.
Then, cutting through the silence, I hear a laugh. Low and cold. It sends shivers down my spine.
“Those exorcists… they can’t even do their jobs properly. But what more can I expect from lowly humans?”
I whirl around to find the figure emerging from the shadows. Asaul. His presence radiates malice, his smirk dripping with cruel amusement.
“You…” My voice falters for a moment but quickly hardens.
“Aha,” he says, the smirk growing wider. “The plan you made with Elene wasn’t half bad. Separating from each other was clever—makes you harder to track since you’re human.”
There’s a twitch of irritation in his expression, and he grunts in agony, twisting his body like a spring.
“It’s not a hole in my plan,” he spits, his tone venomous. “Just a minor miscalculation. Not my fault that human brains are so… ridiculously incompetent!”
His composure breaks. He paces furiously, nearly tearing at his hair as his frustration spills over like a dam bursting. The sight sends a chill through me.
“You’re here to stop me?” I manage to ask, gripping my nerves tightly.
“Stop you?” He laughs again, the sound jagged and unnerving. “Oh no, I’ve already won. Hehe.”
A sudden explosion echoes in the distance, its rumble shaking the ground.
“Good luck,” he sneers, his grin returning. “The exorcists will be here soon enough. Let’s see how you handle that while trying to carry a body with you.”
He turns away, sauntering off into the shadows.
“Wait—” I lunge toward him, but by the time I spin around, he’s gone. Vanished into thin air.
Panic tightens in my chest.
“I need to hurry.”
Elene must be in danger. Every second wasted is one too many. I clench my fists and take off. Maria. I have to find Maria.
I dash through the alleys, weaving between narrow streets and empty buildings. The talisman vibrates faintly in my hand, its sound frustratingly faint.
“Based on Elene, she might be now within ten meters…” I mutter to myself, slowing my steps and scanning the area carefully.
Finally, I spot it—a small tower, resembling an abandoned house. Its windows are shattered, and the walls are coated in grime. I climb through one of the broken windows, landing with a soft thud.
The stench hits me like a brick wall, putrid and overpowering, forcing me to gag. I press my sleeve to my nose and try to focus.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Inside, the dim light reveals a horrifying sight. A body hangs limply in the corner, hands and legs bound tightly with rough ropes.
“Maria!” I gasp, rushing toward her. Her frail form dangles like a broken doll, her skin pale and her frame alarmingly thin. She’s in bad shape—worse than I’d imagined.
Using Elene’s nail, I cut through the ropes. Her body collapses into my arms, light as a feather, yet heavy with the weight of her suffering.
“Don’t worry, Maria. I’ve got you,” I whisper, hoisting her onto my back for a piggyback ride.
Suddenly, a voice cuts through the silence. A low, rhythmic chant in Italian fills the air, chilling and ominous.
"O Dio onnipotente, Signore delle forze celesti, liberaci dai demoni che infestano questo luogo. Per la potenza del Tuo nome, spezziamo i legami dell’oscurità e chiamiamo la Tua luce per guidarci. Sancta Maria, intercedi per noi, e San Michele, proteggici nella battaglia. Amen."( "O Almighty God, Lord of the heavenly hosts, deliver us from the demons that infest this place. By the power of Your name, we break the bonds of darkness and call upon Your light to guide us. Holy Mary, intercede for us, and Saint Michael, protect us in battle. Amen.")
Panic sets in. I glance around frantically and spot a hidden passage at the back of the house—a narrow tunnel leading beneath the floorboards. Without hesitation, I crawl into it, dragging Maria with me.
The space is cramped and damp, the mud and dirt clinging to us as we move. My arms tremble under Maria’s weight, and my breath comes in ragged gasps.
After what feels like an eternity, I emerge into the open air, filthy and exhausted. I collapse onto the ground, clutching Maria tightly.
“Made it…” I pant, my chest heaving.
“Damn… I really need to hit the gym,” I mutter, forcing myself to keep going. Every muscle in my body screams for rest, but I can’t stop now.
“ But I don't think I will make it”
I can hear Maria rumble. She needs help, should I shout? But they will not understand my words, and the exorcist will hide any truth besides that I will give them my location.
I can hear steps, they are light steps, and more like some walking. I decide to hide thinking it will be an exorcist, but soon.
“Hiding, you know you can’t hide from exorcists right while you are in their area” that tone of voice, and that smirks is unforgettable
“Azazel?”
he raises an eyebrow, hearing his name with an expression of mild confusion, which only deepens my own.
“No time to explain—help me take Maria, please!”
“You seem to know me, human.” His eyes narrow suspiciously.
“It’s me, Elysia!”
Azazel stares at me for what feels like an eternity, his piercing gaze dissecting every detail. Yet, I can tell he doesn’t recognize me. That’s when it clicks—Asaul’s illusion.
“A demon cast an illusion on me!” I blurt out. “I may look like someone else, but I’m Elysia!”
Azazel's expression changes 180 degrees, he bursts out laughing, the sound echoing ominously. “Hurry up, an exorcist is closing in!” I snap, urgency overriding my irritation. Without further questions, he hoists Maria onto his shoulder, effortlessly carrying her as I trail behind.
“Where’s Elene?” he asks without turning back.
“She acted as bait, so I have no idea where she is now,” I admit, panting.
“For curiosity’s sake,” Azazel mutters, his tone oddly casual, “did the demon who did this to you look like a Catrín?”
“Catrín?”
“You know... dandy, aristocratic flair.”
I nod quickly. “Yes, exactly!”
“Then it’s clear—we’ve been set up,” he mutters, his expression darkening as footsteps and chants grow louder behind us.
“Why are they chasing us?” I ask, panic creeping into my voice as I struggle to keep pace.
Azazel glances at me sharply, his expression unreadable. “You don’t know?”
“Perhaps they want anyone related to you—like Elene and me!” I snap, my frustration bubbling over.
Azazel snorts, shaking his head. “No, they weren’t after me from the start. I just recently saw one heading in this direction, so I followed him, thinking it’d be a fun place to watch an exciting show.”
I blink, dumbfounded. “Are you serious? You just… followed them?!”
“Of course,” he replies casually, as if the chaos surrounding us is nothing more than a passing inconvenience.
I frown, thinking back to what the priest had said. The pieces start falling into place, and a chill runs down my spine. “They said I bear the Mark of Sin or something like that. Do you know what it means?”
Azazel freezes mid-step, sweat beading on his forehead for the first time since I’ve met him. “Did you say the Mark of Sin? Not the Mark of Authority or the Evil Mark?”
“Yes, the Mark of Sin.”
He exhales sharply, his face unreadable. “This just got a whole lot more complicated.”
Before I can press him, the priest emerges, running at full speed toward us. His voice cuts through the night like a blade.
“That succubus was amusing, but hardly impressive.”
In his gloved hand, he clutches something crimson. As he moves closer, the object becomes horrifyingly clear—Elene’s hair. With a cruel flourish, he reveals her limp, defeated form.
The priest kisses his cross like he’s basking in some divine glory.
“You bastard!” I shout, fury boiling over as I clench my fists.
“Running away isn’t what a lost lamb should do,” the priest sneers, his grin dripping with smug satisfaction.
“And now I’m a lamb?” I growl through gritted teeth, adrenaline surging as the tension spirals further out of control.
“Just hand over the succubus, and we can call it a night. What do you say?” Azazel attempts a negotiation, his tone as casual as though he were ordering coffee.
The priest snickers, his gaze dismissive. “You don’t bear the Evil Mark, human. I’d wager you’ve barely dabbled in the summoning arts.”
Azazel smirks, handing Maria to me. “You want to test that theory?”
“Azazel, don’t! He’ll mop the floor with you like he did with Elene!” I plead, clutching Maria tightly.
Azazel glances at me, his expression unreadable, but the priest seizes the moment. Moving with blinding speed, he delivers a brutal punch to Azazel’s chest, sending him flying into a wall with a sickening thud.
“Now,” the priest growls, turning his attention to Maria.
His expression twists into something grotesque—pity, disgust, and righteous fury rolled into one. “A poor soul, sacrificed as tribute to the forces of evil. Such innocence wasted. It makes my blood boil.”
“We’re not the bad guys!” I shout, defiance rising in my voice, though I know society sees us differently.
As the priest closes in, I frantically search for a way out, my mind racing as Azazel casually recovers from the blow, dusting himself off like this is just another boring Tuesday for him.
“Alright, new plan!” Azazel announces, way too calm for the situation.
“I’m all ears!” I snap, glaring at him while the priest starts chanting again, his voice like nails on a chalkboard.
Azazel smirks, leans down toward me, and whispers, “We use the classic distraction.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What kind of distraction?”
With that annoyingly confident grin, Azazel pulls something shiny out of his coat pocket. I squint at it—it’s… a coin? No, wait, maybe a key. Or is that a compact mirror? “This,” he says like it’s the solution to world peace.
The priest lunges forward, but before I can even ask what Azazel is doing, he throws the object high into the air. It spins, and from there there is a dark cloud but I don't see anything. But I see the fear of the exorcist.
The priest pauses mid-step, his gaze snapping upward. “What is that?” he growls, momentarily thrown off.
Suddenly exorcist tumbled to the floor.
“Run!” Azazel yells, grabbing my hand.
I stumble, nearly tripping as he drags me forward. Maria’s limp form bounces awkwardly over his shoulder, making it look like we’re in some bizarre circus act. We dart into a narrow alley, zigzagging through the empty streets, my heart pounding in my chest.
Azazel finally slows down, his breathing steady like he just finished a light jog, while I’m practically gasping for air. I glance back over my shoulder—no priest in sight.
“Classic distraction?” I mutter, shooting him a glare.
Azazel smirks again, that infuriating smirk. “Works every time.”
“I think it works. Help me pick up Elene too,” I say, repositioning Maria carefully on my back.
Azazel grumbles but complies, slinging Elene over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. By the time we reach a safe zone, my legs feel like jelly.
“We should keep moving,” I say, gasping for breath.
“Don’t worry,” Azazel replies, annoyingly composed. “The priest will be occupied for a while.”
“With what, exactly?” I demand, barely restraining my temper.
He shrugs, nonchalant. “It was a summoning token. It summons a random lower creature—could be a spirit, a familiar, even a restless soul. Just enough to distract him.”
I blink. “You used some random demon lottery ticket on that psycho?”
“Worked, didn’t it?” he says with a smug grin.
“Now what?” I ask, glaring at him as I lower Maria onto the ground and try to catch my breath.
“I suggest we go to Paris,” he says, like it’s the most logical idea in the world.
I pause, mid-wipe of the dirt on Maria’s face. “What?! I’m supposed to be living a normal life!” I snap, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and shaking him. “Are you insane?”
Azazel raises a hand, showing me another gadget, this one sleek and metallic.
“What now?” I groan.
“This baby can generate resources,” he says. “We can choose between passports, money—whatever we need. ”
“Haven’t exactly flown to other countries much,” I admit, crossing my arms. “So I wouldn’t know.”
“Then let’s wake Elene up, sneak onto a plane before it takes off, and—boom—we’re in Paris. Fake tickets, fake identities, all thanks to this.”
I stare at him, torn between wanting to argue and realizing how ridiculous this entire situation is. “Sounds… reasonable, but I just want to go home.”
“Home?” Azazel scoffs. “No, we’re going to Paris.”
Before I can retort, an explosion echoes behind us, shaking the ground beneath my feet.
My heart races. “We don’t have much time! Please, Azazel—I just want to go home!” I beg, my voice trembling.
“No, why would I even listen to you when we’re not a couple?” Azazel says with a smirk that makes my blood boil.
“You piece of—” I start, fists clenched, but then bite my tongue. This isn’t the time to argue.
“Fine, let’s go to Paris,” I mutter through gritted teeth. “But when Elene recovers, I’m going back.”
Azazel shrugs like it’s no big deal, carrying Elene effortlessly while I adjust Maria on my back. With Elene in such bad shape, there’s no way I can force her to endure much more. For now, I have to rely on Azazel, hoping Elene can recover more after being out of this field.
I glance at Maria, guilt gnawing at me. Dragging her to France wasn’t exactly in my life plan, but we don’t have much choice.
We reach the airport without any major trouble, slipping past security and wait for the departure in the runway airport, before we infiltrate to the seats.
Once we’re seated and waiting for takeoff, “Sorry to make you walk us to the airplane,” I whisper.
Elene’s eyes barely open, her voice a fragile whisper. “It’s... okay…”
As the plane starts boarding, the flight attendants give us strange looks. One of them approaches, clearly concerned. “Excuse me, but is she alright?” she asks, pointing to Maria, who still looks unconscious.
Azazel steps in with unnerving calm. “She’s fine, just had an allergic reaction. Ate something she shouldn’t have. We’re taking her to get treated.”
The attendant hesitates. “Are you sure? Should we alert medical staff—”
Azazel cuts her off smoothly, his tone unwavering. “We’ve already handled it. She’s stable. Thank you for your concern.”
Every counterargument the attendant makes is met with Azazel’s steady voice and infuriatingly logical explanations. After a while, she sighs and walks away, clearly deciding it’s not worth the trouble.
I lean back, sighing in relief as the plane begins to taxi down the runway. Next destination: France. Paris.