The room was cold. The chill hit Azrael's skin waking her from the nightmare, but she'd soon realize it was no nightmare. The ground beneath dug into her cheek as the room settled into place. Azrael pushed herself into a sitting position and was able to look around.

It was a large room with the cell lining the back wall. Eight small windows sat in a circle on the ceiling with a chandelier made of iron hanging in the center. Half-melted candles glowed dully in their fixtures giving off little light. The walls and floor were carved into the earth. Stone and mortar were then put in place in what seemed like hurried work.

Azrael shivered at the chill breeze that rushed through the open door to the room. Once she finally got her bearing, Azrael began thinking of a way to escape. She took one glance at the bars and her plan was put into motion. Even with how weak she was she could either blast or melt away the bars. Azrael scurried over and grasp two bars. She focused all her strength on her powers. No amount of hunger or fatigue was going to stop her right now.

"Come on come on," Azrael mumbled. The warmth that was once there had disappeared and with it so did her powers. She tried again. Maybe her focus was off. Yeah, that was it. Anéislis had always pointed out she could focus more. Still nothing. "No no no!" She hit the bars with the palms of her hands. "Somebody help me! Please!"

"No one's coming sweet girl." Serkan leaned against the door frame. Azrael glared through the bars at him causing him to laugh. "Nice little trick there though. Sadly, for you, those powers won't work down here."

Azrael sank down to the floor still holding those cold iron bars. She was too tired to cry. Too tired to fight. Too tired to live.

Serkan walked over kneeling in front of her. "You really think I would stupid enough not to have magic in place for your arrival?" He stroked his thumb down her cheek. Azrael pulled away last second. "We'll get your strength up and then the fun can begin." A wicked smile grew on his face causing chills to run down Azrael's spine.

"You're going to pay for all of this," Azrael said hoarsely. Her throat was dry and raw from the constant crying that had happened over the past few days.

"I've already won." Serkan left without another word leaving Azrael alone again.

~~~*~~~

Raden woke up with heavy eyes and sore limbs. He didn't remember much of what occurred but certainly remembered that he wasn't in bed when he blacked out. He grazed the sheets as he kept his eyes closed tracing over the soft material. When he reached out for the other side of the bed, no one was there waiting for him. Raden opened his eyes and was welcomed by a room adorned in marble and gold trim. He turned his head to the side and saw a tray that was covered in medical supplies.

With a grunt, Raden tried to sit up but a stabbing pain raced down his spine. He yelled out and fell back into the pillows. His chest rose and fell quickly but he was determined to sit up and figure out what was going on. Raden rolled over carefully and slung his feet over the edge of the bed. He took in a deep breath and pushed himself up. Pain shot through his back again and he yelled out.

"Fucking hell!"

The door opened to reveal Deimos out of breath. Raden turned his head grimacing through the pain. He gripped the edge of the bed and another shooting pain ran through his back.

Deimos ran over grabbing Raden by the shoulders before he fell. "What the hell are you doing trying to get up?"

"I'm trying to sit up. What does it look like," Raden retorted back.

"You're in no condition to get up." Deimos looked Raden dead in the eyes. He had dark circles and looked completely drained.

Raden shook his head and attempted to stand only to be pushed back. He shot a glare at Deimos. "Get me out of this God's forsaken bed."

Deimos let out a frustrated sigh. "You're so fucking stubborn." He pushed Raden back. "Stay in this bed or I'm tying you down until Lorcàn gets here."

"Lorcàn?" Raden stopped fighting. The fatigue was creeping up as he sat there. "Why is he coming to King's City?"

"King's City? Raden, where exactly do you think you are?"

Raden looked around as he gathered his thoughts. "I don't know. The memories get a bit foggy after this morning." He still could smell the iron-heavy air in the camp.

Deimos sat down next to Raden. His face twisted into a mixture of emotions. None of which Raden could pinpoint. "We found you almost dead in a camp that had been attacked. I and another one of my men brought you back to Ifera. That was two weeks ago."

"What!" Panic set in. "Deimos, where is Azrael? She needs to been found and brought to me." Raden tried standing but Deimos caught him before he fell. "She's in danger... Serkan is after her and he knows... Deimos, he knows she's in King's City." Raden's breathing increased and his mind raced. Eli should've gotten to her first and hid her. But what if he didn't? What if something did happen?

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He saw the pain in Deimos' eyes. "There were bodies everywhere when we arrived at King's City. It was a complete ambush." He shook his head. "Survivors said that he took her. Serkan has Azrael."

The air had been sucked out of the room in that instant and Raden went numb. Everything around him began to spin and the next moment he was on the floor hunched over. His wings were draped over his body and his head bowed. Tears fell to the marble floor and a heart-wrenching cry escaped Raden's lips.

Raden's cries shook the very ground the castle stood on. Ifera felt a wave of anger and grief take over the atmosphere. The sun dimmed in sorrow and the skies grayed. The citizens took notice and grieved for this heartbreak.

A human's heartbreak could send a person into an abyss. A celestial's heartbreak could send a realm into extinction.

Many rushed into the room seeing Raden in distress. Deimos was bent over trying to console Raden but there was no use in it. Raden had blocked out the room and was quickly spiraling into his anger. It engulfed and grasp him in a chokehold tightly. Nothing was going to stop him from getting her back.

Deimos turned his head and saw a terrified servant girl standing against the wall. "Go get Lorcán now." She didn't move. Deimos rolled his eyes turning again to find another servant. This time an older lady had just rushed into the room. "Lorcán now." She nodded and was about out the door when Deimos yelled another command. "Take the scared bitch with you."

Out the door, they went.

"Raden listen to me." Deimos shook him. "Listen I need you to calm down and breath."

The others were watching carefully. If Raden decided to take out his anger now, there would be no stopping him. Not even Deimos would be able to stop him this time.

"You explode now and there will be an entire city of innocent lives in danger. You want that on your conscious?" Deimos was close to Raden's ear. He didn't need everyone else in the room hearing this. The mass fear would spread quickly at that.

Raden finally took his first full breath. His lungs screaming for the precious air and his throat burning like hot coals had been shoved down. Tears still blurred his vision but the sense of his surroundings was coming back to him. The tight grip his anger had was slipping away letting him float back from that dark place.

Lorcán burst through the doors with a healer following on his heels. He took one look at Raden and Deimos then around the room. "Everyone out. Now." His voice was calm but demanding. The room emptied silently leaving only Raden, Deimos, Lorcán, and the healer.

They helped Raden back into bed without much fighting from him. The healer began assessing Raden and mixing up some potions while Lorcán and Deimos stepped aside to speak.

"He's going to go after Serkan you know," Deimos said. He may not have known Raden for long, but he knew they were alike in many ways. One way was that no matter what stood in their way; nothing would stop them from going after the ones they loved. Even if it would be their demise.

Lorcán nodded and sighed, "That's what I'm scared of. He can't do this alone and your armies won't be here for weeks at best."

"I know, but we have time on our side."

"What?" Lorcán raised an eyebrow.

"Serkan has the girl. She's the weapon everyone has feared would pop up again. However, to use her magic he has to break her spirit.," Deimos explained.

Lorcán let out a chuckle. "She'll give him a run for his money." He looked over at a now sleeping Raden. "She may be more stubborn than Raden is and that's saying something."

Deimos nodded. "Then we may have a bit more time on our hands to form some sort of plan to get her back." Lorcán could only hope. That's all they could do now.

King's City lay ruined and next would be Ifera. Lorcán had much to do and little time. He would not let his city, and his people meet the same fate as those in King's City.

~~~*~~~

The door creaked open catching Azrael's attention. She lifted her head to see a guard walking towards the cell with a tray of food. He slid it into the cell and walk away without another word. The smell of the food hit and her stomach instantly growled in hunger. She moved over to the tray and saw it was freshly cooked chicken. Seeing actual food surprised her.

"It's not poisoned if that's what you think."

Azrael's head snapped to the door. Serkan stood leaning on the doorframe watching her. She turned back to the food in front of her and picked up a piece to eat. It was the best thing she had tasted in a long time, but that could be from the lack of food.

Serkan walked over standing a few feet from the cell bars. Azrael looked up. "Can I help you?"

"In more ways than you know. For now, however, I just need you to eat because you're no good to me starved." He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at her. An uneasy feeling settled around Azrael causing her to squirm.

"If you'd be so kind, I'd enjoy eating without an audience," Azrael popped off. Serkan smiled and chuckled.

He shook his head. "You're quite an interesting human. Most shutter in fear at my presence, but you... You're ready to slit my throat aren't you?"

No answer.

"It's refreshing having my work cut out for me. I'm going to enjoy my time with you." He squatted down in front of her. "It may be even more enjoyable than seeing that death angel bleeding out at my feet."

Azrael's eyes went wide. "What?" Her voice was no more than a whisper.

His eyes had a mischievous glint about them. Serkan clicked his tongue and tilted his head slightly. "I'll say this once and slowly so your little mortal brain can comprehend. The death angel is dead. He bled out like the rest of those petty human soldiers."

Tears burned her eyes. She shook her head in denial. "No, no. That's not true."

"It is."

Azrael stood on shaky legs. "You're lying." She looked directly into Serkan's soulless eyes. "You're a lying bastard and he's coming." Her breath hitched. "He's going to kill every demon you send after him. He won't stop until I'm safe and your head is in his hands."

Serkan laughed. It echoed through the halls and haunted the darkest parts of Azrael's mind. She stood as still as a statue watching Serkan laugh.

"Your ability to hold onto something as fragile as hope is... pathetic." Serkan's demeanor shifted to a cold shell. His eyes glazed over and that wicked charm was turned off like a switch. "I will break you and rip away any hope you've latched on to."

Azrael knew then that it was going to be up to her if she was going to survive.