Chapter 330 - 330

When the night fell everyone gathered at the throne room. Mark hadn't seen any of them before their meeting. Now all stood there while Allias sat on his throne waiting. He felt anxious, his mind would travel I to so many different things, so many different worries that he felt an upcoming headache smiling devilishly at him. It was time, there was no turning back now. 

Once he entered the spacious room he noticed Asmodeus standing in the middle of a demonic seal. It had a round shape with a boldly drawn pentagram in the middle. Runes all around the circle made of bright red paint. His brown eyes landed on the demon's bandaged palm. So it wasn't paint, it was his blood. 

"Are you ready?" Theseus asked him with a faint smile. The red haired nodded, knowing very well that there was no other option for him. Even if he wasn't ready death would be what awaited him and he didn't wish that. "You will need to stand here, in the middle with Asmodeus. He will tell you what you need to do." He explained and Mark began walking. 

His footsteps echoed as his feet landed heavily on the polished floor. He looked at Allias, worried, hoping that the king would say something. His best friend met his eyes and smiled, waving him to go and do it. Mark looked at him, afraid to meet with Asmodeus' anxious gaze. He would get even more worried this way, he knew it. 

When he stepped into the pentagram a very strong wind blew and Mark was almost pushed out. His body, exhausted and in this horrible state was weak so he couldn't resist the powerful force. Asmodeus with quick reflexes caught him, his arm around his waist as he pulled him close.

"Thanks" Mark mumbled when Ares' voice broke the awkward silence.

"So is this like a wedding? Will there be a buffett afterwards?" He asked and his husband gasped, his eyes wideneing like two perfect circles. 

"Shut up!" He shouted and stuffed the man's mouth with flowers. He had instinctively grabbed them from a vase on his right and pushed them right into the prince's mouth. Ares spat them out loudly and looked at Ea. "Not now" the small elf said between gritted teeth. "Sorry, please continue." He said with an embarrassed expression. 

"So do we begin?" Mark asked the demon. Asmodeus remained quiet for a while, thinking from where he should start, what he should do or say. He was worried that Mark would get frightened at the last minutes and walk away, cancel their plan and accept his doom just because he didn't wish to be around him. He had to be very careful with his words.

"Yes. Well...I need you to open your palm. I will cut a small wound and your blood will flow. It will mix with mine on the design on the floor and you will hear me chant. Once I start returning to my natural form I will need you to step back. The rest will happen on their own." He said. 

"Step back? Why? Will you be fine?" Mark asked him, filled with concern. Asmodeus smiled, feeling relieved for a second. Maybe he really did love him, even with all that fear haunting his heart. A fear he had caused. 

"I will be perfectly fine". He told him playfully and winked at him. "Now if you'll excuse me little human." He said and searched inside his pocket. He took out a small knife with a red handle. It was made from some kind of gem and shone red underneath the moonlight that sneaked in from the tall windows. Mark could see his reflection on the fine sharpened blade. He looked utterly horrible, the eyebags, his hollowed cheeks and the paleness of his skin showed very clearly that he hadn't much time left. He was already a candle that was slowly melting. 

The red haired opened his palm, averting his gaze as the cold tip of the blade touched his skin. Asmodeus was fast, moving gently but at the same time harsh enough to tear up his skin. He didn't feel much, just as if he had been cut by a paper. When his warm eyes though landed on the wound he panicked for a second. Seeing the blood slip out so fast, so much. 

"Close it" Asmodeus advised him and made him close his fist. The blood dripped on the floor and soon it started moving. It was as if the small drops we're being summoned by the demon's blood, needing to mix in with him. Mark's eyes widened at the unusual sight. He kept looking down at the traveling liquid when suddenly it was all set on fire. He flinched and through the chirping of the flames he could hear Asmodeus chant, fast and in a low tone. He couldn't make out his words, it was almost as if he was talking in his sleep.

The human raised his head and looked at him, seeing his horns grow. He knew this was his que to go. He stepped back, afraid of the fire only to realize that it didn't burn. He sighed relieved as he escaped the circle but still he decided to stand close.

Asmodeus' wings spurred from his back, wide and majestic. Their opening brought a great wind and Mark closed his eyes for a second before he was drawn in by the sight. The demon fell on his knees as his fangs grew so much they pierced his lips. He looked at Mark, his monstrous form in it's peek and smiled looking like the devil himself. The red haired man was once more fascinated. He always was by Amsodeus rough beauty, no matter the consequences. He took a step closer when he heard a strange sound. Chains, the sound of chains on the being dragged on the ground was heard from far away, making Mark stop in his track. Asmodeus seemed to be completely calm as the fire started to move towards him. It got stuck on his wrists, around his neck and on his ankles and soon formed fiery parts of chains. Heavy and burning. The demon screamed in agony and Mark observed how the fire melted his skin, it looked as if it was trying to get underneath it, reach his bones.

He parted his lips, ready to say something when the fire, moving fast left Asmodeus and like a spear flew towards him. It hit him right in the middle of his chest but he didn't feel anything. He just stood there frozen as he watched the demon faint from the pain. He looked at the places in Asmodeus' body that the fire had touched, there was no melting skin anymore, no blood, no more gore. There were though markings, like tattoos that showed chains surround his neck, his wrists and his wrists. Mark felt a sudden warmth in his chest were that fiery spear had hit him and he looked down, underneath his shirt. He had a mark too, a black tattoo in the shape of a melting crown. A thought suddlenly popped into his mind.

One of the kings of hell finally submitted. His crown is melting off his head. 

So it had happened, he realized. Now Mark and Asmodeus were united.

Forever.

....

I'm really sorry I did not update yesterday. At the moment my country is in a state of emergency. There are fires put by arsonists everywhere and all of us are ready to evacuate at any moment. Just yesterday 158 fires began. So for a while I don't know if I will be able to update daily but I will try my best. I hope you are all well.