"Zamiel! Zamiel! Zamiel!" Lothaire yelled, turning his room upside down.
He yelled, broke things, and almost set his room on fire, but nothing calmed him down. His first instinct after finding out that Heaven and Irene left was to find Zamiel and cause havoc. But that demon was smart, and he probably expected that reaction from him. He wouldn't let himself look pathetic in front of him.
He had to calm down and think. Should he still pretend that it wasn't Irene he wanted, or should he just admit it and find another way to threaten them?
Lothaire paced back and forth, each time getting more agitated. His whole plan was ruined. He couldn't pretend that it was Heaven he wanted anymore, and now that Irene knew, it would be harder to manipulate her. Maybe even impossible. Or even worse. He wouldn't have the chance at all.
Now, since his plan was ruined anyway, he could as well create chaos. Make Zamiel regret that he ever crossed paths with him. He knew it would be stupid to let his emotions control him and seek Zamiel without having a plan, but the fury was making his blood boil.
Zamiel had let his enemy take away his mate. Just knowing that Euphorion was keeping Irene under the ocean made him feel like his face was on fire. His imagination went wild, thinking of the things Euphorion would do just to anger him further.
He could see the water demon laughing at him.
Before he knew Lothaire found himself in Zamiel's home. He let his anger get the best out of him. He was going to make himself look like a fool, especially since Zamiel already expected his visit.
"Welcome." Zamiel stood upstairs with a knowing smile.
He crossed his arms behind his back as he descended the stairs.
"You are very much like Zarin. Or should I say he is like you? Both of you like to come in, uninvited."
Lothaire forced himself to stay calm as Zamiel came to stand in front of him.
"Please sit." He said, motioning toward the coach.
Without a word Lothaire went to sit down. He leaned back to seem relaxed, despite itching in his nerves.
Zamiel was calm as he sat down and rested one arm on the side of the couch. Lothaire had a bad feeling. Zamiel's calmness rubbed him the wrong way.
"Would you like something to drink?" Zamiel asked when he said nothing.
"No, thank you." Lothaire replied. "It was brave and foolish of you to bring Heaven home."
"It was brave and foolish of you to possess her."
"It seems like you don't care for her safety." Lothaire said.
His eyes turned cold. "Do you know me to be reckless?" He asked.
Lothaire knew that Zamiel was a wise man. If he brought back Heaven, he was sure he could keep her safe. He knew that Lothaire's plan was completely ruined.
"Don't waste your time. Irene is out of reach now. You are lucky I found a place for her to feel safe. You know how far she would go for her children."
Zamiel was right. Lothaire had tried his best to keep it a secret because he knew Irene would eliminate herself to keep her children safe if she knew he was after her.
Now all his efforts were wasted. Even if he found Irene and brought her back, he had no chance. He could end up losing her forever. He would be the reason for her death.
He couldn't let that happen. He remembered the pain of when he thought he had lost her to childbirth. He didn't want to lose her again.
But what was the difference between losing her to death or to someone else? She was away from him. Far away, beyond reach. He couldn't even watch her through the eye, like he used to do. Yet he knew there was a difference. This one hurt his pride more than anything else. But losing her to death, that was another kind of pain.
"You think you are doing me a favor?" Lothaire scoffed.
"I am. I know better than anyone the pain of losing your mate."
Lothaire stood up from his seat. For the first time in a long time, he felt powerless. He could lie to himself if he wanted, but Zamiel already knew that there was nothing he could do. Because the people Zamiel cared for were the people Irene cared for.
He wished to just kill them all. Maybe even Irene. He wouldn't be in this position if he had stopped caring.
"Keep your loved one's safe." He told him. He could at least scare him.
Zamiel remained unprovoked. "Keep your kingdom hidden." He said.
Lothaire froze. What did he mean? What did he know?
Unwilling to show weakness, he pretended like he had nothing to fear and disappeared.
He went home, raging. "Tezznin!! Hezznin!!"
They appeared immediately. "What is wrong?" Both looked shocked.
"Do you want to die?! Because I have nothing to worry about."
They looked at him, confused. "Find a way to protect our kingdom or an ancient demon is coming to destroy you all."
Hezznin clenched her hands into fists while Tezznin's eyes widened. "I told you it wasn't worth it. I told you not to provoke him."
"Don't tell me what to do?!" He snapped.
"What is happening?" Tezznin asked. "Are we in danger?"
Lothaire felt like tearing his hair out. He knew that Zamiel knew something he shouldn't have known.
"Of course we are in danger. The kingdom is hidden to protect those who manipulate. Not those who cause any other kind of trouble. It was rules father established but broke himself." Hezznin was furious. "We can't protect the kingdom if you keep breaking the rules. Now do nothing. Irene and Heaven are not worth it unless you plan to abandon your mission."
She was right, but Lothaire didn't want to listen. "I want you to find the kingdoms under the water and destroy them."
If he couldn't have his revenge on Zamiel, he could have his revenge on Euphorion.
Tezznin looked at him like he had lost his mind. "Father, we don't have enough power under the water to fight water demons."
Hezznin crossed her arms over her chest. She was baffled. "Your army is to manipulate. Not to go to war with other demons. You will lose everyone you fought for to get on your side."
Tezznin put her hand on her sister's shoulder to quiet her. "Father, why don't you calm down and we will be back after a while?" She suggested.
Lothaire fell back in his seat. He wasn't thinking rationally. He had to calm down. His mission was the most important thing. He had to remember that.