Chapter 375: The Worst Demon

Chapter 375: The Worst Demon

Rafaels magic was fast. Still, if it had been headed straight for Lee, she was confident that she could have dodged out of the way. But it wasnt headed toward her, and with the fuzzy swirl of her newly formed Rank 4 Rune pounding in her head, Lees thoughts were a muddled mess.

There was only one thing that she still knew as a fact and that was Moxie wouldnt survive the powerful blood arrow screaming toward her. Lees skin prickled just from her proximity to it, and every single one of her senses screamed at her to turn tail and flee.

She could feel Azel pulling at her body, desperately yelling something in the back of her mind, but Lee barely even registered him. His words were a droning hum, drowned out by the immense rush of incomprehensible thought and hunger.

Out of the muddled mess, only a single thought managed to take form. And, amusingly enough, it was driven entirely by the sole emotion that Azel had been pushing her to embrace ever since theyd met.

Shes mine. Nobody can have her.

Lee blurred, slamming into Moxie and shoving her out of the way. Shed had plans to continue on, diving out of the way of the blood magic and letting it hurtle past both of them harmlessly, but she wasnt that much faster than Rafael.

The bolt drove into Lees shoulder. She braced herself for a blast of pain or agony, but nothing happened. Instead, the magic vanished within her, disappearing as if it had never been there. Lee took several stumbling steps, catching herself as Moxie rolled across the ground before her, unable to stop herself while within Rafaels domain.

Games over, Rafael said, letting his hands drop and bracing them against his knees with a pained laugh. I win.

Lee tilted her head to the side. She looked down at her body, then back up at Rafael. The relief in the Inquisitors eyes flickered, then faded as his eyes widened. How are you still standing? I poured every ounce of power I have into that. You cant

Heat blossomed in Lees chest. She doubled over as magic erupted from her body, roaring through the air in a current of crimson fire. The rest of Rafaels sentence was lost to the crackling flame as Azel snapped into existence beside Lee, embers rising off his black suit.

No, Rafael breathed, taking a step back. His back hit the stone cliff, but his eyes never left Azels form. Two demons. But how

Azel blurred. Fire streaked across the ground as he shot toward Rafael. Blood swirled up around the Inquisitor, starting to form into a shimmering barrier, but Azel crashed straight through it. His fist shattered Rafaels magic and he grabbed the Inquisitor by the hair, lifting the man into the air.

A loud crack followed by a wet squelch ripped through the air. Rafaels arm spun to the side, splattering to the ground behind Azel. The rosary slipped from useless fingers and slid across the grass beside it.

Well done, Inquisitor, Azel spat, hatred and fury bubbling from his words. You found me.

Rafael opened his lips to say something, but Azel denied him the opportunity. The demons hand slammed into the Inquisitors face with a loud crunch. Fire erupted around the two of them, swirling up into the air before abruptly snapping out of existence.

The Inquisitors body dropped to its knees, then pitched forward, a large hole running through his head. The body hit the ground with a wet squish and didnt move again. Not even a Blood Rune could save someone when their entire brain had been pulverized.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Moxie scrambled to her feet, raising her hands defensively as Azel turned. His suit smoldered, the ends of his lapels starting to burn away. Lee squinted at him, the world fluctuating around her.

The Rank 4 Rune was still shifting her body. She couldnt tell what was changing, but there was an undeniable sense of loss. Something that had once been there was gone, and more was fading with every passing second.

Moxie was alive, though. The kids would be fine. The Inquisitor was dead. That was what shed wanted. It had been the trade she made. It had been inevitable. There was no way for a demon to advance beyond embodying their emotion.

Lees face felt wet. She lifted a hand, wiping away a tear streaking down the side of her cheek. A frown crossed her lips as she stared at the water on her finger.

Why am I crying?

Azel stepped up to Lee, the ashes swirling off his body enveloping them like the setting night. Moxie yelled something, but Lee barely even noticed it. Moxie wasnt the only thing she needed.

There was so much in the world. Shed never thought about it properly before but the world was beautiful. The plants were lush. The sky was vibrant and blue, and everything between it called her name.

What is Gluttony to you? Azel shook Lee by the shoulders. Tell me!

Its protecting what I love!

Wrong! Azel hissed. It is loving the feeling of getting more. It is the endless hunger for more. That is what you should have but your stupid delusions were so strong that you twisted the damn emotion into some perverse human feeling. Something that we should not be corrupted by.

I dont care about any of this, Lee said. The Rank 4 Rune was turning me into what youre talking about. So, if you take it, youll have what you want.

Azels snarl slipped away, turning into a defeated laugh. I dont want it anymore, Lee. Your delusion ruined more than just your potential. It ruined my own.

He reached down to his burning suit, pulling it to the side. Thick lines of red wound through his body, pulsing with sickly energy. They wound around his chest and up toward his neck, turning the skin around them a dull grey.

What is that? Lee asked.

You are such a little shit. Its the bloodline curse that you jumped in front of. The one that would have killed you instantly if it had connected.

Lee stared in shock. You took the hit for me? Why?

I dont know, Azel said, looking down at the magic carving through his body one inch at a time. I suppose I may not have been the demon I thought I was. My emotions are Lust and Hatred. I betrayed them. Perhaps this is an apt punishment.

I still dont understand. What are you talking about? Lee said, squinting at Azel.

Why do you think I let you live when you followed me through the portal in the Scorched Acres? Azel asked abruptly. Did you really think you snuck through without my knowledge?

I thought you just didnt care.

If only. No. I knew you were there, because I held the portal open for you, Azel said. His face twisted in a grimace as the blood magic winding around him reached his neck and started to crawl toward his chin. You were always a poor demon. I had hoped that entering the mortal plane would be the boost you needed.

Lee stared at Azel in disbelief. What?

When I realized just how worthless were, I decided to harvest your energy once I escaped Noahs body, Azel continued with a wry smile. At least, thats what I told myself. Thats how I justified giving you my own Runes. Its why I transferred myself into your soul, even though Noah could have been convinced to perfect my own Runes in exchange for leaving you alone. I suppose that excuse doesnt work anymore, does it? I cant take anything when Im dead.

Why didnt you ever say anything? Lee demanded.

Does it matter? Azel asked. He coughed, then ground his teeth. Not anymore. You are not the demon I wanted you to be and you never will be.

Azel raised his hand, grabbing one of Lees horns. Then, with a sharp jerk, he snapped it. Lee let out a pained scream as agony raced through her body, but Azel held her in place with his other hand.

Molten lines of pain ripped through her body, winding through her head. They wrapped around the Rank 4 Rune in her soul, digging into it like jagged knives.

There. That wont last forever, Lee. Become more than just a mere demon, Azel said, a smile flickering across his lips despite the pain in his features. I want the legends of my daughter to travel so far that I still hear them. Itll give me something to think about in that line of Noahs.

Wait. You cant just

Odd, Azel breathed. The blood magic wound up his cheeks and he tilted his head to the side, his eyes staring straight past Lee. This isnt an emotion I recognize. It feels warm.

Cracks raced through Azels face. His body collapsed, crumbling in on itself. The ash that had been swirling around them twisted into a pillar and dissipated with a gentle pop, leaving only Lee to greet the light as day returned.