As morning came Isabella noticed Azazel never slept as he continued to work in his study adjacent his bed chambers. She glanced around before slowly pushing the doors to his chamber open before entering and shutting it once more.
She crept closer to the almost glittering figure of the women laying in her masters Bed. The deep purple tones of his sheets giving the women a glowing effect. She decided internally she would just check if the women was ok as it had been a little over a day from what she'd heard since this creature became human.
Isabella crudely drew a small runic symbol on her hand before doing the same to the women palm the clasps her hand tightly and closed her eyes searching deep. Her minds eyes opened to complete darkness in a wooded thicket. She glanced around a bit confused before being enveloped in a thrumming low growl.
She peered in the distance a short was feeling like she was wading in thigh hey swamps as she moved nearer the sound before a dim glow came from behind gold bars that looked attached to thin air. 'What is this?' She pondered never before seeing anyones mind or soul in this way. Another ominous growl but this time with a twinge of pain and restlessness resounded through the bars making them almost chime with the reverberated echo.
Isabella stepped closer reaching to touch the bars before a large maul came into view its silver fur striking and its velvet purple eyes piercing. Her heart thundered in her chest as she froze in a bout of sheer terror and awe at the creature before her. It towered her form even in it's restricted state.
She took it in the fur around its Breast was coated in blood that kept oozing out its teeth bared and atop its skull rose up too throws of horns the biggest being those of a buck. White twine encircled either side crossing and tying in places then crossing again over a thousand times some were severed and blackened some were whiter than others.
It's ears were tinged in blue and it's ethereal body was near translucent. She was awe struck at the beast in front of her. But in her awe she failed to notice the paw that came above her between the bars before it slammed down on her body.
Isabella jumped back with a gasp holding her hand to her chest tightly to calm her nerves. She'd never met such a ferocious soul. So blood thirsty and in anguish. Just then she realized Azazels eyes were on her from the chamber doors. She collected her self before bowing "I -I apologize sire I only wished to check the health of this woman and have made a blunder in doing so. Please forgive my intrusive behavior." She said it quickly as to not leave any misgivings about her interaction.
Azazel looked over Isabella's shocked expression as he noticed a tremble in her hands. He knew better than to think Isabella was scared of him. No. She was the only this close to a true aid in this castle when it came to him. "And this is why we don't play with things that you cannot understand Isabella." He chided her stepping closer. "What did you see little witch." He asked as if already knowing.
Isabella sighed " I-I believe I saw the beast of harvest and life. But it was wounded and sealed away behind bars of gold. It's body only half formed the other ethereal and translucent as if-" she stuttered the last but still caught in her throat.
"As of what?" Azazel asked patiently awaiting her response.
"As if her soul was dying. Sure." She met his eyes trying to gauge his reaction but quickly looked away when she couldn't.
"Don't fret little witch" Azazel said in a measured tone before patting Isabella's head leisurely as he passed her sitting on the arm chair by a large fireplace near the foot of the large bed. He lifted his hand pulling off a dark glove to expose thick scars and callused palms.
He snapped his fingers gingerly causing a unnatural flame to engulf the once cold slew.
"Shall I bring refreshments sire?" Isabella asked softly.
"No Isabella I doubt that creature will awaken anytime soon nor do I wish to be bothered right now." He spoke while eying a book on his side table about magics and runics in relation to gods and the like.
" how about you come join me and study up on your gifts little witch."
Isabella sat in the arm chair across from Azazel picking up the book reading aloud it's contents like she had every restless night before. Before she knew it the sun was setting and she felt the rug of sleepiness pull at her lids. She looked to Azazel who seemed to be deep in thought.
"Sire?" She said in a timid tone once again hesitating as to not anger him.
"Yes Isabella." He replied
"How old are you really?" She asked as if his answer would dispel her doubts of his humanity. He stiffened ever so slightly aware of what she was musing about then answered.
" two hundred and nineteen as of yesterday " he said calmly as if it wasn't something of wonder as he only looked about twenty.
Isabella nodded a bit taken aback that he admitted to this as if it was some well kept secret. She'd worked for Azazel her whole of fifteen years as did her mother until her death two years before. She'd alway heard how he was a primordial cast from the heavens and burdened with always having blood soaked hands.
But the history books of leoren didn't date back far enough for anything to be certain. Even more rumors were spread due to the king obviously distorting and written evidence or whatever atrocities were committed back then.
"How.. " she stuttered out softly "how are you still here ?"
She looked up at him to meet those icy eyes that gave away nothing. Azazel sighed knowingly. " that my little witch is a story for when you are much older." He said rising from his chair he unlaced the front of his shirt before pulling it off sliding his shoes off as well. Isabella was not shocked when met with the mangled scars and indentions on her masters body.
In fact she had helped her mother stitch many of them through out the years. The only difference in his body and hers is that though he got wounded and needed to heal he would never truly die. Rather be a walking monstrosity torn at the seems. Like a wooden doll with movable parts that hinged. His whole body was covered with seems that had to be kept closed so he wouldn't fall apart like a past due corpse.
"It's time for you to retire little witch" he said not looking in her direction as she stood and moved to the door. "Yes sir I hope you rest easy" with a bow Isabella retreated to her chamber to rest.
Azazel sat on the edge of his large bed his features lit aglow by the fire light as he looked out the double paned window into the quiet sleepy dark lit town outside the low walls to his castle.
His eyes seemingly searching for something as he laid back on top of the covers an arms length away from the unconscious creature taking up space in his bed. He could feel the bite of chill emu sting off the small female but it was to expected from the likes of her.
He pondered back to what she had said in the forests clearing her words ringing aloud in his mind. He turned to his side leaning his head upon his hand to gaze down at her. " if only you knew I have nothing left for you to take from me Creature." He spoke softly laying his free hand upon her head only then to realize her temperature was exceedingly high despite the chilly air around her.
"You do trouble me creature." His brows knitted together as he left the bed to fetch a cloth and warm some water. He dabbed away at her skin to sooth the fever in her. 'She's not human? So how could she be facing ailments such as a fever.' He thought. Just then she's tired her long tresses twining around her lithe form he scanned her face noticing a slight quiver in her bottom lip. He focused on her chest hearing her beat beating slowly in an uneven thrum.
He grew more concerned the next morning after tending to her all night he gave Isabella the reins of her care as no medications had helped. So magics and healing was next. Though neither of them were sure of what could heal a divine being they guessed it was going to be a slow process but no matter what Isabella did with her vast knowledge on remedial care and magics the creature grew gray as if her life was being sucked out of her.
Azazel racked his brain he couldn't those this chance to be set free of this curse. He'd lived too long to lose this prize before him after everything he did to track her down. He couldn't eat. Food tasted like nothing as well as drinking nothing fazes him he merely did it out of habit but over the years he did it less. More as a way to seem human around others. He didn't feel the need to sleep or rest at any intervals he was never sore or tired. He battles hard and shared many a wounds.
Alas nothing. His wounds didn't heal right he'd noticed unless sown shut his many injury's would just be as they are. With how many times he'd been down back together his once handsome face was mares with two long gashes from a throwing talon that had insisted his eye and nose on an attempt to throw in off balance in a siege.
He wouldn't let this chance go to get his body back from the damned deity's who'd entrapped him in this husk of a corpse the maiden moon was soon to be high in the sky and he'd have to leave as to not petrify his people. He could feel it in his bones the ache he'd only feel when they were pushing to the surface of his skin.
He sighed letting a laugh devoid of humor slip out and he looked up into the fire. For the first time in centuries he was feeling so tired he didn't even notice when sleep took him. He didn't even hear the book in his hand drop to the floor before being enveloped in black as his mind drifted away.