Isabella held her breath outside the door waiting for his command." come in " she heard me on the door sternly, and then pressed her hands against the double doors hard in an attempt to move the large doors with much effort.
A small smile threatened Azazal's lips in amusement at her struggle. Though she was young Azazal new just how powerful his little witch was. So the mere thought that a mahogany door could put a damper on her immense strength was quite amusing in itself.
"Isabella, please stop feigning weakness at the be'hest of a door. All of your fellow servants are at the top floor anyways." he chuckled as he said this and intern the door, flung open with a large thud. " sorry sire sometimes I forget I don't have to hide in front of you." Isabella said an a very cold tone with no trace of emotion on her face.
" and why ever would you think you'd have to hide from me my little witch?" He said a bit curious. " I don't know should I? It seems that you wish to collect deities. I could be one and not even know it what happens then." She said sarcastically he understood now she was here to pick a fight.
In all his years of being served by her family once he was born again into this human kingdom, she was the only one of her kind, though her parents practiced magiks and partook in witchcraft and Druid séances they barely had what Isabella had.
A true witch. The first of her kind born to mortals. He had guessed that's why she was so head strong and willing to go against anything she thought unjust in her small mind. " If you think I'd sacrifice you for my means, little witch, then you'd be right." Azazel replied not in the mood to argue over this matter.
Isabella's eye narrowed as heat rose to her cheeks. She could feel the vines in her swirl and sit heavy in her stomach. 'Would he really?' She thought growing angrier as Azazel lifted his head from his work and their eyes met. At this point she was seething at his cold demeanor.
"Azazel." Isabella spoke breaking the tension. " I would like to leave the castle with Inary and return her back to the forest." She stated as calmly as she could muster.
He stopped and placed his knuckles under his chin and sighed. " I'm afraid I can't let you do that Isabella. She still has an important role to play when she wakes up. And until then you both must stay here while I hunt for the others."
His words had a warning in them she knew he wasn't going to argue with her but even so. " And if I leave anyways." It wasn't a question but more of a taunt. He dropped his hand and stood from his seat and walked around the large desk to stand in front of her. His eyes boring into hers.
" you will not disobey me Isabella. You are mine and so is that women and all the deity's after her will all belong to me. You can run you can do as you please but if you'd like to continue living so comfortably I'd suggest not playing games and heeding my orders to the best of your ability." Azazel got closer looking down on her as she sized him up.
He saw a flash of emotion in her eyes for a brief second but he could quiet tell what it was before she smiles and a gleam replaced it. " As you wish sire." She said in a blatantly condescending tone before turning on her heels and excusing herself from his study.
Azazel stood there for a moment perplexed by how she acted. Isabella was his closest Ally aside from a few old souls. He couldn't say she was much more than that. Merely a pawn, but even so he felt that unfamiliar tug in his chest like he had just ruined something pure with his cynicism. He couldn't understand what drove her to be against him so suddenly.
Just out side the doors**
Isabella stood still. Her mind racing at his cold words. 'You are mind.' He says like I am a piece of property. That's fine ' she thought a grimace forming on her face. ' I'll just wait til he has to leave. It'll only be twenty more days before the souls call him.' With a fire in her eyes she made her way to Inarys bed chamber.
Once inside she sat beside the bed inspecting the female she no longer recognized. She watched as something remarkably sad happened. A soft glow of amber light flushed Inarys skin her form shifting her light white skin turning a deep olive and her hair became a ravens black. The scars that marked her became thicker and more plain to see. Even her eye lashes grew to be a dark color.
Isabella held her breath trying to force the tears away. But she couldn't hold back once the soft glow disappeared. She held onto Inarys hand tightly and cried. She felt the vines wrap around their hands tightly holding Inarys to hers. She felt the warmth between them. She'd never felt so strongly over such a beings fate but in her heart she knew this was not just some human emotion this was more complex and deeper.
Before Isabella knew it she drifted off to sleep their hands still tightly bound together as if a prayer would save them now. I'm her sleep she once again saw the child but now she was alone in the decaying forest. Her skin glowed against the bleak back drop of dying trees that withered away and she could see the bones of a large animal surrounding the child.
Her heart lurched as the realization hit her.
The fox was dead now. And the child was alone surrounded by the death of every good thing she knew. And it broke Isabella's heart bringing her to tears. Then slowly she saw everything start to turn to ash. "Wait Inary! Please stay!" She yelled running towards the child. She got to the massive bones and Inarys big honey eyes looked up at her and smiled. " I'm so glad I could see you again little witch." She hummed ans the bones around her caved and turned to ash as well.
"Please what's happening?! You can't go yet." Tears streamed down Isabella's face as she slowly moved closer taking the child's hands in hers with a pleading look. "It's ok little witch this is not good bye forever will always be with you. We are one now. Thank you for taking good care of me all this time. I'm so happy It was you. You finally were born." Inary spoke with joy and a bright smile.
Suddenly all Isabella was holding was ash and she saw the child's face break down and disappear. She couldn't hold back any longer and she whaled in anguish at the sad sight of the once beautiful scenery all gone nothing but a black void was around her seemingly swallowing her whole. But oddly she felt at peace with it all and her mind drifted off until she too slept deeply still clutching Inarys hand in waking life.