"Kill them!"
Zed's father yelled the order to the guards who in turn launched themselves at the duo. Time seemed to have stopped for both Mike and Parish as they anticipated for the worst. Zed was now holding his head in regret as he turned to see what would happen next. Zed's heart raced in fear as the guards spears drew in close to his friends. But before the spears could even land on the two of them, something unexpected happened. Blinding light came from the center most part of the cave making everyone shade their eyes from the light. The guards who had attacked were sent away flying before their backs hit the cave walls so damn hard that a debris formed on their already dead bodies.
"I am Parish, the heir to the god of vengeance and mortal shall disrespect me!" A gruff like voice announced before the bright light burst into the area rendering some clansmen momentarily blind.
"What the hell was that?" Everyone began questioning but Zed and his father's gaze were fixated on the place where Parish and Mike had been a few seconds ago. Hell it was empty, not a single soul present.
"Father?" Zed called in almost a whisper. "Is what I'm seeing what you're seeing as well?"
Zed's father rubbed his eyes to confirm that what he had seen was indeed true. "I guess yes." Only white wraiths of smoke could be seen left on the place where Parish and Mike were standing before.
"See? I told you Parish is not one of us. He used a human trick to escape death!" The elder said turning to face everyone else.
"As your leader, I hereby issue this decree. If anyone ever comes across Parish and Mike, make sure to bring back Parish's head to me, they will be rewarded handsomely." The crowd cheered on that, but not Zed.
"Son? Don't tell me you want Mike spared when he broke your trust, do you?" His father asked, sending him that probing gaze that would make you feel as if he knew your deepest and darkest secrets.
"Ummn…no father." Zed did not want to disappoint him now, but deep down he knew how much he loved and cared for Mike.
"Alright everyone, back to work now," the elder said, and turning to Zed, " we'll have to evacuate here as soon as possible. The humans will know about this cave not too long from now. You know what you have to do."
Zed nodded before his father tapped him on his shoulders heavily that it almost hurt. He smiled wryly at him as he watched the retreating back of his father, a sour mood now taking over his being. This was definitely not what he had expected. And what the hell had happened to those two. The scene got implanted on his mind forever. And that voice.
"I am Parish, the god heir to the god of vengeance…" He laughed hysterically at that. Who never knew that Azazel was the god of vengeance? But again, what could Parish be? He had vanished into thin air, something that even the genius humans had never done before. That said, Parish being human was not a possibility then. Not that Zed believed he was one to begin with. Hell they had grown together and he had seen with his own two eyes as Parish slithered everyday. But what happened to his lower limb, that Zed did not know. What if what that voice had said was true? Hell it couldn't be! 'Just calm down Zed' he told himself taking in a couple of deep breaths.
Oh yes! His father had given him a task and here he was thinking about a weak Parish. But what happened today would remain fresh in the minds of many, and create a great impact on them.
***somewhere in the desert****
"God Azazel, please avenge anyone who inflicts any pain on me or Parish." Mike was still reciting this mantra when he noticed a sudden change in environment. Sand? Was this sand or was his eyes playing tricks on his mind? He was supposed to be on a rocky ground, right? What then was the meaning of this? Or maybe he had died and this was heaven! The thought shocked him driving him to abruptly stand on a gait posture.
Now he could see extensive sand everywhere making him swallow in fear. Did heaven look like this…an extensive mass of sand and freaking scorching sun? He had thought it would be like a paradise, a dream come true dè jà vu. Unfortunately it wasn't. He was so much engrossed in his own thoughts and fears that he had yet to identify another presence. A pair of beautiful white feet sinking on the sad besides him was what caught his attention now making his heart race in anticipation. Was this the devil now?
A sinister laugh was what pulled him out of his dreamy world. That laugh tone?
"Parish? Is it really you?…It's really you?" He exclaimed looking at Parish from head to toe in disbelief.
"So you also died?" He added earning a frown from Parish.
"We are not dead you fool," Parish said shading his face with the back of his hand. It was now the turn of a surprised Mike to grow even more surprised.
Surprised was in fact an understatement of how his face looked right now. It had turned all shades of surprise, confusion and disbelief. And before he could think further, Parish was already walking away.
Hey! Wait." He called trotting towards the direction that Parish was headed to.
"If we are not dead…can you explain how the hell we came here then."
"Miracles do happen my friend," Parish answered with a smirk earning another frown from Mike.
"I'm serious on this Parish. I saw the guards coming to take us down and the next thing I knew," he snapped his finger to show how fast it happened. "I got myself in the middle of a sand sea."
"Well… You prayed to Azazel, the god of vengeance and he came to our rescue. Isn't that the answer you were looking for?"
Author's Words:
Sorry this one made a mistake in uploading the chaps 😅😅😅