The door to the throne room burst open, and Azriel, his aura deathly cold, stormed in. The dukes in the throne room watched in silence as he took his seat, knowing that speaking up was a matter of life or death. Once they noticed he had calmed, they began.
"My lord," Lord Zeus began, his voice filled with trepidation. "A message arrived this morning regarding the gates of Hell. It appears that ever since the elixir was stolen, the gates have sealed shut, rendering them impenetrable. This poses a grave risk to your life, as the gates can no longer be easily opened. We must find a way to restore the balance and ensure your safety."
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Azriel, awaiting his response to the news of his impending demise. Much to their astonishment, he remained unperturbed. Without skipping a beat, Duke Achilles swiftly rose from his seat, ready to deliver his own report.
"My lord," Duke Achilles began, his voice filled with determination. "I have received word from our scouts that a group of rebels has been gathering strength in the outskirts of the kingdom. They seem to be plotting an uprising against your rule. We must take immediate action to quell this rebellion and ensure the stability of the kingdom. I have already dispatched our best soldiers to investigate and gather more information."
The Duke paused.
"My lord," Then continued, his voice laced with urgency. "I must also inform you that we have identified the leader of these rebels. The head of this rogue faction is a formidable warrior known as Erebos. He is cunning and ruthless, rallying others to his cause. We must devise a strategic plan to neutralize him and dismantle the rebellion. Your safety and the stability of the kingdom are our utmost priorities."
Azriel remained stoic, his expression unchanged, as the next lord rose to give his report. The room held its breath, waiting for the next piece of crucial information to be revealed.
The next lord, Lord Magnus, stood up with a sense of purpose. "My Lord, I have investigated the recent surge in magical anomalies throughout the kingdom. It appears that a powerful artifact has been unearthed, causing disruptions in the balance of magic. If left unchecked, it could lead to catastrophic consequences. I have assembled a team of skilled sorcerers from the north to track down the artifact and restore harmony to our realm. We shall not rest until this threat is eradicated, my lord."
The next lord was an old man, Sir Cedric. He rose to deliver his report, a sense of urgency filled the room. "My lord," he began, his voice tinged with concern. "I have troubling news regarding the Breath of Life Elixir. It's growth has become unstable, and without intervention, it poses a threat to Hellothan. We must act swiftly to find a solution and protect the kingdom. Also, The rogues have discovered the Princess, the only vampire in Hellothan, and their aim is to take her away because they blame vampires for their rebellion. The princess is vital to keeping the kingdom alive. We must protect her at all cost"
Azriel's eyes widened in alarm, his previous composure shattered by this revelation. He immediately interjected,
"Nothing can happen to her"
Azriel, dismissed the other dukes from the room, leaving only Duke Fedrick, a partial wizard by his side. With a solemn expression, Azriel turned to Frederick and spoke in hushed tones.
"Frederick, there is something I must confide in you"
The Devil's voice calmed. "My immortality is fading, and I fear time is running out. It seems that the secret pact I made with King Charles regarding the Breath of Life Elixir holds the key to restoring my waning powers. We must delve deeper into this matter and find a way to revive my fading immortality before it's too late."
Azriel had been suspicious of this for quite some time, he finally mustered the courage to confront the truth. The moment he confirmed it, he had laughed hard, So hard that his finger curled.
Frederick, his voice filled with intrigue, leaned closer to Azriel.
"My lord, the Breath of Life Elixir is not the key to saving your fading immortality. There is another secret, a hidden truth that I am not yet ready to reveal. But rest assured, there is hope"
Azriel nodded and the Duke walked out of the room, leaving him alone.
.....
Olivia awakened on the hard floor, she gazed around and realized she had actually slept while on the floor. She looked around the room to find herself alone.
'Where is Aquila?'
Then she remembered what happened yesterday, That good for nothing Devil took her away for a punishment she didn't deserve.
Anger boiled in Olivia as she stood up straight, her gown falling to her side like waterfall.
She suddenly pondered on the decision to escape hellothan.
'If I remain here, that good-for-nothing devil might kill me one day' yes it might be a difficult decision, but she could escape and find help to save her father other than staying in this cursed place for a thousand years.
Olivia moved to the window with her determination to escape burning in her heart. She gazes out the window, measuring the height to the ground. With a deep breath, she decides to take a risk.
With every ounce of courage, Olivia positions herself by the window, preparing to make her daring escape. But just as she is about to climb out, she senses someone approaching. She immediately entered back into her room. Her instincts kick in, and she grabs a nearby penknife for protection, hiding behind the door.
Her heart raced as the footsteps drew nearer. Olivia's grip tightens on the penknife, ready to defend herself.
Olivia, clumsily ready to pounce on whoever barges into the room, didn't discover it was none other than Azriel.
Little did she know, Azriel sensed her presence behind the door before entering, playing it cool.
As he steps in and finds an empty room, Olivia springs from behind the door, swiftly restraining him and pressing a penknife against his neck.
A mix of shock and realization washes over her face when she realized whom she had held captive, but she quickly regains her composure.
Azriel, wearing a smirk on his handsome face, admires her audacity.
Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Olivia leans in and whispers in his ear, "If you don't let me leave hellothan, then I'll make sure you regret it"
Azriel chuckles at her words, unable to contain his amusement. After a hearty laugh, he lets out a sigh and responds,
"Oh, princess, you certainly know how to make things interesting. But do make me regret it, if you dare." The air in the room crackles with a mix of tension and intrigue, leaving Olivia dumbfounded.
Olivia, taken aback by his response, feels a wave of doubt wash over her. The realization hits her that she could never bring herself to harm Azriel. She had never harmed even an animal before, talk more a human.
'What was I thinking?'
Regret fills her mind as she anticipates Azriel's teasing.
'Damn it, Olivia. You've really done it this time'
Azriel's chuckle interrupts Olivia's self-scolding, drawing her attention back to the present. He finds her internal monologue amusing, as he can hear her thoughts loud and clear.
Olivia realizes that she had forgotten that he could hear her thoughts and frustration washes over her.
Azriel, still chuckling says to her, "Seems like you've got quite the active mind, princess. Don't worry, I won't hold it against you. We all have our moments, right?"
Olivia, frustration evident in her voice, grumbles, "Oh, yeah cause I can't even think in peace knowing you can hear everything!"
She vents her annoyance at the lack of privacy, feeling a bit exasperated by the situation.
Azriel's swift movement catches her off guard as he deftly disarms her, pinning her against the wall. With the cold steel of the knife pressed against her neck, a rush of adrenaline courses through her veins. The proximity of their faces creates an electrifying tension, causing her to feel a delightful tingling sensation that sends waves of anticipation through her entire body.
'Great! Now he switches us!'
He immediately bursts into laughter, having heard her thoughts loud and clear.
Seriously, This little princess never ceases to amaze him. Since they met, he had been laughing so much which was unlike him. He was the devil for crying out loud!
He isn't supposed to laugh so much. But all those were just child's play when it came to Olivia.
Her little expressions were enough to make him laugh his head off.