"You're such a character, Princess!" he grumbled with a mischievous grin.
Before she could react, he playfully scooped her up and swung her over his shoulders like a sack.
"Hey! Put me down, you crazy monster!" she protested, a mix of surprise and fear on her face.
'What on earth is this jinx trying to do?!'
Azriel growled with a mix of frustration and dominance, forcefully tossing her onto the bed as if she were nothing more than a mere piece of paper.
In an instant, he positioned his massive body, effectively caging her in, his face dangerously close to hers.
Displaying a hint of sadistic amusement, he playfully flicked her forehead, causing her to wince in pain before retaliating with a piercing glare.
'This Jinx!'
she exclaimed in her heart, clearly exasperated by his antics.
"There you go again, calling me a Jinx. First a beast, then a good-for-nothing, a monster, and now a Jinx" Azriel grumbled with a glare.
'Its amusing how this small princess thinks she can take me for a fool. Giving me these silly names, and me not reacting. If it were someone else, I'd consider cutting off that tongue of theirs and feeding it to them'
But Olivia?
He couldn't even imagine it!
"Get off me, you big bad wolf!" she yelled, struggling to push him away. His weight felt like it was crushing her bones.
What more did he want?
But he just smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, little Red haired mistress, you're so feisty," he teased, tightening his grip. She gritted her teeth, determined to break free from his grasp.
He finally gave in and stood up, distancing himself from her. He ran his hands through his hair, a sign of frustration. As he turned to look at her, his gaze shifted from playful to serious. It dawned on him that she was trying to escape from the palace, just like she did in Veeral.
Then he said in a threatening voice, "Don't try to leave this palace. Running is the most terrible decision you could ever think of. You can't leave this palace"
She sat up, her eyes blazing with an unwavering determination.
"I won't be trapped in Hellothan forever," she declared, her voice filled with defiance.
"I'll find a way to break free, no matter what it takes. You can try to intimidate me all you want, but I won't back down."
Azriel was visibly surprised by her boldness, his expression faltering for a moment before regaining composure. It was clear that her words had struck a nerve, challenging the very fabric of his control.
"You think you can escape my clutches? You're just naive, Princess" he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"But mark my words, Red Little Mistress, you'll never leave this kingdom"
Then he vanished from the room, leaving her fuming with anger and her hands itching for a target to strike. The air crackled with tension as she paced back and forth, contemplating her next move.
Next, she took a deep breath, channeling her frustration into her hair that she ran her hands through for the 100 time.
She asked herself, "Why am I even so scared of him? I'm Olivia! Princess of Vampires, for goodness sake!"
She ran her hand through her face.
"Can't I just be as formidable as Sister Harriet?" she asked herself, her anxiety weighing heavily on her. She lay on the bed, clutching her stomach, seeking solace in that gesture.
.....
Azriel appeared outside the palace where his men awaited him. They were set to investigate the gates of Hell, which Erebos had led a group of sorcerers to seal even further. However, something caught Azriel's attention—a peculiar sensation emanating from Olivia's room.
Without uttering a word, his men vanished once he did.
The entrance to the gate was engulfed in a mysterious white fog.
As Azriel approached, an eerie and chilling presence hung in the air, sending shivers down the spines of all who stood witness. The dense, dark energy seemed to seep into every corner, suffocating even the bravest of souls. While Azriel, being the king, remained impervious to its sinister effects, his men couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of unease deep within their hearts. The discomfort gnawed at them, like unseen eyes watching their every move. Yet, their unwavering loyalty urged them forward, determined to face whatever malevolent forces awaited them in the shadows.
As Azriel pressed onward, a sudden stillness fell upon the air, accompanied by a heavy and palpable killing intent that sent a shiver down the spine of his men.
The malevolent energy seemed to thicken, suffocating the surroundings with its ominous presence. Azriel's instincts, honed by years of battle and ruling, alerted him to the imminent danger lurking in the shadows. With a cautious pause, he surveyed his surroundings.
"So Erebos is the one responsible for this dense dark energy?" Azriel asked, his eyes still surveying the fogs.
The man who stood beside him nodded and said.
"Yes My Lord, Erebos is the reason for all this dense dark energy,"
Azriel, couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of the fearless rogue, Erebos, daring to challenge him, the devil. It was an amusing notion to imagine their clash.
Erebos, being raised by Azriel, had always desired to take his position as the king of hell. Despite his attempts, he couldn't succeed. Knowing Azriel's unmatched strength, Erebos decided to bide his time. However, when the Breath of Life elixir was taken by the Vampire King, Erebos realized that Azriel's life was tied to it, and he would perish if not careful. He also discovered that Olivia's pure blood could restore his fading immortality. That's why Erebos chose to confront Azriel directly, using Olivia as bait.
"My lord, there might be another source behind this ominous aura. Erebos lacks sorcerers of such magnitude to generate such an intense darkness. I suspect something is imprisoned within that gate," Atticus expressed, bowing his head respectfully.
Azriel's brow furrowed in confusion, while Leonidas, the leader of Azriel's men, gazed at Atticus. "What might be concealed within that gate?" He questioned, intrigued.
"I have no idea, but we should be prepared. i suggest we make a journey to visit the sorcerer king. He has a lot of explaining to do about why Erebos had sorcerers in the first place." Atticus said as he looked at Azriel.
The rest nodded at his suggestion while Azriel looked at the fog again.
No one knew what he was thinking about.
"Be prepared, we will leave tomorrow"
He finally said and swiftly disappeared.