Sebastian
I sat on the edge of my bed with my head in my hands. The day I died kept playing through my head.
I was thirteen when it happened. My father and I were out on a hunting trip, hunting boar. My horse spooked and threw me, I was skewered through the chest by a tree branch. My vision went dark, as pain left my body. All I felt was my heart slowly drawing to a stop.
As it did, I heard a voice that scared me to my core.
"Do you wish to live a life you won't regret? To indulge in the exquisiteness and lavish in the fact you'd never have to fear death again?" Azazel's voice was scary but alluring. I nodded my head as his dark figure loomed over me.
"I will be you, and you will be me. We'll learn to co-exist together and live a wonderful life. Your mother told me I get to pick a bride," he grinned evilly as he reached out his clawed hand towards me. I placed my grasp within his as a burning sensation went through me. I writhed, and my body contorted as he entered me. The pain was something I blocked out so long ago because of how excruciating it was.
I snapped out of my walk down memory lane as I stood up, heading over to my desk. There was a piece of paper sitting there. Oh, right, the paper Sir Garrett gave me that I completely forgot to give to Lilith. I sighed as I picked it up. She probably needs it. I held it in my hand, staring at it. I don't know why, but I was dreading facing Lilith.
I sucked in a breath, held it in, then released it. I pulled my door open, taking a step out. I'll ask her to dinner. Maybe I can take her somewhere nice so we can talk. I turned and headed towards the stairs. The walk was excruciating, the nervousness I was feeling was causing me to sweat. The faint sound of our clock hitting noon rang throughout the marbled foyer. I stood in front of her door. I slowly reached out, knocking.
There was no answer. I strained to see if I could hear any movement. I pulled my brow into a frown as I reached out, grabbing the handle. I turned it, pushed it and the door opened. I stepped in, peeking around the corner. Nothing. I slowly walked through her room; I noticed my coat on the bathroom floor. I took in the stillness of the room, realizing none of her stuff was in here.
I strode up to the closet and flung it open. It was empty. Panic slowly crept over me as I turned, looking around again frantically, hoping something anything would stick out. That's when I saw it. A paper neatly folded on top of her pillow. I strode up to it, snatching it in my hands and opening it.
" Dear Sebastian,
I'm sorry, but I have to terminate our contract. We aren't compatible. I'll be heading back to Lahnust, and there will be a new charge arriving within five days.
Sincerely,
Lilith"
I stood there re-reading it God knows how many times. Anger welled in me, as my eyes grew darker. I crumbled the paper up in my hands as I started to see red. My anger forced Azazel awake.
"We need to go after her... NOW" he roared. I swiftly left her room, rounding the corners faster than I'd moved before. I flung the doors open to the back and headed for the stables. I didn't even wait for a horse to be prepared; I just threw a bit on one and jumped on its back.
"Hiya!" I kicked the sides, sending the horse into a full-on gallop. I didn't need to be slow; I'd pick up her sent. We went through the gates, turning corners and making our way to the tavern we were at on our first night. No. I pushed forward. We went through checkpoints and around the outer part of the town as we worked our way towards the middle where the shopping district was.
Nothing. Fucking, nothing! I ground my teeth as I yanked on the horse to turn. We doubled back, checked everywhere, NOTHING! The sun started to set as I decided to take our search outside the walls.
We exited the front gates, a small breeze kicked up, sending a familiar smell across our nostrils. I pricked the sides of the horse again, sending it into a trot as we turned towards the smell. It led to directly behind the palace. The sun was completely down by the time we followed it to the edge of the forest.
I hopped off the horse, planting my feet firmly on the ground as I strode into the tree line.
"We're alone... allow me. We'll find her faster." Azazel said firmly. Nodding, I took off my coat, throwing it to the side as my fangs grew. My mass grew as well, but this time, he did not hold back.
My shoulder blades ripped through my shirt, sprouting massive black ragged wings, my pants ripped apart leaving small, ripped fragments of fabric attached at the waist as my legs buffed out, my feet turned into talons like a gargoyle as my hands became massive claws. A tail curled around as our tongue forked, horns twisting out of our forehead as our skin turned black like the void as it also cracked, turning the fissures the color of molten lava.
We bent to the floor, flicking our tongue out, catching her scent. It was faint, which meant she was here a while ago. We growled as we swiftly scurried through the forest floor on all fours, our size causing the trees to bend as we pushed through. We came to an end; it led to a road that led to the south entrance of Astion. We darted our eyes back and forth scanning the roads. Her smell pointing to the left.
We dug our hands into the ground as we pushed off it, zipping through the dark following it like a blood hound, making sure to stay in the darkest parts possible. We quickly came up on a bend, turning into it as we continued forward. Her scent got stronger as we rounded onto an inn.
Halting, we growled angrily. That's the inn that we've been trying to shut down. It's been targeting women and capturing them, selling them to the sex slave ring within Astion. We just couldn't get solid proof. We stood up straight, flexing our claws as her scent, mixed with another man, crossed our nose. Our nostrils flared as our vision turned red. We crouched on the floor and flung ourselves towards the inn.
We busted through the doors, breaking the entrance with our height. We stood a good 9'10 inches in this form. Women screamed as men trembled beneath us. We opened our mouths as hot steam rolled out of our mouths. We scanned the area; our nose snapped towards the bar. We turned, not needing to walk far, as we gently ran a finger over the bar stool that had her aura wrapped around it. Our eyes narrowed onto the buff man standing behind it. Her scent was on his hand.
We shot our claw out, grabbing his whole arm in just one of our hands, pulling him towards us.
"Where is she!?" Our demonic voice roared through the walls. He pissed in his pants.
"Wh...wh..... who?" He cried. I snarled at him, snapping my jaws within inches of his face.
"DON'T FUCK WITH ME! WHERE IS SHE!" The steam hit his face, burning the flesh back, leaving blisters as he screamed.
"You... Mean the Lahnust gal?! I do... I do.... I don't know!" He tried to pull away from me. I dug my nails into his arm, the flesh tearing as I hit the bone. I slowly pulled, the strings of flesh pulled like string, the muscle strands flopped out of the gashes as the white bone started to shine. I twisted his arm, snapping the bone in one twist as he fell on his ass screaming.
"YOU TOUCHED HER!" I hissed, my tongue snaking out as I threw his arm aside. He wailed while holding his stump. I turned as I headed back outside.
I stood there as her scent hit me again, this time coming from the left. This time I didn't give a flying fuck about being seen. I turned and made my way down to the direction her scent came from. The scent got heavier as two other scents; male intertwined with hers. She was 200 feet from the inn when I caught a whiff of blood. I looked down, noticing there was a sign of struggle. I saw drag marks in the sand with little droplets of blood. Her scent went back towards the inn but ended, like something was blocking it.
"Magic.... is blocking her from us..." We seethed. If she was taken by the ring, we are looking for, then she is in the city walls. We have to move fast because they usually sell on the full moon, which lands two days from now.
We stretched our wings out, our massive 40-foot wingspan took us up into the air swiftly as we flew back to our palace. I smashed into the back of the courtyard, sending debris flying as I slowly changed back into my human form. I stumbled forward, as I grabbed my head. I let out an angry roar as I fell to my knees. Some soldiers exited the barracks ready to fight but lowered their weapons when they saw it was me.
"Send someone over to Duke Spry's house..." I demanded through clenched teeth. They stood there looking at each other.
"Um... it's late sir..."
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT! DO AS I SAY!" I roared at them; my tone caused the color from their faces to drain as they saluted me and said in unison "Yes sir!" They scrambled about as they dispersed.
I strode towards the back entrance of the house, flinging the doors open. My chest rose and fell as I couldn't contain my rage. I ripped the door off its hinges, flinging it into the courtyard as I yelled.
"FUUUUUUCCCKKK!" I clenched my fists tightly as I stormed up the stairs, heading to my study where I had all the evidence I'd been collecting the past year. I'm going to have to figure out where they hold these slaves, and I'm going to have to do it with limited time and pray I find her before she is drugged again.
I barged in, flinging out all the drawers and grabbing everything hastily. I stood, refusing to sit due to the anger vibrating from me. I flipped the pages, smashing each one down.
"No... No... No..." I seethed as I threw them on the floor.
"We burn this city to the ground.... NOW!" Azazel roared through my head. I placed my hands on the desk, leaning. I took in ragged shallow breathes as I seriously was considering his proposal. But we can't. I looked up through wildly strewn hair as I smiled evilly. But we can torture.