The moment Cassiel appeared, it was as though the Grim Reaper himself had descended, suffocating the air in the room. Cecilia's heart plummeted into the abyss, and she immediately realized that this time, they were likely beyond salvation.
To her surprise, though, Raven's reaction was nothing like what she had expected. He didn't panic, nor did he fall to his knees in surrender. Instead, he stepped in front of Cecilia, shielding her, and calmly faced Cassiel.
"Your Highness, please spare her," Raven said, his voice steady and resolute. "She's just an innocent girl who shouldn't be dragged into this conflict."
"Innocent?" Cassiel sneered coldly. "Do you consider a woman who attempted to assassinate me innocent?"
"She only sought freedom," Raven replied. "That is every person's right."
"Freedom?" Cassiel's eyes grew colder still. "In my world, there is no freedom. There is only obedience."
He took a slow step forward, each movement seeming to echo in their hearts as he approached them.
"And you are?" Cassiel asked, his gaze turning sharp and calculating. "A vampire hunter? You dare to trespass in my palace?"
"Who I am is irrelevant," Raven said firmly. "What matters is that I must take her with me."
"Take her with you?" A mocking smile tugged at Cassiel's lips. "Do you truly think you can take her from my hands?"
"We'll see about that," Raven said, refusing to back down.
He knew full well that he was no match for Cassiel, but he was ready to fight to the death if it meant Cecilia could escape.
"Very well," Cassiel said, his voice dripping with icy amusement. "Since you wish to die so badly, I will grant you your wish."
As his words echoed, his figure vanished in the blink of an eye. In the next moment, he appeared before Raven, his fist flying toward Raven's chest.
Raven was prepared. He quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow. But Cassiel's speed was unparalleled, and Raven couldn't escape completely. The force of Cassiel's punch grazed his shoulder, sending a wave of excruciating pain through his body.
"Raven!" Cecilia cried out, instinctively trying to rush toward him, but Raven stopped her.
"Don't come closer!" Raven shouted, his voice desperate. "Go! Now!"
He knew that if Cecilia stayed, she would only become a burden. He had to buy her time to escape.
"I'm not leaving!" Cecilia said stubbornly, her resolve firm. "I'm staying with you!"
"Fool!" Raven roared, his voice breaking with urgency. "You staying here will only get in the way! Go!"
Once more, Raven engaged with Cassiel, trying to divert his attention, hoping to buy Cecilia a few more precious seconds.
Cassiel's attacks were relentless, coming like a storm, one after another, faster than Raven could anticipate. Blood soon stained Raven's clothes as he struggled to defend himself. But despite the pain, he didn't relent. Each second he held out was another moment Cecilia could flee.
Cecilia watched, her heart torn with guilt and admiration as Raven fought with everything he had to protect her. She couldn't hesitate anymore. She had to leave.
With a deep breath, she turned and dashed toward the window.
"You think you can escape?" Cassiel's voice cut through the tension.
He had disentangled himself from Raven and was now chasing Cecilia, his speed far greater than hers. It was clear that he would catch up to her any moment.
But just as she was about to be overtaken, Raven suddenly appeared in front of Cassiel, blocking his path.
With his own body, Raven gave Cecilia the final moments she needed to escape.
"Go!" Raven shouted to Cecilia with all his strength, then, with everything he had left, he lunged forward, gripping Cassiel in a desperate attempt to delay him.
Cassiel, enraged by Raven's audacity, threw a powerful punch into Raven's abdomen, sending him flying across the room.
Raven hit the ground hard, blood spurting from his mouth as he lay crumpled on the floor.
"Raven!" Cecilia's voice shattered the silence, her heart breaking at the sight.
But she didn't stop running. She couldn't afford to.
Tears streaming down her face, Cecilia leapt out the window and disappeared into the night.
Cassiel, his gaze burning with fury and frustration, watched her flee. His anger was palpable, and his eyes glinted with an ominous promise of retribution.
Turning to face Raven, now lying motionless on the floor, Cassiel's expression darkened with murder.
"How dare you betray me?" Cassiel's voice was as cold as the winds of hell. "You'll pay for this."
He began to advance on Raven, his intent clear—to tear him apart piece by piece.
But before he could reach him, hurried footsteps echoed from outside. A group of vampire guards burst into the room.
"What happened, Your Highness?" the lead guard asked, alarmed.
Cassiel's eyes flicked to the guards, and he forced himself to calm his raging fury.
Now was not the time to kill Raven. He needed to find Cecilia first.
"She's escaped," Cassiel said, his voice dark and cold. "Search for her. Bring her back, no matter what."
The guards quickly scattered, each heading in a different direction to begin the search.
Cassiel's gaze followed the path Cecilia had taken as she fled, a storm of anger and determination clouding his thoughts.
He swore to himself that he would find her and make her pay for her betrayal. No one escaped from him—especially not her.