Chapter 424: The Forgotten Past - XVIII

[Music recommendation: The Crown of Jaehaerys · Ramin Djawadi]

Gavriel then raised his hand and summoned Bellarios into his small dragon form.

Hera’s eyes widened in panic. "Gavriel! You cannot leave him here! Especially when you are about to deal with Azrath!"

"Hera, there is no way I am leaving you unprotected like this." Gavriel’s voice was firm, deep concern flickering in his eyes. "Please, for my peace of mind, let him stay with you."

A sudden tightness gripped her throat as she whispered, "And what about my peace of mind?"

Gavriel merely smiled before leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "Just remember that there is only one person in this world who could truly hurt me if they wanted to. No one else."

Hera traced his features with her gaze, as though memorising them all over again, before managing a small smile. "How silly of you to think I would ever do such a thing to you. I would rather die than-"

Gavriel sealed her lips with a kiss before she could finish.

When he finally drew back, his gaze held hers with quiet intensity.

"Never say that again. Without you, I’m nothing. And have you forgotten? I’ll follow you... wherever you go."

She gazed at him and suddenly an overwhelming surge of emotion washed over her, causing hot tears to pool in her eyes.

As a single tear slipped free and tracked down her cheek, Gavriel cradled her face and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. "What’s wrong, my love?"

Hera simply shook her head, smiling through her tears. "I-I don’t know..."

Gavriel studied her face before he opened his mouth to reply, but a sudden knock on the door interrupted them.

A voice rang out from outside, "Your Highness, Prince Belial is here."

Hera’s brows shot up in surprise. "Prince Belial?"

Gavriel smiled softly. "He is coming with me to subdue Azrath." He leaned close to her and asked, "Still worried?"

Hera simply wrapped her arms around his head, holding him close as he buried his face into her chest.

"I love you..." she breathed into his hair.

Gavriel inhaled the scent he loved so deeply and whispered, "And I love you."

They stayed like that for a moment before he pulled back and looked into her eyes with deep seriousness. "Tonight is the full moon. Don’t venture anywhere alone."

Hera nodded. "I’ll wait for you."

Reluctantly, Gavriel rose to his feet. But as he stepped back, Hera’s fingers closed gently around his wrist.

He paused, looking down at her. Hera shifted on the mattress, reaching over to open the bedside drawer. With careful hands, she took out a folded piece of fine red silk and held it out to him.

"What’s this?" Gavriel asked as he accepted the cloth.

Hera smiled warmly. "I made it for you. It’s... for good luck."

Gavriel unfolded it to reveal an intricate design of his royal crest, masterfully woven in golden thread. A genuine smile touched his lips as he tied it around his sword’s hilt. "It is exquisite. Thank you, my love."

Leaning down, he pressed one last kiss to her lips.

Just then, the door opened, and Prince Belial walked in with an amused smile. "Am I interrupting something?"

Hera’s cheeks flushed crimson, while Gavriel answered without hesitation, "Yes."

Belial chuckled softly before bowing to Hera. "Sister-in-law, I pray your strength returns quickly."

"Thank you, Brother Belial," Hera replied with a warm smile.

Belial then turned towards Gavriel. "We should leave before Azrath manages to escape."

Gavriel’s eyes turned icy cold. "He can only wish he could hide from us."

He took a step toward the exit before glancing back at Hera one last time. "Vorra will be guarding outside. Get some rest, and I will speak with the physician as soon as I return."

Hera nodded. "Do not fret over me. Keep each other safe," she said, her voice tight with worry.

Gavriel gave her a final nod, while Belial gave a reassuring wave. "Rest easy, sister. I will not let him fight alone."

With that, the brothers vanished into the hallway.

Hera released a long breath as Ceri and Bellarios leaped onto the mattress and nestled close to her sides. Clasping her hands over their fur and scales, she turned her gaze toward the darkening sky outside the high windows.

Dread weighed heavily in her chest. The full moon was rising, a time when ancient demon blood surged with wild, terrifying power.

Fighting beasts was challenging enough, but engaging a royal under a full moon was a deadly gamble.

She closed her eyes and prayed fervently for Gavriel’s safe return.

Just then, another knock interrupted her thoughts.

Hera looked up as the door opened. Vorra stepped inside and bowed. "Your Highness, the physician has arrived."

"Send him in," Hera replied.

....

As the silent clock ticked onward, the great wheel of fortune turned in its merciless circles, quietly forging the destiny of every soul bound to its design.

Far away from the palace, in a sacred temple dedicated to the Devil, a beautiful woman with long white hair knelt at the altar, engrossed in deep meditation, when a life-altering vision struck her.

Death. Destruction. Screams.

She bore witness to the horrific carnage until the ominous words of prophecy whispered directly into her soul, and her eyes snapped open, their irises completely white, as she gasped in horror.

"No!"

A pregnant demoness working in the temple noticed the Oracle trembling and panting heavily. Alarmed, she hurried towards her and knelt beside her.

"Grand Oracle!" she exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

The Oracle remained frozen in shock for a moment before turning her gaze towards the woman.

"I must see His Majesty. Immediately."

Saying that, she pushed herself up to stand, but her right-hand assistant urged cautiously, "B-but Grand Oracle, His Majesty explicitly ordered no one to disturb him today. It is the night of the full moon. Their curse is-"

"We don’t have time for this!" the Oracle snapped. "He must see me, or a calamity will befall these lands!"

The demoness stood speechless for a moment before nodding quickly. "I-I will send a word at once."

"No." The Oracle’s expression hardened. "I’ll go personally."

With that, she clasped her hands together. A white magic circle materialised beneath her feet, and before the demoness could utter another word, a portal opened beneath the Oracle and swallowed her whole.

....

Back in Las Noches Palace...

Pin-drop silence reigned throughout the grand palace.

The King’s chambers had been sealed behind a formidable barrier conjured by the Devil himself, preventing anyone from entering.

Inside, the atmosphere was unbearably grim.

The fearsome King and Queen of the Underworld were nowhere to be seen. In their place were two utterly broken souls, kneeling before each other on the floor as they wept their hearts out.

Lilith finally pulled back and looked at Raizel. The sight of her husband, looking so utterly defeated, shattered her heart.

She raised her trembling hands to cup his cheeks and whispered, "Rai... I beg you... this is the only way. The only way to face what lies ahead."

Fresh tears spilled from her weary eyes as she continued, "We owe this to her children... to our people... to this world."

But Raizel neither moved nor answered. His long black hair fell across his face as he continued staring at the floor, unable to bring himself to look at her.

His silence only agitated Lilith further. Her hands curled into fists, and she began feebly pounding against his chest. "Do it, Raizel! We have to do this!"

The black curse spread further across Raizel’s face. He suddenly seized Lilith’s cheeks in his hands and forced her to meet his gaze.

Madness and anguish blazed in his eyes, "I won’t! You are my fucking mate! I’m meant to follow you even after death! Our son is being crowned tomorrow! How can you be so heartless as to ask me to commit this sin with my own hands, Lilith?!"

Lilith listened to her husband’s furious outburst silently before answering with haunting calm, "We are dying anyway, Raizel, leaving everyone we love to burn. Why don’t you understand that only I can do this? After my death, my soul can only pass on to the world of the living with your permission."