Page 121 of Unbinding the Demon
My trembling hand froze just as I was reaching out to grab the railing at the top of the stairwell. Belzar’s familiar bark faintly echoed from out back, and relief filled my soul. My eyes watered, and I scurried down the shadowed hallway and into my art studio. As I rushed over to the large diamond-paned windows, I stumbled over a small easel with a painting of a chillaxed, groovy elephant shrew wearing sunglasses and a beret while playing some smooth jazz on the trombone.
Damn elephant shrew painting!
My hands latched onto the cold wooden windowsill as I caught my balance. Like in the bedroom, the glass was frosty and fogged, so I used the side of my fist to wipe away a little circle. Tiny beads of water trickled down the glass from where I had cleared my view, while I peeked out over the yard toward the lake.
Big fluffy snowflakes softly fell from the dismal sky, and the ground was dressed in a chilling gown of glimmering white. Azathoth’s huge figure cut a striking contrast against the bleak winter scene, appearing like a dark silhouette amid all the snow. He stood by the water while throwing a large stick overhand. Belzar enthusiastically chased after it like it was the greatest damn thing in the world.
My heart constricted in my chest at the sight of them, and I needed Azathoth’s comforting arms around me. I turned and ran out of the room. But as I passed one of the guest bedrooms, I caught a glimpse of wavy blonde hair and stopped. With a slight touch, I pushed the wooden door open a tad bit further, causing it to softly creak, and peeked in at William’s sleeping face.
He looked peaceful as he slept, with the soft rise and fall of his chest easing Esquire up and down. The sweet, plump kitty was sprawled out over William’s chest like a gelatinous purring blob of orange and white fluff. I blinked away tears, thoughts of Oliver filling my heart. Guilt gnawed at me, knowing William would soon feel that same ache. I still couldn’t believe it had all been real, and I was beyond distraught that someone like Oliver had met such a cruel end. He had only ever wanted to keep us safe, and we had failed him.
I turned away, allowing William to rest while he still could, and quickly headed down the creaky steps into the foyer. I threw on my boots, then rushed outside without bothering to put my hoodie or pants on. I just wanted Azathoth.
The cold kissed my cheeks with its bitter, frosty lips, while my misty breath fanned around my face. A row of glistening icicles dangled from the overhanging roof as if the cruel heart of winter had frozen the tears of the heavens, turning them into crystalline thorns. Snow heavily weighed down the branches of the lamenting spruce, drooping them all the way to the prickly wild rose bushes below.
Fluffy snow crunched beneath my boots while I scurried along the now-hidden cobblestone path. A lively band of black-capped chickadees flittered about in search of seeds. With each hop, they left a delightful trail of tiny footprints behind. I paid little attention to the birds as I raced past them, causing them to disperse in a flurry of flapping wings. My focus was on the demon in the backyard.
“Azathoth!”I hollered while flailing my arms to get his attention as I rushed down to the lake.
Upon hearing my voice, he turned with a look of surprise and slight confusion. “Gwendolyn?” He was in his human illusion, with his hair pulled back in a loose, half-up, half-down style.
I stepped over some lingering deer prints and fell into his strong embrace. “Azathoth.” A gentle wave of sorrow washed over me, and I began to cry.
He drew me close, wrapping his arms around me in a warm embrace, softly shushing me. “What are you doing out here in just boots and a T-shirt? You’ll freeze,” he asked with concern.
My fingers grasped at his black denim jacket. “I’m sorry. I just got kind of scared when I woke up and you weren’t in the bed like you normally are. So I rushed out here.” I sniffled and rested my cheek against his chest. “For a minute, I thought you had left and gone back to Hell.”
“Gwendolyn...” He lifted my chin gently, and I found myself looking into his warm, golden eyes. A few loose strands of his raven locks danced in his face as the snow softly whispered around us. “I’m not going to leave this world without you. You are beloved to me, and I will never abandon you. That I promise.” His lips brushed against my forehead, and his grip around me tightened. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke up. I didn’t think you’d be awake yet since you’d only slept for a few hours and the sun hasn’t even fully risen.”
I gazed up at him with a glossy-eyed smile. “I’m sorry again. I guess I just overreacted a bit, that’s all.” My trembling hand wiped a stray tear from my cheek.
He took off his warm jacket and wrapped it snugly around me, engulfing my senses in his fire and spice scent. “It’s okay. I understand. You’ve been through a lot of trauma these past few days. You don’t need to apologize,” he said with a tender smile while caressing my cloaked arms. “Well, since you’re up, would you like to go sit by the lake?”
I glanced out toward the rippling water, then replied with a small, sad smile. “I’d love to.”
Belzar pranced over to us as Azathoth wrapped his arm around my back and began leading me down to the rocky beach. “Good, because I’ve just cleared the bench off.” His gaze twinkled with love and warmth.
My hand reached out to stroke Belzar’s furry head as we walked. Little white speckles clung to his fluffy obsidian coat, and a smile danced in his ferine eyes. “Good morning, Belzar.” I smiled in amusement, now knowing he actually understood what I was saying.
“He says good morning to you too,” Azathoth chuckled.
We both sat down on the small stone bench beneath one of the wise oaks. A plump gray squirrel nibbled on an acorn atop one of the frosted boughs above, while flecks of snow caught on the mossy trunk below. Icicle-adorned limbs stretched out over the shoreline, making our little waterside sanctum feel more like an icy fortress.
The lake appeared black in the gloom, encircled by a pale ring of ice that glistened like a halo around the water’s edge. A couple of croaking ravens soared over the lofty snow-embellished mountains, which towered against the austere skyline. The cold seemed to have laid its frosty kisses upon every barren branch and evergreen needle. Each tree slept enshrouded in a veil of snow and ice as they silently lined the rocky beach. A loon called off in the distance, while a mighty stag snacked on a crunchy shrubbery on the far shore.
I snuggled up into Azathoth’s warm side, with my cheeks and nose becoming rosy from the chill. He squeezed me closer against him with one arm, teeming with love as we gazed out over the dreary yet serene lake. Belzar nibbled on the bottom of his front paw, drawing the slightest bit of blood. He then stamped it into the snow a few times while whimpering in excitement.
“Why is he doing that?” I asked with concern as I cast my gaze down at the little crimson spots dotting the ground.
“He wants to show you that he now has red blood,” Azathoth explained with a smile. “When I healed him up on the cliff, his abyssal rot healed too, and his heart started beating. He’s a genuine living wolf now! I’d even say that he could now be considered a hellhound, with his demonic soul and all.”
Belzar let out a joyful yip, then bounced around playfully. “Wow, congratulations, Belzar!” I exclaimed with a cheerful clap of my hands. Secretly, I wasn’t too sure what the significance of that was, but they both seemed pretty excited about it.
“You might also be happy to know that emergency personnel have been searching what’s left of the town all morning. So far, they’ve found many survivors, including Mrs. Chuong.”
“Really!?” I asked, while snapping my gaze over to him with wide eyes. “Do you think any of the corrupted survived as well?” My curious tone became softer.
“Yes, lots of them did, but I took care of it.” He shrugged. “There were many lined up along the barrier. I assume they must have been stationed there, waiting for it to fall.”
