Page 127 of Hell-Bound

Azur resumed walking. He was silent for so many heartbeats that Ren feared she’d upset him.

“I think perhaps you know just as much about love as I do,” he said finally, with a small laugh. “But if I had to answer, I’d say that being in love is different depending on who you are and who you are in love with,” he said thoughtfully. “Ahdan liked to say that love was invented in my realm.” He smiled, suddenly wistful. “Ridiculous, I know. He said love was envious. Desiring your partner and wanting them to desire you back. Gluttonous and greedy since you can never spend enough time with that person once you’ve truly fallen for them. Slothful because there is nothing more tantalizing than a lazy, lust-filled day never leaving the bedroom. It can be proud because that person can make you feel so worthy that someone that amazing has decided, above all others, to love you. And sometimes, in your worst moments, no one can makeyou feel more angry, more wrathful, than the person you have surrendered yourself to completely.

“I’m not sure if any of that is the best, most ideal love. Perhaps love should be pure—innocent and uncomplicated. But you’ve asked The King of the Damned, and I can’t imagine anything other than love in this way. I can’t run from what I am, even in love.”

Ren thought for a moment.

“Maybe it can take parts of both. I could do without thinking I’ll have a love with wrath, to be honest.”

Azur laughed softly.

“Fair enough.”

The final chamber was the first they had entered, and it was free of lava pits. The only light was shining from a complex carving on the stone floor. Upon closer inspection, the red light made a five-pointed pentagram.

“Before we can enter the final chamber, Someone has to temporarily surrender their powers. It’s the only way The Ultimate Truth will appear upon the dais,” he said, walking to the center. “No one who enters should have the power of the gods. It’s a brilliant precaution to make sure no one can destroy it,” he said smugly.

“Oh yes, very clever, Mighty God of The Hells,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“You are clever for noticing!”

Ren watched as Azur crouched down and touched the ancient carvings. A gust of wind began to fiercely blow from the pentagram, Azur’s dark curls lashing around his face. He closed his eyes and bared his teeth.

He looks like he is in pain.

A white light emerged from the pentagram and wrapped itself around Azur’s body. The light curled and danced elegantly, but Azur continued to look anguished. His wings began to tremble, and Ren watched as they wilted, like two black petals, before falling off his back. Tears were now running down Azur’s face, and he let out a dissonant yell ashis horns splintered, crumbling to the ground. Azur’s body convulsed—his godly form dying. The light was sucking every unholy cell from his body, and each little death reflected on his face.

Ren suddenly felt a burning on her neck. She reached up with a start. Pulling her hand back, she saw a smear of red. Her brand. While she hadn’t thought about it since the night of the party, she suddenly felt exposed and insecure without it.

As soon as it came, the light blinked out.

Ren had to squint against the unexpected change in light, but ran in his direction despite her temporary blindness. Once her vision cleared, she could see that he was still crouched, yet his body hung completely limp.

She dropped to her knees and lifted his head. “Azur! Are you okay?”

She gasped. This was not the god she had come to know.

Still beautiful, but his eyes, usually iridescent like fire, were a dark shade of brown. His ears looked Human, and she could see through his agonized expression that his teeth had dulled.

“No. I’m…really not,” he winced, struggling to stand, all pretense cast aside.

Ren could only imagine how much he hurt—not just physically. He was The King of Pride and Envy. He now stood in front of her, appearing completely Mortal. She wasn’t sure if he was Human, as that wasn’t one of his creations, but he wasn’t totally Devil either. She felt the intense desire to comfort him for his loss. A loss of self and identity. She understood this, at least. But she didn’t know what to say—her lack of interpersonal skills haunted her once more.

What do you say to a god who just became Mortal?

He strode off, advancing to the far wall.

“Let’s get you home, Elfy,” he said without meeting her eyes.

They heard a deafening scrape against stone as the two massive doors swung wide.

They entered, approaching a long stone bridge over a massive magma pool, which ended in a platform with a tall dais. The room was silent except for the clicking of their boots and the slight simmering of the flames below. Shadows shifted across the room as the fire burst and bubbled, making it difficult to distinguish different shapes. It was for this reason that it took the two a moment to realize that a figure was kneeling at the end of the bridge.

Leo.

Ren bolted to his form and grabbed the scruff of his neck.

“Where the fuck are my parents, you sack of shit!” she yelled, shaking him.