Page 40 of Cuddly Demon

Saint looks between us incredulously. "Wait, are you two actually going to have a magical duel?"

I nod my head in agreement before turning back to Azazel. "Hell yes."

"You two better not blow me up or there will be hell to pay," Saint warns sternly before stepping back and watching the scene unfold with amusement.

I scoff before lifting my blue palms and glaring playfully at Azazel. "Let's see what you've got."

I hum in Etruscan, a blue energy flowing out of my fingertips and into the air. A gust of wind whips around the clearing, causing my hair to fly up in the air.

Azazel takes a deep breath before beginning his own spell. His voice is low and powerful as he speaks words in an ancient language, a red energy radiating from his hands. The wind intensifies, pushing against my blue energy with an unseen force.

Our two energies collide, creating a powerful force that ripples throughout the air. A cracking sound that resembles thunder explodes between the two forces, shaking the leaves off the palm trees.

Then, I grunt and push back with all my might – sending Azazel's spell flying backwards and dissipating into nothingness.

Azazel stares in disbelief before turning to me with a sheepish grin on his face. "Okay, I guess you win," he admits reluctantly.

Saint claps excitedly, jumping up and down in excitement. "That was amazing! Can you teach me how to do that?"

I laugh, shaking my head as I look at my beautiful boy fondly. "I think you'll have to sprout horns if you want to learn any real magic."

Two horns emerge from Azazel's head. "Good luck, kiddo."

Azazel grins, his horns fading away as quickly as they had appeared. "See? Twin magic is real."

I chuckle before turning to the bubbling pot of sauce. "Come on, let's eat dinner before it gets cold. I'm starving."

"It's hilarious you think I'm sharing my pasta," Azazel drawls.

"We're starving. You'd better," I grunt.

We all sit down around the fire, plates of steaming pasta carbonara and garlic bread in front of us. Azazel passes around a bottle of red wine and we all take a sip before digging into our meals with gusto.

"So." Azazel turns to us. "Why are you here?"

I tell Azazel about the last three thousand years and how I was trapped in an Etruscan tomb.

Azazel listens intently, his eyes never leaving mine as I recount my story.

"That's insane," he mutters, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you've been trapped in there for so long. What did you do to get out?"

I explain how Saint summoned me and how he used a spell he found on TikTok. Azazel nods along, his expression thoughtful.

"It sounds like you owe this guy your life," Azazel says, nodding towards Saint. "What are your plans now?"

I glance at Saint, my heart swelling with emotion. "I need to find out how you broke the curse your master put on you three thousand years ago after he didn't pay what you required."

"That was a long time ago, bro." Azazel chuckles. "I'm not sure if I remember."

"You've got to help me." I grip Azazel's hand tight. "I've found true love with Saint, but I don't know how to use our love to free myself from my bonds. I know I need to get married in Hell, but I'm not sure of the specifics."

Azazel stares thoughtfully into the distance. "I'm starting to remember now. I'd found a beautiful boy while I was traveling to Greece to meet up with Leviathan. I'd never been sadder, because I was suffering from tension headaches due to my last master who left me high and dry. My boy's name was Nai."

Saint rests his head against my shoulder. "Keep going."

Azazel pauses for a moment, a faraway look in his eyes. "Nai had eyes like the stars, skin like silk and hair that shone brighter than the moonlight. He was everything to me, my one true love. Marriage between humans and demons wasn't common back then, but I took him to Hell where the resident priest of darkness performed our wedding ceremony. The second we kissed on the altar of brimstone, I was free."

"Thank you for telling me that."

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