To Love a Celestial

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The World will Burn

Hours had passed and Azrael huddled in the corner praying that Raden was okay. Her voice had gone hoarse from the constant screaming so there wasn't more to do. She began to nod off when the door swung open.

"I'm going to ask this once and once only... how did he find you," Serkan demanded as he stalked into the room.

Azrael was startled. "I... I don't know."

"Don't lie to me." Serkan glared at her with hatred. He walked through the cells and crouched to her level. "I don't take well to lying." He grabbed her jaw as she whimpered in pain.

"I'm not," she whispered, "I really don't know how he found me."

Serkan watched her closely trying to find anything telling different. Azrael kept her eyes trained on him, never once looking away or cowering down. She needed him to believe her.

"You're just lucky then?" Azrael didn't move or answer. Serkan sighed and stood. "One day that luck will run out." Centuries of training had taught Serkan to keep his anger at bay and right now all that training was in use. So badly did he want to strangle that pretty little throat of Azrael's, but he needed her. Instead, he walked away.

"Wait," Azrael called out. Serkan turned his head to the side. "I want to know if Raden is okay."

A faint smile crept onto Serkan's lips. An idea began forming as he composed himself and whipped back around. "Would you like to see him?"

Azrael nodded frantically. She didn't catch the glint that Serkan held in his eyes or the all-around demeanor change. All that mattered was getting to Raden.

Serkan unlocked the cell and grabbed her by the arm leading her out of the room and through the labyrinth. Azrael's heart rate began to rise with each step. Her breath would hitch as they passed a door. Each time hoping that was where he was being kept. Finally, they stood in front of two guards each holding a sword of the archangels.

"If you two would be so kind and unlock the door for Azrael here."

The room was pitch black and Azrael turned back to Serkan as if this was some kind of joke.

"Oh forgive me." He snapped his fingers and several torches caught fire.

What lay in front of Azrael nearly caused her to faint. The metallic stench of blood made her stomach flip and the scene that waited for her made her throat clench. Raden lay in a pile barely surviving. He was covered in bruises and slashes. Azrael wanted to turn away and wake from this nightmare, but she knew this wasn't some nightmare.

She hurried over to Raden lifting his head into her lap as fresh tears fell. "No no no! No no no!" She gasped for air. "Raden, wake up. Wake up for me." The tears fell on his cheeks causing him to slightly move. "Raden," Azrael gasped. "Please wake up."

"Truly a heartbreaking scene," Serkan laughed. He held a hand over his heart in patronizing pity. "Almost brings tears to my eyes."

Azrael snapped her attention to him. "WHAT DID YOU DO!" Her words dripped with venom and her eyes held the hatred of a thousand men.

"I only went through with my promise," Serkan simply said. He walked over, tipping Raden's chin up. "He decided to hunt me down and he had to pay." He was completely unfazed by the situation which angered Azrael beyond anything she had felt before. "You understand."

"Fix him!" She demanded. Raden scrunched his face as Azrael continued to yell. "You put him back together." Her voice was strained with desperation. Her entire world was lying in her arms and was slowly slipping away.

Serkan smirked as he reached for Azrael's cheek. "No can do darling." His voice was soft, almost calming. "He chose this and will die for these consequences."