Inferno Of Desire

Chapter 2: Bound by Shadows

The city was alive beneath the starless sky, but here, in the narrow alleyways cloaked in shadow, it felt like a different world altogether.

Seraphine perched silently on the edge of a crumbling rooftop, her eyes scanning the streets below. Her wings were hidden from view, but she could feel their familiar weight, aching to unfurl and lift her above the chaos.

Every pulse of her heart echoed in her chest, a constant reminder of the battle that raged within.

She hadn’t expected to find Azrael again so soon. Not after their last encounter.

The fallen demon had haunted her dreams ever since, his molten amber eyes burning into her mind, the smirk on his lips a temptation and a warning.

She hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that their destinies were somehow intertwined, no matter how hard she tried.

And now, here she was—searching for him when she should have been anywhere else.

Seraphine tightened her grip on the stone ledge, the cold biting into her fingers. “What am I doing?” she whispered to herself. She was an angel, a protector of the light. This wasn’t her path.

And yet, something drew her to him—something she didn’t understand.

The sudden sound of footsteps broke her thoughts. She turned swiftly, her gaze sharp as she searched the darkness.

From the shadows, a figure emerged, tall and commanding. Her heart skipped a beat as the familiar presence washed over her.

Azrael.

His approach was slow, unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world.

His black hair fell in loose waves over his shoulders, blending with the night itself.

The flickering streetlights caught the glow of his skin, illuminating the faint scars and symbols etched across his forearms, remnants of battles fought in places Seraphine could only imagine.

“Looking for me, angel?” His voice was smooth, like velvet wrapped around steel. It sent a shiver through her, despite the warmth of the night.

Seraphine stood, her posture rigid. “You shouldn’t be here, Azrael. Not in this city.”

He raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk. “And yet, here I am. Funny, you’re here too.”

She scowled, ignoring the heat that crept into her cheeks. “I have my reasons.”

“So do I,” he said, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. “But I don’t think we’re here for different purposes.”

Seraphine crossed her arms, trying to ignore the way her heart raced in his presence. “What are you after?”

Azrael’s smile faded, his expression darkening. “There’s something coming, Seraphine. A darkness deeper than anything you’ve ever faced.” He paused, his eyes locking onto hers. “And you won’t be able to fight it alone.”

She held his gaze, refusing to back down. “I don’t need you.”

“Don’t you?” He stepped even closer now, so close that she could feel the heat radiating from him, a warmth that seemed to contrast the shadows clinging to him. “I’m not the enemy you think I am.”

“You’re a demon, Azrael. Fallen.” The words felt heavy in her mouth, but she knew they were the truth.

He sighed, his fiery eyes softening for a brief moment. “I’m more than that, and you know it.”

Seraphine’s heart clenched. There was truth in his words that she couldn’t deny.

Despite the darkness that surrounded him, she could sense something deeper—something broken, yes, but not beyond repair. And that terrified her more than anything.

She turned away from him, staring out over the city. “What do you want from me?”

Azrael was silent for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice was softer, almost vulnerable. “I want what you want—to stop what’s coming. To protect this world.”

“And what do you need me for?”

“Because this fight is bigger than us. You know it, Seraphine. You feel it.” He stepped beside her, the closeness of him unsettling. “We can’t do it alone.”

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Every instinct told her to walk away, to leave him behind, and never look back.

But something—some small, insistent part of her—whispered that he was right. There was a storm coming, and if she turned her back now, she might never be able to stop it.

With a heavy heart, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t trust you.”

Azrael chuckled softly, the sound bitter. “I wouldn’t trust me either.” He looked at her, his eyes burning with something she couldn’t name. “But I’ll earn it.”

Seraphine didn’t respond. She couldn’t.

All she could do was stare out at the city below, wondering how she had ended up here—standing beside a fallen demon on the brink of something far more dangerous than either of them could imagine.

The wind stirred around them, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

“Let’s see if you can,” she finally murmured.

Azrael’s smile returned, softer this time, tinged with something that felt like hope. “Then let’s begin.”