Inferno Of Desire

Chapter Ten: The Relic's Secret

The relic shimmered beneath Seraphine’s fingertips, humming with an ancient energy that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat.

As her hand rested on its cool surface, she could feel the power trapped within, waiting to be released.

For a moment, everything else — the Abyss, the battles, even Azrael — faded away. There was only the relic, and the weight of its significance settled heavily in her chest.

"Can you feel it?" Seraphine whispered, her voice barely audible, but in the oppressive silence of the Abyss, Azrael heard her clearly.

"I do," Azrael replied, his voice low and reverent. "It’s older than anything I’ve ever encountered. There’s power here, but... it’s dangerous."

The relic itself was a curious object — a small crystalline sphere nestled in the center of the obsidian altar, faintly glowing with a light that seemed both celestial and infernal.

It was surrounded by a web of intricate runes, and as Azrael’s eyes traced the symbols, he frowned.

"This isn’t a simple ward," he muttered, stepping closer to examine the runes more carefully. "These markings are ancient, designed to seal something within."

Seraphine’s eyes flicked toward him. "Seal something within? You think this relic is a prison?"

Azrael nodded grimly. "A prison, or a conduit. Either way, it’s not something we can just unlock without caution." He paused, then glanced at her, his fiery amber eyes serious. "We need to be sure about this. Once we break the seal, there’s no going back."

Seraphine hesitated. The weight of the decision pressed down on her shoulders. She could feel the light inside her urging her forward, but at the same time, a quiet warning echoed in the back of her mind.

Whatever the relic was hiding, it wasn’t meant to be tampered with lightly.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the key to everything — the Veil, the Abyss, and even the growing bond between her and Azrael. Their destinies were tied to this moment. She had no doubt of that.

"We’ve come this far," Seraphine said softly, her resolve hardening. "If this is the only way to find answers, then we have to take the risk."

Azrael’s jaw tightened, but he nodded in agreement. "Very well," he said, stepping back to give her room. "But stay alert. Whatever’s inside that relic, it’s bound to fight back."

Seraphine closed her eyes for a moment, drawing a deep breath.

She could feel Azrael’s presence behind her, steady and unwavering. Despite the tension between them, the mistrust that lingered in the shadows, there was something about having him at her side that gave her strength.

She opened her eyes and focused on the relic, allowing the power within her to rise. As her light flowed through her veins, her fingers began to glow, matching the radiance of the relic. Slowly, she channeled her energy into it, feeling the connection deepen.

At first, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the runes around the relic began to shift, rearranging themselves as if coming to life.

The air around them crackled with energy, thick and electric.

Seraphine’s breath hitched as she felt a surge of power radiate from the relic, pushing against her light with a force that nearly knocked her off her feet.

"Seraphine!" Azrael called, stepping forward instinctively, his wings flaring out as if ready to shield her.

"I’m fine," she managed, though her voice trembled. She held her ground, pushing back against the relic’s resistance, refusing to let it overwhelm her. The runes continued to swirl, faster and faster, until suddenly, with a sharp crack, the seal shattered.