Inferno Of Desire

Chapter 17: Shadows of the Past

The deeper they ventured into the Abyss, the more tangible the darkness became. It wasn’t just the absence of light — it was a living, breathing entity, wrapping around them like a cold embrace.

Azrael’s hand lingered near his sword, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, while Seraphine’s wings flickered with a soft silver glow, pushing back the encroaching shadows.

As they pressed on, the air grew heavier, thick with the weight of ancient memories and forgotten sins. The Abyss was no ordinary place — it had a way of peeling back the layers of one’s soul, exposing every wound, every regret.

“This place,” Seraphine muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, “it feels like it’s watching us.”

Azrael’s gaze shifted toward her, his amber eyes gleaming in the dim light. “It is. The Abyss feeds on fear, guilt... pain.”

Seraphine shuddered at his words. She could feel the weight of her past pressing down on her shoulders, the memories of choices she couldn’t undo.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and a familiar voice echoed through the darkness, laced with malice.

“Do you really think you can outrun the truth, Azrael?”

Seraphine’s heart lurched as she saw Azrael’s expression harden.

From the shadows emerged a figure — tall, broad-shouldered, and draped in the same dark armor Azrael once wore when he commanded the armies of Hell. His raven-black hair was the same, but his eyes burned with a fire that reflected his deepest regrets.

It was a version of Azrael — his former self. The Demon General he had tried to leave behind.

“I don’t have to run from you,” Azrael snarled, stepping forward. His hand clenched into a fist, his jaw set in defiance. “You are nothing but a memory.”

The dark figure chuckled, a sound that grated against the walls of the Abyss. “A memory? I am every part of you that you hate. Every command you gave that led to bloodshed. Every soul that screamed as you condemned them to eternal torment.”

Seraphine’s wings flared, her heart aching for the weight Azrael carried. She moved closer to him, her voice soft but firm. “You don’t have to face this alone.”

Azrael’s grip on his sword tightened, but he nodded, drawing strength from her presence. “I know.”

The demon version of him stepped forward, grinning. “Do you think she’ll stay with you once she sees what you really are? A monster? A killer?”

Before Seraphine could speak, another figure materialized — this time, it was her own reflection, but twisted and warped by the Abyss.

Her pale silver eyes were filled with sorrow and anger, her armor tarnished and broken.

“She already knows what it’s like to lose, Azrael,” the reflection sneered, stepping toward Seraphine. “Her failures haunt her. You think she’s pure, that she’s untouchable? You’re both broken.”

Seraphine flinched, the words cutting deep. Memories of battles fought and lives lost surged to the surface — times when her choices had led to disaster, when she had questioned her own worth as a warrior, as an angel.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “We may be broken, but we are not defeated.”

Azrael reached for her hand, his touch grounding her in the present. “She’s right. You can’t break us.”

The shadows circled closer, the dark versions of themselves sneering, their voices, a cacophony of doubt, and malice. But as Seraphine and Azrael stood side by side, their bond became a shield against the onslaught. Their connection was more than just attraction — it was a tether, something neither the Abyss nor their pasts could sever.

With a roar, Azrael’s molten eyes flared, and he raised his sword, slashing through the shadowy version of himself. It disintegrated into black mist, swirling and vanishing into the depths of the Abyss.

Seraphine followed suit, summoning her holy light to banish the twisted reflection that mocked her. The shadows recoiled, retreating into the far corners of the Abyss.

For a moment, all was still.

“They were illusions,” Seraphine said, her voice trembling slightly, “but they felt so real.”

Azrael nodded, his face grim. “The Abyss knows how to weaponize our worst fears. But we’re not done here.”

He was right.

This was just the beginning. The Abyss had tried to shake them by throwing their worst memories back in their faces. But they had faced them together. And now, as they ventured deeper into the heart of the Abyss, they knew that the real battle was still ahead.

“Azrael,” Seraphine said, her voice softening as she looked up at him. “We will win this. I believe in us.”

His amber eyes softened, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Azrael allowed himself to smile — a real, unguarded smile. “I believe in us too.”

Together, they walked deeper into the unknown, ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead, their bond stronger than ever.