The Soul on Fire | Slow Updates

Chapter Sixteen

“I’m not interested, Adramelech.” The former King of Hell gave the current king an unimpressed look.

His successor had been badgering him for months, trying desperately to convince him to reclaim the throne to Hell. He just wanted to live his life in peace – away from the never-ending war between good and evil.

“You are the rightful heir, the son of Lilith. I am not of royal blood, Your Highness – ”

“Enough. I have given you my final answer. I wish to be left alone.” The Demon of Lust pushed himself off the large throne and walked toward his friend. “You are king now. Any heir you produce will be of royal blood because you are royalty. Worry not about your ancestors nor mine.”

Adramelech released a frustrated growl, running his fingers through his onyx hair. His yellow eyes glowed brightly against his deep, blue skin. He looked about as miserable as Asmodeus felt.

“How did you do it?” he asked, locking gazes with his predecessor. “I don’t know how to be king.”

Asmodeus chuckled, resting his palm on the other demon’s shoulder. “You just do it. There is no handbook for ruling over Hell. What’s really the issue here?”

The former Chancellor grunted, sliding a palm down his face. “The fucking succubi,” he said, giving his former king a look that said it all, “they won’t leave me the fuck alone. Did you welcome their company every night?”

Asmodeus tried and failed to hold back his laughter. It burst out of him, loud and full of amusement. “You’re stressed because the women want you?”

Adramelech growled, the sound low and rumbling through his massive chest. He clearly didn’t find his situation as amusing as his old friend.

“You’re fucking useless,” the king murmured, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Asmodeus breathed through his laughter, wiping tears from his eyes. He had needed a good laugh. It had been too long since he had even smiled genuinely.

He furrowed his brows, remembering exactly why his life was lacking joy. Armaita still hadn’t awakened from her slumber – her body still floating in the heavenly pool in the mortal realm.

The Demon of Lust visited often, sitting at the edge of the water as he watched her. Her physical appearance had returned to normal – no longer marred by hideous scars. Her horns were gone, and he assumed her fangs had gone with them. Her slender fingers returned, and her dress was repaired.

That was four months ago.

He had hoped her change in appearance had been a sign that she was soon to wake up, but he had been wrong.

Maybe he was a fool, but he still had hope. Every day, he convinced himself she would wake up. Today was no different.

Calling forth his shadows, he teleported to the spring. She lay there motionless – her face so smooth she looked like porcelain. Clad in nothing but his loin cloth, he took a seat beside the water, sinking into the soft grass.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he murmured, picking at the green blades by his ankles. “Adramelech asked me to take the crown back…again. Do you think he’ll ever accept my decision?”

She didn’t respond, of course, but that didn’t stop him from having conversations with her. He knew she was in there somewhere – even if it was impossible for him to see.

He let out a slow breath. “I miss you.”

Pain lanced his soul, deep and agonizing. How long would he have to live without her? Would he cling to this hope forever? What if she never woke up?

Without his crown, he was still a man. A demon. Without her, he was nothing. An empty shell passing through life like a shadow – unnoticed by the world. Uncaring of its existence. He had considered ending his pathetic life, but the thought of her waking up to discover he had given up on her was enough to keep him alive. If one could call what he did living. It was more like…existing. Being. Not living.

Not without her.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and chills arced down his spine.
Great, he thought to himself, rolling his eyes and tearing a fistful of grass from the ground before tossing it into the pool of purification.

“I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here,” Barachiel’s voice echoed against the rocky walls that circled around the pool, the sound of the cascading waterfall drowning it out after a few seconds.

“Nor I you,” Asmodeus replied, his eyes still locked on Armaita’s lifeless body.

He wanted to strangle the male when he took a seat beside him. As far as he was concerned, this man was the competition. A powerful, attractive angel that served God and had a soul that was good – untainted. A man that loved Armaita the same way Asmodeus did.

They were polar opposites, yet, they agreed on one thing.

Her.

The little shit still wouldn’t admit it, though. He didn’t need to. Asmodeus knew from experience that the angel was smitten. Otherwise, why would he be here waiting without any sign that she will ever wake up?

They were both pathetic.

“Do you have the day off?” He couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his tone.

He felt Barachiel’s glare but refused to give the angel the satisfaction of knowing it.
“She is my charge. I will always make time for her.”

The demon chuckled, looking down at the grass and shaking his head. “Whatever you say.”

“You’re always here,” the angel shot back, “forsaking your crown doesn’t make you any less their king. You are now and always will be the rightful ruler of that realm.”

“I stepped down. The crown rests on Adramelech’s head; therefore, he is the rightful king.”

“Whatever you say,” Barachiel echoed satirically. “Like it or not, you are the King of the Damned, Son of Lilith and Destroyer of Men. The world has no place for a monster like you. Return to Hell, Asmodeus. Leave Armaita in peace. No future can exist where the two of you are together.”

He clenched his jaw, battling the urge to punch a hole in the pretentious angel’s chest and rip out his beating heart.

The world has no place for a monster like you.

The motherfucker was right. Asmodeus hated to admit it, but it was true. He was a monster. After all, what else could he be? He certainly wasn’t born of Heaven or Earth. He was only placed in this world to lead it toward corruption.

But he was different now. His angel had changed him.

Love had changed him.

He didn’t want to fulfil whatever destiny was written in the books for him. He just wanted to be with her.

“Leave this place, Asmodeus. Return to your kingdom and reclaim your throne. I will watch over her. You know she is safe with me.”

His heart was breaking all over again – shattering into a thousand pieces in his chest. He didn’t want to leave her side, but maybe it was for the best. After all, she deserved so much better than the likes of him. Even if that meant handing her over to Barachiel.

Honestly, the thought made him want to vomit.

Breathing through his fury, the demon slowly turned to face the other male. “Do you truly want what is best for her, or do you just want her?”

The angel blinked, his expression unreadable. “I want what is best for her. Sincerely.”

Asmodeus’ face crumpled as he fought the wave of sadness that nearly pulled him under. “And you are certain I do not fill that description?”

The angel loosed an irritated sigh. “Your union can only result in death. I’m sure by now you have figured out that your souls are intertwined. Pursuing a relationship with her will surely end in both your destruction. The balance of this world must be kept. When I say there is no future for you both, I mean just that. There is only pain and suffering. Oblivion. Is that what you want for her?”

The demon looked away, shame washing over him. “Of course, not. I want only to make her happy.”

“An impossible feat, considering you are destined to kill her.”

Asmodeus growled. “That is a lie. I would never harm her. We have shared much time together, and none of it ever resulted in death.”

The angel chuckled sardonically, shaking his head. “Are you so blind? Did you not notice the change in her? She was afflicted by what was happening between you two.”

“And what about me? I wasn’t unaffected by our relationship! My heart beats for her! Because of her!” He was yelling now – the index finger of his right hand pointing angrily at the sleeping beauty beyond the water’s edge. “I love her.”

The angel tensed, his fists clenching and his breaths growing heavier. “A demon cannot love! You are born of fire and darkness! You cannot possibly understand such an emotion when you are forged from hatred!” Barachiel’s eyes flashed angrily as he rose to a stand, staring down at the demon with loathing in his eyes. “I watched her come into this world. I have been with her since the beginning – watching her. Teaching her. You could not possibly understand the way I feel about her.”

Asmodeus’ eyes slid shut. Hearing this shit was really a test of his will. The deep desire to twist the angel’s head off was immeasurable. He rose onto his hooves, stretching his spine so he was towering over the other male. His yellow eyes blazed with unadulterated rage as he glared down at him.

“I don’t give a fuck how you feel about her. She is my female.” He was seething – using every ounce of his strength to refrain from attacking the bold male.

His chest suddenly constricted, and he was compelled to turn around. Barachiel must have sensed it, too, because he also disengaged and turn to face the pool completely.

His eyes widened when he saw Armaita’s body glow a dull yellow. His jaw dropped when he watched her soul emerge from her body, faced with the option to walk through the flames or remain in the spring.

The scene unfolded before him, his heart hammering in his chest – the staccato beat at odds with his breathing. His entire body tensed and every fiber of his being prayed that she would be back in his arms at any moment.

She seemed sad, her spirit looking down and giving off an aura of melancholy. It was his fault. He had left her. Broke her heart.
He had to do something.

Saving her soul was more important to him than breathing. As long as she existed in this world, he would be okay. Dead or alive. Together or apart. He knew the world was better for having an angel as pure and loving as Armaita in it.

He stepped into the water, ignoring the sweltering pain as the blessed liquid scorched him – rejecting his presence in the pool. “Hi, sweetheart,” he said, reaching out to her spirit.

He knew she felt him. Lifting her body from the pool and holding it against him, he kissed her warm cheek and pressed his mouth up against her ear. “It’s time to come back now, baby.”

“What are you doing?” Barachiel called, “If you do this, you could die.”

Asmodeus ignored the asshole, not giving a fuck what he had to say about anything. The flames of purification burned fiercely in the water – the heat emanating around them. He stepped into them, their heat instantly burning his skin.

Armaita lay in his arms, her body still and warm. He lifted her higher in his arms and pressed his lips against hers, breathing into her mouth as he clutched her to him. “I love you so fucking much,” he breathed against her lips.

She came alive in his arms, her eyes opening and her arms encircling his neck. A wave of relief washed over him.

Peace.

She held him to her, kissing him fiercely and desperately. He could feel himself fading – the heavenly flames burning him to a crisp. She slowly pulled away and he smiled at her, stroking her cheek gently.

He closed his eyes as the flames consumed him.

And then he was gone.