FORTIFIED

Chapter Twenty.

Seven nights ago...

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He coughed, opening his eyes.

His eyes tried adjusting to his surroundings but he saw nothing, everywhere was dark. He tried to move but he cursed when a blinding pain exploded in his stomach.

He looked down and cursed again seeing his blood pool in a circle around him.

He was still alive.

He realized.

And he was still in the cave.

He looked up at the now crooked chair in front of him and cursed some more.

Adriel had escaped. His hands balled into fists.

He closed his eyes and chanted.

Suddenly his wounds began to heal but they couldn't heal completely.

They weren't inflicted by a mortal.

He was lucky to be alive as it was and he had a nagging feeling that the angels had kept him alive intentionally.

He stood up, wincing as he did so.

He held a hand to his stomach, seeing all his fallen men on the ground around him.

He growled, storming out the cave. It was still dark and the fire was still burning brightly but he could see the bodies of his subjects littered all over the floor.

The few that had made it gathered around him.

Jayden burned with a wave of fierce anger that awoke the demons within him. He roared words in an ancient tongue, summoning three hooded creatures.

They appeared and knelt before him.

He saw the dark misty cloud that floated undisturbed around them, turning and curving as they went.

They had no precise shape.

The creatures were silhouettes of long-forgotten people of old that have been bounded and sold to the darkness.

And they were here to pay their debts.

"Master." They shrieked. Their voices were like shrill echoes against the still silence of the night.

"Send for the Masters. It has begun." Jayden said quietly, a contrast to the rage he felt.

The hooded creatures nodded, almost imperceptively, and disappeared into the night.

Jayden balled his hands into fists.

Adriel had escaped from him yet again.

He could still taste her blood on his tongue.

"Adriel." He whispered.

{¶{¶{¶{¶{¶}

Adriel opened the letter.

"Dear Adriel,

I know you're upset with me. I'm no longer with you and I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about everything. I did what I had to, to protect you. You were better off not knowing because the less you knew the better, but I fear it had all been in vain. You are special Adriel, more than you know. You are light. And no one can stop you from shining. They'll find out eventually and that is why I want you to be strong Adriel.

I'm dead. And I know you blame Alex for it, but you can't hold what has happened against him Adriel. I know it's hard but I don't want you to blame him because I don't. Blame the darkness that had entrapped his heart not wanting to let go. He was in pain, you know it, you saw it and it pushed him to the dark. He had no will to resist it. I know you're hurt Adriel, but this will be the biggest test of your faith Adriel. Will you hold his sins against him or will you learn to forgive him?