Frost and Fire

One

Teivel had never hated himself more than he did in that moment. Sure, he had stood back and let Azazel kill thousands of people, torture them. Hell, he had even helped the monster at times. So why did this feel so different? Why did he feel so reluctant this time? Deep down inside, he knew the answer - he knew, yet he chose to ignore it, blocking it out. It wouldn't help him in the long run. One could either obey Azazel's orders or kiss life goodbye. And he had no intention of ever returning to the dungeons - once had been enough, as it was.

Suppressing a shudder, Teivel mounted the stairs, following the gut-wrenching screams, forcing himself to keep moving. He stopped in front of a closed door, took a deep breath and opened it.

The sight that met his eyes almost had him running away but Teivel had never been one to run away from things. Bracing himself, he looked up, straight into the young girl's eyes. Those emerald-green eyes were filled with tears as they glanced up at him pleadingly, fear visible in them. It took all his strength and willpower to tear his gaze away from her bloodied and bruised, instead choosing to study his master.

Azazel's cloak was torn and a deep cut shed blood on his otherwise pale cheek - a side effect of the fight with Hilton, he supposed. Even so, Azazel glowed with power, a blue aura surrounding him as he slashed at the air with his hand, making the girl scream. The sound tore at his heart and it was all he could do to not leap at Azazel and attack him. 

Apparently, he was not the only one who felt protective towards her. Her black-haired twin brother, tied up right next to her, screamed out too, his furious scream mingling with her pained one. After a whole minute, she stopped screaming, although the sobs that racked her body did not drown out her brother's angry swearing. As Teivel took a step into the room, Azazel turned towards him, a maniacal smile stretching across his equally as insane-looking face. Although, Teivel supposed, in a way the man was quite handsome. He had defined cheekbones, a prominent jawline and hooded dark eyes that were only intensified by the paleness of his skin. Not unlike himself, Teivel thought.

The man was walking towards him, speaking, "Ah, Teivel, I was wondering where you were off to."

Trying to not look disgusted, he bowed slightly, "My lord. I was held up - it seems we might have...underestimated their security measures."

Azazel growled, his mouth hardening, lips thinning, "Am I to assume that you couldn't handle a few mortals!?"

Teivel forced a smirk to lift his lips, "No, my lord. I was merely...having some fun."

The other man's angry features smoothed out as he laughed boomingly, "This is exactly why you're my second-in-command. Now may I assume that you'll bring these two to the palace safely?"

He bowed again, "You can trust me, m'lord,"

With a slight nod in his direction, Azazel disappeared as suddenly, shadows seemingly engulfed him whole. Teivel turned to face them - the two fifteen-year old children. So alike, yet so different. Lane Rayburn glared at him from where he sat all tied up. His piercing green eyes bore through him as if daring him to take a step forward. As it was, Teivel slowly walked towards the boy, a small smirk adorning his mouth. He froze as a small, barely audible whimper reached his ears. Looking away from the boy, his eyes unwillingly settled on the girl. 

She was pressed against the wall, her shoulders slightly hunched, as if expecting another round of pain. Large green eyes met his, full of fear and pain. Tears still clung to her lashes and her raw, bitten lips were turned down. Her cheek was bloody, a deep cut visible. It felt as if his heart broke slightly, just looking at her. He shook his head, trying to clear the sudden doubts flooding his mind. He had one goal only and that was to take the children to Azazel's palace. And that was where he...

A gasp cut through his thoughts and he glanced up to see the black-haired teen scrunching up her forehead, more tears gathering in those emerald eyes. He'd forgotten about the deep gash in her cheek - Juliana was losing blood fast. And that mixed with the side effects of the torture...it couldn't be good.

He couldn't help it - he rushed to her side immediately, ignoring Lane's shouts. She stared at him with wide eyes, flinching as he raised his hand. He ignored her, closing his eyes and resting his hand on her forehead. A rush of power filled him and his hand tingled, inciting another gasp from Juliana. He opened his eyes in time to see the cut on her cheek close up and to see those green eyes blink at him sleepily.

"What the fuck are you doing to my sister!?" Lane Rayburn's furious voice broke through his thoughts and he hastily snatched his hand away from the girl. Turning his head, he glared coldly at the boy, trying to forget how vulnerable he'd been just moments ago. He put a finger on the girl's cheek, and turned her head around, so that her healed cheek was visible to her brother.

The boy stared, a flush working its way up his neck, coloring his cheeks and a soft 'oh' esaped him. Teivel smirked at his discomfort, moving away from Juliana and kneeling beside her brother, deftly working on the ropes binding him.

"What are you doing?" a soft voie spoke up, and Teivel looked up to meet Juliana Rayburn's bright green eyes. They burned into him, searing his soul and he repressed a shiver. Instead, he let a smile tug at his lips, "I'm untying your very ungrateful brat of a brother."

At Lane's indignant 'hey', the girl burst into laughter, eyes blinking sleepily. As if through a haze, the black-haired beauty looked up at him, "What's your name?"

He looked at her, "I go by the name Teivel these days."

"Well then, thank you...Teivel." A grateful smile graced her features as her head lolled back and she slipped into unconsciousness.