Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Adae could have simply walked into the room, but like always he wanted me to understand the limitless nature of his power.
The stench of burning hair saturated the space mixed with several other fragrances.
Long ago, I never truly could decipher Adae's odor. I just knew how he smelled and did my best to stay away.
This time, I inhaled the pure, raw magic, sucking it into my nostrils and naming each scent.
The odor of burning hair. The sweet perfume of blooming roses. The salty scent of a mother's tears.
I sniffed again. Sadness washed through me.
The sinful stench of a baby's throat being sliced with a silver knife. . .and. . .
I didn't want to smell anymore, but I forced myself to take another whiff.
Feathers. . .long ones. . .coated in magic. . .and more magic probably to hide the wings.
And then the colors before me fragmented into white-hot flames that twisted and turned, spun and then spiraled, creating a massive, fiery whirlpool.
A portal.
Next, a figure stepped out from the spiraling flames and walked my way.
I want to kill you, Adae.
As usual, a black leather mask covered his nose and mouth. His gold eyes glinted. His black hair was tied back in a long braid that fell all the way down to his knees.
Adae wore a long dark blue robe with tons of scattered silver dots that twinkled like fallen stars. With each step, the fabric flowed and swayed around his body.
His pale skin shimmered just like Lucifer's did.
How did I not see this before?
Stepping over all his dead sorcerers, Adae stopped a foot in front of me. “This is a surprise.”
“It is.”
“You came to me.”
“I did.”
Adae sneered. “Yet, you took a precious item also.”
“Did I?”
“Where is Jade?”
“She is no longer important. You have me.”
“But, I want both.”
I called Soul-Breaker back to me. The warm handle pressed against my palm.
A bored expression covered Adae’s face. “What will you do with that?”
“Forget about Fatou and her daughter. I give you my life for them.”
He studied me. “A high-level incubus demon attempts to save an infested fairy.”
“Fatou is not infested.”
“She carries the disease of vampires.” Adae leaned his head to the side. “Does she carry your blood too?”
I gritted my teeth.
“I wonder what Fatou would create if I put your sperm inside of her. Already, she has birthed so much power.”
A dark growl left me.
“While I promise to leave Fatou alone because she brought me you.” Adae flicked his fingers.
Soul-Breaker's handle shattered in my hand. The blade crumbled into dust. My heart broke. It was the last of my son now crushed into nothing.
I bared my teeth and glared at Adae.
“Fatou is safe, but I have plans for her daughter.” Fast, Adae whipped his hands in front of him, forming a circle.
No!
Thousands of tiny globes of light materialized around me. Seconds later, I was trapped in a massive glass sphere.
I rushed forward and banged against the hard surface of the glass. The shield rippled with energy. “Leave her daughter alone! Adae! Listen to me! Don’t touch her!”
The sphere rose, taking me into the air.
“I am sorry, Azar.” Adae lifted his hand. “Jade is too important to my plan.”
I pressed against the glass. “What plan?!”
Adae snapped his fingers.
The nursery disappeared, and I dropped into a cell.
No!
The walls—made of a rough-hewn grey stone—rose so high into the darkness and looked endless. I considered flying up there to see, until I heard something growling and slithering at the top. Surely, Adae had counted on me to fly and stuck a creature up there to hamper any attempt at escape.
I scanned the cell. It was circular in shape. The stoned floor was adorned with odd rune carvings and images of strange beasts that I did not recognize.
Security magic.
Behind me, a barred window ran from the floor to the ceiling and showed a molten hot view of the volcanoes.
I sank in despair and a powerlessness that I had never known in all of my life.
Fatou. I hope you are far away and in a place where Adae can never find you.
For the first time in years and years of demon life, I lowered to my knees and prayed for her safety.
God. . .you may not know me. . .you may not hear me. . .but. . .protect Fatou and Jade. I give you all of me, just for their safety.
Chapter 21
The Invisible Forest
Fatou
Zoe was supposed to take me to the Outer Realm—a place I had only read about in books and heard about from my father. It could only be entered by crossing through a portal. Additionally, it was protected by an impenetrable mystical barrier called the Veil.
Azar told Zoe that Jade and I would be safe from Adae in the outer realm because Adae could never cross it. Which probably meant that fallen angels, had no ability to enter.