Apocalyptic Passion

THE UNFORGOTTEN...

The air thickened, heavy with an unspoken tension.

Azrail's breath remained shallow, her eyes fixed on the massive doors that had just slammed open with an ominous crash. A chill crawled up her spine, sharp and unrelenting, as if her instincts screamed for her to run.

But she couldn't.

The room, dimly lit by flickering torches, seemed to shrink as an unnatural presence poured into the space, filling every corner with its oppressive weight.

Something was horribly, undeniably wrong.

Emerging from the darkness was not a figure of flesh nor one of fire. It was a monstrous thing—neither human nor demon.

The creature stood unnervingly still, its towering frame riddled with jagged black veins that throbbed with an unsettling red glow. Its hollow eyes were nothing but pits of darkness, yet faint ember-like flames flickered at their centers, burning with a malice that felt ancient.

Azrail took an instinctive step back, her fingers twitching toward her hip. But there was no dagger to grasp, no weapon to draw. She was unarmed.

Her mind raced as her gaze flicked toward Asmodeus.

The demon lord stood frozen. His expression betrayed nothing, but she caught the subtle tightening of his jaw.

Whoever—or whatever—this creature was, even Asmodeus hadn't anticipated its arrival.

The creature tilted its head, the movement slow and deliberate, before locking its gaze on Azrail.

A voice emerged, if it could even be called that. It was a low, distorted whisper, seeping into the air like poison.

"You are not supposed to exist."

Azrail's heart clenched.

The words settled over her like a death sentence.

"What the hell is that thing?" she muttered, her voice hoarse but steady.

Asmodeus finally moved, his shoulders stiffening as his shadows coiled around him like living entities.

"A mistake," he said simply, his tone carrying a quiet edge.

Azrail didn't have time to press for answers.

The creature moved.

It didn't walk or run—it shifted. One moment it was across the room; the next, it was in front of her, its hollow eyes staring into her very soul.

She barely registered its speed before an invisible force slammed into her chest, sending her hurtling across the room. Her back collided with the cold stone wall, pain erupting along her spine as the impact knocked the air from her lungs.

A groan escaped her lips as she crumpled to the ground, the world spinning.

Before she could gather herself, Asmodeus was already in motion. He stepped forward, placing himself between her and the creature. His shadows flared violently, twisting and writhing around him like a storm barely held in check.

"Leave," Asmodeus commanded, his voice eerily calm but laced with danger.

The creature didn't retreat. Instead, it let out a soundless laugh—an absence of noise so profound it twisted the air itself.

"You cannot command what was never yours to control."

Azrail coughed, dragging herself upright despite the throbbing pain in her chest.

"Great," she rasped, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. "Another cryptic bastard. I'm really tired of you things."

The creature turned toward her, its ember-like gaze flickering.

And then—it lunged.

Azrail braced herself, her body tensing as she prepared for impact.

But it never came.

Asmodeus moved faster than her eyes could follow, a blur of dark energy erupting from him. His shadows collided with the creature in a violent burst, sending it crashing into the ground with enough force to shake the room. The stone walls cracked, debris scattering as the dust settled.

Azrail's chest heaved, but the relief was short-lived.

The creature rose again, unscathed.

"You cannot kill what is already forgotten."

The distorted voice sent shivers down her spine, and she clenched her fists

"Okay, seriously," she said, her voice breaking the silence. "What the hell does that even mean?"

Asmodeus didn't respond.

For the first time since she had met him, his usual calm demeanor faltered.

His silence spoke volumes.

And it terrified her.

THE SHADOWS' STRUGGLE...

The creature lunged again, faster this time, its jagged limbs cutting through the air like blades.

Asmodeus met its attack head-on, his shadows exploding outward in a chaotic dance of destruction. The room quaked under their clash, stone and fire alike bowing to their power.

"Move!" Asmodeus barked, his voice breaking through Azrail's haze.

She scrambled to her feet, her body protesting every step as she put distance between herself and the chaos.

Lucifer's training flashed in her mind: Observe. Analyze. Survive.

Her eyes darted between the creature and Asmodeus. The thing wasn't just strong—it was unrelenting.

"Asmodeus!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the roar of their battle. "What is it?!"

He didn't answer. His focus was absolute, every fiber of his being poured into holding the creature at bay.

But she saw it—the strain in his movements, the slight hesitation in his strikes.

As powerful as he was, this fight was different.

Azrail's gaze fell to the shattered remains of the room, her mind racing. There had to be a weakness.

Her eyes landed on the veins pulsing across the creature's body.

The red glow…

Before she could act, the creature's ember-like gaze snapped toward her, as if sensing her thoughts.

Azrail barely had time to react as it broke free from Asmodeus's shadows, its focus shifting entirely to her.

"Azrail, run!" Asmodeus roared.

But she didn't.

She couldn't.

Instead, she stood her ground, her hand clenching around a shard of broken stone.

"Come on," she muttered, her voice trembling but defiant.

The creature lunged.

THE UNSEEN TRUTH...

As the creature closed the distance, time seemed to slow.

Azrail's mind raced, her body moving on instinct. At the last possible moment, she threw herself to the side, narrowly avoiding its outstretched claws.

The creature skidded to a halt, its movements jerky and unnatural, but Azrail was already moving.

"Here!" she shouted, throwing the stone shard with all her strength.

The shard struck its mark, embedding itself in one of the pulsing red veins.

For the first time, the creature hesitated.

A guttural, distorted shriek tore through the air, its ember-like eyes flickering wildly.

"Asmodeus!" Azrail shouted.

He didn't need further prompting. In an instant, his shadows surged forward, enveloping the creature entirely.

The room erupted in light and darkness, the two forces colliding in a final, deafening clash.

When the dust settled, the creature was gone.

Azrail collapsed to her knees, her body trembling from exhaustion.

Asmodeus stood over her, his expression unreadable.

"You should have run," he said, his voice low.

Azrail looked up at him, her lips curling into a weak smile. "And miss all the fun? Not a chance."