23. Azazel

Chapter twenty-three

Azazel

Hell's Coming With Us

W e were back at Rai's home and I was in charge of opening the door to the Magic Shop. I mixed the herbs I had in a bowl with my blood while Rai and Monique stood by and watched.

"How does it feel being inside of me now that we're a Divine Weapon?" Rai asked.

I smiled. "It feels good. I feel your heart beating with mine. I feel what you feel, your fear, anger... lust." I winked at the last one.

He rolled his eyes and I chuckled. "I'm glad we can talk to each other now."

I nodded. "I am too. You'll need my direction."

He opened his mouth to protest, I could tell, so I interjected.

"I'm not giving any insult to your extensive training, Rai. But please don't think you won't need my instructions."

Rai nodded then. "I was just going to say don't shout if you can help it. I find it distracting."

"Oh. I see. All right, I'll try to be mindful of the level of my voice."

"Is it done?" he asked.

"It is," I said.

"Wait, before we even go there, is this even someplace humans can go?" Monique asked as she tied her braids into a ponytail. "I'm not trying to get blinked out of existence going to some unknown location you have to take a fucking magic portal to get to."

She had asked a bunch of questions about everything she'd seen thus far and this was just one more. Rai had the patience to answer all of her questions in order to put her mind at ease.

"It's safe for humans," I said, saving him the effort.

"Okay." Monique nodded.

"Are you both ready?"

"We have to go. The demons might have already freed Satan," Rai said.

"Very well. Please, step inside the sigil." They did and I then began sprinkling the herb mixture on the sigil doorway to the Magic Shop. Like before, the sigil lit up, the brightness of the light filled the entire apartment as it had before. The sensation of traveling through space, time, and the ether was unmistakable. I wasn't affected by the sensation, but when we landed, Monique puked. Luckily, Rai also had anticipated her regurgitation and he moved out of the way same as I did. Rai patted her back while I took a look around.

"Oh my god," I heard Monique gasp and I figured she was done spewing and noticed that we were in the middle of nowhere—literally. The only thing standing before us was the Magic Shop with its tacky neon red lettering. "Where—where are we?" she asked.

"Nowhere and everywhere," I said.

"I don't like it," she said.

I chuckled. "Let's enter, shall we?" I led the way.

"What the hell?" Monique said after we entered the enormous shop.

I heard Rai chuckle. "Yeah, I know. It looks so much smaller on the outside. I was surprised when I first came here too."

The Owner stepped out from between two aisles of potions and items that other beings were perusing. With all due respect, I bowed my head to him and he nodded in acknowledgment. I didn't know much about this man. But I knew he must have been someone time didn't touch, like Death. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rai bow his head as well. He was learning. Monique just looked at him dumbfounded.

"We need your help," Rai said, stepping in front of me.

The Owner's black eyes—eyes that I avoided—looked at my lover.

My Lover. Yes, that was who Rai was, who he was meant to be. I smiled at the thought. I watched my lover look The Owner in the eye and didn't know if it was fearlessness, ignorance, or arrogance. Probably a bit of all three, but I thought it was adorable. I didn't think The Owner would harm him. Still, I was a demon who knew better than to disrespect something or someone whose origins were unknown.

"We have to stop the dem—"

"I know what has happened," The Owner said.

Rai frowned. "How?"

"It is my job as the Keeper of the Shop to know what all of my customers' needs and desires are," The Owner said in that otherworldly manner of his.

"So, you know what we need to do?" Rai asked.

"You need to go to Satan's cell now," The Owner said. "Leave the girl, she will be safe. Follow me."

Rai threw me a look that was both cautious and curious and I nodded at him as we followed The Owner.

"Should we have any special weapons with us?" Rai asked.

"You are the only weapon you need. The Divine Weapon and one that is more powerful than any other Guardian. You must trust in that power. I am happy that you took my advice, young man," The Owner said.

Advice? I had wondered what the two of them had discussed the last time we were here. Whatever it was, I was glad Rai took it as well.

The Owner turned to Monique, who had been quiet as she took in her surroundings, which was wise on her part. It might have been because she was too afraid to say anything, or because she was caught in wonderment. Either way, the Owner calling her name drew her attention.

"Yes?" she said. "Wait, how do you know my name?"

"I know many things, my dear... as any good Shop Owner should." The Owner made a sweeping gesture to a room with several sofas where people were reading and drinking beverages. Some of the beings there were clearly not human. "Please, wait here."

"I don't want to go in there," Monique said, seeing an elf, a fairy, and what I knew to be a vampire along with three other humans sitting calmly.

"No harm will come to you," The Owner stated.

"You can trust him, Monique," Rai said.

"If you want a world to go back to, child, we must leave," I said to speed things along.

"Tactless," The Owner criticized me, but there was a smirk playing on his lips.

"Monique, it's safe here. See, no one will bother you. We have to go," Rai said. "I know this place is strange and scary. But you need to be brave."

Monique hugged him suddenly and he hugged her back. "I'll stay," she said.

There was something about Rai that made people want to trust him. I didn't know if it was his ethereal beauty or his personality, probably both. It may also be his aura, that of a Guardian that instilled hope and trust in those he protected. Whatever the case, Monique walked into that room and took a seat closest to the door.

Survival instincts were what kept her alive.

"Follow me," The Owner said, then he led Rai and me to the back room. I'd never been, but knew of its existence. A portal to all things, to all worlds. "You must become one now."

"Okay," Rai said, then he turned to me. "Are you ready?"

"Take me deep inside of you," I said with a seductive tone on purpose.

Rai scoffed, but smiled. "That's my line."

"Ooooh, yes, baby," I purred and he grabbed me by the back of my head and pulled my face down for a kiss that rocked my demonic soul.

"I love you," Rai said. "I think I have for a long while."

Hearing the words again and knowing they came from Rai was everything to me. I'd never had such genuine words spoken to me, let alone words of love. Nothing I'd ever done in my entire demonic existence gave me so much joy and fulfillment than knowing that Rai loved me. That I belonged to him and he to me. I knew my eyes were glowing because I could see their indigo reflection in Rai's turquoise gaze.

"I love you and yes, I have for a long time," I said.

I didn't know what emotion it was that I felt whenever I looked at him or was in his presence. I just knew I could not lose him. I could not exist without him.

Love... that was what it was we both felt. Love, a four-letter word that was bigger than anything. I would fight for love, die for it, my love for him. For Rai.

I kissed him again and when we parted, The Owner was smiling at us.

"What?" Rai asked, because that was his style.

"I'm glad to see that you have become enlightened," The Owner said.

Rai smiled then and nodded. He turned back to me. "Let's do this."

I nodded and when he closed his eyes, I felt him draw me inside of him and I embraced his pull. Soon, I was filled with the warmness of his essence, of his body. I could see what he saw, hear what he heard. We were one.

"You are finally ready, Rai Harrington and Azazel," The Owner said.

"I'm ready, but still a little scared shitless," Rai said.

The Owner nodded.

"I've got you, baby," I told him.

I felt his body heat up and knew that he felt comforted by my words and presence. I'd never abandon him.

The Owner stood in front of a set of black double doors and traced a symbol on them as he chanted a phrase I had no knowledge of. The doors opened to a red light in a room with swirling red and black smoke. A normal person would have to be insane to walk inside that portal, but Rai was a Guardian. The last line of defense for the human race and he had me. He could do this.

Rai took a deep breath and entered.