5. Azazel

Chapter five

Azazel

The Promise of What's to Come

" T his is him?" I asked as I looked at the photo of a snot-nosed, twelve-year-old boy. He did have the most enchanting features I'd ever seen. From what I knew, Guardians were exotic in their beauty, but this boy was on another level to me. Turquoise eyes, mocha skin... but there was something else I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"He is your future Guardian," Terri said.

Over the past century, she had become my liaison, so to speak. Since I wasn't allowed in their precious Guild, I was still kept abreast of information regarding the Guardians. At first, I didn't care... hell, I still didn't, but I did have an interest in the boy who was supposed to be my commander.

I sighed and tossed the photo on the table, then poured myself some brandy. I raised my eyebrows at Terri as a way of offering her some. She rolled her eyes, then nodded. I poured her a drink too, then sat back to indulge.

"So, when does he put a leash around my neck?"

"Excited to be at his beck and call?" Terri taunted.

I sneered. "Don't play with me."

She smiled and shrugged, then took a sip of the brandy. "Still cranky, I see. I told you a hundred years ago, you couldn't avoid your destiny. At least, you've finally accepted it."

It was true. I'd tried everything I could to break the curse that bound me to one of those self-righteous assholes, but couldn't. I'd been an outcast since that night and had ended up killing more demons who sought to insult or attack me. I had to find my pleasure somehow and at least I could kill something, thus doing their side a great service.

"To answer your question, it's hard to say. Rai—"

"Rai?" I asked, cutting her off.

She nodded. "His name is Rai Harrington. He was born on the twelfth of December and recently had his birthday. When he turned twelve, he got the First Awakening and began to see the visions. That's what alerted us that he was ready to be trained."

"So, how's he taking to it?"

"It's only been a week, hard to say. He's still getting over the trauma of losing his family," Terri said.

I shrugged. "Better that than having them tortured or possessed by demons."

"You'd know."

I gave her a crooked smile. "If I was my old self, I would have surely killed everyone but his mother, then made sure she was possessed by a demon. That way, his guard would be down. A quick slit of his throat would do the trick."

"That's wishful thinking. A demon can never breach the barrier of the Guild. Hence your exclusion," Terri said.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't see why an exception can't be made for me. Aren't I one of you anyway? Your holy essence flows through me to my utter dismay."

"True, but you're still a demon. Be glad I even come to visit you," she said, then rose.

"Why not make him forget that he even had a family?" I tossed at her.

"No. He needs to deal with that pain in order to make him stronger. A Guardian has to grow from the sorrow of loss," she said.

I snorted, then laughed. "And you lot call us demons heartless."

She raised an eyebrow. "You are. It's because of demons and regular wicked humans that Guardians must be prepared to accept the loss of life. Not everyone they want to save will be. Guardians must learn what it means to make sacrifices for the greater good."

I didn't say anything to that, because I understood her meaning. I just nodded.

"I'll take my leave, but don't worry. I'll be back with more progress reports," she said.

"Wait a minute," I called out before she left. She turned. "Has he dreamed about me? You said your kind get visions around his age."

Terri nodded. "From what I've been told, he considers those to be nightmares."

I huffed. "Me in my prime, I bet."

"Behave yourself," she joked. With that, she left.

I picked up the boy's photo again and looked at it. He was in his Stellar Academy uniform, a big smile on his face. I guess it was before he found out he'd been royally fucked by the same destiny that had been kicking my ass for over a hundred years. I tossed the photo on the table again and walked over to my window, looking down at the city below. So much has changed, yet remained the same. Technology had advanced, even beyond my own expectations. Who knew humans would create a bomb that would still kill for years to come? The guns and bombs I'd taught man to make were way more efficient in destroying humanity.

I still fed off all of that death, making me stronger over time. It was interesting to see my legacy ruling supreme and humans had no idea. Of course, I hadn't been able to take credit for anything created in these modern times like drones that could kill from afar or satellites. It was true, I'd been forced to retire in 1912. Oh, but did I enjoy the twenties and the decades that followed. I didn't make mankind fight itself, couldn't even if I wanted to. Their desire to destroy themselves was in their nature... a flaw in their design, if you asked me. I had just made it easier for them to do it.

I watched the lights from cars moving and wondered... who could I kill tonight? Perhaps a rapist? A murderer? I smiled and then put on my long, black coat. Time to go hunting.

***

"Please... please don't kill me," the man begged as he scooted back on the ground, dragging himself through the muck in the filthy alley. A fitting place for him.

I'd caught him trying to rape a teenage girl who happened to be heading home from a party she shouldn't have attended. The girl was unconscious, having had her head slammed against the wall by her would-be rapist. Her blouse was undone, but that was as far as the asshole got before he met me.

"Oh, I'm going to kill you. Only question is, do I kill you slowly or mercifully?" I asked.

"Please, I won't do it again," he lied.

I laughed. "Do you know how many times I've heard that? ‘Please, don't' or ‘I'm sorry'." I sneered at him. "Pathetic. Die with dignity. Own up to your crimes... your sins. Trust me, it goes a long way in Hell. You'll be tortured, this is true. For centuries, but there is a chance for a promotion if you're proud of what you've done."

"Please... I never did this before. I won't do it again."

I allowed my eyes to glow their bright indigo and his eyes widened. I then allowed my fangs, claws, and ears to transform. I used to be able to show my demonic face, but ever since being cursed with the Angel's Kiss, I couldn't. This was the extent of the demon I could show these humans. Still, it was enough.

"Ahhh," the man screamed, then scrambled to his feet. He tried to run, but I teleported in front of him, blocking the way. He screamed again, his face contorted in the terror he felt, and I smiled, showing off my sharpened teeth. I slashed his chest, ripping into his skin. Blood gushed from the wounds and it felt so good to feel the heat of what pumped life into their weak bodies dripping from my fingers. He fell back to the ground, holding his bleeding chest, his clothes becoming soaked in blood. "Please don't," he pleaded.

"Stop," I said, using my ability to freeze objects and people for a brief period. It was enough for me to set him on fire. I released the freeze on him, allowing parts of his body to feel the pain of the Hellfire burning him, yet his head and mouth remained frozen. He felt every bit of the heat from the fire as it raged, yet couldn't scream. His limbs flailed about as the flames devoured him. His death was absolute and pure agony. Watching him suffer had me in a state of extreme arousal. As killing always did.

I released my power over him, allowing the flames to engulf his head, where he did scream, but only for a few seconds before he died. I waved my hand and a gust of wind extinguished the flames, leaving his charred body smoldering. I wondered what happened to the souls of demons and humans I killed who were bound for Hell. Since I was no longer linked to my Empress, I had no way of knowing if those souls went to her or if they just disappeared. Did they remain in limbo, a void that might be even worse than torture? I did wonder.

For now, I had a human to drop off at home and a raging hard-on to take care of.