121 Settling Scores
âYouâre still weak.â Azazel candidly said to him, âmaybe not physically, but you know what Iâm talking about. Your energy has gone from bad to worse and what nextâ?â He tried to reason the situation with Roshan.
âYouâre still human, your energy level is completely different from a pure blooded demon and you still used it to save human lives. If you take the risk and give Annalise whatever energy is left in you, Iâm hoping not to be the one whoâll send your soul to the netherworld.â
As much as Roshan hated it, Azazel was completely right about that and it only made him feel more useless. He canât even save Anna now since itâd take years to recover whatever energy heâs lost these past few weeks.
âThen help me.â He said through gritted teeth and closed his eyes to calm himself, gathering enough courage to lower his guard before fluttering those eyes open.
âHelp me save her.â His tone came out soft, almost pleading and it made Azazelâs gaze darken at how much his brother was willing to stoop to save the human girl.
âAnd why would I do that?â
âCause Iâm asking nicely.â He retorted before meeting Azazelâs cold gaze. The anger in those blue coal eyes wasnât hidden from Roshan and he knew very well that his sudden actions werenât funny to Azazel at all.
âWill you do it?â
A controlled sigh left Azazelâs lips as he looked away from Roshan, but he was compelled to agree, even if he didnât want to and it ate him up that he couldnât.
.....
âYou seriously owe me for this.â He mumbled before reaching Annaâs bedside and crouching beside it.
He held her arm and to Roshanâs relief, he watched as Azazel transferred a bit of his energy into Anna and as he continued, Annaâs slow heartbeat gradually picked up speed, returning to the normal beating rate and only then did Azazel let go of her arm, but his expression remained grim.
âRoshan...â
âYou knew, didnât you?â Roshan immediately cut Azazel off with his question. âYou knew about Annaâs condition the very first time you saw her meteor mark, and you kept it hidden from me.â
That part wasnât difficult for Roshan to figure out. Azazel was in charge of the limbo and he was very much aware about the soul that had escaped from it, he even made mention of the soul having a time limit and when he brought Anna into the palace, there was no way Azazel could lie to him that he had no clue Annalise was the escaped soul.
But what he doesnât understand is why his brother chose to hide it from him.
Azazel, who didnât expect the unforeseen question, froze for a few seconds as his eyes slightly widened in alarm. He had somehow suspected Roshan would figure it out already, but not so early.
âWhy did you hide it?â He demanded. Azazel immediately composed himself as he stood straight, keeping his back to Roshan to avoid meeting his glaring gaze.
âI didnât find it important.â Came his blatant response but that only made something in Roshan snap as he moved from his chair and the next thing, his fist had connected to the wall behind Azazel to the point it cracked from the impact.
Azazel barely flinched, knowing that the hit was actually meant for him. He just turned to look at the hand that still remained punched on the wall, before retracting it back to Roshan whose hazel-green eyes burned with fury.
âYou didnât find it important? You failed to come up with an even greater excuse.â
âYou punched the wall on purpose, didnât you?â
âDonât think I spared you,â his deathly tone was enough to send prickles of tormenting fear down the spine of anyone, âitâs just a near miss.â He met Azazelâs stare, silently telling him he was lucky before taking his hand back and now, he was standing before his brother.
âLetâs leave it at that, I want you to answer this instead, how does Annaâs soul connect with Aveline?â
âDo you really want us to settle the scores here, dear brother?â Azazel tilted his head to the side, stealing a glance at Annalise and silently sending a message to the glacier that the people of Ark Ville can easily sense their presence if they end up taking things too far.
Getting the message, Roshan wisely stepped back from the white-haired Enigma who freely walked past him.
âDonât worry, Iâm still getting you out of here.â He assured Roshan who obviously didnât need the assurance, more like he knew, but Azazel was only saying it to anger him further.
The air in the room felt tense and Azazel did a good job in keeping his own emotions hidden. Roshan had every reason to get angry at him, he wouldnât blame the guy for killing him because of it, but if Roshan does find a chance to think this through, heâll know he doesnât do things without a reason.
âI canât get you out of here tonight, thatâs what I came to tell you.â Azazel informed him, but Roshan only sighed and turned to look at him, keeping his anger in check.
âWhatâs your plan?â
âMeet me in the woods tomorrow night, I think the place is called autumn forest, along with Anna, Levi and I will be there to take you both back.â
âWhat if you donât show up?â
âWe will just be there on time.â He turned to look at Anna whose normal colors had returned to her face and he met Roshanâs stare with a taunting smile.
âI hope your mate wakes up.â
âGet out before I lose it.â
Azazel vanished after that, leaving silence to fall into the room. His gaze returned back to Annalise who was currently stirring on the bed.
âRoshan.â She softly called in her subconsciousness, her eyes were still closed but she just stirred on the bed, her fingers digging themselves into the duvet that covered her.
âRoshan.â She called again. He reached for her bedside and held her hand in his, making his presence known to her and only then did her expression calm.
âShhhh, Iâm here.â He softly assured her, his anger vanishing without him even realizing it.