Chapter forty seven
"Try all you can to care, Abraham," the thing said to him. "But you'll remain a djinn, a being naturally against God's creation."
The King pretended not to listen. Looking out the window of his drawing room, he stared down at his mother's grave, emotion building in his chest. "These people are not entirely sinful, Azazel. Deep down, each has a unique sign of divinity."
The beast like being with him huffed irritably. Two horns curled atop its grey head. Its skin looked overly stretched and wrinkled, standing with hooved legs and an incredible height, it cast angry amber eyes at the fire djinn. "You'll let Lucifer down. You'll let the entire Kingdom of Hades down while protecting mortality. What has gotten into you?!"
"I stopped caring about that a long time ago," he smiled as mild tears blurred his vision. "Humans just need someone to show them the light in them, and I won't let Ozii squash that opportunity."
Azazel scowled at him silently for a while, disappointment cast upon his ugly face. After a swoop of its spike tail, it snarled. "You'll regret this."
"No, I won't," Abraham shrugged and finally faced it. "The only thing I presently am regretting is the fact I didn't think of stopping him earlier. All my brothers would have still been here by now."
"They are pathetic…" the thing started in a roar
But the young King cut it short by stretching an arm out to it. Without providing anytime for Azazel to avoid his actions, the fire djinn drew the being slowly back into his body.
Abraham fell against the window panes consequently, breathing hard while fire lit his eyes mildly. That queer interaction was what one termed "talking to oneself."
He remembered its words clearly.
He could try all he could to hide the truth but there'd always be a beast hidden inside him that hated every bit of mortality.
Occasionally during his moments of anger, Azazel would manifest and make him deal with things in the worst of ways. Now…as grief fueled him, all he could think of was saving every single one of these humans. For no one else but his mother; just as Razia had put it.
***
Paul Hermann was perfectly tolerant of the constant bully he received from the immortals who still had a problem accepting him.
Now…for entirely no reason, Calpurnia rode her white horse forward till she moved alongside him.
It could have called for an entirely peaceful conversation if not for the disdainful glare she cast upon him. Frowning in confusion, he turned his attention to the path before him.
Upon a caramel brown filly, Razia trotted side by side along with her King. Her eyes studied the note on the sack Ozii had sent. Not the note perse…but where it had been written on, recognition dawning in quite painfully.
"This type of sack is only made in Valish," she finally stated. Abraham thinned his lips to a line at her words. For a while, he said nothing and reined his black horse on. But when his mind couldn't contain the question much longer, he let it out. "Do you think he's leading us there on purpose? I've known him so well to doubt he'd leave such a big clue behind by mistake."
"Or…" she suggested. "He didn't write this. Someone who lives there did."
He raised a brow and cast her a frown. "Trust me, you are not curbing my confusion."
"Valish was my hometown, Your Majesty. The only tavern I know this sack is made is owned by a renowned criminal, perfect in his deeds. Abduction inclusive."
The King stopped his animal at that very moment, causing the others to do same. Slowly, he gazed at her sternly. "Now that you mention it, Ozii and his allies will never abduct a mortal themselves. They'll think of it as unclean."
"Paying someone to do that could be possible." Jeremy said, finally coming out of his world of silence since the journey began.
Paul shrugged. "Valish is three days away though. And time is that one thing we lack."
"I'm afraid I agree with him," the witch stated, half disgusted the mortal said exactly what she had in mind.
Even he looked surprised.
But in the midst of the worry, Abraham Tonnel had his thought straying. By God, if he realized a bunch of humans was behind this, he would…
Well, let them hope nothing happened to his brother.
Everyone glanced at him for a decision. But surprisingly, he had his eyes shut while taking deep, calming breaths.
When he opened them, he stretched a hand to clutch Razia's, expecting everyone to take the hint. And they did.
Subsequently, the chain continued as each one of them held the other and they sat hand in hand upon their horses.
Calpurnia and Paul had played a bit of cat and dog before complying.
The King shut his eyes again, calmed by the new sense of resolute silence; and soon, the teleportation happened.
After having saved three days, Abraham grinned beautifully as his blue eyes took in the entire arid Kingdom. Valish, right down the hill before them.
Martin could be here…hopefully.
Excited, he swung down his and faced his companions. "Why does this seem…easy?"
"Teleportation is easy, yes," Ramon was frowning like a child had said something foolish. "We haven't confirmed your brother is here, have we?"
The King pointed a wagging finger at the ally be hated most and was about to state a million ways he could kill him when suddenly, a spear touched his jawline mildly.
That was when they understood their flaw.
Slowly, Ashilar looked around to notice a clan of soldiers around them bearing weapons in a pose that commanded their cooperation.
One did not need a rabbi to guess that they were the Kingdom's guards. Before Abraham could give the order, each supernatural took a stance of battle.
Ashilar had set her paralyzing knuckles.
Ramon was thinking of the best beast this situation needed.
Calpurnia was wagging her wand.
And of course, the King himself, feeling, at the very least, belittled, was growling deeply as his teeth sharpened. Perhaps they needed an introduction.
However, there was still one diplomat amongst them who believed in wits than fists.
Jeremy began to chant. "No, no, no. That is not the way things are." He jumped down his Chestnut horse and came to stand before them all. A peaceful smile on, he assumed the role of advocate and focused on the soldiers. "Pay no attention to them. We mean no harm."
"Oh, I mean every sort of harm if Martin is here," Abraham whispered with half a frown on.
Jeremy gave him an elder-brother scowl that lasted for a while. Returning his attention to the soldiers, he grinned suddenly. "We're on a quest. Could you take us to your King?"