Chapter sixty four
Anyways, he'd given up, alighted his horse and began the journey home.
The last person be expected to see though was their bounty hunter from last week.
It wasn't an exactly exciting surprise but he'd followed his gut anyway and decided to help the man in. Whatever this awkward visitation was about would be discussed later.
And inside.
Right now, from where he sat on the saddle of his horse, he ignored Vizal's empty gaze and reminded the guards he'd given an order. "I said…let him in!" And with that mood, he meant it.
The guards parted to make away for the unwanted visitor quite reluctantly. Anyways, even before Vizal could move onwards, Jeremy reined his ebony filly right through the gates without looking back. He did leave some words though. "Assign a butler to send him to the drawing room at this moment and attend to him."
Inwardly relieved, Vizal still held a smug as he uncomfortably walked after him.
Exactly what he needed. Away from Ozii and he jumps into another being he would owe his lifelong gratitude.
***
Razia was completely sure something had gotten over her. She couldn't even remember how such an outrageous idea had gotten to her but she was doing it anyway.
This part of the country grew colder with each meter she rode by; the wind grew fiercer, warm grassland subsequently became cold, hard rock that ended at a gathering of mountains marked by caves.
The white horse forced its hooves up along the stony pathway and the opposing wind, missing a few steps now and then and almost sending them over the sloppy pathway that led up to the central mountain which had a cave within.
How she got the idea to pay Ozii a visit, she couldn't remember. And now, even when she realized how dangerous it was with every step, she couldn't get herself to head back home without giving this a trial. The secret was to make sure Abraham never realized; else he'd be the one squeezing her last breath out of her with his bare hands.
Her idea of a simple dialogue seemed too good to be true. Ozii didn't look like the kind you would talk out of destroying the world and striving for peace.
But then, she'd arrived already. When it was obvious her horse could go no further, Razia Singh descended it and decided to head the rest of the chilling distance on her own. Besides, this was one element she controlled in all its form.
Her satin cloak covered her body like she'd been in her first day in Decresh, the hood over her head and her hands clasped in gloves.
Although more difficult now on her own, Razia figured the distance got smaller quickly enough that she could view the cave from where she was now.
With every step that took her higher, her heart raced and her mind warned her against this. She thought of what the King would think; or perhaps how weak she was compared to any of them in that cave. Soon, she was close enough to sense how empty the cave felt. Even when relief befell her, confusion set in.
The wind came strongest at the peak of the cliff, riding in wild currents against her body and making her cloak dance in it. Her bones were growing numb from it, but she forced them onwards anyway and slowly stalked into the cave.
The darkness that slowly came around her was far more than physical; she felt the weight of evil burdening upon her shoulders and the stench of danger tickling her nose.
As much as she'd hidden it within her all the way, the fear she had was finally becoming visible on her face.
Everything was as remembered when Abraham had first brought her here. 
The round table made of stone, except no one sat around it.
A hearth was left with red smouldering ember still heating the cave up quite comfortably. There wasn't any other attempt at decor or furniture, except for some eerie carvings which marked the floors beneath her feet.
And strangely enough, some hallways and rooms branched off the large chamber that led to even thicker darkness. But then, there was such dead silence around.
No one was home today after all the trouble she went through to…
"You've taken a fraction of Abraham's guts, now haven't you?" A voice spoke close to her ear with such a measured tenor.
With haste, Razia spun around and made a few steps backwards. After gathering her bearings, she glanced up to meet the smiling face of the thunder djinn.
He'd only been a few inches away from her hair before the recoil; and now, as he studied the fear on her beautiful face, he came to his full height and smiled slowly at her. "Hello, Razia."
The water demon remained still and controlled while she caught her breath. Her eyes ran over his figure. Dressed in a hugging grey waistcoat that matched his eyes, his sculptured face and perfect form forced all attention to him whether they liked it or not.
Everything about Ozii was plain gorgeous; except his hair was slightly ruffled and there was a sign of blood on his neck. The most disturbing part about this encounter was the fact that his allies were nowhere to be seen. Just both of them in the darkness of his own territory.
By the time she remembered her manners, Razia decided to speak up even though her words came in stammers. "Good day, Ozii," she curtsied with her head low.
Amused, yet impressed, the thunder djinn held his smirk and just studied her. Just to offer the comfort she needed for this conversation, he stepped around her and walked forward to the central table. "So, what is the King's priced doll doing all alone in his enemy's cave? Did he send a message?"
Razia faced him and waited till he was seated comfortably. Just to be safe, she glanced around her one more time as though she expected an ambush out of nowhere. "Where are your allies?"
"Nothing to fear, darling," he was busy with the stopper that closed the wine decanter. When he was successful in pulling it open, he glanced her way. "They are off having fun with human lives. I just got a little bored and decided to stop by for a drink."
His eyes measured her entire figure with an accusing stare before he went on.
"But then, I found this little mare neighing about round the foot of my mountain. Clearly, someone bad dropped by; you were the last one I had in mind though."
Much to his surprise, the demon moved closer to him with her fear much more contained than before and her steps even. "Well, as strange as it seems, I came to see you."
His smirk nearly burst into a grin if it wasn't for the wine filling his mouth. With a tip of his head, Ozii gestured for her to sit by his side.
Although cautious and hesitant, Razia went forward anyway, stilling her fingers around the cold nob of the sword.