Page 126 of Hell-Bound

True,it looked as if he was wading through thick mud, but she was too proud, and he was too smug for that.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she responded as she slowly entered the thick pool.

While undeniably hot, the magma didn’t burn away at her body. She couldn’t say it was exactly comfortable—more like the hottest bath she could imagine. The worst part, however, was the difficulty she had lifting her legs. When she tried to move them through the pool, the magma began to solidify around her legs and mold to her body. She forced herself forward, only able to move a foot at a time.

She refused to look at Azur, who had stopped his own progress to watch her strain through.

“Just let me know when you’re ready to give up, Elfy!” he said, finally turning to continue his trudge.

Her muscles strained as she kicked each leg out with all her might. The trek became more difficult as the magma reached her torso, for she could no longer use the momentum of her hips to push her forward and had to rely on pumping her arms.

By this time, Azur had made his way across the lake and was casually picking off dried bits of lava from his skin. She tried to focus on her goal rather than his toned back.

Droplets of perspiration were flowing free down Ren’s body, but she spurred herself on, now over halfway across.

Azur dressed lazily, not even glancing back to see her clumsy movements.

Ren’s body was tired, muscles screaming, but she refused to give up—spite being the powerful motivator that it was.

When she finally stepped onto the bank, she shamelessly fell forward onto the cool ground. She lay there, completely naked, gulping down full breaths.

Azur leaned over, his body shadowing hers.

“Ah yes, this position seems familiar. You looked very similar last night, if I do recall.”

She shot him a menacing look before picking herself up and dressing.

“How much further?” she asked, trying to keep her breathing steady lest he know how exhausted she was.

“Just a few hours walk from here.”

She groaned. “Walking is worse than the dragon.”

He let out a low snigger.

“Don’t be slothful, my darling,” he said, winking.

Despite her protests, the hike was easy going, if a little sweltering, and Ren wondered if her fingers would start to prune from the constant perspiration.

As they walked, it occurred to Ren that this might be the last few hours she would have with Azur. Soon she would return to her family, her plane. A place where Azur could never follow. And she imagined inner-planar travel wasn’t as easy as booking a six-week trip across the oceans. Besides, she wasn’t sure what coming back even meant. She and Azur weren’t exactly friends, and she couldn’t see herself calling upon him for what—tea time?

Yet, Ren felt her heart split apart. One side of it felt an immediate panic at the idea of leaving The Hells. Leaving meant attempting to accept the life Renata had created—going back to her parents, her tavern, and trying to reconcile with Nephele. It meant abandoning any life that she could have created here for herself.

How Absurd! What kind of life could you truly have in The Hells?

Ren couldn’t help but glance at Azur, who looked as if he was lost in thought.

So this might be it. This was her last chance to talk to the Devil who had taken possession of her soul. There was only one question she could think to ask him. A question that she felt like, if she had the answer to, she could move on with more peace.

“Azur? What’s it like to,” she licked her lips, suddenly nervous, “to be in love?”

She realized, blushing, how deeply personal the question was, but she had to know. Had to understand if going back to Nephele would be worth the risk.

The Devil stopped mid-stride and turned to her. Azur opened his mouth to say something and contemplated a moment before his words came out.

“I am the god of hate, Ren. Not love.”

“But I know that you loved him—Ahdan. You—told me, yourself!” she sputtered.