Page 131 of Hell-Bound

“Brothers,” he said, his voice hoarse from disuse. “I placed my essence within the tome, the only way to protect its truth.” He looked sorrowfully at Azur before turning his violet eyes to Nainaur. “Don’t do this. Once upon a time, Naina, you were the sweetest of brothers. We lived together, loved together, and never wanted for anything.

“You helped Ziemia create the first gentle streams, taught me how to let the wind whistle through my glens. Why have you turned away from beauty? My soul suffers every minute I await The Ultimate Truth to be told. Suffers for what we have lost as a family. But, my sweet Naina, even you can change your past. Even you can make it right.”

The heavenly god paused. His brow creased.

“My sweet Faydir,” he said slowly. “Do you think I can be redeemed? That I deserve forgiveness after all I have done?

Faydir remained motionless, unblinking.

“I’m not sure I can answer that, for I do not know the true nature of redemption. Is this a power that the gods alone possess? The ability to look upon our creations and forgive them of the mistakes that they make? That is what they pray to us for. And yet, if this is so, who forgives us? Or is redemption always in the possession of the victim? If you asked the sleepers, could they forgive you? Are they even capable? In the end, I’m not sure it matters, Naina. You are my brother, and I will always love you, no matter the path you have chosen. We can fix this. We can find a solution together. That, I think, is the first step to absolution.”

“No, Faydir!” Azur cut in. “Nothing on any plane of existence or in the power of any god could redeem what you have done, Nainaur,” Azur snarled.

Nainaur’s head snapped to him.

“At least you’re honest, Azur. They say Devils are deceivers, but I’ve always thought that was too simplistic. I find that I’m much better at spinning a tale.”

Ren was surprised that Azur didn’t combust with all the wrath that was radiating off him.

“I believe you’ve both given me a lot to think about,” Nainaur said, looking at each brother individually.

A pulse went through the air, and Azur landed on his feet beside Ren, who had also been released from her binds. Ren was sure Azur would have tried again to tear at his brother if a sudden crackling hadn’t begun to emanate from Nainaur’s fingers.

“Naina, no!” Faydir shouted, reaching for his brother. “Our creations—my people, deserve The Ultimate Truth! True Salvation!”

“You would havedestroyedme!” Nainaur thundered, countenance all fury. “You lie to me, Faydir! You wrote this to kill me, to wipe my name from existence! And now, I will do the same to you and the pitiful remnants of your creations.”

They watched in horror as the white flames spread from the tips of the pages and began to consume the tome. Faydir screamed in pain as his ethereal body began to erupt in white flame.

“Noooo, Nainanoooo,it’s not too late!” he shrieked, face melting from the burning radiant light.

Nainaur’s expression was passive—stoic as he watched his little brother’s god-essence be smothered in flames.

Azur pivoted to charge, but the two Angels lunged in front of him, blocking the path to his brothers.

Faydir continued to shriek, ripping at his face and robes, the inferno crawling up his hair, consuming his form completely.

Ren couldn’t watch. The destruction of such a holy creature was too terrible. A violation of nature itself—incomprehensible.

The Angels released Azur as he stepped back, foldingRen’s trembling body into his arms protectively. She could hear his heart beating erratically.

The sharp sounds of agony seemed to last forever as they echoed and ricocheted through every room in the volcano. When Ren finally looked up, there was no evidence that the tome, or Faydir, had existed. There were no robes piled delicately on the ground nor ashy remnants from The Ultimate Truth. Only the unmistakable smell of burned flesh lingered in the air.

There was the answer, Ren couldn’t be evil. Not like this. If evil was a spectrum, she’d never come close to this—this absolute depravity. No matter what she encountered in life, she could never—would never, be this. To hurt someone for selfish reasons, to gain power, or to demonstrate authority. She couldn’t know where Renata was on this spectrum, but it didn’t matter. She—Ren—would not be this person.

Nainaur was standing with his hands laced in front of his stark-white robes. “I hate that it had to end this way, but it really was his time. As it is yours.”

Ren swung her head towards the Devil.

“What is he talking about, Azur?”

“He wants to kill me,” Azur said, brown eyes wet and full of hatred.

“Oh dear boy, you think so small!” he drawled. “I am going to kill everyone on thisplane.”

His face twisted with sinister pleasure.

Ren was reeling.