Roses Wither: Into the Darkness

Chase

An hour later, I was finished briefing my brothers on what I knew of Azazel’s location and we were on our way out the door.

That would be all that anyone knew, until I got my answers.

My brethren were prepared and we were ready to leave for our hunt, but Rose stood at the top of the staircase, looking down on me.

She was still angry, but I could see the concern in her beautiful cloudy gaze.

“Are you going to come and kiss me goodbye?” I cocked a brow at her.

Her eyes wished me a safe return, but her stance told me so different. That is, until she swiped at a stray tear.

"I am a warrior. A hunter. You are a Queen.” I sent her through our link, “My goal is to keep you safe and to do that, I need to find Azazel.”

“She will be calmed when you return.” Nitala told me with a grimace, “She just needs time.”

I gave a nod and moved toward the door. I was the last one out and when it closed behind me I heard a very tearful, mental whisper.

“I love you.”

"I love you too.” I sent back, before closing the door behind me.

It was the first time either of us had said it, but I knew it to be true. I knew it in my core.

Rose

I wasn’t a moper. Never had been. So, Chase may think that he had the upper hand, but he didn’t. I wasn’t a delicate flower that needed protection. I was a Queen.

I did need help with transportation though, so I was going to utilize my newly aquatinted uncle.

I was taking Matthias’s approach. I was being Rose, the Queen and not Rosa, the wolf girl.

I marched into the club and searched for the energy in my air, that I knew as Davide.

Brand New Numb, by Motionless in White, played through the speakers, blaring through the entire club.

“You look like you’re on a mission, your highness.” The bartender smiled with a nod, “I hope you mean no harm.”

“My niece means nothing by it, Flint.” Davide grinned back, but it appeared more of a warning than anything else, “She is just a Tepes. As always, she is prepared.”

“I need your help.” I ignored their interaction and spoke to Davide, “Clara and I got separated and I need to free her.”

“Free her?” He looked me over, taking in my newest markings.

“What has happened to you?” He whispered in shock.

“We were separated and she’s in an underwater cave in the middle of some holy lake in Tibet,” I spoke quickly, “I need your help to get near the area. I can do the rest.”

“Let’s go to my office.” He gave the bartender a nod and pushed me up a flight of stairs, until we made it to a pristine office encased in glass. It overlooked the entire club, including the dancefloor and the bar.

It had a one way tint, so below we were not seen, but we could see everything.

“First, explain the change in your markings.” He examined my hands, holding the one with the rosary and running his fingers across it.

"Since when does a Goddess of the moon become a woman of Gods?" He whispered so low that I barely heard him over my own rapid heartbeat.

“I may have bound myself.” I hurridly said, “I need your help, Davide.”

“The Guard..." His eyes widened, "It was him, this whole time."

He gaped, literally with his mouth hanging open, showing the whites of his eyes, which I assumed was hard for a demon. At least it was for Davide, his irises were encompassing them.

“The one that kills demons...” I could tell that he wasn’t going to let this go.

“Davide,” I explained trying to get him to actually see me, “I really need your help. Right now, Chase has gone to find Azazel and I need to get to Clara.”

“What does Azazel have to do with this?" If possible, his eyes went even wider.

“Long story short; there was an ambush at my father’s Christmas Eve, and we were taken by this demon. Clara tried a spell to make us look the same, but he saw through it and had a guard take her. The guard, Swanson, put her where he knew Azazel and other demons couldn’t reach her.” I took a deep breath after my ramble. Relieved to finally get all out, even if it was to a demon.

“First, what did Azazel want with you?” His brow furrowed.

“He wanted Chase.” I shook my head, “It sounded like they knew each other. Like, he had taught Chase how to fight or something. I don’t know much more, Chase killed the only guard I had left before I could find out.”

“The only guard left?” He mused.

“They were vampire and human... And I killed them all, except Azazel.” I swallowed hard, “And Chase... Maybe.”

“How?”

“I used the power of my winds to shatter the windows and directed it to their necks.” I fell back into a chair, “Davide, is it possible that I could kill a vampire with decapitation and his head returns instantly?”

“No, Rosa.” He crouched low, to meet my eyes, and his shock was evident, “But you said that Azazel wanted Chase and he used you to get to him?”

“Yes.” With my nod he gasped.

“Rosa, do you have any idea who Azazel is?” He swallowed hard, “He is the brother of the Devil. My father. The only reason why he sided with his brother during the fall, was because he hoped to get Satan’s throne. We have been hunting him for millenia. Azazel was the one who took those men as children.”

But that would mean that Chase was... No. I needed to go us on freeing Clara.

“If he was looking for Chase, and Chase gave you these,” He held my hands and a light smile touched his face, “He killed Satan’s wife and stole his heir, along with six other first sons. He can cloak himself. It all makes perfect sense. I don’t know why I didn’t think to look in Nico's fold. All this time...”

“Davide, I just need you to get me near the holy lake. I don’t have to have you take me to it.”

“Rose,” He smiled brightly as he huffed, “I can't take you there. I have to report to my father.”

“Please, Davide," I begged, "I need to get to Clara.”

I suddenly felt the familiar presence, the exact moment before the door burst open, and there stood Chase with his men.

They were all dressed in long, black leather coats, with buckles and crosses.

His gaze moved from the shock of seeing me there, to anger the second they took in Davide.

“Rose, step away from him, my love.” He took a step toward us, ready to pull his sword, but Davide was quicker.

He threw the stapler from his desk, smashing the window open, before shouting, "Demons down!"

Then, a loud pop sounded and my world started to spin.

Chase

“NO!” I shouted, as I grasped at the nothingness that was once where my bound had just stood.

“We will find her.” Matthias spoke softly.

“He took her! Right in front of me!” I grabbed Matthias as I shouted, “He will die!”

“I thought we needed information from him?” Theo asked.

“He has Rose, and incase you didn’t hear the other pops, the other demons are gone too!” I let go of Matthias and rested my hands on the desk to calm myself.

No doubt, she had come to him for help and he had tricked her.

“Search for any remaining demons!” I shouted, “We kill them all until that menace returns my bound!”

“We need to find Azazel, Chase.” Matthias countered, “He could get away if we don’t move fast, you know this, brother.”

“Davide is not Azazel,” Caine added, “He cannot do anything without an order from his father. We have encountered him before. We know this.”

“Where did he take her?” I whispered, looking around the office, not a single thing was out of place.

“Brother-” Privet began but I cut him off with my war cry.

“We need to go, Brother.” Theo added, “He is her relation, perhaps he is helping her.”

“Demons help no one but themselves.” Matthias huffed.

“Then how do we reach her?” Theo asked.

“The fucking witch.” I ground out and made my way to the exit. I knew where she was. I would get her and she would take me to find my bound.