SOLD TO THE DEVIL

CHAPTER THREE

NEXT MORNING •••••••••••

Evelyn knocked softly before stepping into Selene's room.

Selene looked up from the edge of the bed, startled.

Evelyn's expression was unusually serious.

"My Lord has summoned you."

Selene's face drained of color.

"...Me?"

Evelyn nodded.

"Lord Azrael wishes to see you."

The words hung heavily in the air.

Selene's fingers tightened around the blanket.

Her heartbeat quickened.

"Why...?"

"I'm afraid I don't know."

Evelyn crossed the room and gently straightened the collar of Selene's uniform.

"Listen to me carefully."

"When you stand before Lord Azrael, answer only what he asks."

"Do not interrupt him."

"And whatever happens..."

"...keep your composure."

Selene swallowed hard.

She nodded, though fear was written all over her face.

A firm knock echoed from outside.

"The guards are here."

Evelyn opened the door.

Two masked guards stood waiting.

"Escort her to Lord Azrael's chamber."

Without another word, the guards turned and began walking down the dimly lit corridor.

Selene hesitated for only a moment before following them.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

Every servant they passed lowered their heads.

Every soldier stepped aside.

No one spoke.

The silence itself was terrifying.

At the end of the corridor stood two towering black doors.

One of the guards pushed them open.

"Lord Azrael is expecting you."

Selene drew a shaky breath.

Then, with trembling legs, she stepped inside.The chamber was enormous.

Dark walls.

Towering bookshelves.

A fireplace crackling softly in one corner.

The scent of smoke lingered in the air.

She looked around nervously.

No one.

"...My Lord?" she whispered.

A voice answered from behind her.

"You were looking for me?"

Selene gasped and spun around.

A tall man dressed in black stood only a few feet away.

His crimson eyes locked onto hers with unnerving calm.

She stumbled backward and nearly fell.

"I... I'm sorry..."

His expression hardened instantly.

"I don't like apologies."

The room seemed colder.

Selene lowered her head, unable to stop trembling.

Azrael studied her in silence.

She wasn't defiant.

She wasn't pleading.

She looked... broken.

Minutes passed without another word.

Finally, he spoke.

"Look at me."

Slowly, she obeyed.

Fear filled her eyes.

Azrael held her gaze for a long moment before turning toward the window.

"Leave."

Selene blinked in confusion.

"My Lord?"

"I said..."

"Leave."

The order echoed through the chamber.

Outside the door, Nyra frowned in disbelief.

No one had expected Lord Azrael to send the girl away.

Least of all Nyra.

Selene stumbled out of Lord Azrael's chamber, her breathing uneven.

The massive doors closed behind her with a heavy thud that echoed through the corridor.

She stood there for a moment, unable to move.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Every heartbeat felt painfully loud in her ears.

She lowered her head, trying to steady her breathing.

Then—

Crash!

She collided with someone.

The force sent her staggering backward.

"Watch where you're going."

The cold voice made Selene freeze.

She slowly looked up.

Nyra.

The woman's sharp eyes narrowed as they settled on Selene.

"You..."

Nyra's gaze lingered on the girl's frightened expression.

"So you've just come from Lord Azrael's chamber."

Selene instinctively lowered her eyes.

"I..."

The words refused to come.

Nyra stepped closer.

The corridor suddenly felt much smaller.

"What happened in there?"

Selene remained silent.

Not because she wanted to be disrespectful...

But because she couldn't find her voice.

Nyra studied her for several long seconds before letting out a quiet scoff.

"So that's how it is."

She stepped aside and folded her arms.

"Go."

Selene hesitated.

"I said go."

Without another word, Selene hurried away, disappearing around the corner.

Nyra remained where she was.

Something about the girl's frightened silence unsettled her.

Lord Azrael never summoned anyone without a reason.

Yet this village girl...

...was different.

Nyra turned toward the closed chamber doors.

"My Lord..."

"What is it about her?"

••••••••••

Selene wandered aimlessly through the endless corridors of the Syndicate.

Every hallway looked the same.

Black marble floors.

Towering pillars.

Walls decorated with ancient paintings whose eyes seemed to follow her every step.

She had completely lost her way.

With every corner she turned, the empire seemed to grow even larger.

"I'll never find my room..." she whispered to herself.

Just as panic began to settle in—

A brilliant blue glow illuminated the corridor.

Selene froze.

"What...?"

The light faded, revealing a familiar figure.

Azure stood a few steps away with her hands tucked casually into her pockets.

"There you are, Eclipse."

Selene blinked.

"...Eclipse?"

Azure laughed.

"I like that name."

"It suits you."

Selene tilted her head in confusion.

"Why Eclipse?"

"Because you appeared out of nowhere and somehow changed the atmosphere around this place."

Selene couldn't help smiling.

"Then I should give you a nickname too."

Azure folded her arms.

"I'm listening."

"...Icecracker."

Azure burst into laughter.

"Icecracker?"

"You look like someone who speaks her mind without thinking twice."

"Fair enough."

She leaned closer with a mischievous grin.

"But can we keep the 'ice' part? I worked hard for that reputation."

They both laughed.

For the first time since arriving at the Syndicate...

Selene genuinely smiled.

Azure looked down at her and raised an eyebrow.

"You're tiny."

Selene pouted.

"I'm nineteen."

Azure's eyes widened dramatically.

"No way."

"Seriously?"

Selene nodded.

"I get that a lot."

Azure chuckled.

"So, where were you coming from?"

Selene's smile slowly faded.

"Lord Azrael's chamber."

Azure immediately noticed the change in her expression.

She didn't ask another question.

Instead, she stepped forward and wrapped Selene in a warm hug.

"You don't have to tell me anything."

Her voice was softer than usual.

"But if you ever need someone to talk to..."

"I'm around."

Selene closed her eyes.

For the first time since leaving her village, someone had shown her simple kindness.

"...Thank you."

Azure smiled and gently let her go.

"I'm guessing you're lost."

Selene nodded shyly.

"I have no idea where my room is."

"I thought so."

Azure reached for her hand.

"Come on."

"I'll take you back."

The two girls walked side by side through the quiet corridors.

Along the way, Azure pointed out different parts of the Syndicate, joking about which hallways to avoid and which commanders were the most troublesome.

Before long, they stopped outside Evelyn's room.

"We're here."

Selene smiled gratefully.

"Thank you... Ice."

Azure laughed again.

"Everyone calls me Azure."

She extended her hand.

"So..."

"Friends?"

Selene looked at her for a second before breaking into a small smile.

She shook her hand.

"Friends."

"Good."

Azure winked.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Eclipse."

With that, she disappeared down the corridor.

Selene watched her leave before gently pushing open the door.

Evelyn looked up from the table.

"There you are."

Relief flickered across her face.

"I was beginning to worry."

Selene managed a tired smile.

"I'm sorry."

Evelyn walked over and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You look exhausted."

She pointed toward the bathroom.

"I've prepared warm water."

"Go and freshen up."

"And don't worry..."

"Dinner is waiting for you."

"Azure's Room"

Azure pushed open the door to her room and switched on the lights.

She stopped in her tracks.

Kael was standing by the window with his arms folded, a teasing smile already forming on his face.

"What the—"

She pressed a hand against her chest.

"You nearly scared me to death."

Kael laughed.

"So the fearless Azure can actually be startled?"

She rolled her eyes.

"You looked like a shadow."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

She walked over to him.

"What are you doing here?"

Kael's playful expression softened.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"You took quite a hit during the mission."

Azure shrugged.

"It takes more than that to keep me down."

She smiled and lightly tapped his shoulder.

"Thanks for worrying."

Kael smiled back.

"I always will."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence between them was comfortable.

Azure reached out and gave him a quick hug.

"I'm really exhausted."

"I figured."

Kael returned the hug before stepping back.

"Then get some rest."

"You've earned it."

He headed toward the door.

"Good night, Icecracker."

Azure laughed.

"I still hate that nickname."

"I know."

He winked.

"That's why I keep using it."

Shaking her head with a smile, Azure watched him leave.

"Idiot..."

---

The Moonlit Courtyard

As Kael left, he noticed Jericho walking silently down the corridor.

They exchanged a brief nod before continuing in opposite directions.

Jericho eventually found Vesper sitting alone on a stone bench beneath the moonlight.

She didn't even look at him.

"If you're here to lecture me..."

"...don't."

Jericho sat beside her anyway.

"You want me to leave?"

Vesper finally turned toward him.

"Do you even care?"

Jericho sighed quietly.

"You can't carry this burden forever, Mona."

Her eyes hardened.

"This isn't about Iris."

"Then what's keeping you awake every night?"

She looked away.

"I don't know how to stop being angry."

Neither of them spoke for a while.

The cool night breeze drifted through the courtyard.

Finally, Vesper spoke again, her voice much softer.

"I don't want to talk."

She glanced at him.

"...But could you stay here with me for a little longer?"

Jericho nodded without hesitation.

"I'm not going anywhere."

For the first time that evening, a faint smile appeared on Vesper's face.

Sometimes...

Silent company was enough.

"Oh no!!" Pistol screamed out as the boys won the game again.

"Fk, where the h*ll is Azure at this moment?!!" Raven shouted.

"Now I'm glad she's not here, it's embarrassing losing a video game to a girl," Cash said.

"Not like there's something special about her," Scarlett scoffed and Raven frowned.

"What do you mean by there's nothing special about Azure?" Raven asked immediately.

"Well, I said what I f**king said, b*tch," Scarlett said.

"You sound jealous," Ethan said, and Scarlett scoffed.

"Jealous? Of her? Oh c'mon, that's a dumb thought," Scarlett rolled her eyes.

"But the fact remains that Azure is hundred percent better than you. Deal with it that way, motherf**ker," Raven snapped angrily and stormed out of the room.

"Finally the pest is out. Can we continue?" Scarlett smirked.

"That wasn't nice, you know?" Pistol said, shooting some bullets from her fingers.

"Ion care," Scarlett snapped.

"Obviously," Rocky said. He was busy making out with Storm at one corner of the room.

"You're gonna die of p***y, dude, very soon," Hunter said, and Storm chuckled.

"He wouldn't mind dying inside my p**sy," she said, and everyone laughed.

"Seems like I'm the only one interested in the game," Cash said, removing the headphones.

"Nope, I'm interested," Scarlett said.

"Not interested anymore," Cash said at once and left the room while Scarlett glared at his back.

••••

Malrik sat down, his legs crossed against each other as he stared at the evil spirit in front of him.

"You got ten ladies today. Their blood will make you stronger as usual," Seraphine said with an evil smirk playing on her lips.

"How many more do I need to be stronger than Azrael?" Malrik asked.

"You don't have to know. I will tell you when it's due time," Seraphine replied.

"I can't wait to bring him down," Malrik smirked.

"It's not that easy like you think," Seraphine said, and Malrik frowned.

"Stop talking about him that way in my face! I am going to be stronger than him, and then I will kill him!" he yelled.

••

"What is this?" Nova asked, making loud noise from her gum.

"Just a little out of this..." Zaria smirked, holding up the syringe.

"...will turn anyone to our side," she completed.

"Bad ass," Ryker smiled and kissed her neck from behind. She's his girlfriend.

"We should tell Master Malrik immediately. I'm sure he badly wants someone who works for Azrael," Darius said.

"Exactly why I made this," Zaria said, dropping the syringe.

"But ion think it's gonna be easy injecting any one of them with a syringe," Lyra said.

"Hey, bad energy. Stay the f**k away if you're scared," Draven snapped.

"I'm not scared, dude. I'm just saying," Lyra rolled her eyes.

"I don't care. We show the boss and that's it," Ryker said.

"Sure," they all chorused, and Zaria winked at him.

Scarlett sat down on the cliff in the balcony, the wind blowing her hair violently. She suddenly caught a glimpse of Selene downstairs. She was holding a bottle of water in her hand. Scarlett's eyes followed her, and then she saw Nyra coming just opposite Selene. An evil smirk appeared on her lips.

"Perfect timing," she said lowly, and immediately her eyes turned orange as she stared at Selene.

"Fall on her... right now," she whispered.

Almost instantly, Selene stumbled against a stone. She fell right in front of Nyra, and the bottle of water splashed all over Nyra.

"You crazy slave!! How dare you!!" Nyra screamed angrily, and immediately two snakes dropped from her hands.

"Bite her!!!" Nyra shouted, and the two snakes both bit Selene at the same time.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!" Selene screamed out agonizingly.