Chapter Eleven: The Knife in the Dark
942 Words
The moonlight seeped through the grand windows of the Demon King's chambers, casting long shadows over the silken sheets where Azrael lay. His breathing was steady, deep, peaceful—completely unaware of the betrayal about to befall him.
Selene stood at the edge of the bed, her heart pounding so hard that she thought it would shatter her ribs.
The golden dagger in her trembling hands felt heavier than ever.
It was no ordinary blade. It was crafted by the gods. A weapon of divine power, made for one purpose alone—to kill the Demon King.
Her mother’s voice had echoed in her mind earlier that evening, filling every corner of her soul.
"The time has come, my child. The balance of the realms depends on you. End him before it is too late."
The command had left no room for argument. No room for doubt.
Selene knew this day would come.
She had prepared herself.
But why did her hands shake? Why did her chest ache as if she were the one about to be struck down?
Why did it feel like she was about to kill a part of herself?
Azrael stirred slightly in his sleep, a quiet sigh escaping his lips.
Selene clenched her jaw, gripping the dagger tighter.
This was the only way.
She had to do it.
---
A Fatal Choice
The moment the blade pierced his chest, the silence of the night was shattered.
Azrael's body tensed violently, his dark eyes snapping open, glowing like burning embers.
A sharp gasp escaped his lips as pain—raw, blinding pain—seared through him.
"Selene…?" His voice was hoarse, confused.
Selene choked on a sob, her hands trembling as she pulled the dagger out. Blood—his blood—dripped onto her fingers, staining them in a color darker than sin itself.
Her whole body shook.
“I—I had no choice,” she whispered. “I was ordered to do this.”
Azrael’s breathing was ragged, his eyes locked onto hers—not with anger, not with hatred… but with something far worse.
Betrayal.
The pain in his chest was nothing compared to the pain of seeing her standing over him, dagger in hand, her beautiful face twisted in sorrow.
His Selene.
His queen.
His wife.
She had done this.
“You were going to kill me,” he rasped.
Selene flinched.
"I didn’t want to," she whispered, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. "I—I had no choice. They—"
Azrael gritted his teeth and grabbed her wrist before she could move away. Blood smeared against her skin, marking her, binding them together in tragedy.
“They told you to do this, didn’t they?” His voice was rough, strained.
Selene clenched her eyes shut.
He didn’t need to ask. They both knew who ‘they’ were.
The gods.
The heavens.
Her own mother.
The divine rulers who had created this cursed fate for them.
Azrael let out a harsh breath, his grip tightening around her wrist. His body screamed in agony, but his eyes remained locked onto her, dark and unreadable.
He should hate her.
He should tear her apart.
But all he could feel was emptiness.
"Tell me something," Azrael whispered, his voice lower now, dangerous. "Did you ever love me, Selene?"
The words were like a knife to her heart.
She looked at him, truly looked at him.
His face—so strong, so familiar—was now pale with blood loss. His lips, the same lips that had once traced kisses down her skin, were parted slightly, trembling. His dark eyes, once filled with possessive adoration, were now unreadable.
And for the first time, she saw him not as a king. Not as a demon. Not as a target.
She saw Azrael.
Not the monster she had been sent to kill.
Not the enemy she had been told to hate.
But the man who had given her everything.
And she had destroyed him.
A sob tore from her throat as she dropped the dagger.
Clang.
It hit the marble floor, the sound echoing through the vast room.
Selene collapsed onto her knees beside him, grabbing his hand with both of hers. "I—"
She couldn’t say it.
Because she didn’t know when it had happened.
When had she started seeing him as more than a demon?
When had she stopped wanting him dead?
When had her mission turned into love?
Azrael watched her break down in front of him.
And despite the pain in his chest, despite knowing that she had betrayed him, despite everything…
He lifted his free hand and brushed away her tears.
---
The Consequence of Betrayal
Azrael’s body weakened, his vision flickering between reality and darkness.
But he would not die.
Selene had forgotten one thing—
He was no mere demon.
He was Azrael, King of the Underworld.
The power that ran through his veins was ancient, stronger than any divine blade.
A slow, wicked smile curved his lips despite the pain.
Selene’s breath hitched.
"You…" she whispered, her eyes widening in horror.
Azrael gripped her hand tighter.
"You should have made sure I was dead, my love," he murmured, his voice like velvet laced with poison.
Before Selene could react, dark shadows erupted from his wound, spreading like wildfire.
The whole room shook.
A storm of raw demonic energy burst forth, consuming the air, shattering the delicate balance of power between them.
Selene’s heart stopped.
And in that moment, she knew—
She had made a terrible mistake.
Because Azrael wasn’t just alive.
He was furious.
---
End of Chapter.
- Writer
