RAVENNA PIERCE

Chapter 5

Meanwhile, in the underworld ..........

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"Come, mortal hasten your steps," he rasped, his voice like the rustling of dry leaves. The air was thick, and the ground beneath her seemed to writhe and twist like a living thing, her feet carrying her deeper into the heart of hell.

They walked through a landscape of twisted rock and burning sand, the sky above them a deep, bloody red. Xorax pointed out various landmarks

"There, mortal, you see over there is the, "Mountain of the dead" there, where the damned souls of the wicked are tormented for eternity."

Ravenna followed Xorax through the winding corridors of the underworld, her heart pounding with fear. as he led her to a grand, ornate door.

Xorax pushed the door open, revealing a vast, dimly lit chamber. At the far end of the room, a figure sat on a throne-like chair.

"Wait here," Xorax whispered, his voice low. "I will announce your presence."

Azazel, the Devil, sat on his throne, his eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the walls of the underworld. He didn't even flinch as Xorax approached, his expression unchanging.

"My lord Azazel," Xorax rasped, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "A mortal Ravenna has arrived."

Azazel's gaze didn't waver, his eyes remaining fixed on some distant horizon. He didn't even acknowledge Xorax's presence, let alone Ravenna's arrival.

Xorax paused, taken aback by Azazel's lack of response. He had expected some reaction, some spark of interest. But Azazel seemed utterly unbothered, his expression as impassive as stone.

Xorax tried again, his voice a little louder. "My lord Azazel, A mortal Ravenna is here. She has been brought to the underworld after she took her life."

Still, Azazel didn't react.The silence between Xorax and Azazel stretched out as Xorax stood frozen, waiting for some sign, some indication of what Azazel wanted him to do next.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Azazel spoke. His voice was low, husky, and utterly devoid of emotion.

Master?!... Xorax called out again.

"Bring her in," Azazel said, his words echoing off.

Xorax nodded as he turned and left the throne room, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls as he went to fetch Ravenna.

Xorax returned to the antechamber where Ravenna waited as he beckoned her to follow him, his expression grim.

"It's time," he rasped, his voice low and rough. "Azazel will see you now."

Ravenna swallowed hard, her eyes darting nervously around the room. Xorax could sense her fear, her uncertainty.

Together, they walked back to the throne room.

As they entered the throne room, Azazel looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Ravenna's trembling form. Xorax pushed her forward, his hand on the small of her back.

And then, he stepped back, leaving Ravenna alone before the throne .

Ravenna stood before Azazel, her heart pounding in her chest.

"So, you are Ravenna," Azazel said, his voice low and husky?

Y...yesss I am. "she said."

Ravenna stood before Azazel, her eyes fixed on the devil himself. She had expected him to be monstrous, twisted, and grotesque. but instead, she was met with a sight that took her breath away.

Azazel was beautiful, handsome even. His skin was a radiant, porcelain-like complexion, and his hair was a rich, dark brown that cascaded down his back like a waterfall of night. But it was his eyes that truly caught her attention - piercing blue that seemed to see right through her.

As Azazel's gaze met hers. She couldn't help but wonder how the devil himself could be so beautiful. It seemed almost...wrong. She had always been taught that evil was ugly, that it was something to be feared. But Azazel was none of those things. He was captivating. Ravenna couldn't help but think that Azazel looked more like an angel than a devil. His features were chiseled and perfect.

The silence between them stretched out until Azazel finally broke it.

"What is your offense, mortal?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked her up and down. "Why have you been brought to the underworld?"

She tried to meet his gaze, but his eyes seemed to bore into her soul.

Ravenna took a deep breath, "I...I took my own life," she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth like a confession.

Azazel's expression didn't change, "Go on," he said, his voice neutral.

"Tell me, Ravenna...what drove you to such desperation?"

Ravenna's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper as she began to recount the tale of her miserable existence. "I've been blamed for everything," she said, the words pouring out of her like a dam breaking. "My uncle Lucas and his wife Victoria, they made my life a living hell."

Azazel's expression remained neutral as he leaned back in his throne, steepling his fingers together as he listened intently to her words.

"They blamed me for my parents' death," Ravenna continued, the words tearing at her heart. "My mother died giving birth to me, and my father...he died in an accident on his way to the hospital while my mom was giving birth to me.

As she spoke, Ravenna's voice cracked with emotion, her eyes welling up with tears.

"They've controlled every aspect of my life," Ravenna continued,"They've dictated what I wear, what I eat, what I do, and even planned an arranged marriage for me."

Azazel's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening as he listened to her words. "An arranged marriage?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain.

Ravenna nodded, "With Dimitri Santiago," she said, "A wealthy and prominent man. but I didn't want to marry him. I didn't want to be trapped in a life I didn't choose."

"And so you took your own life?," Azazel asked, his voice low and husky. "To escape the fate that had been laid out for you."

Ravenna nodded, "I couldn't take it anymore," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The pain, the suffering...I just wanted it to end."

Azazel's expression remained neutral,

"Tell me, Ravenna," he said, his voice low and husky. "Do you regret your decision?"

Ravenna hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She had thought that ending her life would bring her peace, but now she wasn't so sure.

"I...I don't know," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just knew I couldn't take it anymore."

Azazel nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving hers. "I see," he said. "And now, you're here. In the underworld."

Ravenna nodded,

Azazel leaned back in his throne, steepling his fingers together. "You know, Ravenna," he said, "most people who end up here are punished for their sins. But I'm not sure that's the case with you."

Ravenna's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Azazel shrugged. "I mean that you didn't take your own life out of malice or selfishness. You did it out of desperation. Out of a desire to escape the pain and suffering that had been inflicted upon you.

However, Azazel's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with a fierce intensity. "Regardless of your desperation and sufferings, Ravenna," he said, his voice firm and unyielding. "You have broken the rules of the mortal world. You have taken your own life, and for that, you must be punished."

"Desperation is no excuse for breaking the rules," he said. "And in the underworld, we have rules that must be followed. Rules that dictate punishment for those who break the laws of the mortal world."

"What...what will my punishment be?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That will be decided soon enough," he said,"But rest assured, Ravenna, your punishment will be fitting for your crime.

"Xorax," Azazel called out, his voice echoing like a c***k of thunder.

"Yes, my lord," Xorax rumbled, his voice like thunder as he bowed his head to Azazel.

Azazel gestured to Ravenna, his movement dismissive. "Take her away," he said, his voice firm and unyielding. "Lock her up until her punishment is determined."

As they disappeared into the darkness, Azazel's voice echoed through that sent shivers down Ravenna's spine. "Do not think that you will escape your punishment, Ravenna," he called out, his words dripping with malice and contempt. "Your fate will be decided soon enough.