The Chaos of Azazel

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Lilura -

The council room had burgundy walls and cream wainscoting with a lush grey carpeting. A large chandelier hung from the ceiling casting a warm glow about the cavernous room. There was a large round table with heavy oak chairs. I sat at the far end away from the door. Eva was sitting on the window sill looking out the window observing passersby. We hadn’t spoken in ten minutes. I was fine with this as I was deep in thought about the hellhound that had attacked us in daylight during our walk in the park. Kodan and Tyr had not yet arrived. I was still trying to process what I had heard when the creature attacked us. While Eva was easily dispatching the monster, a bitter wind had swirled around me and my name carried with it. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see shadows and moving masses in blackness. Once the creature was dead the wind and the shadows disappeared. Eva had not seen or heard anything and I had not yet told her what I saw.

I opened my mouth to speak to Eva, but the door was thrown open and Tyr and Kodan strode in. Kodan looked exhausted, no doubt the increased supernatural activity was keeping him and his team busy. I was surprised to see Tyr was dressed in Faerie court attire. His doublet with emerald green with leaves embroidered in gold thread. I stood as they entered the room, as did Eva.

Eva motioned to the chairs, “let’s take a seat, I think we have a lot to discuss.”

I sat back down, as Kodan and Eva took a seat next to each other. Tyr sat at the far end of the table as far away from us as possible. His distance stung. I tried to catch his eye but his gaze rested on Eva and Kodan and determinedly away from me.

“How should we begin?” Kodan asked.

“Well, I think we start with the most recent events and go from there. Lilura and I were attacked by a hellhound on our walk.” Eva started. Kodan’s eyes grew wide, and Tyr shot a look at me. His gaze took in my state and noting that I seemed unharmed he looked away again.

“Are you two alright?” Tyr asked shortly. He still looked at Eva.

“Yes, we’re fine. Eva was able to kill it easily.” I said, Tyr still wouldn’t look at me. I glanced at Eva, but she shrugged just as confused.

Kodan shook his head, “I can’t believe you were attacked in broad daylight. These creatures are getting out of hand. We keep getting reports of several sightings and attacks. It’s keeping SPS busy twenty-four hours a day.”

“That’s not our only problem.” I said, “a Ghosthunter by the name of Jimmie Howard is coming to Knoxville. He is intent on investigating the supernatural activity. If he catches something on camera we could risk being exposed.”

“Well that’s just f*****g great,” Kodan threw up his hands.

“He will be in the city soon. I think our best course of action will be to tail him night and day. Make sure he doesn’t come into contact with anything.” Eva suggested.

“That will be quite difficult don’t you think?” Tyr asked.

Kodan shot Tyr an irritated look, “do you have any better suggestions Fae? Or do you not really care? You’re people have their own world to escape to, they don’t have to worry about exposure. If any of our species is revealed to the humans then we will suffer serious repercussions.”

Tyr rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, “my people are at war. And right now the throne is vulnerable. With no leaders, my people are spilling into this world. If they are exposed they may be at risk as well.”

“What do you mean by the throne is vulnerable?” Eva asked. I had wondered the same thing. I knew Tyr and King Oberon had their hatred of each other but Tyr had renounced his claim to the throne.

“King Oberon is dead. He was killed in battle. At this time the throne sits empty. The army is in shambles and only a few are still fighting to ensure that Queen Mab doesn’t assume the Seelie Court throne.” Tyr explained.

“Your King is dead?” I asked, astonished.

“Yes. So my people will fear exposure as well. They will have no land to claim their own that will be safe.” Tyr sighed heavily. This is what had been weighing on him so heavily. I suddenly felt nauseous from my own selfishness. I wanted Tyr all to myself, but he still held the burden of caring for his people. Tears stung at the corners of my eyes threatening to fall. I blinked them away.

“Does bad s**t ever stop? I mean it feels like one blow after another.” Kodan said.

“I agree with Eva. We need to keep eyes on Jimmie Howard. We can take turns watching him. When we aren’t keeping track of him we need to find the source of this creature outbreak.” I said. The others nodded in agreement.

“Good. I will take first watch over the ghost hunter.” Eva announced. She stood abruptly and the rest of us followed.

“I’ll take a team with me to investigate the sighting areas. See if we can discover a pattern or central location.” Kodan added.

“Okay, well I can look into some spells at home and see if I can garner any more information that way,” I said.

“Call us if you need anything,” Eva said before she and Kodan left the council room together. It was just Tyr and I now. We stood at opposite sides of the table.

“You’re ignoring me,” I said finally breaking the silence. Tyr ran a nervous hand through his black hair. He strode around the edge of the circular table until he was in front of me.

He cupped my face in his hand, “it wasn’t supposed to be this way. I thought I could be free of my own nature. Free from any obligation to my people.” His eyes were fathomless and sad.

“I know I didn’t understand before. I am sorry for the way I acted. I am being selfish and demanding you be with me all the time..” I reached up and touched his face as well.

“I love you Lilura. I just need you to be patient with me. Then I will be all yours.” He bent down and kissed me. A solid lingering kiss.

Tyr and I returned to my home together. I was about to invite him inside when the small red-haired Fae, Robin, left the cover of the tree line and made his way over to us.

He bowed, “My lord, your presence is requested at court.”

Tyr sighed heavily and looked at me, “I am so sorry Lilura. I will return as soon as I can.” He kissed me very briefly before following Robin into the woods. I had agreed to be patient so I shook my head to clear my negative thoughts.

I entered my dark house alone. I jumped when a tall black figure stood in the middle of my living room. I snapped my fingers and all the lights turned on.

Aeden, another Fae, stood before me. He was dressed in all black with a silver armored chest plate, a large sword was belted to his waist.

“Jesus Aeden. You scared the s**t out of me. What the f**k are you doing in my house?” I yelled at him. My heart was pounding in my chest.

“Forgive me Lilura. I did not intend to startle you.” He said.

“Okay, but why are you in my house?” I pulled off my jacket and set my keys in the bowl by the front door.

“I have come to call upon my favor,” Aeden said.

My stomach lurched and my heart thudded harder in my chest. I had accepted this deal with Aeden when he was helping me steal an ancient blade that would kill Osiris. Now that he was calling it in though I was afraid. Faeries could use their favors to ask for anything and I was magically bound to give it to them. To refuse could mean a curse or death.

“Your favor,” I said slowly.

“Yes. I have figured out what it is you could give me.” He replied. I couldn’t speak. I didn’t want to have this conversation. I thought if I stayed silent it would not happen.

Aeden determined that I wasn’t going to speak first so he started, “Lilura Black, as you have gifted me with a favor of my choosing, I ask that you end your relationship with Lord Tyr of Tir a nOg.”

The words hit like a slap in the face. End my relationship with Tyr?

“You want me to break up with Tyr? Why?” I asked.

“I am sure he has told you of King Oberon's death. Now the throne is empty. Queen Mab cannot be allowed to take it. Tyr is the only remaining heir and he will not take it if he is with you. So I ask that you end your love affair so that he can be free to rule our people and end this war.” Aeden explained.

I wanted to refuse his request. But the magic of the favor was already done. I could feel it like a chain around my throat. When I next saw Tyr my words would not be my own. They would have to say what Aeden wanted me to say. They had to end our relationship no matter how much I wanted to fight it.

“Please don’t do this.” I pleaded. Aeden looked sad for half a moment before looking down on me with pity.

“Think of this as a favor to you as well. Now you will be free from him and able to live a normal life with another mortal. Your relationship with a Faerie prince was doomed from the start. This will be the cleanest way to break it.” Aeden turned before I could speak another word and left my house. I felt frozen in place. The pit in my stomach began to grow until a freezing pain ran through my veins and bones.

I collapsed on my couch, I wanted to scream but I found that my voice was taken from me. The favor had stripped me of my own voice. The next time I would be able to speak would be when I saw Tyr and I destroyed our relationship. I closed my eyes and prayed that Tyr would stay away for a long time. Maybe if it was long enough the favor would diminish in power. This was a fool's wish but I couldn’t help but wish it still.

As the evening was only meant to get worse I heard the back door open and the familiar footsteps of Tyr striding into the living room. I stood and took a deep breath. My back was still to him when he finally reached me.

“Lilura?” He asked. At the sound of my name, I spun to face him against my own free will.

Tears were already streaming down my face, “I can’t do this anymore.”

Tyr grabbed my shoulders and looked bewildered, “can't do what?” He asked.

I tried to close my mouth but it opened and the words spilled out, “be with you, I can’t be with you. It’s too difficult. I want someone who is here. You have obligations. I am selfish to keep you from them. I have to let you go.”

Tyr’s hands gripped my shoulders so tightly it was almost painful. But not as painful as watching the look on Tyr’s face.

“You don’t mean that. You just said that you would be patient with me. I don’t understand.” Tyr said.

“I know what I said. But sitting here alone, I kept thinking about how this doesn’t work. You need to be with your people, and I need to be with mine. There is a reason interspecies relationships are rare and condemned.” The words tumbled out of my mouth.

Tyr let go of me and stepped back, “you’re really doing this? You’re ending this.” He breathed and his voice caught. In the time I had spent with Tyr I had never seen him so emotional. His disbelief turned to anger.

“How can you say this? The werewolf and vampire are together and they have more challenges. We have been making this work. You don’t mean what you say.” Tyr shot back.

He was right. I didn’t mean any of this but it didn’t matter. I had to say them. I had to end this whether he fought it or not.

“I do mean what I say. Kodan and Eva will never work either. I’m just the first one to realize it. If I end this now then I won’t have wasted your time or mine. You can be with your people. That’s what you really want.” I lied.

Tyr stepped toward me again and placed his hand on the back of my neck holding my head firmly in his hand, “ I want you. I will always want you. Please. I’m begging you. Don’t do this.” He pleaded.

I had to land the killing blow. I bit down on the inside of my cheek willing myself to stop speaking. I had magic. Why couldn’t I use it? But the magic of a faerie favor was ancient and powerful and no magic of mine could compete with it.

“I don’t want you. I want a normal life with a normal man.” The words flew from my mouth like venom. Tyr took them with a wince as if I had hit him. And I had hit him, with my poisonous speech.

Tyr still held my head tightly in his grasp. The look in his eyes was so pained and agonizing. I thought for a moment he might end my life and for a split second, I almost wanted him to. It would be easier than living a life without him and knowing what I had done to him.

Instead, he bent down and kissed me. Long and deep and lingering. It was as if we were memorizing every aspect of our kiss. This would be our last one, and Tyr was making it count. Finally, he released me and I noticed that tears were streaming down his face too.

“I will let you go. But I cannot stop loving you. You will be the last woman I love. When your life ends I will end mine. And When I die, it will be your name as the last one on my lips.” He told me. His words shattered something inside me, as mine had broken his heart. Tyr turned slowly and left.

When I heard the door shut behind him I fell to my knees on the hardwood floors. I gasped for air desperate to breathe but the sobs heaved through me. I clutched at my chest wishing to die. My heart pounded harder and harder and I couldn’t see past the water in my eyes. Finally, I was able to get air to my lungs. With my next breath, I screamed.