A heavy silence filled the grand hall, broken only by the uneasy shifting of anxious gods. The King sat at the head of the table, eyes burning with wrath and frustration, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened.
"It's hopeless," a god murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "She's grown too powerful. No one can defeat her now."
A somber silence ensued, despair looming heavily upon each face, until the grand doors swung open, causing everyone to turn in surprise.
Standing at the threshold was a figure bathed in shadows, his face obscured in darkness. Yet, as he stepped forward into the dim torchlight, every god froze, disbelief etched across their faces.
"I'll do it," came the voice, cold, emotionless. "Only I can kill Isabella."
Elijah slammed his fists upon the table, eyes blazing with fury and anguish. "You traitorous—!" His voice cracked, pain evident, but a silent, binding magic prevented him from uttering the name. Every eye in the hall widened in shock.
"Then it is decided," the King finally said, voice hollow with resignation. "You shall be the one."
Isabella's vision blurred as searing pain erupted through her chest. She looked down slowly, disbelief consuming her as she saw the tip of a sword, coated crimson with her blood, protruding from her torso.
Her breath caught, eyes wide in agony and confusion. Slowly, painfully, she turned, meeting the eyes of Elijah tied upon the platform. Horror engulfed his face, tears streaming down his cheeks.
But as her eyes moved past him, they found Aiden, standing motionless, trembling fingers wrapped around the sword plunged into her back.
Her eyes widened further, shimmering with unshed tears. A memory surfaced clearly, painfully, vividly—
"I'll always protect you, Isabella," Aiden whispered, fingers gently brushing her cheek. His voice filled with sincerity, eyes sparkling with love and devotion. "Nothing, no one, will ever make me betray you."*
Yet now, he stood before her, sword trembling within her back. Tears spilled from her eyes, yet a gentle, relieved smile formed upon her lips.
"I'm glad," she whispered weakly, blood spilling from her lips, voice trembling, "I'm glad you're safe, Aiden."
His eyes widened at her words, guilt flooding his expression. But before he could speak, a voice thundered from behind:
"Any god who wishes for her power—stab her now!"
"No!" Elijah screamed, violently pulling against his restraints, tears blinding him. "Please! Spare her, she's innocent!"
Raizel watched through Elijah's memory, frozen, heart wrenching violently in his chest. "Stop it!" he roared, reaching desperately towards Isabella's form, forgetting it was merely a memory. "Please, stop!"
But no one could hear his screams.
Six gods stepped forward eagerly, each plunging their swords into Isabella's weakened form, tearing away pieces of her divine essence.
Isabella cried out weakly, collapsing to her knees, blood pooling beneath her. She struggled to remain upright, vision dimming, strength fading rapidly.
With a desperate roar, Elijah finally shattered his bindings, collapsing painfully onto the ground. Ignoring his injuries, he crawled agonizingly slowly toward her, reaching out trembling fingers to touch her just once more.
"Isa..." he choked, sobbing violently, heart shattered. "Forgive me."
Gathering every bit of his remaining power, Elijah gently touched Isabella's hand. "I'm sorry," he whispered brokenly, his power flooding into her mind, showing her a vision only she could see.
Her fading eyes widened slightly, her lips parted, and a serene, hopeful smile lit her bloodied face as the life faded from her eyes.
She fell gently forward into Elijah's trembling arms, her final breath escaping softly.
The gods laughed mercilessly, triumphant until one suddenly cried out in horror, pointing at Isabella's corpse. "She's not turning to dust! Why isn't she turning into dust?!"
Fear rippled through them, their triumph quickly shifting into panic.
But amidst their terror, Elijah's broken laughter echoed hauntingly. His gaze met theirs, filled with madness and despair.
Suddenly, Isabella's body disintegrated into sparkling ashes, falling gently to the ground. And from that glittering ash, a tiny form emerged—a newborn infant, pale-skinned with tiny black wings and gleaming demon fangs.
Every god drew their weapons immediately, ready to slay the child, but Aiden stepped forward, lifting his hand.
"Wait!" he commanded firmly, eyes hardened with fear and caution. "Elijah saw something—a future. Killing this child may not stop it. We must imprison them both."
Elijah stared blankly, too broken to resist as the gods dragged him and the crying infant down into the depths of Hell.
Aiden approached him, a twisted, bitter smirk on his lips. "This is your punishment, Elijah. To forever gaze upon the child born of Isabella's love for another. To eternally know she never loved you."
Elijah didn't respond, his gaze locked numbly onto the crying infant—Raizel.
Raizel's eyes snapped open, the agonizing memory fading. Before him stood Ignis, body trembling, face pale, terror etched clearly in every feature. Zephyros stared horrified, body frozen, unable to look away.
Raizel smiled darkly, a chilling, empty laughter erupting from his lips.
"Thousands of years have passed," he whispered softly, dangerously, "yet Elijah remains imprisoned there, forever trapped in those haunting memories. That is his Hell…and his Heaven."
Ignis took a staggering step back, unable to comprehend the depths of torment revealed in Raizel's crimson eyes.
Raizel's laughter grew darker, madness shimmering in his gaze.
"I've decided," Raizel murmured, voice deadly calm yet echoing with sadistic glee, "exactly who I will kill next."
The air grew cold, his blood-red eyes flashing ominously, marking the chilling return of his vengeance.