CONTENT WARNING: Note, this chapter is rated mature due to physical violence and blood/gore.

Hirayama Sosuke

“And yet you’re married to Mother.”

“That’s different. I had to work my tail off trying to meet her father’s expectations. Do you have any idea how difficult it was? I wish I had an ounce of Celestial blood because maybe then they would have treated me differently. When you were born, you inherited those expectations. This family has an image to maintain. You can choose to protect it or fade into oblivion upon rejection.” 

“You can’t force me to be with a woman. I won’t accept whoever you pick.”

“Then you’re not my son!” he shouted vehemently as he turned around to stare his son down. “This will tarnish the Imperial Family’s image.”

“And Uncle’s homosexuality doesn’t? It’s okay for him to love men, but when it’s the Crown Prince of Wuzhen, it’s immoral?”

“Your Uncle gave up the throne to be with another man! If he were the Emperor, he would have married a woman. But he’s not, I am. So I am forced to make these tough decisions. Whether you agree with them depends on how badly you wish to be crowned emperor.”

‘Why is it wrong to love someone of the same sex? Is it a sin to bear your heart and soul if it’s to someone you’re destined to be with?’ I thought after watching the argument between Zixin and his father unfold.

My heart ached with newfound sorrow, knowing Zixin’s fervent disapproval of our relationship was nothing more than the result of him being told these poisonous lies. Did he want the throne more than he wanted me? Which would he choose in the end?

“Your thoughts are taking a dark turn, Sosuke. You must tread lightly or you’ll be pulled into the Sathanas’ perpetual darkness,” Azrael warned me.

With his words as a cue, I entered the image after Zixin’s father left his mind. Zixin stared at the body of his former lover, his shoulders shaking, but tears refusing to fall. His eyes grew red, as though he was using every ounce of his energy to keep from crying. A troubled expression haunted his face. There were not enough words to describe how devastated he was.

“You weren’t supposed to die, Yu Meng. You were supposed to meet me at the restaurant at six. Why did you come find me? You always do stupid things...” he whispered to the corpse. “In the end, I couldn’t even give you the one thing you wanted most.”

“Zixin?” I started. The saddened dragon hybrid turned to look at me, his eyes cold and empty, much like the ones I’d seen many times when our telepathic connection was first forged.

“Who are you?” he asked defensively, hunched over the body of his lover. “Foxes aren’t supposed to be here.”

“I’m… a friend of the family,” I replied, unsure of what other explanation to use. The person in front of me wasn’t Zixin, but a past mental projection of him. I couldn’t just tell him I was his mate.

“Are you sure? You don’t even sound like you believe that. I’ve been lied to enough in the past. I can tell when someone is trying to pull something sly.”

Zixin had been fed so many lies and perhaps responding with more lies would only do more harm. I needed to be honest. “I’m someone who cares for you very much, but you haven’t met yet. I know your heart is hurting—”

“Don’t do that.”

“It’s okay to be upset, Zixin. Expressing yourself makes you a sentient being. If you need to cry, then let the tears fall. Don’t hold back. Bottling your emotions will only suffocate you in the end.”

“What do you know? You’re a fox demon, you have no sense of morality. All your kind knows is trickery and deceit.”

“And all dragons know is warmongering.”

“Dragons fight to survive. It’s in our nature. But kitsune, they choose the path they walk on.”

“Just like there are good and bad dragons, there are good and bad kitsune.”

“Which one are you?”

“I’m a Celestial kitsune who once lost his way but am trying to make up for the sins I’ve committed. I won’t lie to you. I’ve made many mistakes. I’ve even killed dragons in my lifetime. There’s no punishment in the Realm that will ever be enough to atone for the things I’ve done.”

“Did any of those sins involve killing someone who loved you?”

“No, I never loved anyone before.”

“Imagine telling the man you’ve lain with that you were going to run away with him and give him the thing he craved most. All he wanted was my love, but instead he was met with betrayal. I’ll never forget the look in his eyes as he watched me rip his heart out. So, tell me, Celestial kitsune. Have you done anything like what I did?”

“No. But I don’t want you to go down the same destructive path I went. I did it because I didn’t have anyone to love, anyone to lose. You have so much to live for and you would realize it if you let go of your anger. You don’t have to do what your father says. You should trust whatever feels right in your heart. You’re close to meeting your mate for the first time, things will get better. I’ve seen it.”

“You’re him, aren’t you?”

“Does it disappoint you?” I asked, unsure of why I was asking an image of Zixin about what he thought of me. Did I hope his answer would differ from the real Zixin?

“Surprisingly, no. Although you are a kitsune and I am a dragon, I can’t imagine us having any difficulty getting along. It won’t be an easy battle, but given that you’ve seen things an ordinary person hasn’t, I know you’re strong enough to withstand any obstacle,” he replied. My heart soared at his declaration as my mind raced with the nervous thought. ‘Is this how you truly feel, Zixin?’

Without warning, the Zixin standing before me slumped to the ground as he dissipated into nothing. In his place was a woman with a scornful glare, her hands at her hips in contempt. Her bright red eyes stared back at me like a predator in the mist, and I knew I found the culprit behind Zixin’s inner turmoil.

“You are not welcome here, Sathanas,” I spat at the dark angel. “What do you hope to accomplish by taking control of my mate’s mind? You won’t be able to overtake his body like any other individual. You’re dealing with the future Dragon King.”

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it, Sosuke? I was beginning to miss the judgmental tone in your voice,” she responded. Her words dripped with venom, and the ominous glow of her eyes grew brighter.

The Seven Sins were a special kind of dark angel. They were not only notoriously evil, but they were also fueled by the powers of Hell.

Before Aeyaviel became an established nation in Naestrirea, there was only one, The Hierophant. She was a counselor, a savior, and a mother to those that would later become Aeyavielans. In the beginning, she listened to the prayers of humans who suffered throughout the realm. They wanted a place they could call home; they wanted the exploitation of their species to cease, but most of all, they wanted peace.

She taught humans the art of tranquility. Citizens of other nations thought the Hierophant was fictitious and that the humans were blindly following delusions. However, these doubts were silenced when reports began circulating throughout Naestrirea. They spoke of winged creatures spreading blessings to the ill, troubled, and listless.

These creatures were considered the purest beings because no amount of darkness could creep into their hearts or alter their course. However, that thought changed when angels began falling from what was considered the Heavenly Lands to become messengers of darkness.

Almost half a century ago, there were battles between humans who wished to gain the power of the angels and the angels. Many deceived angels into blessing them or joined the fallen angels in their conquest, but ultimately stole their power and became dark angels.

They attempted to bring humanity to extinction when it was discovered the Hierophant used that very race to create more angels. While they recognized the necessity of having more people to coerce into joining their cause, it was not as easy to find someone weak enough to manipulate.

Sathanas was the incarnation of wrath. Her powers stemmed from anger and frustration when she was the first expelled from Aeyaviel. She was a formidable foe, one that would not be easy to purge if he attached himself to someone with an equally debilitating wrath.

“What do you hope to gain from this, Sathanas? Zixin will not be pleased when he discovers you are using his body. And if Zixin doesn’t find your presence before then, I could easily kill you,” I retorted with a snarl.

“With what powers, Sosuke? Have you forgotten? They’ve been sealed away. If you break the bonds, you will release a greater evil. Are you truly prepared to fight the Four Empresses of Hell?”

For a moment, I hesitated, seeing the reason in her words. It was true my curse was bound by the same bonds that locked away the Four Empresses of Hell, but I was willing to set fire to the world if it meant saving my mate.

“Azrael,” I called the angel by isolating his bond from the other Virtues. I needed to finish this battle quickly or else Sathanas would take my rage and channel it into her own energy.

Azrael appeared instantly, his violet eyes staring down at Sathans with a pitiful look. His heart ached with pain, seeing the dark angel full of scorn and hatred. It came as a little surprise to me, for Sathanas was once Azrael’s beloved. Looking at the dark angel was as if she was seeing herself for the first time.

“Azrael,” Sathanas spoke with venom, the love between them no longer existed. “You can’t rid yourself of me! As long as light exists, there will always be darkness!” Her deranged eyes widened in desperation as she began piecing together my plan.

Not wanting to wait another moment, I plunged my hand into Azrael’s chest and ripped out his heart. The action alone was not enough to kill him. No, I needed to implant the core of his essence into Sathanas and destroy him in order to complete the permanent seal. However, it was my first time doing so. I didn’t know what it would do to me or Zixin.

There was only one way to find out.

With inhuman-like speed, I charged towards Sathanas, using her distress as a distraction. Azrael’s heart glowed brightly, like a newborn star in the sky when it neared Sathanas’ chest. It wasn’t until I merged their two hearts did a huge shockwave radiate from Sathanas, threatening to destroy the landscape of Zixin’s mind.

I planned to join their hearts together to force a summon of the first trumpet. To my confusion, Sathanas did nothing to stop me as the golden trumpet appeared in front of me. I wrapped my hand around the horn and took a deep breath, blowing everything I had into it.

The sound created more shockwaves as the seal on Azrael’s soul broke. The tether between us dissipated, allowing Azrael to take on a tangible form. And then Azrael took his divine sword and thrust it through Sathanas’ chest. Blood poured from the wound and spilled out of her mouth as she gurgled.

“I’m sorry,” Azrael whispered.

“I hoped that when my death would come, it would be at your hands. It will offer you the closure you need,” she said. She turned towards me and a ghostly glint of a smile flashed across her face before she added, “The Empresses of Hell will rise again,” Sathanas said.

Her body burst into flames and immediately turned to ash, leaving no trace. Azrael stared at the spot where his beloved stood, alive, moments ago. I exited Zixin’s mind. His soft sobs were the last thing I heard before my eyes opened and met darkness once again. My sight was still lost to me.