chapter 36 Malphas’ Bargain

Ethan hissed in annoyance " I thought I was getting a break, Calista!" he growled before pursuing after Alexander.

Lightning cracked across the night sky, briefly illuminating two figures darting through the dense forest.

The figures blurred further into the deep forest, the ancient forest stirred. vines slithered like living serpents, twisting toward their presence, sensing them. As Alexander and Ethan blurred past, the tendrils reached out, hungry.

Alexander and Ethan both stopped. Ethan poked the space in front of them, and a ripple formed " do you really want to fight with these berserk creatures?" Ethan asked, cleaning his imaginative tears from his eyes.

" They have been increasing in numbers lately, there is nothing wrong with population control" Alexander conjured his hellfire flame, fully engulfed in it before stepping into the unknown world.

Ethan rolled his eyes at his disappearing figure " Hypocrite" he cussed underneath his breath. His eyes turned gold, as he conjured his sword.

" Let's hope this ends quickly" he vanished into the other side of the barrier.

The slithering veins coiled in the shadows , waiting for... something.

Inside the barrier, the sky turned red, neither sun, nor moon was present in the sky. The colour of the air was also red. A realm of pure doom.

Screech

A half human half crow demon minions flew in the sky like a swarm of bees, their targets…. The two intruders.

Clash clash...screech

Splash, blood spilled over Alexander's face, his pitch eyes filled with insatiable hunger. He flew up, slashing them with his hellfire blade.

Most of them turned into ashes instantly.

Hours passed by, Ethan and Alexander were already drenched in black blood.

The battlefield stank of burnt flesh and demon blood. Ethan wiped the black gore off his blade, exhaling sharply. The fighting was done, but something felt off. Too easy. Too… incomplete.

 " satisfied?" Ethan's chest rise up and down.

" Isn't it strange, there is no trap today" Alexander eyes returned to its normal shade " This is unlike him" his eyes searching for the figure.

" that is true, but what are you trying to say"

" Something is going on" he growled, his chilling aura spreading through the chaotic hell.

" Let´s go, we have killed almost half of them" Ethan sighed " there won't be any uprising anytime soon".

Something glinted through his eyes " I need to meet with him" Alexander began further towards a cave like entrance.

Ethan facepalmed himself, " fine whatever!".

They walked inside the dimly lit cave. An awful stench assaulted their nostril " F**k you, Malphas" Ethan cussed, covering his nose.

Squish squish

Their feet made weird noises, as they walked through the slimy sticky ground.

"Ewwwww" Ethan grumbled, shaking his feet to get off his shoe.

Alexander shot him a glare.

" What!" he shot back in anger " There is only one pair of this shoe in the world" he argued.

" There would be more, if you didn't kill the poor cobbler" his fierce gaze pierced through Alexander's back.

" stop complaining, you yap like a housewife" a smirk formed on Alexander's lips.

" Did you just compare me to a nagging housewife?" Ethan´s eyes saw red, a growl reverberating from his chest.

" Chill, you are sounding like them more and more" he teased.

"What….."

Ethan´s words were interrupted, by Alexander .

" We are here" his voice stern, his eyes turned pitch black, anger and hatred boiling through his veins.

His deadly and overwhelming aura burst through the air, piercing it like a rain of arrows.

His eyes locked on the figure, who sat…..waiting for him.

" The almighty Alexander paid me a visit?" a hoarse sarcastic voice echoed through the air " What did i do to deserve it".

A demon with a bird-like body. The body has feathers like an angel and has large, clawed arms with a baby bird looking head. His eyes are all black.

Amusement danced in Alexander´s eyes " you aren't worth it" he scoffed, as he casually walked towards the creature.

" Don´t tell me, you haven´t changed the habit of eating rotten food?" Ethan asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm " your place really stench for someone who is the.... President of hell" his lips tugged into a smirk.

" Ethan!" Malphas angry voice echoed in the cave, his minions suddenly surrounding them.

" Chill" Alexander scoffed " he didn't say a lie" he reasoned.

Malphas scoffed, his eyes hiding a glint of madness.

" What brought you here Alexander?"

" The prophecy….." Alexander drawled " it originated from the Fae´s Lore?" Alexander paused gauging Malphas reaction.

He knew clearly well that Malphas is not someone to mess with, " who knows what devilish plan is cooking in his head".

" Yes," Malphas blatantly answered.

" But only half of the prophecy has been circulating, do you know if the Fae´s has the complete prophecy?" Alexander asked, his eyes flickering with curiosity.

" I do Alexander"

" Do you know how to get into the fae´s realm undetected?" Alexander hissed.

" I do, but unfortunately…. I can't tell you" a eerie smile forming on Malphas lips " You are no longer one of us, remember".

Alexander´s eyes shut in frustration " what is the price?"

Ethan's eyes flickered with worry " I don't like where this is going, Alex" he warned.

Alexander knew, but… he has to find the origin of his….mate. A taste of disgust flickered through him.

Malphas began to laugh eerily, he stood up.

In a blink, Malphas was in front of Alexander. " What i want, is very simple" he stated as if he was discussing the weather.

" Spill it," Alexander commanded.

" Land of Hades" he said, his black inked eyes twinkling with something sinister.

Ethan´s heart hammered in his chest " Disaster" he thought to himself.

 Alexander´s body tensed. His pulse thundered against his skull. The air around him warped as hellfire surged to life. " No" His voice was barely a whisper, sharp, final, unyielding

"There is no point in fighting, it won't benefit either of us" he advised.

Alexander felt a pang of uneasiness in his heart, he knew he can´t let Malphas enter the land of hades, he will destroy what he has been trying…. To protect.

" But what is that?" he felt a wave of pain in his head.

" My bondage to this realm will be over very…soon" Malphas tried to reason " I only want to take a peek, please Alexander" he pleaded.