A Meeting with the Enemy

The morning air was thick with tension as Evelyne rode alongside Azrael, her hands gripping the reins tighter than necessary.

They traveled with a small escort—just Azrael, Varian, Lyria, and a handful of demon warriors. The fewer they were, the less threatening they would appear to the rebel faction. But Evelyne knew the truth—Azrael didn't need an army. He was a force on his own.

The landscape shifted as they rode deeper into neutral territory. The rivers of molten lava faded into jagged cliffs, and the eerie glow of the Underworld dimmed beneath thick storm clouds. The meeting point was an ancient ruin, long abandoned, its crumbling stone walls swallowed by shadowed vines.

Evelyne swallowed hard. Everything about this place felt like a trap.

Azrael reined in his horse, his golden eyes scanning the ruins. "They're here."

Evelyne followed his gaze. Dark figures emerged from the broken pillars ahead. The rebel demons wore no uniform, but their mismatched armor and concealed weapons made their intentions clear. They didn't trust this meeting.

And neither did she.

A tall, broad-shouldered demon stepped forward, his deep red eyes locking onto Azrael with open hostility. His horns were jagged, his face marked with scars.

"So," the demon said, his voice rough as gravel. "The mighty King of the Underworld lowers himself to speak with traitors."

Azrael's expression didn't shift. "You're not traitors yet, Xyros. That depends on how this conversation ends."

Xyros sneered but said nothing. His gaze flickered to Evelyne, and something dark sparked in his eyes. "And this is the human you've chained yourself to?"

Evelyne stiffened.

Azrael's voice was cold. "Careful."

Xyros chuckled. "Didn't realize the great Demon King was so protective."

The tension thickened. Varian's hand hovered over his sword, while Lyria remained still, her expression unreadable.

Evelyne forced herself to step forward. "I came to understand your grievances," she said evenly. "Not to listen to insults."

Xyros's gaze snapped to her, his amusement fading.

She met his stare head-on, ignoring the way her pulse pounded. "You think this alliance is a weakness. You think Azrael has betrayed demonkind by calling for peace." She lifted her chin. "But you haven't considered what happens if you continue this rebellion."

Xyros's eyes darkened. "And what would you know of war, human?"

"More than you think," she shot back. "I know what it means to lose people. I know what it means to make sacrifices." Her fists clenched at her sides. "And I know that if you force Azrael into a corner, there won't be a rebellion. There will only be your corpses."

A tense silence followed.

Then, to her surprise, Xyros threw his head back and laughed.

"You've got fire, I'll give you that," he said, shaking his head. "Fine. Let's talk."

Evelyne exhaled slowly. She had just taken her first step into the political battlefield of the demon world.

And she had no idea if she'd won—or merely delayed the inevitable bloodshed.