Chapter 193: Clash Of Flames
[Music recommendation: The Weeknd - The Abyss]
.
.
That barrier Gavriel had set up around the cave wasn’t nearly as powerful as the one he had erected around Aliana. But it was more than sufficient to keep any human or demon at bay unless they possessed extraordinary power.
The absence of the barrier was enough to tell them everything they needed to know.
Whoever had been behind this had possessed enough power to shatter the barrier protecting it.
As they stepped into the mouth of the cave, it opened into a vast cavern that had been transformed into a home, complete with everything one would need to live there.
But none of it drew their attention.
Instead, their eyes fell upon the woman named Sofia on the floor.
Her body had been mangled beyond recognition, as though someone had taken their time torturing her, tearing her apart limb by limb until she had been reduced to such a gruesome, tattered state.
Gavriel narrowed his eyes at the sight where the blood was already dried and murmured, "This happened recently."
"Yes, Master," Reve agreed, looking at the carnage.
Gavriel’s brows drew together as he tried to pick up anything that stood out. The place was a total mess, as if someone had ransacked the premises and then resorted to torturing her.
His blood boiled at the thought of his effort being in vain until now, only to be met with a dead end.
He then reached down and placed a hand against the ground.
The fine layer of dust settled across the cavern resonated with his powers before slowly rising into the air, and Gavriel’s eyes turned pitch black as he searched for traces of anyone who had used their powers within this place.
It took only a second before the dust suspended in the air fell lifelessly back to the ground, and he rose to his full height.
A vein throbbed at his temple before the fury he had kept tightly leashed finally burst free, sending every glass vessel in the cavern exploding into countless shards.
Reve, who had been standing close to Gavriel, instinctively took two steps back.
"M-Master?"
"Mord," Gavriel uttered the name of the notorious demon who had been creating havoc since Aliana had come under his radar.
"Mord?" Reve echoed, and then confusion crossed his face because Mord was only a low-level demon, making it impossible for him to be able to break through Gavriel’s barrier.
"Master, how is that possible? He cannot break through your barrier," Reve asked cautiously upon seeing how much bloodlust was leaking out of his frame.
"There must be someone else behind-"
Gavriel suddenly stopped mid-sentence when he sensed it.
A sharp pang shot straight through his heart, and Bellarious stirred awake within him as an overwhelming sense of danger rose at an alarming rate. Gavriel instinctively lifted a hand to his chest, his brows knitting together, and it took him only a second to realise what that feeling meant.
"Aliana," he whispered before darkness instantly swallowed him.
The moment he materialised outside the chalet, the ruby embedded in the ring adorning Aliana’s finger gleamed faintly in the darkness, though she had no idea it was happening.
Gavriel’s eyes widened as he saw Aliana about to fall just outside the house while a grotesque creature lunged at her.
Without wasting a second, he stepped forward, and her body collided straight into his chest. One arm immediately came up to cover her eyes while the other shot forward, fire swirling out of his palm before crashing into the creature that was still suspended in mid-air.
But that was not all.
The very instant Gavriel’s fire collided with the creature from the front, another powerful stream of fire struck it from behind.
The two flames collided with such overwhelming force that a deafening blast erupted, sending a violent shockwave rippling across the land.
The creature let out a blood-curdling screech before its body was blown into countless tiny pieces, leaving nothing behind but ashes that scattered through the freezing night air.
Silence descended over the entire area.
None of them moved. None of them spoke.
Not only was Aliana shaken to her core, but even Gavriel’s eyes widened slightly as he realised he had just witnessed another person’s firepower colliding with his own.
But the question was...
Who?
However, he did not have to wait long.
His gaze settled on a tall figure dressed entirely in black, walking towards them with a regal elegance that Gavriel had rarely seen anyone possess.
But that was not what made his senses prickle.
It was the immense power radiating from his very presence as he advanced at an unhurried pace until he stood close enough for the moonlight to illuminate his striking features.
Raven-black hair.
Sharp, impossibly handsome features.
And above all else...
Molten orange eyes that slowly bled back into a deep, molten red.
Aliana, who could not see anything with her eyes covered, still possessed sharp enough senses to definitely pick up on the newcomer’s scent and the sound of footsteps until they ceased altogether.
With all she had witnessed, she was shaken to the core, and with the cold combined with fear, she could not stop trembling.
But one thing she had instantly been able to recognise was Gavriel’s scent that wrapped around her like a protective blanket.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, her lips parted. "G-Gav?" she whispered.
That was when Gavriel tore his gaze away from the man standing before him and looked down, immediately sensing the fear pouring out of her.
He gently removed his hand from her eyes before turning her face towards him so she could see him.
A relieved sigh escaped Aliana’s lips the moment their eyes met.
Without another word or a care in the world, she simply buried her face back into his chest while wrapping her trembling hands around his waist in a crushing hug.
Gavriel, on the other hand, released a breath he hadn’t even realised he had been holding the moment he felt her touch. He instinctively wrapped one arm around her waist while the other cradled the back of her head.
Tightening his hold around her as he leaned down to press a gentle kiss against her hair before lifting his eyes once more to the man who had been silently watching their little exchange.
Arching an elegant brow, the man’s deep, masculine voice drifted through the air. "So you are the one my wife had told me about."
Gavriel’s eyes turned blood-red, and his voice dropped to a menacing low. "Who are you?"
"I can ask you the same," the man with molten eyes shot back, narrowing his eyes at him.
The air became charged with powerful auras radiating from both men, who looked like they were only seconds away from hurling their powers at each other.
Aliana stiffened visibly in Gavriel’s embrace.
But before things escalated, a woman zapped through, appearing right beside the man with molten-red eyes. She placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Calm down, Ivan."
Then, after glancing at Aliana trembling in Gavriel’s arms, she spoke again in an ethereal voice that was both soft and firm.
"There is no need for violence yet. Let’s talk."
That was when Gavriel’s eyes moved from the man to the woman standing beside him, catching the way her deep blue eyes flashed golden.