Chapter Three

"Host! The target of the mission appears. Monarch of the Underworld, Azrael."

Selene adjusted her breathing and look intently at the man in front of her. She closes her fist tightly, trying to maintain her balance to stand straight as the pressure coming from his direction doubled as time passed by.

She glared at him and starts uttering substantial curses in her head. 

This bastard came out of nowhere but keeps his silence and even dares to put pressure on me? Ridiculous! Is he mute? Selene thought.

"Where am I?" She knows that waiting for something to happen will only put more danger in her position.

"Hey system, am I still in the palace?"

She stays vigilant and asked the system through her consciousness. Fortunately, the system also stays connected with her and answer her question.

"I'm also trying to figure out what's our coordinates but one thing is I'm sure of Host, we're no longer in the palace, not even in the land of the kingdom."

That's when Selene swore loudly and smiles, mocking the man in front of her who keeps on staring at her. 

Great. She's in the middle of nowhere with the man who may be purposely let his fated woman die in the future. 

"And he constantly gawking at me too!" 

She thought furiously.  

"It's because of your charisma, Host! Congratulations for seizing the target's attention!" With a grimace, she asks the system back. "Are you sure that's not a look from a man who wants to slit my throat?" Selene heard it popping its mouth and distance itself from her space.  

She forcefully chuckled and stare back at the man in front of her. It's the Monarch of the Underworld. A God. An immortal. The one who will soon declare a war between the other realm, taking lives barehanded and mercilessly. 

She examined his appearance and saw that he's currently wearing a luxury dark coat over a long loose suit but I'm wearing a ball gown, who's winning here? She thought and break the silence between them.

"I know, if I were a man I'll also fall for myself too." Selene smiles widely and casually looks around her. That's when she notices that the deep black space surrounding them is now gone replaced by a large room.

She was transported to a man's bedroom. To the Monarch's private room! She can't help but to bit her lips slightly, thinking if someone also barged in her bedroom at night, she'll probably kill that person barehanded. 

She tried to take a step on the side but the pressure push her harder and before she realized what's happening, she felt the pressure pinning her to the wall and was soon strangle by the same man.

"Who are you?" Selene resists making a sound as she feels the pressure choking her to the wall. She tried her best to look at the man and saw how he's only three steps away right now. The man asks her again. Its low and rough voice lingers through her ears and manages to frighten her to the point that she felt her knees weakening. 

This is bad. I need to turn the tides right now She reckoned.

"Have we met before?" He asked again. Selene wanted to utter a portion of profanity to him, it's the first time they met but Selene knew that they both have something in common. Instead of answering his questions, she grinned painfully and even click her tongue. "Ah? So, is this one of your quirks? Pinning someone on the wall, looking like a fine man?"

System who's watching inside her head: ...

"This Host! Is she insane?" It runs back and forth around the space and looks at the darkest part of the place. "Can I ask for redeployment?" It begs and maybe if it has its own body, it already wails and cries to the floor. It didn't receive any answer and so, the system looks at Selene again. It decided to cheer her up as both of them don't have any ability to turn the tables down.

"Go, Host! Hit him!"

Selene stay unnerved and observed the man's reaction. She's startled and feels more upset with the situation but she can't deny the man's attractiveness.

He has that darkest shade of hair that brushed back from his forehead but some strands left and curls at the side of his jaw, engraving his ragged profile. His hair reaches just right at the top of his shoulder and rest. He carried an imperious nose well and his angular cheekbones carved down towards a flinty jawline. 

Selene looks up and was startled when she met the eyes of the man. He has thick but neat eyebrows pair with his entrancing blood-shaded eyes that have a piercing cold in them. There's also a glint of viciousness from the way he's staring in my direction. It's like he's thinking a lot of many ways how to torture my soul. A gleam of maliciousness and bloodthirsty. 

He stands there looking like he will crush her the moment she takes the wrong step. 

He possessed latent, pernicious sovereignty and have the complexion of killing intent, inhumane glint with intention and power.

It's good that I've watched numerous movies and read books before. He's more gorgeous and alluring than what I saw but so, what? He is a walking red flag and he's dangerous. Selene thought aggressively.

Unsurprisingly, Azrael suddenly cross the gap between them and personally grip her neck tight enough, and lifted her to stand on her toes. Selene prevents making a sound and also holds the man's wrist tightly. 

Selene heard the system panics in her head and so, she decisively shut their connection off.  It provided nothing, better keep them out.

System: ...

"I won't repeat myself more, who sent you here?" The man's eyes turn even darker with that shade of blood eyes as the lights also start blinking and the darkness starts suffocating the both of them. To his surprise, she smirked mockingly and lick her bottom lip.

"Fierce, huh?" She whispered with her eyes wholeheartedly watches the expression of the man. From his wrist, she even dares to held her hands up to his chin and tilt his head on the side. She felt the tightening grip on her neck as she did that outrageous move on him.

It seems like Selene's purple eyes turn darker and mirror the glint from Azrael's eyes. Both of them are now looking like they were about to pounce and slit each other's throats.

Selene feels his slight stubble as she runs her fingers past his jaw to his neck. "Do you think I have time to play with you?" Azrael asks coldly. He was ready to tear her throat, it's just that he need to know how did she manage to suddenly appear in his territory.

Selene grinned and move her face to the point that there's only a tiny space between them. They take a breathe simultaneously. "And here I thought we have a long night to spend together," She said sullenly. Selene then brushes the strand of his hair and pulls his face closer.

Selene slightly parts her lips open and lick the side of the man's lips. "Sweet." Before Azrael can even react, Selene pulled the long hairpin from her hair and point its sharp end to his neck.

Azrael watches her movement, he can stop Selene from grabbing that hairpin but he wanted to know what she's capable of. 

"Want to kill me with a hairpin? How sweet." Azrael repeat her last word and then put his hands down to her waist and pulled her closer to his body but Selene forcefully stab the pin on his neck, Azrael won't let mere human harm his body even if he will eventually heal for a short time. He grabs her wrist but he felt a sharp thrust on his abdomen. She punched him. 

Just one punch, I know this won't hurt him but who cares? Selene thought stubbornly

As expected, it didn't cause much on him but it was Selene who felt a sting on her fist. 

He put a distance between them and Selene immediately retreat to the side and lift a torch from the table. "Of course, I know a hairpin can't kill you but as I said, we have a long night to spend with." She remarked and look at the torch in her hands, nodding in satisfaction.

Maybe this will hurt him a little. She thought. Selene knew more than anyone that she can't do anything right now and her action will only put her in a more dangerous position but she will not let this opportunity slide. Soon, the fake destined woman will come and Selene knew that she can't avoid that from happening unless the system told her so, she decided to create a rift between them before they can even meet. 

The Monarch doesn't have any idea how she came to his place nor Selene. She concludes that it's because of the prophecy, letting them meet briefly before the fated day but if she guesses it correct this incident will soon fade from their memories, not completely but enough to forget each other's appearances. It's just a mere idea from her based on what she observed but she took that risk without any hesitation at all.

If only the system can see and hear what's happening. It will be surprised by the sudden turn of events and the change of its host's personality. 

Azrael stands straight and Selene's eyes flicker when the ambiance of the room abruptly changed. Long gone his cold temperament and he smiles viciously to her.

Danger! Selene sense her throbbing heart and felt his killing intent thickening. She cursed again for the nth time in her head. This night completely outnumbered the times she cursed in her whole life. Selene grins and also smiles wickedly at Azrael.

"Hey, don't you think it's unfair that you're summoning the shadows right now? Can't you see this little torch on my hand?" She watches as the shadow from his back spread and starts molding a form. 

This bastard doesn't know how to play fair! Can't he just grab a torch too? Selene recalls the time she has to spend in this room and glances at Azrael's countenance.

If I guess it right, the time is running out, right? Selene implies and unconsciously licked her lips. She didn't need to wait for any confirmation as she felt herself fading and like something's pulling her back. 

"It seems like times up. Hope you can play fair the next time we met, hot stuff." She said teasing the man but before she completely fades away, the man suddenly appears near to her face and smile maliciously, and mumbled, "The next time we met, we'll play it well." And she felt his lips touch her neck.

What a gift! She thought and wants to rub her neck but then she lost consciousness. 

Azrael looks at the golden lights that slowly faded from the darkness. This energy and aura feel familiar to him. It's from the Protectors of Fate. He opens the door and strides outside his room. 

"She's the lady from the prophecy. My destined woman, a soulmate." He claimed

He only notices it after seeing the trace of Fate's power. Playing with him huh? He sneered and as he was about to remember her face, it's like a blank hole exists in his head and memories.

His eyes turn darker, even darker when Selene provoked him a moment ago. This is a direct incitement from the Fates. They even have the guts to play with his memories. Where did they learn this kind of spell? Azrael decided to take a short visit to Fate's tower and maybe they can drink a cup of tea together.

He arrived in his throne hall were his commanders and corps were waiting for him patiently. They stand straight and salutes their Monarch. Azrael thinks about what their meeting is all about and one of them is the prophecy that they also received just a few hours ago.

He recalls the Lady who held a hairpin on her hand dared to touch his face and kiss his lips even if he can vaguely remember what she looks like. He coldly clenches his jaw and the idea of slitting her attractive neck still exists in the back of his head despite knowing that the lady is his so-called destined woman. He knew better than anyone what's truth behind that prophecy was.

"It seems like I also need to come and visit the Ruler's land."