The rain had stopped, and a sliver of moon peeked through the clouds as Clara and Damien drove to Professor Armitage's secluded home. The house was an old Victorian mansion, shrouded in overgrown ivy and surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. It looked like something out of a gothic novel, perfectly suited to a scholar of the occult.
Damien parked the car in front of the gate, and they both got out. As they approached the house, Clara couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The air around the mansion seemed to vibrate with an unnatural energy, a subtle hum that resonated deep within her bones.
Damien opened the gate, and they walked up the long, winding path to the front door. He raised his hand and knocked, the sound echoing through the silent night.
After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing a tall, gaunt man with piercing blue eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. He was dressed in a tweed suit and wore a pair of wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. This was Professor Armitage.
"Damien," the professor said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "I've been expecting you." He gestured for them to enter. "Come in, come in. We have much to discuss."
Clara and Damien stepped inside, and the professor led them into a dimly lit study. The room was filled with bookshelves overflowing with ancient tomes and arcane artifacts. The air was thick with the scent of old paper, incense, and something else… something indefinable, something that hinted at the presence of the supernatural.
"Professor Armitage," Damien said, "this is my partner, Clara."
"A pleasure, my dear," the professor said, turning his gaze to Clara. His eyes seemed to pierce right through her, as if he could see into her very soul. "Damien tells me you've had a run-in with Azazel."
Clara nodded, feeling a shiver run down her spine. "He was at Blackwood Asylum," she said. "Damien managed to drive him off, but we know he'll be back."
"Indeed," the professor said, his expression grave. "Azazel is not one to be easily deterred. He is a powerful and cunning adversary, and he has been drawn to Blackwood for a reason."
"What reason?" Clara asked.
"Blackwood is a nexus of dark energy," the professor explained. "The suffering and despair that occurred there have created a tear in the fabric of reality, a doorway that allows Azazel to exert his influence on our world."
"Damien told me something similar," Clara said. "But why Blackwood? Why now?"
"Azazel's plans are often shrouded in mystery," the professor said. "But I believe he is seeking to amplify the darkness within Blackwood, to widen the doorway and unleash his full power upon the world."
"How do we stop him?" Clara asked.
"Stopping Azazel will not be easy," the professor said. "He is a formidable foe, and he has many allies in the demonic realm. But there are ways to weaken him, to banish him back to the abyss from whence he came."
"What ways?" Damien asked, his voice eager.
"There are certain artifacts, certain rituals, that can be used to combat Azazel's power," the professor said. "But they are scattered throughout the world, hidden away in forgotten places. Finding them will be a perilous quest."
"We're willing to do whatever it takes," Damien said.
"I know you are," the professor said, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and concern. "But be warned, my friends. The path you are about to embark on is fraught with danger. Azazel will not hesitate to use all his power to stop you. You must be prepared to face your fears, to confront your inner demons, and to make sacrifices you never thought possible."