Aria's POV
We land hard on black stone, and the air steals my breath.
The Abyss is nothing like I expected. Not fire and brimstone. Not screaming souls or lakes of lava.
It's beautiful in a terrifying way—a realm of black crystal mountains that glow from within, rivers of silver light flowing through dark valleys, and a sky filled with stars that shouldn't exist.
"Welcome to my home," Azrael says, helping me stand. His power feels different here—fuller, stronger, like he's finally breathing after holding his breath for years.
Kaito climbs to his feet, looking around cautiously. "This is the Abyss? I expected... worse."
"The horror-story version is propaganda spread by celestials who wanted people to fear this place." Azrael's chains flow around him naturally here, like they're part of the environment. "The Abyss is just a different dimension. Dangerous, yes. But not evil."
Emiko still clutches the little girl—who's staring around with wide, frightened eyes. "Where exactly are we?"
"My palace." Azrael gestures, and I realize the black crystal mountain we're standing on IS a structure. A massive fortress carved from the Abyss itself. "The safest place in any realm. No one enters without my permission."
"The council—" I start.
"Can't reach you here." His crimson eyes glow brighter in this realm. "Even if they could open a portal to the Abyss, which takes immense power, they'd die within minutes. This realm rejects beings who don't belong. But you three..." He looks at me, Kaito, and Emiko. "You have my mark. My protection. The Abyss will accept you as guests."
"For how long?" Kaito asks. "We can't hide forever."
"Long enough to recover. Train. Prepare." Azrael starts walking toward the palace entrance. "The council made a critical mistake. They forced you into MY territory. Now I can teach you everything I know without limitation."
As we walk through massive doors into the palace interior, I see other beings watching from shadows. Demons. But not the mindless monsters from stories—these are people. Different species, different forms, but PEOPLE.
A few nod respectfully to Azrael. Others look curious about us humans.
"You have subjects?" Emiko asks, surprised.
"I'm a king." Azrael's tone is matter-of-fact. "I ruled the Abyss for three hundred years after being thrown here. These are demons who chose to follow me rather than descend into madness." He pauses at a junction. "Most beings thrown into the Abyss lose themselves to rage and despair. I built a society instead. Gave them purpose. Structure."
I look at him with new understanding. "You saved them."
"They saved me first." His voice softens. "After my brother's betrayal, I wanted to die. But demons kept finding me, lost and broken themselves. I realized I had a choice—give up, or give them hope." He smiles slightly. "Turns out being useful to others is a good reason to keep living."
The little girl in Emiko's arms finally speaks. "Are you really a demon king?"
Azrael crouches down to her level. "I am. Does that scare you?"
She thinks about it seriously. "The lady who saved me is scary sometimes too. But she's nice." She looks at Emiko. "So maybe demon kings can be nice?"
Azrael laughs—a genuine, warm sound. "You're a wise child. What's your name?"
"Hana."
"Well, Hana, you're under my protection now. No one will hurt you here. I promise."
Hana considers this, then nods solemnly. "Okay. I believe you."
We continue through the palace until we reach a huge central chamber. A throne of black crystal sits at one end, and the walls are covered in weapons and artifacts that pulse with power.
"This is the war room," Azrael explains. "Where we'll plan your return to the human realm." He snaps his fingers, and maps appear in the air—holographic displays showing the entire tamer world. "The council controls most major cities, but there are resistance groups. Families who distrust the council's authority. We'll need to contact them, build alliances—"
"Wait." I hold up a hand, my head spinning. "We just escaped with our lives. And you're already planning a war?"
"The council declared war when they killed your parents." Azrael's eyes burn. "Everything since has just been them winning. Now it's time to fight back."
Kaito steps forward, studying the maps. "He's right. We can't just hide. The council will hunt everyone we care about. Everyone who might support us. We need to strike first."
"But we're three people!" I protest. "Against the most powerful organization in the world!"
"Three Nakamuras," Emiko corrects quietly. "Do you know what that means to the tamer world?" She looks at me seriously. "Our family didn't just contract spirits, Aria. We CREATED the modern tamer system. Every technique, every sealing method, every safety protocol—Nakamuras designed it all. We were gods to them."
"And they killed us for it," Kaito adds bitterly. "Because they were afraid of what we could do if we decided to take power."
"So let's show them they were right to be afraid." Azrael's smile is sharp. "I've been trapped in the Abyss for three centuries, waiting for a chance at revenge. You three have the power, the bloodline, and the righteous fury. Together, we can destroy the council and rebuild the tamer world into something better."
It sounds impossible. Insane.
But as I look at my siblings and the Demon King who's become more than just my contractor, I realize something.
Maybe impossible is just another word for 'hasn't been done yet.'
"How long?" I ask. "How long do we have to prepare before we go back?"
"Three months," Azrael estimates. "Maybe four. Long enough to master your powers fully, to coordinate as a team, to gather allies." He meets my eyes. "Long enough to become unstoppable."
"Then let's start." I square my shoulders. "What's first?"
Azrael's grin is fierce. "First, you rest. You're all running on fumes." He gestures, and doors open to reveal luxurious rooms. "Sleep. Eat. Heal. Tomorrow, your real training begins."
As the others head to their rooms—Emiko carrying sleeping Hana, Kaito limping from his injuries—Azrael catches my hand.
"Walk with me?" he asks quietly.
I nod, letting him lead me through the palace corridors until we reach a balcony overlooking the Abyss. The view is breathtaking—those impossible stars reflecting in silver rivers far below.
"Thank you," I say softly. "For saving us. For giving us a place to hide."
"This isn't just hiding." Azrael leans against the railing. "This is the beginning of something that will change both our worlds." He glances at me. "Are you ready for that?"
"I don't know." Honesty feels important right now. "Three weeks ago, I was scrubbing floors and thinking I was worthless. Now I'm in the Abyss planning to overthrow a government. It's... a lot."
"You're handling it remarkably well."
"I'm faking it." I laugh weakly. "Inside, I'm terrified. What if we fail? What if more people die because of me? What if—"
"Aria." He turns to face me fully, taking both my hands. "You survived betrayal, murder, resurrection, and today you sealed a Primordial. You are not that scared girl anymore. You're extraordinary."
His crimson eyes hold mine, and through our bond, I feel his emotions—pride, protectiveness, and something deeper he's trying to hide.
Something that feels like love.
"Azrael..." I breathe.
"I know." He releases my hands quickly. "I'm your contracted spirit. This is inappropriate. I shouldn't—"
"That's not what I was going to say." My heart pounds. "I was going to say... I feel it too. Through the bond. Whatever you're feeling... I feel it too."
He goes very still. "That's not possible. Soul bonds don't work that way. Unless..." His eyes widen. "Unless it's not just a contract anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"True bonded pairs." His voice is barely a whisper. "When contractor and spirit become something more. When the bond evolves into—"
A massive alarm shatters the moment.
Red light floods the palace. Demons start running through corridors. Shouts echo.
"What's happening?" I demand.
Azrael's face goes hard. "Someone's trying to breach the Abyss." He closes his eyes, extending his senses. Then his expression turns to shock. "That's impossible."
"What?"
"The barrier is breaking. Something is FORCING its way through from the human realm." He grabs my hand. "We need to get to the throne room. NOW."
We run through the palace. Kaito and Emiko appear, both armed and alert.
"What's going on?" Kaito demands.
"Intruders." Azrael's chains spread defensively. "Stay behind me."
We burst into the throne room just as the final barrier shatters.
A portal rips open, and figures step through.
Not council members.
Not contractors.
Angels.
Actual celestial beings with white wings and golden armor, radiating holy power that makes even the Abyss itself recoil.
And leading them is someone who makes Azrael go completely rigid with shock.
A man who looks exactly like him—same silver hair, same face, but with golden eyes instead of crimson. White wings instead of black.
His twin brother.
"Hello, Azrael." The celestial prince's smile is cold. "Did you really think you could hide from me forever? Did you think I wouldn't notice when you bonded with mortals and started playing hero?"
He steps forward, and ten more angels spread out behind him.
"I've come to finish what I started three hundred years ago." His golden eyes fix on me, Kaito, and Emiko. "And this time, I'll make sure there are no Nakamuras left to interfere. I'll kill your contractors, brother. Right in front of you. Just like I killed Selene."
Azrael's roar of rage shakes the entire palace.
But before he can attack, his brother does something that makes my blood run cold.
He pulls out a crystal that glows with sickly light—the same energy that summoned the Primordial.
"Oh, and Azrael? I brought a friend." He crushes the crystal.
Reality tears open again.
And another Primordial reaches through into the Abyss.
We're trapped in Azrael's own realm.
With an army of angels.
And an ancient, unstoppable monster.
"RUN!" Azrael screams.