“I’m going to pack a few things while you shower,” Kristoph said, getting his attention.
“Sounds good, kid. I won't be long.”
Kristoph nodded and left his bedroom. Uriel healed his body while walking into the bathroom. He’d rather take a long soak, but he didn’t have time since he’d already kept his friends and the client waiting. He smiled at the prospect of becoming someone else for a bit and only hoped it was another exciting adventure.
CHAPTER THREE
Azazel stood atthefloor-to-ceiling window in his office on the twentieth floor of the main building of Valleywood Entertainment Studios. His bright red eyes peered out the window, looking over his recent business venture. Azazel had bought the broadcasting and entertainment studio a year ago when he moved to Valleywood after he was offered a deal he couldn’t refuse. The deal came from Loki, the god of mischief. Most people wouldn’t believe it, but Loki and Azazel had been best friends since forever.
Azazel was by his friend's side when Loki had lost his powers, and had helped him through that tough time in his life. He cared about Loki, and if he could have given him some of his powers, he would have. Due to the friction between the gods and angels, many thought they were enemies.
What was known was that Odin and Dio King, Azazel's sire, had an affair that ended terribly, which contributed to the war between the two factions. It was around then that Azazel grew even more dissatisfied with his father’s actions. He was tired of the wars and fighting for a father who said one thing and did another.
To humans, he was their savior and a righteous being. However, Azazel knew the truth: behind his benevolent smile was a petty, jealous, and ruthless man who had no problem using others to gain what he wanted. For a while, Azazel turned a blind eye to Dio’s misdeeds and often went along with them.
It was years after finding out how his bearer, Kristoph Schichah, had died that Azazel turned his back on Dio. Azazel had still been a baby when his bearer died, and he'd only heard tales that he was a good man who cared about all humanity. Kristoph was killed at the hands of humans who thought he was a false god when he tried to tell them the truth of the gods' existence.
As a child, Azazel had wondered why Dio, the father he saw as the most powerful, didn’t stop the humans from killing Kristoph or save his soul after, but he did nothing. It was after doing his research that Azazel found out that Kristoph was powerless when he died, and the only one who could take and give power at the time was Dio.
Kristoph was not as powerful as Dio and had a bleeding heart for not only supernaturals, but humans as well. Azazel couldn’t understand his father’s thought process until he realized that Dio’s only goal was ultimate power over the gods and humans. Wars were fought in his name and innocent lives were lost.
Most believed Azazel was the root of all evil, and maybe he was, but in his defense, some of those acts were committed in his father’s name. Azazel didn't deny he'd done his own misdeeds. With years of training, he became a fierce fighter and had no problems killing without regard or regret.
He was known as the god of manipulation, trickery, and deceit, which was how his friendship with Loki blossomed from childhood to present day. Azazel knew of Loki’s desire to be recognized by Odin, and he could understand his friend’s feelings. Growing up, Dio seemed to forget he had a son and focused his energy on his own goals and lovers. Thinking back, Azazel couldn’t remember hearing or seeing his sire show any remorse or sorrow after Kristoph’s passing. It was as if he pretended the man hadn't existed or that he'd never been a part of his world.
To gain Dio’s attention and approval, Azazel studied and learned all he could. He joined his army and fought alongside him, until one day, he couldn’t do it any longer. He'd been born the prince of heavens and was given titles he once thought were more important than all the lives in the world.
However, Azazel was still invisible in Dio’s eyes and was only seen when his father needed him to do something—like kill Odin. Azazel refused to do it and stopped following his fathers orders blindly. Azazel knew many wondered if his refusal to do as he was told was the reason he was thrown out of the heavenly realms, but his banishment from the higher heavens had to do with a certain knowledge his sire didn't want getting out. Dio was a powerful man, but if others knew that his son had the power to kill him, then it would be an embarrassment on a massive scale.
Azazel understood his sire's fear, since the other man could not kill him and it wasn't for lack of trying. Dio had unsuccessfully tried to take Azazel's life a few times before he was kicked out of the heavenly realms. Dio nor Azazel knew the reason the son could kill the father, and they were not interested in finding out. However, Dio figured that if he couldn't be the one to kill Azazel, he would have others try, which was how he met Uriel.
Azazel closed his eyes as thoughts of Uriel flashed through his mind. Uriel was the only man he would ever love. The only difference was that Azazel thought Uriel had felt the same. They had talked about a future they’d create together and were looking forward to it, but before they could even get started, Uriel disappeared, leaving a note with one word: Goodbye.
He thought he'd never see the other man again, only to have Uriel show up a couple years ago, when Azazel found out that he had a son named Donald. Azazel was shocked to say the least. He hadn't been sure what to think or feel at the time, leaving him with questions that had yet to be answered.
Why did Uriel leave? Why didn’t he tell me about our child? And where has he been for the past thirty-plus years?
If Azazel had known he had a child, he would have moved heaven and earth to get his family back.
After Uriel left, Azazel had wallowed in his self-pity, refusing to be around anyone. He closed the doors to the lower realms, not caring about what happened to the human or godly worlds.
Azazel rubbed his chest that ached like it had done each time he thought about Uriel. From his smile, his gentle touch, and the feeling of his body pressed against his, all of it left him with an aching loss with only his memories to try to fill it with.
Before they'd met Azazel had heard about the human who’d died when he was but a child and was turned into an angel by Dio. The young angel was seen as a prodigy that Azazel's sire had taken under his wings. Azazel had to admit he was eager to meet the little miracle. Azazel hadn’t counted on his and Uriel's meeting to be when the other man was trying to kill him.
But it was Dio's modus operandi, sending others to do the job he couldn't.
It was a snowy night and Azazel was in his mansion located on the cusp of the lower and earthy realms, reviewing a few investments he'd made in the human realm that were proving to be quite profitable. He felt when someone easily passed through the wards he'd set on his property.
Azazel knew that he was the only one home, and it stood to reason the person who had invaded his home was there to harm him. Azazel wasn't afraid that someone was sent to kill him and decided to have some fun that he hadn't with the other assassins. Azazel laid down on the couch, pretending to have fallen asleep, but he was waiting for the assassin to show.
Azazel heard his office door open and close quietly. Light footsteps slowly moved throughout the room, followed by the most enticing scent that made Azazel want to open his eyes, but he didn't obey the urge. It wasn't long before Azazel felt a presence looming over him.
“I don’t know why he wants to kill his son, but I must do my duty.”
The sweet, calming voice of the assassin hypnotized Azazel. He almost forgot they were sent to kill him. Azazel popped his eyes open and saw the point of a knife positioned over his heart. He grabbed the assassin’s wrist and switched their positions, bringing the man to the couch and underneath him. He quickly got hold of the knife and brought it to the assassin’s neck.
“Well now, look at what we have here.” Azazel gazed down at the good-looking man underneath him, with his fine chiseled features, platinum-blond hair, and pale gray eyes.
