{The Claim From Heaven And Hell}
"Her body isn't use to the power of your scent.... It can't handle it" Luke said. "What do we do?" Charles asked. Luke gave a faint smile. "Your Majesty accept her" Luke said. Azriel was stunned by that word.
"You want Azriel to claim her? Do you know what you ask of him? He's half demon, half human....." Rose said. "If he doesn't she dies here and now" Luke said. "She'll suffer if I do this" Azriel said.
"And she'll die if you don't" Luke said. "Azriel..." Charles voice pleaded. "She would hate him if she finds out about this" Rose said. "What she doesn't know wouldn't kill her" Luke said.
Azriel pondered the risks. "If he claims her, what would happen to the competition?" Rose asked. "Well the competition continues but once it ends his majesty must marry her" Luke said.
"No, no, no, no I will not.... I can't marry her" Azriel protested. "If she dies now you will be alone forever because the gods don't give second chances" Luke said.
"Don't let her die" Charles said. "Dozens of girls has died for the past few weeks and you're worried about this insignificant girl?" Azriel asked.
"Because this insignificant girl is your ticket to freedom" Luke said. "We aren't asking you to love her, we just want you to save her life" Rose said.
Azriel paced the room like a man with a mental war with his demons. "But it takes two people to accept the claim" Azriel said. "Yes but this case is different" Luke said.
"I'll like to know if she could mouth the words" Rose said. Azriel sighs. Rose walks to Anastasia. "Guinevere can you hear me?" Rose asked. "Hot... I feel hot... My body" Anastasia said. "Can you repeat after me?" Rose said.
"Yea" Anastasia said weakly. Luke got ready for the ceremony, he said things in ancient language. "I Guinevere take emperor Azriel as my mate" Rose said. Anastasia repeated after Rose.
"I claim him as mine... He belongs to me and I to him. Let heaven and hell bear me witness" Anastasia replied with a shakey breath.
Azriel said his vow. Bright light glowed from the both of them. "Behold the beauty of the unknown... The genuine union made by the gods themselves. This is a claim that both heaven and hell shall bless. A claim that can never be undone" Luke said. Anastasia yells from the pain, Azriel just stood unbothered by the pain he felt.
He was worried about Anastasia, he isn't sure she can handle it. He holds her hand firmly to assure her that he is here. When it was over Luke slit Anastasia's wrist and gave her blood to Azriel to drink.
Azriel did the same and gave his blood to Anastasia to drink. "Two souls becoming one... One heart, one mind, one body" Luke said.
The ceremony was over, Anastasia breathing became stable. Azriel sat on the bed beside Anastasia, he can't believed what just happened. He is married to this girl before heaven and hell. Before the gods in heaven and hells over lords.
Her life would now be in constant danger. "She needs at least one week rest, her body needs to recover fully before she can exercise it again" Luke said. Charles follows Luke outside.
Rose watched Azriel in awe, the way he's holding her hands like it wasn't the first time it happened. "She's beautiful isn't she?" Rose asked. Azriel remained silent.
"What do you plan to do about the competition? You know you can't eliminate the main event" Rose said. "She mustn't know about this... No one must know about this" Azriel said.
"Why?" Rose asked. "I have enemies in both heaven, hell and earth. They won't hesitate to hurt her just to get back at me. So I have to do the reasonable thing by keeping her out of this" Azriel said. "I understand. Would you take her back to her room?" Rose asked even after knowing the answer.
"No, she'll have to stay here till she finish her treatments. Also her maid can come help her when she's awake" Azriel said.
Anastasia slowly opened her eyes. "This isn't my room" She whispered to herself. "You're awake" Azriel voice echoed in the room. He stood up from the chair, he closed the distance between them.
"What am I doing in the emperor's room again?" She asked. Azriel stood close to her but not too close, just close to keep a safe distance. "Did I sleep walk into your room again your grace?" Anastasia asked.
"How are you feeling?" Azriel asked. "Like my body hasn't been used for days" Anastasia tried to sit up straight. Azriel was close to her in an instant, he placed his hands gently on her back and placed a pillow.
Anastasia felt that warm feeling in her chest. "That's because you have been asleep for three days" Azriel stepped away as he replied. "What?" Anastasia voice was filled with fear and disbelief.
"Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?" Azriel asked. Anastasia shook her head. "I'll send for Luke to come check your condition" Azriel said.
Anastasia held his hand. "Your grace, I don't want to see anyone for now.... My brain hasn't processed the information yet" Anastasia said. Azriel sighs in exhaustion. "Alright, I tell him to wait a little longer" Azriel said.
"Stay with me" Anastasia couldn't stop the words from coming out. Azriel looks at Anastasia then to their hands joined together. Anastasia quickly withdrew her hands. "I... I'm sorry your grace" She muttered.
Azriel placed his hand on her hair, ruffling it slightly. Anastasia's body tensed up, Azriel pulled away. "It's alright, I'll stay" Azriel pulled a chair close to the bed.
The air was filled with unspoken tension. Anastasia could only stare at the ceiling, she couldn't keep the tension it felt suffocating. "What happened to me? I would like to know everything" She said.
"The night we searched for Adeline, you fell off a cliff. I saved you just before you fall to your death. The next day you fainted, the wizard said it's because you've been exhausting yourself. Perhaps you've been straining yourself for a while because your vitamins are low" Azriel said.
"How is Adeline? Is she alright?" Anastasia asked in concern. "She's fine, she has been waiting anxiously for you to wake up. She keeps saying, it's all her fault" Azriel said. "But it wasn't her fault, I was the one who pushed her away when I needed her the most" Anastasia said.
Tears fell from her cheeks, Azriel used his fingers to brush the tears gently. "She understands that now" Was all Azriel could say. "Why did you save me?" Anastasia asked. Azriel's fingers paused. "Because Adeline would be hurt if you don't survive and I can't let that happen" Azriel said.
"No one has ever saved me before. It feels good and terrifying at the same time. I wish I could be saved like this in the future" Anastasia said with a weak smile. "I'll protect you from now on" Azriel said.
"Your grace, there's no need to waste your time on an insignificant girl like me" Anastasia said casually. That word insignificant stung Azriel more than it should. "I promise I'll protect you with my last breath" Azriel cupped her cheeks and kissed her on the head.
He slowly stepped away realizing what he has done. "Rest now, don't stress yourself for now" Azriel sat back on the chair. "Why am I in your room?"
"We found you in the servants building, you collapsed on the ground. The wizard said it's faster if I brought you here for treatment. If I had taken you to you room, you might not have survived" Azriel said. "Thank you your grace" Anastasia said.
Their eyes met, for a minute if felt like they were being pulled towards something. The door flew open causing them to snap back to reality. "She's awake" Charles yells. "What is wrong with you Charles? Can't you knock? What if she was naked in here?" Azriel asked.
"There's no way she would be naked and you'd still be inside here" Charles said. Rose and Luke walked in. "How are you feeling?" Rose asked. Luke stretched out his hand to feel Anastasia's temperature but she flinched.
"It's fine, he's the royal wizard" Azriel said in assurance. Anastasia sat obediently as Luke checked her temperature. "She seems fine for now" Luke said.
"How's her night fever?" Rose asked. "It wasn't that serious yesterday" Azriel said. "Did you feed her the medicine I gave you?" Luke said. "Yes, but she threw up a few of them tho" Azriel said.
Anastasia watched them talk about her health like she wasn't in the room. The emperor has been taking care of her all this while. "I don't feel good" Anastasia said in a whisper, it was loud enough for everyone present to hear.
"Are you alright? Do you feel discomfort anywhere" Azriel asked. "I... I.... want to throw up" Anastasia said. Luke quickly brought a bucket to her face, Anastasia threw up everything in her stomach.
When she was done, she could only wheeze for air. Luke gave her a glass of water, she drank it slowly. "What's happening to me?" Anastasia asked. "You just need to rest"
"This is more than exhaustion. My body no longer feels like mine... What aren't you telling me?" Anastasia asked. "It's just a new disease and you caught it" Rose said.
"My chest hurts, my..... I want to.... I don't know what I want anymore" Anastasia said in frustration. "I am trying my best to treat you, you have to be patient with the process" Luke said.
"I need a hug your majesty" Anastasia said. Rose walked up to Anastasia and hugged her. "I know it's terrifying but we're all here for you" Rose said. "Thank you" Anastasia said. "Get her something light to eat before taking this medicine" Luke brought out a bottle from his bag.
"I will inform her maid to bring food" Charles said. Luke left the room together with Charles. "Do you need anything?" Rose asked. "No your highness I'm fine" Anastasia replied with a lazy smile.
Rose left with Azriel to her castle. There was a knock on the door. "Come in" Anastasia barely said. The door slowly opened, Hannah walked in with a tray in her hand. She placed the tray on a table.
Hannah rushed to Anastasia and hugged her. "Oh thank goodness Anastasia, I thought I lost you" Hannah said with tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry for making you worry" Anastasia said. Hannah explained that she took care of her in the morning, afternoon and evening but the emperor would take care of her in the night.
He asked if he could wipe her face in the morning. Hannah agreed, she didn't have a choice. Hannah watched him wipe Anastasia's face like she was a fragile glass he didn't want to break.
"Forget about that, you need to eat something" Hannah said. "I don't have the appetite" Anastasia said. "Please you need strength.. please eat something" Hannah said. "No" Anastasia said.
"Don't make me shove the spoon down your throat. You know I won't hesitate to do it" Hannah said. "I don't feel like eating" Anastasia said. "At least take a glass of water" Hannah reasoned but Anastasia was adamant.
Azriel entered the room. "What's going on here" He demanded. Hannah stood up, bowed her head to the ground, avoiding his eyes. "Good morning your majesty, I'm trying to feed my lady but she refuses to eat" Hannah respectfully said.
Azriel looks at the food, then at Anastasia. It felt like a parent scolding their child without words being used. "You may leave now" Azriel said to Hannah.
Hannah left the room without looking back. Anastasia could only cry internally. Azriel picked up the tray and sat beside her.
He picked up a spoon but Anastasia stopped him. "Your grace, I'll do it myself" Anastasia said. "Sit still and don't disobey" Azriel said. Anastasia sat quietly as Azriel fed her the soup himself.
He feeds her with patience, like he had all the time in the world. He wipes her mouth each time the soup spills there.
"Your grace I'm full" Anastasia quietly said. "Have a glass of water" Azriel said. "I don't think there's room for water" Anastasia replied. "Just a sip"
Anastasia took few sips of water, Azriel placed to tray on the table. "You need to rest" Azriel said calmly. "Your grace, do you have activities today?" Anastasia asked.
"Well I have to meet the council to discuss about the welfare of the country. Besides that I don't think I have any activity" Azriel replied. "I see.... I think I need to go to class today" Anastasia said.
"That wouldn't be necessary, you are granted a pardon by me to stay in bed till you recover. This won't affect your points in anyway" Azriel said. "You're different from what I've heard" Anastasia said.
"Really, what did you hear?" Azriel asked. "That you are a ruthless king. A king who has no regard for anyone. A king who makes his enemy die a slow and painful death" Anastasia said. "You don't know me so well, that could be true" Azriel said.
"That may be true but I've watched you from a far, you love your family. You're taking care of me, even if it's because of your niece. This is the side your enemies hasn't seen. This is what makes you a human" Anastasia said.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" Azriel asked. "I would admit when I came here I was terrified of you but when I watched you from a distance I understood that you're a man who loves his family and that isn't weakness, it's strength" Anastasia said.
"You've been watching me?" Azriel asked in surprise. "It's more like observing... I know I can't win this competition but from what I've seen proves that you're a good ruler" Anastasia said.
"Why are you here then? Why did you come to my castle, for this competition if you knew you wouldn't win?" Azriel asked.