Raden stalked away from the stables seething. Whatever respect he had left, and that was very little, was now gone. Merikh no longer saw Raden as an obedient puppet then he would show his creator just how much of an insubordinate he could be.

He marched back to the inn with a mission of finding answers. If Merikh wasn't going to help, then he would find someone who would.

~~~*~~~

Azrael was cleaning up the room unaware of the storm churning right outside that small room. The birds sang soft melodies from the window as Azrael swift the floor in peace. That peace however was quickly destroyed by the swinging of the door.  Azrael jumped and a small scream escaped her lips.

"Jesus Christ," she yelped as she turned around with a hand to her chest, Azrael met those stormy gray eyes and relief washed over her. "A knock would have sufficed."

Raden brushed past her grumbling something. Azrael raised a worried brow and instantly felt the radiating anger circle around her. It was palpable.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Raden was about as believable as those fishermen tales of the big one getting away.

Maybe someone was giving him a hard time down at the stables. Azrael thought.

Raden was pacing around the room searching for everything they brought. Azrael only stood and watched with worry. She could hear him mumble under his breath as his jaw clenched every few words. He angrily opened dresser drawers and slammed them shut when they were found empty. At the last drawer he let out a frustrated growl and turned to Azrael with a storm of emotions in his eyes.

"Where the fuck is the satchel!"

Azrael pointed to the door. She had hung it on the back while sweeping the floor.

He stalked over snatching it off the hook. "We're leaving."

"Now?"

Raden turned sharply with a stare that could kill an army. Chills ran up Azrael's arms and spine. She didn't ever like seeing him angry like this, and especially wasn't grateful to be on the receiving end of the hostility.

Azrael set the broom down gently and carefully walked over to Raden. She treated him as if he was a stag ready to bolt. She kept her breathing level and each step she took was calculated. Any wrong movement could send him into a frenzy of yelling and cursing. Something Azrael neither wanted nor could handle.

She placed her hand on his arm and squeezed lightly. His gaze was still harsh and muscles still in fighting mode. So, Azrael reached up with her other hand and cupped his cheek. She waited for him to make the first move, but never took her attention off his gaze. The anger drained from his eyes and Azrael felt him lean into her hand slightly, giving her the comfort she needed.

"Let's just breathe." Azrael gently asked. Her voice was careful and soft like the soft breeze on those beginning spring afternoons.

Raden pulled away. "I don't need you to patronize me." His voice was low but still laced with the anger of earlier.

Azrael widened her eyes in slight shock and folded her arms. "Excuse me. You came in starting this mess." She held his stare, not daring to back down. "So tell me what the hell has your feathers all ruffled."

Azrael could tell that last little poke caused Raden's anger to flare, but she didn't care.

"Grab whatever you have and get downstairs now."

"No." Azrael sat down on the bed in protest. "You're going to explain to me why you're in a rush.

Raden's eyes darkened and his jaw clenched. He clearly didn't appreciate the protest from Azrael. He stalked towards, bag still in hand, ready to drag her out the door. Raden towered over her with intimidating height. "This is not the time to test me, Azrael." He knelt down at eye level. "Get your ass out that door before I drag you out."

Azrael sat unmoved and unafraid.

She narrowed her eyes trying to read Raden's mind. There was something off about how he reacted. Clearly he wouldn't share what had pissed him off, but to pack up again and move. Her gut twisted and pulled at her for attention and Azrael always went with her gut feeling.

Those gray eyes began to show a storm brewing. The more she pushed the worse it would become. Do you risk the destruction? She asked herself.

Raden groaned in frustration, rubbing his face. He glances over with a tired expression. "I thought I saw Serkan." It starts with one lie.

A cold shiver ran up Azrael's spine. He wouldn't would he? Serkan appearing again with such a large crowd would be a stupid move.

"Are you sure?" Azrael let out an anxious breath. "It could've been your mind playing tricks on you."

"I don't want to take the chance." Because it indeed wasn't his mind, it was just a bigger threat. "We need to put as much distance between us and Asra."

At that moment Azrael felt her anger wash away. She realized that Raden was truly scared. Azrael stood with a new found bravery because she may need it for the both of them. "Then where do we go?"

The question seemed to throw Raden off. His anger twisted into confusion as he continued staring at Azrael. "Um..."

A small smile played on Azrael's lips but she quickly hid it. The moment of humor wasn't worth the headache from Raden. "You don't have a plan."

"No, I do, it's just..."

Azrael raised her brows in anticipation.

Raden simply hung his head. "No. I don't have a plan."

She nodded. "Well, I think I'm going to get out of the room for a bit. The fresh air seems like a good antidote to the anxiety of the situation."

"Go ahead. I'm going to stay here and figure out the next move."

"Very well." Azrael left without another word, but she felt strange about the situation. Something in her gut churning in disagreement. A small voice in her head telling her that Raden was hiding something from her.

Azrael kept her suspicions quiet but would hold them close.      

~~~*~~~

The town was becoming packed by the early afternoon as travelers dispersed from the festival. The streets were filled with the sweet sound of laughter and chatter making for a splendid afternoon.

A large oak tree sat like a sleeping giant in the corner of town. It created enough shade for several to sit under comfortably, but Azrael was the only one at the moment. She needed somewhere to ponder over her thoughts. Whether it was her own paranoia getting the best of her or if Raden was hiding something for her. But could she fault him? She had hidden quite a large piece of herself from him.

Azrael sat with her thoughts and watched the crowds pass on their own little journeys. A red dragonborn with a sack of clanking treasures and sporting expensive leathers walked by with a rather hard stare. Minutes later a halfling family bounded past. A tired looking father chased after his giggling son who had decided to zap squirrels with a play wand. Azrael giggled at the sight and waved at the young halfling girl that had stopped to stare. The girl ran off when she heard loud laughter from her brother up ahead. Azrael began to imagine her own children running around and laughing. How she loved the thought.

The afternoon turned to evening and Azrael was beginning to feel the night chill. She rubbed her arms, trying to warm up to no avail. So Azrael gathered herself and made the trek back to the inn. She prayed Raden was in a better mood.

Azrael bumped into a passerby as a crowd walked the opposite way. She quickly apologized but a man standing on the other side of the road caught her eye. It was Merikh or at least someone who looked identical, but she couldn't be sure. She waved, testing out her theory. Merikh or who she thought was him tilted his hat and disappeared as a group of tieflings walked by. A feeling of dread washed over Azrael and she picked up her pace.

Raden was sitting in the social parlor deep in thought when Azrael arrived back at the inn. The fire crackled and exuded warm light throughout the room. Azrael quietly walked in and sat across from Raden. She studied the shadows that danced across the worn carpet towards the empty shelves. They began to morph into ghosts that strangely reminded her of memories.

Azrael pulled her gaze away not wanting to relive any of them. "Raden?"

"Hmm?" She seemed to pull him from his thoughts. Those gray eyes resting their gaze on her. The fire light casting strange shadows in his eyes then again that could be his own demons.

"How are you?"

He went back to staring at the fire. "I haven't figured it out."

"Figure out what?"

"Getting to the astral plane."

Azrael was the last person to ask when it came to plane travel. She had read up on it a few times but the overall concept was confusing.

"I'm sure there's someone in town who could help," Azrael answered, trying to sound hopeful.

Raden nodded but didn't say much else.

Azrael peered down at her hands, fidgeting with her skirt. "Hey." She perked up. "Let's get some dinner and you can tell me more about the library and the astral plane."

"Yeah, food sounds pretty good." Raden agreed. Azrael smiled and stood to the side letting Raden lead the way out.

They chose to stay away from any more sketchy pubs down back alleys this time and ended up in one of the main taverns. The atmosphere was completely different and welcoming. Travelers had packed the place to the brim and had brought the party with them from Asra. The walls held the energy that was ligering in the air. Music swaying in the air swelling the hearts of even the grumpiest of people.

Raden forced a path through the crowded bar and up to the second floor booths. While he wasn't a fan of the lively tavern, Azrael couldn't get enough.

"So, you want to visit the Library." Azrael spoke.

"Uh yeah," Raden answered hesitantly. "I just can't figure out how we'll get there."

"I thought all celestials could plane travel."

"Would make life a lot easier," Raden chuckled. "There are set portals we use but that's only if we're needed for fighting."

Azrael stared at one of the tree knots that scattered the table. It reminded her of a portal of sorts. The swirling wood that broke the pattern of the table. She ran her hand over it when a thought occurred. Azrael remembered when she stumbled upon a strange bazaar filled with the whimsical and the enchanting. It had anything needed for one's magical desires. However, one shop popped into memory. A very nice man selling scrolls of spells. Azrael remembers a rather heated conversation between him and a young wizard who was trying to bargain for a plane shift scroll. She hadn't thought twice since then, but now, now it came in handy.

"I think I know how to fix this problem."

Raden leaned forward. "I'm all ears."

She smiled in her victory. "A plane shift scroll. They allow you to shift to any plane you want."

Azrael couldn't read what Raden was thinking. He sat there staring blankly at the table. The food came and that seemed to break Raden from his thoughts. His eyes meeting hers. "So do you have one?"

She was mid bite as he asked and tried to scarf down her bite. "Not on me, no."

He rolled his eyes and sat back. "Then how helpful was that?"

"I just thought..." Azrael swallowed the pain in her throat and began easing her breathing. "I just thought we could look around. I'm sure someone would have one for sale."

"Well how about next time you have a brilliant idea, it's one that's tangible."

Azrael blinked away a few tears that were forming. She quietly stood and gathered her dinner. "I was just trying to be helpful." Then she walked away.

"Wait." Raden reached out to grab her wrist but Azrael twisted and managed to slither from his grasp. He pulled back watching her bright red hair disappear into the crowd. Raden turned back to his own meal, no longer hungry.

~~~*~~~

Raden left the tavern after an hour of mulling over everything. He so badly wanted to protect Azrael, but at what cost? Treating her like shit? Hiding the truth? He didn't know the right path to take, but did know that he owed her an apology. A bloody big one at that.

The streets carried a soft tune that was a mix of music pouring from the taverns and pubs. With the clear night skies and soft music, it made for a rather peaceful night. Lanterns lit a dim path following the buildings that Raden walked down. He kept an eye out for Azrael every now and again, but figured she had gone back to the inn.

However, when he walked by a large oak tree, he saw a shadow sitting near the trunk. "Azrael?"

The shadow shuffled around and the lantern light caught the face of Azrael. Her eyes were red and puffy as she tried hiding them. Guilt began to eat away at Raden the moment he met her eyes.

"Have you come to shoot down more of my ideas?"

Raden sighed and sat down next to her. He peered over in defeat. "No. I came to make sure you were okay."

Azrael laughed.

"I can see that you're not." Raden quickly added. He knew that if he was going to get anywhere with Azrael, he needed to start with an apology. Then the truth. "I'm sorry for reacting the way I did."

The happy voices of drunken travelers echoed their merry joy through the silence. Raden rested his arms against his drawn up knees watching Azrael. She had her eyes closed and a small smile played on her lips. Raden wondered how many times she just sat and listened to the world around her. Maybe he should do the same.

"I know that I can be a hindrance," Azrael spoke. She shifted around to face him. The light illuminating her already fiery hair. "But why do you beat me down?"

The tremble in her voice shook Raden to his core. He was used to hearing the pleas of enemies. The cries and begging from those wishing against death. Never once did he falter. Raden always followed through and took the souls of the deserving. However, this... this was completely different. The way Azrael's eyes glistened with fresh tears was her silent plea and Raden couldn't finish the job. Not this time.

"I don't mean to," he answered in a hushed voice, "Things... things have become..." Raden wasn't sure if the truth was wise, but those hazel eyes broke through his contemplation. "Merikh showed up today. I lied when I told you it was Serkan."

Azrael scrunched her brows together and lightly shook her head. "What... why? Why lie about it?"

"Because I think I'm in over my head." Raden for once in his life was being honest. "I'm going against everything my creator has ordered and I have no fucking clue what I'm doing. The anger of it all just gets the better of me and..."

"And you explode." Azrael ducked her head down to catch his gaze. Her eyes held a gentle compassion in them. She was nothing but a being of care and Raden felt her touch in his heart.

Raden smiled. "I don't expect you to forgive me, but I'm going to protect you the best I can."

Azrael placed a hand against his cheek, rubbing her thumb against his rough skin. "If you promise to be truthful about everything then forgiveness is yours."

"I do."

A bright smile erupted on Azrael's face, making Raden's stomach flip. He wasn't sure why he felt this way or what this feeling even was, but he knew he liked it. He liked being around Azrael. How her smile and laughter sent his stomach into a whirlwind and how those hazel eyes could be his whole world. His favorite, though, was that faint lavender scent that lingered as she passed by. It drove him crazy but it was his favorite feeling.

"So tomorrow," Azrael spoke, "I'm going to figure out where our best bet will be to find this scroll."

Raden stood and helped her up. "Mind if I help?"

"Not at all." Azrael looped an arm through his and down the dimly lit street they went.

They made it to the inn when movement caught Raden's attention. He sent Azrael in with an excuse he was checking the horse one last time. When he was sure she had gone in, he investigated the shadows.

Propped up against the wall was Merikh in his ink black robes. A crown of obsidian resting on top of his head. This wasn't Merikh, lover of life, but Death. The shadows cowering in his presence, but Raden stood his ground.

"You are truly going against my wishes." It wasn't a question of faith. Merikh knew what Raden was going to choose all along.

Raden folded his arms and cocked his head. "I'm not going to let Azrael fall into dangerous hands. If you weren't hellbent on war, then you would too."

Merikh stalked forward with eyes black as soot and a cold grasp reaching for Raden. His skeleton like fingers wrapping around Raden's throat. "You will soon regret your choices." Then he vanished leaving Raden to catch his breath.

Raden rubbed his sore throat and glared at the place his master once stood a moment ago. He had done plenty of idiotic things in his life, but going against an Ancient God was a new one.