12. Welcome to the Haze

Walking through the portal, I looked back in desperation. I caught a glimpse of Michael watching me with sad eyes but that was the last thing I saw before I was surrounded by deep cold.

I was greatly surprised by the coldness of the Haze. All the books I had read always talked about the Haze being fiery and an unbearable place to dwell...or had we not yet arrived?

"Welcome to the Haze also known as Hell, my love." Ramon pointed out.

The demons that followed him to Celestial started to take off his robe and underneath he was dressed in human attire. I scrunched my face in disgust.

"You interfere too much with the human world, king." I spat him angrily.

He laughed but did not reply.

"You are my wife and queen of the Haze as of now, so you will be respected and revered as it ought to be...but my demons hate your kind so it is going to take sometime for them to warm up to you. Your stay here is for you to learn the ways of Hell after which you can go back to your people as you are their rightful heir."

I changed the topic abruptly, "What do you plan on doing about your father, Satan?"

Ramon gave me a scolding look, "Stop asking questions and follow me. Asmodeus!"

A very handsome demon, with looks as sinful as Ramon's appeared beside him. He paid me no regard. They began to whisper and walk forward, leaving me standing like a rabbit caught in a hunter's trap.

I did not know what else to do so I followed.

I looked around at the cold surrounding and watched a tall dark looking castle come into view as I walked farther. I tried to analyse the energy surrounding this place but it seemed to be that my ability had gone dormant again. Was it the evil surrounding me now too intense?

The castle was beautiful despite it being very different from Celestial's light palace. Maybe there was beauty in darkness after all.

Different shapes and sizes of demons strolled in and out of the castle while two hefty ones stood at the palace gate.

"My king." They saluted Ramon.

They did not pay me any mind yet again and that I was deliberately being ignored got on my nerves.

"Seems like your demons have no respect for royalty." I blurted out.

All eyes turned too look at me and all except Ramon's was filled with annoyance - they looked at me like a pest of some sort.

"I knew you couldn't stand being ignored...you angels are so predictable."

I did not know which was more annoying, his cockiness or his beauty?

"Asmodeus," He continued. "This is my newly wedded wife and your queen. Treat her as such."

Asmodeus grunted his answer but kept silent.

The hefty guards opened the gates and let us in. Gargoyles hung from every corner of the castle wall.

"Why do you have gargoyles everywhere?" I asked in amazement.

"Now, a question I do not mind answering...they are very far sighted hell creatures and can see threats coming from even Celestial itself. They are my top notch aerial security." He boasted.

"I read they cannot be tamed..."

He chuckled and gave me a side look, his golden eyes carrying a flame that could not be easily extinguished, "I think you will soon come to know that I can tame anything I want."

I did not know why that sent sweet shivers down my body. Fully into the palace, Ramon proceedednto dismiss every demon.

"Come with me." He told me.

"Where are we going?"

"To eat."

"We do not just eat at Celestial. We eat when necessary."

"Good because now, it is necessary. Human food tastes great, trust me...you will like it."

He lead me to a long hall. It was wide enough to occupy 100 beings. What was he doing with such massive hall for just eating?

Human food was already lined on all spaces of the table. Why so much disgusting food?

"I would like to retire to my chambers after all this...food." I said quickly. It was better to avoid anymore closeness with this demon.

He bit on a red round ball, "This is our wedding night, and you choose to stay alone?" He chewed his mouth slowly and it took everything I had to look away from it.

"If that is okay with you..."

He nodded then pointed to the magnanimous food in front of me, "Try the one they call chicken, it is very tasty."

I did not expect him to agree to me staying alone tonight. Maybe the demon had a sense of compassion after all or it could all be a ploy to trap me into thinking they were capable of compassion.

I looked at him in suspicion, "You dare not poison a princess and soon to be heir of Celestial."

He tilted his head in amusement and kept watching me in silence.

Taking it that we understood ourselves, I took part of the what he called chicken and bit into its flesh. I waited for the repulsive taste but it didn't come. Instead, what hit me was quite different from what Celestial offered.

I could see Ramon smirking from my peripheral vision.

"I know it is good." He pointed out as I took another chunk of flesh.

Who knew human food could taste this good?

"Why do you not have wings like the others?" He interrupted my tasting spree.

I opened my eyes and look at him coldly, "I was born this way."

"I was born this way too... different. We need to accept who we are...I have learnt to accept being a spurn of Satan."

"You and I are not the same." I pointed out.

Ramon chuckled, "Enlighten me, princess."

I bit into another chicken, should be my fourth now.

"You are an abomination born out of Ovah and Satan's love. I am a pureblood angel who was just unfortunate to not be born with wings...how is that the same?"

He did not reply. His expression became one of displeasure.

"Asmodeus will escort you to your chambers because if I leave you to my demons, they might just tear you apart." He spat out and started to walk away.

I could feel he was angry. I wanted to say something but I held myself back and watched him walk away till he was out of sight. I was scared of not being around him but I refused to show my fear - a princess of Celestial would not cower in fear in front of demons.

"Come along, princess." Asmodeus startled me by whispering in my ears. He laid strong emphasis on the "princess".

He did not look too happy and so did I.