Azazel

  Ezra Dawn

  Cover art created by JeB Designs

  jebdesigns@outlook.com

  Azazel Copyright 2017 Ezra Dawn

  eBook ISBN: 9781370631285

  ISBN-13: 9781542390392

  Smashwords Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced in any form or by any means without express permission from the copyright holder. This book contains sexually explicit content which is suitable only for mature adults.

  Contents

  Character Name Pronunciation

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Epilogue

  Playlists

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Other Books by Ezra Dawn

  Character Name Pronunciation

  Azazel (Ah-Za-Zel)

  Loki (Low-Key)

  Odin (Oh-Din)

  Michael (Mich-ael)

  Raphael (Raph-ael)

  Prologue

  Azazel

  I’ve been imprisoned for a thousand years in a place called the pit. In Heaven, it’s where angels are sent to serve out a punishment if there’s a chance they can be redeemed. If their crime is too unspeakable then the angel becomes one of the fallen. I should say I was lucky that didn’t happen to me but I’m not. It’s what I wanted to happen. I’d hoped attacking a demon would earn me an automatic sentence to fall. Turns out, the demon was one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Yeah, I did not get lucky.

  Who would have guessed? My brother Arariel, mated with one of the four horsemen and convinced the higher ups that I could be helped. So, instead of falling, I earned myself a thousand year prison sentence in the pit. The pit is nothing but darkness. Its sole purpose is to convince angels close to falling to find their way back into the light. Me? I’m not one of those that plans on finding my way back. As soon as I’m free I’m heading straight for Earth and that’s where I plan to stay. I refuse to ever set foot up here again. Even if it kills me.

  Chapter One

  Azazel

  Being in heaven, I have no need for the finer things like food, companionship, or even a bathroom. Things are a lot different up here. It’s because of this I don’t have anyone visiting me down here in the pit. Even my brother Arariel hasn’t come to see me. Not once. He’s likely too busy now that he’s mated. I shouldn’t be so bitter about it but I can’t help it. I’ve wanted nothing more than to meet my mate and yet, I’ve gone my entire life without meeting that special someone. I’ve travelled all over the world, to hell and back. You should’ve seen the looks on those demons faces when I popped in. This was long before the Apocalypse ever took place but still…I tried.

  I’ve searched and searched and come up empty. I seem to be the only one Fate deemed unworthy of a mate. It’s tearing me apart just thinking about it. Which is why I no longer wish to be a being of light. I’d rather have my white wings turn black, barring me from ever entering heaven again, than to be lonely for the rest of my life. It was my choice damn it! Why can’t they see this isn’t what I want anymore? Everything up here is so bright and happy and full of love. All I want is to be shrouded in darkness. If I can’t have a mate of my own, then what’s the point of being an angel in heaven? There isn’t one.

  A mate is the one thing every paranormal looks forward too. For angels, it’s like a reward for doing a good job. Usually it takes an angel a thousand years in heaven before they find their mates. It’s been twelve thousand for me and still nothing! My brother is younger than me by six thousand years and he found his mate first! On top of it all, he got two! I’ve officially had it with being the good guy. The perfect angel. If I can’t be sentenced to fall, then I just won’t return at all once my sentence is up. It might kill me to do it, but I don’t care anymore.

  Usually, unmated angels can only spend a certain amount of time on earth before they have to return or their light fades and they die. At most it’s ten years sometimes more, lots of times it’s less. While the higher ups can forcibly call me back if they choose to, it’s unlikely that they will. So, once I get out of this hell hole I’m going down to earth and bide my time until my light fades. I’m no longer holding on to hope for a mate. I just don’t have it in me anymore.

  I’m staring at the ceiling of my cell, what I can see of it that is, when the door opens and Michael the archangel enters.

  He crosses his arms and says, “Azazel, I hope you’ve learned your lesson. Your sentence has been served. These men here will escort you from the pit and see to it you’re taken care of. You’ll need to visit the healer before you can attempt any trips to earth if that is where you plan to go now that you are free.”

  I chuckle bitterly, “You know me too well. Fine, I’ll go and see the old bat, but after that I’m leaving.”

  He rolls his eyes. “Fine by me.”

  The men he brought with him take me by the arms and walk me from my cell. They put a pair of sunglasses over my eyes and walk me up the stairs leading out of the pit. The light up here is blinding but because of the glasses it doesn’t hurt my eyes too much. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the sudden change in light but I manage. I could probably take the glasses off now, but I don’t want to take the chance of blinding myself. It would be a pain to have the healer fix and right now I just want to get out of here as soon as possible.

  They walk me straight to the healing hut and leave me there. I sigh as I walk inside.

  Raphael my oldest brother turns to me and says, “I see they finally let you out of the pit little brother.”

  I cross my arms and say, “Yes they did. So, can you work your mojo so I can get out of here?”

  He pushes his glasses up on his face and says, “That depends. What do you plan to do when I’m finished?”

  I shrug. “I’m going back to earth. I plan to spend some time there.”

  He narrows his eyes at me. “You aren’t going to do something stupid like attack another horseman are you?”

  I shake my head. “Nope. I’m going to find a private island and sunbathe naked on the beach while sipping on a coconut.”

  “Alright now, no need for sarcasm. I’ll fix you up this time, but if you get into trouble again don’t expect me to help you. I’ve had it up to here with your stupidity. Honestly, little brother what were you thinking? Are you trying to get yourself killed or something?”

  I roll my eyes. “Of course not.”

  He shakes his head and sighs, “Give me your hands.”

  I hold out my hands. He takes them in his and closes his eyes. Warmth spreads throughout my body and I start to feel better. Once he’s done he says, “Alright, you’re all set. Try to stay out of trouble yeah?”

  I nod. “Sure thing Raphe.”

  With that I unfurl my wings and transport myself down to earth. It’s been a while since I last entered my house, but it’s not hard to amass a fortune when you can magically make money with a snap of your fingers. Everything about the place has been kept up by the housekeepers for the past ten years. Time flows differently down here than it does in heaven. Up there, the years go by a lot faster than they do down here. A thousand up there equals only ten down here. So really, I haven’t been gone long. I forgot how much I loved earth. How beautiful it is. Sure, heaven is beautiful but it’s nothing compared to earth. The vast oceans, the mountains, and forests. All of them are stunning. It’s the perfect place to die.

  Chapter Two

  Loki

  Being the god of mischief means it’s in my job description to play pranks on people. Although, maybe I did take it a bit too far. Magically switching around my mother’s private parts with my father’s probably wasn’t such a good idea, even if it did seem like it at the time. I also probably shouldn’t have dyed Thor’s “luscious blond locks” brighter than a neon sign either; but I did and it may have been a really, really bad idea to coat Asgard’s entire army in itching powder but….I did that too.

  Which explains why I’m in my father’s throne room while he paces and shouts at me about pranks. I might be a grown man, but everyone has to have a little fun.

  He makes another pass across the floor and shouts, “These tricks of yours must stop! It’s completely out of control!”

  I put my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. “Oh, come on old man, lighten up a bit. It was only a joke.”

  He glares at me and says, “A joke?!! A JOKE?!! I’ll show you a joke!! I Odin the All Father hereby banish you Loki to earth until such a time when you understand that while some jokes may be harmless others are not!! Until you’ve learned this lesson you are forbidden to return to Asgard.”

  He pounds his staff on the floor and suddenly I’m thrown from the room, out of the doors, down the halls and out of the city. Soon, everything goes black. When I finally wake up, I’m on earth in a forest somewhere. I use a bit of my magic to sense if there’s a town or something nearby. No town, but there is a road. Guess I’ll have to hitch hike. It’s a good thing I have a thing for human fashion even while in Asgard otherwise I’d look severely out of place.

  Okay, this is not a main road or highway. It’s a driveway. Hmm…wonder why I didn’t sense a house nearby. Probably because like a dumbass I wasn’t looking for one. My powers can be finicky like that. I can pinpoint specific things I want but not things I’m not looking for. Since I was looking for a road leading to a town I found the driveway; but I didn’t see the house because I said the road had to lead to a town not a single house. Sometimes my powers are more trouble than they’re worth, but oh well. Hopefully, someone is home. I’m feeling a bit hungry.

  While it’s true I’m a god, I still have to eat and sleep, like a regular person would. Mainly, the only difference between myself and a human is I don’t age, and I have heightened senses and magical abilities. Other than that, I’m as mortal as any other human. Basically, it doesn’t matter if I can live forever. You shoot me in the head and I’ll still die. I’m not completely invulnerable even though sometimes I wish I was.

  I make my way up the endless driveway until I reach the house at the end. It’s a bit chilly out, but I don’t conjure myself a coat. It’ll be more convincing if I don’t. Especially, if the owner of this house is a reclusive human. Wouldn’t want to scare them into not taking me in. Folding my arms to try and keep myself warm, I ring the doorbell and wait.

  Finally, the door opens. By then my balls have crawled up into my stomach and my teeth have begun to chatter.

  At first the man on the other side of the door looks angry. I guess it’s because he didn’t expect to have visitors. But, then his expression changes to one of concern and he says, “Are you okay? Of course you aren’t, look at you. You’re freezing. Come inside, I’ve got a fire going. You can warm up and tell me what you’re doing all the way out here without proper clothing.”

  He steps to the side and motions for me to enter. I step across the threshold and make a beeline for the fireplace, collapsing in front of it. Sitting on the floor as close to it as possible, I sigh. “Ah sweet mother of mercy, heat never felt so good.” If it wouldn’t hurt like a bitch I’d crawl right up in there and roll in the flames. Alas, I would rather like to keep my skin intact so sitting near it will have to do.

  The man from before comes into the room and says, “I’ve got some blankets here for you and a cup of coffee to warm you up.”

  He holds them out to me and I take them, wrapping myself up like a caterpillar in a cocoon, and sipping the coffee. Bliss. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. So, care to tell me what you were doing out there?”

  I laugh. “My father decided to teach me a life lesson and stranded me here. I’ve got no idea where I am or if there’s even a town nearby. When I found the road, I followed it. Only it was your driveway.”

  His eyes widen in shock. “He just left you here? In the forest? With nothing but the clothes on your back?”

  I nod. “That’s the gist of it.”

  “That’s awful!”

  “Yeah, well that’s family for you. Guess I deserved it though. Me being the nuisance I am, it was only a matter of time before someone snapped. I expected it to happen sooner or later so it’s no big deal.”

  He opens his mouth to say something else but my stomach chooses that exact moment to make itself known.

  Instead, he laughs and says, “How about some food?”

  I nod. “Sounds good to me. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

  “Follow me then. I’ll whip something up.”

  I untangle myself from the blankets and follow him into the kitchen. He points to a stool in front of the counter so I sit down and watch as he cooks. From this angle, I have a perfect side view of him as he works. It’s this position that lets me see the expression on his face. I’m not sure what made this man so sad and hollow, but if he allows me to stay here for a while I’ll make it my mission to fix it. A few harmless pranks designed specifically to make him smile might do the trick. Hmm….so many possibilities. Still, he has to actually let me stay first, otherwise my plans won’t work at all.

  Chapter Three

  Azazel

  It’s been a long time since I cooked for myself or anyone else. It’s one of the many things I let go of when I gave up hope on finding my fated mate. I never expected to have visitors here well, unless one of my brothers decided to suddenly drop in uninvited. Still, they didn’t visit me in the pit, so I doubt they’d visit me here. Which is why I was so surprised, yet angry, when my doorbell rang. When I opened the door, expecting to find one of my brothers on the other side, I was fully prepared to launch into a full on angry rant and slam the door in their face.

  However, I didn’t expect to find the sexiest man I’d ever seen standing on my porch freezing to death. For some reason, all I wanted to do was help the man and take care of him. But, I refuse to let myself hope. I don’t think I could bear to have my hopes crushed again. Besides, I’ve fully prepared myself for death, even if it will take a few years for it to happen. Still, it would be nice to not have to spend so much time alone.

  He did say his father stranded him here so maybe he’ll consider staying for a while? At least until he’s ready to leave or his father comes back for him, whichever comes first? It’s a good thing I’m not cooking anything spectacular since it seems I’ve been mindlessly stirring this pot for the past ten minutes. Once I’ve finished cooking, I put the food onto a plate and set it in front of my mysterious house guest.

  He says, “Thank you,” and digs in without hesitation. I watch him eat for a moment then I fix myself a plate and sit across from him.

  After I’ve taken a few bites I say, “So what should I call you?”

  “Just call me L.”

  I raise an eyebrow at him. “L? Is that your name?”

  He shakes his head. “It’s the first letter of my name. I’ll tell you my full name when I’m sure you won’t run screaming for the hills or something.”

  I laugh. “Okay then. My name is Azazel. It’s nice to meet you L. If you like, you can stay here for the time being until you’re ready to leave or your father comes for you.”

  He smiles. “I’d like that. Thank you.”

  After we’ve finished eating, I put the dishes in the sink to be rinsed off and loaded into the dishwasher later, then I show L the room he’ll be staying in. “When you’re ready we can go shopping so you’ll have some clothes to wear.”

  He smiles and says, “There’s no need for that. I can handle it.”

  He walks over to the closet in the bedroom, looks at it then snaps his fingers. Suddenly the closet is full of clothes. Mostly black in color. Anything from jeans and leather pants to t-shirts and mesh tops. He even covered the shoe department. Boots varying in style from combat type to platforms and converse sneakers from high tops to low tops all in varying colors and styles.

  I look at him and say, “You’re a warlock?”

  He shrugs. “Something like that. You’re an angel.”

  “How’d you know?”

  He smiles. “Your name, and the eyes too. You don’t see many humans with swirling gold eyes.”

  I blush. “Probably should’ve picked up on that.”

  “Well, now you won’t have to worry about trying to keep your unusual eye color hidden. We’re both paranormals, so it’s all good.”

  I nod. “Right. I’ll leave you to get settled. My room is at the end of the hall if you need anything.”

  “Got it. Thanks again for letting me stay here.”

  I nod. “Don’t worry about it.”

  I walk down the hall to my room and close the door. Once I’m safely inside, I collapse on my bed and stare at the ceiling. Maybe asking L to stay was a bad idea. Now, I feel even lonelier than I did before. I’d forgotten what it felt like to spend time with someone and now it makes me long for something else. I’ve been without the touch of someone else for so long I’ve forgotten how good it could be. Spending this short time with L today is making me long for something more, something I can’t have. Will never have. It’s been made clear to me from the start.

  Why does fate have to be so cruel? Why can’t she just leave me alone and let me die in peace? Instead, I stumble upon L, a sexy as sin warlock who looks like one of those models out of a steampunk themed magazine with his bleach blonde hair and kohl rimmed eyes. He’s beautiful and I want him but what’ll happen to me when I give in and he isn’t my mate? It’ll crush me. I can’t let that happen. Not again. It’s like history repeating itself.

 

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