Chapter 242 - Spreading Wings
"Hey… tell me where you are going before you teleport, dammit!" Arion kicked his hooves on the ground and expressed his discontent when Theodore teleported away along with Adeline.
Arion had already grown close to Adeline in the past two years. He had seen her happy, he had seen her lonely, and he had seen her devastated. And because she always sought comfort in him, he came to like her as if she was his own sister.
And seeing her going through that pain just a moment ago, he felt really restless. He wanted to know where Theodore took her so that he could be of some help to Adeline. He wanted to stay by her side. But the problem was, Theodore took her away without even thinking about telling him.
Arion knew everything about Adeline's spells and who cast the spells. He knew it because Theodore would come to him sometimes and rant about Azriel and what he had done to Adeline and him. And before leaving, Theodore would tell him to take care of Adeline and protect her from the evil witch that lived in the Palace.
Arion could also see the inscription spell acting weirdly just a moment ago. So he guessed that Theodore had taken Adeline to Azriel's place. He got really worried about Adeline and he could not wait any longer. So he decided to go look for Adeline in Azriel's place.
Arion glared at the rope that had tied him to the tree trunk. He breathed out a dark mist and hit on the knot. The knot melted and he was ready to fly away.
He shuddered his body a few times and a giant pair of black feathered wings appeared on his back. Under the dim moonlight, he looked so majestic in his complete form that anyone who saw him right now would be enchanted by his beauty.
He then galloped ahead and spread his wings out. And he took off towards the Dragon Crypt. His black and shiny mane soared behind him while he traveled against the cold breeze. It had been two whole years since he got to spread his wings and fly freely. So his restlessness subsided to some extent.
With his wings carrying him forward at the speed of lightning, Arion reached at Azriel's place in no time. He hid his wings as soon as he landed at the entrance of the Dragon Crypt. And he galloped inside to find Adeline or Azriel or Theodore, whoever he could find first.
The first place he checked was the hall where Azriel would normally spend his time brooding, yes, the hall with the magical carpet. After entering the hall, he blinked a few times because he could not believe his eyes. The carpet, which was Azriel's prized possession, was no longer there. Arion had to look around the hall to make sure that he had entered the right place.
"He's not here? Then where is he?" Arion ran out of that hall in search of Azriel or the others.
Azriel heard the loud sound of the hooves so he came out of one of his rooms to check who had intruded his place. "Arion? What are you doing here?" Azriel widened his eyes as his gaze fell on the majestic horse. And then he merrily asked, "How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while."
Arion whinnied angrily and raised his front legs high up in the air as if he was going to trample Azriel. But then he controlled his anger towards Azriel and put his feet back on the ground. And he asked in an angry voice, "Where are Adeline and Theodore? Did you treat Adeline?"
Azriel seemed visibly confused by that question from Arion. "What? They aren't here." And he got worried that something very bad happened to Adeline. If that was the case, he would never be able to forgive himself. "Did something happen to Adeline?" he asked hastily.
"They are not here? Then just where did Theodore take Adeline?" Arion murmured to himself. Then he glared at Azriel and accused him of the pain that Adeline was suffering from, "Something is happening to Adeline. She was in so much pain that I could not even look at her suffering like that. Why did you do that to her? Treat her before I trample yo-"
Before Arion could finish his sentence, Azriel vanished from his sight.
In a fit of rage, Arion kicked his hind legs on the wall behind him so hard that a huge crack appeared there. "I hate it when they disappear like that!" He flared his nose and inhaled deeply and then spoke under his breath, "It is okay as long as he finds Adeline and makes her pain go away… But where is she? Where did that stupid Theodore take her?"
The first place that Azriel thought of teleporting to was Theodore's room back at the Devil's Cave. And when he teleported there, he found Theodore and Adeline embracing each other and kissing each other very passionately.
"Awkward!" Azriel muttered under his breath. And he looked away while scratching his head, "I don't think she is in pain anymore. So let me just slip away."
However, it was already too late to run away. Both Theodore and Adeline had already noticed his presence in the room.
"You!" Adeline growled like a ferocious beast the moment her eyes lay on her Deity. And she jumped out of the bed in one go. She held her gown with both of her hands and sprinted towards Azriel.
And the next thing that Azriel felt was a tight slap right on his cheek.
Even though the slap was not that painful, he flinched when Adeline greeted him with a slap instead of a respectful bow. He covered his cheek and whispered in a guilt-ridden voice, "I deserved that."
Azriel thought that was the end of his punishment. But he couldn't be more mistaken.
Adeline screamed at the top of her lungs and she gave another tight slap to Azriel. "How could you do that to me?"