Chapter 19: THE DEMON REALM (1)
The air in the demon realm crackled with an energy Arella had never experienced. The moment they stepped through the portal, Arella felt as if she was experiencing a dream, or even maybe a nightmare. The demon realm greeted her with a haunting magnificence she had never imagined. The sky stretched endlessly above, painted in hues of crimson and deep violet, streaked with veins of molten gold that pulsated like living fire. That gold color was something that was supposed to only be available to the angel realm. Arella squinted her eyes at it, suspicious as to why it was here.
In the distance, jagged mountains rose, their peaks shrouded in swirling mists. The ground beneath her feet was onyx, a dark marble that had been polished so finely that it reflected the faint glow of her wings.
A gust of warm air swept over her, carrying a hum of energy that seemed so foreign yet so familiar. It was almost intoxicating, and Arella was almost sure that it was alive. The energy seemed to thrum with the heartbeat of the realm itself.
The portal behind them shimmered for a few seconds more as the demons who had been attending the wedding stepped through. Echo came to stand behind her; at the side, the king was not standing. His ears were flattened, and he seemed like the ever-docile pet. She patted the fur at the top of his head. Echo rubbed his head on her palm, obviously enjoying the familiar touch.
"The Shadow Hound belongs to you?" King Varziel's voice was low.
Arella looked up at him, her eyes slightly wide. "Yes. He is important to me."
"I see." The demon king did not say more.
He still gripped her hand tightly in his own as the portal thrummed with the holy power she was used to before it began to vanish with a faint hum.
They were standing on a raised dais, far above the ground. Arella's breath caught at the sight before her. Thousands—no, tens of thousands—of demons filled a massive courtyard that stretched out below them. Their forms were varied; some bore dark leathery wings that spanned wide, while others had horns that were twisted up into intricate patterns, while others had skin as red as blood, and even more had scales that caught in the light like jewels.