Chapter 390: Rain, Bound
"Let’s make a deal..."
The words caressed Rainier’s ears in the first kindness he’d experienced since Helios’ maddened takeover of his mind and body, cutting through the layers of pain and the fog of a mind that had been Rain’s for mere moments.
Rain’s body did not so much pain him as it felt like it was snapping and burning and crushing against itself with every movement. Godflesh and mortal at odds with each other, yet still he forced himself to turn. To see what his attempt to escape, his attempt to end his suffering, had wrought.
Cassiel was dying.
Some corner of his mind had recognized the exhausted state in which she’d joined the battle. Dark, arterial blood seeped around the thin sword of Maledict’s warrior. Her breath stuck in her throat with every strained gasp.
She was a healer, but rare was the healer who could heal themself, even amongst angels.
But the worst thing of all was that Rain felt he had a choice.
She’d already discarded him, he thought. What did it matter if she died?
The idea warred with everything Rain had ever wanted to be, but now, freed from Helios’ anger and madness, he felt himself shudder with revulsion at how soothing apathy seemed. How easy it felt to turn the absence of her love’s warmth into the cold steel of hatred.
A choked, guilty sob was all he could manage as he stared at Cassiel through the tears in his eyes, before turning his gaze to Maledict.
"Can’t speak?" Maledict chuckled. "I know not how my son’s mana found its way into you, but I recall the same look in his eyes not too long ago," he mused. "It’s easy to see what you want, so I will speak the words for you." Mana surged inside the would-be Demon Lord. "I will save her, and you will serve and obey me. This Oath I make, and offer with my hand."