Chapter 10 PORTALS

Lucian's POV

"Why didn't you do anything to Nicolai?" Azariel asked as we walked.

"He's up to something. It would be a waste to let him die without knowing his plot. He introduced himself to Iris as Damon instead of Nicolai." I muttered.

"That bastard!" Azariel seethed.

I looked at Azariel, he was one of my most composed comrades. The only time he lost his composure was when his brother, Ariel was involved in something.

Ariel had been getting involved with Nikolai these days, and had been protecting him for some reasons. Well, it was I who instructed him to do so but I couldn't let Azariel know, at least not now.

On a normal day, Nicolai would have been a corpse for daring to look at what was mine. I caught onto the way he was openly staring at her hips without hiding it, she definitely caught him too as I noticed her uncomfortable movement.

Iris was slender, yet wide at the hips. The baggy trousers she wore did little to hide it. Nicolai was obviously up to something. First was his involvement with the rogues, and now was him changing names.

"What do you think he was trying to do, Azariel?" I asked with a knowing smile.

Azariel stroked his jaw, seemingly in deep thought.

"Ah! I see!" He exclaimed, his eyes lighting up in realization.

"He did this to Lady Mica, that was why she was always on his side. He is controlling a part of her mind. This could only mean that..." He faced me.

"He is using the malignant magic, the rogues must have found a way to tap into it." He completed.

"Nice thinking Azariel." I patted his shoulders.

The malignant magic was a disastrous magic that was created by ancient black witches. Initially, the magic was created to fight against higher rank creatures from the portal. But some rebel witches had used it for selfish purposes thus corrupting the magic.

When the use of the magic had spread and death became rampant, the council immediately went into action and the magic was wiped away. But now Nikolai was showing signs of using the magic, it could only mean the magic had resurfaced.

This meant that the council hadn't succeeded in wiping it away completely, or one of the members had a hand in it. These were all speculations until I made proper investigations.

"Have you gotten any report from the lab?" I asked.

"Still the same answer. Lady Mica's body is perfectly clean, no traces of poison, cuts or anything."

"I see. If we get no report by midnight, we'll bury her body. It's been months now." I smiled and Azariel bowed.

Since rumours were already out, I guess I just had to keep proving them right.

Azariel suddenly paused as he sniffed the air.

"Mutant rogues." He muttered with a smile, "It's been long since we encountered them. I guess Nikolai is really working hard."

As soon as he completed his words, the mutant rogues emerged. Mutant rogues were a more powerful breed of rogue wolves. Mutant rogues were created by injecting the heart of rogue wolves with this same malignant magic.

This would mean that my speculations were right, the magic wasn't completely wiped away. The last time I fought them was during the Council's raid to wipe out the magic which was years back.

"They're guiding the portal. It's as if they knew we'd be coming to close it." Azariel observed.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The infamous wife-killing beast king and his loyal subordinate." One of the mutants cackled.

"I see you know me. I wonder if I should be pleased." I smirked.

Mutant rogues do not have the ability to speak, but these ones are speaking; they've evolved.

"You don't seem shocked to hear me speak, I expected that from you. Smart ass." The mutant chuckled.

There were about five. Three stood near the portal, while two circled Azariel and I. They basically had bodies like humans, except their faces which were horribly mutilated.

"It would be unfair if I know your name and you don't know mine. I'm Baran, and this is Gael." He said, tapping his subordinate.

Azariel immediately fished out his dagger, and threw me a sword.

"There would be no use of it." I chuckled.

"You're indeed as prideful as I heard. Well, it will be your downfall today. Happy death day." He laughed as he charged at me, while his subordinate faced Azariel.

All of a sudden, I couldn't see him. It was like he disappeared. But before a blade could pierce my neck, I caught onto his hands. He didn't disappear, he was just too fast. They had indeed evolved.

I twisted the mutant's hands and made him stab himself. He staggered and within a flash, he vanished again. This time, I knew he was going to try to attack at a vital point.

I didn't wait for him to reveal himself as I used my senses to locate him. Stretching my hands swiftly with one dash, I clawed into his chest and pulled out his heart. His body fell to the ground with a thud.

Azariel on the other hand had pulled out the lungs of his opponent, swiftly killing him. The other three mutants which guarded the portal made to escape, but Azariel dashed forward and killed them all.

"Nice upgrade, but still needs more." Azariel chuckled as he wiped the blood off his hands.

"Should we leave the bodies here, or should I take them to the lab?" He asked.

"No. Let the mastermind come pick up his corpses."

I glanced at the portal that was still open. All I had to do was to finish off the creatures in them and shut the portal.

"They even have phones." Azariel commented, "I'll pick them all and go through them later." He said as he rummaged through the corpses of the mutants.

We both stood in front of the portal, feeling the aura emanating from it. I stepped into it and as Azariel was about to enter, a scrawny hand gripped his leg.

Azariel....