Anna Alexander: Master of the void. Part II

But even in this realm of darkness and despair, in the very essence of the demon, there flickered a sense of something else. No, not kindness, but a certain semblance of longing. He saw the worlds he had created crumble, and despite his destiny, he felt a fleeting, painful emptiness.

Perhaps even the most terrifying demon has its own, personal form of sorrow, a sorrow over the fact that, in the end, everything turns to dust. And this sorrow only pushed him toward new destructions, to new acts of vandalism against reality.

Suddenly, a light breeze, fresh as if after rain, brushed against his cheek. The demon shuddered at this touch, for such a thing had never happened before.

Along the blurred banks of a river that seemed to appear from nowhere, one could guess that the water parted before the lord of the dark world. His selfishness slightly receded, but his chest was overflowing with joy at the fact that nature and the elements were still subject to him, as in those times when he ruled over them absolutely.

The closer Ruvars got to Anna, the more his thoughts wandered. A few meters from the vacuum speckled with dust, strange metamorphoses were happening: they thickened into shapeless dark spots, contracted into tiny spheres the size of walnuts, stretched into barely visible threads. Lightning, like spears, pierced Ruvars’ body, unmistakably making it clear that Anna’s space resisted his intrusion.

It wasn’t that he felt pain – the demonic protection shielded him from unbearable suffering – but the tingling caused slight irritation, which made Ruvars flinch.

The youngest of the brothers valued his freedom above all else and did not want to part with it, nor did he want to lose Anna. The demon was being torn apart. Without Anna, he felt like he was crumbling from the inside, and the desire to get her back grew with each passing hour, gaining frenzied strength.

He was subject to strange forces, alien to both darkness and light. His human mind thought differently than when he was a demon. Ruvars understood that these changes were for the better, as they gave him a sense of purpose. He felt that his existence would end when Anna finally disappeared from his life. But he pushed these thoughts away, for he had grand plans for the girl; he was not going to give her up to his soul-hungry brothers!

A few steps away from the place where Anna’s dust motes swirled in a chaotic dance, Ruvars saw a strange aura, like the glow of a bright beam. He wanted to quicken his pace, but something held him back, preventing him from approaching the girl. Then he cast off his human guise and returned to his devilish form.

The glow intensified so much that the heat of the underworld seemed like a faint spark. Ruvars imagined that he was not the master of hell, but the Master of the Void, still as powerful and almighty as ever. His face remained stern, but the scorching heat brought him back to reality, where he realized that unknown forces were keeping him away from Anna. Ruvars hoped that he could be useful, to fulfill all her wishes and whims…

He wanted to be a true friend to her, caring and honest, but right now that was impossible…

Anna remained unattainable for him, distant, existing outside the world of good and evil. She couldn’t imagine how much Ruvars was suffering because, instead of him, she had been the one to suffer.

The celestial body, resembling the sun, shone dimmer than usual. The icy wind from the east grew stronger with each gust, instilling fear in all living things near Ruvars and his “friend” within the vacuum sphere.

Grains of sand swirled as if driven by a hurricane, scattering with immense force in all directions. It was impossible to keep track of them; their movements were strange and unusual. As Ruvars approached Anna, the sand grains seemed to panic, darting around their “home” – Anna. His presence was something frightening, terrifying to them. How else could one explain their chaotic running, their frantic dashes from side to side, and their continuous movement along a path dictated by an invisible force?

Ruvars was torn by confusion. He least of all wanted to disturb the girl, whose gaze; he felt, could watch him from afar.

The vacuum, seeming strange and ominous, was split in two. One half was black, like a starless night, the other white, like bone. With each passing day, its color shifted to the opposite, and the blackness deepened as Anna’s life force waned in her struggle against the shadows of the underworld.

She was partially surrendered to the power of the Ruvars brothers, where her zest for life had almost dried up. Only a small spark of indomitable will lingered within her, giving hope for salvation if Ruvars decided on a desperate step and returned her with the help of the Root of the Sun’s.

As if in a fleeting dream, Anna wandered down a corridor woven from thick fog, where her steps were slow and uncertain. Dry leaves, freshly fallen from the trees, rustled under her feet. Sometimes, finding herself in a ghostly forest where dense thickets intertwined and the trees whispered strange voices, Anna vaguely recognized the place. She drove away thoughts of oblivion and the possibility that her return might not happen…

Her heart ached for the days when she had joyfully lived among close and beloved people. The longing for a past that could not be reclaimed or relived tormented her. Thoughts of Ruvars – the being who had helped her become what she was now – kept surfacing in the girl’s mind again and again.

Although she could not be called a “living” person, every particle of her broken body felt that she could return to life only through a miracle. She awaited this miracle like the dawn of a new beginning, like the first star in the night sky that would show her a new path.

In secret, Anna dreamed of Anastasia’s return. She had embraced her like a mother and, with all her heart and the purity of her soul, nurtured in her the noble feelings inherent in aristocracy. She understood that the refined manners she had learned from Lion were connected to Anastasia. At this thought, Anna shuddered, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt that she had lost a close person in the figure of her lady, a woman who had loved her like a daughter.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by someone’s concern over the vacuum. She heard the beating of a heart and a swarm of thoughts that she could barely grasp. In that very moment, Anna realized: it was Ruvars.

A trembling voice, full of questions she could not answer, wounded her, causing unbearable pain. Every sound the demon made resonated in her with scorching torment. Anna shouted at the top of her lungs that she could hear him, but he was distant, like an impenetrable mountain peak. She could not help someone who was so far away, even though only a few meters separated them…

The young demon hid from the pain in silence. He tried to seem cold and distant, but it was in vain. After all, now he was human!

– Ruvars! – Anna cried out with such fury and pain that her servants shook their heads, as if they had heard her desperate plea.

He turned toward Anna. The yearning in his chest made the half-demon look around for a familiar voice, but he saw no one and turned away.

“I’m going to lose my mind soon, living like this is impossible!” – Ruvars thought.

Anna screamed again at the top of her lungs, and this time the young demon’s heart seemed to stop. The girl was calling him for help!

The cobras twirled their heads again, as if dancing, showing their displeasure. Their peace had never been disturbed so often!

They were looking for their master, but the Master of the Void was nowhere to be found. He stood with his head down, examining unfamiliar tracks under his feet. Ruvars seemed to dissolve, disappearing from the sight of his former servants.

He thought about how wonderful it would be to have his former demonic power! How quickly he could find Mark and how cruelly he would punish him for betrayal, sending him to the underworld for the highest judgment. But his full demonic might had faded over time, and having been reborn, he began to realize the tragedy of the situation, why and for whom he had become ordinary!

Ruvars knew that the girl was calling him, that she needed his help, for her strength was running out! She couldn’t control it in a vacuum, and hope for salvation was fading with every second.

Anna and Ruvars were equally afraid of being left alone on opposite sides of the worlds! She didn’t want to fall under the control of his brothers, and he did not want to remain alone in her world! Therefore, the search for the Root of the Sun՚s, the source of supreme energy for Anna, had to succeed. He believed in it with all his demonic heart!

Ruvars was one step away from discovering Anna’s secret, from appearing to her and pulling her out of the captivity of the unknown. Neither of them could have imagined that their separation would last so long. Anna dreamt of Ruvars, of his transformation, and of the blessings he brought to people, while Ruvars was certain that Anna deserved to live in luxury befitting the Queen of Fire. But for now…

Two kindred hearts, thinking and feeling the world alike, were separated! A demon in the guise of an angel or an angel in the guise of a demon – neither is true! And if Anna had inherited a part of his devilish power, his strength had not waned; on the contrary, he felt it surging within him. He knew that soon he would have to rid himself of the excess energy at all costs, in order to somehow tame his unquenchable power and wrath.

Chapter 3.

An unexpected dialogue

Ruvars lived in captivity of silent dialogues with Anna. He questioned, argued, shared thoughts about Azazel and Sardo… about Mark’s betrayal, which had fractured their communication, and about Lion, whose life Anna had once illuminated with a bright, unforgettable light. The younger of the brothers did not know why he was having a conversation about him in particular, but deep down he felt that it was necessary for both him and, possibly, her.

Ruvars understood the chasm that indifference could lead to – the indifference of someone who seemed to be the center of the universe. After all, at one time he himself had shown such indifference toward the girl who was ready to do anything for him. And now he seemed to himself like that very indifferent demon, escaped from the depths of the underworld, which, for now, was passively doing nothing…

The girl, however, despite everything, kept faith in her moment, in her destiny. And it would certainly come, when her presence became vital for the world she was still detached from, even without acknowledging that the arrow of betrayal, shot by Mark, had split her life into “before” and “after”. And yet, so many plans, so many hopes lay ahead…

For a long time, Anna remained in a state of fragile uncertainty, in a quiet haven between worlds. She could not have imagined that the process of purification, that cruel lesson which Mark, Lion’s chief assistant in magic, had decided to teach her, would turn out to be so prolonged.

But Mark had to reveal his true face. Without this, the story would have taken a completely different path…

Lion also realized what a terrible, possibly irreparable mistake the little squirrel had made. For such monstrous transgressions, he mercilessly eradicated any being, whether living or dwelling in other worlds. He eradicated without a trace, erasing them from the memory of the Ruvars brothers, erasing them from the very fabric of the universe, whether it be a world of light or darkness…

Mark, in turn, did not expect such a tragic fate for Anna. After all, his true target was Ruvars. He did not anticipate that Anna would fall under the power of demonic forces he could not overcome.

Doubts tormented the little squirrel. After all, he had made a mistake that neither Azazel nor Lion would ever forgive. He desperately longed to fix what had been done and accept the punishment he deserved…

Mark was afraid to ask Lion for help, afraid of his wrath. He also dared not turn to Azazel, knowing that she was under the vigilant protection and control of Sardo. Only one option remained – to surrender to Ruvar’s mercy and accept any judgment he decreed, for he was the wisest demon of the underworld.

Mark did not hope for mercy. He only wanted to find a way out of the quagmire he had gotten himself into. To become a helper, a savior for Anna, as it seemed to him, for both girls. Mark lived with the hope that soon he would be able to atone for his guilt. He was overwhelmed by a burning desire to talk to Anna, to explain how deeply he was entangled. The emotional pain from realizing what he had done and the trials ahead gave him no rest. And he vowed to himself to get the girl back, even at the cost of his own life.

He reasoned not like a man, but like a being as heartless and cruel as the brothers with whom he had once sworn to have nothing more to do. But as it turned out, those were only emotions and empty words.

Now the situation was different. Mark had to bring clarity to what was happening, where his involvement was extremely necessary. The desire to be useful again was so great that he immediately set out to search for the younger of the brothers.

“He should be sought near the basement, where Lion once hid with his ‘retinue’. This cunning demon often retreats to that area, indulging in memories of the first time he ever helped a human!” – thought Mark, smirking at himself, surprised.

He froze, struck by his own thoughts. The fear of having to descend into the demons’ lair gripped his body with sticky sweat. After all, he could be exiled immediately, losing the chance to help Anna and regain the trust of his master, with whom he still maintained a connection! Mark worried that searching for the crucial information about Ruvars and his whereabouts would take too much time, and how many creatures would continue to pursue him after seeking help from the younger brother?!

Twilight fell. The sky became overcast with ragged scraps of clouds, and a strange haze, like smoke from a fire, enveloped the little squirrel and the area around him.

At that moment, Mark was ready for anything, ready to see anyone, but not… Azazel with Sardo, along with Joe and Ruvars. He stared at their faces as if ghosts of his childhood or nightmares from the past had appeared before him. He looked at them as though they were something monstrous and unreal. Mark couldn’t understand how they had found him in a place where even Lion couldn’t locate him!

Astonishment showed on his face. He took a step back, but immediately realized his mistake and stepped forward again.

Before him stood a true she – devil in the form of Azazel. The girl had changed beyond recognition. Her facial features had sharpened, becoming more severe and frightening. The cold indifference in her gaze pierced Mark.

– Welcome to my home! I’m sure you’ll like it here! – Mark replied, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Now all his thoughts were focused on Ruvars. Mark understood what it was like to become a hermit, to live in the shadows, unaware of the wonders happening beyond the small world you had fully immersed yourself in. After all, that is exactly what Ruvars was like now!

– I know what this pathetic creature is thinking right now, – Azazel said, her voice filled with malice.

Her words cut like a knife. Mark flinched at each word, understanding their meaning, and she was right. He had always been a good friend to Azazel and a loyal servant in Lion’s house. But he had never been able to become something more because he was afraid! Afraid of his destiny, afraid of making a mistake, and afraid of drowning in his feelings for her…

This fear, like a sinister shadow, haunted him with every step, preventing him from revealing his feelings to her and binding his aspirations with chains of doubt. He lived in a golden cage of his own limitations, admiring the world through the bars instead of flinging the door open and entering her heart as its sole master.

He knew that if he just reached out his hand, fate itself would fall at his feet, strewn with possibilities. But that hand remained motionless, gripped by the fear of imminent failure.

In the end, he stayed on the threshold of her heart, never daring to cross the line. His life turned into a quiet harbor, filled with regrets over unfulfilled dreams, over unspoken feelings. He became a ghost of his own indecisiveness, wandering through the labyrinths of missed opportunities. And all because he was afraid Azazel. She was a light to him, a kindred soul. Once, a strong bond of attachment had connected them, but after the squirrel’s inexplicable act, the girl drifted away, cutting off everything that hindered her from moving forward. And even though Mark wasn’t around, Sardo fulfilled her whims, for to him she was more than just the Dark Minister.

In those distant times, Mark’s only solace was his work. Without it, his world seemed empty and lifeless. Neither Azazel nor the shadows of the past tormented his soul like the commanding voice of Lion sending him on yet another mission full of dangers and intrigues. Mark was a virtuosic of transformations, a genius of disguise. Any role assigned to him became reality, thanks to which Lion kept a hand on controlling events: he knew everything about the enemies, their cunning plans, and, of course, about Sania and Herman, whose lives neither squirrel nor Lion valued in the slightest.

When the news of the tragedy that had befallen Anna reached Lion, Mark seemed to vanish into thin air. He avoided meeting his master, anticipating the wrath that would descend upon him. It was unbearable for squirrel to imagine the storm of emotions he had stirred in Lion’s heart and how cruelly he could be punished. A shadow of oblivion hung over him, and the fear of the inevitable confrontation paralyzed his will. He never had Ivan’s strength, but deep down he harbored hope for understanding, understanding that he didn’t want this for Anna!

Mark believed that his steps toward reconciliation with Lion and Ruvars would bring only good. He was ready to accept the blow of fate, knowing that his demise would resonate with pain in the hearts of those who valued him, who wished him well. Mark was loved by many, and this love gave him strength.

Life often delivers cruel surprises, and if Mark deserved punishment, it was only from Anna, from the one who trusted him unconditionally and, alas, later regretted it. He was merely a chance guest in her life, not a support, even though he considered himself a friend. Therefore, he did not dare to ask her for trust, let alone forgiveness.

Anna was furious; she was destroying everything around her as if possessed. Oblivion had not touched her from within; it only accelerated the whirlwind raging in her soul, where two powerful forces collided: the power inherited from her blood ancestors and the power granted by Ruvars.

She desperately tried to break free from the prison of the void, to find a way out of the situation into which Mark had pushed her. It was he who pushed her to act, to realize that the powers she possessed could work for her and with her. After all, before that, she only destroyed herself.

– You are human, and it is natural for you to be weak, Anna… Allow yourself this weakness, let go of the resentment towards your parents, towards Azazel, towards everyone… Speak out, even if only to yourself! Have a healthy dialogue with yourself! – Mark once told her.

The little squirrel seemed to foresee her future and knew that his words would eventually turn out to be true.

At the moment when Anna began her transformation, ascending from a lower being to a higher one, her consciousness became unique. Even Ruvars could not fathom its depths. If he, as a demon, had limitless powers, Anna did not rush to use all her resources. She dreamed of peace, which was still so far away…

Stefan, always open and honest, suddenly saw clearly. He looked into Mark’s eyes and saw remorse there. The half – demon was surprised by this foolishness but, on the other hand, was impressed by his “living” act. Being trapped in the jaws of death while being certain of salvation – this was beyond comprehension! But Joe had no doubts: he saw Mark’s essence and was struck by his recklessness.

At the sight of the little squirrel, Ruvars transformed. His muscles grew like a boat filling with streams of rain. His arms, legs, body – everything turned crimson – orange. Two enormous wings sprouted from his back, ending in sharp claws, just like those of his other brothers.

His green eyes lost their friendliness. Ruvars was consumed by hatred for his cursed enemy. He had never felt anything like this before!

– How is it possible that, after being reincarnated, Ruvars feels human and demonic emotions at the same time, so deeply and painfully? – Azazel suddenly asked the Demon of Darkness.

Sardo felt the rage emanating from his brother. They had always been different, but after reincarnation their bond had grown stronger; they felt each other more acutely.

– My beautiful one, – growled Sardo, – even if he has gained a heart instead of a stone, his power hasn’t disappeared anywhere! He’s still the same demon from the underworld, and I do not wish for your friend to experience his strength firsthand!

At that moment, Azazel felt that nothing could save Mark anymore, but Ruvars once again exceeded all expectations.

– Why are you hiding, you coward?! – roared Ruvars, his face twisted in a grimace of rage.

His eyes filled with a clump of terrible, relentless energy. Like an erupting volcano, he could not contain his emotions, and with each repetition of the question, his face became more terrifying. Ruvars had lost control over himself. After all, he could immerse himself in the state of a demon, which, in essence, he was. But he was desperately afraid to awaken the power he had restrained for Anna. The desire to be the best friend for her, to save her from the oppressive decay of time, tormented his already chaotic thoughts.

– I will ask the question one last time, although you will probably prefer not to hear it: why are you hiding?! – Ruvars thundered again, and the claws on his wings turned crimson.

– I apologize to everyone present, but it was you who came to me! – Mark began his speech.

His hands were trembling as if from a chill. He understood that his world could collapse in an instant, but he decided to resort to trickery. He acted persistently and directly, for joking with Ruvars was dangerous!

– Forgive me, Azazel, for not giving you enough time, for you deserve more, a better friend! Joe, I apologize for the fact that, preserving your humanity, you did not abandon me in a difficult moment! – the little squirrel spoke, not waiting for an answer to the previous question.

A silence fell. Joe bowed his head in acknowledgment, proud, like a hawk soaring in the sky. He was genuinely pleased to hear words of gratitude.

– And I especially want to apologize to Ruvars, to the demon I was so angry with that I didn’t understand what I was doing! After all, Azazel was distancing herself from me, and it was unbearable for me to realize that I was losing her. But I understood that she had been lost long ago, I just hadn’t seen it, hadn’t noticed. I was turning a blind eye to the fact that her sorrow was caused not by me, but by Sardo, and that oppressed me even more! – Mark explained.

Sardo’s face twisted noticeably in surprise, because he hadn’t expected such a speech from Mark, and instead of replying, he just sneeringly chuckled.

Mark’s speech touched Azazel to the very depths of her soul. Two barely noticeable beads of tears sparkled in the corners of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Azazel understood that Mark was exactly the one her mother had once told her about. The woman, who asked not to keep a bird in a cage, but, seeing Mark soaring high above so freely and independently, let him go, for he craved freedom! Azazel could not imagine her life without Sardo, but Mark had once been necessary to her as well… After all, she had grown up under his guidance, directions, and advice…

The girl did not show particular emotions toward Mark, but she had always seen in him something noble and worthy. She dreamed of the wall between them falling, but it did not happen, for she herself was the reason for that wall.