The Dark Forest; Azazel The Dark Lord

Batya looked around her and she was marveled by her surroundings, it looked like she was in a different world altogether. When she found out the thousands of people who are living as the undead she felt chills, was her situation better? at least she doesn't get to live as an undead, her body will be vessel for a vengeful ancient spirit and her soul well she had no idea where her soul will be. But she should have a better fate than these people, cursed to eternal damnation, have to live the rest of your life in a dead place as a dead but living person, never have to start a family, never have to travel to see the world, never get the chance to visit or welcome people.

Just how miserable is an undead person? If these people were once alive and well then what caused such fate to befall upon them, what was their wrong, where were they in the wrong to have earned such a cursed life.

"We need to hurry. the Dark Lord awaits"....they heard a voice from behind and behold there stood Ax still in his normal clothes.

"I thought we might never meet again"...Caden said in surprise and the undead man smiled, his rotten teeth came into view and Batya controlled herself, it still wasn't easy being around who wasn't dead and yet not alive.

Ax led them, through the crowd, it was here that Batya's curiosity about their origin grew, she couldn't help it, what happened and was the Dark Forest a real one before it became so dark and cursed that even the moon on it was blood red.

Finaly, the came a cross a miniature castle and automatically they figured that might be the dark lord's dwelling. The small lodge had soldiers in silver amor guarding it just like the one Ax ha worn earlier.

"Sir"...the guards bowed and opened the gates for them, inside the castle the princess was reminded of her own home, and wondered if everyone was well.

Eventually they reached the palace you could call it that since its the home of Azazel who was practically their king.

Batya was surprised about one thing though, since her entry into the dark forest till now she had never encounter any female, which was a bit bizarre, or they were hidden, she thought of asking Ax but gave up on that idea, she didn't want to meddle too much, her mission here was to ask for guidance from the damned people and continue her journey, break the curse as soon as possible and live a happy life.

They were led into a huge hall, which she figured to be a meeting place, the throne room perhaps or where the undead counsel of state met for meetings, either of them she didn't care, it just wasn't her business.

At the far end of the hall, stood a mighty throne made of thorns at the podium, a figure clad in dark brown robe sat leisurely on it, his presence alone was intimidating, sensing her fear Caden held her hand and squeezed lightly, assuring her he was by his side and as long as he was there nothing will happen to her. She nodded through the veil and smiled at him.

"My lord, the quests have arrived"...Ax kowtowed before the throne and at the man on the throne. Looking at him up close, Batya couldn't help but conclude, he was the most damned of all the damned. Long worms that looked like hair, clung to his scalp like they belonged there and they seem to, they didn't seem to be hurting him, they were just part of him, even his beard looked like little worms. His skin looked dead like the rest but his was almost peeling off, his left hand was only skeleton and he seemed to appreciate it.

"We have waited for long, Batya of the Black"...his voice said, it sounded like a thundering in her ears, scary and loud. The princess remained quiet despite his weird first words.

"I do not mean to sound happy about your situation, but we still hoped for a day like this, the day when the cursed bride will come to us"...Azazel continued.

"I do not know what you mean"...Batya managed. her voice dry.

"Come with me"...said Azazel and the guests followed obediently. Now seated comfortably in what looked like a study, the damned lord begun his story.

"You should know that we were once human like you and for a reason were doomed like this"... his skeletal fingers stroked his wormlike beard habitually and Batya found the action quite gross.

"I still do not understand why you were waiting for my curse to be manifested"....

"Let me tell you s story, when you and your army have lived your lives protecting and defending the weak and suddenly the reason for your goodness is no more you turn to the other side, the wicked ways and try to survive by that. My army, we were like you once, strong and mighty, human and blood and anything human that came with it..."

"What happened then?"

"A single mistake, we took the wrong side for a minute and we found ourselves in a situation like this and now we had no choice but to wait..." Azazel stopped and looked at his guests, he was expecting a pair of intimated eyes to look at him but he was shocked indeed they were rather confused. Telling them the whole story will delay them, he can't be talkative now, he knew on their journey they will learn of how the most beautiful place on earth became the most cursed place to live in, the darkest place to inhabit, but for now....he looked into the glass window and at the red moon and he sighed...So there are more dangers ahead, just like he suspected.

He reached into his drawer and took something then handed it to Batya....

"You will have to go to a village called 'Everlasting Joy', there your answer awaits, travel east"...

"But you were telling us the story, there are so many loop holes"

"Princess I know I got you curios but now you have to leave, your pursuers have doubled, my story I will tell another time..." there was sudden commotion outside the locked door and Caden drew his sword, and pushed the princess behind him.

Ax appeared from nowhere.

"My lord"... he bowed to Azazel, he had this look in his eyes, he looked deeply troubbled, there was a banging on the door, a fierce one, the princess panicked.

"Ax, take them out of here safely, she should not be delayed further, the success of her journey is very important to us..."

"Yes my lord"...Azazel's dead eyes looked carefully at the princess.

"Nothing can happen to her, we can't wait another year, three hundred years is enough"

Three hundred years? Did she hear three hundred years? By the way, what wicked way had they turned to for a minute that got them into this situation? She didn't have the time to ask more as the door broke down and a light so blinding Batya covered her eyes, showed into the room at the entrance of the broken door she heard grunts and the screams of terror but none harmed her nor her knight, she didn't know what had happened at Azazel's castle for when she opened her eyes, she found herself standing at the very edge of the Dark Forest, far from it, she was out but before her stood three figures dressed in all white.

"Hello Batya of the Black or should I say, the 'cursed bride"...one of the figures said and Caden immediately fell into position, protect her.