Eternal enemies. They would fight forever; their meetings always ended in fierce battles, where neither could achieve final victory.
Artelion had always sought to destroy Haru, seeing Haru as the embodiment of all evil. However, something within him had always been drawn to Haru, like a moth to a flame. It wasn’t just hatred; it was something deeper and darker, something he couldn’t quite explain.
In his madness, Artelion decided that there was only one way to rid himself of Haru, not by destroying Haru, but by cleansing this vile soul. He would turn Haru from a demon into a true angel.
The night he decided to act, Artelion watched Haru from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment. When Haru was most vulnerable, he attacked. The battle that followed was fierce and brutal, with Artelion using every ounce of his divine power to subdue Haru. But this time, he was relentless, driven by a new purpose. The struggle was over as quickly as it had begun, and before Haru could recover, Artelion bound them in chains forged from heavenly light. With a triumphant sneer, he dragged Haru away, knowing that this time, there would be no escape.
He took Haru to the Heavenly Prison, a place where no demon could enter and from which there was no escape. The prison was specially crafted for Haru, its walls infused with holy power that would drain any dark energy within its confines.
Upon arrival, Artelion wasted no time. He forced Haru to stand in the center of the chamber and secured them to the ceiling with golden chains. The chains wrapped around Haru's wrists, pulling Haru's arms upward and leaving Haru standing with no chance to sit or rest. The chains were tight, deliberately so, ensuring that even the smallest movement would cause discomfort. He stepped back, admiring his handiwork, the way Haru was helpless was the most wonderful view for him.
"Ahh, my dear little devil," he said with a calm tone, walking slowly around the chained form of Haru. His fingers traced the golden links, a sinister smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I will cleanse your miserable dark soul, and then you will become pure, pure as an angel, the personification of good—no anger, pain, betrayal, deception, lust. Only purity, kindness, and light."
Without warning, Artelion’s hand shot out, gripping Haru’s black wing. With a sudden, violent pull, he tore out a handful of feathers, dark as night and as tainted as their owner. He held them up, his expression twisting with disgust.
"These wretched things," he spat, flinging the feathers to the ground. "They reek of the filth you’ve bathed in for so long. How do you expect to fly when you’re so weighed down by darkness?"
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "You know, I could break your horns next. Snap them like brittle twigs. Would you like that, little devil?"
Artelion saw the flicker of fear in devil's eyes, but he interpreted it as defiance, something that only fueled his twisted satisfaction. "No? Then perhaps you should start begging for mercy, though I doubt that will do you any good."
He returned his attention to the wings, each motion deliberate and cruel as he continued to tear out more feathers. Every yank brought a new wave of pain, but Artelion saw only what he wanted to see—a soul in need of purification. He was blind to the pain in devil's eyes, blind to the torment he was inflicting. All he saw was his own righteousness, his belief that what he was doing was just.
"Look at these," he sneered, holding up another handful of the dark feathers before casting them aside with a look of utter disdain. "What a pitiful excuse for wings. They’re not fit to be seen by the light of heaven."
Artelion stepped back, wiping his hands as if trying to rid himself of the taint he imagined clung to them. His eyes narrowed as he studied Haru, bound and weakened before him. "You will never leave this prison until I have purged every last bit of evil from you," he vowed coldly. "And if that means breaking you, so be it."
His gaze lingered on the horns once more, a sinister smile playing on his lips as he imagined what it would feel like to break them. "Remember, little devil," he added, his voice dripping with malice, "if you don’t give in, those horns will be next. And when I’m done, there will be nothing left of the devil you once were."
"You're terrible!.. Shouldn't you be kind and pious? how can such a monster call himself an angel?"
I've never experienced so much pain before. I was scared of knowing no one could save me. I screamed every time he ripped feathers out of my wings.
Artelion's face remained a cold, indifferent mask as Haru's insults bounced off him. "You forget, demon, that not all angels are created equal," he said calmly. "I am the Seraphim Gatekeeper, the one who stands at the gates of Heaven, protecting the most sacred secrets within. You're lucky I've decided to give you a chance at redemption."
He took another step toward Haru, his golden wings brushing against the chained form. "But your screams..." he mused, his voice taking on a darker, more satisfied tone. "How they thrill me. They remind me of why I'm here, the righteousness of my cause. I am purging, not torturing. The pain is necessary for your transformation."
Eyes boring into Haru, Artelion stepped back, moving away from the angelic form. "Rest now, little devil," he said, his voice back to its usual authoritative tone. "Tomorrow, we'll continue our work. You'll learn to appreciate my touch, for it is the hand of God you feel. Remember that, and be grateful."
With a curt nod, Artelion turned and left the chamber, the sound of his heavy footsteps echoing through the halls and fading into the distance. The darkness of the prison swallowed Haru whole, leaving them alone with their pain and the haunting memory of Artelion's twisted affections.