Hazel had no memory of what happened after she trained. The candles and incense seemed to make her willpower weaker but her "Abnormality," as they called it, stronger. She slept a long time and lost track of the days. All she ever did was sleep, eat, Train, and bathe.
By the time Hazel could shoot fire out of her palms and not fall unconscious, Azazel said she was ready to be Tested.
" 'Tested'?" Hazel yawned. "When, and about what?"
"Darlin', haven't you learned not to ask questions?" Azazel drawled. "You need your rest."
"Alright, Mr. Azazel," Hazel yawned again and shuffled out of the room with the stout man.
Hazel's dreams were getting worse, and deep inside her mind there was a pinprick of worry, but it was barely there. Hazel felt at peace, like nothing was wrong, except for the tiny pinprick nagging at her.
~*~*~
Nico packed his bags quickly and left without speaking to his mother. If he felt guilty, it was shoved deep down. His sister meant the world to him; he couldn't just let her go like his mom, even if she was a curse from the Devil. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkkkWxZyBW
Nico searched the town, though he knew Hazel wouldn't be there. He asked the cartographer if he knew where the Hunter's were hidden. The cartographer said he didn't know exactly, but many rumors from the survived kidnapped said that they were hiding in an abandoned fortress in the woods. It was a week's travel by foot, he said.
"Here's a map. That's all I can give you."
Nico set out on his journey.
It was about 7 days later when he saw the large, abandoned castle high over the trees. Nico cried out happily. Step One was done, now he had to put Step Two to action.
~*~*~309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w1foR6Z46
"Miss Hazel, it's time to wake up. You are needed in the office of Mr. Azrail."309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwRnGxSH3o
Hazel had come to know Azrail as her master's master. The second man she saw when she came here.
"Yes, sir. I'm ready, sir," Hazel said. She got out of bed and let the stout man lead her by the arms to an office just as large as Azazel's, but with more things in it: Shelves of candles, incense, and vials of brownish liquid; punching bags and dummies; necklaces and jewelry that looked haunted. Hazel shivered: it was cold.
"Good... er, good morning Mr. Azrail," Hazel said. There was no incense burning in here. Hazel's head felt as if it was floating and she squeezed her eyes shut. "Aren't you going to burn incense?"
"Not today, Miss Ellis."
Hazel shivered again.
"So, what are we doing for this, ah, 'Test'?"
"Glad you asked, Miss Ellis. We're going to see how well you can use your Abnormality."
Hazel winced at the word 'Abnormality', it made her feel like a circus animal. She wondered why she'd never felt that way before.
"Oh, but sir, isn't that what we've been doing?"
"No, no ma'am," Azrail said. "No, this time it will be in a more realistic situation. You see, there are people against your kind." He was talking like he was reciting a memorized speech. "You will have to battle them, I'm sorry to say." His face and tone, contrary to his words, held no pity.
"O-oh." Hazel had a small suspicion that she was being used.
"Great," Azrail said, clapping his hands. "Azazel!" he barked. "Hurry up! We're about to start!"
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