Chapter 31: Devil on My Shoulder

The hallway was shrouded in darkness, sending a chill through Ophelia. Yet, amidst the shadows, the warmth of Nikolai's grip on her wrist offered a stark contrast to the cold. Her bulky black cloak seemed utterly inadequate against the encroaching chill, but she was helpless to do anything but follow him. They entered a heptagonal chamber of ancient design. In the center, a woman was bound to a chair, her blood dripping from her nostrils while she lay unconscious. Torches in each corner cast flickering shadows around the room, painting the scene in a sinister light. The woman's long black hair concealed her face, adding to the ominous atmosphere. Rhaziel stood before her, his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze unwavering as he watched her with a detached air. “Did you strike her?” Ophelia's voice quivered with a mix of concern and anger, as she struggled to free her arm from Nikolai's firm grip. “No,” Rhaziel replied succinctly, his face a mask of indifference. “You two are he