Post by Dobu on Jan 16, 2024 19:27:24 GMT
At What Cost?
Part 4
Each room extravagantly decorated, each window blocking out all light which would dare attempt to enter from outside, each hall illuminated by a dim rose red. The shadows almost seemed to boil. Twisting as if alive and yet there was no fear coming from a single life wandering the halls. This was normal… almost as normal as the well-dressed men and women, some in suits and tuxedos while others wore frilly dresses and expensive robes. Their steps muffled by the royal red carpet, their shadows moving across the walls crafted from smooth stonework and lacquered dark oak. Curtains embroidered with silver and gold draped themselves over almost every crimson pane; the chandeliers hanging with lit candles seemed to burn indefinitely with a ceaseless, blood red flame.
Part 4
Each room extravagantly decorated, each window blocking out all light which would dare attempt to enter from outside, each hall illuminated by a dim rose red. The shadows almost seemed to boil. Twisting as if alive and yet there was no fear coming from a single life wandering the halls. This was normal… almost as normal as the well-dressed men and women, some in suits and tuxedos while others wore frilly dresses and expensive robes. Their steps muffled by the royal red carpet, their shadows moving across the walls crafted from smooth stonework and lacquered dark oak. Curtains embroidered with silver and gold draped themselves over almost every crimson pane; the chandeliers hanging with lit candles seemed to burn indefinitely with a ceaseless, blood red flame.
The atmosphere was enough to choke the very air out of your lungs. Moving through the halls felt like wading through molasses, and yet the denizens did not seem to be affected at all. Perhaps it was their sense of immunity or maybe they were just too engrossed in their pleasures to care. Indeed, the only thing which could be heard – besides the steps and small chatter of the occasional passersby – were the unbridled and consistent moans and screams of others. It was no torture. No death dealing. Just the normal standard of lustful debauchery. A massive estate, almost like that of a cathedral made into a mansion but showered in immense darkness. Such is the nature of the hiding place for the gates of hell, and Lilith’s personal home.
“This place is just as disgusting as it was the first time I was here,” Mayray commented as she slid the door shut silently.
“It’s not that bad. Then again, I could probably say even the Forge isn’t like this... I think it would be a funny change.”
Hellfire was busy, but not busy enough to leave his siter’s comment alone. He twisted his sword deeper into the chest of the human who had previously occupied the room before them whilst another finger pressed against his lips as if to signal any sound he made would be his last. Kikana stood close to her daughter, almost in a protective way, but her daughter was consistently wary of her presence and made that impossible.
All of them wore clothes of the same quality as anyone else in the building. Mayray wore a black backless cross-split dress; Hellfire chose to wear an outfit the likes of which he could only bring out on an occasion like this. Black slacks and a black turtleneck, a somehow even blacker leather cloak with a pair of long boots which looked to be made from leather and fastened with ruby clasps – the same ruby which adorned the rings on his fingers and the ball of his walking cane.
“Shut your dumb ass up, Hellfire. Did you really have to show up dressed like a fucking gay vampire?” Mayray spoke in a hostile tone.
“Watch your mouth, bitch. First of all, I look cool as fuck... second, you’re the only one missing out with that last comment. Maybe if you didn’t marry an ancient's forsaken dumbass, you’d have gotten the chance to realize that.”
“Says the person literally screwing an ancient...”
“Psh, and is that supposed to be a fuckin’ insult? Because it ain’t.”
“Can you two be quiet?” Kikana finally spoke up. “For the love of all, you’re both horrible! It’s like watching two children!”
She stopped for a moment and focused, something the two with her had known her to often do. It was a form of meditation she had come to master, a form of focus which allowed her to focus entirely on her surroundings. It was difficult to do and left her entirely lacking in physical response, but it made up for that by allowing her to remain entirely calm and single out certain sounds. It was something she had forced herself to learn... specifically after directly seeing real madness. It was a must, not that the two with her would need to know that. For now, however, she was doing her best to hear though the fully active estate.
She shifted slightly before standing motionlessly. It was a certain calm, a perfect calm; calmness so still not even the crimson shoulderless asymmetrical dress made the slightest movement. All she wanted to do now was listen. Hear their secrets, hear their plans. There was so much she needed to know and so little time to prepare. It was enough to eat at her mind, filling her with uncertainty; burning at her psyche with doubts. She needed to know what was happening to her son.
“We’ve been avoiding this place on purpose, I presume?” Hellfire asked his sister.
“Yes. If possible, it would have been best to not come here.”
“Why? If you ask me, I’d say this is the place we should have checked first. You’ve both been holding secrets from me. I won’t be playing catch up now, and especially not when you have the answers.”
“Secrets aren’t cheap, Hellfire.”
“And neither are my services,” his response came with far more depth than normal. As if each word were rattling through their bones. “You may have forgotten, or perhaps I simply did not make it clear for you... I am consort to an ancient. My ancient. I’ve kept this from them just as you’ve asked, but I will not be left in the dark anymore. I expect answers.”
“Then allow me to give them,” Kikana started again as she moved to sit on the bed located across the room. “This is Lilith’s home, but it also acts as Gahbreal’s first home. It’s his true home, where he stayed during his first life. Lilith left it to all the aikekunai who would come after her, but she had chosen the one who would become Gahbreal’s catalyst.”
“Arc’l, if I’m remembering correctly. The Black Knight?”
“Yes... however, Arc’l was a second choice.”
“What?” Mayray questioned her. “I was made to believe that Arc’l was the only choice she had at the time.”
“No, that is incorrect. In fact, Arc’l was known for being particularly weak among claimants with the nickname of Black Knight being more of a joke. He had no overwhelming power or strength that could topple armies. He was entirely capable only in weapon skill.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Arc’l fought through... wait. Are any of his battles recorded?” Mayray’s question caused her mother to look at her with a serious stare.
“All of his fights, both wars and skirmishes, were never recorded. He didn’t want them recorded, and he certainly didn’t want anyone to know how he fought. Simply put, that’s because the Black Knight was just a cutthroat. A thief. A murderer. He was most known for his almost fanatical loyalty, but even more for his standard of depraved morality. If he was not strong, he wouldn’t act like it... and his enemies would suffer the most for it.”
“So, shadow wars.”
“Correct. He was liable to attack you in your sleep than face you head on, and his abilities only made it worse to defend against. You’d have to stay up for days if you expected him to attack you, and even still he would stay up longer just waiting for the perfect time to plunge his sword into your back. That's why Lilith called him a Lord's Sword, and our ancestors called him Shadow Lord.”
“Then who was the first choice?” Hellfire spoke.
Kikana looked at the male, still impaled by her son’s weapon, and watched as he finally relented. His final breath was calm, simple, serene. Almost as if undisturbed by the thought of dying here in this manner. She thought to herself if that were a decent way to see things, to view all of this; then she closed her eyes and could only see the face of her son before opening them again. The two before her, the one they could not find... that is why there is no decency in failing or giving up. There never was. She had to recall her own teachings and reinforce them; remembering that there is no point in questioning what must be done.
“My grandmother. She was the first choice, Kana Dimea. She was Lilith’s most trusted advisor and warrior, and our family has been working to keep that standard of warriors for both our family and our house. I, personally, harbor fragments of her soul. It was her request that I be made to mimic her entirely... she refused the position of aikekunai for that. Then my son was made to take her place.”
“Why Gahbreal?” Mayray asked.
“I still don’t understand myself. She had even been the one to choose the name, but I didn’t even feel the desire to oppose the decision. It almost felt right. The final say was Lady Lilith's.”
“All of this is nice, but it still doesn’t answer my question. Why didn’t we come here first?” Hellfire spoke up to which Kikana sighed.
“Because that means our entire family is allied with this place. Not just allied, but in terms of connection we are settled firmly beneath it and haven’t been capable of rising above it. The denizens of this place are mostly human, but any claimants residing in these halls other than us are all going to be affiliated with either Lilith or Gahbreal. Aside from my grandmother, no one else from our house had been allowed in these halls as far as I know.”
“Okay... and?”
“Fucking idiot,” Mayray growled out as she rushed over to him and grabbed his collar. “It means that our only opposition are people Lilith herself thought were worthy enough to be here or people Gahbreal’s past lives chose to be here. In other words, his apprentices. We still haven’t brought them up to you for a reason, and I don’t care how important you think you are because we’re still not going to do that until we have no choice. Long story short, if we get found out for being here, we likely die.”
“I would like to say your sister is wrong, but she is correct. These people were all specially trained and chosen for a reason. Even the humans here can be troublesome. I’m hoping that two of them are specifically not here, but I am not sure. The walls are too thick, and it’s difficult to hear with all the noise already.”
“Seriously? I don’t believe you, but I’ll apply myself. Not that it’ll matter. I’ll just kill anyone who gets in the way.”
“For the love of... fuck it. You’re going with mom. Stick close to her. Do not let her out of your sight, for both of your sakes. I’ll be doing my own thing. If I find anything interesting, I’ll send a message.”
“I will do the same if we find something,” Kikana responded before leaving the room and closing the door behind herself.
There was a moment of silence. Kikana was tired, she looked tired. Dark circles forming around her eyes only served to strengthen the idea she had not been sleeping. Her ears seemed to twitch constantly, her hands constantly finding themselves clasping in front of her chest, but everyone knew she prayed to no ancient. Her head lowered, eyes shutting tightly; it was as if bells were tolling in her head and there was nothing she could do to stop it. However, the feeling of Hellfire’s hand on her shoulder caused it all to cease. She nearly jumped out of her skin which was odd; a reaction he had never seen before.
“Don’t do that!”
“There’s no point in worrying about it,” his words lacked all the subtle plays they normally carried. “If something is wrong here, we will find it. If someone stands in our way, we cut them down. Don’t forget who we are. Before our houses we are all one thing.”
“Yes... let’s go.”
The click of her heels was nonexistent. Kikana’s every step like a waltz through a realm of silence, meanwhile Hellfire moved with a more relaxed stride. For the first time in a very long time, he chose to leave his sword in the Forge; beneath Evyette’s watchful gaze. As calm and carefree as he seemed, he also moved in the same manner as his mother. Thier every step cloaked in silence as they passed by multiple people who seemed almost not entirely there. It felt as if they weren’t truly aware of anything around them and were simply doing as they were commanded. It was slightly unnerving. As if they were husks of humans and not humans themselves.
“Weird. These idiots aren’t even paying attention,” Hellfire whispered as he watched a human male walk by.
“That doesn’t mean you should drop your guard. Remain vigilant. There may be particularly dangerous claimants here.”
“Are you ever going to elaborate on those two you were hoping to not see?”
“No,” she started as she peaked into a room only to find several nude individuals before closing the door with a disgusted scowl. “If I can avoid it, I won’t tell you at all. You are enough trouble as is. The last thing I need is you finding another way to get in the way of my work.”
The boy chuckled, an action telling her that she was completely correct in her assumption. She stopped at a door and attempted to open it, but when the handle did not budge Hellfire stepped forward. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small set of gilded tools. It only took him a second to undo the lock, and the moment he did Kikana cracked the door ever so slightly. Now they’d both be capable of hearing the conversation held inside. A woman and a male, their words more coherent than the others they had seen so far. Both dressed in white, black and gold; both looking as if they were preparing for some sort of important duty. Thankfully, neither of them noticed the door.
“I told you this was going to be something big,” the woman spoke.
“I must admit, I didn’t believe you when you said they would be coming. I had thought it’d be another of those nonsensical rumors you’re always falling for.”
“They're not rumors, it’s all legitimate information you fool!”
“Duly noted. However, what does that mean for all of us? They rarely have anything good to say and will surely end up killing another patron.”
“If a patron falls then it is deserved! Do you not remember our creed? Desires above all else. If a patron’s desire falls to another’s then the death is well deserved. They should just stay out of their way.”
“That still doesn’t answer what exactly they’ll be doing here. Perhaps an inspection? But it is not time for that. It makes me believe something has changed,” the male spoke as if getting lost in thought.
“It may truly be time! We’ve been waiting for so long, what other reason could they have to gather?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Without Lord Gahbreal, it is meaningless.”
“He will come around. our lord always does.”
“And what of the last life? He went and died without reaching the proper depth. We can’t rely on simple hopes.”
“Then we rely on fact... He has been on the move.”
“You’ve seen him?”
“No, but others claim to have spotted him in other realms. Places he normally wouldn’t go around the world, as if searching for something.”
“We can’t rely on the information of others.”
“Yes, but even the idea that it may be a possibility is reason enough to be prepared. If it is wrong, fine; but what if it’s true?”
“Then I suppose we should prepare... We should tell the others and discuss how to proceed.”
Kikana closed the door without a sound, her footsteps moving much faster than they had been before. Hellfire was right at her back, looking down at her as her eyes focused and her expression immediately switched to default. It still scared him to this day, the way her face showed so little mercy when she was serious. Perhaps it was burned into his psyche. Regardless of if that were the case now, it was certain that one thing was true. Someone important was already here who isn’t Gahbreal himself. Kikana already seemed to know where she was going, but both stopped the moment they spotted a small black rabbit in their path.
“It’s May. Let's go,” Hellfire spoke before the rabbit dashed off.
The two moved quickly, following behind the rabbit which did not slow down at all. Kikana zipped down the halls in a standard fashion, yet her speed was not something to laugh at. Hellfire, surprisingly, stayed extremely close behind. His heavier and more cumbersome clothing did not slow him down at all as his longer strides kept pace. They only slowed back to a walk when finally spotting Mayray who looked in their direction before gesturing towards a vent. Kikana nodded, and they both immediately dashed into the small space while melting into the shadows; leaving Hellfire on his own on the ground floor.
“Really? Fuck you guys. This shit’s so fuckin’ annoying.”
He quickly looked around the area, his eyes settling on a secondary staircase to lead him to a possibly better position. He moved quickly, sticking to shadows and making sure to keep himself as concealed as possible. Times like these almost made him glad he endured his mother’s training behind his father’s back. He couldn’t confidently say he could sneak around so casually if he hadn’t faced all her trials; especially when he was entirely geared towards direct combat in a normal setting. He stopped once he found himself coated in the deepest shadow he could find, his eyes peering down at a large room. A throne, placed in an area where it would be a spectacle to watch from any direction. In the center sat a long table which stretched from the entrance to the foot of the area where the throne had been raised. A grand hall. One which, no doubt, belonged to Lilith.
“Fancy. I’ll say this, Lilith has some taste,” he said with a glare around the corner.
“She thinks herself a queen,” Kikana started as she slipped from the darkness. “Her loyal servants certainly act like she's one. If you think this is nice you should have seen how she dressed. Your great grandmother would say ‘Lilith only wore clothes a god would wear’.”
“Now I sorta wish she’d show up.”
“So you want to die? Just be quiet,” Mayray demanded
“Calm down. Fuck.”
“No, you need to listen. I called you here for a reason. I heard someone speaking and so I followed them. I planned to ignore them, but then they said something specific. We’re here to make sure he wasn’t lying.”
“Then run us by it, dumbass. What are we listening out for-”
The doors burst open, causing his question to stop short. Several maids flooded from the kitchen carrying prepared meals, deserts and beverages. Each dish placed in a certain section of the table; each dish accompanied by a gold-lined glass filled with a reddish pink liquid. With each dish in its place the maids would leave the hall. Then, following their departure, arrived a somewhat elderly looking male. He wore a white and black tuxedo with gold trinkets such as cufflinks and a watch adorning his outfit, all of the finest quality and his silver hair was slicked back in a clean manner. Then, upon pulling a letter from his pocket, he would begin to speak.
“Enter, arch-servants! It is time!”
That was when the hall became filled with the sound of footsteps as twelve more others dressed in white, black and gold entered the room; two of them being the ones Kikana and Hellfire had been eavesdropping on prior to meeting with Mayray. Seven male, five female, most of them claimants and all rather young. They did not sit, and they did not move from the positions they found themselves stationed around the room. What they did do, however, is speak.
“So, it’s finally time, huh?” one of the ladies started.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” the shortest of the males spoke. “D-didn’t someone die last time?”
“If you can keep from acting like a coward you might live,” the woman at his side commented in disgust.
“No need to tease the boy. He’s still young, and he is just human.”
“Being young won’t matter if he’s dead and being human just means he already has to try harder than the rest of us.”
“I think we should all just try to get along. At least for today.”
“Who gives a damn! The faster this is done the better!”
“Calm down. No one was even talking to you.”
“Huh?! What was that?!”
“That will be more than enough,” the initial male started. No one chose to speak over him. “Your opinions aside, we have a duty to uphold. I assume that none of you will hinder that duty?”
A rhetorical question, needless to say. He held a look in his eyes which said more about his desire to kill than it did his experience doing it. Everyone stood up straight and everyone now held a stoic expression. He placed the simple gold monocle in his coat pocket over his eye and lifted the letter to a proper reading level. The white gloves which covered his hands the exact same color as the paper, and his eyes quickly skimmed over the page before he even began to read.
“I, Leonard A. Ventras, shall begin! A summons has be issued and all the attendees are present! Each shall enter and be seated! Each shall be called on! And then, the banquet may begin!”
The faint echoing of footsteps began to fill the throne hall, slowly but surely. There weren’t many; the clicking of heels, the thumping of boots, and what sounded like bare feet stepping on the marble floors. It didn’t take long for them to start speaking, or for at least one of them to start speaking. The voice sounded both lighthearted and annoyed at the same time. A strong Welsh accent in a flowery tone... Kikana and Mayray recognized it immediately.
“Might someone please bring me a glass of wine? This is already beginning to annoy me,” the voice emerged from the hall accompanied by two others.
“Just be quiet. If you’re going to act like a spoiled child you can leave,” this voice was one they all knew. Commanding, unimpressed, but unexpectedly present. “All your noise is bothersome.”
“Bothersome? What bothers me is being in the same room as all of you for no reason. Oh! Look! There's already wine at the table!”
Emerging from the corridor and entering their sight were three individuals; two of which were the ones both Dimea women had hoped to avoid. One dressed in relatively casual clothes, or at least he had chosen to get as formal as possible. Slacks and a vest with a button up shirt and silk tie. All black, all paisley. A single handkerchief rested in his vest pocket, accompanied by a pen made from exquisite materials. Over it all rested a black hood, unzipped and with a scruffy fur interior; the only thing which looked like it didn’t belong. He didn’t speak and his umber skin almost seemed to remain cloaked in shadows, even in the light, but his eyes were a normal deep black, much like his short cut hair.
At his side, and thus centered between the others, was the clicking of black thigh high heels. A head of middle red purple hair, which specifically was a point to be proud of in their perfect opinion, bounced just at the edge of the earlobes. Cobalt eyes which held no proper morals. A high neck silk dress of deep crimson, complete with a gold chain around the waist; split thy to reveal black fishnets underneath. A black fur scarf was thrown over the shoulders while black leather gloves covered each hand. A claimant in a black suit walked just behind them carrying what, by the looks of it, was a black fur ushanka. No doubt it belonged to them, and the smugly crazed smirk on their peachy features was the defining touch of their character.
The last of them was the one unexpected. Perhaps it was because none of them had considered the connection, or maybe it was forgetfulness on their own parts. Hair so black it was like looking into the depths of space. Her skin a deep shade of purple yet faded towards tones of gray. One eye covered with a patch, the other as if an amethyst geode were at its center. They walked casually, step by step, her bare feet tapping against the floor as if wanting to be elsewhere, her dress of pure black draped over her rounded belly. Her exposed shoulders almost seeming reflective in the dim lights. Zorelle. Matriarch. Usurper. There were no such things as good intentions wherever she’s found. Following their entrance into the hall, the servant Leonard began to speak again.
“The summoned attendees are as follows. You will answer according to your name. Such is the way of these halls.”
“Hurry up already! The faster the better!” the redhead demanded.
“Of course, madame–”
His quick response was followed by an even quicker death. The fork didn’t bother stopping, passing through the servant’s neck entirely and lodging itself in the wall at his back. He grabbed at his neck, a look of subtle panic on his face as blood splattered all over the table and pooled at his feet. He stepped back, his foot slipping in the crimson paste as he fell to the floor. A moment passed of the normal gargling and coughing… then silence.
“You idiot. Do you know how long it’s going to take to replace him?” Zorelle started before turning to the shortest servant. “You!”
“M-me?” he responded.
“What? Who else? Go get his papers and read them. No need for any extra speaking and get the titles right, or else this jackass will kill you too.”
“O-of course!” He spoke before walking across the room. He looked at the now deceased head of the servants and paused for a moment before inevitably picking up the fancy scroll. “W-well! Lady Zorelle Kinoz!”
“Present. And stop yelling. By the ancients, you're all trying to give me a headache.”
“Of! I-I mean, of course... Sir Addinia Desdon.”
“Here!” The voice echoed directly from the one wearing the red dress; the one who had just killed their head servant. The servant could only focus on how he sounded like a girl. “By the way, I suppose I should make this known for any who may have forgotten. I kill on whims but if you call me a girl... I’ll do it because I want to.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t dress like a girl if you don’t want to get confused for one,” Zorelle responded with a yawn.
“I can wear whatever I want! You’d do well to remember that!”
“Well, if you want to be treated like a princess don’t get upset when you get called one. You already sound like your balls have never dropped, dumbass. Looks are what people see first, they don't know you.”
Hellfire could see the seriousness on Mayray’s face as he struggled to hold back his laughter. Her face twisting towards malice as she whispered, “don’t you fucking dare!”
“U-uh, the last name is Sir Ardess Dimea?” the servant spoke.
“Here,” the voice was accompanied by a raised hand but not much else. He was entirely invested in his phone and didn’t even look up. “Speak with a bit more confidence next time. That’ll be all; you can go. You can all come clean up the body later. Preferably when Addinia is gone.”
“Yes, Sir Ardess,” one of the female servants spoke before quickly gathering the others and ushering them out.
With the hall cleared of servants, and a single corpse decorating the hall, all that was left now sat the three summoned and the one still holding Addinia’s hat. Addinia immediately grabbed the goblet and downed the liquid inside. Zorelle simply looked at him with disapproval written all over her face. Meanwhile Hellfire, Kikana and Mayray were all quietly waiting for what would be said next. What was the purpose for them all being called here? More specifically, they wanted to know Gahbreal’s whereabouts. Hellfire, however, was more concerned with discovering who the two males even were. The names were entirely unknown to him.
“So, Ardess.” He looked annoyed the moment he heard his voice.
“What do you want, Addinia?”
“No need to be so stiff. I just wanted to talk. I don’t think I’ve seen you at the table in quite a while.”
“We don’t always get called together. I don’t always see you here either. We all have our own work to deal with.”
“I know that, but I’m curious,” he said with a smile. “When was the last time you were summoned? I hear you’re rarely ever called.”
“True. I believe the last time I was called for anything serious was when they wanted me to help with a siege.”
“A ‘siege’?” Addinia looked confused.
“You still just call them all massacres?” Zorelle asked with a lowered brow.
“Isn’t that what every fight is? Perhaps it isn’t for failures.”
“Please. You just don’t care about the lives around you.
“That’s true. Anyway, tell me about this siege you took part in.”
“It wasn’t anything special. Gahbreal was dealing with a certain issue I shall not name. He requested that I deal with his work in the meantime. Apparently, he had to tend to a friend… he did not tell me much else,” Kikana could tell from the tone of his voice. Ardess was lying at the end.
“I wish I’d get called for things so fun. I just get asked to do paperwork.”
“What did you expect? When Gahbreal took on a new apprentice you specifically made their life a living hell,” Zorelle sneered.
“That’s no apprentice! She was just a catalyst slipping into his bed; crafting up a false heir. I’m surprised you all let it slide. Now we have that hellion to deal with.”
“Calm down, Addinia.” Ardess’s voice echoed through the hall. “It’s not your place to decide. What each life chooses to do is their own decision. Cyva was just a stepping stone for that life, and he always returned where he belongs in the end.”
“And yet the last one did not adhere to those simple terms.”
Addinia’s comment brought an almost still quiet over the hall. As much as none of them wanted to admit it... he was right, and even Kikana knew it. When Gahbreal’s previous life had ended in such a simple way she could tell immediately that something was wrong. A cycle spanning for such a long period of time does not simply break on a whim. That was why she had become concerned to begin with, and bringing her children here was nothing more than a means to secure the information she desired. She believed Mayray would be willing for the sake of her younger brother, and she assumed Hellfire would if the chance for learning more about the claimant he so desperately wanted to kill were a possibility. However, a part of her wanted them to understand the depth of the situation their family is now in. Only if by a little.
“There’s always a chance he just chose to end it himself before the time came,” Zorelle started.
“It’s a possibility. I wouldn’t be surprised if he figured it out and attempted to set a standard for his next life. His body is carefully crafted along with his soul. I did a lot of research in the past on the matter of his soul and how it functions. For instance, the other aikekunai are all truly their own claimant, but Gahbreal has always been built to come back the same. He looks the same as he did with his first life, functions almost entirely the same as well. The only outlier was Gabriel, but he still couldn’t shake the attachment to the madness in his soul he so desperately tried to deny.”
“Ardess. Why have you never brought this up with us sooner?” Addinia questioned him.
“Because I wanted to be certain of two things; that I wasn’t jumping at straws, and that no one acted on my suspicions. At best I’d be led to assume that you, Addinia, would attempt to intervene in some way. I wanted to avoid that. Now, however, I don’t know what might be going on... long story short his body doesn’t change, and his tendencies don’t change. The only major change is the life itself which leads in its own direction and gives its additions to the original soul before returning to standard. However, his previous life cut that cycle short.”
“Wondering won’t solve the problem at hand,” Zorelle said as she began tasting the meal at her seat. Filet mignon doused in a red sauce, the scent of savory red wine emanating from it. “Let’s just discuss whatever the topic is for this meeting and be done. So? Who summoned us?”
“Lady Zorelle,” Ardess started as he placed his phone on the table. “I was led to believe it was you who had called us; at least that was my assumption.”
“I thought it was you,” she responded.
“Same,” Addinia added. “You rarely ever get summoned with us, so I had believed you were the one who called Ardess.”
They all looked at one another for a moment. Then, as if feeling a sense of imminent threat, Addinia stood to his feet and turned on his heel. He was nervous, and that was more than enough to draw everyone’s eyes to what he had noticed. Everyone in tandem felt the same chill on their spine, but none more than Kikana and her two children. Standing right beside the throne without a single sound, no one knowing when they had gotten there or how long they had been there, stood a woman with the exact same build as Kikana but with much longer hair. She wore a veil which covered her face; a long sheer dress which did little to conceal her bare skin beneath, but her skin itself was covered in a thin layer of darkness. Even her face was hidden beneath it, but Kikana and Mayray's eyes could easily see through such darkness. Flimsy clothing covering what looked to others like a living shadow. Mayray, Hellfire and Kikana knew exactly who it was.
“Lady Nokstina?” Zorelle spoke. “You’re here?”
“Mother,” Hellfire’s voice slipped to Kikana’s ears. “What is our cousin doing here?”
Before she could even answer him, the woman herself began to speak. Her words were like a whisper directly into everyone's ears. “You’ve become complacent, Addinia. I expected you to be the most aware... Don’t forget what you were taught. That life of yours is more valuable than you may believe.”
“Of course,” the words nearly hissed out of his mouth as he spun the chair around and sat now facing her. Legs crossed and face fully displaying his displeasure, Addinia retrieved the fancy slice of cake which occupied his position on the table and began to eat. “So, it was you who called us?”
“Indeed. Does that disturb you?”
“From my experience you never choose to call me unless you want something from me. Am I wrong to assume this is the same type of situation?”
“Most certainly. While I do enjoy having you wag your tail for me, this is more important. We’re waiting for orders.”
The mere mention of orders was enough to surprise even Ardess, but it was exactly what Kikana had been waiting to hear. If this could lead them to Gahbreal that would be the only thing she needed. There were preparations which needed to take place, not to mention the condition of his family. This wasn’t something that could be left alone like it could be in the past.
Why do I care so much? There was a time when thoughts like these, second guessing, were purged from my mind. There is a duty I am sworn to accomplish, a purpose it is my oath to uphold! My very life was brought about for the sole reason of having this boy be the perfect aikekunai, and yet now I find myself here... breaking that oath. What am I doing? Why have I chosen now of all times to rebel? This isn’t for that loathsome ancient, it’s not for my family and it’s not for me! So why? What leads me to make these leaps and jumps like this? Why do I feel so compelled to do this?
“Do not insult me, Nokstina!” Addinia snapped as his eyes locked with hers. “I will not hesitate to end you.”
“And which attempt would that be for you? The hundredth? Thousandth? At least you're sharpening yourself as we speak. That anger is befitting of you.," Nokstina whispered as she watched his expression dramatically turn sour. "Just calm down and be quiet. We have more important things to prepare for... he’s chosen to pay her a visit of his own volition.”