3.

Parallel Orders from Parallel Worlds

The conference room was bare like most of the other castle chambers. Grey walls were lit by the dozens of torches that were mounted on them. Towards the back upon a raised platform of a single step was a silver chair with an extravagant back that fanned out like a peacock’s tail. Auronmar sat upon it, facing the four anxious demonic faces that gazed up at him.

One of them bore the raw animalistic features of a lower level demon. Its misshapen body coiled around itself like the snake it resembled. Short, half scaled human arms protruded from an erect torso that slowly evolved into a human head. It possessed no hair and twin slits for a nose. Anxious cat-like eyes kept staring at the prominent king.

The other three demons, upper level quality, were an equal mixture of animal and human. All were females and were unclothed, as demons below superior level usually were. The one that stood next to the serpent demon had her human looking traits popping out excessively in compression. However, her pointed ears, sliced eyes, spewing snout, and excessive fangs still gave her a haunting appearance. Next to her stood another demon.

She also held a general human body but possessed bleached, fuzzy skin. Paws replaced hands and feet and whiskers peppered her white face like freckles. Long, pink rabbit ears from a hairless skull draped to the floor.

The third upper level demon was entirely covered in black feathers. Both her arms and legs were veiled with elongated plumages that granted her flight. Her lips, sharpened out into a small and brown beak, opened to speak.

“I am sorry, Your Grace,” she said. Her voice was a mixture of human vocal cords and bird squeaks. “I can no longer spare any more of my men into the mortal realm. If I do then the castle will remain all but defenseless.”

“It’sss true.” The lower demon slurred his words with extended hisses. “I wass with the group ssent. Almosst everyone died. Almosst everyone hasss died. I wass lucky to come back.”

“Do not speak to his Grace without his command!” the rabbit demon snapped.

Auronmar waved the words away with a weary hand. “Simply account your report, High Class Warrior Neeri.” He addressed the wolf demon.

She quickly bowed her head and spoke, “Your Grace. Though time is not the same between our worlds, recent reconnaissance tells our forces in Human World are all but gone. Our dwindling forces are numbered around the few hundreds, most which reside under your guard here in Demon World, Your Grace. Our—”

Auronmar again waved his hand, demanding her to halt. “I am aware of such. Tell me of Blethinette’s army and the status of earth and its people.”

Neeri nodded and continued, “Her army is counted in the millions, Your Grace. While thousands of stray demons still roam our world, and are, loosely speaking, neutral, most of the demon population sided with her and have gone through the portal into the mortal world. Almost her entire army resides there. Unfortunately because of such a fact, the mortals are…almost extinct.”

The demon king had not shown any reaction to the debriefing information he had been receiving until now. High Class Warrior Neeri’s jarring words caused his face to twist with pain and surprise. There was a pause.

“She is killing them?” he finally asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Neeri slowly, almost sadly, said.

He lifted his head that had been resting on the palm of his hand. “When did she begin this massacre?”

“As I said, Your Grace, time is not equal—”

An angry fist hit the arm of the throne. “Yes! I am aware of that!”

She nervously shifted at Auronmar’s agitated words. “Yes. We, uh, believe within the current mortal year or so her slaughter began and still continues. ”

Auronmar sighed and stared at the ground before he stood up. The demons flinched in awe. Their king was standing up during a debriefing before those of status below his. It was almost a compliment to the demons, but they knew his action was out of uneasiness.

Neeri gathered her courage to speak. “Your…Your Grace?”

He answered her with stern yet cool eyes. She shrunk. “Yes?” he nevertheless said.

“We…we believe Blethinette’s forces to strike us soon. While the castle is well hidden under your Magika, she is now no longer distracted and will be determined to seek you until found.”

Auronmar placed his hands behind his back as he stiffly stood before his seat. “I am aware of that, Neeri.”

Again his words belittled her. “Of course, Your Majesty. I simply—”

He turned away from them. “Thank you for your reports, my First Class warriors” he hastily said and dismissed them.

An out-of-tune choir of “Your Majesty” rang out from the four demons before they bowed and exited. Gahn, who was leaning against the wall right of the throne, had not spoken a word during the entire debriefing. He came up to Auronmar as the king walked down the platform’s single step to meet him.

“Scary, isn’t it?” Gahn smirked. “She’s trying to find Magika blessed humans to add to her army. Makes it kinda hard to fight them, no? Killing the very humans you’re trying to protect?”

Accustomed to his informalities, Auronmar remained silent. Blethinette’s search of Magika bestowed humans had been the first basis of Neeri’s report. However, he never would have guessed she would start killing off any humans that did not meet her standards. She had never spoken about any ambitions of slaughtering them.

Auronmar gave a small sighbefore saying, “It is apparent Radi’s power is being put to appropriate use.”

Gahn’s smile fell from his face. He said nothing.

He eyed him with brief silence. “How are they coming along?”

Gahn immediately answered, knowing whom he meant. “They’re doing really well. Dante is a superb fighter, true to his Berserker lineage. He’s even capable of keeping up with me.”

Auronmar raised an eyebrow that did not believe anyone could see Gahn, much less keep up with him. The speedy demon caught the gesture.

“Well I did go easy on him for a while,” Gahn elaborated, “but it was still impressive how well he kept up even with my reduced speed. Today he asked me to go all out on him to test the strength of his Berserker hide. He withstood about eight seconds of my attacks. He did really well.”

The demon king could not help but give a small smile. “Eight thousand fatal blows.”

“Eh. More like eight hundred since I still went easy on him, but yeah, he is a great warrior.”

“What of Reyna?”

“Ah. The cutie sometimes struggles under pressure, but she is a great at the defensive. She’s mastered her powers well though she chooses to rely on her hybrid powers over her classical Magika. She does well in controlling that blue stuff of hers.” Gahn placed a hand out and wiggled his fingers to add emphasis.

Though adapt to his usual quirks, Auronmar still gave him a tired sigh. “How does she fare against you?”

“She’s alright. Not as well as Dante, but she can still keep up with me pretty well. I only train with her a few hours during which I gradually increase my speed. She adapts to situations, but it takes a while. Like I said, she defends well against my attacks. Her ability to sense Magika is very impressive and tremendously helps her with that, but as far as hitting me, the cutie doesn’t do that well.”

Auronmar glanced at the ground before returning his sights to Gahn. “We possess a sword and a shield, then.”

“Against almost the entire demon race.” Gahn’s silver earrings flashed as he titled his head to the side. “Ya know, ya didn’t tell ya First Class what to do. Ya just dismissed out of vindictiveness towards Blethinette without even giving them any orders.”

Auronmar placed a hand under his chin. His other hand cradled the bent elbow. “I am aware of that, Gahn. You shall relay my order to them then. They are to pull out from earth and return to protect the castle. In the case of an invasion, protecting our human guests is our first priority.”

He whirled away from Gahn and began to walk towards the room’s straightaway exit, arms rigidly shifting by his sides. His long white coat sharply slashed the air with each of his quick strides.

“If she is killing them,” Auronmar softly said, eyes forward, “then those two may end up as one of the few remaining humans. Possibly the only ones.” Before his words echoed out of his lips, Gahn had already departed to carry out his orders.

As Auronmar paced to his quarters, several realms away in another space of existence, another conference was taking place. Though not parallel with the presence of time, it could be argued that the similar event had simultaneously occurred with the demon king’s own debriefing session.

Clamored entirely in silver, Blethinette’s war chamber was the opposite of her throne room. Floor to walls to ceiling, the shiny grey surface dominated. Even the furnishings, four large and long oval tables with hundreds of armless chairs, were silver. All the seats were taken, mostly by upper level demons.

They all faced to the end of the room where Blethinette sat on a lesser, silver version of her golden throne chair. She was upon a terrace that cascaded down with multiple stairs. A few steps below her seat were four smaller chairs. They were facing out and were two on each side, one chair per stair. Only half of them were occupied. One held Erian and the other Cerus.

The meeting had finally begun.

“My High Class Warriors.” Blethinette’s words rang clearly through the silence that had haunted the air for so long. “This mortal world has fallen and I have set sights upon our foe that resides in our home land. He who had held us back from what we wished most. He who will now fall.

“Unfortunately for you, my warriors, your Magika is not strong enough to detect his hidden fortress. Such is why I will have you remain here until his fall. My Commanders” –she mentioned towards Cerus and Erian with her hand– “shall be the ones to infiltrate and take down his castle. During their absence, you all shall aid me in the expansion of turning this mortal world into ours.

“I will Summon more of our home land until I completely turn this mortal waste into our second home. As I do so, I desire you to expand! Procreate! Reside! It is our world now and I need you to help in its total conversion! Such is your simple and exuberant orders!”

Her now loud voice harshly bounced in the room, matching the frantic gleam in her mismatched eyes. No one spoke, though, educated in the fact that their queen should heave her passion to their silence. She soon continued.

“Thus when our foe is brought down, we shall celebrate in our expanded home. We shall set up a prosperous land for only us. If any humans still remain in your wake as you settle in, kill them. It does not matter if they possess the essence of Magika. Strike them down, for this world is now the world of demons!”

As if on cue, the demons sitting by tables simultaneously rose, knowing the short war council had come to a close. The sessions were never meant for discussion. They only existed for orders to be given and acknowledged.

The fiends filed out quietly, almost undisturbed had Mundus not entered the room, shoving all who were in his way. Atop her elevated seat, Blethinette could see her son bounding towards her. Erian and Cerus, who had also left their seats to exit the room, met up with him first.

“Mundus!” Cerus excitedly said and gave a happy smile. “I haven’t seen you in forever!”

Erian simply nodded at the prince of demons.

Mundus ignored their greetings, asking, “What was spoken?”

“We’re going to go back to the demon world to get uh…” Cerus, unsure how to call Auronmar in front of Mundus, trailed off his explanation.

“Auronmar,” Erian filled in for Cerus. “We are to infiltrate his castle.”

Mundus’ eyes narrowed. “What shall fall upon those others that reside within the fortress?”

Erian and Cerus remained silent, knowing what his question was truly asking. It was no secret Reyna resided there now.

Hearing no answer, Mundus spoke, “I shall accompany—”

“No, you will not.” Blethinette’s voice cut through Mundus’. “You shall remain here with me.”

All turned to the demon queen as she walked up to their circle of conversation, her absurdly long, violet hair trailing behind her. She stood next to them, icy unmatched eyes glaring into her son’s. Erian and Cerus took a step back, aware of the confrontation that was about to take place.

“I shall,” Mundus hissed at the woman that stood a head shorter than him.

“No.” Her response was almost sweet sounding.

“I need not your consent.”

She smiled. “You do not know where the portal in the castle is.”

“Such is of no importance. Its origin shall eventually be found.” His frame leaned over her own.

At the invasion of her space, Blethinette’s voice turned icy. “You shall not go.”

“You direct Erian and Cerus towards a Dark Blood and believe to have secured victory? Such foolishness. I am needed, for I possess the ability necessary to retrieve another Dark Blood,” Mundus spat before turning around and leaving the room. Blethinette sighed as she watched him go.

“It is simple for me to stop him, but he speaks the truth,” she said turning to Erian and Cerus. Blethinette briefly recalled the incident Radi had told her. The one where Mundus had released a human and brought him to his room. A human that resembled that other one. She could not risk Mundus falling again. “As soon as you come across that mortal girl, Reyna, dispose of her. I do not believe she will be much trouble for you two. Dispose of any other mortals that may be residing with Auronmar.”

“What of Gahn, My Queen?” Erian asked.

Blethinette paused, momentarily thinking of something. “Dispose of him as well,” she finally said. “Which reminds me…if you see Radi any time soon, send her to me. I shall be in my own private quarters.”

“Yes.” Erian said and Cerus nodded.

“Before I dismiss you, take this.” Blethinette took off an black ring from her left hand’s index finger and handed it to Erian.

“It is something that Shadow Spirit gave to me when we came into earth. It will enhance our communication between us to a ‘real time’ one. The lapse of time between our worlds will not be a problem anymore.” She pointed to her right hand index finger that contained a replica of the ring Erian still held in his hand “I have my own here. Simply wear your ring and when you wish to relay a message to me, touch it and speak what it is you wish to say.”

Cerus’ face lit up. “Like a walkie-talkie between worlds!”

Erian and Blethinette gave him a curious look.

He blushed. “Uh. Never mind,” he mumbled.

Blethinette waved his words away. “I had some of my warriors wear the ring when I sent them to Demon World to relay accurate information to me. I now bestow it to you two.”

Erian rolled the ring between his thumb and forefinger. He frowned. “Why didn’t the Spirit give us this before?”

Blethinette gave a small shrug. “It follows its own…procedures.”

Erian and Cerus remained silent, despite their curiosity. In spite of the hundreds of years of seeing the Spirit and the queen associate, their exact relationship was still a mystery. Erian put the ring on. It easily slipped into his index finger even though it originally was wrapped around such a slimmer digit.

“Tomorrow’s sunrise will send you off to Demon World. Your orders are quite simple. Do tell my son to appear during that time as well. You are dismissed now.”

The two demons gave small bows and exited the room. Blethinette remained alone and rooted in her spot as she twisted the onyx ring on her finger. She knew her time with the Shadow Spirit would soon expire. The transformation of the mortal world had to transmute quickly. Human World had to fall before the Shadow Spirit’s time under her service came to an end. 

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Author's Note: At tad boring of a chapter, but there ya go. I think it may take a little bit longer than usual for the next chapter to come up. I usually work on them on the weekend and for the next two weekends I'm going to have my fiance's family over.

Oh joy... -.-

To check up on the status of the story's update, just check out my profile. I write the upcoming chapter's status on my profile status. Hooray for the word "status"!

Anyways...hope you're enjoying the story so far! Thanks so much for reading and for your support! :D