The wet sea wind whistled outside the stately manor that hugged the Mistrali coast, painting some of the glass with a light coat of brine. This home was miles from any other, and Nyx had watched with great pleasure as her stars had dealt with the previous inhabitants. Leora, still violently angry about her comeuppance at Beacon, had taken a sick pleasure with the removal of the family. Their screams had lasted for two whole days, and when she had finally emerged, Leora had been stained with crimson and an ugly smile.
Her other stars had been slowly returning from their outposts all over the world. The first to return, faithfully as always, was Aquarius, or Assane as she was called now. It was befitting that one who the weakest and the least valuable should come crawling back first, but she had adapted extremely quickly to the new technology, so she was still somewhat of use. Aries and Scorpio, or Sheffield and Scorpan, came next, and it amused Nyx to think that those on the bottom of the food chain were the ones gathering first. Soon, in a group of four, Pisces, Capricorn, Cancer, and Libra gathered to her, and she was pleased that the strong were returning. They had no alternate "mortal" names, so Erebus has given them new ones. Pisces became Aleyn, Capricorn became Kozel, Cancer became Karcana, and Libra became Masato. Nyx hadn't cared what they called themselves, but they were still sickeningly loyal, so she would indulge them with these new names. Gemini and Virgo, Twain and Aludra, had arrived in the dead of night, and the significance was not lost on Nyx. They came during her domain, and it was a sign of submissiveness and acknowledgement.
Nyx was elated that her virgin had returned; Aludra was free and willing with herself, and she could be delightfully experimental when it came to things of a sexual nature. The irony was not lost.
Risha returned by herself, as was in her solitary nature. The bull seldom indulged in company, but when she did, it was usually to serve her own ends. She had come and paid her respects to Nyx and Erebus, then proceeded to claim quarters of her own. She rarely came out of her room, and most of the other Stars preferred to keep it that way. Leora and Ivor, Leo and Sagittarius, had just showed up one day, and they were greeted the most warmly by Nyx. They were the most prized of her Stars. Physically the strongest and fiercely loyal to their mistress, they were like rabid dogs barely restrained on their leashes.
Nyx stretched her arms over her head and sighed. It felt good to be awake after a few millennia of forced slumber. Perhaps she should go out and take the air; it would be good for her, though she needn't worry about her health. She would take a walk by the shoreline once she had taken her last sampling of ichor. She had been waiting until all her Stars had returned to her, then taken in line of strength. Leora and Ivor had been first, and now it was time for her to take from Assane. She had nothing really to offer for her mistress, but it was always delightful to have someone who was completely at your mercy. She didn't know why she kept Assane in all honesty, as she was nothing more than a pet. Perhaps it was time for Aquarius to have a new vessel.
Moving away from the window, Nyx absentmindedly threaded her fingers through her inky tresses and pulled them through, combing the wayward strands. Despite her regality in all things, her hair often refused to behave in any sense, and it drove her to her wit's end. Erebus took great pleasure in brushing it when they shared a private moment between them, and it was something she greatly enjoyed. She came to a stairwell and stood there, noticing the sun that shone through the slanted windows. Contrary to popular belief, she did not hate the day or the light. It was necessary in order for life to thrive on this rock, and if she truly caused nighttime eternal to fall, it would bring the cold with it, and nothing can grow within it. Life would wither and die, and it would not be satisfying to rule over a broken and dying kingdom.
Descending the stairs, her skirts whispering against them, she continued onto the main level of the house. Tucked back into one of the side rooms, was a control room. It had been outfitted with the highest technology that could be bought or stolen, and it allowed Nyx the ability to see what her havoc was doing across the world. It was only a few hours ago that a few Huntsmen had cleared through the wreckage of Beacon, and had found some fragments of a large bomb that was used to decimate the academy. It had been marked with the stamp of the Atlesian military, and the Valic kingdom was becoming extremely hostile towards their neighbor in the north.
It was possible that they needed just another nudge in order to further get tempers flared and battle lines drawn, but she was content to watch Atlas flounder in the accusations. How could they explain one of their tactical bombs went missing and was responsible for the death of numerous students? To compound the issue, Beacon was turning into a new Mountain Glenn, becoming overrun with Grimm scavenging the bodies that weren't recovered. When Erebus has learned this, he had taken a knot of brightly blonde hair from a hidden pocket and touched it to his mouth, lips curved in a mysterious and somewhat elated smile.
As Nyx entered the room, she noticed the figures in front of a large screen holding a barely restrained argument. Leora, with her tawny hair finally free from the crimson stains, paced back and forth in front of the screen, whiskered twitching. A tail whipped back and forth behind her, mirroring her agitation. She had kept to her color scheme of reds and oranges, but she had recently added a small rose emblem in black near her right wrist. When asked about it, she would reply with something about how the rose was a reminder of a certain flower she had picked. The Star that Leora was arguing with was Assane, still in her ocean blue and grey skirts. Leora could barely keep her voice below a shout, and it was clear that she was dissatisfied with whatever Assane had told her.
"Why can't we storm the manor? I killed the brat she was with, how hard could that ice queen be?!"
"I'm telling you, we don't need to move against her. Research tells me that the Schnee Dust Company makes large donations to the Atlesian military, so they are guilty of the Beacon bombing by association. If they were distrusted before, they will be hated now. This is something that we can let those mortals attend to by themselves!"
"You are just a coward, Aquarius! You always have been, and always will be! You want to sit behind your little screens where no one can hurt you, while the real warriors are out there winning the battle for our Lord and Lady! Just a pretty little ornament to admired, but you should learn to keep your mouth closed." Leora was stalking forward, moving like her starsake through the underbrush. The tension in the air was palpable, but Nyx wasn't going to stop it just yet. The insolent always needed to be disciplined.
Assane held her ground, green eyes fearlessly staring down into Leora's golden-brown ones. "I don't ever need to explain myself to you, Leo. While you are out there being a real warrior," she spat the term like it was something foul, "I am in here making sure that you aren't seen by cameras while you sneak around like a petty thief. You may have gotten the lion's share when it comes to strength, but you sure are lacking in the way of intelligence, aren't you?"
A tick had started twitching under Leora's eye, and suddenly, her gauntleted hand lashed out, striking Assane broadly across the face. The blow was hard enough to crack her head sideways and knock her to the floor. Landing hard on her palms, Assane turned and glared white-hot hatred at Leora. There was three cuts like claw marks under her right eyes, and her ichor, golden and thick, started welling from the lacerations. Leora stood over her, the gold blood dripping from the tips of her iron claws. "You do not disrespect your betters, Aquarius. It will cost you much more the next time you dare."
Nyx swept into the room, commanding silence from all those within. Leora looked up to Nyx, and then bowed gracefully acquiescing to her Lady. Assane's eyes, full of anger, briefly met Nyx's galaxy-colored orbs, then dropped to the ground.
"Rise, Assane."
"My lady, I did not mean. . ."
"Rise."
Picking herself up off the floor, Assane dusted off her skirts and then spread them widely, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground. Nyx came closer to her, and gently cupped the right side of her face. Assane still kept looking at the ground, and trembled slightly under the touch. Nyx came forward and gently licked the ichor that dripped down her cheek. The golden liquid was incredibly thick, like melted wax, and dissolved on her tongue with a cloying sweetness that was reminiscent of ambrosia. With it came the knowledge of ages, everything that she had missed while within the deepness of her slumbers. It was cool, and tasted of immortality.
Pulling away, she grabbed Assane's face in her hands, forcing her to look to look Nyx in the eyes. All the color drained away from Assane, leaving her as pale as her star. "I have warned you never to look at me directly. Now, you will regret it.
Raising her free hand, she folded her fingers like claws and plunged them into Assane's left eye.
Assane's screams echoed throughout the room, and they were music to Nyx's ears. Ichor spurted from her eye, and splattered across Nyx's dark skin, staining her with the essence of sunshine. Her fingers closed around Assane's eye and pulled, hearing her screams rise into a crescendo. Finally, the optic nerve snapped under the pressure, and the eye came out into Nyx's hand. The ocean-green irises looked pale in the light, and Nyx closed her hand around it, crushing it like the proverbial grape. She let go of Assane, who dropped the floor, her hands cradling her injured eye socket. Ichor covered her hands and marred the front of her dress. Leora knelt down and put her arms around her, taken aback by Nyx's savage display. It was unlike her mistress, and it terrified her. The Stars could be vicious and backbite with each other, but Nyx had always regarded them as children, and left them to their squabbles.
Smiling benignly, Nyx raised her fingers to her mouth and licked the golden taint away. "Clean yourself up, and stay out my sight. Don't forget, little Aquarius, you have a job to do."