"You're allowing him the ally with the daughter of RHEAH?"
"One minute Azazel," Kurai stepped forward. He knew Onyx, the Guardian Goddess of his own realm as well as the embodiment of everything wrong with the world, favored him above all other denizens of her realm. He had listened in amusement as the Demon Lord of Pride attempted to "reason" with the goddess. Now he decided he would step in and correct him in his inappropriate phrasing of his current relationship with the half angel. "I have not allied with Lady Elspeth. There is a difference between allying and using." He smirked, "I could make just as much of a fuss for you trying to win over the single descendant of Hasianna." Hasianna was quite the fickle being indeed. There was only one guardian deity that could rely on her allegiance and that was Medius. "Yet you are the on causing a commotion over something as small as a simple tool." Kurai nearly grinned, "Are you...jealous?"
"Never," Azazel snarled.
"Besides. Can you not be satisfied with the emperor's eldest son?" Kurai asked.
"His sister was chosen above him he is-"
"Useless?" Kurai scoffed, "What? When did you start giving pawns up so easily? Rebellions occur in split kingdoms all the time. If someone is not happy with the rulership and can gather enough allies then they can start a rebellion." He smirked, "In the light of what has happened to poor little Xerxes, sowing the seeds of poisonous envy would not be hard."
"That one's mine. You already have your angel," Azazel snarled. He didn't know how Kurai, who had been human unlike all the other Demon Lords managed to get so many pawns so easily and so quickly. Yet he had no real use for any of them. Not even he could figure out Kurai's plan. On top of that the goddess so obviously favored him. Before that little maggot had come along Azazel had been her favorite. No. I will not let that wretch win. If I succumb to jealousy he will win. "What about inciting a war amongst the gods," he turned his attention back to the guardian goddess. Prideful though he may be he was not above kissing up to the goddess if it was necessary.
"Yes...how is that going?" Kurai asked curiously.
"This conversation has nothing-"
"Azazel," Onyx spoke for the first time since he had approached her. Her black soulless eyes studied him coldly, "He may speak if he wishes."
Azazel nodded quickly, "Of course."
Her long black hair faded into shadows and her fingers were long, sharp, deadly claws.
"Is there anything you need us to do to prepare for the coming war?" Kurai asked.
"Gather all forces under you and prepare them to fight any and every possible enemy," Onyx said simply. She smirked, "That is all for now. Kurai stay. Azazel. You may go."
The demon nodded and left.
"What about the angel? How is she...doing?" Onyx asked.
"Lady Elspeth is...proving resilient," Kurai shrugged, "However if I continue to be of assistance to her then it shouldn't be much longer."
"Good. You may leave."
Kurai nodded and walked away. He left the area and went back to the outer rim of Umbral. He looked around at the many mirrors into the world of the living. These portals were scattered throughout the realm and throughout any realm but every creature of Umbral knew these were his. Unlike the other demon lords Kurai preferred to wander the realm instead of sulking in a citadel. He smirked. And even the Goddess herself has succumb to envy. It's amazing what emotions can do. However, unfortunately Onyx, Elspeth isn't going to you. I have my own plans for her and they have nothing to do with you.
"An assassination attempt?" Elspeth asked in surprise. It shouldn't really surprise me given the capital seems to be split in half between her and her older brother.
"Yes. The Heiress has chosen you to be her body guard until things mellow down." The highest ranking general was not fond of his subordinate. Elspeth knew why he hated her. She was much too relaxed for his preferences and her different sense of justice and penchant for showing mercy was something he saw as a weakness. Elspeth nodded, "I'll go see her then. General."
He nodded slowly to her but his eyes glittered with frustration and hatred.
Elspeth turned on her heel and walked down the hall. She left the administration building and headed to the palace. Nadia was waiting for her in the entry hall, "Elspeth. Thanks."
"No problem," Elspeth nodded, "Anything specific you need me to do other than protect you?"
"Actually, could you have Eldric inform my allies that my brother is missing?" Nadia asked.
Elspeth cocked her head to the side and nodded.
He's outside the city, meeting with none other than Azazel. They're buddying up to take down his sister who is now your charge.
Great. Elspeth found Eldric relatively quickly, "Tell a couple scouts to find Xerxes. He's missing."
Eldric nodded, "Anything else?"
"Prepare those you know you can trust for civil war," Elspeth shrugged.
Eldric stared at her, "W-What?"
"The scouts are ordered to find Xerxes but report back without interacting with him," Elspeth said patiently, "Send Kaious actually. And that new guy."
"Aleris?" Eldric asked.
Elspeth nodded. She was terrible at remembering people's names for the first few weeks after meeting them. "And prepare Nadia's allies for civil war."
Eldric nodded, having gotten over his initial shock.
Elspeth sighed and rubbed her temples. She returned to the palace.
"Elspeth," Nadia nodded to her. Clarity stood next to Nadia calmly and regarded Elspeth curiously.
"Yes?" Elspeth asked.
"The rifts to the south are becoming more and more active. It won't be long until it rips open wider than it has before. This is a really bad time for war," Clarity said before Nadia could speak.
Elspeth glanced at her in surprise, "The rifts are opening wider?"
Actually they are. Ivory and Onyx are mobilizing their surrogates for war. However I cannot partake because Michael and David so kindly banished me.
Elspeth hissed.
"If the outer realms begin to wage war here-"
"The entire world could be ripped apart," Elspeth finished Clarity's sentence darkly. Her bright blue eyes narrowed. The blue color slowly faded into a bright gold, "And Xerxes wants civil war in the empire."
Nadia nodded.
"ELSPETH!"
Elspeth turned to see Kaious and Aleris racing across the palace courtyard through the single window in the room. They were followed by flitting shadows. She turned to where Sorin hovered in the doorway, "If you are my guard then do as I say."
"Of course," Sorin nodded dutifully. His eyes glittered knowingly as he waited for her commands.
"Deal with what's chasing the two of them." Elspeth turned to Clarity, "Take the Havniil that stay here to the Black Lotus Inn. Tell them Elspeth is entrusting them to their care. If you cannot fight then stay with them. If you can fight then you will return and do exactly as I say."
Clarity nodded and disappeared.
"Take Angel with you!" Nadia called after her. Clarity's ear flicked to signal she'd heard. Elspeth turned to Nadia, "Eldric has already notified your allies about Xerxes. However we're going to have to warn them about the rift as well."
Nadia whistled, "Damn. For having no field experience you're quick on your feet."
Elspeth pushed down her embarrassment and just nodded in acknowledgment. Sorin returned accompanying Kaious and Aleris.
"Xerxes is already on the move for the capital," Kaious panted. He sent Shadow Vampires and Wraith after us."
Elspeth nodded, "So he has allied himself with Umbral?"
Azazel. He's merged with Azazel and therefore has command over the demon's forces.
"Elspeth. What'll we do about the rift?" Nadia asked.
Elspeth looked at her. Damn. Empress is her job but she's never faced a crisis like this-
Just do what you deem to be right. It doesn't matter if you're the power behind the throne at the moment as long as you relinquish the throne back to her once the crisis is averted.
Elspeth took a deep breath. She turned to Sorin, "Have your assassins go to the rift. They will be accompanied by a portion of the Mikirran military."
Sorin nodded.
"Are you sure?" Kaious asked, "What about Xerxes?"
"I'm sending the majority of the mages to the rift, namely the Dawnfeather family. Those that stay with us will be more than enough to deal with Xerxes."
"My brother's weakness is the belief that he is invincible," Nadia explained, "He is strong, nearly indomitably so, but he is vulnerable to magic. He has never seen a use for magic."
Kaious nodded, "That makes sense."
Clarity returned, "They have been safely dropped off with the Black Lotus."
"Good," Elspeth nodded. She turned to Sorin, "Leave them in the care of Jenny and Caidence."
"You're trusting those two with-"
"Yes." Elspeth said evenly, "They are inexperienced but they are not helpless."
Eldric walked in with the Heiress of the Dawnfeather family and the Ravenheart family's head. The second oldest son of the Blazingstar family stood with them. "My mother will follow Xerxes but a few others and I are yours to command," he said with a confident smirk.
Elspeth nodded, "Good." She took a deep breath, "Eldric. You will go with Sorin and his assassins to the rift. Salliessa take the mages of your family and go with them."
The Dawnfeather heiress cocked her head to the side for a moment before nodding dutifully.
Elspeth looked around, "Amaryllis, split the mages of your family between the two forces."
"Their knowledge of the creatures of Umbral would be invaluable," Sorin commented dryly.
Elspeth gave him a hard look but did not comment. She turned to the Blazingstar boy, "What's your name?"
"Ciro," he nodded to Elspeth.
"How many do you mean by a few?" Nadia asked.
"My little sister and a good portion of our..." he paused searching for a word. Eventually he sighed, "Pets and my friends."
Nadia looked at him expectantly.
"Of which there are seven," Ciro added.
Elspeth nodded, "Alright." The Blazingstar family is known for their martial skills and mastery over electricity magic. "You'll take your mages with the force that will combat Xerxes."
"Great!" Ciro nodded excitedly.
Elspeth turned to Sorin, "Go to the rift. Expect a lot of them." She nodded to those she was bringing with her, including Nadia and Clarity, "Come with me." She strode confidently through the halls of the palace towards the barracks.