The Horsewomen of the Apocalypse waited for their queen in the back garden of the castle because the front was so crowded with demons there wouldn't have been room for them, or their mounts. Besides they knew they were going to be addressed specifically on what to do before and after the war was fought. The first demon and her horse were a sickly green color with flies surrounding them. They were both rotten looking and had stringy, matted hair on their heads and on their tails. This demon was a monitor lizard and the embodiment of pestilence. The next demon was a featherless canary, had black and white body paint on as to mimic a skeletal frame, and was shrouded in a ripped robe of grey. She was the embodiment of death. Her horse had the same exact paint job and was also missing his eyes and hair. The third demon was the color of blazing red and the embodiment of war. She was a bull and her horse bled constantly from it's eyes and had many arrows stuck in it's head as a mane. The last horsewoman was the one of famine. She was a remarkably frail and thin hornet along with her horse but had marks of charcoal and soot around her eyes and shoulders. They were both dull gray and brown colors. The four female demons lowered their heads respectfully as soon as Iris came out back to speak to them.
"Greetings to you all. Lady Prunella of Pestilence, Lady Deidra of Death, Lady Weslyn of War, and Lady Fanya of Famine, I'm sure you are all aware of why I want to talk to you correct?"
Prunella answered her back. "Yes, Queen Irisatine. You wish to speak to us about the war and about our tasks."
Iris nodded. "That's right I do. You are to lead the charge of the common demons first. Most of them are fairly weak and useless so they will be the distraction for the angels, while the Infernal Army charges next, followed then by the elite Fallen. That will surely be a treat for them to battle their corrupted kindred. If we do survive and win the war, then you four will be able to do what you do best. Prunella, you will spread a bought of disease so bad that it will rival that of the Black Plague. Don't kill all of the mortals though, they are still useful as food. Just… herd them closer here. Same with you other three. Deidra, you can help thin them out as well. Just make sure you harvest their souls with your scythe, so that they can be devoured by the survivors later. Weslyn I know you'll just be happy helping out in the war efforts so that will be your main task, along with assisting others on the battlefield. Don't waste any efforts on the commoners, though. A lot of them still leave a bad taste in my mouth. Fanya you will wither the crops everywhere around the world and destroy all of their food sources, except for around here. They will still need to eat themselves if I wish for a few of them to survive. You can also help each other if the need arises just don't stray from your assigned tasks. Also, if you all do happen to die I can take care of all of those things myself. It will just have to be at a slower pace or I may have to assign other demons to be in charge of those tasks. So, try not to get yourselves killed. Do you all understand?"
The horsewomen bowed and then mounted their steeds, getting ready to head out to their posts. "We understand."
Iris nodded and dismissed them with a wave of her hand and then they galloped away, leaving Iris with her thoughts on the current matters at hand.
I can't believe my grandmother was behind the kingdom turning against me. What a joke. Of course, it would be something she would do. I mean nothing to her, besides being yet another piece to play on the board so she can try to win. Well, the end game is definitely coming and it might be the last game she will ever play. I hate to admit it, but this "light" part of me might be the key to destroying her after all. Ugh, I don't want to think about that right now.. the thought is absolutely abhorrent! Or…. Perhaps something else will be of use for her destruction… Back to the task at hand. Time to acquire my war horse.
Iris headed back into the main room of the castle where Mephiles was and smiled at him as his eyes grew wide.
"Where did you get that armor? It's really… unique."
Iris answered him back. "Aren't I a beautiful butterfly? It's the Queen Armor that my mother once wore. I just need to get one more thing, and then we shall be set."
"Oh? And where might your mother be? Can't she be of some assistance to you?" Mephiles asked as Iris started to leave again.
"My mother is nowhere. She is dead. I killed her. She can help me by staying that way." Iris answered back, getting nothing but silence and a nod from Mephiles. She had forgotten that this Mephiles knew nothing of the adventures they had had recently and felt a pang of sadness for the one she had lost.
"May I come along? I would just like to accompany you." He asked as she waved for him to follow.
"Yes, that would be nice. Sorry love I'm just preoccupied. Let's take a walk." Iris says as she waits for Mephiles to come to her side. She takes his hand in hers and they start to walk together.
"What are you going to do now?" He asks as they both exit the castle and head towards it's stable. "The plan was for you to get here so that you could sit on the throne and assemble your army. You did that so what's left?"
"I have to bring a very old friend with me. He's very… untamed and feral but that's what gives him the edge. No one can tame him, not even me. But, I can still make him submit and only then will he allow me to ride him. I've done it once before when I brought him down from the mountains." Iris said as she peered into the building and then called for the beast. "Disaster! Come!"
Two pairs of glowing eyes shown from within the darkness as the stomping of angry hooves and whinnying was heard within. Soon, a black horse made of agate came charging out, bucking wildly at the air as it's mane and tail of blood blew in the air. Iris jumped over the metal fence and into the hell horse's enclosure. Without hesitation it came charging at her and rammed her into the fence hard. She in return grabbed it's head harshly and put it in a headlock. She wrestled the monster to the ground and felt it's breath lessen the more she constricted it in her grasp. She let it go once it had nearly passed out as it stumbled away from her. She then jumped onto it's back and threw a barbed bit into it's mouth so it would stay and grabbed the reins. The horse then gave up with one last exasperated attempt to throw her off. It knew it had been bested and let Iris ride him.
"What a hassle you put me through, Disaster. I already have a war to fight and you being a pain doesn't help." Iris said to the horse as it stomped it's hoof in defiance. "Hey! None of that crap. Come on, jump the fence."
The hell horse did just that as Iris grabbed Mephiles hand and pulled him atop the beast. She swung around to face him and put her hand up to his in the air, intertwining their fingers and looking at him in the eyes.
"This will be the end. If we lose, that's it. So I just want you to know how much I love you and how much I have cherished our time together. I have loved both versions of you very deeply, more than I have ever admitted to and can now die satisfied that I have told you. You have been the best thing to happen to me, and for that I am grateful."
Mephiles smiled sweetly back at her and kissed her hard upon her lips, holding the back of her head as he did so. Once he let go he told her the same. "I haven't known you for very long, like you've known me but you have actually made me feel something else other than hate. For the first time in my existence, I understand what love is. Thank you for making me feel cared about and wanted."
Iris smiles and gives him one more kiss and then she swings back around and rides off with him to the portal to lead out the demons. "I will always want you, Mephiles. Always. Now let's do what we do best."