She didn't sleep.
Rather, she would stand next to the doorway for extended periods of time, the light from the passing cars crossing her face in a depressingly violent motion. She didn't move often, but let Tom rest. She did not need to, but his sheer terror at her presence was exhausting, and she was not in the mood for him to see what she could do.
The clock read seconds till time. It was shockingly dark, for being seven in the morning.
Fifteen seconds.
She strode to the center of the room, noiselessly.
Ten seconds.
She cast the pentagram of fire, standing dead in the center- five seats, five demons, and one center. She continued to stand.
Four.
Three.
She bit her lip and let out the breath she'd been holding.
7: 06.
The flames suddenly shot, ceiling high and higher, engulfing her but not burning, and five shadows occurred in the points around her, placed in the thrones, and materialized into men. Horrible men, terrifying men, but men.
She sat cross-legged on the floor, hands placed in her lap, and they suddenly lowered to eye level, while the pedestal she had sat on rose to accommodate her change in height.
"Greetings, all," she smirked, the pedestal spinning so she could look them all in the eye. "Shall we begin?"
"I suppose if you insist, Ranistaka," Lucifer scowled. "If you really wish to risk discovery by demanding the entire Hierarchy be removed from Hell at once."
"I am in Hell. As are you. I apologize for the disappointment, Lucifer, but I shall not be overtaken, and there's not much you can do to make that occur."
"Be careful, Ranistaka. There is only so much we can do for you at any given moment. How goes the mission?" Astaroth carefully directed the conversation away from the animosity between the two.
"Well enough. When I am through, Morrigan and Byanei won't know what hit their precious realm." She smirked. "Though how much time that will take, I do not know."
"And if you fail?" Lucifer snarled.
"If I fail? The whole point is to cause trouble. My existence is trouble. My presence here is chaos. How can I fail?" she laughed heartily at the prospect.
"Be that as it may, Ranistaka, you know the punishment if they capture you. We cannot protect you from that." Beezlebub spoke rarely, but when he did, its weight was felt.
"I'm aware. I've fought up the Hierarchy before, and I can again."
"That's not up for allotment. We are disallowed from letting you."
"What?"
"Exactly what he said. The White Council forbids it," Astaroth spat the name like a bad taste. Ranistaka scowled.
"Let them say what they will. They have no great hold over me. Till we meet again."
The room dispersed into a cloud of predawn darkness. Ranistaka stood, staring blankly, and rather discouragingly, at Astaroth, who had remained.
"Lilith has never been so silent," she stated quietly, questioningly. "It is dangerous for us both to be in this realm."
"There are things we need to discuss that they need not know," he replied, keeping his voice low, as well. "The Gates were attacked this morning."
"I know. I felt."
"Thank you for coming so quickly. I cannot." he laughed harshly, looking at her.
"You are not born demon. You do not have the blood to do this."
"No, I don't. If you fail, Ranistaka, Hell will go to pieces."
"For an elf-blood to make it so far in Hell is a miracle, and bespeaks you well. Or poorly, depending on the company." She smiled back. "Give the title to Lucifer."
"That I won't do. That would be more chaotic than a weak- willed Satan, ironically."
"A Devil with no control. Things will work out, Astaroth. Make sure you clean out the furnaces tomorrow night. I have a bet on that."
"What, Hell freezing over?"
"I never bet less it's a sure thing."
"Of course." He smiled at her again, sighing. The two were the only banished in the Hierarchy. They were close enough, for all differences. "Come back. I know you don't want to any more than I, but."
"For you, my friend, I would not leave on your shoulders a burden past your bearing." She kissed his forehead, and looked at him. "Go. All shall be avenged in time."