Unforeseen Circumstance
Locked In Frame
(Epilogue)
By: Little Ucchan
"What do you mean I can't see him?"
The optib blinked, fluttering its wings. /I am not allowed to let anyone enter the audience hall or see the Demon Lord. It is his direct orders./
"For what reason?"
/I cannot say. It is also his direct orders./
"Tch." Maki scratched the back of his head. He got explicit orders from Lord Tajhinn to see him directly once he returned from the Mortal Realm. Now this swollen eyesore is telling me it's a no go.
He jammed his hands in his pocket with his head raised high, about to leave when the desk imp called him back. /The Demon Lord did leave a message for you, though./
Maki turned back to the optib. "What'd it say?"
/Simply a word./
A pause.
"…And that is?"
It blinked, confused. /'Don't'/
Maki stared at the optib for a second amazed before he turned on his heels and gritted his teeth. "You gotta be shitting me." Not even through the Gates System? Something was definitely up, and he didn't like it.
Damn it, Boss! Why'd you have to cut me off now? He needed to tell Tajhinn what he found; needed to tell him about Gammon, about the last demon. Needed to warn him about the possibility that the BlackGuard might be involved.
Shit! Maki gripped a fist full of his hair and huffed. This isn't the time for me to be twiddling my thumbs waiting for an audience with him! Especially with how he was acting earlier, he thought to himself, recalling the conversation he had with Tajhinn with a frown. He definitely needs to know this now!
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, crossing his arms in front of his chest to stop himself from fidgeting. Calm down. The Boss locked you out for a reason. Maybe it'd be bad if you saw him right now. Maki nodded to himself. That's gotta be it. I'll just wait till he gets back to me.
He glanced up the wide marble stairway that paved the way to the audience hall, the path, majestic and imposing, disappearing into darkness after the fiftieth step. But still, just what the hell's going on up there?
/7th Rank Officer Gammon. Lord Tajhinn and the BlackGuard are awaiting your arrival./
Gammon…
Maki slowly uncrossed his arms, letting them fall limp at his sides.
"Have they been waiting long?"
/4th Rank Officer Baldestar arrived but half an hour before you, Sir./
Maki swallowed the lump in his throat. The BlackGuard…
"Thank you. No, I will not be needing an escort. I will see myself up and apologize for the delay."
Maki stared blankly in front of him, his eyes unfocused and wide with shock. Tajhinn's having a meeting with the BlackGuard…
"Greetings, halfling." Gammon was suddenly beside him, his long cloak brushing against Maki's right leg. He didn't move.
"Congratulations for killing your targets," he said, smugness coating his words with the air of a predator. He paused, and Maki felt his gaze on him, feeling his smile even stronger against his skin. "You did kill them, right? For what other reason would you be here than to report your victory to Our Lord?"
Shit! Sweat dripped down Maki's face, his mouth incredibly dry. Shit! Shit! SHIT!
"Well I must be going," Gammon droned. "I've kept my fellow officers waiting long enough." He took a few steps up the stairs, the edge of his cloak dragging behind him, like an obedient serpent following one step behind its master.
"Oh, and Maki?"
Maki gave a start, looking up into his face to only see his own appalled features reflected back at him from the demon's white mask.
"I will tell His Lordship that you are waiting to see him, so please be a good little assassin and wait here. I'm sure he is eager to hear what you have to report."
Maki inhaled sharply through clenched teeth, trying to stop his whole body from trembling as Gammon ascended up the stairs to the audience hall, to the awaiting BlackGuard and Lord Tajhinn.
He balled his hands into fists, making his knuckles crack from the strain. He knows. He went pale. That arrogant cock knows!
Maki swore, his voice echoing, bouncing off the surrounding walls and reaching Gammon's ears.
He smiled.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
(Sweatdrop) Short prologue. Actually, should have put this up about a day ago, but I was at school. I was fairly lenient of Maki's swearing. (smile) I'm sure he would have come up with more…colorful words for our 'dear' Gammon-sama.
End of Unforeseen Circumstance. Next season, Actors Wanted, will be up as soon as I put up the prologue. To make up for the short epilogue, the prologue is much longer than the norm, because I'm finally introducing the BlackGuard. (excited) They're finally getting involved. Let's see how their little meeting plays out and how the decisions made in the next chapter will affect our beloved Ronins. (sweatdrop) Probably just make things more complicated.
Next season also reintroduces Nancy, Cye's rain girl. 'Finally!' I'm sure you're all saying. And we get to see Laura's unconventional (cough) training methods. Poor Sage-kun.
Ja ne!
Ucchan