Chayyliel made a noise, pulling herself from her desk as she rubbed her eyes. By the creator she was getting tired. Of course she was tired though, she'd been up for how many days now? By the creator it felt as though she hadn't slept in decades. "I haven't been this tired since…" She paused for a moment as she stepped outside her temporary base and took in the evening air. "Eden." She muttered staring skyward. "Has it really been that long since we've truly had a war?" She didn't get an answer. "It was shortly after Eden that the pact was formed and the seals forged. That was the last time we were in conflict with the Dark Kingdom." She mused. "For centuries we waited, replenishing our numbers, arming our soldiers… and yet during this time of peace." She mused looking at her hand, staring more at the chips in her armored bracer.
In the instant she blinked she found blood on her hands, the streets lathered with the bodies of her battle-brothers and sisters, as well as the Demon Horde. She felt rain pelt her armor and her wings, and felt the weight of a broken blade in her off hand.
"I feel we've grown complacent." She admitted to herself before hearing the call of an Orthos. Whatever memory she had been trapped in shattered like glass as she looked up, seeing the Orthos in the distance. It screeched, making its presence known, before landing, young Noah jumping off its back as he went up to its face to stroke its fur.
"That's for the lift." Chayyliel approached the Child of Humanity as he looked back at her. "Hey, sorry we're late, we had to make a detour."
"It's fine." Chayyliel stated as she mimicked his action, raising a hand to show affection to the angelic beast. "So long as you returned." She paused. "Were you successful on the front?"
"Yeah. Everyone's good, exhausted but good." Noah admitted.
"How many fell?"
"Not many." Noah admitted before putting his hands in his pockets and looked at the angel. "Still you might want to call in reinforcements from the White City. No telling how long you guys will survive without help."
"I can't." Chayyliel muttered as Noah raised an eyebrow.
"Can't or won't?"
"Can't." Chayyliel repeated. "The gates to the White City are sealed from this side." The angel admitted. "We can not get a message to the White City or make a tactical retreat."
"So you asking for reinforcements is out of the question." Noah rubbed his temples. "Great, so you're stuck fighting this war alone?"
"Never alone." The angel clarified. "As I said, there are many scattered across your kingdom. My division in the Hellguard as well as others like Uriel and Usiel of the Seventh Legion."
"I've never heard of either of those angels so~" Noah did a gesture with his arm. "I do know of Abaddon though, he's your leader right?"
"Former." Chayyliel admitted with a sigh. "He fell during the first day, when battle rights were to be declared." She paused as she started leading the Orthos off with Noah following close behind. "I'm curious though. You know of Abaddon though, how is that?"
"Covered him in class." Noah admitted with a shrug. "We covered a lot of subjects for the off chance we ran into you guys."
"In case you become our enemies." It wasn't a question, and Noah wasn't really sure he really wanted to answer that.
That fact that he did though, shouldn't have been overly surprising.
"It's not that we covered it just in case we have to fight you." He began muttering. "There's a curse on humanity."
"A curse?"
"The curse of Fear." Noah stated as he looked back at the Storm Warden. "We fear what we don't understand, and that fear causes us hate and lash out at the source of such fear. That's the easy way we find ourselves dealing with things. Not many want to take the chance to try and understand the unknown." He stared at the Warden's eyes. "We Hunter's aren't allowed to be scared. We have to face the unknown head on, if we understand it, there's a chance issues can be settled without bloodshed or misunderstanding. And if there's a chance, that means we can maybe coexist."
"Is that so?" Chayyliel muttered as she looked away from the youth. "That is a curious way of thinking about it." She leads the Orthos back to its makeshift den with the others. "But if that is the case, why do you fight?" She looked back at the Hunter.
"Sometimes those we meet… don't want peace." Noah grumbled, scratching his head.
"Ah." Chayyliel muttered. "That is something I understand very well." She paused. "When the Nephilim sought Eden long ago, they didn't seek anything beyond destroying all that stood in their way to get what they wanted."
"The Nephilim?" Noah paused as he heard the word. "That's strange." He muttered. "I don't remember any lessons about the Nephilim wanting Eden." He mused before rocking his head. "Wait, do you mean the Nephalem?"
"The what?"
"The Nephalem; the children of Angels and Demons. They're the only ones that I know targeted Eden."
"That's them." Chayyliel nodded her head. "Since old times we referred to them as the Nephilim."
"Ah… we refer to half-angel, half-humans as Nephilim." Noah muttered. "There must have been some mistranslation somewhere down the line."
"Perhaps." The Angel muttered as she chose to leave the Orthos den. "Not that it matters at the moment. The Nephilim are gone, all save the Four."
"You mean the Horsemen."
"Yes." Chayyliel brushed back a bit of her hair as she moved forward. "Regardless." Turning back to Noah, the Storm Warden looked him over for a bit. "Young Noah, I have to thank you for assisting us as you did." She held out her hand. "I aim to repay that debt someday."
"You can repay now if you like." Noah grabbed her elbow as she did the same.
"How so?"
"Get some rest." Chayyliel blinked at the request. "You said you were up for several days right? Get some rest and we'll consider your debt paid."
"You waste an angel's debt to have her get rest?"
"Yeah I know, it sounds stupid in the long run. But if you don't rest soon, you're bound to collapse. And if you collapse in the middle of a battlefield..." If he didn't finish that sentence, but Chayyliel understood anyway and released a vaguely humored smile.
"I see your point." She released his arm and nodded. "I will… do as you request, joung Noah."
"Also don't call me that. Just Noah is fine." The teen stated with a smirk. "Anyway I'll see ya around." Noah stated before walking off, stopped and looked at his hand for a moment. All Chayyliel could vaguely see was ash forming in the teen's hand. "Here." He tossed something at her, and without so much as blinking she caught it in her right arm.
"A mirror?"
"You know how to scry right?" Noah asked as he held up a second compact mirror. "I connected it to this one. If you need me to help out again, feel free to contact me. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"I see, thank you, Noah." Chayyliel paused. "It's good to know that we have allies to fight with us."
"Yeah well… humanity won't survive if we isolate ourselves." He admitted. "No point making an enemy on two front's right?"
"Indeed."
"So I'll see you around." Noah gave the woman a two finger salute as he walked off.
Chayyliel just watched him leave before staring at the Compact Mirror that was in her hand. Taking a moment to stare at her reflection before making a noise. "What a strange child." She muttered. "He has a good heart, and strong eyes." She mused before closing the mirror. "And though I hate to admit it, there is something about him I do find interesting." She admitted. "I think I'm beginning to understand why the Fallen found humans alluring." She made a noise as she walked back towards her Sanctuary. "Just a little bit anyway."
Streets
Noah ran. The streets were barren right now, but still he ran. Trying to cover as much ground as he could before the sun set on this side of the world. "I'm not sure how long the nightly repree will last, but I sure as hell don't want to be out late by myself." Sure he could handle himself pretty damn well if push came to shove, but when it was late, in this kind of situation, either things would quiet down, or they would get worse, much worse. "I don't want to figure out which is gonna happen in this scenario, least not yet."
"Well that's a shame, I mean, It would be fun watching you deal with a night raid."
Noah skid to a stop as he heard the voice. The breath he drew sounded like it was a hiss and rubbed his eyes. Hands snaked around his waist as someone pecked his neck. "It's good to see you, Noah."
"Fuck me…"
"Oh I'd love to." His counterpart whispers in his ear, their voice sounds as sweet as a drug. "Out here in the streets, I wonder how many times you can throw out my back."
"Yeah~ no." Noah grabbed the hands on his waist and pulled them open. Then stepped out their reach and turned to look at the figure that had snuck up on him. "No offense, but I'd really rather not."
"Pity." The woman just smiled as she looked at him and he actually returned it with a loose one of his own.
"That's one way of having a reunion, but seriously we're not that close." He admitted before putting a hand in his pocket. "Still it's good to see you, Asmodia. I'm a bit surprised though."
Asmodia; she was… she was beautiful. A seductive, dark beauty that only the high echelons of the demon world could produce. Her skin was the color of granite, rippling with muscle without losing a hint of femininity. Her bust and hips were full, her wings were inverted, her tail was long, She had four horns, and hair as black as ravens feathers. Her eyes were as golden as the sun, and shone with hell's light.
Asmodia, was a Lilim, one of the Daughters of the Blood Prince Samael and the Mad Queen Lilith. Her parentage gave her a power the likes of which was rare even among the Hell's Nobility and the Lords of Hell; not including her own parents and the Lord of All Hells; Lucifer himself.
"Wasn't expecting you to be out and about, Asmodia.
"Why's that?" She asked in feigned curiosity. "It is the Endwar after all?"
"Well yeah, that's true." Noah muttered. "But you don't write, you don't call. I'm pretty sure you had a birthday this year and I wasn't even invited."
"Oh I'm so sorry." The demoness stared up at the teen as she traced his jawline with her finger. "I've just been so busy lately." She told him as she leaned forward. "You know how it is in Hell, The Lords just can't keep their hands to themselves, trying to overthrow one another and all that." Noah just made a light noise as he looked elsewhere and the demoness just smiled.
"Yeah that sounds about right." Noah stepped away from the Demoness as he took a seat on a nearby car. "The Lords of Hell are always in conflict. If they aren't fighting each other, then bottom feeders are trying to replace them." He scratched his head. "Still, it's been two years, how ya been?"
"Quite well." Sitting across from him Asmodia just kept that seductive smile on her face as she stretched, the armor she wore seeming to shift from black to purple as the fading light hit it. "A bit bored but quite well indeed." She looked back at the human. "I'm glad you survived up till now."
"Why's that?"
"Because I wanted to see you." She stated casually. "Seeing your corpse wouldn't nearly be as fun as seeing you alive." She looked him over. "There's so many more things we can do if your breathing."
"Don't make me get a rolled up newspaper girl." She just kept smiling. "Or a hose."
"I wouldn't mind that." Asmodia stated. "You getting me all nice and wet."
"Fuck, I walked into that one didn't I?"
"You kinda did." Noah just shook his head as he ran a hand through his hair.
"By the Creator, how are we close?"
"I'm a demon ,Noah." Asmodia stated. "I'm attracted to power, you have power." She admitted. "So, I have three options, I can try killing you to get rid of a potential rival."
"You tried that once, remember." Noah remarked. "That was~ 3 years ago." He nodded at the memory. "You tried taking my life and I tried taking yours."
"Oh I remember quite well." She ran a hand over part of her armor. "I still have the scars after all." Noah tapped his collarbone.
"So do I. That's how our "relationship" started."
"How true." Asmodia stated. "And since I found killing you won't work, I'll just have to try getting you on my side." She paused. "Even if I have to… I fuck you into submission to do it."
"Yeah no." Noah remarked. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm not that desperate for sex."
"Now that's a pity."
"Now what's your third option for dealing with me?"
"I ignore you, and you know I'm not gonna do that." She smiled again. "And since that's out of the question I'm gonna keep trying the second."
"Sexting me into loyalty?"
"I wish." She licked her lips. "But no, at least not yet. So I'm just going to stay on your good side."
"That doesn't mean I'm on your side." Asmodia didn't stop smiling.
"What's that human expression; Babysteps?" She got to her feet as she stepped up to Noah, her steps adding a sway to her hips that wouldn't be out of place on a model's runway. "And so long as we're on good terms, you don't fight me, I don't fight you. My faction will help you in your endeavours and you will help us in ours."
"Sure old Sammy will be fine with that?" Asmodia set herself in the teens lap as she draped her arms around him.
"Oh yes, he's quite fine with this arrangement." She continued to smile. "In fact he encourages it." Noah wasn't sure if that was a red flag or not.
"Why~?"
"Father has his reasons. Mother as well." Asmodia stated as she shrugged. "Whatever they are, I don't care, at least for now anyway." She fell silent as Noah turned his attention elsewhere. "Mhm~ I would love to scratch up your back Noah." Noah grabbed her hips as he stood, hoisting the demoness up as he did and set her down feet first so that she would stand.
"Not happening." Noah stated as he stepped back from his counterpart. "So." He paused. "Exactly why are you here anyway?"
"Can't I visit?"
"Yes, but again; you don't call for two years, you don't write. Why suddenly drop in to visit unless you have a motive."
"Well, I can't deny that." Asmodia openly shrugged as she looked in the direction Noah had faced moments ago. "I have a request." She began. "It's quite simple really; come with me." Noah raised an eyebrow.
"Where?"
"To my father's Warhost, he'd be honored to speak with you." The way she said honored put the teen on edge.
"Why does old Sammy want to meet with me?" Asmodia just smiled.
"That is… not my place to say."
"Somehow I doubt that." Noah muttered. "I feel it's more you don't want to say."
"You're not exactly wrong." Asmodia admitted. "But regardless my father Samael wants to meet with you, will you come to him?" Noah didn't say anything for a long time, Asmodia didn't care, being patient as he went over something in his head.
Samael, the Blood Prince, the Red Wanderer, the Lord of Black Stone. A Demon Lord only rivaled by the Dark Prince himself. Though if he was going to be honest, Noah wasn't that certain which one had laid claim to Hell first. All he knew was that anything that involved the Demon Lords was bound to be bad news in the long run. Even if that wasn't the case, deals with the Dark Kingdom were never played out in the others favor.
'Still, the hell could old Sammy want with me?' Noah thought. 'Wait…' He looked at Asmodia. "I haven't been killing his guys have I?" Asmodia giggled beautifully.
"Oh no, you're good. Even if you did, father wouldn't mind too much." She made a gesture with her hand. "The weak have little place in Hell's ranks after all."
"Right." Noah muttered as he fell silent. "So… where's your old man anyway?"
"I'll only tell you if you agree to meet with him."
"Yeah I know, that's why I'm asking." Noah muttered in annoyance. "I'd rather not give Sammy a reason to be pissed at me. Best if I stay on his good side." Noah glanced at his counterpart. "Right?"
"There's many benefits to being on the good side of a Lord of Hell." Asmodia stated as she twisted her left hand and snapped her fingers, opening what seemed to be a purple vortex into the world.
A Serpent Hole, it was part of an ancient path that worms its way beneath the husk of this dying world and beyond. Very few know how to make use of them in getting about, letting them move from one place to the next.
Asmodia did.
"Shall we?" Noah just sighed as he scratched his head.
"Yeah I guess so." He shook his head. "I'm already regretting this though."