The sounds of marches, chants, and battles created a symphony around the training grounds. Amon walked high above it to look down as Satan guided him through. Some of the largest, and most muscles-bound demons he had ever seen crashed against one another down there. It was an impressive sight to behold, each and every one of them was clearly an honorable fighter. How Amon was expected to pick amongst them was daunting.
"Here we are Amon, the greatest soldiers from around the planet have been assembled here, just for a chance to be picked out by you. It's a high and worthy honor, wouldn't you say?"
The great devil could only reply through a slow and thoughtful nod. His stare stayed on the training warriors and how captivating each other their fighting styles were. In a way, Amon felt a stroke of excitement in getting to meet and utilize these fighters. It was the first bit of choice and thrill he had felt in some time, and with it, his body language perked too.
He raised his body, and started to look around and see if there were any more that might be present. What he did see, however, what he did see practically emptied him. On the other side of these training grounds in the very distance, Amon could see more devils. These devils were much smaller and meeker than the one's previous.
The beastia's head tilted to the side as the wings on his head pivoted curiously. Satan caught on that something was drawing Amon away. He turned himself questioningly and followed close behind him.
"Amon, what is it? Have you spotted something?" he asked as he flew up next to his shoulder.
The crimson demon paused for some time as he took in the scoop of what he was witnessing. When at last he did speak up, it was cautious.
"What are those devils doing?"
Satan seemed a tad lost by his asking. He could see just on the horizon, those hundreds of devils were lugging around giant supplies. The angel's face fell from its confusing state and turned to one of fact instead.
"Why, they're working. They're constructing our great fortresses and aiding us in the upcoming war. Is that somehow unclear?"
Amon waited a tad more before responding. His brow was creased together, and his eyes seemed troubled.
"Are they there of their own volition?" the beastia's voice was lifeless, as if awaiting an answer he already knew. The lord on the other hand was utterly stunned by the prospect of the question itself. His head turned up to see Amon, inspecting his features just to see if he were serious.
"Well, I don't expect to know. They most likely came in with all the rest of the demons, and based on their rank were placed into the appropriate division. It is an honor, after all, to serve the demon hierarchy in any way," Satan suggested.
Far off, the echo of a sharp, quick, and merciless crack broke through the wind, its sound carrying to the pair's own ears. Amon knew exactly what that was and so did Satan. However, whereas the angel was ready to turn about at the sound, the demon had other plans. Opening his wings, he rocketed himself into the air and went right to the heart of this construction site. He knew Satan was insisting on his return, but he allowed those instructions to roll off him. He kept on, being utterly determined to get a better view of this situation.
"Amon! Amon, come back! What are you doing!?" the angel's voice faintly yelled in the background. The demon pushed on through until the full scope of what was occurring was at last in his view. Below, there were countless devils much weaker than most doing harsh manual labor, within even harsher conditions. Above them, handfuls of higher-ranking officers looked down upon them, whipping them and striking whenever any of them got out of line.
The beastia wasn't sure why, but in the center of his core he was disturbed. The wings on his head fell back and his tail lowered, as his eyes stared on with disappointment. It was so strange for him to be reacting in such a way, he had witnessed cruelty before, but something about this was downright diabolical. He knew none of these demons were given a chance. How they were all forced here into this fate, just like how they were trying to round up those aquarians not too long ago. He even understood the work was important, but in this way, it was simply hard to watch.
"Amon! Why are we out here? There's no reason to be in the construction zone!" Satan barked up at him with a hint of annoyance.
"These devils… They're our own, they're suffering. We can do this another way, it doesn't have to be like this," Amon protested. Before the angel ever had a chance to add in, the demon found something new to focus on. One individual stood out to him more than any of the others, and oddly this one appeared different from the rest. He didn't have any equipment with him, and his body language came off as cautious and highly vigilant. If Amon hadn't been staring down at the whole of the sight from the beginning, he probably never would have spotted him to begin with. The beastly devil flew up again, and without much time for listening to the scolding of another, he swooped down behind a pile of thick hulking logs. Hiding behind this cover, Amon felt concealed enough for the time being to actually track this particular demon and draw him back.
Amon's large, beefy grasp coiled around just in time to meet up with the devil he had spotted. He grabbed him up without warning and pulled him back to meet him once again face to face. There was a look of frightful shock and panic on his features, before those slowly faded away.
"Amon?" the icy devil questioned.
"Nix?" the brutish devil asked in return. His stunned look shifted between happiness and concern. "Nix, what are you doing here?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing, it's great to see you. But you have to go, you're going to blow my cover!" the demon insisted cautiously.
The red devil didn't seem to quite understand as he glanced around. Still, knowing the potential threat that loomed over his friend he did as he requested. He stood up and didn't make eye contact with him, taking on aloof mannerisms and seeming not to care that the smaller devil was present. Nix was appreciative as he crouched lower behind the logs once again.
"What are you up to?"
"It's complicated, but if you're my friend you'll keep this hushed," he vaguely explained.
"Of course, honestly I only came over here because I didn't want to see you end up in this place. This isn't a fair fight, these other demons aren't even allotted a just battle, it's torture."
"Exactly, and that's why we're here," Nix responded as he kept his eyeline vigilantly to the construction area.
"We're?" Amon genuinely questioned.
"Yeah, there's more of us. But it's best you go, you'll attract too much attention," Nix started to sound worrisome.
It was like a switch flipped in the beastia's brain. He instantly nodded his head in understanding, and tried to conceal his presence there. He slinked around the back of their hiding spot without catching any kind of attention, and even after that, he tried to remain down low. When he felt he was far enough away, is when he retook his authoritative posture, pretending as though he had never witnessed Nix or anyone else. At this point, him being there was obvious and the generals that supervised there bowed to him with utmost respect. He already felt much more relieved in his actions and ever more confident in his friend, knowing these generals suspected nothing.
"Good work, Amon!" he heard the sound of Satan's voice at his back. Turning about, Amon felt sure of himself, but in that very next breath it all disappeared. He may have avoided the other general's, but the angel proved to be more vigilant. In the lord's grasp, Nix squirmed and strived to pull away with all his might, but that simply wasn't enough. The wing's on Amon's head drew back as his head shook slightly and a look of despair came over him.
"Thank goodness you two came around, we found a whole bunch of these traitors. They were going to try and bust out the others," another general added in.
"Well, it seems to me these devil's need to learn some respect. I know exactly where they'll be placed," Satan spoke highly. Amon knew where he was talking about, he knew their future would be one of torture, and for what? To give others a fighting chance? The guilt twisted up his insides and reconfigured his facial features. Seeing the look of absolute defeat and fear on his friend's face, it crumpled him up.
Strangely, Amon's culpability almost on a dime shifted to anger and determination almost on a dime. He lifted his head and for once acknowledged the power he held and gambled it.
"I know where they're going too, they're coming with me," Amon announced.
His words hung in the air as all his peers looked at him as if he had grown a second head. An uproar of laughter, at last, broke this stall and only tested the beastie further.
"Oh, that's a good one sir. You want to do all the punishments yourself!" one officer chuckled.
"Man at that point I might just feel bad for these traitors, ha!" another finished. His addition rekindled the original spirit of humor, all except for Amon and the prisoners.
"That's very generous of you Amon, but we have more important manners to attend to. Don't you recall we have a sprawling plethora of eligible soldiers to fight in your honor," Satan reminded as he handed off Nix to another general.
Amon could see the hurt and complete disappointment in Nix's gaze, and each and every one of the new prisoners looked the same. He couldn't let this be, he couldn't let his friend down in this way. The renowned demon sharpened his features, and raised his head firmly.
"I've already made my choice. These demons will be my army, all of these demons will fight with me!"
Genuine shock tied their tongues this time, as the generals and Satan stared up to him. Surprise was something to be had on all the present devil's faces, though those of the lesser demons slowly began to brighten.
"Amon, what are you saying? You can't take on these devils, they're far more trouble than they're worth. They're weak and traitorous, we have better, more qualified demons awaiting you," the angel reiterated.
The great demon shook his head and motioned for the general to release Nix.
"Then it is my duty to take on such a challenge. I am to defend all demonkind and rally their forces, whatever those may be. In that regard, the only reasonable thing I could do is bring on these traitors and weaker demons," he enforced. Amon approached Nix and guided him away and brought him to his side. The remaining generals were completely perplexed, with their line of sight darting back and forth between the two forces.
"Come now, release them! That is my order!" Amon now barked.
Satan had been holding his patience to the best of his ability, but his disgust was now turned up his expression.
"Amon, you claim to be helping demonkind, but these forts are important to our cause. If you are to take our workers, how do you presume this necessary work gets done?" the Lord questioned sharply.
"Well, it's just as you said, it's an honor to aid the demon hierarchy in any way, right? If that proves to be true, you'll have devils lining up to help out. Maybe you all will need to find a better solution to your problem, because this one isn't working."
The tension between their eye contact was practically visible. The demon and the angel held their grounds through this silent standoff, until Amon, at last, tore himself away from it. Instead, his interest turned to more important manners. He oversaw each and every demon that would be fighting beneath him now and brought them in with dignity.
"Amon, I can't believe you did that. Aren't you a little concerned?" Nix asked as he walked along, assisting his friend in any way he could.
"What do I have to fear? I'm told every day how powerful and important I am," the beastia shrugged. The simper on his face was deceptive however, inside he did in fact worry what Zennon might do in regard to this. He could only hope that he did not secure them a worse fate, one where Zennon would insist on their slaughter. Amon threw away these thoughts; however if the king wanted to do such a thing as that, he would have a say. He would not stand for it. The demon's brow knit together in determination as he began to line up his newly chosen men in front of Satan.
"Thank you, Amon," he heard Nix whisper as he took his spot closest to his leader.
Looking into Satan's face, he could see the disdain and the utter ferocity at his disrespectful display. The Lord had no choice but to hold his tongue and have the new army escorted into their designated chambers.
Their general watched them off with pride in his features. He hardly cared what Satan or anyone else thought of it. He stood with his arms across his puffed-out chest, chin held high. Steadily, the angel walked up next to the red devil. He stared on beside him for some time before speaking finally, in a dull tone.
"Zennon will not be pleased by this outcome."
A lull filled the gap between them, until all at once it was broken.
"So be it…"
With that, the devil lifted himself into the sky flying above his army, and assuring their safe journey to their barracks.
The hours had passed, and the dense darkness now shrouded the land with only a sprinkle of stars to shine down. Amon sat by himself atop one of the loftiest cliffs in Zennon's kingdom. It was high enough that he could see the devils he had rescued enjoying their meal, a few drinks, and some well-deserved rest below. He had become increasingly concerned and protective of his men, curious to know what the king might try next.
He sighed and his gaze traced the stars once more. He couldn't help but feel as though he was becoming lost in the sight, hypnotized by that distant world. The world he supposedly had been born from. Steadily, what was once thoughtless dazing began to become more emotional, more heated. He didn't know exactly why, but he was angry. Amon's emotions were undeniable at this point; he knew he felt like this, but there was nothing to take it out on. There was no foreseeable foe, no obstacle that he could tell that evoked it, or for him to defeat.
The demon could feel his face become more scornful. He could feel the fur-raising on his back and shoulders, his tail flick in agitation. All he could do was stare daggers into that darkened void, that place he hated, that he longed for but also could never have. It's not like he even directly wanted to go there, but maybe he had to, because where he was right now, he was simply unhappy.
A growl rumbled in his spacious chest, as he squeezed his eyes shut and threw his fist at a nearby boulder. When his eyes opened again, he could see the once sturdy stone turn to pebbles and he could hear its pieces crash to the ground. His act of senseless violence was only a temporary cure for the turmoil he felt, however, and once the rush had ended, the emptiness took up its place. He took a breath again as he peered down at his hand, with a somewhat saddened expression.
"Hey, you brute you, there's no need to take your frustrations out on the mountain while I'm here," a sultry voice teased. Amon's ears twitched to her, already knowing who it was. A part of him dreaded explaining himself, but oddly he almost felt a sense of comfort in that fact there was another.
"What do you want, Sirene?" he sounded beat.
With a curious yet still puckish look, she began to sashay her way up to him.
"Do I need a reason to want to see my soon-to-be mate?" she said, caressing his cheek and bringing him to face her.
Very subtly Amon's face lifted slightly. A shimmer of hope passed through his mind and reflected in his eyes, all until she opened her mouth again.
"Well, actually I did really want to know what happened today," she laughed playfully. Amon's body drooped once more as he exhaled, any hope he may have had been dashed.
"What's there more to know? I have chosen my army and I am satisfied. That's all there is," the demon answered briskly.
Sirene hardly let a second pass before her laughter got the better of her. Amon watched her unamused as she nearly doubled over herself.
"Oh, dearest, you always had an absurd sense of humor. Come now, we both know you did this to spite the king. He thinks he can command a great warrior like you around, I'd want to pester him myself."
The red devil was listening to her but in no way showed it. His body language was hardly present as he simply stood there glaring into nothingness.
"Still though, he is a strong and noble ruler, even if he is a tad overbearing. It's best you don't rile him up too much as to stay in his good favor," Sirene took Amon by the arm, cuddling up into him without a care in the world. "Come now Amon, I've been missing you. Let us reconnect under the bright and beautiful moon," her voice purred.
Amon released another huff and impulsively ripped his arm away from her. This action was the first that really brought to Sirene's attention just how irritated her lover may have truly been. Her brow came together, as a lost and appalled look took up her features.
"No, I don't want to do anything tonight, and I don't care what Zennon thinks!" the beastia blurted as he stomped to the cliff's edge.
Sirene scoffed, "Hey, you did this to yourself! If you just picked the soldiers you were supposed to, no one would be upset!"
"Yeah, and if I didn't, those same soldiers would continue to be tortured and never even given the opportunity to prove themselves at all!" Amon spat back.
Sirene shook her head as her mouth gaped in dumbstruck awe, "What do you care!? They're weak, puny devils who could never hold their own anyway!"
"You don't know that! Some of them I have discovered to have hidden talents and powerful secrets, and yet this kingdom is more set with just simply terminating or enslaving them!" Amon now faced her once more. The heat could be felt emanating from the fiery demon, as his position became that much firmer.
"Yeah, and most of them would be killed before figuring that out anyway, what's your point?" she crossed her arms.
"I'm saying I'm giving them a chance. I'm giving them that chance so that they can become stronger. We can have new methods to fight, and with this divine war on the horizon, I'd say that's more important than ever. We need as much help as we can get from anywhere. I will give them this honor to fight for their home just like the rest of us!" Amon's voice boomed with passion.
An icy cold stare bore its way through Amon. Sirene's face twisted up with frigid disappointment, and she paused for a noticeable amount of time before speaking.
"You are sending them to their suicide."
The bluntness of her words hit him like a hammer and for a split second the strong look on Amon's face broke.
"Be completely honest Amon, maybe some of them by some miracle could beat a physically greater foe, but not most of them. You would only be filling them with some false hope that would get them killed instantly."
Amon grimaced, "Well maybe, but I would much rather die on the battlefield with the honor of a fair fight and a worthy cause, than in some ditch as someone's slave."
Sirene's eyes tapered, "What is it with you and this sense of honor? What does it matter if the fight's fair or not. If you win, you win, by any means necessary!"
Amon felt a chill branch out through his chest and his ears pull back. She had struck a chord, one that the demon knew he felt vehemently about, but truly could never understand why. Admittedly, it was a question he had never considered but always felt in the recesses of his mind. He breathed a little harder, and his sight traced along the ground as if it held some kind of answer.
"W-well, I mean why wouldn't I? How do you truly test your strength and worth if you're not trying your hardest, and so is your enemy?" Amon tried to justify.
"That's not what matters, coming out on top is what matters. You know that that's all we demons do. I don't understand where this philosophy of yours came from, and why you hold onto it so much."
The demon was starting to pull back as if trying to literally escape the question. His teeth came together as did his eyelids, until he shot a fierce look back at her once again.
"It doesn't matter where it came from! It's just how I see it, and if you want to be my mate so badly like you claim you'll respect that, understand!"
He stood above her taking an intimidating stance. It was one of those rare instances Sirene appeared meek in front of another and even a tad regretful. The wings on her head twitched as they pulled back.
"I suppose I will have to…" her tone sounded milder. "However, that does not mean I agree with you, I still think this way of thinking is superfluous."
The tension was thick in the air as they remained there silently, and their eyes warred with one another. Amon was the first to break away with a slight snort. The irritation was brimming on his features and Sirene picked up on it. Her feelings of discourse hadn't wavered much, but her want for Amon overcame it.
The harpy slowly allowed a gentleness to overcome her aggression, as she sighed.
"Amon, what's happened? We shouldn't be fighting over these trivial matters. We are strongest as partners," she steadily tried to warm up to him again. He didn't dismiss her, but the affection also wasn't reciprocated. "We don't have to agree on everything, as long as our target is the same, nothing stands in our path."
She twined around him to better view his face. He avoided her eyes, but once again did not leave her. She allowed a cheeky smile to form on her face.
"Come on Amon, you remember all that blood we shed together. All the damage we can cause," she said excitedly.
Amon couldn't help but feel the corner of his lip turn up, recalling all the wars they've waged. It was a golden sight for Sirene as she began to grin wider.
"That's right, you know what I'm talking about," her voice was ornery. "You know we are the strongest couple out there; all the other demons would look upon us with such envy!"
She allowed her talons to lightly trace him, soothing him little by little. He hardly recognized how buttered up he was becoming. Still, something irked him in the back of his mind.
"Just think of it Amon, someday we will rule, and live luxuriously in a palace. A perfect life, and it's all waiting for us, it's ours for the taking…" she paused as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Can't you just imagine it?"
"Yeah," he said softly as he gave in and lightly leaned into her. That scratch in his brain didn't reduce one bit however as a frown settled on his lips. "Sirene?"
"Yes, Amon?" her voice was breathy.
"You long for more than just the praise of others and wealth, right?" he asked in all seriousness.
The bird demoness's head poked up, as a puzzled expression came upon her.
"Well, of course, I long for the battle, the battle with you, and the lusting after too," she looked at him with a kittenish eye.
Amon didn't emote much in response. He continued to face her with solemn features.
"That's what you really want?"
Sirene lifted her head with a smirk and complete honesty on her face, "What more could anyone possibly want?"
The beastia felt her warm body curl up against his, but still somehow felt cold within. His tiredness got the better of him however, he was exhausted from this conversation. No matter how uneasy he felt, he didn't want to stay on it any longer.
"I don't know…"
