Chapter 4
Author's Note: This has been a long time coming. It's sat idle on my hard drive for the better part of the year. This story will not be abandoned. I am working on it in my spare time but life has a way of getting in the way. Please Read and Review and check out my RWBY x Harry Potter Crossover. Been on a RWBY binge recently mostly cause I love Salem and Cinder.
At the same time another meeting was going on.
As if representative of the tense atmosphere the room was dimly it with braziers positioned at the four corners of the cavernous room. Above a large rectangular table a wrought iron chandelier hung, candles dripping wax down below as several looked on in distaste. The chandelier itself barely provided enough illumination for the assembled people to look upon one another without difficulty.
Not that it was a good thing.
Between the veiled threats being exchanged, the superior smirks, and the sneers each group directed at one another, it was less of a friendly meeting and more an attempt to set each other on fire using only their eyes.
The scary part was that some had actually succeeded in their endeavors.
At the head of the table sat a tall man wearing a black coat with a mixture of black and blond hairs as well as heterochromatic eyes, the left being gold while his right was black. He was resting the chin of his head in his palm as he looked at those gathered around him in boredom, seeing himself above their petty squabbles. At any other time he might've been tempted to take a nap, but he knew that if he didn't keep an eye on the assembled Faction Leaders a fight would break out and they'd have to move to a new meeting room.
Again.
They were still trying to get all the scorch marks and blood out of the last one, not to mention the massive amount of property damage that came when some overeager Magicians began flinging Hellfire.
Gathered before him were the assembled leaders of the various Factions that made up Khaos Brigade, a loosely allied group formed under the banner of Ophis, the Infinite Dragon, whose aim was to her home in the Dimensional Gap by ousting its current occupant, Great Red.
Just remembering the Apocalypse Dragon sent shivers down his spine. Once when he had been much younger and much more foolish he had dared to seek out the colossal dragon, only to freeze when he had looked upon its golden eyes. Before that moment he had always viewed himself as one of the strongest of his kind, power made manifest and capable of taking whatever he wanted to at will. He had never tasted the bitter and painful sensations that accompanied defeat, or fear. After all, why would he? Entire pantheons trembled at his coming, Gods laid down their arms in his wake, and the finest of all life's things were offered in appeasement and bribes for him to leave them alone. He had caves filled with the finest of sculptures, the greatest of paintings, mountains of gold and jewels sitting idly, been serenaded by bards and minstrels from all walks of life, been privy to secrets that could break empires and shown plays and arts that would have made men weep.
And yet in that moment he had no more power than a newborn kitten.
Great Red had taken one look at him, his massive jaw opening in a draconian smile and waited. Later on in life as man evolved and grew, he would finally have a name for the look that the Apocalypse dragon had fixed him with. A smirk. It would also drive home the fact that the greatest of all their kind (not that he would ever admit it out loud) was in fact a delinquent who spent his time flying in the Dimensional Gap doing nothing more than pulling off tricks and stunts, and sometimes pretending to be Manfred von Richtofen shooting down planes and strafing nonexistent battlefields.
A loud bang shook him out of his revelry as he fixed the leaders with a baleful glare. Assembled at the table were the various commanders of the Old Satan Faction, represented by the Descendants of the original Satans: Shalba Beelzebub, Creuserey Asmodeus and Katerea Leviathan, The Hero Faction led by Cao Cao, the Magicians Faction whose leader was not here was represented by the Triumvirate of Le Fay Pendragon, Walburga of Hexennacht, and the sorceress Alexandra Yeva. Lastly was the faction known as Qlippoth headed by Rizevim Livan Lucifer and Euclid Lucifuge.
Sweeping his heterochromatic eyes over them, he saw the source of the disturbance and had to suppress a sigh of exasperation. Every time!
Once more the Hero faction and the Old Satan Faction were at each other's throats, the Magicians subtly egging on their fellow humans using a variety of subtle charms. The blast had come from Katerea Leviathan, her fist smashing against the wooden table, cracking the surface. Suddenly annoyed, he let loose with his dragonic aura, instantly forcing the offending devils to tense in fear, as the Sacred Gear wielders instinctually brought out their gears in preparation for battle.
Katerea turned, her hazel eyes locking on with his heterochromatic ones. Slitted pupils met dilated ones as she began to pant and struggle to breath. "This is a millennia old cedar table." Pushing himself away from the table, he stood up, and stalked towards his prey. "The tree that it came from is older than you are, having come from the Sumerian forests in which Gilgamesh and Enkindu traveled. They may have been the first to chop a tree down from that ancient place, but what you so brazenly damaged was created the last remaining tree. Created for me by Mesh-he of the Uruk Dynasty, over 2000 years before the Son of God was born. This table has been in my hoard before your ancestors even emerged from the primordial soup, and yet you dare to damage it." By now he was directly in front of the devil, his tall frame looming over her as he refused to break eye contact.
He was a dragon, and this bint in front of him had dared to damage an item that he had so generously allowed them to use from his own hoard. His pride would allow nothing but the complete subjugation and groveling of the arrogant devil who dared to think herself better. Even now he wanted nothing more than to roast her, to finally bring an end to the worsening headache that every meeting brought.
Nevertheless, for the sake of diplomacy he didn't.
"Now." He sneered. "Explain yourself."
"It's all their fault!" Katerea snapped, jabbing an elegant finger towards the humans who were sitting opposite her. "If it wasn't for their interference we could have ended the war."
"Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the war end years ago?" Siegfried, a descendent of the great Nordic hero smiled condescendingly from his spot behind his leader. His silver-white hair was held in a loose ponytail with a rawhide leather thong as his fingers drummed against the pommel of one of his many swords. "You lost by the way. Just in case you didn't get the memo."
Several members of the Hero and Magicians Factions' entourage sniggered, earning them a baleful glare from those devils that accompanied the Old Satan Faction.
"Trust me human." Katerea sneered. "The war is far from over."
"Really because from the reports I am reading most of the assets that you committed towards the fight were destroyed by Serafall Leviathan, and Valencia Lucifer." Walburga commented, sliding a manila folder to stop in front of the woman. She had made sure to put extra emphasis on Serafall Leviathan, enjoying how the Descendent of the Original Leviathan twitched at the usurper's name. "150 high-class devils, 563 middle-class and about 1000 low-class devils that you had pressed into service against the current regime, what is that almost a quarter of your entire fighting force. Not to mention all the strategic resources that you lost, and dedicated in an attempt to break through the dimensional lock to teleport your troops in."
"None of this would've happened if you had committed your own forces." Creuserey countered. "With the addition of the Magicians and the Hero faction, we would have been able to kill half of the Leaders of the Underworld, and taken control."
"Why would we waste our own forces aiding you?" Cao Cao asked.
"More importantly, how were you planning on seizing control of the Underworld when you still had to contend with Ajuka Beelzebub and Falbium Asmodeus?"
"DO NOT SPEAK THAT USURPER'S NAME!" Shalba hissed. "THAT PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A DEVIL DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE CALLED BEELZEBUB!"
"That pathetic excuse of a devil as you call him, is classed as a super-devil whose powers are at the same height if not greater than your ancestor." Le Fay refuted. "He can literally rewrite reality with the use of the Kankara Formula, if anyone is the pathetic one it's you, throwing around your ancestor's name and mooching off past glories that have long been forgotten. If you hadn't been born into your positions your powers would barely be classed as high-class, you facing off against Ajuka Beelzebub is a laughable endeavor and a suicidal one at that."
"How dare you question your betters! You filthy little-"
Whatever else he was going to say came out as a strangled croak as his hands began to claw at his throat.
"You talk too much." All eyes turned towards the last member of the Magician's Triumvirate. Even among the beauties of the supernatural world her looks would not be found wanting. Rich crimson hair cascaded down her back, ending just above her narrow waist, showcasing her perfect hourglass figure. Succulent ruby red lips, her tongue lightly tracing them, the sheen entrancing even Cao Cao who found it impossible to look away. Her emerald eyes, so like her Lord's blazed with barely restrained power, windows into her soulless form that oozed predatory grace. With a toss of her hair she enthralled every male within the room, and at her command entire armies would lay down their lives to please her, artists would sell their souls to capture her beauty and men willingly sacrifice everything they owned just to earn a second look from her.
Alexandra Yeva, the Countess of Blood.
A dhamphir responsible for committing horrible atrocities in her quest for knowledge, and while her mixed blood status would normally not allow her to gain prestige within the Tepes or Carmilla factions, her sheer power and knowledge of ancient rites made her a force to be reckoned with. She had slaughtered all those that opposed her until her body count became uncountable and she stood at the top where no one would question her. Through rituals and the blackest of arts her strength surpasses that of her full-blooded relatives, while at the same time her human half allowed her to wield the prodigious magics of humanity and be unharmed by her kin's weaknesses.
"That's enough Lady Yeva." Le Fay said gently touching the other woman's shoulder. "Release him." The red haired woman turned to her blonde counterpart, a look of defiance in her eyes as she made it clear that Le Fay could not command her. "Remember what your Lord commanded."
"As you wish." The Countess acquiesced, and with a twitch of her finger Creuserey collapsed, rubbing his throat as he took in a lungful of air as quickly as possible.
"You bitch." Creuserey spat, murder in his eyes as he glared at the Dhamphir. "You thrice damned half breed. I'll kill you."
"Hold your tongue." The Countess commanded. Eyes widened in surprise as the arrogant devil did exactly that, his arm trembling as he attempted to fight her order. "Lest it gets ripped out."
"Alexandra, enough!" Le Fay demanded, flaring her own prodigious might as the dhamphir refused to back down. The air around her shimmered as magic began to warp reality itself and further away circles began to materialize ready to launch their deadly payloads at a moment's command.
"The time has come to put this trash in his place." Alexandra responded calmly, unphased by the fact she was staring down dozens of literal barrels.
"His time will come." Le Fay promised grimly. The two women stared each other down, daring the other to blink first, to be the first to submit to the other.
"Very well." Alexandra smiled dangerously, her sharp fangs visible as her emerald eyes, having glowed with eldritch power, dimmed and returned to their normal poisonous green. "I'll hold you to that."
"Enough." Crom Cruach interjected, stopping anyone from continuing this discussion. "We have other matters to discuss and I won't have you killing one another over inane comments. Cao Cao have your members stop taunting the Old Satan devils, I've received enough complaints from the other factions about fights breaking out and wrecking entire wings of the castle. Le Fay, Walburga, rein in your Magicians and don't think that I didn't notice that you've been subtly using spells to sow discord between the Satan faction and everyone else." The aforementioned leaders nodded not looking at all contrite.
"As for you." Crom Cruach glared at the offending Old Satan Faction. "The next time one of you thinks about summoning hellfire to solve a simple problem know that the sprinklers will be spraying Holy Water.
With no small amount of grumbling the previously homicidal leaders began to calm their subordinates. What a merry bunch of psychopaths we have. Crom Cruach thought, resisting the urge to pinch his nose in frustration, waving his hand he informed a nearby servant that it was time.
The low-class devil scampered off quickly, no doubt happy to get out of the firing range of those infinitely more powerful than himself. "Now for the sake of curiosity, what exactly was your plan?" Crom Cruach asked idly. 'You don't have the forces necessary to establish a beachhead in the Underworld, and even if you did succeed in killing Serafall Leviathan and Sirzech Lucifer you'd still have to deal with Ajuka Beelzebub and Falbium Asmodeus." The ancient dragon glanced at Shalba, noting the interesting puce color he turned at the mention of the so-called "Usurper".
Creuserey cleared his throat, eyes darting between the various leaders of the Old Satan faction, silently asking who wanted to speak on their behalf. Seeing no one else wishing to continue he took it upon himself to explain. "Our plan was twofold. The first part was to attack the peace conference and buy time for a second strike directly at Lilith, the capital of the Underworld. This second strike would have eliminated the various Department Heads needed for day to day operations. Secondary objectives were the disruption of the teleportation network preventing troops from being easily moved into the capital, as well as seizing control of broadcast buildings and media outlets. Once the attack had been carried out forces within the Underworld would join us to kill the remaining Usurpers."
"Forces in the Underworld? At the moment you barely have 5 thousand fighters, a sliver of the troops that Ajuka and Falbium have at their direct command. Not to mention the number of troops that the various Pillars would be able to pledge should you attempt a coup." Cao Cao pointed out.
"We wouldn't need to worry about the Pillars." Shalba sneered. "Once they see the troops of the True Heirs of the Demon Lords, they'll be tripping over themselves to pledge allegiance to us. Low-class devils will be welcoming us, as they throw open the doors of their cities to make way for our army."
Pin drop silence, as the various faction leaders and their entourages turned to stare at the Old Satan Faction in disbelief.
"You're delusional." Rizevim put it bluntly, refusing to believe that these ingrates were the self-proclaimed "pinnacle" of his species.
"After this go to the medical bay." Crom Cruach instructed. "And have them check you over for a head injury."
Ignoring the sputtering devil and the angry sycophants that he had brought, he turned to the faction that he was holding responsible for salvaging some of this mess that they found themselves in. "What makes you think that any of what you said would be true?" Cao Cao asked in disbelief.
"Those usurpers have done nothing but weaken us!" Katerea snapped driving her fist into the table. "Preaching equality and peace, they spit on the very foundations that our society was built upon."
"Oh really." A voice drawled, as the assembled heads turned to the open door at the end of the room. Clad in a sleeveless azure robe, its cut displaying the ensorcelled steel underneath, his lithe figure and raven hair contrasted by the emerald eyes glowing with barely restrained power.
"You offer them nothing but war and death, a return to the old ways. While we detest you just for existing, even we can admit that things have been better since your ancestors were killed." Walking towards the table, his booted feet clacked against the polished marble floor. Standing in front of the table he made his way to the side of the Magicians, pausing only to acknowledge the leader of the Heroes. "Cao Cao." He said with a respectful nod.
"Witch King." The Chinese hero responded. A faint smile tugged at the man's lips as he stood in front of the assembled magicians.
"Under the New Satans they want for nothing, food is abundant, fear no longer rules their lives. Low-class devils are able to wander the streets of Lilith unmolested, fearing neither death nor enslavement at the hands of those stronger than them. Their lives are no longer governed by the whims of those above them."
"Stagnancy. Weakness. Peace." Katerea spat. "The Satans are a disgrace to us, their mindless preaching and pandering to the masses have driven our species to weakness. The 72 Demons that broke away from the Almighty would be ashamed at what we've become."
"And yet here you are." The man commented. "True blooded descendants of those same leaders, weak and infirm, your perceived power naught but a distant delusion."
Unable to take anymore insults one of the devils screamed in anger, a roaring inferno in his hand which he hurled at the man. "Pathetic." Extending a single finger the roaring inferno stopped condensing down into a ball which hovered above the finger. Several looked shocked at his actions, while others could only gape at the display. "Look at them." He addressed his fellow magicians. "The vaunted pinnacle of Devil-kind." With a single thought he snuffed out the inferno, instead replacing it with a burning light that drove the assembled leaders of the Old Satan Faction and their entourage to cower in the darkest corners that they could find in order to avoid the purifying light.
Even Rizevim who was not the target of the attack instinctually pushed his chair away from the table as he readied himself to run should the light get anywhere near him.
"With such weakness is it no surprise that they sit here cowering in the face of beings greater than themselves. Even the weakest of us are capable of summoning light in sufficient quantities to drive off a devil. Yet you declare yourselves the strongest? Cower filth for you are but ants to be crushed at the whims of giants."
Turning his back he moved towards the magicians, the crowd easily parting at his passing, reverent and respectful whispers floating around him, until he came to three women that governed the Triumvirate. To his left was Walburga wearing her distinctive gothic Lolita outfit, which accented her creamy skin. Her short brown hair held numerous ribbons in it as amethyst eyes stared at him in reverence. When he met her gaze it immediately turned submissive, as she looked to the floor.
To his right was his apprentice and oldest friend Morgana Le Fay Pendragon or as she preferred Le Fay. Without a doubt the most powerful mortal human sorceress alive and arguably among the most powerful sorceresses to ever walk the land, her name spoken with the same respect given to her namesake, as well as Medea and Circe. Her once golden blonde hair had faded to snow white as they delved deeper and deeper into forbidden magics except for a single streak of honey wheat at the forefront. Long and silky she took pride in it as she held it in a braid casually thrown over her shoulder to rest between her voluptuous breasts. From behind pince-nez, eyes like sapphires radiated barely controlled might as the magic within her raged at their shackles desperate to break loose and remake the world in her image. He knew that if he looked in the mirror that he would see the same thing, his strength with the arcane to the point that if he wasn't actively suppressing himself his magic would lash out and turn his subconscious desires into reality. The dress she wore was purple, cut to emphasize her hourglass figure and long legs, while being trimmed with gold. A hooded cape lay hung from a peg behind her chair in the same colors. Her hands caressed the Mithril shaft of a staff topped with a roughly hewn jewel making it more reminiscent of a spear than anything else. It may have looked rough but he knew from experience that the thousands of facets held within were capable of bending light in ways that even he could not fathom or control. Le Fay fixed him with a dangerous smile that demanded answers, and one that promised pain if she didn't like said answers.
Idly he remembered the threat that Bikou had mentioned when he last saw him, and he had no intention of finding out if she was willing to castrate him.
However it was the woman in the middle that immediately put him on guard.
Hair like freshly spilt blood shimmered in the candle light as her tongue traced her kissable lips. Desire, and lust, the dark sides of passion, everything about her teased him, from the skin tight leather she wore to the tantalizing neck that begged to be kissed. At his gaze her unrestrained power flooded the room as she enthralled every man and woman within. The stronger willed ones like Cao Cao and Rizevim managed to catch themselves before they did something stupid, discretely wiping away some drool that began to leak from the corners of their mouth, while the weak willed ones fainted in euphoric bliss, their pants stained as they were subjected to pleasures that could and would drive men insane. Her emerald eyes shone with a mischievous and malevolent light, daring him, tempting him to take a single step towards her, to surrender and supplicate himself before her and call her Mistress, for then and only then would he be worth anything in her gaze. When faced with such beauty and grace it was only natural that they be captivated, and yet he refused to yield, challenging her. Raw unbridled lust and passion met the unforgiving cold might of winter's fury as he unleashed temperatures that lulled the weak into death's embrace. Push and pull the two opposites of nature vied for supremacy. Perfectly manicured nails traced her collarbone, trailing lower and lower drawing his eye toward the scandalous cut of her blouse revealing the swell of her breasts.
Submit.
An insidious whisper in his ears as he her voice echoed in his mind.
Prostrate yourself.
He could feel the heat of her breath on his ear as her tongue lightly traced his neck, her favored spot.
Bow.
The dark and seductive voice, full of promises and pleasures capable of bending any to her will, warred within his conscience.
No.
Defiance. A will of unyielding steel, quenched and tempered in battle against hers, wizened from experience and failure. The pleasures that voice promised would only bring pain and suffering on the unprepared.
Amusement.
A delicately raised eyebrow greeted his answer as she graced him with a beatific and wicked smile that sent shivers down the backs of all the men gathered around the table.
Slowly the two warring powers receded until the Leader of the Magicians was left starring at the unruly Dhamphir.
He turned his back on her taking own seat, ignoring the challenging smirk and victorious glint in her eyes when he refused to castigate her. "So what have I missed?"
Before one of the triumvirate could fill him in, Shalba spoke up in his haughty voice. "And where have you been?"
"My business is my own." Hadrian responded evenly. "I do not go to you and demand an accounting of your actions, so do me the courtesy and do not demand of me. Nevertheless you were the ones that issued this summons do get to the point, as I'm sure we all have placed we'd rather be."
Placing a hand on her fellow leader's arm before he embarrassed himself Katerea continued. "We're here to censure you."
"Oh." Hadrian responded interestedly. "And for what perceived slight are you censuring us for?" Staring at each of the devils gathered before him, he let the reins on his power slip a little. "I don't believe that I've done anything that warrants such an act." Choose your next words carefully. Emerald eyes shifted to be pupil-less as they began to glow a haunting green.
"Because of you!" Shalba screamed shaking off the hand of Leviathan's descendent. "The assassination attempt failed because of you!"
"Curious." He responded leaning back on his throne. "And here I thought it was your own incompetence and lack of foresight."
Forcibly grabbing her fellow leader's arm and pulling him into his seat she shot him a withering glare, daring him to screw this up anymore. "You had the perfect opportunity to deal a crippling blow to the Underworld, and yet you failed to capitalize on the opportunity. You call us incompetent, and yet you fail to kill someone with a foot in the grave already."
"Did the thought that I never wanted Sirzechs dead ever cross your daft minds?" He drawled. Holding up his hand he forestalled the outburst that was about to happen. "Sirzechs took something from me. Something precious, and until such a time that his entire world lies in ash he shall live, for it is only when every shred of hope, every positive feeling he has ever known lies broken will he know the sweet release of death's embrace"
"You would put your own personal feelings above that of our organization." Crom Cruach asked pointedly.
"And why not?" The Witch King responded. "Let's be honest with one another here. This organization…" You could taste the sarcasm in his voice. "Is nothing more than a loose coalition of people brought together under the banner of the Infinite Dragon. Half of us here would like to do nothing more than to kill the other half." At his words several magicians nodded as the gathered heroes emboldened by his words looked at the devils with varying degrees of hate, an overwhelming need to spill blood rising up within them. "Most of us here have differing goals and opinions, one wanting to do nothing more than regain power that was never theirs to begin with." He shot a superior smirk at the bristling devils. "Another wants nothing more than absolute chaos." Rizevim had the audacity to smile manically and wave. "And then there's us." Cao Cao nodded at him.
"Yes." Rizevim questioned. "There's you, what is it that you want? You and the Heroes are the only ones whose motives are unclear."
"I thought it would be obvious." Cao Cao responded. "We're here to demonstrate the power of humanity."
"Jumped up insects." One of the devils in the back grumbled, loudly enough that rest of the room heard him.
"That's rich coming from the rejected spawn of an extinct house." Le Fay said, a condescending smile affixed to her angelic face.
"Enough." Crom Cruach spoke, silencing any rebuttals. "Getting back on topic, the Old Satan faction has filed a grievance against you, and demanded a blood debt be paid."
"And what is it that they want?" Hadrian asked shifting in his seat.
"Your magicians." Katerea smirked.
Pin drop silence, as the Triumvirate of witches turned to their leader ready to step in should his reaction be what they expected.
"Denied." No hesitation at all.
"Listen here you arrogant lit-" Anything else the Devil was going to say was cut off by a whoosh and the smell of burnt flesh. Eyes widening in fear the gathered Devils turned to the far wall, to see their compatriot was nothing more than a shadow on the wall.
Sensing another influx of power, they turned back and saw the Witch King's hand aglow with Holy Light. If the light magic from before was bad then this was ten times worse as their natural weakness was infused with the righteous and purifying power of the Divine God who had cast them from Heaven. "Listen, and listen well, for I shall not repeat myself." Getting up from his throne he stalked towards the devils, the triumvirate moving to flank him protectively.
"Even the most heinous of souls, stained black with darkest deeds is worth a million of your wretched kind. For they at least have a chance at redemption, while only the eternal flames of damnation and the nothingness awaits you. I would gladly kill everyone of you before me." He said his body aglow with power enough to make even Crom Cruach wary. "If it meant that even a single human soul was saved, and yet here you are demanding that I turn over my people." His arm swept across the gathered magicians. "To your filthy hands?"
"If you refuse to do this, then we'll have no choice but to pull our support from this organization." Katerea threatened looking directly at the Dragon that led the meeting.
"Then leave!" The Witch King threatened. "You barely have enough troops and supplies to aid us anyways, and as soon as you do know that you become fair game."
Several of the gathered heroes began fingering their weapons, bloodthirsty smiles adorning their faces as they psyched themselves up for a hunt should the Old Satan faction leave.
"Between the Heroes and the Magicians, we supply most of the logistical support as well as frontline combatants, you…you supply cannon fodder that can't even die properly. Losing you is no great loss, in fact operations might run smoother without you to muck everything up."
Katerea turned to Crom Cruach, the leader of their meeting. "Surely you can see the benefits of our faction? The lives of a few humans cannot compare to the benefits and results we bring."
"What…," a sibilant voice hissed out, starting everyone in the room. At the cold and raw presence everyone of them stood or sat ramrod straight, refusing to move, as the feeling of being completely surpassed bore down on them. "…Results?" Stepping out from one of the shadows cast by the braziers a beautiful woman clad in a form hugging black dress stepped forth. A deep v in the front ending just below her navel tantalized, nearly exposing everything, while the side of her dress was cut high revealing a shapely leg of alabaster skin. Shimmering black hair, soft as raven's feather hung loosely down her back ending just above the wide hips of her hourglass figure. Serpentine eyes the color of onyx glowed with baleful light as she fixed the people gathered with her malevolent gaze. Only a few dared to meet her gaze head on, and of those less than a handful didn't flinch or squirm in their chairs..
"Ophis." Crom Cruach said respectfully, standing and offering his seat to the Leader of the Khaos Brigade.
The Infinity Dragon slowly circled the room, everyone rushing to make way for her as her heels tapped on the polished marble. Coming to the Magicians she stood in front of their Witch King, the Triumvirate moving to stand to the side bowing at the waist slightly in respect. "Harry." She said, their respective heights meaning that she was looking him right in the eye. She noticed the slightest tightening of his facial muscles as she called him that name, one that was connected to his past, but at the same time she saw the twitch at the corner of his mouth, the one that said he would humor her and brought back memories of her in her previous childlike form. "I, want donuts and cookies."
For those not used to the whims of the Infinite Dragon it was enough to face fault and wonder if there was an inverse relationship between power and sanity.
"Of course." He smiled, inclining his head in deference.
Nodding she continued her trek across the room, the Witch King following two steps behind and to her left. Coming to the chair at the head of the table she stopped, as Hadrian stepped past her and pulled the seat out for her, stepping to the side as she sat regally in the throne. With a snap of his fingers a veritable feast of donuts and cookies appeared, everything from simple glazed donuts to exquisite salted caramel cheesecake and red velvet, while a mound of cookies ranging from chocolate chip to weird concoctions like olive oil and sea salt floated around the Dragon God. "Would you like cake as well?"
The Ouroboros Dragon froze, her hand halfway towards a donut as her face scrunched up in thought. Her expression was the epitome of concentration as if pondering life's greatest mysteries, until finally she nodded. "I, would like cake as well."
Smiling, the sorcerer brought forth a large chocolate cake. "Fresh from the warm hearth of Hestia's bake shop."
It was amusing how the Dragon God's eyes lit up upon hearing that the cake was from the Goddess of cooking's own shop in Greece. A sudden twist and a large knife materialized in his hand, which he then used to cut slices into the cake. "Eat." Ophis commanded, handing him the slice he had given her, a more than generous piece with layers of soft sponge sandwiching rich and decadent chocolate creme.
As recompense she took the rest of the tray for herself.
Chuckling at her antics he thanked her before responding, "Apologies Lady Ophis but this is a bit too much for me." Dividing the cake he handed a portion to each of the Triumvirate, never noticing how the elder dragon's eyes narrowed as he gave a piece to each woman.
"Now, what were you discussing?" All at once everyone began to speak, their voices growing increasingly louder as they tried to speak over one another.
An overbearing pressure slammed down on them, instantly shutting them up. "You, are noisy." Ophis said emotionlessly. Her nature was stoic to begin with and only those that knew her best would know that her voice dripped with concealed malice and threats. "Crom."
The evil Irish dragon didn't even flinch at the shortening of his name as he explained what their leader had missed.
"I, see." Ophis nodded, before turning to stare at the assembled leaders of the Old Satan Faction. "What results?" Ophis asked again. "I have provided you with troops, snakes to give you power, resources without which you would still be a ragtag group of social outcasts with delusions of grandeur. In return for all that I gave you, you swore yourselves to me, my will became yours, my wishes and whims your very reason for existence, yet now you threaten to pull your support?"
The gathered leaders remained silent in the face of the Dragon God.
"Very well, then I shall take back the power I gave you." Holding out her hand Creuserey's body began to spasm, his veins turning black and visibly bulging as if something were flowing through them. His mouth opened in a silent scream as the snakes connected to his very being were forcefully removed, traveling to his head which began to bulge grotesquely.
Grimacing at the scene the Witch King snapped his fingers erecting a barrier around himself, the Triumvirate and Ophis. Not a moment later the descendent's head had swelled to twice its normal size and with a popping sound exploded like a balloon. "Would anyone else like to resign?" The Witch King asked playfully.
Seeing the disgust on the devils faces brought joy to his heart as he moved back to his seat. "And then there was one." He smirked at Katerea, his smile predatory as she flinched under his cold emerald gaze. "Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock."
"Enough." Ophis commanded turning to the Witch King, cookie in hand. She stared at him for several long moments, assessing his every movement, her eyes boring into his soul and stripping him of any protections. Were it the first time this happened he may have squirmed in his seat but so used to the whims and flights of fancy of the Infinity Dragon that he merely raised an eyebrow. "You, are planning something."
"I don't know what you mean." He answered innocently, butter wouldn't have melted on his glib tongue.
In another part of the world a young woman stood in front of a large full length mirror, her hands idly caressing the petals of the rose she held.
"I've seen that disgusting face many times." Ophis narrowed her eyes, forgoing her usual slow and deliberate spacing between words. "What schemes have you woven together?"
"I do have a plan." Hadrian admitted with a devilish smirk. Looking at the hungry and malicious eyes of the human before her, she had to once again reevaluate her opinion of him. Truly if she didn't know better she would say that they were standing in front of the pinnacle of Devils, luring and entrapping young maidens with honeyed words, a silver tongue that with a whisper could topple empires. Dextrous fingers easily plucking at invisible strings moving people like marionettes, all the while they were ignorant of the fact that they carried out his will. "And dare I say it a fiendish one. Why one may even say it was biblically inspired!"
Placing the rose down on the vanity the young woman began to slowly remove her clothes, her hand tracing ivory skin as she slid it between her breasts. She was not as well endowed as many others of her kind, her figure svelte and lithe. Raven hair cut into a bob topped her head framing aquiline features.
Frowning at her longtime companion and personal cupbearer when it came to all things sweet she gestured for him to continue.
"While I don't expect it to work out perfectly, it's only fitting that jealousy which caused the first murder cause another.
Violet eyes stared at the picture, hidden feelings welling up inside her heart, all the while an insidious whisper poured poison into her ear. Those same eyes that once looked at her sibling in happiness now stared with envy and jealousy. The rose that she had held blacked and wilted turning into a stiletto or cruel iron and silver, its needle-like tip longing to sink into the flesh of its foe.
The young woman didn't even realize when her hand touched the metal, slowly closing over it as it fit her hand like it was made to be there.
"There's a rather famous quote by a German philosopher. 'He who fights monsters must take care not to become a monster...for when you gaze into the abyss...'" Emerald eyes flared with power burning brighter than a star as unshackled might radiated from the magician in front of her, reality warping to his whims.
Violet eyes grew cloudy for a moment, before bursting with baleful fire. Emerald eyes stared back at the young woman, a devious smirk affixed to her face as she dragged the tip of the stiletto down the curves of her breast, lightly hovering over her heart. "...The Abyss stares back at you."