Universe: Reversal||Series: Ere Shadows Fall
Title: Call The Darkness
Characters: Anisha (OC), Fallen Angel Lucifer (OC), Lightlord Angel Cherubim (OC), Snoww Magician of Dark World (OC), The Evil Spirit That Lives In The Rose (OC), Brron Mad King of Dark World||Ships: N/A
Chapters: 4-?||Chapter Words: 4,542||Total Words: 18,170
Genre: Drama||Rated: PG
Notes: This is my reversal world. So, Juudai carries the power of the Destructive Darkness and the world consists of humans, monsters, and spirits. Every story in the Ere Shadows Fall line takes place pre-capture of Johan and Ryou. The latest will be the very beginning of Juudai's conquest. This particular story here won't tell everything and will feature Ocs and world building very heavily. Don't worry, Juudai will be along in due time. He might not be very talkative when he first shows up, though. But here begins the foundation of the Reversal World and all that will come after.
Special Note: There is non-consensual touching in this chapter, as well as non-consensual kissing, and implied future non-consensual sex. Continue with caution if this bothers you.
Summary: Before Haou's ruthless conquest, before the rebellion, before such a person as Juudai even existed, there was a time of peace and plenty – and that time ended before he was born. Because he could not be born until that time ended and the balance was no more.
She looked up the moment the door opened. She'd been in here by herself since the imp showed her, only seeing someone else when she'd been brought food. No one spoke to her and she didn't speak to them. None of them looked willing to help her either kill Lucifer or get out of there and those were the only two points that she wanted to talk to anyone about.
She'd fallen asleep – she thought it was late the night before. She wasn't sure. This room didn't have anything to keep time in and it didn't have a window of any kind either. She'd sat on the bed and waited until she'd fallen asleep and awoken when the door swung open and an imp – maybe even the same one who'd shown her the room – entered with a tray of food.
But now the door opened and Lucifer himself stood there, wings spread so that he filled the entire doorway, and she flinched back from the sight. He smiled at her. It was a beautiful smile. Virtually everything about him was beautiful, of course. But she didn't trust it, and one hand clutched against the black satin sheets, aching to be filled with the weight of a knife.
Could something like him even be killed with a knife? She didn't know and she wasn't going to ask him. She did so hope that she'd get the chance to find out one day.
"Hello, Anisha."
She wanted to slash his lips for that alone. She might have to answer to it – she hadn't forgotten her plan – but that in no way meant that she liked it. She would do what she had to do, to avenge her homeland, and to stop him from committing whatever foul acts he had in mind.
He strolled towards her, every step as smooth and graceful as flesh and feathers could make it. She shifted away, even knowing that she couldn't really get away.
"I expect you to answer me when I greet you," he told her, tendering a stern look towards her. "And you will address me as Lucifer-sama."
"Never." She spat the word out with all of her strength. "I'll never call you that. I'll never do anything for you. No matter what."
He laughed. He stood very close; not quite within touch range, but enough so that her wings buzzed in fear and she thought for certain he could hear her heart clanging hard against her ribs. How could he not?
But if he did, he made no mention of it. Instead, he watched her. "I think you're going to find yourself very much mistaken. But we can get to that later. I want information and I think you might have it. So you will give it to me."
She blinked. That certainly hadn't been what she thought she would hear. "Excuse me?"
"First and foremost – where would Bijou have sent her children? And who would she assign to guard them?"
That question definitely wasn't what she'd expected to hear. She shook her head. "I don't know. Why do you think I would know?"
"Why wouldn't I? I know very well that Bijou's family was connected to the Temple of Creation – and that is where I found you." Lucifer's eyes ran up and down her and she automatically started to pull the gown closer to her. It didn't seem to do much to protect her from his gaze but she tried anyway. "Tell me what your duties there were."
She worried at her lip for a moment. She'd expected to be questioned, that was for certain. Just not like this. "I took care of the records, that's all. Nothing important. Just the ones about what the temple took in and paid out." She hesitated for a few moments. Perhaps if he knew more, she would have a better chance of getting to kill him. "I grew up in the Temple. They found me on the doorstep when I was a baby. They named me-"
Lucifer raised one finger to halt her right then. "I don't care what they called you. Your name is Anisha now."
She pressed her lips together, fingers tightening more in the sheets. She wasn't going to agree, not to his face, not like this. But she kept going. "I learned how to read and write, history and math. Everything the Temple taught. I didn't want a husband, so I started to work for my keep when I was about fifteen."
Lucifer nodded. "And you know nothing at all about the bloodline of Creation – or of Hope."
She blinked a few times at that and started to shake her head. "No. The sacred bloodlines - those weren't kept at the Temple."
In another breath, he was so close to her that she could feel the brush of his wings against her skin. She dropped backwards, practically flat on the bed, wings crushed against the mattress, and he stared down at her, eyes glowing harsh and demanding.
'Then where are they kept? The palace?"
She shook her head, all of her plans stuttering in the back of her head with him so close, she was unarmed, she could do nothing, and she wanted so badly to be able to fight back when she could scarcely even move in a way that would show defiance. "I don't know. The High Priest – he knew. But he would have still been in the temple when you – when you "
For the life of her she could not forget that moment, clinging to him out of sheer shock, hovering over the burning city, his army departing at quick time, herding captives in front of them, and then he'd hurled sphere after sphere of raw destruction to the buildings below, shaking them down into nothing but dust and memories in the span of moments. Her throat closed up and tears stung at her eyes, her wings buzzing what little they could even faster.
Her heart thudded more as he raised a hand to trail it down her cheek. His touch was far softer than she'd thought such a beast could be and she shuddered more as he smiled.
"You want to kill me so much. I can taste it on you." He leaned closer and she jumped as his tongue traced the same path as his hand – wet and hot and terrifying. "I like that."
"No." She wanted him to think that she'd submitted, but she knew very well that he wasn't a fool. He wouldn't believe it if she suddenly turned from hatred to – whatever. And she didn't think she could do that anyway. She had to fight what little she could, let him believe – until his pride brought his guard down.
Pride was his sin, after all, wasn't it?
"You can't lie to me," Lucifer whispered, the words cast right into her ears. "You can try if it makes you feel better. But I always know."
She parted her lips, whether to argue or to scream she wasn't entirely certain, but never quite found at as Lucifer's lips crushed down on hers. She froze; never before had anyone done that to her. Her mind blanked out completely, and all she could feel was the absolute humor as he kissed her.
Then he moved back and straightened up. "I'll see you tonight," he told her, as calm and unruffled as if he hadn't moved a step, hadn't done anything at all. "I do look forward to it. I hope you do as well – Anisha."
She shook her head. Her mind hadn't cleared all the way yet and if someone had asked if she denied the name or denied looking forward to what he hinted at, she hadn't the faintest idea. She stared at him, rage and fear and other emotions that she didn't know the names of coursing all through her.
Even when the door closed, the tiny little lock making certain that she'd not be able to get out of there on her own, she stared at it, blank and confused and very, very panicked.
Lucifer found himself more than satisfied with the light taste that he'd had of Anisha. The fear and hate in her flavored her lips and he thought it would make everything else that much better that night.
But now what else he'd learned occupied his thoughts. The High Priest would have known what he wanted, but the High Priest had been in the temple when he'd destroyed it. Perhaps he had been a little hasty there.
But on the whole, matters weren't that bad. He'd inspected the other captives, and found none of them to his taste, or to his use. Desire already made some of his choices, from among the loyal soldiers and the captives. There would be others back home that he would recruit as well.
It wouldn't take all that long to get everything sorted out and set up. He would be ready to head home within a few days and he looked forward to it. He didn't like being away from the great Darkness for very long. It made him nervous and twitchy when he couldn't feel that presence in the deepest part of his soul.
When he checked, turning his thoughts inward, that tiny flicker of shadows remained there, of course. Enough so that he knew the Darkness still favored him, that he could still access the necessary power. He smiled just at the thought.
It was so very good to know that he'd not been forgotten.
Her council consisted of many types of beings – some human, some spirit, some creatures of varying types that hadn't been identified as one or the other yet. All of them addressed her politely as they entered, wondering what this surprise session was about, and she told them all that the answer would come once they were all there.
The ambassadors were also of varying types, who looked more than a little worried as they settled in. It wasn't often that they were invited to meetings of Celestia's council. But she wanted them to know and perhaps to find out what they knew as well. Just because she hadn't heard from her spies didn't mean that they hadn't.
Her gaze drifted across to where Snoww – the ambassador from Brron's realm – sat in icy contemplation of whatever occupied her mind. If anyone here stood a chance to know what was going on, it would be her.
"We're all here," her Chamberlain declared at last. "What's this about?"
Celestia wished she'd been able to devote at least a little time to her mourning. But to her sadness, politics came first. She raised her head, and those who hadn't yet seen her face were surprised to see even those small hints visible of her desire to scream and cry.
"As you all know, I have eyes and ears – spies – in many of our realms. This morning, one of those returned to me with the most dire of news. Thanks to her sacrifice and courage, I have learned that Queen Bijou of Norbu – my foster sister – is now dead, as are her children." Celestia wrenched the words out of herself, her heart thudding as she spoke them. Saying them here and now made it all sound so very real and she didn't want them to be.
Those of her council stared back at her, as shocked as she'd ever seen them. So did the vast majority of the ambassadors.
Snoww didn't reflect a single emotion save for the tiny raising of one eyebrow. She leaned forward. "And did your spy reveal who committed this act?"
"Not in her words. But I have my own suspicions. The realm of the Fallen Angels abuts Norbu and I'm certain every one of us here is aware of Lucifer's ambitions." Her lips thinned. "I intend to verify the truth before I do anything. But something must be done so that he doesn't acquire the idea that he could do this to anyone else – to any of the other realms."
"Surely you don't think he'd come here!" One of her councilors – one more in charge of trading foodstuffs than warfare or politics – gasped. "The distance is so fast! Surely he couldn't!"
Celestia raised her shoulders in a quick shrug. "That I can't say. But do recall the Fallen Angels and a good portion of their warriors are quite capable of flight. It would not be that difficult for them to mount a long-term campaign. They'd merely have to cross the ocean – and there are many uninhabited islands they could rest on to do that. Establish a stronghold near the coast and use it to launch an assault anywhere. What I know we must do is ensure that we are defended against any such attacks and ensure that we have no one within our borders who could open our gates to them."
Soft whispers ran among the councillors and ambassadors, rumors and wild rambles and worries that Celestia knew they would need to get out of their system. The sooner they did that, the better, in her opinion. She kept the large bulk of her attention on Snoww, who spoke to none at all, but looked thoughtful at everything.
Then someone else leaned forward. "Majesty?"
This was Nasrin, known to those who dueled as The Evil Spirit That Lives In The Rose. Celestia far preferred just to call her Nasrin. It was far less of a mouthful. Nasrin tended to spend most of her time in the royal gardens, and Celestia thought often she'd make a better spy than ambassador. Her thorns were sharp and long, her skin a pale shade of green, her eyes and hair somewhat darker, her voice soft and musical.
"Yes, Ambassador?" Celestia asked, ignoring the sense of warmth that rose within her at the sound of that voice. It was said Nasrin could charm petals off of blossoms and birds from trees if she chose. Celestia would not disagree with that.
"While we cannot offer aid at the moment without permission from our respective rulers, at least not in regards to our realms, I feel we can offer certain points on a personal level." She leaned forward; her seat was about halfway down the table, but Celestia could still feel that blazing regard on her, and it pushed the grief back a small bit. "I have kindred in Norbu – distant kindred but blood all the same. I will ask them what they can tell me about this. It's been a long time since I contacted them regardless. I'm sure they'll be eager for help in one fashion or another."
Celestia tilted her head forward. "My thanks, Ambassador Nasrin," Celestia replied, meaning every word. Her gaze flicked over the rest of those at the table, a handful of whom also offered assistance, some with aiding in gathering information, others with offering what little they'd heard before, none of which could be solid evidence of the Fallen Angels having done this.
Celestia herself had no real doubts about it. They were the closest to Norbu and they would be the ones to benefit the most from this. All that would be necessary would be a statement by Lucifer himself.
Another of the ambassadors cleared their throat. This one served the realm of the dragons, who lived in many settlements all over the world, most often in mountains, such as the ones on Norbu's borders. Unlike most of the dragon inhabitants, this one looked more or less human, if one discounted the scales, wings, and tail. They had two legs and two arms, scarlet red eyes, and a face shaped slightly more like a traditional dragon than a human.
"Yes, Ambassador?" Celestia asked.
"Not that long ago, I heard from my kindred next to Norbu that they had not received messages from there in a fortnight. They wished to know if we'd heard anything but we had not. I fear this might tie into this dread news."
More whispers and rumors flew around, until the dragon ambassador move forward again. "I will send this message to my leaders and learn what I may do as soon as I can. We will give you what information that we can."
Celestia nodded at that. "I look forward to hearing what they can tell us." Dragon magic and dragon wings would bring in information almost as fast as her own spies could when they pushed themselves. She'd already chosen her new spy and sent them off – she could only hope that they would be safe.
Most of the ambassadors agreed they would contact their rulers as soon as they could and would pass whatever information they had back to Celestia. Celestia informed them of her mourning for her foster sister at her earliest convenience.
"If I am allowed, I would like to attend with you," Nasrin said, offering her hand. "It is not a custom that we have in my realm to mourn the passing of those we care about in that fashion."
So Celestia had heard. But she nodded. 'Any who wish to come are welcome. I'm certain that Bijou would appreciate it." Bijou's heart had been very wide and very open. She definitely would enjoy those of many realms gathering together in peace.
Snoww finally spoke again. "I would be pleased to attend. But I also must say – you all know who I serve. I will honestly tell you – if my lord Brron knew of such a strike to come, he did not speak to it of me. I can say nothing more to that. I am aware that he has contacts with the Fallen Angels and he and Lucifer have shared meals more than once. If they share anything else, I do not know."
"No one accused you or your master of anything," one of the other ambassadors snapped. Celestia couldn't quite remember which ruler this one served. She'd have to refresh her memory on this a little later. But he glared at Snoww with fire-rimmed eyes and heat rolled forth from him with every word that he spoke.
Celestia raised one hand. "Please. This is a time of mourning. I have lost my foster sister and her children did not even see their first birthday. And lest we all forget – Norbu is – or was – where the Light of Creation kept its home and its bloodline. This isn't the first time we've come close to losing a bloodline, but finding the new bearers could take a great deal of time. Time that we may or may not have."
She hadn't entirely wanted to bring that point up to them, but she'd rather they were terrified into thinking clearly than so angry to the point of striking against one another.
"Now, if anyone has any idea of where a new bloodline could dawn, let me know as soon as you can." She hesitated, then continued. "This goes for Creation as well as Destruction. Lucifer has distant kin that were of that line and I'd rather he didn't get the idea to bring it back."
Brron laughed. Brron laughed very loudly and for a very great span of time. He smashed one bony fist on the arm of his throne, tilted his head back, and howled. He might well have needed to breathe, but he didn't care and he kept on laughing until he couldn't anymore.
"Find the most expensive treasure that I don't care to keep!" He shouted at one of his servants. "I want to send it to Lucifer. He deserves it for what he's done!"
He threw himself back into his throne and regarded the messenger before him. It had been days since the conquest and destruction of Norbu – he wasn't even sure of how long. Lucifer was probably back home by now, preening at his success, and likely plotting what else he could do in order to succeed.
Brron considered what his own options were. He had to stay careful over here; unlike the Fallen Angels his realm wasn't that big and was surrounded on all sides by creatures that served one or more of the Lights. If he stepped too much out of line, he'd likely have to deal with one or all of them.
Probably Celestia. She considered herself the 'leader' of most of the realms here and the one time when he'd started to eye one of his smaller neighbors, she'd sent him a very strongly worded note that he should behave himself and look into the benefits of staying home.
He'd set up an entirely new set of gladiatorial combat after that, using every person that he had that came from Celestia's realms or those of her allies. There weren't that many of them but enough to work his aggression through.
He wanted to do it again now. He wasn't sure if he had enough but he had other methods to get what he wanted. He had a standing agreement with every ruler – even Celestia – that those criminals they didn't want to execute themselves could be sent to him for gladiatorial combat. One of them had achieved the position of his Champion some time ago.
Perhaps he'd have a new one. But he would also be very willing to request a new warrior from Lucifer and use whoever that was to kill the current Champion. He always politely made certain that whatever location the fatalities came from were delivered the body and a detailed description of how they lost their lives.
"We are going to have a celebration!" Brron finally declared, raising his head to stare at all of those who stood before him. "For the realm of Norbu, once ruled by Queen Bijou of the Creation's Light, is no more! Our allies across the ocean, led by Fallen Angel Lucifer, have destroyed it. Those who survived are taken captive."
He liked hearing the whispered words of fear and shock race through the gathering before him. The ambassador from Celestia turned away, fists clenched together, and Brron would have wagered quite a lot that she wept when she could not be seen. He would make certain that they were invited to the new tournament and that they watched every moment of it. Perhaps they would send word to Celestia that Brron could be every bit as deadly in his entertainments as in his desires to make war.
"How can you celebrate the loss of an entire bloodline?" The Ambassador asked. She turned back, her eyes shining with tears unshed. "The destruction of a realm and a woman who did no harm to you?"
Brron smiled. He knew exactly what his smile looked like to anyone else and he wasn't at all surprised to see the Ambassador's lips twitch in disgust at him. "Because my ally has achieved a great victory and I only wish that I'd been able to stand by his side when he did it."
She shook her head and stalked away, forcing her way through the surrounding warriors, sorcerers, and ambassadors as she did. Brron waved to them to let her go. She would be returned when he chose to let her.
But he wasn't just going to sit there. The messenger had already left but Brron had other ways to do what he wanted to. He dismissed his court with a quick wave of one hand and hurried on to his personal chamber. There, he settled into his most comfortable chair, and pulled out a sphere of black crystal. He lit two candles and set the sphere between them, watching as the light played over the darkness.
"Lucifer! Get yourself here! I won't wait all night!" He'd never bothered to work out if there was a time difference between his realm and Lucifer's. When he called he expected Lucifer to answer, and vice versa.
Yet it was still another ten minutes before the image of the greatest of the Fallen Angels reflected in the sphere. He raised one eyebrow towards Brron.
"And what has you so excited tonight?" A sudden quirk of Lucifer's full lips. "Did you perhaps receive good news?"
"That I did and it's news you sent! Congratulations on taking over Norbu – or is it getting a new name?"
"You're going to have to ask Desire about that. I gave him the pace to take care of." Lucifer lounged backwards. Brron couldn't see where he was, but he presumed it was in his personal quarters. "But I think I should ask you this – do you know of where they keep the bloodline records for Creation?"
Brron blinked. "No. I'd never even known they kept something like that." He leaned forward. "What about Destruction? Do they have that, too?"
"Quite likely. Though-" Lucifer considered for a few seconds, then shook his head, a haunting smile playing over his lips. "Though I doubt they would keep the records fro Destruction where anyone could find them. They did, after all, go to such trouble to exterminate the line."
That got a snort from Brron. "They didn't succeed, though. Did they?" It wasn't really that much of a question. It wasn't widely known, but he knew that Lucifer had ancestry going back to the royal family of Kuragari, where the line of Destruction once reigned supreme. Perhaps it wasn't strong enough in his veins to allow him to host the full power of Destruction but it was still enough for Brron.
"That they didn't. Now, tell me. I know you. What do you have in mind for a celebration? I might find the time to attend briefly."
"Really?" Brron loved that thought the moment that he heard it. "I am definitely celebrating. A tournament and if you can send someone who would be strong enough to defeat my current Champion, I look forward to seeing them." A very amused laugh dropped from his green-tinged teeth. "And if you can attend, I'll make sure that we have the best of feasts ready for you."
"And I'll see to it that I bring some of the wine of Kuragari," Lucifer agreed. "I might even have another set of good news when I arrive. I can't say for certain but if I do, you'll be one of the first to know."
Oh, that definitely thrilled Brron. "Will it be news I can tell to everyone or private?" He wasn't certain which of those he wanted more. News that he could spread would be fascinating but secrets were intriguing.
But Lucifer chuckled and once more shook his head. "I'll let you know when the time comes. When will your celebration begin and how long will it last?"
"In three days," Brron decided. He would have to let his servants know; the time would serve to get whoever Lucifer sent there and for the finest of foods to be prepared. "And I think I Can stretch it out to a week."
"Then I'll come on the very last night. I'll send one of my favored warriors to you tomorrow. I have a sorcerer who can send them via teleportation." Lucifer nodded towards him, this time in farewell, and Brron barely had time to acknowledge that before the image faded, and he was left with rising anticipation.
To Be Continued
Notes: Can you tell what I'm leading up to with Lucifer and Anisha? If you haven't, don't worry. This only really occurred to me as I got started on this.