Chapter 27

Avator sat on the throne that once belonged to The Countess. While it wasn't terribly comfortable, given his gargantuan size in comparison, it still gave the imagery of power and authority to any of his demonic minions that would see him. As he sat, he felt the world around him. He could sense the demonic energy of his army heading toward New Tristram, led by his newest servant, Fan-Min.

In the meantime, he decided to bide his time. He sat and allowed a smaller fraction of his army to come to and from the Forgotten Tower, bringing humans and animals alike for him to feed on. Each one he devoured the life force from, the more powerful he grew. "You've done well, Rin." He spoke a compliment to the fairy resting on his thigh.

The fairy stood up and looked up to his demonic master's piercing gaze. He was both excited and nervous at the same time. His wings fluttered from the anticipation to hear the rest of Avator's praise. A compliment from a demon lord was not a common gift. "I've done nothing of any worth, my lord." Rin's little fairy voice squeaked back to his master's ears.

"You built me an army." Avator smile wickedly. "I'm incredibly impressed by the work you did from the souls of those children."

"I could have done more if those wizards and demon hunter hadn't interrupted the ritual." Rin explained. "I was only able to get a fraction of the children's souls."

"So they each still have a soul?"

"Part of one." Rin answered. "And in time they will all heal."

"Think of them as a garden." Avator explained. "We can just recapture them and re-harvest their souls." He grinned widely. "Then we'll have an even greater army."

"Yes, my lord." Rin answered. "I'd be honored to turn the souls of men into an army for you any time."

"And that's why you're still alive." Avator spoke. The voice was kind, but Rin knew it to be a warning. "And now, Rin..." The fairy looked nervously up at his huge master. So big was he, that Rin had room to walk around on his thigh as if it was the floor to a house. "I have another task for you."

"Yes, master?" He fluttered up to Avator's face. "How can I serve you?"

"Take some of the Blood Clan and head out to the edge of the Cursed Woods."

"May I ask to what purpose?"

Avator could sense arcane energy heading their way. It was more than he expected. While the arcane levels were certainly not on par with Fan-Min, they were more powerful than he had expected her brother's to be. Plus, he figured wherever the other wizard was, so too would the demon hunter be. "There you will find a wizard and a demon hunter." He grabbed Rin in his hand, lightly enough not to hurt him, but tightly enough to make his point. "I want them dead. Choke the life out of them or they will continue to be a thorn in my side."

Rin breathed heavily as Avator's huge fingers finally uncurled from around his body. "Yes, master. I won't let you down." At those words, the demon lord smiled revealing his bright, white teeth. It was astounding to Rin, despite the many years he'd served Avator, he couldn't get over how different he was from other demons. All of the demon lords of Hell, save Andarial, looked nothing like humans. But Avator looked much like one, and an incredibly attractive one at that. He assumed it was to help make people comfortable so he could more easily overtake them with his dominance.

The fairy fluttered away to gather up his Blood Clan troops and head off to annihilate a couple of Avator's problems: a task he was happy to do. Killing humans was a pastime Rin enjoyed quite thoroughly.