Chapter 16
Malcontent dripped like an ichor trough his veins.
When a person experienced longevity, the idea of change became disruptive. It was a concept that many would not understand, and also one that as a demon, Keiichi simply forgot about entirely. To say that protocol became lost on him, wouldn't justify the whims that had been so put into motion roughly three centuries and two decades ago. He was a demon with a family, and, a future. He was not stern, as most demon males were, yet, he was also not as placid as he used to be.
His brown eyes that were once soft and gentle, became slightly more forthright…he was beginning to view his actions with a sense of meaning. Behind each and every whim he seemed to have, he would rip to shreds the actual motive, weighing his choices. Calculating them, cutting losses and seeking gains wherever he could. Truly that was mark of a demon, the build of of the red seals. The acrid view of such creatures seemed horrible.
Yet, his were not. He was a docile demon…at least, when he wanted to be. At the moment, however, he felt his generosity in the matter wearing paper thin. He sighed as he listened to the other demons around him prattle on, it was his daily life, but he didn't take fondly to it. He saw no need for their abrasive ways, yet still, he did as he was bid.
"If they want a fight, let's give them a fight!" Thrym growled, excited to start a war at any chance she got.
"Well, bloodshed might be just a little crass." Hagall smirked. "However, we can start a good bit of trouble on earth…send holy shares into the ground. Make our point, and hold earth over heaven's head."
"That's a little dimwitted for you, Hagall." One of the normally quiet voices made herself known. "You are not one to follow Thrym's plans willingly." Of the several demons present among large pillars, it was one particularly eerie demon, cloaked in her own inward void of nothingness that sighed, just as Keiichi had done. "Lady Hild, I request the floor."
"Halval?" Hild asked, sitting a little upright in her seat. "What is it?" She asked.
"I speak on behalf of caution." Halval said then, her voice echoing in her own nothingness that so concealed her. "Mara seemed to have provoked Lind, a combative goddess that would put even Thrym's skills to shame." Very few demons knew what she looked like, but, her offensive powers were like that of a cloak and dagger. "We five that so serve you with our keen, if not odd powers, are strong. However, even we have limitations, especially up on earth." She could kill in that deep void, and Halval was nothing if not careful.
"A good point to be made." Hild nodded. She turned to Hagall, searching the often brazen young beauty before her. It was an interesting notion, one that Hild already considered. She knew well, Hagall was cunning, but often so blind to the greater picture around them. Truly a first rate demon, in the sense of what a demon was...however, that didn't promise satisfactory results. "Do you think, Hagall, that you could issue a proper fight, given the state of creation as it is?" Hild asked her, a twinkle of mirth in her eyes.
Hagall laughed at that. "I think we are highly underestimated by the heavens. To that end, in a show of force, I think we would find ourselves a quick victory." Hagall said then crossing her arms. "We are powerful, and we are also not bound so tightly by particular rules." The young woman was almost too confidant. "We can forgo platitudes that would otherwise stagnate creation."
"You have no idea just who you're picking a fight with, do you?" Keiichi muttered, a little green at that. "I know these goddesses, Hagall. They'll break the rules if they want to."
"What's the matter, is the little demon afraid?" Hagall hissed, not enjoying the scrutiny that Keiichi seemed to put on her. He was the youngest among the group, no doubt. She didn't take kindly to her own kind lacking respect, as she was the second strongest demon to date, and would likely claim such a role for centuries to come. "Come on Keiichi, man up! We're demons, we do this kind of thing."
Hild was bored, so she glanced over to where her pupil stood. "Keiichi, you're the only one where who hasn't issued a possible solution to this mess. Please give one now, or I'll have to smite you where you stand." Hild told him coolly. "You know the rules."
In his third century of life, Keiichi swallowed his devil's egg, and grew immensely in power. He thought that he might share a close bond, such as the type of relationship that Belldandy had with Holybell. As it turned out, devils were more aloof, and less willing to simply do as their master wished. It took no small amount of control, and because of that, he couldn't say he appreciated his devil running free.
If anything, it made him understand the devious nature within his own heart.
Without someone to keep the trouble making deity at bay, the spawn of evil knew no bounds. The deity floated behind Keiichi, chained to his master due to willpower alone. The devil wasn't happy, but his master was also just as discontented. The creature growled, though only Keiichi, and the other devils around could hear him. His master shushed him, before sighing.
It was finally his turn to speak, and he required his devil to be on his best behavior.
"To be fair, Mara's known to cause trouble." Keiichi shrugged. "We should go into this as amicably as possible. If we have to come to an agreement anyway, why not appeal to heaven on this one…" He closed his eyes and sighed. "To be honest, I don't think I can offer you a good choice. I do know that starting trouble on earth, is as good as a one way ticket into a sealing medium for ourselves."
"She's still our kin." Hagall blathered, annoyed by his words. "Heavens been known to make unfair trades. Mara need us to make a decisive move, and what better way than earth?"
"All I'm saying is that heavenly shares aren't our major risk at the moment. We can do without Mara for a little while. What we can't deal with, is losing face with heaven's council." Keiichi said, exasperatedly. "Picking fights with them over Mara, will only make us look like complete idiots." He made it a point to easily sling his words around the large, and grand conference hall. "Earth is stable, we should keep it that way."
"You also live with goddesses." Hagall pointed out, on the other end of the conference hall. "One could say that you are defending your own interests. Isn't that just a bit questionable?"
"You aren't doing the same?" Keiichi shot back. "You're an extremist, you'd go to any length, even when it isn't needed. Brute force won't get us anywhere. Besides, causing havoc on earth just to prove a point, may very well get on Urd's bad side…not to mention Belldandy, Skuld, and Anzasu…just think of what might happen if they called Lind down for a real fight." Keiichi's eyes cut over to Hild. "I'm loyal to my family, above all else." Keiichi said then, not wavering in his words.
"As expected." Hild nodded. "I would never question where your loyalties stay." She knew his implication well. It was much less a threat, and more than pure fact…and, his words of warning to Hagall were true too. "What about you, Hagall?"
"My loyalty should never come into question either." Hagall stated haughtily. "I'm offering my decision out of my desire to have Mara released as soon as possible. Nothing should come in the way of that."
"What a bitch." Keiichi sighed, rolling his eyes. "If you get sealed, I'll be the first in line to laugh my ass off."
Hild willed away her mild annoyance from the bickering. It was all too common when meetings were held within the bowels. Hild had her eyes and ears everywhere, but even she didn't think herself perfect. She was the single, most solitary ruler, in all of that which she owned. No one could question her vocal authority on any matter. Still, even if she made all of the decisions, she still found it within reason to seek council on more complicated matters at hand. It gave her people hope, after all, to know she actually listened to their words…even if she didn't heed their advice beyond that.
Only her strongest, and most loyal demons could speak...and indeed, they had spoken.
It was an act she took pride in. Not entirely a show for nobles and powerful loyalists...yet, it wasn't as if she actually believed all of the tripe that spewed from their mouths, either. This, was merely a formality, and it was one that kept her demons from running amok. A little headache now, was superior to a full scale war later. "I believe I've heard quite enough." Hild said quietly, hushing the room with her smoky sigh.
"You've reached a decision?" Hagall asked, a bit hesitant to find out.
"This is not the first time I've received a notice regarding Mara." Hild began slowly. "Furthermore, I would bet that I will also hear about this matter again in the future." With a shake of her head, she cursed Mara's incompetence. "We have to negotiate, that is the law. I also think strong actions are invaluable to our cause." With a sigh, she snapped her fingers, producing a handwritten scroll. "Still, Keiichi is right. We've no need to provoke the ire of such a willful bunch of goddesses. I don't desire to imbalance the unholy shares."
She flicked the hand written letter to Hagall, who took a firm hold of it. "Take this message to the offices, and see that it reaches Anzasu or Belldandy." Then Hild stretched and stood, lazily accepting that she had only a little time to decompress, but needed it anyway. "We're adjourned until Hagall gets back. Stay on point for when I require you all again."
Hundreds of demons and their devils murmured in the distance, and Hild stood at her place, Keiichi at her side, until all of them had left. It had been a lengthy meeting, but, it was far from over…negotiations had only just begun, as was the way of creation.
…
The third century was a lonely one...
Keiichi was one of the highest ranking demons in social status, and had taken to attending the administrative meetings often held at Hild's behest. At the same time, he also began to learn the encrypted files that only Hild had access to open. She would go over the details with him slowly, and taught him meticulously. The dark powers he knew never to question were now opening up, and becoming his answers. The power and truths were raw, but he drank them in without hesitation, loving the rush it brought to him.
Belldandy received the call from her father in that same century, and she also received her personal training from her parents. Named as Tyr's successor, her already renowned name was given even more praise by those who knew her. As a result of her obligation to training, she'd spent less time on earth, where her daughter stayed, eagerly awaiting her parents to come home.
Skuld, who was also undergoing training, was not taking as easily to her lessons as her father might have liked. It was her lack of magical skill that hindered her, and he knew this, but, he would not bring Urd up from earth. Skuld was unfit for the line of work. The law offices required that their people were both mechanically savvy, and magically inclined...who better to call than Urd? Yet, Skuld was the one who persisted at her father's order, instead of taking a far different job that she undoubtedly would be more suited to.
Urd was the one who stayed on earth. She was the one who gave love to an innocent child, when no one else could gift the infant such a thing. Having brought up her sisters, the role came easily to her. It brought back old, but welcomed memories. Urd lamented for the little one, worried for her every waking moment, and greeted nightmares in the depths of sleep.
Megumi was such a small child. She could not understand the reasons behind the motivations that kept her parents away. She wasn't alone in her confusion, but, she was the only one outspoken about it. Her aunt watched over her, protected her, and raised her, when the child's parents could not...but, Urd was no replacement for Belldandy and Keiichi.
A routine had set in, and it was one that wouldn't likely change anytime soon.
"Da?" The little girl asked every single morning. After finding a way to climb out of her crib, or at the very least, screeching until Urd let her out, she made her loneliness known. She'd toddle to her parent's bedroom and sit at the door. "Ma?" She squawked, praying that someone might hear her.
"Not today." Along with that rather heartbreaking scene, Urd had to speak the negative, often scooping the little girl into her arms. It was so like heaven to expect Belldandy to be away from her only child. Urd knew from experience that it wasn't uncommon, but she hated the idea anyway. "Want something to eat?"
"Grrrm." Megumi was old enough now that her feelings were reflecting her powers. A shake to the head, disliking anything, also came with its own issues. Little red markings on her face would begin to softly glow, and an inevitable shock came with it.
Urd was immune to the infinitely weak electricity that the child seemed to attuned to, but she smoothed out the girl's long flowing hair anyway, before doing the same with her own. "You should eat something." Urd replied, dissolving the electric field without batting an eye. "Mommy isn't coming home today, you can't wait for her cooking."
The child, who seemed to have a tendency to retain her demonic markings most of the time, stuck her fingers into her mouth. She shook her head again, a deep scowl forming before the tears even had a chance. She pulled her hand out of her mouth, but Urd knew right away, no good was going to come from it. "Da!" She squealed, as if, somehow her father might hear her.
Urd winced. "Daddy isn't here either. Want pancakes?" She asked, thinking of the very few hot meals she could actually cook without conjuring anything.
"Rrrrmm." At the unhappy growl, stifled by her hand again, her seals glowed a brilliant red. It came complete with another electric wave. Megumi's power was easily drawing energy from the area around her. "Ma…" Megumi ordered, as if she thought Urd was lying.
"Mommy's working." Urd finally sighed, trying desperately to think of someone she could bother, seeing as the child was so lonely here on earth. Any goddess would have to come down from heaven for a visit...a child with red seals wouldn't be permitted to simply wander about heaven freely. "How about Peorth?" Megumi cocked her head in confusion of the name, and Urd smiled at the child in her arms. "You remember Peorth, right?" Urd went on to say, taking the child to a set of pictures. "This goddess?"
A frown made her face crinkle in displeasure. She didn't much like that goddess. Instead her eyes were drawn to a woman that was appealing to her. "Debil?" The child asked then, whilst preoccupied with her fingers. With her free hand, so pointed to a picture that Belldandy insisted keeping on the mantle.
"You can't visit Hild, or any other demon for that matter. Taking kindly to a devil is also out of the question." Urd frowned, carrying the child into the kitchen. "You'll just have to wait until daddy comes home." She put the toddler in the highchair, mostly to keep her out of trouble, poured a few cereal bits into a bowl and gave it to her. "Have a snack. I'm making pancakes and eggs, so just sit tight." She said, tapping at the bowl.
Megumi watched as Urd tied an apron around herself, and cocked her head to the side. "Hrrm." She put a small bit of cereal into her mouth, crunching on it loudly. "Gance!"
"Now that can be accomplished." Urd said rolling her eyes, knowing that young immortals often sought the attention of angles and devils, rather than their masters. "Elegance, keep Megumi company please." She asked of her angel, before sighing and getting to work. Cooking was never her strong suit, but the act in and of itself was a normalcy for Megumi, since Belldandy did it all the time. The routine was all that Urd was hoping for, though she could admit, not burning things would also be nice.