"If there is to be no peace, then there is no need for mercy."
Piercing red eyes stared down at the man groveling before their throne. Seated high above all others was the Queen Mother, Allucard II. Her fangs glinted in the pale light of the moon as she passed her judgment on the mortal who dared betray her love. A hand curled against her jaw, her index finger tapping her cheek as she took on a contemplative look.
"It seems that I'd forgotten." She said quietly as she continued to stare down her former lover. Her voice, barely a whisper, still echoed through the chamber. "Forgotten what it's like to be hated." A slow smile curled across her lips, so full of malice that a chill ran down the man's spine as shadows flickered across the walls. "Thank you for reminding me, darling."
"Aaaaand cut!"
A loud clap could be heard as Sara released the stiff posture she'd been holding for the last twenty or so minutes. Several stagehands rushed forward to help her out of the rig she was hooked into. Her back cracked and popped in several places as she stretched and was handed a heavy coat. "I'm so glad we finished that last scene." She huffed as she dragged the white wig off her head and handed it to an eager assistant. "I just wanna go home and sleep in my own bed."
She walked briskly to her trailer, thoughts of going home filling her with joy. The temperature dropped everyday the closer they got to Christmas, the cold only adding to everyone's desire to hurry through filming. They'd been filming the live action adaptation to "Don't Wait for the Sun'' for the past three months and had finally wrapped up season one. Post productions would take another month then another three months of build up till the series dropped in May.
The whole process was grueling and Sara was more than grateful to be done with her part. Since the announcement of the show a year ago, her career just skyrocketed as the production team did an early release of part of the soundtrack. An honest juggling act was her lifestyle, between her last tour, interviews and filming in England Scotland, she hadn't seen her family in a year. Unless you counted her hanging out with Rin in Yggdrasil with her mobile rig. The rig had been a gift from one of her fathers business partner's sons.
One of the many gifts she'd received from prospective boyfriends, she politely turned him down. But the gift was too good to return, a prototype and only of its kind.
A blast of warm air hit Sara's face and brought her back to the present. The trailer was heated and welcomed her in from the cold. The young actress sighed in relief, shucking her heavy coat to the side. Turning to head to the kitchen area, she gave a small squeak and threw the nearest object (a prop dagger), at a person sitting on the couch. The dagger impaled the cushion inches from a head of black hair.
"I know Allucard hates Damian, but I'm pretty sure we're off camera."
Sara let out an embarrassed squeak as her co-star gingerly plucked the dagger from the cushion. "I'm so sorry, Nara." The girl fretted as she took the weapon back from him. "You scared me and all those knife throwing lessons just kicked in and- " Her rambling was cut off by a soft laugh. "It's fine Sara. I honestly shouldn't have been lurking in here like a creep." He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as he continued. "Though I think this should serve as a reminder to not sneak up on you. The producers really knew what they were doing when they made you take those knife throwing classes, huh?"
The two shared a laugh as they remembered all the other times her character threw a knife at his.
"Why are you in my trailer anyway?" Sara asked as she looked over Nara. He was seven years her senior, twentysix years to her nineteen. Even with the age gap, the two of them played lovers on screen, she the reawakened queen of the vampires, he the human who broke into their castle and stole her heart.
Nara was handsome, anyone could see that. He was tall, 5'11 with silky black hair that added another inch to his height. His skin was flawless and long lashes kissed his cheeks whenever he blinked. He was the center of many teenage girls' fantasies.
And he was very much single.
"I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me on a date before we fly back home tomorrow?"
But it looked like that wasn't going to last much longer.
Carisimmi was more than content in this moment. In fact, one could say she was at peace as she dined with Demiurge. The demon had a beautiful lunch spread out upon their arrival at an equally lovely cabin. They sat outside in an outdoor cafe type setting, the platinum and glass furniture seeming so foreign yet right underneath the shade of a large willow tree. The food itself was to die for and reminded her of her days in America when she first started out acting, the smoky taste of the brisket warming her insides.
"This is amazing, Demiurge." She said as she gazed out on the fields of flowers and fruits before her. Her words were soft as she spoke, feeling relaxed in a way that came only with being out in nature. Such a feeling was almost foreign to her, her own world having very little natural beauty left in it. Such a sight was reserved almost exclusively to privately owned greenhouses or CGI renditions for the screen. Her father had owned several greenhouses but they paled in comparison to the real thing.
A feeling of melancholy came forth the longer Carisimmi stared out into the distance, memories of her mother coming to the surface. Her mother was odd, not in the bad parent or eccentric way. But odd in the way that she loved freely and gave easily. It was an incredibly rare trait in their social circles. She'd often allow children field trips into the greenhouses or donated the excess fruit they harvested to the orphanages. She'd even had a greenhouse dedicated solely to poisonous plants built when she found out they were going extinct due to people purposely killing them off to make way for plants that were actually edible.
Carisimmi had been young when that had happened and watched in fascination the strict process one went through to be allowed to even go inside the greenhouse. The media had descended like vultures when they heard about this apparent "waste of precious resources and space" to care for plants that benefited no one. Her father had barely held back his laughter when his wife spoke to a reporter.
"Personally, I think people are much more toxic than these plants."
Demiurge watched as his lady gained a faraway look before a soft smile crossed her lips. The demon inwardly preened at the idea of the angel enjoying the fruits of his labor. Sephiroth had been very helpful in his research of proper courtship between Supreme Beings. While it had been confusing at first, he was quick to find a way to blend the two forms of courtship. He'd crafted the furniture himself, every delicate curve and arch of the platinum carefully formed and shaped with tiny roses dotted across the metal with rose gold. Sephiroth had been so kind as to share with him Lady Carisimmi's favorite flower was indeed the rare blooms.
He'd also told him of Lady Carisimmi's fondness for nature which made sense to the elder demon. Hell was a rather inhospitable place for the frail plants of the earth and the swamps where the Great Tomb of Nazarick was once located lacked the softer beauty of nature. So Demiurge had taken an entire day to clear out any sheep that had migrated into his chosen field and worked them to the bone to plant the rows of flowers. Each bloom has been carefully selected and inspected by Demiurge, their locations meticulously plotted as they were arranged to form an image. Carrisimi had yet to notice the field forming her crest when viewed from above: an upside down Celtic cross surrounded by a broken halo.
His second courtship gift, one he hoped would garner her favor. He would never admit it, not even to himself, but he was jealous of Sebas. Maybe even threatened by how close he was to the angel. The two of them were performing different dances with the same partner and the butler seemed to be leading her further away from their shared spotlight.
But now was his chance to get closer to his intended. Sebas had come to him with his concerns about how to help their lady. Supreme Beings were far more complicated than he'd originally thought, with their ability to transfer their souls between bodies at will. His lady must feel so trapped in her shell, so unused to the full scale of her instincts without her true form available to dampen the connection. It was obvious that she'd settled into her angelic form easily due to her constant use and familiarity with it. But now she was lost in how to handle her demonic half.
Lady Carisimmi would never admit she needed help outside of a moment of weakness and trust so he would have to make the first move. Demiurge broke the silence and turned to face his mistress fully. "Lady Carissimi, I trust you enjoyed your meal." His heart skipped a beat when those green eyes turned on him, a soft expression gracing her features.
"I did." Carisimmi said with a wistful expression and wry laugh. "I haven't been able to enjoy a full meal in peace like this since we've come to the new world. I'm really glad you invited me out." And she truly was. This was the most peaceful moment she's had in this insanity that is her new life. A soft smile crossed her lips as she took a deep breath and just enjoyed the moment. "But as much as I would like to sit back and relax, we still have a task to accomplish, dont we Demiurge."
Demiurge felt an unknown emotion bubble in his chest as he stood from his seat and held a hand out to the Supreme Being with a flourish. "Of, mlady." He replied as Carrisimi accepted the hand and allowed the demon to help her up. "I believe the term is " To kill two birds with one stone" , correct?" Carrisimi nodded as she tucked her arm into Demiurge. "Then I'd be most honored to show you the farm." He continued as he led the angel down the hill and towards what looked to be several cabins and smaller fields in the near distance.
"And I'm most pleased to hear that." Carrisimi said while rolling her neck, her wings giving a small flex beneath the cape of her dress. "Though I'm a little excited. I've never been on a farm before." Her tone was somewhat giddy. Were there horses? Cute, fluffy little sheep? She really hoped to see a cute piglet like the one from that children's book her mother read to her all those years ago. "What kind of animals are you raising? I've read from your reports that they've been rather easy to maintain without any strain on Nazarick's resources."
Demiurge seemed to puff up with pride at the curiosity and praise in Carrisimi's voice. "I call them Albelion sheep. They breed easily enough and the hides have proven to be useful in creating parchment. Though I am ashamed to report that we have only been able to produce low level scrolls from the parchment." Demiurge gave a small shake of disappointment. "They require little food and the use of healing spells allow us an endless supply of hides." Carrisimi was distracted by Demiurge's words as they neared the farm. "I actually hope that m'lady could be of help in one issue I am having though."
The two of them were rounding the corner of a cabinwhen Demiurge made that statement. Carrisimi's eyes widened as she finally saw the farm.
"It may be able to help us in understanding your own issues with your dual natures."
For as far as the eye could see, humans, in various stages of deterioration and health, toiled away in the fields. Her stomach gave a small lurch as she barely held back the urge to purge herself as her nose began to pick up the subtle scents she'd missed. The stench of blood emanated from the wooden structure to their right, her mind putting the pieces together the longer she stood there. Tears began to blur her vision while her mouth started to water.
Demiurge carefully watched Carrisimi's reaction as she took in the farm. Those tiny little details like the way her eyes grew shiny even as her pupils dilated. The way her cape fluttered as her feathers puffed up while her lips parted to taste the air. Even the way her chest moved with her breaths had changed, breasts pushed out for seconds longer as she took long, deep breaths. All these stimulants should have given her a deep sense of satisfaction but instead he could see the strain she was putting on herself.
"Lady Carissimi?" He started, the angel still heavily focused on the scene before her. "M'lady I must ask that you listen to what I have to say." His words fell on deaf ears as the angel reamind frozen. His brows furrowed with worry as he walked to stand in front of Carisimmi and block her view of the farm. His expression became tighter as he realized her left eye was fully pink, the normally neon colors almost sickly in the dull hues. "Lady Carissimi." He said again more firmly. Carrisimi blinked slowly but her attention was back into the present focused on the man who easily dwarfed her. A voice in the back of her mind tittered about how easily he could pin her against the wall and ravage her.
"M'lady, you are an anomaly." Demiurge stated, his tone blunt and almost clinical. Carrisimi yanked back from the inner voice, a blushburning her cheeks as it continued it's sinful whispers. "Hybrids are a rarity in themselves and almost never survive. The union of an angel and a demon was unheard of until you came to be. So there is no true way to be sure but I believe the problem you're having...is yourself."
Carrisimi could only stare at the demon in confusion as he continued his lecture, mind struggling to focus on a single thing as two separate voices screamed within. Demiurge could see the confusion painted so clearly on her face and decided to get straight to the point.
"Lady Carissimi, you spend all your time in your angelic form. Those instincts lie on the Pure Good side of the Karma scale while you yourself are not. You show favor to this side and it is slowly eating away at your other half." His tone was firm as he spoke, hoping that his mistress would understand the severity of the situation. "Angels are meant to kill demons and vice versa. You are the epitome of unholy unions and this union is being crushed by your bias between forms. Your demonic instincts demand survival and are growing stronger under the stress of suppression. The longer you ignore them, the more they will lash out during moments of weakness until they either take over or destroy you from the inside out."
The voices seemed to quiet as the reality hit her. She could die ? She had gone through too much for it to end like this.
"M'lady, you constantly give but it is not in our nature, demon's nature, to do so." His tone softens at the fear in her eyes. So powerful but so weak all at the same time. "You offer everything but take nothing for yourself. Your other half understands and craves to give into its selfish desires. There is nothing wrong with allowing yourself to be selfish. You are a demon and a Supreme Being." Demiurge closed the barely there space between them and held Carrisimi's hands between his own. "There is no guilt in letting your whole beauty grace this world."
So close, Carrisimi could pick out Demiurge's natural scent beneath the cloying smell of blood. It was like burning forest on a stormy day, contradicting yet somehow pleasant. It called out to the little voice she tried so desperately to pretend wasn't there. It felt like it could be so easy to let go but her hands had a knuckle white grips of those mental reins. Letting go and just letting herself be relaxed was something to foreign to her. She'd given her all until it was all taken and lived with the scraps that is her identity for so long it was just so natural to keep everything that could possibly hurt locked away.
"If Momonga is Death, then I should be Life…" Carisimmi whispered as her wings shuddered, the tension in her body drawing tighter as she struggled. Faint crackling could be heard from beneath her dress, like embers catching dry brush while smoke started to come off her skin. She was fracturing at the seams. "How can I be Life if I let myself become that again?"
"M'lady, I can't even begin to fathom the thought process of a Supreme Being but I can say this: Life doesn't give. One must work for Life and what they want." Deciding to be bold, Demiurge pulled the nephilim in close and hugged her. The action shocked the both of them, Carisimmi's face pressed firmly into the warm fabric of his suit. "Everything has its place and it's up to Life to keep moving. It has no need to please others for they should be grateful to have it in the first place. You can't carry the weight of sheep in this world. You will only tear yourself apart. Like cows and pigs provide humans with food and leather, these humans are a necessity of Nazarick. That is their place in Life. You need not to worry what others think, only of what you will be." Demiurge gently pulled a pin from Carisimmi's hair and allowed the silken locks to spill through his fingers as he cradled her head close to him. "So be yourself."
Carrisimi's cheeks felt cold as crystalline tears slowly made glistening tracks down the right side of her face. The voice was oddly quiet as a teary smile slowly worked its way onto her lips. The crackles grew louder as flames started to lick their way from under her skirt, the fabric quickly being eaten up by black fire. The flames moved faster across her body as charred feathers drifted to the ground. Carrisimi wrapped her arms around Demiurge, the demon feeling claws dig into his back as the flames finally engulfed them in a pillar of searing black.
Shalltear hummed quietly as she made her way to the spa for some much needed pampering. She'd been patrolling day in and day out the first three floors since her creation and not once had she ever taken the time to just have a lazy day. Now don't be confused here, she loved her job. Especially when she received praise from the Supreme Beings. Shalltear just needed this little time to herself. It was important to look her best if she's to become head wife.
Shalltear slowed her steps when she saw the doors to throne hall creak open. Was Lord Ainz back? A joyous smile crossed her features as she began to skip over to the door only to pause in disgust. Sephiroth emerged and Shalltear found him attractive, you'd have to be blind not to. But her disgust wasn't direct at him but at his companion.
"I'm so happy that Snowflake let me take this!" The young elf cheered as she dragged the massive skin behind her. "Can you imagine the armor you can make with this! Lady Carrismi created him to be the perfect hunter and gave him so many buffs that he could probably tank a hit from Albedo without a scratch." The white scales reflected the light of the torches easily, making it seem almost ghostly when she lifted the head higher for inspection, the empty sockets far more eerie than the black pits the snake had for eyes.
Sephiroth only nodded before giving a polite bow to the girl. With a turn of the heel, he began his trek back towards his gardens. Aura smiled dopily at his retreating figure before turning in the opposite direction and saw Shalltear.
"Oh hey!" She greeted with her usual grin while approaching the vampire. "I was hoping to talk to you later." Aura shifted the skin into a better position across her arms and body. She'd thought of putting it in her inventory but was too excited. She wanted to show off her gift to all who passed.
Shalltear eyed the shed skin with distaste as she responded. "And why would you want to talk to me?" Honestly, the two were always bickering so why did the little elf want her presence? Aura smiled again. "I had wanted some advice but I think I've got it!"
"Advice?" Shalltear questioned with a raised brow. "On what?"
"Well…" Aura trailed off with a faint blush as she looked back towards where Sephiroth disappeared to. Though she may be slow to the draw at times, the dots quickly connected in Shalltear mind as she looked at Aura. "Oh? You like Sephiroth?" The vampire laughed covering her mouth with her fingers. "I didn't expect that in a million years!"
The blush darkened and spread to her ears as Aura glowered at Shalltear. "Shh! I don't want the whole of Nazarick knowing!" She hissed. Shalltear blinked at her fellow guardian as a mocking smile curled across her lips. "You wanted my advice on how to make him like you, didn't you?" She cooed. "That's so cute. I didn't know you could even have a crush."
Aura's cheeks burned hotter the longer Shalltear spoke. "And on Sephiroth of all people. Isn't he a little out of your league." Aura grit her teeth and practically snarled at the vampire as she lashed out. "It's not funny!" Those heterochromic eyes glistened with embarrassment and hurt. "You don't think I know that! I don't even know why I thought you could help!"
Shalltear watched stunned as Aura stomped around her, the skin dragging behind her like a snow train. She had been only joking but it seemed that Aura truly liked Sephiroth. It was hard to imagine the two together when the elf got older but if that was what made her happy. An uncharacteristically soft expression crossed her features.
It would seem that her little bratty friend was finally growing up.
"Hold on, Aura." Shalltear called out to the retreating blonde as she hurried after her. Aura stopped in her tracks and threw a suspicious look over her shoulder. The vampire barely held back another chuckle at the expression. "If you really like him, then I'll help you." Shalltear conceded. "Lord Peroroncino gifted me with a vast wealth of knowledge in romance. I'm sure we can find a good way for you to woo Sephiroth."
Aura beamed at her as the two made their way to the sixth floor. With opposite paths, it was unlikely either parties would run into each for the rest of the day.
Sephiroth had seen Shalltear, hence his quick departure. He had no intentions of being anywhere near the vampire without a proper buffer. Her creator may have been good friends with his own but even his level of tolerance couldn't handle the much insanity. A mental shudder passed through the incubus as he remembered the first time he met Peroroncino. The bird man had taken one look at him and immediately gave him a maid uniform, one that still sat unused in his inventory. He only excuses the action because the Supreme Being had been under the impression that he was a female.
"Dammit Cari! You're almost as bad as sis!"
Even if the costume was left unworn, he did appreciate the gesture to an extent. Still, his amusement started and ended with the bird. And so he made his way to his garden, completely missing the conversation held between the girls. As always he gave polite nods and kind but empty smiles to any maids he passed. A few waved while others blushed and ducked their heads.
It was a norm, the adoration. He thought little of it as he finally reached the always welcomed sight of cherry oak doors. The doors opened in response to his arrival without a single pause in his step. He quickly went to one of his work tables and set about his task. Summoning one of the jars of venom he just milked, he took careful note of its volume before opening it.
His measurements were precise as the incubus set about mixing poisons and their antidotes, multiple jars and vials slowly filling up the space. Dozens of plants slowly joined the compost pile as he harvested what he needed. Finally done, Sephiroth eyed each jar critically and selected one of each of his concoctions. An empty basket was summoned from his inventory, the jars filling in alongside a multitude of needles and instructions for administration. After a moment of hesitation, he added a crown of purple hyacinths.
Sephiroth looked at the basket with a small smile. Picking it up, he walks through the garden and back out the doors. He easily spots a maid, her blonde hair a feature he easily recognized as one of Karma's preferred maids. Her back was to him so he purposely changed his steps, the halls suddenly filled with the rhythmic taps of his heels.
The maid immediately turned and greeted him with a bow. "Lord Sephiroth." She said with reverence as he approached. Standing back up, she was handed the basket and watched Sephiroth carefully for her instructions. Taking in the baskets white color and the barely there smile on Sephiroth's face, she immediately understood. "Of course Lord Sephiroth." She said with another bow. "I'll take this to Lady Karma immediately."
Sephiroth nodded in response and watched the maid hurry away to complete her task. Hopefully Karma accepted his apology. A small smile graces his face before it's wiped away. He still had a lot to do today and had to time to dally any further. Spinning on his heel to walk away, he ignored the slight stumble of his turn.