A/N: Sorry for being absent for so long! Long story short, over the past few months I've been rotating around different fics, squeezing in updates for those I was more passionate about and study whenever I was free. My horrible time management is basically to blame - and my constant problem which includes working on more than FIVE stories at a time.

Nevertheless, I have a new chapter for you guys, my lovely, patient readers. Hopefully, it's great and you all enjoy it!

Guest - Thank you for the really kind review! Hopefully this story will gather more :)

Till next time,

D.L.D


~~~~~Burning-Stars~~~~~

Night had fallen by the time they reached the demon realm. After stumbling around Britannia's forests for hours - and the General was convinced that they had lost the pesky Archangel - the group had finally reached the gateway connecting Britannia to the demon realm. Shadowy darkness had spread over the skies above, somehow allowing bright stars to blaze through the gloom as they joined the overcast silver shine of the moon. When Elizabeth had first caught a glimpse of the demon realm - of its striking night sky - she was taken aback; she was breathless. Britannia's night sky could never compare to its breathtaking splendor. Never.

Unlike her home realm, the demon realm owned a less bright moon but even more striking stars. Constellations sparkled and shone, veils of deep purples and blues ringing around the twinkling lights. With the deeper, darker backdrop of the demon realm's midnight sky, the stars stood out even more. Shone even brighter. Effortlessly, Elizabeth could rattle off the myriad of constellations she spotted, their tales echoing throughout her brain.

Right above her, elegant and poised, sat the constellation her mother had always told her about: Virgo. Purity, faith, a mother longing for the return of her child; that story had so many correlations to her own real life. Countless times, when the stars were out and the sky was clear, Elizabeth's mother would tell her about the story of Demeter and her daughter, Persephone. Every time Elizabeth would promise at the end, without fail, that she would never abandon her mother. Never would she be like Persephone.

Duty came before anything else; being a Maiden of Battle came before being Elizabeth. Even now, as she stared in awe at the demon realm's night sky, Elizabeth knew that. No matter what, she couldn't escape her duties. She could never truly be free of this burden from birth.

"Alright, we've lost them," Jezebel sniffed triumphantly, grinning as she nudged the pensive Elizabeth. Glittering in streaks, her midnight hair blended well with the shadows. "Welcome to the demon realm!"

No response could form on Elizabeth's end. Too occupied with staring, taking it all in, she had no more brain power left for talking.

Contrary to her beliefs, the gateway was located somewhere much less superficial than she had originally thought. Hidden within the deep wildlife of the land, shrouded by greenery and shrubbery and shielded by ginormous oak trees, they had found the gateway. Solid, established, solitary, it remained hidden between the trees, much less flashy and golden than her own kind's gateways. If anything, it was quite underwhelming, made of simple stone and easy to confuse for a giant rock.

In Elizabeth's mind, she had conjured images of twisting caves and smokey mist, the pathways meandering to the portal being gloomy and shrouded in deep, stretching shadows. From her own expectations and memories, Elizabeth thought that the demons would place a lot of effort into their portal placings. In reality, it was just a random clearing, shielded by trees and healthy forest life. Anyone could stumble upon it.

This directly contrasted the gateways to the goddess realm. Much more elegant and graceful, the goddesses chose lakes and bodies of water for their gateways. Seemingly normal bodies of water could house great portals to the more bright and blessed realm, water often being a natural mirror to the clear, blue skies. Elizabeth remembered when she first caught a glimpse of a gateway - the cool sensation of the crystal water. Much more pleasant than the nipping chill of her praying pool...

"What?" Jezebel frowned at Elizabeth's silence, brows pinching. She poked Elizabeth's forehead, her own wrinkling with creased lines. "Is this place not up to standard? Not as good and plush and comfortable as your home?"

"No, of course not!" Elizabeth blinked, wincing at the tone Jezebel used to refer to her past, her family, her home. Home was somewhere of great importance to Elizabeth; the thought of home kept her sane. But, of course, not even home - her own heart's resting place - could compare to the beauty of this place. Elizabeth shook her head, "No, if anything my home is not up to this standard. No night sky in Britannia could ever compare to this."

As if to prove her point further, Elizabeth stretched a hand up to the skies, gesturing at the colourful constellations of the demon realm. With all their colour and vibrancy, one would think that they were alive, watching and guiding the life below just as stars were rumoured to do in tales. Elizabeth wouldn't be surprised if that was what they did here; all legends did hold some form of truth, after all. Stars always were mystical things.

'Yes and so are lies. Little fractures of truth,' Her darkness agreed, naturally flaring now that they were in the demon realm. Thoughtfully, it let out a hum, purring as it spread along her veins. 'I wonder how many of those we have missed in the past couple of days...'

Elizabeth said nothing, choosing to ignore her darkness. Instead she was fixed on Jezebel, her reaction, as she scrutinized Elizabeth, her eyes narrowed into accusatory slits. Like always, when Jezebel stared at Elizabeth, it felt as if she were pointing a sharp blade right at the column of her throat. As if she were a hunter, a relentless predator, she could pin Elizabeth down with just her presence alone, her looks enough to freeze the hybrid into place.

Usually, Jezebel would use this ability to intimidate Elizabeth. Usually, she would use it in order to assert dominance. Today, however, she only let out a thundering bark of a laugh, shaking her head as she jabbed Elizabeth with her elbow once more.

"There's a reason why they call this place the realm of darkness!" Jezebel snorted, her cobalt eyes glimmering with glee. Cheerfully, she nudged Klaus with a smug smile, "Right, Klaus?"

"Yes," He agreed, nodding absentmindedly. Focused on a small device in his hands, his gaze remained focused on the circular object, never straying from its surface. "Although there are many reasons more."

"Which the General would know all about," Jezebel quipped, finishing off his sentence. Now she turned to him, growing a grin that could rival Minx's own feline mischief, stretching from ear to ear. "Isn't that right, General?"

Nothing but a gruff sound of acknowledgement left him. Not that Elizabeth expected much more. Around her, he was someone closed-off, sharp-edged, having no time nor effort available to expend on making pleasantries. Instead he was blunt, brash, brutal. There was nothing but suspicion, deeply-rooted disdain, directed her way. And Elizabeth can't help but feel it was because of her first impression - that moment when she had sidled up to him, grinned and acted as if his status meant nothing to her.

Which it didn't. To Elizabeth, to all Maidens of Battle, status meant very little. Unless you were a king or a god or a self-appointed champion, Maidens of Battle spent very little time honouring the traditional sense of status. Respect and authority was only given to those who proved that they deserved such virtues; being on a higher level, a more respected level, meant that you had more to offer than sharp, cutting words.

So far, the General appeared to nothing but sharpness. A thick prickliness, a heavy veil of unkindness, seeped from him whenever Elizabeth was around him. A true trait of darkness - as her mother would say - a sign of an evil, soulless beast. Yet, Elizabeth didn't think so. To her, it was just a front, the sort that someone like him would have to build up, his entire life framed around protecting the royal family from external threats.

If she were raised to be a weapon of war, then Elizabeth would likely be no different. Trust was difficult to have when you were raised to always see the dishonor in others. Why would it be any different for someone like him?

"He'll lighten up eventually," Jezebel whispered to her, her voice anything but a whisper. Another laugh bubbled from her system, booming in the semi-silence of the night. "He's always been a bit of a pussy when it comes to meeting new people. Isn't that right, General Mel?"

"Fuck off, Jez," He rolled his eyes, his face anything but jesting. Instead it was a death threat, a mask of pure intent and malice, holding a promise that was keen to be kept within his coal black eyes. A middle finger faced both Elizabeth and Jezebel over his shoulder, a replacement for the frown.

Light, tinkling laughter floated from Jezebel at his actions, similar to that of a child's. To Elizabeth, it was odd to see her so lighthearted and free. Previously, she had worn a guarded air, a careful, cautious face, that grew infuriated and frustrated whenever anyone tried to pick apart her tough and brash demeanour. Now, she was more like a teasing friend, someone who prodded fun at others, laughing and joking under the weak light of the moon as people sent death threats her way.

Elizabeth blinked, "Is it normal for you all to be so..."

"Serious?" Klaus offered, nodding toward the General. "Or utterly bipolar?" He now gestured toward Jezebel, who was occupied with picking more fun at the General, grinning more and more at his darkening mood. At Klaus' answers, Elizabeth nodded, feeling herself blush as he released a sigh, "Unfortunately, yes. This is just how things are. Demons are horribly crude, blunt and savage when compared to the other races of Britannia."

"But you'll get use to it," Jezebel teased, slinging an arm over Elizabeth's shoulders. "That being said, don't think it'll be all sunshine and rainbows from me just because we know each other. Right now I'm being nice because I'm completely sloshed. But in a hour, I'll be so angry even your cat will steer clear. My mood switches like the wind."

"Like a few other things," Klaus muttered, shaking his head.

"Hey!" Jezebel pouted, whacking him on the arm. Proudly, she huffed, puffing out her chest with pride. "I'll have you know that I am the most sanctimonious of my father's children! I'd even put those goddess-loving druids to shame with how pure and good my soul is compared to those sky-rats. In fact, I have the purest soul out of all the demon race."

"Only because you're a total prude," Klaus stated, glancing up from the device in his hands. Carefully, he pocketed it, turning to face a now frowning Jezebel. As if stating a fact, he glanced at her, plain and emotionless. "Everyone in the estate was talking about how you rejected one of the best warriors our race has ever seen."

"I did not!" Jezebel fumed, both cheeks tinting red. Fiercely, her arms crossed over her chest, long hair swishing over her shoulder as she rolled her eyes. "Plus Calmadios totally doesn't qualify. He barely makes legendary warrior material."

"In most people's eyes he does," Klaus stated simply.

"No he doesn't," Jezebel bit out.

"He is in line to become a Commandment," Klaus reminded her, taking on an almost sing-song type tone. Smug, he grinned as he adjusted his glasses, noting how Jezebel sulked even further at his triumphant words. "In fact he's one of the fan favourites for the lower classes."

Now Jezebel was bristling, her tight arm cross becoming a fidgeting shift as she bit her lip and glanced down at her nails. She didn't want to admit it, but Klaus had caught her out. Unable to back up her argument, her point, she was now backed into a corner, forced to admit that he was right. Or - in a more Jezebel-type way - she completely avoided her crowded situation and responded with pettiness. Overwhelming, biting pettiness.

"Well," She sniffed, lifting her nose into the air as she held her head up high. "So am I."

"Really?" Klaus echoed, raising a brow. To Elizabeth, he appeared genuinely surprised, as if this was the first time he had ever heard of such a thing occurring. A rare look for her to catch when Klaus appeared to know all about Jezebel. "Didn't the matriarch say that it was too risky for you to contend?"

"The old bat just wants to make sure her brat gets in," Jezebel scoffed, rolling her eyes. More of the bite and growl from her previous demeanour was returning, pinching her brows and wrinkling her nose as she balled her fists. "She's scared of how powerful the rest of us are. That includes Elizabeth."

"Me?" Elizabeth blinked, taken aback by her sudden mention in the conversation. Part of her was thankful for the inclusion, feeling rather awkward just listening to Klaus and Jezebel go back and forth with each other. Another part felt apprehensive, unused to having the spotlight cast directly onto her - especially when demons were present.

"Well yeah, our old man went toe to toe with Cusack and Chandler. Although the Demon King would never admit that," Jezebel rattled off, waving a hand dismissively. She was still frowning, fine lines building around her face as she spat the next words. "That's why he hated father for having so many 'mongrel kids'. Too much power in too many unpredictable variables. We simply had to be contained over the control of a good, demon influence."

Even though it wasn't cold, Elizabeth felt the terrible shiver that tracked her spine. If her mother had never taken her - if she had never been delivered to her mother - then she would have faced a similar fate. This matriarch, the one who seemed to run the entire family, clearly had favourites. All of the children, regardless of their status, had been forced to compete. That much was obvious from Jezebel's hard lip press and the set to her cobalt eyes.

Growing up in the demon realm had not been a pleasant experience.

"Oh," Elizabeth couldn't help the dismayed gasp that left her system. However, she quickly masked it with a question, tilting her head to the side. "So we can compete to become a Commandment?"

"I mean, we can try," Jezebel shrugged in response, her nose crinkling a little. "I know the matriarch will be pissed if - actually hell yeah! Let's do it!"

Something dangerous sparked in Jezebel's eyes in that moment. Matching her ruddy cheeks and the slight stagger that accompanied her steps, the determination blazing within her eyes was palpable. Infectious. Maybe it was even a result of liquid courage, fueled by the bubbly, lightness of an alcohol-addled brain.

"No Jez..." Klaus was shaking his head, seeming to be entirely against the idea. Huffing out a sigh, he carefully helped Jezebel to remain balanced, a calm hand fixed to her arm. "You know how much she already hates your rebellious streaks. Entering the trials to become a Commandment would only serve to make you her worst enemy."

"Too bad, she's not my mother," Jezebel scoffed, roughly shaking off Klaus' hand. Stomping toward Elizabeth's side, roping an arm around her stunned shoulder, she grinned as she added, "And she isn't Elizabeth's. Plus you'll let us try out, right General Mel?" Puppy dog eyes were directed at the stoic general's back, definitely not visible from his end. Nevertheless, Jezebel continued to beg, "Please? Pretty please? I'll stop calling you General Mel!"

"Really?" Surprisingly he turned around, a brow raised dubiously as he studied the drunken Jezebel.

"Really," Jezebel nodded, her arm also coercing Elizabeth into giving a solid nod alongside her. "Although I can't guarantee not taking the piss out of you. You and Zel will always be the butt of my jokes, General Mel."

For a breathtaking moment, he seemed to consider it all. For once Elizabeth could see the cogs turning, could see some of the personality hidden behind the frigid layer of stone he used to portray himself as a toughened, hardened soldier. And in that moment she thought she saw something relatable, something that could maybe help her to tolerate the general. In that moment, she was not disappointed.

"Alright, I'll take it," He finally nodded, holding out a hand for Jezebel to shake. "But you have to shake on it."

All too easily the demon complied and Elizabeth couldn't believe it: just like that they were in, one step closer to joining the demon race's elite.