Shadowess

Rickster had appeared when Ricky called him, and he briefly looked at everyone. The only ones he didn't recognise were Abaddon and the man. He gingerly took the man from Abaddon's grip and carried him over to a chair, where he snapped his fingers, summoning ropes that bound the man's hands and feet. "So... why are we doing this?" he then asked. Wanting to see what the commotion was, Atma had also wandered into the kitchen and looked at everyone curiously from the doorway. Amelia had been about to answer Rickster's question when Atma caught her eye. She looked at Abaddon. "What about Atma, here? She used to be a Spirit of Life, but she retired." "What about me?" Atma asked, looking confused. "What's going on? Who's that man? And why is he being tied up?" --- "You won't," Kodi assured her. "Alright, I gotta go. I'll call back soon, ok?" he ended the call and started his car before taking off towards the local green grocer. His heart sank as he approached the bus stop not too far from the store and saw the abandoned bag with its contents spilling onto the pavement. He pulled up next to it, hurriedly turned his car off and took his seat belt off before hopping out and getting a closer look. He caught Clementine's scent here. And an Angel's. And something else that he couldn't quite place. It was human, but not the ordinary human scent. He looked around, hoping to see Clementine still nearby. "Clem? Clementine?!" He called out. He tried to teleport to her, but found that he couldn't. His heart began to race. Something was very wrong here. --- It took several minutes for Niko to awaken, and even then, he was groggy as he tried to make sense of what Nil was trying to say. When he eventually figured out of context that he needed to put the clothes on that were nearby, he blushed at realising he was mostly naked and hurriedly put on the strange clothes. He looked at himself in confusion, wondering why he was wet, and then he looked at the nearby pool and assumed he must've been bathing in it. But where was he? How did he get here? And who was this strange man who kept trying to talk to him in English? Were these his clothes? He didn't recognise them. Then, even more jarringly, he found himself suddenly standing in the Vampire Castle. He smiled widely. "Oh! This is a dream! I'm dreaming!" he laughed in German. Jessica appeared and looked in confusion from Nil to Niko. Having missed what Niko had just said, she couldn't tell that anything was wrong except that Niko was now staring at her in awe. "What happened?" She asked. --- Shezmu seemed unfazed by Insanity's protective display. "I believe that what Warren decides to do is his decision." He said simply. He then looked at Warren. "Time grows short, and I have yet to get ready. Will you come with me to this Ball?" Warren looked uncertain. He'd learned so much in such a short space of time, and he was still torn about how he wanted to feel towards either of them. He looked at Insanity sadly. Once again, he was forced to realise that his love for him would not be reciprocated, so he might as well see where things go with Shezmu. He looked at the Blood God and nodded. "The event is formal, black tie. Please take some time to prepare. I will collect you before we go in around thirty minutes." Shezmu nodded and then vanished, leaving Warren and Insanity alone. --- Lilith held him to her and gently stroked the back of his head. She frowned as she listened to him, and when he was done speaking, she did the only thing that she could think to do to try to comfort him. While still stroking his hair and cradling his head against her chest, she began to hum the lullaby that she used to sing to him when he'd been a newborn. The lullaby that she hadn't sung again after he'd been snatched from her as an infant, until now.

"Hi, Ricky. Sorry to drop in like this. This is Abaddon, and this is... um..." She gestured to the emo-looking man and paused. "Well, he doesn't have a name yet. I guess he was technically just born. We pulled him out of Abaddon, but he's a little... uh, what's the nice way of putting it? Disturbed? I'd normally deal with this myself, but Abaddon and I have been summoned to an important event that we can't miss. Would you mind watching him for a while?" She asked and then gave him a serious look. "Don't let your guard down around him, though. Especially not around anything he could use as a weapon. In fact, it might be best to restrain him before he wakes up. I'll come by after the event to take him off your hands." --- Kodi's eyes lit up. He knew where to look. "Yeah, we do. Alright, I'll see if she's still there. Stay by the phone in case she calls, and if she comes home, let me know, ok? Try to relax, I'm sure she's fine." --- Leaving his underwear on, he stepped towards the pool and gingerly dipped in a toe. It was a little cold but not uncomfortably so. Not feeling any different, he moved further in and kept going until the water reached his shoulders. He sat there for a moment and wondered if he'd need to dip his head in, too. That's when he started to feel dizzy. He suddenly reached out to the edge of the pool. The water splashed up as his arm flung towards the grassy ledge, and he gripped it to try and steady himself. Before he could react, he lost consciousness and started to sink. When Nil would realise and pull him out, he'd be pulling out a human Niko. The only way that the healing waters could save him from his traumatic memories was to remove them completely. All of them. The memories of his torment at the hands of Donnie and Insanity. The memories of his trial and punishment at the hands of Xenos. Even the memories of his family and friends being murdered by Steinheil hunters. All the way back to the time he'd been human, and so, in reversing these traumas, the waters had also reversed his change from human to Vampire. He was a mortal German man again who barely knew a lick of English and whose last memories had been of when he had been excited to be welcomed into the Vampire society at the castle with his best friend, Hannes. --- Shezmu looked from Warren to Insanity as he asked his question. Warren's heart hammered and ached as he heard Insanity's words. "All of my consorts have my word that I will protect and respect them," Shezmu answered simply. He looked at Warren as he continued. "My consorts' lives are their own, and how they live is up to them. If they wish for our bond to include romance, I am not opposed to the idea. But I must be clear; I am not a monogamous man. My harem was once spread out across the world and consisted of dozens of men and women. It is only fair that I expect some of my concubines to have lovers of their own." He explained, not wanting to be misunderstood regarding his preferences. "That's-..." Warren stammered. He recalled Shezmu mentioning that he'd previously had a few consorts, but he'd never imagined it had been so many. "Oh, wow..." he was caught more off guard by Insanity's offer to destroy the contract he had signed. He'd been about to object, knowing it was the only thing left that tied him to Insanity, but then something unexpected happened. Black blotches on the scroll started to appear and spread, as if the ink was running. It continued to spread until the entire thing was just black parchment, which wilted and rotted in Insanity's hand. "Ah," Shezmu said as he watched what happened and saw their confused faces. "You mentioned before that your beloved Donnie had perished. I assume he had co-signed these contracts with you?" he asked Insanity. "Co-signed contracts are never a wise idea. It only takes one of you to perish, and they all become void. None of the contracts that you had co-signed will be in effect anymore." While this news disheartened Warren, Shezmu saw this as a good thing. Not because Warren was free now, but because he was now able to offer a contract of his own to his consort. --- Lilith's eyes were fixed on Nate as she listened to him talk. Her heart ached to know what her first child had gone through during his life. When he finished speaking, she hesitated before slowly moving from the corner of the bed to sit more in front of him. She lifted her hands up to cup his face and to take a proper look at him. She slowly ran her fingers through his hair and brushed some out of his face. Her finger traced over his scar as she looked at his eye with a frown. "My child." She whispered and smiled tearfully. "My Naoutha." She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly.

"I know what you mean, but you got summoned the same as I did. I don't think the council would take too kindly to you not making an appearance." Amelia pointed out while looking over the man warily. "I have some friends who could watch him for us. They have powers of their own, so they'd be able to handle him if he acted out. Let's drop him off and get ready for the event." She said while considering Ricky and Rickster as an option. --- Kodi paused. By now, he'd gotten into his car, and his hand was hovering over the key in his ignition. "Autumn, listen to me. Don't go blaming yourself, ok? You've had a lot on your mind, and Clem is a capable adult. I'm sure she's fine. Maybe she hopped onto the wrong bus or something. It happens. I want you to take some deep breaths and try to think. Did she say anything to you before she went out? Anything at all?" --- "So do I," Niko replied, and his hand trembled as he held his. He turned his head slightly to Jessica. "Let me go, liebchen," he said softly. "But-" Jessica started, but Niko cut her off. "Please." Jessica hesitated, and reluctantly, she let go of him, then took a step back while hugging herself. --- After leaving Dariel to get ready, Shezmu had made himself comfortable on Warren's couch to wait for him to return, as he had done a few times by now. Only this time, when Warren returned, he had brought an altered version of Insanity with him. "Ah, you have returned to your family." He greeted him with a nod. When Insanity asked him why he was here, his eyes drifted to Warren's and noted the discomfort in his consort's eyes. Warren was conflicted about how he should feel. He had longed for Insanity to return, but at some point during his stay in the castle, he had begun to accept that what he felt for Insanity would never come to fruition. Then Shezmu had come along, and although Shezmu had never made any advances, he had filled the emotional hole that had been left. Now he was standing between both of his love interests, and other than wanting the floor to swallow him up, he didn't know how to feel. "Warren and I have an agreement," Shezmu explained. "In payment for delivering his message to his family, he agreed that from time to time he would help me to -ahem- quench my thirst." "I'm his consort," Warren admitted numbly. "That is the term I use for such a position, yes. I'd like to assure you, though, that there is nothing nefarious about this arrangement. Warren is consenting, and I never take more than I need." Shezmu said casually. He then stood and straightened his jacket. "I-um-uh maybe we could have some privacy?" Warren asked awkwardly. His cheeks turned a deep shade of red at having this conversation in front of Insanity. "Of course. I did come for another reason, though." "Oh?" "My apprentice and I have been invited to a Ball in Death's Kingdom. It is a rare event that is set to be quite memorable. The Spirit Council have permitted invited guests to bring one person with them." he looked at Warren expectantly. "Y-you want to take me?" Warren blinked in surprise and blushed. He glanced at Insanity, and part of him wanted to accept in a bid to make Insanity jealous in the hopes he would find a way to become an adult faster. --- Lilith opened her eyes and then sat up quickly. She was startled to see she'd been moved to an unfamiliar location. She backed up into the corner of the bed, where her back rested against the wall and the bed frame, while she hugged her legs. She heard Nate while her eyes darted around the room. When she realised it was just her and her son, she relaxed a little but was still very much on edge. She hadn't really understood half of what Nate had said. She didn't know what a pub was. Or alcohol. Or Ireland, for that matter. Having spent the majority of her eternal life in Hell, which in her mind was still Eden, she had mostly survived in a similar fashion to beasts in the wilderness or cavemen before there was civilisation. But one word she did understand was 'home'. "H-Home..." She repeated the word and looked around again, but this time her expression had shifted from fear to wonder. She looked back at Nate. "The Angels?" she asked in a half whisper. She'd been referring to Gabriel and Azrael. She was distrustful and even fearful of all Angels, but now she seemed a little more willing to listen to Nate. --- "The honour is mine, your Grace," Azrael replied in his soft voice. He held on to the kiss for as long as he could, and he felt himself swooning at Death's touch. He had to tear himself away as the desire to stay close to him grew. "I will see you there," he said dreamily as he dragged himself away to make sure the preparations were all in order.

"I call it 'optimism,'" Amelia responded with a smile. "And it doesn't have to be a romantic partner. I was just kidding around with David. You could bring a friend. What about Ash? Or Insanity?" --- "I'll have a look for her too. Do you know which store she was heading to? It might give me an idea of which bus stop she would have gone to." Kodi asked. --- "Niko..." Jessica replied simply with a frown. This hadn't been Niko's first breakdown, after all. Although he had seemed to be getting better recently, so having just missed Insanity, she wasn't too sure what exactly had triggered this particular episode. "Jessica..." Niko said shakily. He pulled away to look at her. "I want to try it. What he said..." "But it won't work-" "We don't know that, Liebchen. I have to try. I can't keep living like this. You and I both know it. It's only a matter of time before I-..." He looked away. "You won't," Jessica said resolutely. "I'll help you, like I always do." "You'll watch me, yes. You'll stop me from ending my life over and over, but eventually you will get tired, your guard will drop, and I will find my opportunity..." He sighed heavily. "You are the greatest thing that I have done with my life. I don't want you to waste yours by worrying over me, and I don't want to cause you any pain. Please, Jessica. Let me try this." "And what if it doesn't work?" Niko looked at her sadly. "I have to believe that it will... but if it doesn't... well, we shall cross that bridge if it comes to it." He took her hands in his and gave her a weak smile. "For me, liebchen. You have saved me enough. Save me this one last time." Jessica blinked back tears and looked conflicted for a moment before relenting. "Nil... Please come back." --- "I don't know..." Warren answered. He sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry about me. You got some of your powers back, you're still you, and you came home, so that's something worth celebrating. We should probably head home." --- "Woah, don't go too crazy there, tiger," Lang joked with a short chuckle. He took a sip of his drink. "Well, I guess it's a start. I was thinking maybe I'd like to get into pottery. It's messy, but you come away with something you created that's also useful." --- "Heavy is the head that wears the crown." Shezmu quoted the phrase nonchalantly. "He is the king of his own realm with millions of citizens and reapers who count on him to protect them. It is therefore understandable that he be... what is the phrase? 'closed off'? from almost all others." Shezmu explained. "But that does not mean forming an alliance is impossible. One just has to know how to properly conduct oneself. Always bear in mind that while we are in his kingdom, we are merely guests and must act appropriately. Do not do anything to insult him, his kingdom or his children." He began walking towards his wardrobe. "When speaking to him or his children, do so respectfully. This ball will give us a unique opportunity to create a good rapport. Realms rarely invite so many guests for such events anymore, so do not squander this." Shezmu then opened his wardrobe. "Choose a black suit, then head to the baths to cleanse and get dressed." He turned to Dariel with a small smile. "You are around the same age as his children. I believe our best chance will be for you to get close to either one or both of them." He then glanced away. "I shall need to sate my thirst before we attend the event. I will do this while you get ready," he mentioned as he thought of paying Warren a quick visit. --- Lilith was still sound asleep by the time Gabriel checked on her. Oblivious to the fact that she had essentially been left alone for a short while. --- Lilly shared Raven's excitement and ran with him back into the castle, heading to her own room to see a beautiful black lace dress hanging in her wardrobe. Hanging behind that was a thick black robe made from crushed velvet. Its hood, sleeves and hems were lined in silver thread, which was intricately woven into swirling patterns. She spotted a scroll on her bedside table, which she hurriedly picked up and unrolled to see the oath written in fresh, black ink. 'I, Lillian De Morte, do hereby accept the title of Princess and heir to the Kingdom of Death. With this, I accept the duty and responsibility to the Kingdom, its citizens and the Reapers. I swear to serve and protect the Citizens of the Kingdom of Death. I swear to guide the Reapers to Reap souls with compassion, peace, patience and understanding. Above all else, I swear to uphold The Balance by any means. May all present here today bear witness and keep me to my oath from this day until my last day." Lilly read the scroll over and over. It seemed simple enough, but she didn't want to run the risk of getting it wrong when she had to recite it. She guessed Raven's would be the same except with his name instead and 'Prince' instead of Princess. Meanwhile, in the courtyard, once the children had run into the castle, Azrael turned to look at Death. "I had a new ceremonial robe made for you, too, your Grace," he said in a soft voice. "I should oversee the catering and decorations. I suppose I won't see you again until the ceremony begins."

Amelia, David and Abaddon were thrust back into the Gobi Desert. Almost immediately, the human was also teleported from Hell's Cells and unfrozen. As soon as he was, the connection he'd made with Kris would shatter. Pain shot through Kris's skull, and he cried out while his knees buckled. He slumped to the floor and passed out as a little blood trickled from his nose as well as his ears. When he would eventually awaken, the experience would cause him to search for answers, and inevitably, he would begin his search for this mysterious tortured man. For now, though slipped quickly into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, in the desert, Amelia was still grinning playfully at David. Having no idea of the human's attempt to contact anyone. "Oh, come on! You can tell me!" "I don't have a date," David said firmly. "I was just getting that question out there for the others." "Mhmm, sure." Amelia chuckled, unconvinced. "That being said, bringing Carol along might not be a bad idea." David then mused with a sly, mischievous smirk, which only grew as he saw Amelia's smile drop a little. "Wait-" "Yes, what a wonderful idea, Amelia! To bring your valued royal guard to the event. I'll go and give her the good news." "Dad-!" But too late, David had already vanished. Amelia let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ugh... she's going to be flirting with every Archangel in sight..." she groaned. Then she turned her attention back to Abaddon and the human. "I suppose we'd better get this guy somewhere secure for a while so we can go and get ready. Are you going to be inviting anyone, Abaddon?" --- "She's not back?" Kodi asked. He held his phone to his ear while walking towards his car at the station. He'd been about to do a routine patrol when the call had come through. "Is Harris there? Did she say she was going anywhere else?" His tone was steady and measured so as to sound calm, but he was a little concerned. --- Jessica frowned at the spot Nil had been standing in, but she stayed where she was with her arms around her maker. She felt a little guilty at having snapped at him, but she also believed she was right. Now, once again, she had the arduous task of trying to calm Niko down and prevent him from throwing himself into the sun. --- Warren watched the transformation, and his heart sank when Insanity took the form of a child. He had hoped he'd be an adult again, as he deep down had wanted to get closer to him. Seeing that Insanity seemed happy with his transformation, though, Warren pretended to be happy for him but couldn't bring himself to speak. --- "Different reasons," Lang answered with a shrug. "One or two can help you unwind. Some people drink more to get drunk. I'm more of an 'enjoy the flavour' kinda guy." He then looked thoughtful. "Maybe we can try out a few things? Like, maybe one day we could go on a hike together? Or take a painting class? What've you always wanted to try that's different to what you're used to?" --- "Hmm, we won't have a lot of time for a full etiquette lesson before the event. Come, I will help you choose your outfit, and then we will go over some basics." Shezmu said quickly. "This will be a valuable skill for you to learn. Alliances can help you build your strength, and an alliance with Death will elevate us to a much higher status than we are now." --- Azrael appeared back at the Irish pub with Nate and Gabriel. He looked awkwardly between them and briefly glanced at the ceiling, knowing Lilith would likely still be snoozing in the bed upstairs. "Well, I suppose I should return to Death's realm... I have a lot to prepare..." he then looked sideways at Gabriel and Nate. "And no shenanigans, you two. We don't want a repeat of Greece." he vanished. --- Lilly, Death and Raven would appear back in the Castle Courtyard. "Oh! What do we wear? Is there something specific for us with it being our Coronation?" Lilly asked with a mixture of nerves and excitement. "Sort of," Azrael answered as he appeared nearby and approached them quickly. "Children, I have had outfits tailored for you already. I've arranged that they be delivered to your rooms. The robe included is ceremonial. I've also sent a copy of your oaths to your rooms. Please practice these while you have time; you will need to recite them when Death calls you forth during the ceremony. It'll be done oldest to youngest, so Lilly would be first to recite the oath."

(That's ok 🙂 She was living with Kodi (My demon police officer), Harris (Your trickster) and Autumn (Your human teen that Kodi unofficially adopted 🙂)

Now convinced this wasn't just some sort of hallucination, Kris tried to focus on maintaining the mental link to this strange man. "Desert, what desert?" he said under his breath. "I saw no sand where you are. Only heat like I've never felt and a- a dungeon, I think? Why are you in pain? What happened?" He had moved back to his little bar and gripped its sides tight enough that his knuckles paled. --- "Good night, then," Clementine said in the same soft voice. When he was gone, she stayed where she was on the large cushion. Occasionally, she'd sip more of her drink as the day's events would replay over and over in her mind. She was still unsure of how to think or feel about it all. She was under no illusion that she had essentially been kidnapped and manipulated. But at the same time, she was very tempted to stick to her word. If this crazy plan of theirs actually worked, she would become royalty in the brave new world they created. Knowing the challenges ahead of them, Clementine's tactical and logical mind could be just the asset they need to give them a fighting chance. Her mind wandered to her friends on Earth. Surely by now they'd realise she'd vanished into the night. She wondered if they'd found the grocery bag she'd dropped at the bus stop yet. If they were already trying to look for her. If they were worried about her... she shook her head as she felt a pang of guilt, and she quickly took another sip of her drink. --- Jessica scoffed at Nil with a look of disgust. "Where is your compassion?" she demanded. Then her features softened as she realised she had reacted defensively towards someone who was only trying to help. "I'm sorry," she said in a softer tone. "That wasn't fair. You're trying to help. I know that. The problem is, though, you're so focused on looking for quick fixes that you're not actually paying attention to what the problem really is. What if some things simply can't be fixed with magic? And even if it works, the problem isn't just depression; it's trauma. It might make him feel a little better for a while, but it doesn't fix the root cause, which is ultimately an experience that he's going to carry with him for the rest of his life. That's something you can't just remove. It'd be the equivalent of throwing some aspirin at a cancer patient and then announcing they're all better now... Does that make sense?" --- Warren wept as Insanity spoke, and he lifted his hand to cradle him by his cheek. "All I wanted was for you to come back to me. I'll help you." He stood and wiped the tears away from his eyes before teleporting to find Eris. --- "I guess you're right..." Lang admitted as he picked up his glass. He took a sip and smiled as he enjoyed the flavour. "I suppose this means we'll have to find a hobby together then," he then chuckled. --- "Forgive my pupil. He is a warrior at heart." Shezmu said to the room while barely concealing a smirk. He then turned to Dariel, "You do not want to dull your armor. This can be a perfect opportunity for you to learn to make allies in other realms. As well as partake in some courtship activities." he added the last part quietly and while casting a subtle but quick glance from his student towards Death's children and back again. He then turned his attention back to the meeting. If he could match his apprentice with one of Death's heirs, they would both have a firm foothold in building an alliance with one of the most powerful realm leaders. "So, bring a date but only if they vote, too?" Samael asked. "Correct," Azrael answered. "So, then..." Amelia started and looked at David with a playful grin. "Who's your date?" "We'll see you all there then." David dodged the question while nodding to the others. "Oh, come on! You can tell me! Oh my gosh! I bet it's Carol!" "Wha-? No, no, it's not- I don't have- Can we go yet?" David flustered and looked at Unity desperately. "This meeting is adjourned for now. Please all arrive promptly and appropriately dressed for the Coronation at Death's castle." Unity said in a woman's voice. They then snapped their fingers, returning everyone to where they had been plucked from.

Kris spilt some of his drink when trying to pour it into the glass. He hurriedly set the bottle down and gripped his head, groaning. He stumbled to the wall and leaned against it. His eyes shut tight as the image of the man was thrust into his mind once more. "Who are you?" He breathed. "Where are you? How are you doing this?!" --- Clementine took his hand and shook it, but her eyes were fixed on him with a mixture of surprise and newfound respect. "Thank you, Adam. That-... That means more to me than you know," she said softly. --- Niko sobbed openly. His shoulders heaved as he gasped. His thoughts spiralled. His already depressed state threatened to pull him to the brink once again. Jessica appeared near them, having felt Niko's turmoil. She pulled her maker into a hug and held him tightly. The only person in the entire castle that Niko would comfortably allow to touch him. She looked at Nil sadly. "I know you're trying to help." She said to him. "Niko, he's right. You are a good man now." "How? How do I come back from this? What I did? I am no better than he is, and if I can't forgive him, then what hope do I have for myself?!" Niko sobbed. "You keep trying," Jessica affirmed. Tears hung in her own eyes. "Try and try. Don't ever give up trying." "Even if forgiveness is impossible?!" "Yes," Jessica said firmly. "Especially if you don't believe you will be forgiven. Try anyway. Because you're not him and because you're not the same you anymore. So, you might as well keep trying. Even if it's just for you." Finally, Niko's breathing slowed down. He held on to Jessica. Simply breathing and holding on. "I don't want to feel like this anymore." He breathed. "I know." --- Warren bit back his own tears as he stared at the floor. "I meant... when you get your powers back. Please... I don't think I could lose you again." Tears rolled down his cheeks. He lifted his eyes to look at him. "I always knew that you were good, you know... deep down." --- "You too." Carol nodded. She gave Sara and Ophelia one last smile before vanishing. --- "My hobbies?" Lang grinned as they walked into the bar. "Believe it or not, the police force is my hobby. My real job is a Guardian Angel. Or- is it the other way around?" he chuckled and shrugged. "I'm a simple man. I just like to help people." He sat on a stool at the bar and nodded to the bartender. "I'll have a rum and Coke..." he then turned to Reed. "Do you want to pick something from the menu, or do you want to try the same as what I'm having?" --- "Your what?" Shezmu looked at Jean in confusion. Welcome parties hadn't been a thing until well after he'd gone into slumber. "What about an after party?" Amelia suggested after overhearing Death's words to his daughter. "An after-?" Lilly looked at her, perplexed. "After party. So, you do your ceremony and ball as you would traditionally and then right at the very end, if there are still people wanting to keep the party going, then they let their hair down and have an informal after-party. Maybe that's when your friends' band could play?" Lilly's eyes lit up hopefully, and she immediately looked at Death. "Please, Father? Could they play at an after-party?" Unity suddenly looked up and, in a man's voice, said, "We have agreed that an informal gathering could be beneficial to relations between realms. However, we would request the leaders and representatives of each realm to bear in mind the purpose of this gathering so as not to let personal relations or biases interfere with your decisions." "Who could've seen that coming?" Samael mumbled sarcastically. He then looked across the table with an easy smile. "Well, you all know I have no interest in trying to get your votes, so I'm just looking forward to a decent party." "Councilman, we have already discussed a potential venue-" David started, but Unity cut him off. "Do you think we do not hear your discussions when we converse with each other? The Coronation of Death's children will be suitable." Unity looked towards Azrael. "How long will you need to prepare?" "A few hours, councilman," Azrael answered. "Then it is agreed. We will return you all to where you were called from. Please ensure you are dressed and ready for the event-" Unity paused. Amelia had her hand up. "Queen Amelia?" "Uh, yeah, sorry, before you randomly throw us all back... What's the dress code?" Amelia asked while turning to look at Azrael. "Formal," Azrael answered. "Traditionally, for Death's realm, it would be black tie." "Can we bring a plus one?" David asked. Amelia turned to look at him in surprise. "What? I'm sure others are thinking it, so I thought I'd ask."

Just a quick heads up, I'm moving house next weekend so the next two weeks for me are going to be super hectic with a big chunk of it not having any internet at all lol I'll post when I can but I might be inactive for most of that time.

Kris had been deep in meditation by the time the vision of the trapped man would thrust itself jarringly into his mind. He'd caught a flash of the man's face. Blood seeping from his eyes. The man seemingly frozen in what looked to be an ancient dungeon. And how real it seemed! Kris had felt such oppressive heat around them that it was a little difficult to breathe. He felt with absolute keenness the man's fury and heard, clear as a bell, the man's thoughts as they echoed in Kris's mind. All of this had happened in just a matter of a second, and as soon as the vision was over, Kris had jolted back from the cushion, practically jumping to his feet as he gasped. Stumbling, he reached out to grip the post of his bed and knelt by it as he caught his breath. His heart hammered in his chest, and sweat rolled down his face. He wondered for a moment if he might've dozed off and it had been a nightmare. But it had felt too real. He could still see the man's face whenever he closed his eyes, as if the image had been imprinted in his mind. He could hear his words still ringing in his ears. What was that?! He'd never experienced anything like it. As his heart rate returned to normal, he slowly lifted himself to his feet and wiped the sweat from his face. Still shaking a bit, he walked over to his bar and began fixing himself a drink to ease his nerves. --- Clementine avoided his eyes. There was a hint of guilt in her own. Not from anything she'd done, but from what she knew. She took a sip of her drink and walked over to a nearby oversized cushion. Carefully, she eased herself down to sit on it, finding it surprisingly more comfortable than it looked. "I used to be a Cherub, you know." She told him. "God liked the infants that you and Eve created so much that he created Angels to resemble them," she trailed off. Her eyes misted for a moment, and she smiled bitterly while blinking them back. "When I realised that I would never grow like your children did... I was so angry. My existence felt... like a cruel joke. A novelty to be paraded around and cooed over by Angels who were supposed to be my equals... but would always look down on me, literally and figuratively." She looked down at herself. "This is all I ever wanted... To grow into the woman that I felt I was deep down. And all it cost me... was everything." "I got cast down for my rage. For my 'ungratefulness'," she took another sip, starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. "And then I spent millennia in Hell trying to be more than just the 'Demon Child'... until I was destroyed. Even on Earth, as I am now, I look at my friends and I just know that all they can see is the little girl version of me... The pity they have for me. It sickens me." She took another sip, almost draining her glass. "So fuck Heaven. Fuck Hell. And fuck Earth," she looked up at Adam thoughtfully. "Maybe this was why I was brought back? To help you build something new. Something entirely our own, without Him." --- Niko shook his head and lowered his hands to stare at the tears which now covered them. "I-..." he started, but found his words catching in his throat as he tried to speak. "Oh, God..." he said in disgust and covered his face again. He realised with sickening clarity that he was a hypocrite. He'd spent the last year or so working to prove that he was a better man in the hopes of earning Rachael's forgiveness for what he'd done to her... yet, now that he was a victim of similar circumstances, he found himself unable to forgive his attacker when presented with the opportunity. --- Warren was conflicted. He frowned as he carefully set Insanity down on the couch and pulled up a small stool to sit in front of him. He looked at him seriously and with some concern. "I want to help you... But you need to promise that even with your powers back that you'll try to be a better man. Please promise me." --- Carol smiled at the little family. "Well, I should probably get back to my duties... Ash, congrats on the job by the way. I'll call you when we get another mission." --- "Look, I'm not going to pretend to understand your job or what the CIA do... I hear stories, but like all stories, I'm sure more than half of those are fabricated and the other half are embellished in some way." Lang said after a minute of thought. "I don't hate you, Reed. But just a suggestion? Maybe you need to find a hobby outside of work. Something fun. That you do just for you." He pulled up to a bar and parked nearby. "We're here," he said, turning to give him a smile. "C'mon, let's unwind a bit." --- "Wait, like an actual royal coronation?" David blinked. "Yes." Azrael nodded with a smile. "To officially and legally welcome Princess Lilly and Prince Raven to Death's Kingdom as his heirs. A ball will follow the ceremony." Lilly blushed as Azrael had suggested their coronation to host the gathering and explained to the others the purpose behind it. Feeling all eyes on her and her brother, she lowered her gaze and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. Meanwhile, Azrael had turned back to Death to give him another polite bow. "I have already planned most of it and will be happy to carry out the final preparations whilst everyone gets ready." "Oh, wow! I think we might need some time to pick out an outfit and things." Amelia said excitedly. "Do you think Elliot and Vincent would mind watching Oliver a bit longer?" She asked while turning to face Charles. An idea struck Lilly, and she looked up at Azrael. "My friends are in a band," she then turned to Hades. "Do you think the guys would want to play at the coronation?" "Uh-! Oh!" Azrael flustered. He'd arranged a more classical approach to music and hadn't considered anything else. He looked between Lilly and Hades. "I suppose if they can, we could host them." "Boy, they're really talking it out in there..." Samael commented, noting that Unity hadn't made a decision yet.

Kris watched the boy leave. For a few minutes, he stood where he was and took a couple more swigs from his bottle before throwing it at a nearby wall. He stared at the broken glass. At the red liquid that was already starting to stain the carpet and the wall. Sighing heavily, he marched to his own room and closed the door behind him. He paced a bit before lighting up some of the lavender incense and then sitting on the cushion in his designated meditation space. Crossing his legs and resting his wrists on his knees, he closed his eyes and took some breaths while trying to process his emotions. Mostly, his regret at the way he'd spoken to Blake. He couldn't help wondering if he was as hard as he had been because of something Ortiz had said. He wondered if perhaps he'd been too harsh, but then again, he also didn't want any animosity between Violet and Blake to grow, so perhaps this was his way of attempting to nip that in the bud? And Violet... Kris had no idea where to even start with processing those emotions. --- Clementine looked at Adam. At first, she gave him a look of surprise. Then her eyes softened. "Thank you," she said, sounding relieved. "If I'm going to be your wife and Queen, then I suppose we'll have to be intimate at some point. But it's nice to know that there's no rush. I've never... well..." She glanced away while smiling shyly and took a sip of her drink. "Maybe, one day. When we've had a chance to grow closer," she told him with a small smile. She then tilted her head with an amused but thoughtful look. "Eve said we're not married until we... so I guess that means it's more like we're engaged, for now?" --- Niko involuntarily flinched at Nil's touch but soon relaxed when he felt his aura. He sighed as he felt his anger ebbing away. Then he lifted his hands to his face and sobbed. "I wanted to hurt him," he confessed. "I wanted to tear him apart." --- It took Warren a moment to realise who it was that Layla had in her hands, and as soon as he did, he hurriedly took him into his arms. "Insanity!" He gasped and looked at him sadly. "Oh, what did you do?" Tears filled his eyes, but his question wasn't just about him being exhausted. He also meant about his appearance. When Warren thought back to the Insanity he'd become enamoured with, he remembered him being radiant and beautiful. He looked up at Layla and nodded to her. "Thank you. I'll take care of him from here..." Layla nodded back and turned to leave. --- "Oh..." Carol sniffled and wiped her tears away. She smiled at Ophelia and held her little hand. "I'd love to, but I tend to get super busy too, being a Royal Guard and all... but maybe I can visit from time to time?" --- Lang didn't answer Reed immediately. The question had made him wildly uncomfortable. "To be honest, that's not something I'd ever considered before, Reed," he said while keeping his eyes on the road. "I like to listen to music to lighten the mood or make me feel a little happier." --- Amelia chortled at Charles's comment. Then, with very pink cheeks, she tried very hard to cover it up as she lifted her hand to her mouth and pretended to cough. "Um, that's a very generous offer, thank you." She said to the Archangel between laughs that were half disguised as coughs. Meanwhile, although Samael never looked in Charles's direction, he barely contained a smirk at his remark. "I beg your pardon for my daughter and son-in-law's behaviour." David began and turned her head to smile at Hades. "That was a good idea," he told her proudly. Unity paused before asking in an older woman's voice. "Is it to our understanding that you would prefer to get to know the Archangel candidates in a more informal setting before votes commence?" "I believe it is, councilwoman." David nodded while turning to look at her. "This is not usual. We must deliberate." Unity responded and then went straight to staring hard at the table. While they were occupied, a thought occurred to Azrael, and he decided to seize the moment and rose to his feet. He cleared his throat as a polite way to get everyone's attention. "Pardon, I do not mean to intrude on your already generous offer, Shubael," he said whilst turning to the owl-shaped Archangel. "But if the council agree to this gathering, then I propose that it be done in a more neutral setting, rather than in a candidate's home," he turned to Death and gave him a short bow. "With your permission, Your Grace, perhaps we could use the coronation of the Prince and Princess?" he asked while gesturing to Lilly and Raven.

I'm not sure if this will help you decide which Archangel to choose, but when I wrote about Raguel & Uriel, I had done a quick Google search for a brief summary of their roles to get some inspiration and then put my own spin on it. Anyways, here are some short summaries of the Archangels left over in the meeting that haven't been claimed yet: Archangel Cassiel Cassiel is sometimes described as the angel of tears and the angel of temperance. As Qafsiel, he is sometimes regarded as the ruler of the moon instead of Saturn. Averroes and Ibn Arabi likewise listed Saturn as the planetary counterpart of the archangel Kafziel. Archangel Raphael Due to his actions in the Book of Tobit and the Gospel of John, Raphael is considered a protector and healer, and so the patron of travellers, the blind, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, matchmakers, Christian marriage, and Catholic studies. Archangel Jophiel Jophiel, whose name means “beauty of God”, is the archangel who supports artists. She's the archangel of creativity, wisdom and fresh ideas. Jophiel clears chaos and brings calm into our lives. You can call on her to manifest beauty into your life and guide your thoughts back to love. Archangel Haniel Archangel Haniel is known as the angel of joy. He/She works to direct people who are searching for fulfilment to God, who is the source of all joy. Archangel Camael His roles encompass divine protection, illumination, and judgment. As the leader of the angelic choir known as the Powers, Camael is responsible for maintaining divine order and justice. He aids individuals in overcoming fear and doubt, providing spiritual strength and courage. Archangel Shubael Although not explicitly mentioned in all versions of the Christian canon, interpretations often delineate him as a guardian angel who guides humanity towards the right path. Seen as one among seraphims, he is equated with love for God’s creation and teaching mankind spiritual wisdom. He is revered as one who sparks inspiration within souls, leading them towards their ultimate goal.

Kris frowned, hearing Violet's words, and he turned his head to watch her leave. His sunglasses hid the hint of regret in his eyes. He then heard Blake's voice and sighed irritably as he took another long swig from his bottle. "You should be in bed," he scolded him. He then turned to face him. "Salem is safe and alive. Violet is no longer a threat. Would you rather I beat her? Belittle her? Humiliate her? Hmm? Does that sound good to you? Does it sound like it would be the right thing to do?" he asked him in a stern tone. "Does that sound like it would be justice? Would it make you feel better? And what if that doesn't make you feel better? What if that's not enough and you want to take it further? At what point would you stop yourself from becoming the very monster you accuse her of being?" he paused and took another sip of his drink. His eyes were fixed on Blake. "It's a slippery slope, Blake. Once you're on it, it's very difficult to get off before you hit the bottom, and once you're there, there's almost never a way back up. I want you to think about that very carefully. Now, go to bed." --- Clementine swallowed her drink hard as Adam explained that John's powers meant that no one could find them unless they wanted to be found. She realised immediately that her attempt to blackmail him wouldn't have worked regardless because Adam and John still had the advantage. She managed to hide her surprise and realisation by taking another sip of her drink. "Is that so? How clever you both are." --- "On it." Layla hurried out of the room with Insanity towards Warren's room. Meanwhile, Niko continued to seethe and shake as he stared hard into his fireplace. He didn't answer Nil straight away. He waited until his heart wasn't beating so hard before he spoke. "You're the fae that helped us when part of the castle collapsed," he answered with a small nod. His voice was still trembling. His entire body was tense and rigid. "I remember." When Warren answered the door, he'd been hoping to find Shezmu there, and his shoulders dropped in disappointment when he saw it was Layla. "Oh... I was hoping you were someone else," he tutted, then looked at the strange creature in her hands. "Can I help you?" "I hope so..." Layla said uncertainly. "I was told to bring him to you. Apparently, you know him." --- "I-I'm not crying!" Carol blustered as her face grew a little redder and the tears threatened to fall even more. "Why would I cry? It's just a baby. Nothing sad about that. Just a baby that's small and cute and helpless and relies on you and calls you mommy and then one day she'll grow up, call you mom, or sometimes she'll call you by your first name if she's being sassy, and then before you know it she's off ruling hell, acheiving peace, getting married and having kids and a life of her own and she never needs to be held or protected anymore...." she rambled and then stopped and felt her cheek with her hand to find it was now wet with her tears. "Huh..." --- "A reason?" Lang glanced at him with mild confusion. "You don't need a reason to enjoy music. Just listen to the lyrics. The beat. The rhythm. Sometimes certain music can feel like it's talking to you. Like, you hear it and immediately identify with it. It can even alter your mood." --- Lilly looked at her father. "I know what's at stake. I've lived through what happens when a world has no Balance, remember? I don't want that to happen here. I would do anything to protect our homes." She then looked up at Dariel in surprise at his offer to assist them. As did Shezmu, who, for a moment, bristled before relaxing. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for him to build some rapport with Death and his kingdom? He turned his head to look at Death. "Perhaps my student and I can offer some form of protection for when your children attempt to seal the void. Should the worst happen and Armageddon comes to pass, you will need every ally by your side to defend your efforts." "Anything you need, we can help too," Amelia added while also looking at Death and his family. "You don't have to be alone in this." "Then it is settled. You will have one month to prepare. We will not be able to grant you any more time than this." Unity nodded to them. "Speaking of," David began. "How can we afford to wait a month?" "We are utilising what resources we can to delay the rift as much as possible." Unity answered. "But even our combined energy is not enough to reseal the rupture and will eventually be depleted. We have evaluated our options and, with the help of Raziel-" The Archangel sitting next to Life shifted uncomfortably in his seat while averting his gaze from the others as Unity gestured to them. "-we have assessed possible outcomes. The unique circumstances of Lilly and Raven's arrival into our universe provide us with the best solution. Now, are there any more questions regarding this before we move on?"

Kris looked at Violet for a moment. In that moment, he forgot himself and leaned a little closer to her while tilting his head toward hers. Then he caught himself and hurriedly turned away from her, figuring the drink had already started to affect him. "You should get some rest, Violet. It's been a hell of a day." He glanced over at Cecil, who was awkwardly standing by and looking away from them, pretending not to have been paying any attention. "Thank you, Cecil. You can go back to bed now." "Yes, sir." Cecil nodded and looked a little relieved to be dismissed as he hurried back to the bunks. --- Clementine smiled. Content with his answer. "Good." She took a sip of her drink and glanced around at the brothel. "How is it your little plan hasn't been discovered yet, by the way? I'm actually impressed that you've gone this long without any trouble." --- Layla smiled as Nil brought her closer to him. "Alright, I'm ready when you are." --- Carol had hoped Sara would take the child off her, but she felt too awkward to complain when she merely fixed it so that Carol was holding Ophelia correctly. She looked at the little one and felt a rush of something she hadn't felt in a long time. Holding her like this reminded her of when she used to hold Amelia when they had hidden her away in the Library. How small and helpless she'd been back then. So innocent and with so much potential ahead of her. "Uh..." she stammered, feeling her eyes becoming misty as she hurriedly passed the child back to Sara. "I'm sorry. I just- I need a minute..." She flustered and looked around quickly, feeling her face turning a little red from embarrassment. "Um- bathroom?" --- "You haven't heard Queen? They're a classic." Lang glanced at him in surprise. "This is one of my favourite songs." --- "You don't need to know the ins and outs of how Heaven works," Samael answered Hades. "You're just here to vote for whichever Angel you think would best represent Heaven when conducting business with your own realms." "So, it's more who we would feel to be trustworthy if we needed to work with Heaven for anything?" Amelia asked. "Pretty much." Samael shrugged. "That's why we each have to make our case to you before you vote. Not that I'll be doing that." He then shot a glare at Unity, who either didn't or simply chose not to notice. "Quick question- sorry to interrupt again- but I'm just really curious-" Amelia started again while looking at Samael, and he sighed, already seeing where she was going and figuring it best to get it out of the way. "When Lucifer fell, I had to go into hiding. As you can imagine, looking identical to a tyrannical, psychopathic Devil can cause a lot of problems. Not to mention the odd accidental fight with fellow Angels looking to make a name for themselves," he explained quickly and then looked at Unity again. "Can we please get back to why we're here? You said we'd deal with votes at the end, and you had other things to bring up." "Correct." Unity nodded. "So, item two on today's agenda is...?" "The Balance is at risk." The room became silent for a moment until it was broken by David. "You couldn't have started with that?!" "What exactly do you mean, at risk?" Azrael asked, trying to be respectful but also looking alarmed. "Destroyed beings have been returning to the material plane from Oblivion through a cosmic rupture." Unity explained. Amelia timidly raised her hand like a student in a classroom. "We kinda already knew that. That's how Donnie came back and caused havoc. Damien and Clementine returned, too." "We are aware of those beings. We are not concerned that they have returned. We are concerned about the damage that they caused in the process of their return. With each being that passed back into existence, the rupture grew. Now, destroyed beings are falling out of Oblivion and back into the realm of existence. If the rupture continues to grow, The Balance will fail, and all will cease to be. This could potentially become the catalyst for Armageddon." Amelia lowered her hand with a sombre look. "Armageddon?" David repeated the word. "Humans did a poor job of chronicling The Word Of God..." Samael said while staring at the table. "But that one they got mostly right..." "Dad?" Amelia looked at David anxiously. She'd learned a lot from Hell's Library growing up, and she was hoping this wasn't what she thought she'd read that one time. David didn't respond and gave her a look she hadn't seen before. Somewhere between sadness, worry and despair. "For those unfamiliar," Unity began. "Armageddon is a prophecy of a great and final war that will become the end of all things." "B-But, the war is over." Amelia stammered while glancing at Charles and taking his hand nervously for comfort. She looked back at Unity. "We saw to that." "Not the war between Heaven and Hell." Unity clarified. "The Great War. Between all that is good and all that is Evil." David was trembling, and he placed his hands onto the table as he slowly rose to his feet and stared at Unity with a grim expression. "He's back, isn't he?" Samael stiffened in his chair and stared at Unity, as did they all, while awaiting Unity's answer. "Satan..." David glanced at Amelia, who stared back at him with the same look of dread. The last time they'd faced him was before Amelia had become a Devil. She had changed herself just to be strong enough to bring him down, and even then, it had been a very close fight. Back then, Satan had merely been interested in taking Hell's throne for himself while Lucifer was missing. He'd been such an angry and brutal Devil that if he came back, David was certain he would try to destroy everything out of spite or revenge. Unity didn't answer immediately, which only increased the tension in the room. Instead, they lowered their head and stared blankly at the table for several minutes. Those who knew what Unity was recognised this immediately as the council discussing the matter among themselves before they'd give an answer. Finally, they looked up and towards David. "We do not sense his presence in the material realms," they said in a man's voice. With a sigh of relief, David sat back down. "But as the rupture continues to grow, it would only be a matter of time." "Well, I guess I'll ask what everyone else is probably thinking then," Samael said and looked at Unity expectantly. "How the fuck do we close something we cannot see, sense or locate?" "We will not warn you again about your language, Samael." Unity snapped. "Oh, no. I do beg your pardon, oh great and powerful council!" Samael responded sarcastically. "I'm just a little on edge, you see. By the potential destruction of all things that you dropped onto our laps as if this is a casual fucking business meeting!" Unity had raised their hand to snap their fingers when Shezmu stood. "Counsilman," he addressed them in an urgent tone whilst straightening his jacket. During his time living in the German castle, and with a little guidance from his student regarding modern attire, he'd managed to update his wardrobe quite a lot. "As you can understand, this news has troubled us all greatly. Please," He looked around at everyone else. "Let us be calm. I do not believe the council would have begun our meeting by discussing Archangel votes if they did not already have a solution for The Rift." "Thank you, Shezmu." Unity said in a woman's voice as Shezmu took a seat once more. "There is a way to close the Rift." "Which is...?" Samael asked impatiently while raising a brow. Unity's glassy eyes wandered slowly across the table until they landed on Lilly and Raven. Lilly felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. "This brings us to the next matter of this meeting to be addressed," they said carefully as their eyes moved to Death. "We understand that you have adopted these children as your own. That you have begun training them to harness their powers? Our solution will require them both to become fluent in the use of their powers. Therefore, we would request that you spend the next month training them thoroughly. In return for their aid, we will grant them both permanent residency within this universe." "A month?" David asked, glancing from Death's children and then back to Unity. "What about The Rift? Won't it continue to get bigger in that time?" "Our lives and the sake of everything in existence... and you're hoping two children can fix the problem?" Samael guffawed in disbelief. "I'm not doubting their abilities, but Samael has a point. They're just kids! This is a lot to place on their shoulders!" Zadkiel said worriedly. "I was no older than Lilly when I fought Satan." Amelia pointed out. She glanced at the children. "I don't doubt they'd be capable, but I have to agree with... uh..." She stared blankly at Zadkiel for a moment. "Zadkiel." He introduced himself quickly. "Right, -thanks-, I have to agree with Zadkiel that this is a lot to put on them. It doesn't seem fair. Is there no alternative?" "As of yet, there is not." Unity replied. Lilly had been watching this conversation tensely, and when Unity had said there currently wasn't an alternative, she looked at Raven, Azrael and her father with a resolute expression before looking at Unity. "I will gladly do what I can." --- Niko looked at the creature with a mixture of shock and fear. He heard his words and didn't know how to react. He was shaking with a combination of rage and grief as he turned away from him. He felt sick. "Please leave. Please... please just leave," he said in a trembling voice, on the brink of tears. He could feel his fangs lengthen as a dark desire to get retribution began to grip him. "Get out!" he growled.

I have to force myself to stop. There's so many characters who want to get a word in during this bloody meeting xD