Kirnardaz wandered the abandoned city, simply enjoying the magical energies of the huge ruined city. It was uninviting to most mordecai, as in some places, rumour had it that some mordecai were stripped of their power by the sheer volume of power. So naturally, Kirnardaz was drawn there by morbid curiosity. He wanted to see if the reports of dead mordecai were true.
It was five minutes from the broken fountain statue to the place it was apparently happening. He walked, taking note of mutated wildlife, and wildlife which obeyed him. Notably the giant, man-eating fly traps. They were corrupted, and it made him their master. And he commanded them to guard.
He arrived in the spot, and keeled over in immortal agony, the energy flowing through him in dense, thick streams. It was invigorating, and painful in one. He involuntarily began to float, feeling his power growing by the second. Shades and Shadows began to come alive near him, and several goblins materialised. They were his.
"AGH!"
One, two, three, four corpses lying in front of her. Well, not really corpses but it didn't matter anyway. These people couldn't be counted as alive anymore, not since she took their souls. It was almost too easy infiltrating in this small group of explorers. Fools, and yet they called themselves scholars here to discover the secrets of the old ruins.
Although Desdemona was old, she wasn't familiar with the ancient culture that lived here. It was so old that even her people, the Gohians, didn't know for them. But they were powerful, both in magic and technology and even looking over the ruins themselves sent a chill down her spine. Something she haven't felt in a long time. Fear. Or perhaps powerful magic?
Stepping over one of the corpses, she made her way slowly without any rush towards the ruins. As she was closer she felt the magic was stronger, and she wanted it. Power was something Desdemona always wanted.
An unholy screeched wrenched through the air as Kirnardaz's soul was detached from his form in a way only comparable to disembowelling. It was excruciating, his soul literally being ripped from his form as it struggled to cope with the magic. In his true form he was frightening. A dark smoky mass, glowing purple. He had naught but a mass of seeking tendrils, and humanoid shape, and a pair of menacing purple eyes.
He had slit pupils, with black sclera, and his form let out a deathly hiss. He was no longer in pain, but he had to wait for the energetic turmoil to subside.
Behind him, his body began to emit purple light, and began to shake uncontrollably as the energy in it caused it to break down.
With explosive results.
The blast cleared at least 100 meters of all materials as the sheer energy level caused matter to break down and disappear into magic. Kirnardaz just floated, unmoving. His renewed aura would be unsettling to all who approached, or so he imagined it should do.
The waves of magic were like a melody, calling Desdemona to come closer and see them. But, she was also quite aware of the fact that whatever might be releasing this amount of energy cannot be willing to give it away freely to her, and it will probably defend it with it's life. Good. Desdemona was feeling like she needed a real fight.
The explosion was the first sign something trully amazing was happening. It didn't reach her by just a few dozen meters, but she could see the results of it. First time in many years she felt excitement over something. This could easily make her the most powerful soul eater, even the most powerful demon that is not one of the lords.
She slowly passed the ancient pillars made of stones and engraved with unknown words. After that she could scarcely see anything because of the smoke and sparks in the air. The dark materials intertwined with her completely white hair, but she couldn't care less, as she stood there waiting to see what will crawl out from the ashes.
An orb of purple energy expanded from the epicentre of the explosion, turning the dust into a purple glow, and collecting it at Kirnardaz's form, which floated at the centre of the crater. The orb which had been cut out of everything was perfect, the same radius in every direction, even the floor.
Another unholy screech emanated from Kirnardaz, and he dissipated, forming again in front of Desdemona. He studied her closely, letting her examine his full power. It was a greeting on par with dogs sniffing each other, testing their defensiveness and aggressiveness.
Then in contradiction with his not aggressive physical demeanour, he sent a dreadful psychic barrage at her, trying to make her submit to his power, and his demands.
OBEY ME... OR DIE...
Cocking her head on the side, ashes and sparks flying around her she absorbed some of the magic and it left a tingling sensation on her skin. Power was the only thing that made her feel something that was close to emotions.
She spent a few moments watching the man, although she was sure he wasn't, in front of her. Power was obvious on him, she could practically feel it thundering in the back of her head. But, she didn't recognize him, how could she. Desdemona has been on this wicked place of the living for too damn long. Demonic hierarchy was the last thing that was on her mind.
She straightened her shoulders at his words. Obeying wasn't something she did unless it was convenient. And death wasn't something she did, either. Not many could defeat her in battle, and the ones who could would never be able to kill her. Defeat her, maybe, but kill her, never.
"I do not bend my knee to anyone." she told him "Tell me your name and title, and if you are my better I will be glad to obey you."
The mist began to form a more intimidating image. A carbon copy of her, with no mouth, and purple eyes.
"I am Kirnardaz. I am a god..." The voice emanated from nowhere, and was not his usual manner. It was darker, deeper, richer, and full of malice. He wasn't playing around. He could crush her within seconds. Or that's what he thought.
"You are nothing compared to me. I am the first of a kind. The first Demon Prince to ascend to godhood. I am the god of corruption. And therefore, your master, demon." Kirnardaz knew she wouldn't be able to even hurt him until he had subsided the energy within him.
Desdemona always disliked smoke and mirrors, tricks. And, she always disliked when someone tried to intimidate her. It wasn't one of the feelings she felt, unlike most demons, she just lost them when she was transformed. Instead of fear, she used her intelligence to conclude that she shouldn't be playing in this situation.
"A god." her voice flat, not really surprised although gods didn't roam the lands of demons for a long time. Much before her own time. She bowed her head just slightly in respect. She wasn't about to risk anything when it came to gods. Legends called them very tricky to handle, very moody and very easily irritated.
"I would be honored to obey the first Demon Prince who ascended to godhood." she repeated his title, her head still just slightly bowed. There weren't many in the demon realm that were stronger than her and none she bowed before so this was an unusual encounter for her. Yet, she decided to take any chance she gets, because the only thing that she felt and that interested her in this creature was the power he emitted. Power which pieces could someday be hers. If she were to be patient enough. And there was no one who waited more patiently than Desdemona.
"Good." Kirnardaz heard the sound of running footsteps, and turned. His form exploded into a huge cloud, condensing into a larger form, of about 12 feet tall. People rounded the corner of a building, and screamed as corrupted fly traps grew from the ground, beginning to devour them.
Kirnardaz floated over, and held up his hand, drawing the stable souls from them. He felt the huge energies in him compress and corrupt completely with the new stable energy, and he smiled, taking his physical form again.
He shone brilliant purple light, taking his robed form. His skin was a leathery red, with crimson eyes, and crimson armour.
"Now, might I ask your name? I only develop insults for those who deserve them."
Those souls were something she wanted for herself, but fighting with a god wasn't the way to get them, so she just kept quiet her crystal eyes unmoving. She couldn't care less about humans or their lives, but souls were something that she needed. With her head and back now straight she watched as their lifeless bodies slammed to the ground.
"Desdemona." she told him her name in an ancient accent, now completely gone from the face of the planet "One of the Soul eaters."
She knew better than to praise her powers and titles. The best kind of power for her was the hidden one. That was how she got this far, manipulating and waiting for others to make a false move and slip. From there on it was enough for her to give them a slight push and they were dead and she gained more power. Nothing wrong with destrying those who aren't worthy of being your betters.
"A soul eater? Immortal?" Kirnardaz's face lit up with evil curiosity. Kirnardaz projected a brief summary of his exceptionally long life into her mind, in one grotesque, horrifying image. A human body left to rot.
"I suppose ground rules are necessary. One: I am immortal by nature, therefore killing me is impossible. No ideas or funny business possible. Two: every command I give has purpose, whether that command doesn't do anything for a few millennia, then so be it. Questioning that purpose is not frowned upon, but contradiction or disobedience is. Three: you may leave my service at any time, but do not expect to leave easily. I have no problem with you simply not wanting to continue work, but I do have a problem if you do not inform me the moment you make the decision, or as soon after as possible. Any questions?" Kirnardaz set the fly traps on guard mode, and a brave animal got eaten as it attempted to run by.
Being a human born demon, plus becoming immortal and having such power as Desdemona has wasn't easy and it took much time and much plotting. She also survived over fifty masters, all more powerful than she is now. In every demon war or rebellion, leaders of both sides oftenly died. Yes, they were immortal in age but immense power could trap their magic and after that it is much easier to destroy them. Wars roamed and ceased, leaders and immortals died, but she was always left standing. And, she couldn't say how many times she switched sides and was a part of destroying her masters. Uncountable.
"I agree to your terms." she nodded slightly "If you have any need of me."
Desdemona didn't expect him to have any missions for her at the moment since she just entered his service. He probably first wanted her to prove her loyalty. Like spilling some of her blood and speaking a few words over it meant anything. If it did, she along with every other demon would be dead by now. Oaths just couldn't bind someone who didn't have an honorable bone in her body.
Kirnardaz smiled. His princely origins had made him a natural tyrant, born to dictate those less powerful than him. In godhood, he had achieved the ultimate rule.
"I need you to seek out places in this city where the volume of magic is akin to how it was here. To enter my realm, and to do so safely, cast this spell:" He spoke the spell to her, showing her the rift that opened.
"In return, my friend, Xerordir, will bring you 100 human souls. Deal?" Kirnardaz was a rewarding tyrant if anything, those who pleased him were pleased in return. Those who displeased him died however. In a manner of soul crushing that worked on gods.
The spell for crushing a god's soul required that the god be weakened through sin. War provided sin. This civil war in Connlaoth was rife with sin, and that made some gods weak. He had already crushed one pantheon from this world.
Seriously? He wanted her to finish a trivial task, which he could have ordered to any of his lower sevants. But, Desdemona was smarter than to ask many questions about the subject. She learned long ago that it wasn't smart to question your masters. And, she had more than one scar to prove it.
"As you command." she agreed. Right now, she had little use of hundred human souls, but on the long run she could use them or store them. You can never know in what kind of situation can you get yourself into.
With a small bow she scanned the area of the city. It was gigantic and mostly in ruins. This task was going to be more interesting than she thought. Perhaps that way she could learn more about his powers and maybe learn something useful.
Kirnardaz floated off in another direction, and a man ran around the corner. Kirnardaz picked him up by his shirt, and frowned at him.
"Name yourself, human." The gauntlet on Kirnardaz's left hand disappeared, and Kirnardaz flexed it just to make sure he was still using it.
"John. John Apple." The man was bleeding where Kirnardaz's gauntlet cut into his hands as he resisted the grapple.
"Good. Now die, John Apple." Kirnardaz's left hand gently touched the man's nose, and his flesh began to decompose and rot, until the man's soul was forced to take immaterial form. He snatched the soul out of mid air and imbued it with corruption. Then he set it on the ground, and watched the demon grow from every sin. Six demons in total.
"Vioka. You are all to find me as many artefacts as possible. Anyone who brings me less than ten becomes a meal. You have until sunset."
While Desdemona spent more time decyphering the language that was not spoken in thousands of years, than actually searching for what she was tasked for, she also managed to take two more souls and store them. Multitasking at it's best.
Two pillars were straight and nicely crafted with a bunch of signs she was now getting familiar with. Her purple eyes flew over the statues of some unknown hideous creatures. Desdemona took a deep breath and looked around. This place gave off powerful magic, she still wasn't sure was it the kind her new master was searching for, but it was most certainly strong and ancient.
Kirnardaz had searched for ages, and when sunset hit, he found what he was looking for. The demons had failed in their task, and several purple blasts went off in the city, demons exploding for failing their tasks. A whole 6 went off. Useless demons.
Kirnardaz found a center of magic, and let it flow into him, feeling the magic enter him. But he found he couldn't flow anymore into his own form, even when he released his physical form.
So instead, he sent a psychic message to Desdemona, summoning her. She could have the scraps.
I have energy for you. Lots of it. Come and claim it if you desire, or Veskos can have it. He is your equal.
You should come to the Western ruins.
Her message was short and clear. These markings, the ones she was able to decypher revealed an astonishing story. She couldn't even imagine when was the last time she felt intrigued for something like this. Even the remains of power weren't the top priority now, it was this place, this tomb.
It was a cener of magic power, that much was obvious, but it was much different than the one her master opened. The power leaking from these two sources were not the same. She was confused and that was yet another thing she didn't remember feeling in a long time. Usually, things were always very clear to her.
She collected the pieces of this puzzle, story about someone who was buried here. When her new master comes she will have it ready, along with a solution to this confusing place. But the power, she had the feeling that the power will be hard to draw out, especially for them.
Kirnardaz summoned Veskos, who began to siphon the energy himself, desperate to ascend to godhood with Kirnardaz. And he was close too. But Kirnardaz left, wondering what was going on.
He decided to take a shortcut through space itself, warping through his dimension, then to Desdemona, appearing silently, stood right behind her.
"Desdemona. What have you found?" Kirnardaz's hadn't taken a step from where he was originally, and his portals were silent. If she was a demon, she would be scared right now. If she was a fool in his eyes, she would not flinch, and take it normally.
She took a few steps away from him showing him the structure.
"There is a large power seal over this place." she told him, her fingers gliding over engraved letters written thousands of years ago "And I believe beneath it, there is something powerful. More so than anything I have ever felt."
Desdemona had a talent for power. It was a useful skill among demons. She just followed the flow of magic or power and she could easily find the source. It took years for this to become her expertise, years of practice.
"I am quite surprised nobody found this place." her voice stayed flat "A barrier of some sort must've protected it, but it was most certainly disrupted by the release of your power."
She sounded very certain, as she managed to translate the whole room worth of texts in little time.
Kirnardaz noticed the lack of reaction, and questioned her value of her own life. He had the spell to crush gods and she simply did that. She knew less than he thought.
Kirnardaz examined the ruins. They were recognised. He had dabbled with some Fell ruins before, and had seen this one before, but had forgotten it. Something made it powerful.
"This place needs corrupting. Give me a moment. Remain still." Kirnardaz let the black cloud fill the room, and fire that originally burned green burned purple now. The cloud cleared and three skeletal guards approached, their green eyes pointed at Desdemona.
"They recognise me as a god and know of my immortality. You on the other hand... Let me deal with them." Honestly, he was just showing off now. But he had to prove a point that he was a force to be reckoned with.
Desdemona wasn't surprised by his powers. She noticed as much the first time she felt his presence. Also, she was completely aware of the dangers when she is considered a rival. That was why she preferred keeping a low profile, playing naive and powerless, making everyone think that she isn't a threat .
She nodded slightly at his words. His servants couldn't hurt her either way, but she kept her mouth shut. Measuring their power levels she decided they weren' a threat. But, being more careful than most she kept a part of her attention to them. You never know how smeone could surprise you.
Investigating the ruins some other interesting facts rested in her head. But perhaps she will keep some of them for herself. After all, her ultimate allegiance is only to herself and it was n her nterest to have some secrets and some powerful places which she could use.
Show us the tomb... The way in... Become my servants... The voice whispered through the tomb as Xerordir spoke, briefly causing the skeletons to go on guard. But then their eyes changed to red.
Taking a courteous bow, they turned and began to walk.
"Desdemona. Come. We have guides." Kirnardaz would make her catch up, or be left behind. But as he walked her felt the power increasing, and it was ecstasy to him. He revelled in the sensation of ultimate magical power. He thought that perhaps some god was sealed away here. And then he found himself hopeful. He found himself looking forward to it.
If it was a god, him or Veskos could have the powers. If not, it was Desdemona's to keep.
Desdemona kept herself exactly two steps behind her master. She didn't believe the things they followed, but again didn't voice her thoughts.But the power that was getting stronger as they went almost made her forget her doubts. Almost. She wasn't the type of person who ever forgot about dangers.
She contnued walking, keeping the same distance between them and trying to intake all the informations around her. All the letters, marks and glyphs. If she had more time they could discover so much to her, but since they didn't, Desdemona was only allowed to have glimpses of information about power and magic, death and life.
After some tine her gaze returned in front of her. Where were they going, she wondered, still very careful about their guides.
"You are worried that our guides are not taking us to the right place." As she had wandered, he had slowly read the outermost thoughts in her mind, like reading the title of a book in someone else's hand. It was something she would have to learn he could do. Deeper thoughts were something he needed to be invasive about. But she didn't have any guards up, so he could read the most obvious thoughts.
"Do not fear. They are under my friend Xerordir's control. They will show use where to go without question." Kirnardaz dared not delve any deeper in case she knew the same spell he knew. He still had not gauged her full power. But he planned to.
6 skeletal guards walked round the corners, heading for Kirnardaz.
"Desdemona. Please deal with these guards."
Desdemona wasn't afraid. She had problems feeling emotions and even when she did feel them they were faint, just a glimpse of something she used to possess. And she usually ignored those things, because emotions made you weak, but instincts made you survive. Not trusting the guides and fearing them were two different things, though her interest was piqued when he somewhat understood what she was thinking about, even if his interpretation was wrong.
The power flow was getting much denser and she was certain they were nearing the power nexus. There, she still wasn't sure what they would find there.
"Of course." she told him as she saw six skeletal beings nearing them. As someone with a high standing and large amount of power, Desdemona could be a force to be reckoned with. Plus, she just had her meal so her power was at it's tops.
Raising her large scythe-like blade, with little problem she crushed the heads of three guards in one swift move. On her lips she quietly chanted a destructive spell, releasing it through her blade and her hands. To any other person near her, it just looked like a quick flash of light, because her aim was towards the skeletons. In a fast motion she returned the blade to her back and looked over the smoking ashes of her enemies.
"We may continue." she said as she looked over the corner.
"I will summon Veskos to accompany us. You may as well meet your other superior." Veskos materialised in a loud puff of smoke, his mask grinning with teeth. His yellow eyes glowed bright in the dark, symbolising just how much power he was containing. And his sword was humming.
"Veskos, nice to see you again. This is Desdemona. She will be your second in command." Veskos bowed in courtesy, and waited for Desdemona to show courtesy.
"Nice to meet you Desdemona. Well done on killing the skeletons." Veskos held a more courteous demeanour than Kirnardaz, having an unspoken grace.
Valentina bowed slightly in front of the new demon. She didn't know him, but she did hear about him somewhere not so long ago. He was powerful and that much was obvious, but Desdemona had no plans on fighting him or her master. At least not head to head, anyway. She was much better in the shadows.
"Thank you." she said with her usual flat voice.
It was unusual for her to be second to anyone. Last time she had two masters was over a thousand years ago. She didn't like sharing power three ways. But, she guessed it could only be good practice.
"Both of us obey Kirnardaz, obviously, as he is a god for demons. But you work under my command, you are as to me, as I am to Kirnardaz." The mask on Veskos' face smiled wider, the teeth opening to let a breath out. It was unnerving to Kirnardaz. Veskos found it normal however.
"It is a chain of command." Kirnardaz released his physical form, going on ahead, and finding the skeletal guards stopped at the tomb. It was a large room, with a single sarcophagus in the middle. Above it hung a Soul Chandelier. Thousands of souls in a chandelier, waiting to be released.
"There is the power. But I am curious of this sarcophagus."
Desdemona entered the room after everyone else. When she reached the sarcophagus, she traced her finger over it's edge. There was a faint pulse of power she felt beneath her skin. A barrier, or some protective spell was all over he stone sarcophagus. She lowered her head and looked over the sides of it, searching for glyphs or any markings thay could suggest a curse.
Desdemona hated curses. They were nasty little things, not made to kill you but only make your life harder. A pain in the neck that could last for decades and was very hard to get off. After few curses she felt on her skin, Desdemona is now much more careful and adept at discovering them before they trigger. A small cursing glyph catched her attention as she covered it with her palm and destroyed it easily, nurning out it's magic.
"I advice caution." she said raising up "I can sense at least one more barrier."
It was a barrier she could destroy, if she wanted to. But, she kept playing out her plan as a weaker demon.
Veskos examined it, and realised it was a sealing barrier. He wasn't sure what breaking it would do. He telepathically relayed the information to Kirnardaz, and they decided Desdemona should open it.
"Desdemona. Open it. I will absorb any raw energy that leaves it. Veskos will defend us." In reality, Kirnardaz knew whatever left it would attack Desdemona, or she would be sealed away somewhere.
Desdemona made a small magic spark and let it fall onto the sarcophagus. It burned like fire and for that brief moment the barrier was visible. It was only to check whether there were any other dangers if she used her magic on the sarcophagus but also to see how will the the barrier react to her power.
Placing one of her palms few inches over the sarcophagus, Desdemona used a spell in order to dispel any possible curses that were left on the sarcophagus. Preparing herself for whatever might be inside, she drew a glyph in the air above it and whispered simple words she learned from the walls of the room. Protective words, and she certainly hoped that the barrier will react better to someone who sounds familiar.
Unleashing her power to break the sealing barrier through her hands a high pitched sound of something tore the room. The seal was broken with her magic, and as she slowly removed her palms from the sarcophagus it made a screetching noise of opening. That was the moment Desdemona understood what was happening.
It wasn't that they were keeping the power safe from the rest of the world, it was that they hid a monster insiede in order to save the world. And with monsters, came power, Desdemona thought.
The black liquid spewed out of the sarcophagus, and Kirnardaz laughed, while Veskos panicked.
"COME TO ME! YOU ARE MINE, CREATURE. HAHAHAHAH!" His gas form mixed with the liquid, and immediately, Kirnardaz was overwhelmed.
"SKALOS! I SUMMON YOU!" Kirnardaz blasted the creature with fire, and separated again, overwhelmed by the insane mind he had come in contact with. Skalos jumped into existence, if only briefly.
He lunged at the liquid and it covered him, bubbling. It was a contest of insanity now. Which being was more deranged.
The liquid flattened out, and Kirnardaz, roared in frustration. Five rifts opened in space, and a spew of energy tendrils exited through them, attacking the creature. It was powerful beyond belief. Something told Kirnardaz that it was a dark god, liquidised and left to become insane.
"Subdue it, it is immortal!"
While the battle was roaming in the middle of the room, Desdemona took her time to study some of the writings on the walls of the tomb. She found nothing really interesting or that she could use on the creature at hand. But, at least now she knew what they were dealing with. A crossbreed of the first Gods and one of the old demon races, now extinct.
Turning her head away from the wall, she looked over at the situation at hand. They didn't have much time because this creature was powerful, and years locked in there made him more twisted than anything she has ever seen. Too bad that for locking it back into the sarcophagus they needed an extinct animal, blood from a firstborn demon and something that she couldn't even translate right.
Taking a few steps forward, she was about to listen her master's orders. Subduing it won't be much easier than killing it, but she already had a plan in her head. She, herself couldn't do much about it, but as she slowly looked over at the liquified creature a small smile lingered on her lips.
Drawing power from the deepest reaches of Demon realm, where she had many power nexuses far away from everyone's eyes, Desdemona started raising a large barrier much like the last one the creature was trapped in. It was a shiny, indigo barrier that was almost impregnable and she spent a lot of her resources on it. Drawing few glyphs in the dirt around the barrier as the creature hissed and tryed to break free, just to keep the power flow stable and strong.
With a small sigh she raised her head to look up to her masterpiece.
"The creature won't be escaping out of this." she said assured, as she bowed a bit too her master and then took a few steps back.
The demons which had been subduing it screamed in horrible agony as they evaporated in Kirnardaz's presence.
"This thing will restore you Veskos. This Dark god will give you powers on par with mine. We can be equals." Kirnardaz prepared a spell, mentally transferring the power to Veskos. Then Veskos released it.
Nothing much happened. Until the barrier was forced open by the sheer power of the magic used. The black liquid was pulled towards Veskos, who welcomed it willingly.
It encompassed his being, seemingly dissolving into his skin, and suddenly he burst into flames, slowly melting and burning into this black liquid. Which was his new equivalent of Kirnardaz's gas form.
"Good."
Desdemona watched as he took the power, the essence of the creature, into himself. Somewhere, she could still feel the god's presence in him, she could feel the struggle and raw force he used trying to get out. He will get tired in time and settle down, because he wasn't going anywhere for the next eternity.
Uninterested in that, she released he power nexuses, satisfied that not much of her power was spent in this small adventure of hers. She passed over to the sarcophagus, that was now gaping open full of cracks made when she destroyed the barrier. Noticing a small glimmer of something she reached for it. A ring, simply engraved in glyphs she didn't recognize, it looked like something for a female. She couldn't feel any power off of it, but it still held some unexplainable interest.
Veskos reformed quickly, taking physical form.
"Hahaha! AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I AM VESKOS! I AM THE BLOOD GOD!" Veskos had triumphed over the monster, and claimed a spot in godhood. He was as powerful as any other god, although his realm was diminished. He could absorb other realms to expand his own, add space. He could rule a spot alongside Kirnardaz. As equals.
"Very good Veskos. Very quick." Kirnardaz studied the glyphs on the wall, trying to discern more about the creature which had attacked. It was interesting. It was strange.
"Desdemona, did you read anything about what that being was?"
"It was a descendant of the First Gods." she said, raising her head from the sarcophagus "It was very cleverly caught in a trap by the people who lived here and captured in the sarcophagus. The creature was said to be a god of mysery, but was also associated with deseases." Desdemona concured.
It was truly a pity that the carvings were erased by time and so cracked that it was impossible to get the whole story from it. Around tge room there was little else of items, except an altair the sarcophagus and the dirt. Nothing she felt like dwelling on. There was little more power here.
Desdemona moved from the sarcophagus, watching Veskos. Godhood was something quite rare when it comes to demons, but she has seen it before.
If Desdemona looked, she would sense the growing dark energy level between them. Together they created a "black hole" for light and pure energy, sucking it in and crushing it, the inescapable vortex not visible, but definitely present. On their own there was none, but together they had the power to suck in magic itself and crush it, corrupting and defiling it beyond comprehension, simply adding to the power of the black hole.
"I believe we should leave. I sense a rather holy presence is speeding towards us. And I have no interest in fighting an angel. They have horrible tendencies to try and seal you away somewhere. It is a nuisance." Kirnardaz simply blinked and a portal opened up to his realm. Immediately, the portal emanated a smell of fire, smoke, and death.
"Come Desdemona, we can continue talking in my realm." Veskos stepped into the portal, waiting in the crimson throne room for the two demons. "I will show you around my realm."
Desdemona felt the presence they were talking about. She didn't like it, a power in such a different manner was still power, but it still made her feel uncomfortable. Desdemona had dealings with angels and their angel hunters more than once.
As much as they wanted to seem honestly good and pure, they were after the power just as much as any demon. It was only their methods that were different, where demons tended to do things more shadowy and angels did everything by their codex.
Desdemona entered the portal after them, by the new god's demand.
The throne room was, every bit, every detail, a stereotypical demon's throne room. Only it wasn't.
The crimson throne stood at the end of a large room, which looked to be lined with obsidian and rubies, with fire and lava dotted around. Skeletons hung from the ceiling via chains, and skulls were strewn everywhere.
A living hell.
"Welcome to my throne room Desdemona."
She nodded slightly towards him.
Desdemona threw one glance over the room, investigating her surroundings. It was instinctive to her, like breathing, to try and find the weak spots and the strongpoints. This place was powerful, it was a good place for a throne room, perhaps near one of the power nexuses.
The demon realm was full of them and not many could find them.
"Do you have any other assigments to me?" she asked returning her gaze to him.
"Yes. Continue looking through Fell for more seals and locks. Report back to me in two days, unless you find anything of interest." Kirnardaz sat on his throne, giving her a look, telling her that he wasn't finished speaking.
"Lower your mental barriers." Veskos drew his sword, ready to fight. Mentally, he was preparing to invade her mind if necessary, along with Kirnardaz.
"Do as Kirnardaz says. He has some pretty intense images in his head, and they almost drove me insane..."
Desdemona didn't question his demand. She already had her mind invaded more than once, since it wasn't something unusual to ask from your servant. With a slight nod of her head, Desdemona closed her eyes and lowered her barriers. It was an unusual feeling for her because she never liked the feeling of being vulnerable.
Desdemona opened her eyes, her barriers still down, unsure what to expect.
Kirnardaz crept into her mind, a thousand screams of agony and pain filling the space he occupied. The screams warped and shifted into insane laughter for a minute, beaming horrific gory images, before warping back to agonised screams. This was his gift to Desdemona. A peek into his soul. A fraction of his power to use at her will. Accompanied by the god awful screams of a million tortured souls.
My gift to you... My power. Imbued in you. Go my servant. Corrupt. Torture. Slaughter. Wreak glorious, corruptive havoc. Give the greedy something to want. Give the envious something to envy. Give the murderous something to kill. Give the lazy something to avoid. Give the gluttonous something to feast on. Give the proud something to pine over. Gust the lusting something to crave. Make the dead and angels weep. Wreak carnage in MY NAME. He ripped a piece of his soul off and implanted it next to her own, the insane laughter bubbling down as he retreated from her mind.
"It is done."
Desdemona tasted the new part of her. It was twisted and dark, and even she felt that one part of her wanted to rip it out of her chest. The human part of her that she quickly managed to push down below. On the other hand, the demonic part was craving for more darkness. It was infuriating to have such a battle inside of her.
"Thank you, master." she bowed slightly, still feeling something new running through her body.
After a few seconds she finally managed to merge that power and bind it with her own. It still felt like it didn't belong there, like a tumor, but she liked the feeling of death and despair inside her. She had no intentions of giving it up now that she had her taste of it.
"Go. You and Veskos have much to discuss." Kirnardaz dismissed them both, and Veskos beckoned for her to walk with him.
"So, Desdemona. You are a Soul Eater?" Veskos walked in the general direction of the huge cavern which was Kirnardaz's realm. He opened the door, onto the balcony, which revealed the realm below. Hundreds of demons lived out their pathetically short existences.
By sinning against each other.
Alleyways and streets were filled with deathly screams as demons fought to prove who was the strongest. The strongest form had to fight Kirnardaz.
Kirnardaz then devoured that demon.