[Embers In The Dark]
Smack
Falbium jolted in his chair as a stack of papers was slammed onto his desk. He blinked blearily. Standing directly in front of his desk, Tanya raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the man’s habits.
“My sincerest apologies for disturbing your nap,” she began sarcastically. “but I finished the audit of the home defence department and found more discrepancies. You’ll need to sign off on a few things so I can deal with them.”
Falbium looked down at the massive stack of papers on his desk. “A few?”
“That stack was larger, but I decided to delegate.”
“I don’t suppose you can delegate these forms somewhere other than my desk, then?”
“I’m afraid not,” Tanya tapped a finger on the stack of papers. “Nobody else has the authorization to sign these documents. You’ll need to look over them yourself. Preferably now.”
Sighing loud enough one would think his very soul was leaking out of his mouth, Falbium picked up a pen. “How did I get to the point where I’m being ordered around by a fourteen-year-old?” He wondered.
“Because you gave that fourteen-year-old full access to your department in hopes that she’d take your job from you,” Tanya answered.
Falbium hummed as he picked a paper off of the stack. “And how’s that panning out?”
Tanya smiled sweetly. “I’m working on it.”
Falbium chuckled as he began to work, watched carefully by his secretary/hopeful successor. The girl’s proclamation at her ceremony had spread far and wide across all the Underworld, and many eyes had shifted her way as a result of her bold move.
Her parents had been rather incensed, her father especially. He saw her speech as reckless and especially hopeful and worried it might involve trouble from the other Pillars or even Falbium himself. He was dissuaded of the latter notion the very next day, when Asmodeus himself arrived at the Phenex territory to pick up his new protege.
In the six years since, the young Phenex had done much to prove that her declaration hadn’t been posturing.
Internally, the department was still a mess. Six years of Tanya’s efforts had done much to clear the bureaucratic sludge that had accumulated under Falbium’s tenure, but the sheer scope of the problem meant that progress was measured in inches rather than miles. Budgets that hadn’t been reviewed in decades. Personnel records that listed devils who had either perished in the civil war or simply vanished. Supply chains that led to nowhere, funding that disappeared into black holes of noble patronage. Each audit revealed another layer of rot beneath the last.
But she was making progress. Slowly, painstakingly, the home defense department was beginning to resemble something functional.
“The garrison north of Lilith are still using a filing system that predates the civil war,” Tanya said, pulling a specific document from the stack and sliding it toward Falbium. “I’ve standardized the rest, but those require your signature to transfer them to the new system. Along with subsequent forms four through twelve.”
Falbium signed the first document, then the second without even glancing over it. Tanya watched him do it and felt her eye twitch.
“You haven’t read a single one of those.”
“I trust you,” Falbium said, signing yet another form.
“That is precisely the attitude that got this department into the state it’s in.”
“And that’s why I hired you.”
Tanya pressed her lips together to keep from saying something she’d regret. The man was insufferable in his laziness, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d recognized the value of her work early on and had given her practically free rein to act in his name within the department. It was a bitter sweetness—she had the authority to make real changes, but she was also doing the work that the Satan Asmodeus should have been doing himself.
Still, she couldn’t deny that it suited her purposes. She was quickly building a reputation that would suit her well in years to come. Not to mention, she found it quite rewarding. If a bit confusing at times.
Unlike most nations, the Underworld didn’t have a standing military, at least as far as the Devils were concerned. The remaining 32 Pillars were left to handle their own vast territories, maintaining peace and dealing with any issues as they saw fit. They still answered to a greater code of conduct out in place by the Satan Asmodeus, but mostly, they were left to their own devices.
If was an effective system, at least as far as internal disputes were concerned. External threats, on the other hand...
The Underworld was one of the strongest factions in existence by most metrics. On a purely individual basis, Devils were powerful beings, and the remnants of the 72 Pillars boasted some of the strongest bloodlines to ever exist. Sirzechs Lucifer alone was one of the most powerful beings in existence, capable of wiping out pantheons on his lonesome. That alone was an incredible deterrent to war.
But one man was not a nation, and a deterrent only worked so long as the threat behind it was credible.
Tanya had spent enough time in her previous life watching a nation win a war on sheer momentum alone. The Empire had been a military powerhouse, but even it would have struggled if its internal structure had been anything close to what she’d found in the home defense department.
If one of the other factions were to look past the surface and see how truly disorganized they truly were and decided to do something about it, they would be left gasping for air.
To that end... Tanya slid another document forward, “I believe it’s finally time we consider a comprehensive overhaul of our forces.”
Falbium’s pen paused mid-signature. He looked up at her with both eyes open. A rarity.
“The nobles won’t go for that,” he said.
“I’m well aware.”
“They like their autonomy. The Pillars have operated independently for centuries. Asking them to cede control over their own defense forces to a centralized authority would be—”
“Political suicide at the present juncture. Yes.” Tanya clasped her hands behind her back. “I don’t have nearly enough influence to pull off something of that magnitude.”
“But you still intend to?”
“Eventually. For now, we need to get our own house in order. I just wanted to make my intentions clear and get your thoughts on the subject.”
Falbium regarded her for a long moment, his pen suspended between his fingers. Then, a slow smile spread across his face.
“Well, at least you’ve got a plan.”
Tanya inclined her head. “I’ll take that as your endorsement.”
“If you’d like.” Falbium flipped another page. “Now, unless you’re going to dump more on my desk, I believe there’s still a substantial stack of paperwork that requires my signature.”
“Actually, there is one more matter.” She produced a thinner folder from behind the larger stack and laid it on top. “There’s been some unusual activity reported at the edge of settled territory, near house Berith.”
“Unusual how?”
“Reports of fluctuating magical signatures from the borderland. It’s likely a creature that’s wandered closer to settled territory than it should.” Tanya opened the folder and spread three sheets across his desk. “Lord Berith’s patrols flagged it twice in the last month. The second report indicated the disturbances were growing more frequent.”
Falbium leaned forward far enough to glance at the documents. “Monsters stray into the borderlands all the time. It’s why the Pillars maintain border patrols. Do you think it might be an issue?”
“It’s possible,” Tanya admitted. “House Berith lost quite a bit of power and influence during the Civil War and haven’t quite managed to recoup their losses. I doubt they have the manpower to deal with it. I suggest we rally and send a small force to take care of it in their stead.”
Falbium eyed the readings, then leaned back in his chair. “I’ll leave it to your discretion.”
As usual, Tanya sighed mentally. Aloud, she merely said, “Understood.”
Tanya gathered the signed documents into a neat pile, tapping the edges against the desk to align them before depositing them into the leather folder she’d brought. As she did, Falbium’s pen scratched against the last of the forms from the original stack.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” he said, not looking up from his writing, “when are you planning to start filing up your peerage? Its been six years and you haven’t managed to find a single piece.”
Tanya paused.
“I’ve been a bit preoccupied,” she said, idly straightening the last of the documents in her folder. “Cleaning up six decades of institutional neglect is rather time-consuming.”
“It’d be best to fix that soon,” Falbium said. “Take it from me; you can have all the power and influence in the world, and it won’t mean a thing if you don’t have strong allies to back you up.”
“I’ll take that under advisement,” Tanya said.
“Do that.” Falbium set down his pen and immediately settled back into his chair, his eyes beginning to droop. “Now, if you don't mind, I believe I’ve earned a rest.”
Nodding, Tanya left him to his business and returned to her own office. This section of the building was mostly empty as Falbium didn’t like to be bothered and truthfully, wasn’t needed except for the most important things. As his secretary, Tanya had been given one of the many unused spaces close to him.
Falbium’s words lingered as she sorted through files regarding House Berith. He wasn’t wrong that she probably should have had at least a small peerage by now. She’d had her Evil Pieces for six years, yet not a single one had been used. Doubtlessly, people whispered and gossiped about the young noble too picky for her own good.
They wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Tanya was picky. Reincarnating someone into her peerage was a rather large commitment and certainly not one to be taken likely. But there were other reasons besides that
Being X was still out there.
Somewhere up in heaven, that insufferable entity bided his time. There was no telling what he was planning, but it almost certainly involved her. Here, where his power base was largest and he had legions of angels at his command, he was waiting to make his move.
Tanya needed to be ready. Every resource she had needed to be funneled toward that single inevitable confrontation. She would consolidate her position here in the Underworld, build her strength, and when Being X finally showed his hand, she would be prepared to shove it right back in his face.
She’d fill her peerage when she found pieces worthy of keeping close to her chest. Perhaps after her work with the military was done, she’d search the world above for worthy prospects. But until then, she’d suffer the rumors
Tanya finished organizing a list of the files and set them carefully upon her desk to pour over tomorrow. It was getting late, and her bed was calling to her.
She extinguished the lamp and left.
Tanya had always found nighttime in her family’s castle to be particularly peaceful. Many Pillars had servants working day and night all over their manor, but her mother and father preferred to be left alone when it was time to retire, and sonit was expressly forbidden for all but the most essential personal to roam around the main house at night.
It was completely, and utterly silent. Even the insects didn’t disturb this little slice of quiet.
Tanya changed out of her work clothes and into something comfortable for sleep. The bed she climbed into was excessive by any reasonable standard but Tanya had long since stopped fighting the luxuries that came with noble life.
She settled into the sheets, letting out a slow breath. Mentally exhausted as she was, sleep came quickly, pulling her down into its quiet embrace...
Unfortunately, it was only a few minutes before her eyes snapped open as something pulled her from the edge of sleep. A sound in the darkness where no sound should be.
Tanya frowned, fully alert by now. She stayed carefully still, ears straining to pick up anything in the silence.
Her door creaked open.
Her head lifted from the pillow, eyes sharp in the moonlight that filtered through the curtains. A small figure stood silhouetted in the doorway, frozen mid-step.
“...Sister?” a small voice whispered.
Tanya’s relaxed instantly as the figure stepped deeper inside. Her youngest sister stood in her nightgown, clutching her blanket against her chest. Her eyes were wide, and teary and she snuggled as she stood there.
“Come in, Ravel,” she said softly, coaxing the girl inside. “What are you doing here?”
“I had a bad dream,” Ravel said, her voice wobbling. “And I heard a weird noise. Can I sleep with you?”
Tanya stared at her sister for a long moment before glancing past Ravel to the hallway beyond. It was empty and dark. Nothing move, yet Tanya’s eyes narrowed regardless.
I’ll have to have a talk with the nursemaid, Tanya thought with a flash of irritation. Their rooms were close, but the home was large and dark. For a child Ravel’s age to wander all that way alone in the middle of the night was unacceptable.
“...Come on,” Tanya said, lifting the edge of her blanket.
Face brightening, Ravel scurried across the room and slipped under the covers beside her sister. The little girl curled up against her side, her blanket clutched tight, and within moments her breathing had begun to slow.
Tanya looked down at her sleeping sister, and then back at the door. She didn’t close her eyes again and once she was sure her sister was soundly asleep, she slipped out of bed and waded into the darkness.
In the darkened halls of the Phenex Estate, five figures moved.
Clad head to toe in black, they slinked through the darkness in a loose formation; two ahead, two in the middle, one drifting at the rear. In the hall behind them, a woman in a servant’s uniform lay slumped against the wall, eyes sightless and her neck twisted at a crooked angle.
Their feet made no sound against the stone floors as they came to a junction. The one in the lead raised a fist and leaned around the corner as the group halted behind him.
He scanned the corridor, eyes passing over shadows and puts of darkness untouched by the moon. Empty. He gestured forward, and the group rounded the corner.
They ascended a flight of stairs and came to another junction. The lead figure consulted something in his hand before nodding to the right and resuming their journey through the sleeping estate.
They passed several closed doors before finally, they stopped before a door at the end of a long hallway. It was slightly ajar, and the leader gently pushed it open without a sound.
A child’s room lay beyond. It was decorated in garish pink that glowed white under the moonlight creeping through the curtains. Toys were strewn all over the floor, and the large bed was dominated by childish sheets.
It was also completely empty.
The lead figure stilled, one hand resting on the edge of the mattress. He ran his gaze over the rest of the room, looking for any sign of their target. Nothing.
“She’s not here,” one of them hissed.
“Are you idiots even sure you got the right room?” A bored voice came from the smallest of them.
“Shut up,” the leader hissed, his jaw tightening behind his mask. He consulted the paper in his hand again, recalling the route they took. This was the right room. So where was---
“Good evening, gentlemen.”
Every head whipped around to find an unfamiliar figure standing in the doorway they had just vacated. It was a little girl, dressed in a red nightgown. She stood loosely, staring at them with cold blue eyes underneath a fringe of bright blonde hair.
“I’d love to know,” she began slowly, “what a group of such scary individuals is doing snooping around my home in the middle of the night.”
“That’s the wrong one,” one of the men muttered, missing the way the little girl’s eyes flashed towards him. “We’re here for the younger girl.”
“Doesn’t matter. She’ll work too.” The leader reached towards his side and pulled out a long, silver sword. His action was quickly mimicked by the rest of the group, all except for the last of them, who stood by the window, watching the whole exchange with bored, golden eyes.
“Assassins,” the girl surmised, eying the blade. She tilted her head, those cold blue eyes drifting over each of them in turn before settling back on the leader. “Someone with a grudge against House Phenex, or maybe a fool seeking the secrets of our bloodline?”
“You’re coming with us,” the leader said, leveling his blade at her. “Or else. One way or another, we’re leaving with a Phenex tonight.”
The girl looked at the sword pointed at her, then back up at the man holding it, raising an eyebrow.
“You seem to be operating under a misconception,” she said slowly. “I’ll admit, it was rather brave of you to try and infiltrate a noble house as you have, but now that you're here, none of you are going anywhere.”
The door clicked shut behind her.
“I’ve already alerted the guards. They’re on their way as we speak. Though I don’t think they’ll get the chance to do much besides clean up the mess.”
FWOOSH
A pair of flaming wings burst from the little girl’s back, spreading wide as if to block the exit. The leader flinched as a wave of heat passed over him. It felt like he’d just stepped into an oven.
Her flames... Isn't phoenix fire supposed to be orange?
The wings burning behind the girl’s back were pure white. The flames bit at the air around her like a pack of angry dogs, illuminating her young face and her scarily calm expression.
The leader’s grip tightened on his sword. One of his men surged forward with a wordless rg, the blade cutting through the air in a wide arc aimed directly at the girl’s neck.
And yet the child stood firm. The only motion she designed to make came in the form of one of her wings sweeping through the air in front of her. A smattering of glowing embers drifted forth like fireflies, hanging in the air between her and the charging man.
He ran through them without a second thought, striking out with his sword, yet nothing but flames and empty air met his strike. The girl was simply gone, vanished from her spot in front of the door as if she’d never been there at all.
His head swung around, and it was only then that he noticed the embers had stuck to him. Dozens of tiny, white-hot pinpricks dusted across his arms, his chest, his neck, settling onto his skin like burrs on a coat. He swiped at them, annoyed, and his glove came away singed.
A soft exhalation from above caused the man to look up.
A pair of cold blue eyes met him. The girl hovered just above him, her nightgown fluttering in the updraft of her own flames. Her arms were crossed, but her expression was intense.
“You scared my sister,” she said quietly. “I don’t much care for that.”
With a snap of her fingers, the embers ignited, consuming the man so quickly that it burned the very air from his lungs, leaving him with no chance to scream. He thrashed patted himself, but there was no hope. The flames consumed everything they touched, melting cloth to flesh and charring bone.
He fell to his knees, skin blackened and burned. The moment he hit the carpet, the flames didsapeared like a candle being snuffed, and the silence left in their wake was deafening.
The little girl slowly fell to the ground, regarding the rest of the group. “By the time I’m done, I’ll know what you were doing here. You can be sure of that.”
Her wings swept forward, and the world became fire.