Surprisingly, as I reclined rather leisurely upon my throne, the first one to arrive was an apprentice, Malina’s boy, though his name escaped me in that moment. He was from Trenus if I recall and indeed if my memory is as entirely good as I know it is- I believe he is one of Moth’s boys. Lucid. Ha, knew I’d get it. I paused a moment, allowing the violet of my gaze to somewhat lazily glide over the boy, appraising him, curious indeed as to how far he and Malina had progressed in their training. Hopefully the boy was sound, after all, for what I had in mind I intended to utilize even the apprentices to their full capacity. I would ensure none of them faced highly significant danger and yet, what better way to learn to stay alive then to be forced to do so? One ear flicked, the tattered left appendage moving towards the boy as he sat himself and began to speak, surprise present within my eyes a moment before one eye lifted mildly. I did not approve of his us of myself and the word ‘old’ in the same sentence and yet I suppose I appreciated the sentiment either way, lip quirking upward slightly before answering him in the common tongue. Indeed I was inclined to wonder if Malina had began to instruct him in the latina yet or not. Khaleesi still needed further work, yet the girl had a quick mind and a talent for such things.

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

I mused mildly before the boy spoke again, my expression shifting once more, easy smirk fading at his words. He saw puppies consumed? Was this truly how far the vileness in Moladion had spread? For years I had controlled it, for years I had kept the Demons scattered and evidently unable to form groups larger then two or three or those given to create families and now it seemed, under this Baph-whatever that had managed to find some sort of in-bred unity and machinate away in the darkness. I allowed my lip to curl, one fang flashing in dislike as my tail flicked against the stone.

“They may try anything they like- but they will never be Angels. They will never be us.”

The words were more a hiss than anything else, agitation evident in my frame as Malina’s form slid from the darkness, moving to brush against the boy in a moment of acknowledgement before moving to take her place beside me. Once, perhaps, were the world another place, a kinder place, it would have been my Eris who sat beside me, my first apprentice and a wolfess truly great and gifted in the ways of the Art. But fate is evidently cruel and kind in equal parts. It took Eris, but left Ava and Micteca and indeed even for the loss of my daughter I cannot wish away my grandchildren and indeed, though they never did compete I would be willing to beat that Malina is everything Eris ever was, perhaps more, for Malina will not make the mistakes of her Art Sister, in this I am assured and indeed fiercely proud, though I see no need to acknowledge such a thing. Pride never does any good, not really, unless one can handle it as myself. I make no apologies for what I am, for who I am. Arrogance is a gift and a curse as is ambition, pride, vanity and all those traits parents so foolishly try to drain from children. Why not be better than those around you? Why not tell them? The dark girl spoke as she moved, answering the words of her own apprentice before seeking further information, my own head tilting towards the boy who sat beneath us in that moment, ears sliding forward in curiosity. If he had been dutiful he would have further information, a description perhaps to allow this female to be investigated. For cannibalism there is no forgiveness, it is the ultimate sin and a taint on this earth. Only darkness would taste it’s own flesh. This Lucid however, is a pleasing and promising boy. I like him. Malina shifted beside me, her attention returning to myself as she questioned my summons. Indeed it was pleasing to see her answer so quickly. She was her own master now, truthfully, yet that she remembers her loyalty, remembers that despite her power she is still beneath myself is a pleasing thing. Hell, the way I’m going I’ll set a record for Assassin longevity, every Artist upon the earth itself will soon be forced to acknowledge me as Master, my age placing me above them all and deserving of their respect, not that I’m not already. I’m as good as they get. There is no time for modesty in this life.

“I called Malina, because it is time we acted. I was patient, I attempted to facilitate and now, quite frankly- I am agitated and when I am agitated I feel the need to relieve that. Don’t you?”

I allowed a smirk to run onto my lips, devastating grin flashed towards her as a chuckle hummed in my chest and my own apprentice entered, Kahleesi loping forward to seat herself, my own head nodding in her direction. She was young, yes, but she had proved willing and capable so far and indeed, I was rather determined to have her beat Malina’s apprentice. In fact, perhaps Malina and I should race them, I was willing to beat my little girl was faster then her boy. Hmm, an entertaining thought for later perhaps. For now there are more important issues. The next creature to arrive was indeed a surprise, though the call had been for her as well I did not expect a wolfess so recently pupped to answer the summons. Evidently Aaliyah is as loyal to her Art as ever she has been and truly, this is a pleasing thing. She moved with the ethereal ease of our blood, leaping up to seat herself at my other side. Apparently I should have selected a larger throne, unaware that I would be inclined to share it with so many. What? When have I ever liked sharing? I dipped my muzzle, touching it with brief affection to my child, for indeed, her sire or not, this is an Assassin matter, not a time for family affection. That is for when nobody else is looking. I snorted, chuckling at her words and the evident annoyance at having Malina seated alongside myself, though the dark girl had rightfully earned her position.

“Thank you for that Aaliyah and perhaps I would be speaking if I wasn’t being asked questions, hmm?”

One eye lifted, mildly teasing before nodding easily at her request. If she wished to address the Assassins then she held that right, as for seating herself as she did and speaking with the implication that Malina should hush, well, I would hardly move to correct her, I will not fight Malina’s battle for her and indeed while blood is one thing, Art is another, it is up to Malina to enforce her rank amongst her Brothers and Sisters of the Art. For now I was content to share my throne, if not purely for the fact I was taller than either girl and as such held no issue. I was still above. Azrael moved in next, strutting himself about as if his ability to father children had earned him a crown all his own, my own eyes half inclined to roll at the impossible boy. He would be punished for the shame he brought us and yet, even I am not so harsh as to destroy his new found glow. Let him enjoy his sons for a little while longer. Hell, there wailing in the early hours of the morning would be punishment enough. His words, as always seemed incline to irritate. Honestly, was he really like me? Was I this annoying? Better not to think on that. I flicked my tail, eyes narrowing in warning as a low growl touched my throat. That boy often forgot his place.

“Enough, Azrael. You speak of your nephews and we are not here to argue about the blood of Ally’s children.”

At least not yet, there would be plenty of time for that in the coming day. One violet eye flicked back towards Aaliyah, warning her from any foolish actions before Devil and Ava arrived. Ava took her seat with her usual silence, her form having finally reached it’s impressive size, power and grace seeming to accent each action. A beautiful creature, my Ava and a full Assassin at last. No longer an apprentice, she need only seal her fate, need only slay her first demon to join us completely. I drew my eyes from the girl, offering a nod of acknowledgement before allowing my gaze to flick onto Devil’s own dark form, unable to keep the smirk from my lips.
“Brother.”
If any deserved to seat themselves beside me it was he. My oldest friend, my companion and perhaps one of the few creatures upon this earth I would trust myself too. I nodded, head dipping with respect for him alone before I moved to lift myself to my paws once more. Only Micteca remained absent and she could not be far. I felt it was time to start this little meeting of the union. I paused a moment, gazing other thoughts gathered once more, each of them capable, each of them deadly and designed for exactly the life they had chosen. I spoke then, choosing the common tongue once more for the sake of the apprentices still unschooled fully enough to appreciate the latina, though truly my speech would surely have been all the more stirring for it. Oh well.

“You have been summoned, each of you, because of the threat that has reared it’s vile head within Iromar. At first I believed this Baphomet to be no more than a fool, a creature who made the very poor choice of targeting a Diveen wolf for his theft, a theft with apparently no reason other than to enrage her imprint and force Isola to go to that foul foggy field, at least that’s what I believed-.”

Honestly I’d had to clean my paws for a week after being within that hell hole, but that is not the point of this conversation.

“Until I saw the creature. It has been years since I have seen wolves baring those Marks, Demon Marks, an inverted attempt at our own. These wolves are not merely cannibals, they are a bloodline of them and one that is not targeting just Diveen as I believed.”

I paused once more, feeling my heckles lift in agitation. There bloodline should have been wiped out, it should have died out and yet still they lived, still they threatened me, us.

“No. This is not a Pack matter. Baphomet is not after Diveen wolves, he has no interest in the Pack. This is not wolf and wolf, Iromar against Diveen, this is not some grudge against Isola or Kane or that fool with the silly name who calls himself the King of Glorall, for he has stolen from them too- but he didn’t take any wolf. He stole Sinopa, dragged her back to that hell hole. He is targeting Angels. He is targeting us.”

I paused a moment more, allowing them to consider it, allowing them to see what even I had been limited in seeing for some time, believing this to be no more then murky pack affairs. Yet it was far from it or indeed, I was about to steer it another way, yet the evidence was damning enough in my opinion.

“They have attempted to capture Isola numerous times, they have made plays for Azrael, when Azrael himself could not be caught they stole the next best thing in Andromeda and of every wolf within Glorall, Sinopa, Angel born, was stolen. They are targeting Assassins, Angels, us and quite frankly I’m a little tired of it.”

Smirk moved, running across my features, fangs flashing in the sun.

“If Baphomet wants to play this little game, then I say we play. One wolf at a time I say we play. I want to destroy them, I want to end their line once and for all, end this threat before it actually becomes one. This isn’t Pack against Pack, this is Angels and Demons and I say- we play. Kill them. Every single one. We need not act in the name of Diveen, we need not draw any warriors or pack wolves in, we act for ourselves, our bloodline and our art. We start a war- to stop one. I say- we kill some demons...or at least mess up their faces a little. What do you say?”

Well? Who wants to play?