Part 4

Back in the depths of hell, Vordea and six demons lounged while waiting for Agbus to arrive. Everything had gone perfectly, from the staged botched assassination, to the appearance of the Dead God, and even Svetlana making contact with Prince Heather.

"Excellent work, my lovely minions." Vordea said, still in her formal black dress, but with the long gloves removed. "You performed beautifully."

"What was the point of that spectacle, Royal Void?" One of the demons asked. "Shining Light could have simply appeared and spoke to the mortals."

"Presentation, dullard." Vordea said, slapping the back of his head so hard it flew off. While his body got up to retrieve his head, she continued. "What's more memorable, Agbus appearing at a boring party and making a speech like some King, or the Dead God appearing in his true form in a flash of light to personally prevent the assassination of Duchess Ashe, the future Empress of Southern Karand?"

"Empress?" Another demon asked.

"I had to ask dead fish about that one." Vordea said, pointing up. "Eigengrau said Rebecca will form the basis of an unimaginably cruel but ordered Empire. Her methods of backroom deals and treacherous backstabs will go on to become the foundations of an Empire that lasts over a thousand years."

"Who will be their patron?" A third demon asked. "Surely not you, your majesty?"

"Correct. Gilnas belongs to me. Ashe's Empire will belong to him. Agbus preventing her death will give her great power over his fan club, she'll proclaim herself a divine messenger sent by the Dead God. It's going to be great."

"You always love war so much, don't you?" Agbus said, finally arriving through the ceiling with a crash, like he was a lead weight.

"I have to make the most of it, we both know what's going to happen one day." Vordea replied coyly.

Agbus shook his head in response, and joined the demons on the couches.

"It is good to see you again, Shining Light." The decapitated demon said, rejoining the group. "How did Walking Church react?"

"He was shaken." Agbus replied, laughing. "I know Eigengrau passed on a warning a decade ago that it would be coming, but he still wasn't prepared."

"Few can be prepared for their patron visiting in person, even Walking Church." The 4th demon said.

"Where do you guys even come up with these nicknames?" Vordea asked with a laugh.

"Time flows differently down here. A thousand years down here is mere moments topside." The first demon replied. "Lots of time on our hands."

"What better way to use time than nicknames!"

The other demons nodded eagerly in agreement. Vordea laughed again, realizing the fruitlessness of this endeavour.