Angel settled down on the opposite side of Taikon by Maker’s tent entrance. Amphy had made her way to Angel and curled up like a loaf of bread next to her in the grass. Angel eyed Taikon suspiciously before she folded her arms, closed her eyes and rested. As a demon she didn’t really sleep but more or less just suspended her mind in a state of meditation and relaxation. She wouldn’t dream in the traditional sense but instead have visions or flashes of memories, messages, or sometimes random other things that were too outlandish to describe, but nonetheless it was like sleep but easier to wake from into an alerted state and without the grogginess.
***
Bum…Dump….
Bum…Dump….
Bum…Dump….
Angel could hear the sound in the darkness, it was not something around them, but something in her head, and it was too steady, rhythmic, familiar, and organic to be something real. The sound grew louder and louder until it seemed it was right on top of her. It wasn’t deafening but instead rather calming and serene.
A strong smell of metal and iron invaded her lungs and caused Angel to gasp only to inhale more of the metallic smell. She knew where she was, in her mind she knelt down looking at the floor. The room was suddenly lit in a pleasant white and yellowish light, she was kneeling on a warm and soft ground, light pink, lighter in some areas, darker in others. The steady
bum dump continued and could be felt through the floor. The air was heavy, humid, warm, and oppressive, Angel was unaffected though.
“How may I be of service Mistress?” Angel asked still looking downward.
“Haa….” An exhale accompanied by a glowing red mist that came out of its mouth, “Stand up my little Angel. There is no need for formalities with me, especially from you.”
Angel nodded and stood up. The room was a large oval shaped room. Monolithic spires of segmented bone wrapped in blood-filled sinews and veins held the domed ceiling, the sinews and veins connecting to a large suspended heart like a chandelier, it glowed a faint red and was steadily beating, creating the
bum dump. The floor was a mass of flesh and sinews while the walls were largely he same but littered with eyes of varying sizes, shapes, and types all actively looking around and blinking, they were all currently looking at Angel. Skulls of countless unidentifiable creatures were also embedded into the walls. It was morbidly beautiful like a hellborne cathedral.
Angel looked up, in front of her was a huge throne made of colossally sized bones, muscles, tendons, and veins. Sitting atop of the throne, was a humanoid figure completely hidden in the shadows with the exception of several earrings on its long pointed ears, and choker that was glowing vibrantly bright red with complex runic symbols and designs. A pair of glowing white eyes with vertical silted pupils accented by glowing blood red sclera stared down at Angel making her feel further insignificant and small. The creature grinned and revealed that two of her canines, one on the top right and one on the bottom left was also covered in the same intricate and complex runic engravings and designs, and glowing all the same. A large Houndoom sat at attention next to the throne, it emanated an odd aura, and its body had demonic runes and symbols on it, around its neck shoulders, hind legs, and down its spine.
“Amina has been in constant communication with Bell and I since yesterday morning about your sudden disappearance. They are all quite worried about you two.” The being’s voice was calm, rather nonchalant, an female.
“Tell them that Agnes and I are perfectly fine, and so is Maker.”
The pointed ears of the being on the throne perked up and twitched, “Speaking of the entitled little brat. Is she till intent on throwing away the kingdom along with everything her ancestors built up? And break its pacts with our empire?”
Angel stood silent for a moment, “It would seem that way, but she also does not even seem to be aware of the kingdom’s packs with our empire, and the consequences if they were broken.”
The being on the throne laughed aloud, with each exhale releasing a glowing blood red smoke, the sound of her laughter caused Angel to flinch. “Oh how the times change! Azumi you must be turning in your grave!” she continued to laugh.
“I will continue according to the Grand Inquisitor’s plans then.”
“Yes, it would seem like Bell’s visions and predictions are accurate…. I also see you have gotten your gun back.”
Angel drew the revolver from her back. “Yea….”
The figure on the throne smiled again, “Well, a gift for you.” The being raised a clawed hand and wisps of red magic rushed into her palm and created a glowing red holster and tossed it to Angel.
Angel caught it with one hand and smiled, she tied the holster around her waist so it hung to the left and drew the gun. It was identical to the other revolver in every way with the exception of the color, where there was red, the new revolver was blue, and blood red was baby blue. In her hands the two weapons began to glow their respective colors, the pair was complete again. “Thank you Mistress.” Angel bowed deeply holstering the blue revolver to her left and the red behind her.
“It was originally your gun and it will continue to serve you, and you need to be at full power given your current situation. Now you have Hope and Despair back in your possession, return Mercy and Malice back to Agnes when you think the time is right. Now get out of here, it’s time to move!”
Angel’s vision was suddenly blinded by a red light.
***
Angel opened her eyes, jolting her entire body and startling Amphy awake which she had been resting against. Her lungs were suddenly filled with the rich and clear forest air. The entire camp was still asleep when she woke up, the sun was approaching its dawn. She could feel the weight of Hope on left of her hip.
Amphy chirped in protest and sat up. She pointed at the new gun on Angel’s hip and began to speak before Angel hushed her. “I know, I was contacted by the Great Wolf last night and she returned it to me.” Amphy looked at Angel with worried eyes before she nodded.
Angel silently patrolled around Maker’s tent for a while with Amphy following behind her. Angel absentmindedly spun the two revolvers around at the same time, now pulling off more complex tricks and flashier moves. As the sun rose Zilong exited his tent and began waking up the camp.
Agnes was pulled from her meditation at the sound of Zilong’s voice. She and the rest of the camp quickly cleaned everything up and they were quickly on the way again. She moved along near the back of the group along with Flash. She was quite surprised to see that Angel had a new gun on her but didn’t question or ask her about it. She seemed troubled and slightly off of her usual self since last night. She kept her sights on her as they moved along in the forest, something else was going on with Angel.
Angel walked along silently in the middle of the group, keeping an eye on Maker as she moved about the procession and attempting to socialize. She was still on high guard remembering that there is still an assassin among them, as due to the events of the prior night, it was not the appropriate time to confront Agnes about it.
