148: Cluing in the location

Cluing in the location

Music Recommendation: Technically, Missing - Trent Reznor  0

—

Several weeks ago…

As they made their way towards the palace entrance, Emily said to Anastasia, "I feel a little drained of energy. I would like to get some rest and put my feet up."

Anastasia's gaze landed on Marianne's ghost, as did Maxwell's, while the apparition smiled at him sweetly. The ghost observed their hurried progress through the corridors, and the sweet smile twisted into a menacing expression as Marianne's ghost transformed into the Vizier, who then uttered, 

"Out of everyone, you seem to have your eyes on this person, Dante. What would you do… if I drove her away from you?" With those words, the Vizier turned and walked away. 

Later that day, he met Lady Noor. As she moved to hug him, the demon expressed his disapproval with a click of his tongue and said, "I am not your past lover for you to embrace me. He's been dead for quite some time now; haven't you realised?"

Lady Noor unwillingly retreated a step. 

"However, if you are willing to do whatever it takes for me, I would consider welcoming you into my fold. Turn you into a high-grade demon and work things out between us?" The demon's lips curled into a smile. 

Lady Noor gave a nod and said, "You said you would give me more work, but you haven't assigned me any after Lucretia's death."

"Because there has been no use for it. Soon, there will come a time when I will be imprisoned, and I will block my abilities using the same potion that the fucking fae left lying around this kingdom. That way, I will remain undetectable while shifting forms only a couple more times, as any more might start to leave cracks in the transformation. During this period, I will need you to relay to me what is happening within the palace. Once the magic wears off, it will be easier for me to move," the demon of mischief explained. 

On the day of Maxwell's death, Lady Noor proceeded to the dungeon, where the Vizier remained confined. Every few seconds, she cast quick glances over her shoulder before conveying to him, 

"Dante's demon has awakened!"

The Vizier looked pleased with this and said, "Finally, it broke through before the arrival of the Golden Moon, just as I had planned. It seems that taking the form of the dead woman's ghost proved advantageous." He softly laughed. "At last, the demon I have always relished is here. His purpose should be to bring destruction instead of playing a useless knight. Hell shall be unleashed, and a deluge of blood will rain upon the world. He is the key to fulfilling my ambitions."

When they heard voices at the entrance of the dungeon, Lady Noor rushed over to where Queen Maya was held captive and stated, 

"You reaped what you sowed, pushing aside the concubines who held credibility to secure your position as the king's favoured woman. Being unable to lay eyes on your dead son is a fitting consequence. You deserve it." She smiled at the end before walking away from there, making it seem as if she was at the cell talking to the woman the entire time. 

"How dare you and the others look down upon me?! I will make sure to let everyone know your place!" Maya shouted.

Not a moment later, Lady Noor caught sight of the exclusive concubine, and she smiled. She inquired, 

"Are you here to see Queen Maya, Anastasia?"

In the present, the Mother Queen questioned, "How is it possible? Zion underwent torture; there's no way it can be him. I mean, dammit! How did he disappear so quickly?"

"Because he was using a projection technique. It is called mirroring—an illusion to deceive others by creating another body for use while the primary one remains elsewhere." Dante tried to think of a way to get to wherever Magnus was hiding. There was no point wasting time attempting to locate Magnus or Anastasia, as Magnus would have skillfully concealed their presence. "It is similar to how he made Emily perceive his presence inside the coffin, even though Anastasia had never placed him there."

The Mother Queen's eyes widened, caught off guard by Dante's knowledge of the truth, and she responded with a surprised, "Huh?" 

But Dante was getting impatient; there was no room for delays. He quickly sketched something else on the parchment and urged, "Get on with this, Grandmother. We don't have time to waste."

The older woman cast a sceptical glance before she began drawing the circle, which seemed much more complicated than the last one, while Dante combined some of the liquids, adding claws and tails belonging to reptiles. Pulling out his dagger, he ran its blade across his palm, allowing blood drops to fall into the bowl of ingredients. 

Observing intently, the Mother Queen watched as Dante positioned the bowl precisely over the marking she had created on the table using ash. Sitting in front of the bowl, she softly recited the words her grandson had provided her. The liquid in the bowl stirred, and she saw the reflection of a man who looked like he had been unearthed from a grave, and questioned,

"Who is this famished man?" 

The figure in the bowl narrowed his eyes at her words, but before he could utter a response, Dante leaned forward, fixing his gaze on the bowl, and stated, "I need your help, Viktor."

"What happens in the living realm is none of my concern, Dante. What I need is my work to be done, and only then help will follow," the Devil responded with an air of indifference. 

"He's the Devil? What I initially intended to convey was how remarkably handsome you are, perfectly fit for your age," the Mother Queen muttered as the Devil materialised from the liquid's reflection. His head emerged from the bowl, and he cast a piercing glare at the old woman. Finally, she captured the Devil's attention and said, "Your shitty demon named Magnus abducted my beautiful granddaughter Anastasia from here." 

Viktor shifted his gaze to Dante, and he remarked, "Isn't that lovely? Now you can get back to my work." The Devil paused, and his eyes shifted to the side as though a whisper had interrupted him for a brief moment. A grimmer expression formed on his face, and he said, "Well, it seems that I will provide you with the coordinates of where Magnus was last sighted after all. I prefer a nice duel among archdemons before deciding which one to destroy. As for the remaining details, that's a matter for you—"

"Find where Noor is too!" the Mother Queen added, wanting to ensure absolute certainty. "I will personally give her a good slap."

The Devil lazily stared at the demanding earthling, who showed no concern for his identity, despite the fact that her own rotten soul was destined for Hell. Ignoring the earthling, he said to Dante, 

"They are in the north, where the towers stand as tall as the ones in Hell. Their blood corrupted with the demon's essence, and my precious stones embedded within them. I assume you are already covered for transportation?" 

"Wouldn't it be quicker if you lent a hand?" the Mother Queen asked the Devil, who retorted, 

"You have the audacity to make me do menial tasks, despite your impending damnation in the fiery pits of Hell. Your blackened heart intrigues me." 

The Mother Queen raised her hand towards the Devil as if offering her hand and introduced herself. "I am Ginger Blackthorn," she said. "I deemed it wise to establish an acquaintance with you for potential future endeavours," she added with a smile. 

Impressed and bored at the same time, the Devil accepted her hand and brushed his dried lips against her skin, murmuring, "Viktor." The next second, he disappeared from the bowl. 

In the meantime, Dante transformed into his demon form, with the bony protrusions emerging from his back and the horns appearing on his head. The Mother Queen had hoped to manipulate and sway the Devil into aiding them, but her efforts had proven fruitless. She asked, 

"Where did he say the location is?" 

"Nightworth." A growl escaped Dante's lips as the demon took over. "Where the Elder ministers have joined with Magnus." 

The Mother Queen's eyes widened in astonishment as she beheld the skeletal frame behind Dante, where the dark, inky-blue skin began to materialise and start to flesh out, adhering seamlessly from one bone to another until it formed into wings. He remarked, 

"Time to send people to Hell."

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