Court of Hell : Ember

A hearty pull in of air was quickly followed by a wispy trail of smoke exhaled.  It spoke a thousand whispers and lies, just like the bodies on the floor gyrating to the thumping beat below flashing lights. Impassive eyes watching, hunting for her prey as she leaned on the rail above them all. Never seemed to be worth her time, yet she always found some sense of ease in these dark crowded clubs. No one asked questions, no one knew names - even though the humans seemed to think there was some key in knowing someone.

Idiots. Cattle. Fodder for the machine. All of them. The remnants of the cigar she’d been dragging on finally crushed in to the steel that made up the grate of the railing. Sputtering out embers of life upon the floor like a whore who couldn’t swallow it all. Eventually her prey would show, pattern of habits was something predictable about humans. She rolled a shoulder, the leather jacket she wore creaking softly as she did, but only she would hear it. The music drowned out the sounds of anything but the primal base that gave the building its own heartbeat. Maybe she should have dealt with them sooner. The idle thought played through her head, as a movement near the entrance caught her eye.

“Ah.. dinner has arrived..” She spoke to no one - and expected no one to hear - as she looked to the entering female. A glowing ghost of a beauty with pale blond hair tugged at a dress too short as she moved through the bodies. Only Ember could see the blazing rune marks etched into the girls aura. She’d been marked for removal of the entourage of a warlock who thought she was two timing him. While the girl was innocent - at least in that - Ember didn’t care, bounty was paid and she was hungry.

Back to the shadows she stepped, allowing her to move more swiftly towards her target as a moving body of smoke. No one in the club would notice - all of them too high or drunk, or in lust with something that kept them blind to the subtle caress of clawed hands as she moved bodies out of her path. Just as she was about to pull the girl towards her, she felt a tug behind her - not quite a physical one, but a telling notice of attention that shouldn’t be there. That moment of hesitation would cost her the prey she was hunting. The girl was pulled away by a dark figure, one that locked eyes with Ember. Heat warmed her belly, lips curling into a snarl.

FUCKERS! It was her kill! She growled, startling some of the more aware club goers as she barreled after the girl, knocking bodies out of her way - for all they could see by nothing. Had they, screams and chaos - a symphony she loved most - would have erupted in a chorus around her. Her claws out as she reached for the girls wrist that was out behind her like a welcome card. She closed around that fragile thing with a death lock.

“Nur’ish na, bali tolic!” Flames erupting about her prey and those with a physical lock on her. She wasn’t going to play this game in human land. The sudden shift of realms brought the target down to her knees as she began to vomit her last meal. Her attempted savior was unaffected by the shift - figures - a snarl was on her lips as she let that guise fall away. No longer some petite human with dark wavy hair and soft brown skin. Instead she stood an impressive seven feet with cloven hoofed legs, a belted skirt of chains with hooks and barbs about her waist was all that clothed her. After all her skin was now charcoal black, with fire cracks that smoldered leaving marbled lines across her. Only those teeth were white, hiding the flame breath she could unleash, a snarling gate to the end of those who stood before her now.

The male stood calmly before her, but the girl was still feeling the effects of realm shifting and was now babbling. She was hungry before, but now she was starving. She took stock of the figure robed in black, as she did he slowly drew runes with his hands disposing of his shielding.

“Tur’ka..” she hissed as she saw his protection runes, serpent tongue parting her lips. She felt her tail crack behind her in her annoyance. Apparently buisness decided to interrupt her meal. “There are easier ways then taking my meal to get my attention…” that voice rumbled softly as she relaxed some.

“ Accept my apologies for my self and my Master, Enk’a Queen of Embers” The hollow voiced responded. The formal title made her twitch, hands flexing as she stared at the human who dared call her so formally.

“This better be good.. “ she muttered as she reached out for the girl who now wailed in horror. Natural reaction for humans when they’ve been dragged to what they call “Hell”. Hand twisting in the girls hair to pull her up. “ I’ve this kill fair and square.. she’s mine to claim..”

He waved his hand dismissively.” This isn’t about the girl, she was used only to get your attention.” She felt her eyebrow twitch. She had been baited? A hiss released smoke and flame passed her lips, the action causing her dinner to faint. She paused, and for good reason.

“My attention? Because a summoning is too hard these days? Now how am I to know that this meal isn’t tainted?” She growled, stepping closer to him, careful inspection of the runes about him spoke stories as she listened carefully. All resulting in a low growl as she jerked the girls head with such force to cause the neck snap.

“ As I’m sure you are now aware of who sent me and that I am to be a replacement meal as it’s believed someone in the Court of Sin wants you gone.” The monotone voice he had made her roll her eyes as she ran a clawed finger down the front half of the body she now held. Slicing through the flesh, gutting it so that the organs - or what should have been organs spilled to the ground. What fell in its place were rune marked bottles, each one would have been enough to weaken her had she devoured her target. The “proof” of what he spoke. Her hand closed down tighter, flames rippling out feeding on the remains as it was consumed in ash.

“Tur’ka becons and I’m just supposed to come running. I left the court, I am no longer the Queen of Embers.. “ She bitterly hissed, brushing her hands together as the male remained impassive as ever. Court had never suited her - or been suited for her as some might say. Demons like to scheme and play for power - she was happy to be a tyrant warrior taking bounties for heads away from all the political games. She was never pleased when she had been chosen in battle for the throne. With it came a weight she didn’t like and games of the court - along with trying to stay alive.

“Master calls. We all must come when he calls.” All she could do was roll her eyes at his words. She felt the urge to shake the empty vessel before her till all his bones were broken. But it wouldn’t result in much. The consumption of him would take her to wherever in existence Tur’ka was waiting for her. And that was all she had left, she had not eaten in weeks - they knew this. She wouldn’t have the power without devouring a soul to realm pass and retain a mirage at this point.

“Did they pack you with a sippy straw too just for me?” She remarked sarcastically as she drew flame runes in the air, overwriting the weaker runes of protection that he had. She paused for a moment and went to brush the transport rune, only to be shocked by it. A hiss - he knew her well enough to put up protection spells on the runes, of course. Who better then your father to make sure you can’t fuck with something.

“ I’ve been filled with souls of other fallen followers to allow for sufficient nutrition for your Highness to regain much of her strength.” Monotone emptiness still speaking as she looked at him. “ More than what a normal human would provide.” Ah a touch of pride - even when empty they had that much when they were sacrificed.

“Lets just get this over with, shall we?” He was well versed enough to know to lock eyes with her, as her hands hovered on either side of his head. A gasp allowed a whisp of smoke from the fire beginning within him to escape. “Now now.. its only a end..” She whispered to no one as she locked her lips down over his, pulling hard just like she did on the cigar earlier. But this time, she drew him in. The soul of his existence and those of others who had been placed in him to feed her. She kept pulling till she felt ash on her lips.

That lone rune of transport now hovered over her. She stared at the blazing blue flame with annoyance as she rolled possibilities about. So the girl was bait. Either her father did it to weaken her enough so that she could be dragged home, or someone was out to kill her. Either way she was damned - and now a pawn in a game she didn’t want to play. She brushed the ash from her lips, taking in the landscape now of where she had dragged them. Her only safe space, the one piece of realms she claimed and viciously had protected.

“Nit’ra my Goddess of Flame and pain..” A quivering voice piped up from behind her.

“Un’ti Mit’k” She responded calmly, the imp and his assistants chittered softly as she greeted them. It was one of the reasons she selected this place. The fire imps were hard as fuck to kill, and were fiercely loyal to her alone. The crackled ground, charred black from the flame and lava that seeped from it like open wounds helped it feel like home. “ Has the Grand King been here?”

Chitters and chirps erupted behind her, they fought to share information with each other to ensure she was informed. But the cacophony of voices just confirmed her father had been here seeking her.

“ Nine moons ago - he came! He came alone! Called for you he did.” One voice cried.

“Yes yes! He roared with anger and pain!” Another added.

“ He slaughtered many, but we did as you commanded, no one in! Not even him!”  A calmer but more eager voice spoke up, closer than the others.

“Ah Nit’x .. “ She turned to look down to the smooth fleshed creature that looked like living lava inside a childs body. “ Well it seems he requests.. my council. Ensure the Nru’k remain on guard, and have the Loi’nx on more rapid patrols. I don’t know if we have reason to worry, but guard our home. Prepare for war as needed but underground. Raise more Lem’tu if required.”

As she spoke he turned, hands writing runes in the air that burned with life that flew in to the group of imps gathered, orders searing into their charred flesh to be carried out. “Underground my Goddess of Flame and pain?” He looked curiously up at her, not questioning the order but ensuring he heard her correctly.

“Yes, we may have the Court of Sin at play - we don’t want them to know we are aware.” She stared at that blazing blue rune again. “I must meet with my father to learn what this is all about. But I want our guard up. No one passes - unless marked by my rune. You understand me? “

“Forever till ash death my Goddess!” The little imp cried as he drew a rune and then slammed it down into the ground below. Ensuring that all imps and creatures within the area would know the command. She saw the blaze of lights before her as the order etched itself into the flesh of the creatures who roamed the realm of smoke and flame she called home. Rally cries of honor and acknowledgment of the command became the response.

“I shouldn’t keep him waiting any longer.. “ She sighed, dragging a claw along the palm of her right hand allowing black liquid to bubble up, puddling there for a moment before she wrapped her hand around the lone blue rune that taunted her. The shock wrapped her now, making that chain skirt dance violently as she was suddenly being shifted. Taken to wherever it was her father had called for her from. Leaving the tribes of Imps behind to follow her orders.