“Isadora can be just as bad as I can!” Odessa fired off. “Did you all forget when she sent a purge up to Earth and killed over 300,000 people? Behind mother’s back, at that!”
“She was young,” Peregrine calmly stated. “She was trying to please her mother, as you have tried many times yourself. We are demons, after all. It’s normal to do things like this, but not when you are not permitted to.”
“You’re all just falling all over her. Who gives a flying fuck about your opinions? You’re not the God of Death, so until they dig my grave, I’ll maintain that I am the better suited sister!”
“There’s no need to argue…” Dad tried to squeeze in.
Odessa waved him on. “Can you spit out your winner already? I’ve had enough of this.”
“What a great first impression to make on your new boss,” Beatrix scoffed.
Odessa was seconds from ringing her neck, so Dad took control of the table again. “Thank you, everyone, for your valuable input. Regardless of how Odessa may feel…” he shot her a side-eye for her earlier comments, “I for one think you have every say in this. As the current God of this Realm…” He took aloud, deep breath. “I am confident that Isadora would be a good match.”
“What?” Odessa peeped, bewildered beyond comprehension.
I swallowed a rising lump in my throat. “I, too, as the next God to rule this Realm, agree that Isadora would be a better match. I’m sorry, Odessa, but we have made our final decision. We would be glad to find a different position for you, if you’d accept it.”
A stagnant silence filled the Inn. Odessa sat there like a statue, completely void of all emotion. Isadora bit her lip with worry and hesitantly set her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Odessa?” she whimpered.
“How dare you…” Odessa breathed, her eyes vacant as rage consumed her. “How dare you think you can disrespect my mother’s wishes? She has told me from the time I was born until the day she died that I would rule her Layer, and you think you can toss me aside like some common trash? That I will go down without a fight?”
“Odessa, we can absolutely find something for you-…?”
“HOW DARE YOU!” Her voice came out layered by three of her, and her body contorted until she stood as tall as the ceiling. Her hair grew until it wrapped around her body as a black cloak, and from underneath it, plumes of crimson smoke spilled from her cracked-open jaw. Dozens of eyes opened from within the darkness of the cloak, and her mouth, which was now skinless and showed rows of razors sharp teeth, opened to let out a horrific screech.
Dad whipped his scythe free and changed to Grim immediately, his familiars materializing as their own cloaked figures behind him. To see him summon them meant this was serious, so I summoned Akira and joined him in my own Grim form. “Do not do something you will regret, Odessa!” Dad boomed over her howls.
“I’ll be damned if you take this from me! DAMNED!”
“That is enough!” Isadora rose from her seat and brought an arm out from around herself, her eyes pure red. “You will accept your fate and leave this place before you cause more harm.”
“And what are you going to do if I don’t,sister…” she sneered back at her.
Isadora cracked a smooth side-smile. “Why don’t I show you?”
1. Radius Lucis: Ray of Light
Chapter eleven
Would You Mind If I Killed You?
Nicodemus
Isadora began to morph. Her long legs grew until they bore the same hooves her mother once had, her upper half consumed by a gorgeous, white dress that hugged every curve of her new body. Her brown hair grew until it was down the length of her back, and from the hair, two enormous antlers broke from her head. From them, jewels and chains hung down and reflected the crimson her eyes glowed. The shape of her eyes grew sharp, pointed, as well as her ears. She resembled the beautiful, yet deadly forest demons from ancient mythology, and to be face-to-face with one come to life was, to say the least, breathtaking.
Her weapon was a thin, long, silver blade that bore the same jewels from her antlers. She whipped the blade once before poising herself, huffing, as her body adjusted to the transition. “This will not end well for you, Odessa, so back down NOW!”
“And who will make me? Surely not the likes of you, maggot.”
“Please don’t do this in my Inn!” Evris sobbed as she tugged on Isadora’s leg.
Isadora conjured a portal to her new Layer, bringing her sword up to point to the first platform. “Why don’t we take this to our rightful battlefield, then?”
“With pleasure.”
“Girls, please…!” Peregrine tried to convince them to stop, but both thunderously entered the Layer, leaving him to groan in defeat.
“I suppose we should make sure they don’t kill one another in there,” I offered.
