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Azimuth poured her a glass, and Nadir took a small sip, grateful for the distraction it offered. She knew the others were concerned about the potential fallout of her continued resistance to the prince, but they were patient, expecting her to adjust to Belial over time. After all, they had eternity. Ironically, despite living for millennia, Belial did not share their patience.
The tension shifted as the conversation progressed. Kobol was vocal, his voice tense as he worried about the consequences they might face if Belial’s anger reached its breaking point. “We need to tread carefully,” he insisted, his gaze darting from one face to another. “Who knows what Big Blue will be capable of this time if he feels backed into a corner?”
Azimuth and Orias seemed more focused on keeping the peace. They both understood the delicate balance of power that existed within the cabal and the importance of maintaining it. “You know what they say,” Orias quipped, a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth as shadows danced around his tall, slender form. “We’re between a rock and a prince of Sheol. We’re bound to act on his wishes, even if those desires bring us all closer to discovery by other cabals. This isn’t a new predicament for us.”
Azimuth chuckled, his laughter like the tinkling of ice on crystal. “Wise words, Orias. But I agree with Kobol that we need to be especially careful. This time is different. Belial’s obsession with purifying the daemonic bloodlines is becoming unhinged. Who knows where his orders will push us next?”
“Not to mention if other elders figure out what we’re doing,” Kobol added.
“They will,” Nadir added. “It’s only a matter of time.”
Orias leaned forward in his chair, shadows swirling around his ankles. “Ranna suspects something is up.”
“The last thing we want is Ranna’s attention,” Azimuth replied.
Nadir wondered why that was the case. Ranna had been a staunch ally of their cabal, so why was Azimuth unwilling to share the truth with the elder?
The dreaded moment finally arrived. Belial summoned the cabal to his library, which he treated almost as a throne room. He stood tall, exuding authority and power like a daemonic peacock strutting his stuff. The room itself was filled with an oppressive darkness, the air heavy with an unsettling energy.
Nadir couldn’t help but wonder if he was already at work on his next, more deadly weapon. She feared nothing would ever be enough for the bloodthirsty prince.
As the cabal entered the library, Belial fixed his gaze on Nadir, his eyes burning with an icy fire. He seemed to brood over her defiance for a few moments, his mood casting a shadow over their gathering.
“Nadir, you have defied my orders by not using the sancre weapon as commanded,” he growled, his voice rumbling like a distant storm. “And you have been distracted by petty personal projects, to the detriment of our unholy mission.”
Nadir’s heart pounded in her chest as she clenched her fists, struggling to keep her anger in check. She met his gaze, her eyes defiant. “I have my projects,” she replied tersely. “We all do, for the greater good of the cabal. I can’t spend every waking moment skewering daemons for you.”
Belial’s expression darkened, his face twisting into a snarl. “I don’t see why not.” He leaned in closer to Nadir. “You would do well to remember your place, child. Further defiance will be met with consequences you cannot fathom. Do not test me.”
He turned to address the rest of the cabal, his voice like thunder as he reminded them of their duty to follow his orders without question. “I will not be defied,” he declared. “You must all work together to cleanse the underworld of the sullied daemons. I expect you to double your efforts, lest you risk my ire.” His eyes seemed to glow with a supernatural light as he spoke, and his words echoed throughout the room like an ancient warning.
The cabal was left in stunned silence, their heads bowed before Belial’s might. They had no choice but to obey his orders, even if it meant risking their lives and sanity.
Nadir refused to let Belial’s threats break her spirit. She may have been an insignificant child in his eyes, but she was a force to be reckoned with. She would not blindly follow his orders, but she would not let her defiance put her cabal in danger either.
When he turned to her, Nadir gritted her teeth and gave lip service to his demands, but inside, she seethed with resentment. “Oh, absolutely, Big Blue,” she said, her voice oozing with insincerity. “Your wish is my command. I’ll be your personal exterminator, ridding the world of daemons left and right, just as you wish.”
Belial raised an eyebrow, clearly not amused by her sarcasm. “That’s the spirit,” he replied, his voice dripping with menace. “I expect nothing less from you. And do not forget; the sancre weapons are not to be taken lightly. They have the power to change everything. Use them wisely, and use them, or suffer the consequences.”
He presented a fragment of paper to Azimuth. “Your mission is to sanitize this location. You must act promptly, for you have an entire population of daemons to cleanse.”
With that, the prince waved them out of the room, leaving the cabal to exchange worried glances in his wake.
Nadir didn’t waste any time. As soon as they were dismissed, she stormed out of the library and into her private quarters. She needed to vent, to release some of the pent-up anger and frustration that had been building inside of her for weeks.
With a snarl, she grabbed a nearby glass and hurled it against the wall, the sound of shattering glass echoing through the room.
Azimuth and Kobol appeared in her doorway moments later, concern etched on their faces.
“Nadir, please, take a moment,” Azimuth urged, his voice soothing. “We know how you feel, but this is not the time to let your emotions take control.”
Kobol nodded in agreement, adding, “Belial is watching us closely now. We need to be cautious in our actions, even more so than before.”
“Well, I can’t just go along with the genocide of those Belial deems corrupted, either.” Nadir exhaled sharply, running her fingers through her hair. “You’re right,” she conceded, her anger giving way to resignation. “And I can’t stand feeling like a puppet on a string. I didn't sign up for this life to be someone else's pawn and blindly follow orders.”
Azimuth placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle and reassuring. “None of us signed up for this,” he whispered. “But we remember we are bound to each other, and our strength comes from our unity. If we stand together, we can navigate this difficult path.”
Orias slipped into the room, his tall frame casting long shadows across the floor. “I’ve been thinking,” he began, his voice thoughtful, “there may be a way to satisfy Belial’s demands without completely sacrificing our own goals. We need to find a balance, a way to keep him appeased while still working toward our own objectives.”
