Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 211: Alliance

Ariane stood staring at the young man gliding down from the air as if he'd been accustomed to such a feat. There was a noticeable precision in his actions. She crossed the room towards him, finding that the wretched sensation she had faced during their last meeting was no longer present.

"What kind of Alliance are you looking for?" She folded her arms, seeking to gauge some semblance of weakness.

She saw nothing.

Altair lips lifted into a regal smile. "Now, I didn't quite expect that. So accepting. Now I'm really curious. What did Tasha tell you?"

There had been a trap in his words. One Ariane realized she'd walked into. She straightened, dawning her cognitive mask, "She asked we not harm you."

"Ah-h-h, now that's interesting. Are you curious as to why?"

"Would you tell us?"

Altair chuckled. " of course. Why wouldn't I? I think there is much to gain from the Heavens. Don't you? I'm sure they could offer more to me than the Hells, at least more than what a devil could."

'Is he trying to manipulate me?' she wondered. And said, "Then you admit you've been touched by the hells?"

"Lady, no one has touched me. Except my wife."

A faint blush rushed up Ariane's cheeks. "You know that's not what I meant!"

"Did I?" he teased. "But I truly have no connection with the Hells. At least none that is of relevance. However, I'm rather curious about Heaven. What makes them so powerful when compared to demons and Devils?'

'He feigns curiosity,' she told herself. 'Why?'

"You've given up Aria Silvermane to the Prince of Hell. Her soul is probably beyond—"

"Little Aria… no. She isn't little anymore. Aria has grown so so much. She's a woman now." Altair knowingly grinned. "And while I can't see her life due to some sort of strange magic. I can sense her heart.

She is content. A little lonely but safe and secure."

"You can't possibly know that!" Ariane snapped. "We are talking about a Prince of Hell. Astaroth of all Fallen Angels. The Forger of Time. You've no idea his cruelty!"

And again, Ariane felt she had fallen into another of his traps. One to gauge her emotional response. She bit her lips, allowing cracks to surface along her mask.

"Aria died and was resurrected from my blood." He opened his hands, and from his shadow, Aurora materialized, bowing almost immediately, sensing a strangeness shrouding her Master. Much like an invisible vale, it swallowed him.

Reverence deepened through her heart, and her bow deepened.

"You've called master?" she said.

"Indeed. Though merely to show you off. Ariane, this is Aurora. One of my Knights, or is it Sorcerer? Either way, she is my right hand, dealing with all kinds of logistics. An invaluable asset and subject one could ever ask for.

I'm sure you don't believe much of what I say. So why not ask her?"

"She is your subject. She could lie," Ariane said, rather incredulously. Unsure where this conversation was taking her. 'Why tell me this? Why allow her before me?'

"Tell her everything, Aurora. Well, aside from, you know, banking information."

"Lol. can you imagine?" The little shadow joked. She stared at the frowning Ariane, studying her with a serene expression. "Allow me to go first. I became Altair's shadow by him killing me."

The disbelief became all the more deafening. "Then how can you defend him? How are you even qualified to convince me of—"

Aurora lifted a hand, pausing the young lady's words. "The alternative was to have my dignity stripped from me. To be made a toy of by some bastard. And while I did not understand the choice I made at the time. I do not regret it?"

"Can you even regret it?"

"I did at first," Aurora admitted. "I died after all. I was rather mad for a while. Angry with not just myself but Altair as well. But he gave me something… no, he allowed me to see a whole new world. Look at me.

A human girl. Now, standing before Monsters from the Astral Plane. Staring at the face of one of the very Monarchs of Hell. And now… I'm before a young woman who is a part of the very Heavens. Can you even imagine? Me, a small-time mage, now having an opportunity to witness such things?"

Heaven's Chosen could not believe what she was hearing. "You were human?"

She knew the race well. Their only usefulness was their 'belief' in the Gods.

"Quite. But this isn't about me. I'm sure you'd like to know about my Master. And he just allowed me to speak the truth. Ask away. I'm quite open."

Ariane calmed her raging emotions in a single moment and said, "What are his thoughts of the hells."

"He hates demons. They have no usefulness aside from utter chaos. Devils are intelligent but are too smart, or rather think they are always the smartest person in the room. In Altair's mind, they are simple tools. Simply put, there is only an Equivalent and exchange going on."

"Has he been touched by the Hells?"

"Touched?" Aurora turned to her master, tears burning her eyes. "Master, has your booty been taken?"

"Piss off!"

Ariane smiled, then said, "Alright. I mean, has his soul been branded by the hells? Is he owned by a—"

"No one owns My Master," Aurora declared. There was a hardness in her voice, a cold certainty that startled Ariane. "He has spells and techniques that have infernal origins, but no way in hell is he owned by anyone but himself. He's too much pride in himself to be a slave to anyone." Continue your adventure at m|v-l'e -NovelBin.net

"If you'd like, I've several other knights you can ask your questions. Though I believe they'll tell you the same thing in different ways.' Altair voiced then.

Ariane wasn't convinced of Altair's intentions but felt a greater understanding about the boy, who'd come out of nowhere. It wasn't much, but it was enough— for now.

"I've two gods I've accepted blessing from. One Devil or Demon seemed to have taken an interest in me. I've one slot remaining for another. And I'd like it to be someone from your side." Altair said, closing his eyes. He savored the darkness, opening them back to the light with a profoundness Ariane had not seen in mortal men.

"You want Aidios?"

"Is that who you serve? I wasn't aware that the Sisters of Sepith was a part of Heaven's Gate."

Ariane chagrined at her mistake.

"I guess this is an example of different paths converging on a single truth." The Prince shook his head, studying the woman closely. "Speak with your lady when you get the chance. But now. We've something else to speak about. Have you come to a decision in the sacrifice of those without power?"

Ariane winced. "There are two groups that accept souls."

"Three. Angels, Devils, and Necromancers." Altair said.

"Are you truly willing to sacrifice them?"

"How I tire speaking of morals and sentiment." He said in a grim voice."The lives of those not aligned with me are as worthless as grass itself. Will you accept my proposal or not?"

A tight hold coiled around Ariane's chest. "And if—" she stopped catching that profane gleam in his eyes, felt the unease, felt the image of blood bubbling from out her mouth emerging from her mind.

"I don't like being threatened," Ariane said, feeling an intent no mortal man should wield.

"My life is on the line," Altair told her calmly. "My life, my wife, and subjects." he shook his head, stepped around the bed, and stood directly in front of her. "The others will take the easy path. They'll all agree to sacrifice everyone within the palace. How could they not? A S-Rank skill is on the line.

Greed is quite a terrifying thing. All that's left is you."

"Me?" Ariane muttered, not understanding.

"I could offer the souls to a devil, accepting the risk of being screwed over in this desperate time of ours, or we could go with the safer option. The option everyone would be more than willing to accept. After all, the Sepith, despite their odd practices, is a force of Good. They'll all be willing to accept that offer." he grinned, opening his palm. "It matters not if you agree to it or not.

You'll be outvoted when it comes to the slaughter. So it's either you watch us send innocent souls to be burned for all eternity, or you save them by allowing us to offer the souls to Aidios."

It struck Ariane then, the relaxed demeanor he held through the meeting. The confidence in which he spoke. It all came together as she said," I had no choice from the start."

"Bingo. The thing about good people. They're so easy to predict. You'll always choose to help people. I just took advantage of that."

Ariane sneered. "You're quite a sick bastard. Aren't you? What a disgusting trick."

Altair shrugged, offering his palm. "This is merely the beginning of our alliance, my dear. Plus, I've always wanted to meet an angel."

Ariane shook his hand and stormed off in a gust of anger. She had no choice in the matter. A sacrifice was going to occur. The only question was who was going to accept the souls. An Angel or a Devil.

"Go pacify her," Altair told Aurora with a smile. "She's a sharp one. Just a little dull when it comes to mind games."

And you, my lord?" Aurora asked.

"Me? Well, I think it's time Father and I have a chat." And he thought, 'I didn't collect ten thousand souls for no reason.'