August, 18th 2020

Why had I been summoned here in such haste? I turned right to the other man by my side, Samael. My blood boiled as I gritted my teeth. Only Rainbow's promise had stayed my hand from wanting to slay him right here and now. Yet where was she, how long did she expect to keep me waiting here? There were four others that stood standing beside us. I had never seen them before and they like us were also in human form. However, these men, they looked too beautiful like something out of a drawing. One man was silently reading while the others stood in quiet with their gazes forward.

Low bestial growls were the only thing that broke the silence of the large dark room. They were three women that stood before us like the men they bordered upon perfection, at least that was the image they portrayed. They could not be human with those conceited smiles upon their faces. No woman would smile in this situation.

Strangely, I sensed nothing about them to tell me otherwise. It was the same as Samael, Rainbow, these men beside me and now them. Did that mean they were on the same level of power as they are?

A speck of light pierced the crack, revealing further how far this room had fallen into disrepair. It was hard to speculate how old this place actually was and where exactly it came from. They were ancient writings transcribed all up on the walls. Of different kingdoms and civilizations that didn't seem to match. Kings and historical figures seem to be out of place or rather where they shouldn't be. Napoleon era troops invading what looked like China, Nazi Germany wins world war two what looked like a horde of horsemen sweeping upon civilization and the last legible thing I saw was a man holding a heart on what appeared to be a temple up to the sky.

It seemed like a lot of what ifs?

Behind these three women, the sunlight rested upon the old throne, displaying the pronounced dust upon the air. Further was an enormous stone door it had symbols that I had seen before, the same as the key that my mother had left me, strange.

My gaze fell behind us at what only could be described as a contingent of army generals. This was like a palace from a fairy tale, but instead littered with monsters both big and small. For those looking at the sky, it might have looked like quite the spectacle to behold. It reminded me of that old child's tale about Jack and the Beanstalk but instead of climbing a tree. It was filled with these horrid, impractical stairs instead. For all of its glory, the person who had invented this place clearly did not know about elevators.

My two lieutenants all stood behind me in human form, their gazes down as they like all the other monsters knelt to the ground.

This wait, I could no longer take.

"Where is she?" I asked, my eyes falling upon the first woman.

The response was with a calm smile. "Lady Lilith is tending to the human child."

"What!?" Samuel blurted out next to me.

It would be strange to me if I had not seen it myself. She had seemed to have grown attached to Martini's child, and that bond had seemed to be even deeper now. Why and how? I did not know, but it was strange. Guilt maybe? Her? I highly doubt it, for it was a feeling, I personally no longer felt myself.

Her eyes slowly turned to Samael. "You would do well to silence yourself or we will remove you."

Strangely, Samael went silent. Was this another clue? My glance shifted between them. Knowing the sort of man he was, the only way for him to go silent could only mean that there must be a far greater difference in power here. But how much?

I was not able to gauge anything, nor could I ask those behind me to appear weak. Ash? If she was here, she would be able to tell. In the end, your pointless goal to save those people had no merit. It would have shifted them from one hell to the next, although what did become of you? It was almost as if you disappeared off the radar.

I hate to admit it. It seems you were right, at least about one thing.

A loud creaking noise came as the large door behind the throne was pushed back and out came Rainbow dressed in black with this child in white. She still wore the face of his mother proudly.

She held his hand as how a mother would hold a son as they walked forward a few steps. Then he came to a stop, no doubt overwhelmed by what was in this very room.

She turned to him place her cheek next to his and pointed at those in the room. She planted a kiss upon his cheek and I saw her whisper in his ear the words I was able to make out. 'Don't be Afraid.'

He smiled and continued forward.

She took a seat on the throne as she placed the boy in her lap. A smile graced her face as she looked at us. The three women fell back behind the throne as the men beside us knelt proclaiming their loyalty towards her. The action caught me off guard. Black wings sprouted from their back as each identified themselves.

"Methandes stands with you."

"Balthur stands with you."

"Arbalan stands with you."

"Neziel stands with you."

Black wings, just like Rainbow's.

Samael's voice echoed across the room as he spoke, his hands swayed by his words. "You brought me here and kept me waiting for so long. It's been three years and yet no progress to move forward, only tons of ceaseless death." He took a few steps forward to the throne before pointing his finger towards her. "I am really starting to question if you can do it?" He brought it down as his gazed shifted from her to me. "You are playing this dangerous game, he could be watching us at any moment. I hope you remember your promise to me. Free me from this curse. If this fails, it would be the end of us all."

What do you have to say Domenic? Her voice protruded my mind.

"Aren't you afraid that this place gets bombed or nuked out of the sky?" I asked.

Ignoring Samael, her gaze went around the room as she shifted slightly on the chair before falling on me. "It is not something I have concerned myself with." She looked at one of the men kneeling beside us.

I heard a book beside me closed as the one called Balthur spoke. "Yes, it has already been taken cared of. All major strategic nuke silos, airfields, and ship locations across the world have been flooded in a sea of monsters. There are some that have managed to escape and some that have fought of a few of the waves, however, they pose a very minor threat to us."

I heard a chuckle as Neziel said, "Humans, they are unique, aren't they? Even with a common enemy. They would rather spend that time fighting among themselves or doing things that serve no true purpose. Several places I went personally to see the battle as it played out to watch their struggle. I found instead them caught in looting, raping, and killing each other for scant resources."

Arbalan, "Interesting, I wonder what the two beside us can make of it? They were your kin, after all. It may not look like it, but this place has survived far worse besides they have far more pressing matters. With the constant stream of monsters falling out the sky, the flyers suiciding into aircrafts. Not even the depths of the waters are safe. What would you do when every nation or country is under assault? Bomb yourself?"

"You should never underestimate an adversary," Balthur replied as he reopened his book and continued reading.

"It is not like they can kill us. We could sit in their fury of blows all day," Arblan said.

One of the women spoke from behind the throne. "They may not be able to kill you, but that doesn't mean that you can't be bound and enslaved to them."

"Right, I forgot you had the experience of going through this and being bound to a human. You and some others, I think that just clarifies your true rank. Perhaps you should not be standing so close to Lady Lilith."

"Your time will come eventually Arbalan. You should ask yourself if you would truly be able to face it."

"That's enough," Methandes said, turning his gaze to Arbalan.

Samael burst out in a laugh. "You know what's funny for as much as that one I forgot his name claims to be amused by humans. You behave in such a similar way. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that the mesh is so well."

I felt a rise of animosity in the air.

Rainbow sat the boy down in the chair as she stood up.

"Samael, your work has now come to fruition and like a farmer, the time has come to harvest. All the pieces have been set, and the ballet of the Red Queen's time has come, those that can't keep up will fall extinct. Like a virgin upon her maiden night, the streets will run red anew with blood.

The Great War will soon begin, and we shall make no distinctions between us. Greed, Sloth, Envy, Lust, and Gluttony must all be found. None of them are to be underestimated for they have all changed completely to embody their own vices.

If you two, Domenic and Samael don't work together you will fail. Think of what you have on the line and go, an entire army stands with you. Know that the humans still stand strong in their hovels beneath the ground and may also be a threat to you.

Methandes, Balthur, Arbalan, and Neziel, you must all stay here with me to maintain the balance and keep the portal in check before it reaches the time of our last mission. I will be here, for I also have my own battle to fight."

"And that child, will he fight with you?" Samael asked.

"I will protect my mother." The child responded.

"No, you need not worry about him," she said, turning and placing a hand on his head.

"You may go and Enêpsigos." She pointed at a woman beside her to go with them. I wouldn't like for the two allies to kill each other before they even meet the enemy. Rainbow said as she chuckled.

Samael merely turned and left and as I was about to Rainbow's voice entered my head.

This is the last time I will be able to talk to you freely, before you leave. Listen well, you must absorb each vice and you alone. For if you cannot do this. This battle will be over before it started. That mean's Domenic you will have to kill your friend Ash. Think you can do it?

I merely nodded as I left, followed by my own men. Was I really in control anymore? Why did Rainbow truly desire this great war, and why did she keep that child so close? Were there even more powerful monsters?

Who is this woman?

Someone who can see and predict the future. Follow her words, for she shall be your guide and protection in my place.

Enêpsigos walked beside me now as the door was closed behind us. Now, instead of one head, another two was formed from her neck. Samael stared far ahead, along with those whom he had brought with him.

It was a long, quiet walk, and she said nothing as she walked beside me. The ending of this agonizing walk was coming into view. There were things I wanted to know answers that I hoped she would have but first I should test her.

"How will you be able to help me find those that possessed these vices?" I asked her.

"Don't you already know that, Lilith already told you, didn't she? I can see the future. That is not what you really want to know. You want to know more about me. Because your cautious towards the things that you are unsure about. Or would you care to hear the safety and location of Mallory, Ralph, and Alice? Do you truly care about them or are you just doing it from a perceived notion of it?"

My eyes shifted towards her.

She spoke to me in a soft tone. "The number three is important, is it not? For you and I share this number similarly, just as I the goddess of the moon change form thrice. You too have changed under the cover of the dark."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

However, before she answered, a shout from Samael interrupted us.

"We don't have all day to stand around and waste time. Let's get this started and done!"

Who does he think he is to boss me around? I stepped forward until my eyes gazed upon the ruined buildings, the abandoned cars that were littered on the roads, and then towards what remained of the sky.

Was Alice okay?