"No matter how you try, you cannot get rid of darkness because it does not exist. It is nothing but the absence of light. In order to effect darkness, you must do something with light, because the light is the only thing that actually exists."

-Teal Scott
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Death

Her screams echo through my head once more, forcing me to wake from my sleep. I have been requiring more sleep than usual, it is taking not only time away from me but I am starting to become weak in the eyes of the others. People who would threaten my station here, taking not only my reapers from me but my life as well.

I jump to far conclusions but it has happened before, there is always someone standing idly by to take one's place in the world. I happen to not want that to happen, I enjoy my place and power. Who doesn't. I know exactly who to blame for all of this nonsense and instability.

The succubus has been a distraction no more, I need time to fix what has become broken. She robs not only my dreams but every minute in my waking day, it needs to end. These relics will not simply find themselves and my reapers are having just as hard the time finding the last piece.

We have reason to believe that the remaining piece is in Turkey, Harbinger found documents that a relic was found in Antioch but the only thing is, is that this city is an ancient Greek city that no longer exist. The old ruins lie somewhere near Antakya, Turkey but that is all we know for now. That is until I get down there to search for myself.

I dress quickly, summoning myself to Harbinger, he is still here. Why has he not left yet?

"Harbinger, is there a problem?" He is bent over a large document, his head buried in ancient script. If he could live in this library, he would.

He lifts his tired gaze, "Yes Master, I am afraid so."

"Don't waste time on sugar coating it Harbinger just tell me." This whole search has gotten us all worked over, it is becoming a nuisance.

He sighs deeply, unraveling what appears to be a map, on the very top is Antioch, the letters are faded but that is the ancient Greek city. "A map Master, of Antioch, I came across it long ago, I had the feeling we would be of use of it, I am glad I was right." He points to a river on the map. "This is Orontes River, the city lies East though much of it is gone. The remaining settlements barely still stand, the church we are searching for is said to be buried deep, under deep settlement, the many years of debris that have settled above as become somewhat the problem, we will have to search it I'm afraid."

I clap him on the shoulder, making him groan, "That was the bad news Harbinger, I'm rather disappointed."

He chuckles deeply, "I thought you'd say that however that was not near the troubling news, you see someone still resides there, they worshiped her and kept her power inside these great walls, she now uses this buried city as a beacon of her power. Though it is not inhabited she still has power in the region."

"Who is it?" I grumble.

"Tyche."

"Bloody Hell!" Out of every goddess I get her, the fates could not have been kinder in their tortures.

"Are you sure it's her?" I grimaced.

"Has your relationship strained so far as that you two do not speak, I am sure she will regard your need to use her as a friend in need "

He obviously does not remember our last encounter with Tyche, "You do remember our last encounter with the goddess do you not."

"I am afraid not."

I sigh, " Harbinger, I had a small and brief encounter with Tyche the goddess of fortune, I treated her well for time being and she was good for the few times we were together but it meant nothing. I addressed her before that what we were engaging in was strictly intimate and very non relationship based. She however thought otherwise." She thought way more than what we previously discussed, she ended up killing dozens of my reapers and let's not mention her and Valfalls caught profusely.

Harbinger smiles briefly keeping in his laughter, "I do recall some moments from the time, especially with Valfalls but do keep in mind Master that I have reason to believe she has possession of this relic."

"Of course she does, have you tried making contact with her maybe I could keep out of her sight that way she'd be more than happy to give us what we want." It's a long shot but I have to at least try to see if I could possibly get around this.

"Excellent idea, I have yet to contact Tyche but I shall soon do so." He folds the map delicately, afraid it might crumble in his hands and by the look of it I had no doubt it wouldn't.

"One more thing Harbinger make sure Valfalls does not accompany you." I would hate to see another one of those fights, it was brutally the last time.

"Of course."

I turn to leave, "Wonderful, there was something I was meaning to do, I'll just be a few short hours gone. Contact me when you have reached her."

"Does this have to do with the angels Master?" He sounded concerned but I knew his true intentions.

I turn back to my reaper, "No it has nothing to do with those pigeons, why do you ask?"

"I would advise you to meet with the angels before seeking out the succubus."

I value his friendship, his obedience but I do not tolerate when someone tells me how to do something, especially when it comes to who I speak with and how I see things through, "I suggest you find Tyche and do care to remember where you lie in this domain. You do as I say not the other way around Reaper."

I leave him not in the mood to teach someone who I value as an ally, especially one of my greater reapers he has never dared once spoken to me in such a way.

"Daxt!"

I fight everything in me not to tear up the halls as I pass, I want nothing more than to feel my fist connect with something solid.

"Yes Master."

I continue to walk as the demon scurries to catch up, "Has anyone crossed our lands of late, I am in the need of a distraction." Seeing as though Harbinger was correct, I thought it wise not to seek out the succubus even though I only wish to speak with her about what happened with Lucifer.

He practically grins from ear to ear too bad it looks to appear as if he's ready to rip someone's throat out.

"Oh yes, after your brief meeting with Lucifer, he sent you a traitor on behalf of a truce for his rude encounter with your succubus."

Even after I've warned her time and again about the dangers of my world, she hasn't listened. She still wanders where humans should never go. Luci was getting too comfortable with Adeline that night, to think she could pull off something as temp the damn devil is saying much. He never mentioned why she was there, I tried to get that fiery eyed prick to talk but nothing fell from his smug face.

"Sounds exciting, shall we." I gesture for him to go first, he knows where the traitor is located.

He chuckles evilly, his small form jumping slightly in the air as he runs forward to summon a portal.

When we enter, I find the place to be different than when I was here last, our dungeon was taken out of the medieval times but this one is much more modern. "Have you been decorating without me Daxt?" I was quite disappointed but I liked where his head was going with this.

He hides away, afraid I would scorn him, "Sorry Master, I thought well we could change somethings but of course we can change it back."

"No it is alright, I like it so far, you may further change it." The once rusty iron gates have been replaced with new wrought iron, they have been intertwined together to make a intricate design along the gated walls. What once was a broken and crumbled building is now polished and something out of New York.

"Where did you steal it?" No demon will begin to make such a thing as this.

He makes this whining noise as if afraid of saying anything, "It is borrowed, once I get tired of it I will return it. Maybe a hundred years or so."

"A hundred years...fine but no more than that or else the humans will begin to miss it."

His excitement makes him spit everywhere, I shake my polished shoe flinging his spit off.

Demons and their unusual attachments, I will never understand them, "Proceed on Daxt."

He laughs, his claws for hands clapping together wildly as he continues on. We enter the building, I am greeted with several nods in my direction from demons who seem to work here. After descending several stairs we finally end up somewhere familiar. Several Viltur's wander through the hall cleaning the blood stained floor. Their curved beaks turn to the side, their head dipping low, it's their way of bowing.

"Keep working in the Master's presents!" The shrill voice of one of the Viltur's is a uneasy sound to the ear but he is loyal enough.

"How's things for you down here Sikol?"

His dark winged body shudders as he shakes his wings, "Busy Sir, just how I like it."

"Where is this prisoner Sikol?"

He large beak swivels down one of the long halls, his round calculating eyes follow as he directs me in the right path, "Just down this corridor fourth cell to the right."

"Wonderful, let us proceed Daxt, as always thank you."

Sikol bows, his curved beak pointing downward as the others did, "Your present is always welcome my lord."

He was known to be over dramatic with the whole direct orders and the greetings, I preferred Master but I was used to the occasional lord. He however used it quite frequently, I suppose I do not mind at all.

Daxt proceeds ahead somewhat terrified if the winged creatures, if he only knew what people thought of his features. As we walk down the dimly lit halls I begin to hear the sound of shouting, it's useless in a place as this. He is wasting precious energy on acting as if he could possibly get out from here.

I turn the corner, the loud yells becoming more prominent and annoying. Daxt retrieves keys from somewhere and waddles toward the gate where the prisoner stands. His bloodied hands grip the iron bars, he appears weak and barely able to stand. When he sees me finally his eyes widen, his black eyes shine with a new found terror.

"What have you done with him Daxt, he is far from entertaining seeing as though he is already beaten to a pulp." I peer down at the small demon.

"He was brought to us in this manner Master, it seems he was of no use to Lucifer."

I focus back on the demon, "What were you accused of prisoner?"

For Lucifer to bring me a beaten prisoner is rare, they are usually fresh, he must of a had answers to questions he needed and by the looks of him he needed them desperately.

"I can not answer your question." He spits out, his words barely leave his mouth.

I nod my head, "What if I told you I will do twice as worse as what Lucifer did?" He was in pain I could see sweat forming along every exposed skin, he tried to hide his slight wince at just breathing.

A small whimper escaped his lips, "He will kill me."

I laugh, "Why do you think he sent you to me you incompetent fool?"

"I do not wish to die!"

"Then I suggest you speak." I threatened.

"I am a simple messenger, to retrieve information for my Master I was however taken prisoner by an unknown assailant. Lucifer believes that I betrayed him, that I work for whoever kept me prisoner and tortured me for years. He is blinded by his own judgments and I a mere pawn to be discarded. I told them nothing about Lucifer, yet he still believed otherwise."

I heard not one of his going rogue, I never thought it would be this man, he seems incapable of betraying his Master. Why Lucifer wouldn't believe him is beyond me, he has greater power than I and I see this demon to be telling the truth. "Daxt feed this man and give him proper clothing, I may need use of his services."

I walk away leaving the man to shout his thanks, this was one way of recruiting my demons, saving them from Death only to serve it in the end.

I leave the confines of the dungeon, returning to the familiar surroundings of my home.

The sound of heels clicking along the wooden floors, suggest that my Reaper is here, "Valfalls." I acknowledge her before she utters a sound.

"Master." She walks beside me, her long legs keeping up with my ushered pace. "Is it true that Tyche has the third piece."

The disdain that laces with her words is very much present as she regards the goddess, "I believe so, how unfortunate."

"Indeed, what is to be done with the vile snake who calls herself a goddess." I enjoy her enthusiasm, it matches that of my own, the dislike for this goddess is well met.

"I am ordering Harbinger to send word to her, she needs to not know about my presents in this as long as he charms her I have no doubt he will get this done without some sort of hitch."

Valfalls snorts beside me, "You should have sent Daxt, Harbinger is incapable of wooing any female in stiff direction."

I smile, believing her exact words, "Lets hope he changes his perspective on encouraging the opposite sex, he forgets what day in time we are in, no woman wants him to sacrifice three goats and climb the highest mountain in order to win their affections."

My reaper's once grim face turns into complete laughter, "I do still remember the time he did just that."

"How has the recruiting been, I know our number of reapers are declining rapidly." We have lost over two hundred reapers do to these relics popping up and causing all kinds of unnecessary problems.

"I have collected enough to make due, Sovereign keeps them in check for now, though still some stray to call of energy from this remaining relic."

If i could chain them to my reapers i would but the souls are not being collecting when they just all sit in one area of this world.

"And the Angels?" I question.

She goes quiet, which is rare for someone like her, "They are becoming quite persistent with their empty threats and a vague understanding of why they must meet with you."

Of course by the looks of Daxt from their last encounter they seem to take their anger out on my loyal subjects, "What do you suggest we do with the Angels?"

It is not the first nor the last time I have asked her for advice, she has shown a great deal of knowledge and devotion to not only me but her position as third in command. I trust her completely.

"I say we make them wait, when I heard news of Daxt on how they treated the lesser demon I wanted to rip their wings off. You understand my dislike for demons but he of all did not deserve such cruelty."

She is like me in more ways than none, I do understand where she is coming from and respect her honesty, "Is Michael among those Angels who request this meeting?" I know he is, I just want to confirm my suspicions.

"Yes Master, Raphael, and Gabriel are all apart of this meeting, Lucifer would be jealous of all this attention you have brought."

I stop at my office, opening the door I enter, allowing Valfalls to accompany me. I sit in my chair, tracing the cracks in my glass desk, I have forgotten to order a replacement, "Is there anything else you needed Valfalls?"

"Yes, I wanted to ask you for permission to train a new reaper, a greater reaper."

Confused, I leaned forward folding my hands in front of me, "Train, I didn't think it was possible to train a mortal man to become a reaper"

In fact i have never heard of one at all, my greater reapers were once lesser reapers who were given the essence of pasted reapers, which only three were created and now only three live today.

"Is there something you are not telling me Valfalls, some unknown greater reaper essence that exists on this world or the next."

She meets my gaze with fierce intensity, "Do you trust me Master?"

I sigh, "Of course my reaper I would have never chosen anyone different to your place."

She takes a step toward me then several more until she kneels beside me, "Then allow me just this once to prove to you that what I say is true, it is very hard to explain but once it is done I promise to uphold my promise and I will speak of how I have come to this conclusion."

I place my hand against her unexposed skull, she closes her eyes pressing softly to my palm, "You may train this mortal man to become a reaper as long as he is willing and understands his duties as a reaper and what it intends of him."

She smiles, a smile that is rare once again and she uses it now, "Thank you Master."

"You must tell me who you have chosen for this, I am very much interested."

"Of course." She stands ready to leave before she can open the door, Meeksha enters.

"Master." She hisses, her breathing uneven.

"What's happened?"

"It is your succubus and the demon cat, they were here and no one knows where they have went."

I am starting to think this was a horrible idea, that she was a horrible idea.

••••••••••••••

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-Ash

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