If memory served correctly, the last Elemental to join the ranks of the Dufinity had been well over a millennium ago, and even by the standards of the Demons, that was quite a long time. Even as he stood there, frozen in midair as the Demon contemplated his words, Shelderoth cursed their very existence. There had to be something better out there for his race, or a place they could call their own. They needed some sort of land just for the downtrodden Elementals.
“While your news is hardly what one would normally call good, I will allow you to live,” Krios said after nearly an hour of contemplation. “The Accords are broken, which gives us room to act in self-defense. The Heavenly races have been becoming big-headed as of late, and it will bring the Lords of Abyss great joy to see them brought to heel.”
Before Shelderoth could sigh in relief, the Demon Lord’s next words drove all warm feelings far from his mind.
“As for you, bug. You will remain here as my guest. I have a very special mission for you. One in which you will not fail.”
The Demon Lord turned then, heading back into his massive palace, and Shelderoth, still unable to so much as move, was dragged in along behind him, silently cursing at his horrible luck and the general mistreatment of his race as a whole.
***
Zir, former Cofounder of the Defiants and new King of the elves, sat in his office, watching the small purple-tinged portal expanding from a pinprick to the size of a small mirror. Across him sat Sylvester, lounging back in an oversized chair, with the creature wearing the face of Nina lounging in his lap.
She looked oddly self-satisfied, both legs thrown over one of the armrests, and her back half turned so that she could face him. She lightly played with his hair as she whispered things into one of his long pointed ears. Sylvester, on the other hand, was completely unreadable. His expression was blank, and his eyes stared straight ahead, locked on the soon-to-be-filled portal.
Zir had no idea why an Infiltrator would attach itself to someone like Sylvester. They were supposed to be agents of the King of the humans, but for some reason, this one seemed to have gone rogue. He also couldn’t help but notice the small cosmetic changes the creature had been making to the poor girl’s body – not that Nina would care, she was long dead – but her parents were starting to suspect something, which meant he’d likely need to dispose of them soon.
Helpful as they’d been in overthrowing the kingdom, they were now starting to be too much trouble, and when assets became a liability, those assets needed to be cut loose.
Nina shifted slightly, her enlarged breasts straining against the fabric of the too-tight tunic and pressing against Sylvester’s arm as she laughed at something he said. The old Nina, the one Zir had heard described from his co-conspirators, had been rather plain looking, but this girl was getting close to rivaling the beauty of his adopted niece, Kya.
Her once plain brown eyes now shone a bright amber, and her once flat figure was now curved in a very pleasing way. Her facial features were sharper and more defined, and her skin was perfectly clear and pale. Had Zir not been completely asexual, he might have even appreciated the way she looked. As it was now, all he saw was a threat. A threat that needed to be handled very carefully.
Sylvester had taken his side and calmed the people, and despite all his new power, Zir needed them to remain calm. If the elves began to riot again, he’d be forced to kill more of them, and he needed them all to be alive for the months ahead. He had big plans, and he’d need an even bigger army for them to work.
Zir was snapped from his thoughts as a figure flashed into view on the other side of the portal — or rather, a small part of the figure did. In truth, all he could really see was a massive golden eye.
“You wanted to speak with me?” Zir asked, being careful to keep his voice respectful.
As much as he loathed working with Demons, it was only thanks to them that he’d managed to gain the power needed to overthrow his brother and take the Goldenleaf Forest for himself.
“Yes, mortal,” said the Demon’s sibilant female voice, practically hissing into the room. “I wish to hear how things are progressing.”
Zir nodded, having expected that, and began his report. For some reason, this Demon was less than patient, a trait that he found odd, due to their nigh-immortal status.
“The last of the rioting in Srila, Corkra, and Glenn have been quelled. The Goldenleaf Forest is under our control.”
“What are your plans moving forward?”
“As we previously discussed,” Zir said, leaning slightly forward.
“The Jagged Peaks then?”
“Indeed. It is high time that the dwarves bowed to the superiority of the elves,” Zir replied, feeling a small thrill of power as his Origin reacted to his words, a small crackle of green light running across his fingers.
“And what of the Defiants?”
“Put down like the dogs, they were, though some managed to escape,” Zir said, feeling his lips twisting down in annoyance.
“I hope your soldiers are hunting them as we speak.”
“Of course,” Zir said, his eyes flicking to the Nina-impersonator as she giggled softly.
“Very well,” the voice said. “And what do you have to report on our other objective?”
“I have not been successful thus far,” Zir said, feeling his mood sour even further.
The Demon let out a hiss of displeasure, and Zir felt his Origin tighten in response. He hid his wince because he knew that any sign of weakness before a being such as this was inviting death.
“Do I need to stress once more how important this is, mortal?” the Demon boomed.
“No,” Zir replied. “I’m working on it.”
“Well, you had better…!” The Demon cut off mid-threat as something on her side caught her attention.
Zir perked up a bit, his keen ears trying – and failing – to capture what was being said on the other end. The Demon turned back, her giant golden eye filling the portal once again.
“I have just received new orders. It seems someone higher up wants this done quickly and in a way that will not alert our enemies.”
Another portal opened above Zir’s desk, and a wooden chest roughly a foot long dropped onto its surface. Zir cracked the lid just enough to peek in, but not enough for Nina or Sylvester to see. The contraption within was odd-looking, unlike anything he’d seen before, and Zir knew he’d be spending the next few days trying to figure out exactly what it did and how to use it.
“Your soldiers will use this item on their next attempt,” the Demon said, her voice implying that this was not a request, but an order.
“Very well,” Zir said, closing the chest and placing it carefully in a drawer, which he magically sealed with the signet ring on his index finger.
“Do not fail this time, mortal. We will not be happy if you miss another opportunity.”
Zir only gave a single curt nod, not trusting himself to speak. Then, the portal winked out, leaving the three of them alone once again.
“Vile, rotten, maggot-riddled, shit stain,” Zir muttered, curling his fingers into fists.
Who did that Demon think she was, ordering him around like that?
“Is something the matter, uncle?” Sylvester asked, his creepily flat voice breaking him from his internal raging.