Their bond surpasses that of ordinary siblings; it runs soul-deep. The Prince of Wrath has arrived, and they have made the decisive choice to allow him to stay. As events unfold following his arrival, uncertainties will emerge, but unexpected turns are certain to shock everyone and dramatically reshape the course of Imperium.
At one point, between her conversation with Mithos and the arrival of Amon in Imperium, Abriella had considered having the meeting with Amon in the throne room. She eventually reconsidered that idea, feeling it might be a little too formal. If Amon was coming to request sanctuary within Imperium and vow fealty to herself and Cruz, it might be more beneficial to keep things more relaxed. In the end, she decided that they would hold the meeting in the grand salon, where they would often spend evenings after diplomacy was completed with the insufferable royalty that seemed to never stop coming, most of the males of which were trying to convince her that they should be her King and not Cruz. They all left with their egos significantly more deflated than when they had arrived.
When the hour arrived, Mithos summoned Amon into the room, and he arrived with an additional guest, which had Abriella’s brow rising. She had not been advised there would be another, however she recognized him and her eyes soon narrowed as she surveyed the scene. Arioch and Raguel were both present, having spoken with Abriella after Mithos had. Mithos and Thinius were both there as well, not wanting a potential threat to be allowed into the realm without them both being present. Rounding out the group in the room were the other three Horsemen, Dez, Arch and Talon. With those she implicitly trusted, she felt more assured that everything would go smoothly than originally considered. She had chosen not to include Adriel, for the moment, in the situation. Sometimes he could be a little too overprotective, and she wanted things to go smoothly.
While none from Imperium were in formal court attire, the males were all in suits. Abriella had decided on a dress that was cut perfectly to create an impressive silhouette. For their part, the males were all imposing, looking like something out of a Godfather movie. It would be worse to humans, since every single one of them was well over six and a half feet tall.
Amon arrived and it was as if he had somehow gotten the memo on how to dress, as did Heath, his top General, who was at his side. Abriella had a sneaking suspicion that at least one of those who were to vouch for him had advised him on the proper attire for the occasion. No tie for Amon, but otherwise his manner of dress matched the other males that were in attendance. Heath on the other hand was impeccably dressed, as he always was. The two of them had met before, and Abriella wondered if the male dressed in anything else. Even in battle the male was in a suit.
It helped Amon feel a little more at ease to have Heath with him, and see Mithos in the room with them. That Raguel and Arioch were also present helped even more. He knew they would back up what he was going to reveal, and vouch for his reasoning in desiring to relocate to Imperium. They had both suggested this meeting when they had been speaking extemporaneously. There was only one more he expected to see, but was absent, although knowing the Queen before him, he was sure there were reasons.
Abriella stood and motioned to Amon, “Prince Amon, you have requested audience and I have included my most trusted advisors at this time. We will hear what it is that you have come to say.”
“Thank you for agreeing to see me and hear me out, Queen Abriella.” Amon started with a low bow, trying to walk a fine line between keeping things formal and speaking freely what was on his mind. Next to him Heath bowed far lower. “I’m not here to start a fight, or with hostility. I come asking for your indulgence.” He was nervous, not only was she far more powerful than he, but he was in a room with enough powerful beings to snuff him out of existence, should they choose to.
“OH! Here’s the party!” Jasper’s voice rang from the doorway, making Amon choke, Heath had to stifle a laugh, Cruz came to standing next to his sister, Dez almost fell out of his chair with his hand over his mouth, and Abriella just closed her eyes, took a deep breath through her nose and turned her head in his direction.
“I do not remember inviting you to this meeting, Jasper.” Her voice was even, almost soft, but there was an undercurrent of warning that could not be missed. The smile that graced her lips was not one of joy or happiness, but barely contained annoyance.
“You didn’t, your mistake, lovely.” Totally ignoring Cruz who was glaring death rays at him, Jasper draped an arm around Abriella and dropped a kiss on her cheek then kept moving forward letting his hand glance along her arm to her hand where be bowed very low to bring it to his forehead and then kiss it. “But, I have business here,” he said as he stood up and turned towards Amon and Heath and continued to walk towards them, “so I came anyway. You should know by now, lovely, that you can’t keep me out.”
Again her eyes closed and she breathed deep. Some day that demon was going to push her over the edge and her friendship with Anna, Jean Pierre, and Armaund was not going to save his ass. “And what business could you possibly have in this room right now Jasper that warrants chancing my brother removing your limbs…again.” The threat was no longer so subtle.
At first Jasper did not respond, and now all the laughing had stopped. However, when he reached Heath, they clasped forearms before bringing foreheads together and doing a half hug. Then Jasper turned to face Abriella, who now looked utterly confused. “He’s my cousin, and I know why the big asshole he works for is here, Your Majesty. And though I may royally piss you off, you know I won’t lie. So no matter what any other asshole in this room will say, I’m here for Heath, and the oh so wrathy one, My Queen.” Jasper then did something NONE in the room had seen, he went down on one knee, put his right hand over his heart and bowed his head in a soldier’s salute to his sovereign.
A slight smile graced Abriella’s lips. His entry may not have been the most graceful or appropriate, but the demon of chaos had just redeemed himself, and impressed a few in the room. Cruz, however, still wanted to dismember him…again.
“Very well, Jasper, you may stay.” Abriella finally decreed, which had Cruz make a growl before he sat. She then continued, “now that I believe that everyone that is going to show up, has, what is it that you have come to request, Amon?” Since she had been more than once reminded of his assistance during the whole Talia debacle, Abriella’s demeanor was more friendly towards him than it might otherwise have been. She was truly curious what it was he was going to ask of her. Neither Raguel or Arioch had wanted to be the one to speak for him, nor had Mithos, so now was Amon’s time to make his plea.
Mithos has to deliver a request from Prince Amon to Abriella...what could he possibly want?
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Abriella looked up from the book she was reading to try to relax after the excitement that had happened in the last few days with all of her friends showing up, then Kaylin and Asher’s arrival, and finally the commotion with Amaya and Dartan. Adding onto that the visit to her uncle’s castle, and she was just a bundle of nerves with a supernatural migraine. When Mithos had come into her office, she hadn't even heard or noticed him, and when he spoke she was damn sure she had not heard him RIGHT.
Mithos took a deep breath. He wasn’t enjoying this, but it was his duty as a Captain of her Royal Guard to inform her of everyone wishing an audience with her as the Sovereign of Imperium. Before he’d come into her office, he’d considered going to Cruz, but the demon had a feeling the reaction he would get would be significantly worse; and it had been Abriella who had been specifically requested. So, here he was having to deliver the news he was not happy about the least. “Sorry, I didn’t announce myself.” He breathed out, and braced himself. “You have a request from Prince Amon for an audience with you, and he is being vouched for by both Arioch and Raguel.”
Abriella opened her mouth to speak, then she sat up taller and closed her mouth. So she had heard him right, she thought as her head tipped to the side with her eyes narrowing and lips thinning. “Did he say the nature of this request?” There had to be a reason that he’d want to come now. Now, when there was peace in the realm, but there had been upset in the Palace.
“No, Brie, he did not. I have my suspicions.” Mithos knew much, but did not want to say too much, in case he was wrong, and revealed the secrets of others where it was not his place. Abriella’s brows draw together and the look of concern that crossed her face, and it put him in an awkward place. With what he had been privy to before Abriella ascended to the throne, sometimes he felt conflicted in such circumstances. He was devoutly loyal to Abriella, but he would not reveal secrets that were not his.
“And those would be?” Abriella inquired with brows lifting and head tilting more, wondering what her Captain wasn’t freely revealing. While Thinius at times was hard to shut up when he had information, Mithos guarded the secrets of others tightly. She knew this and while she normally respected that, when it came to one of the Princes, it was not a luxury that she wanted to afford them.
“Amon does not wish to rule, he only wishes to feed off of wrath. Why ally himself with the other Princes who will undercut him and be a constant threat as they seek power, when he could come here and get everything he wants with none of the risks.” Mithos considered his next words very carefully so as to not reveal more than he should. It was his supreme hope that she would not dig deeper than what he said. “It is also true that there are some within the realm that mean something to him. If he remains at odds with us, then he is cut off, as well as unable to ensure their safety.”
Abriella’s eyes narrowed at her Captain. There was more to the last part than he was revealing, she was not a stupid woman. He was guarding someone’s secrets, possibly more than one person’s and they must be very sensitive ones for him to be so guarded. She would respect that because she respected him, and more so because she knew that Mithos would literally trade his life for hers. If there was any danger that he sensed, he would not hold back from her. “Do you think he is a danger? I value your council in this, Mithos. He has two males I trust vouching for him, but I want to know YOUR opinion. Please, I ask of you.” Her eyes met his, and he could see the sincerity of her words.
“I do not believe he is a threat to you, or anyone in this Palace. I do not believe he is coming for any nefarious or harmful reasons. We have given Lucifer and Arioch a second chance, My Lady, I believe that if one is going to come and ask similar after he has twice come to your aid in times of need, then we should at least entertain his argument.” Words chosen carefully came from Mithos. He hated reminding her that Amon had saved her life once, at great risk to himself, and aided her another time, again at some risk to himself. However, he would be fair to the fallen angel. Was Amon coming for selfish reasons? Most certainly. Would those reasons put anyone within Imperium in danger? Mithos felt within his being that the opposite would be true, they would be safer with him there and if his legions were loyal to Abriella and Cruz, it would not be a detriment to them in the least.
“Then, based on the vouching of three males I highly respect, I will meet with him. When does he want to come?” She was still reticent to trust that the fallen angel was there for an altruistic reason, but she would at least listen. Listening hurt nothing, and he would be in her realm, in her Palace, in a room she would ensure was seated with those she could trust. All Four of the Horsemen would be there. Her realm and all within it would be safe. Of that she would be certain.
“He can be here whenever you send summons.” Mithos had to work hard to keep a slight smirk from his face. While he knew that if certain other Princes were coming, she would react differently, he was glad to see that she was being logical and also calm regarding Amon. Recent happenings with Gabriel and Damien only had added onto their conflicts with Leviathan and Mammon. Then there was the Spectre Dartan that kept Arioch and Raguel on edge, someone to distract one of the males might not be a bad thing. Abbadon was another that would have to be dealt with at some point. Both Abriella and Cruz had their hands full, thankfully they had Olly and Deacon to share the load. He was proud of both of them that they did take counsel from those around them, even if there were a couple that the demon was unsure of regarding their discernment, but never their loyalty. There were none he knew of that would not lay down their life for another without thought.
“Give me two hours, and then summon him. I need to gather a few whom I trust to listen as well. I want to ensure that we are careful in any move we make now that we have eight vulnerable females in our trust. While many are warriors, all are still adjusting here and some have fragile psyche and I will not have anyone disrupting any of them finding peace in their new lives.” Abriella sat tall and regal, appearing the full Queen that she was, knowing her first duty was to those within the Palace walls. Then to those who counted on her to keep the peace in Imperium. She took all responsibilities seriously, but especially when any of the Princes was involved.
Looking at her, Mithos was proud. He remembered when she first came with Abbadon and while he had come to respect her then, later seeing her as a friend, and Queen. It was only after Abbadon had been banished from the realm that he had seen her blossom into the true leader that he, and her other Royal Guard, had always known was there. Now, as she was handling all of the events that were unfolding around her, he saw in her a strength that many who had fought against her when she was a Nephilim had always feared. She truly was her brother’s sister, and he knew Cruz had to be even more proud than any of them of the woman and Queen she had become.
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