My thoughts were steeped in darkness, such that I wandered blind. My hands of bone reached out in incrementally desperate attempts to understand the canvas painting that never stayed the same, but no matter how much I thought I figured out, there was always something more. Was I playing out of my league?

“—re?” someone’s voice infiltrated my thoughts. “Deidre!” Lilith called out to me again. I was having another meeting with Rayna, Lilith, and Einar. Most of it consisted of boring, yet important details about the Darkviper clan’s migration and the protection of the Doomhorn clan. Hellfire forces were upon them, it seemed. “What’s on your mind?” Lilith asked.

I gazed upon her beauty and I remembered that compared to her, I was nothing but an ant when it came to knowledge and intelligence. Her bewitching appearance was a reminder that all was not as it seemed. Does that make sense? I figured that, with her knowledge, she’d be unstoppable. Yet, she reduced herself, her clan, to obeying me, an ant. “Lilith, why didn’t you tell me about the Bloodmoon?”

Her eyelids repelled each other for but a second, then she composed herself and regained her taciturn eyes. “Perhaps I underestimated your will for involvement. It was my assumption that I would serve you with advice and strategy should you want or need it, but I see now that you might prefer a more active role.” She bowed her head. “A thousand apologies. There are many things about the Bloodmoon that are undisclosed to the public. What might you be talking about, Great One?”

I laid my face on my hand; she reminded me of politicians sometimes. The lining of dim Dawnlights on the ceiling captivated me for a while. Sure, it was a weak spell, but it was pretty and made it ever clear that this world was one of magic. And me, the Lich God, was the most powerful being I knew when it came to magical ability.

What was with that? It was like giving a toddler the ability to destroy the world. However, that stark disparity fueled me to believe that I was put here for a reason. Yes, a purpose, a big one. Yet, the Darkviper clan was dislodged, the Doomhorn lost their leader and now served me for what that was worth, and now the Hellfire clan master wanted to bargain information for her family’s safety and protection.

If I play my cards right… I knew I could control those three clans, or at least try to. If I got my lanky fingers on the largest and most powerful clan of Nemus, Fyren would basically be defeated. The only clan of concern now, were the Bloodmoon. They were shrouded in mystery, perhaps even more so than the elusive Darkviper clan. But one thing was certain, they were dangerous. From what I heard, they were the most feared clan, despite being the smallest when it came to their numbers.

Maybe it had to do with them being half-elf, half-demon. I wondered why Lilith kept that from me. They were hybrids, somehow finding a way to regain much of their lost selves. Perhaps they found a way to defy the pact they made with their underworld devil.

After we discussed what we had to, the meeting ended. I teleported to the room Pyralis Hellfire was in, and she eagerly awaited my answer. But I still hadn’t figured out what to do. Should I agree to protect her family in exchange for mere information? No, that doesn’t make sense. It’s nothing Lilith doesn’t know, I’m sure. Pyralis tucked her hair behind one of her horns. “What have you decided?”

I sat on the bed next to her, gazed at the ground for a while, then met her dark eyes next to me. “Information isn’t good enough. I can protect your family, but in return, you must serve me, you and your entire clan.”

She clenched her teeth. “I-I’m afraid, that’s impossible. The Hellfire clan is too prideful. We cannot allow ourselves to serve anyone that is not the sovereign of Nemus, a demon, like us.”

Oh? “Then, it appears we have ourselves a deal, Hellfire master.”

Her brows squished together, confused as ever. “But, I sai—”

“The person who will be your next sovereign serves me, so it doesn’t matter. Now,” I stood up and peered out the window into the forests below, “as I haven’t gotten anything from you directly, I’m not obligated to protect your family. But know this, Pyralis Hellfire,” I opened a portal back to the gigantic towers in the Hellfire territory, “if the Hellfire clan targets humans, the Doomhorn, or the Darkviper, I will not hesitate to extinguish your clan.” Can’t believe I’m relying on threats. “Go on, return to your people.” I removed the lock on her mana.

She smiled at the power coursing through her again, but grew melancholic. The portal whirled around just in front of her, but she hesitated on using it. “I’m just a young clan leader. The Hellfire clan won’t serve you even if I try to force them, we’re too stubborn. Is there nothing I can give in return?”

I folded my arms and pondered about how the master of the largest clan could be of use to me. “You’re Pyralis Hellfire. What does your family need protection from?”

“The Bloodmoon!” she yelled in irritation, then went meek again, as if she remembered whom she was speaking with. “F-Fyren put them on us to ensure we can’t betray him like the Darkviper and Doomhorn. If they even find out that I’m talking to you like this…”

I sighed. And of course, she’s telling the truth. I knew fully well she was an enemy, but it appeared she had no interest in it; she was only my foe in title. I popped my grimoire out. What do you think, buddy? Should I help her out and then get something from her later or just send her home? It wiggled a bit and opened up to a page all but blank except for one word, ‘help’. Yup, I’m fucking insane to take advice from a book. In truth, I knew I wanted to help her. She genuinely appeared to be in a situation out of her control. Even with our fight, I could tell it wasn’t one with murder intent, at least not like what I felt when members of the Wizard Guild scorned me for being a necromancer.

“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t kill me.” I chuckled nervously. “Get it? Because you know, I’m immo— well, never mind.” I cleared my throat. “Anyway, I’m not yet sure what you can give in exchange, but we’ll figure it out once your family is safe.” I popped my stealth spells on. “Lead the way then, Pyralis.”