“Let there be Famine, let there be Disease. Let Greed feed off of Lust and Pride. Let Sloth not slow Envy and Gluttony. Let Wrath lead the Sins as Hell’s Voice echos. Let there be War. Let there be Death.”

The deep voice echoed around the now silent room. The final word was punctuated by a blast of energy that washed across the room, the black marble walls shaking slightly. Thanatos was already walking across the room, her tall, slim frame towering over the short redhead’s. Low, harsh whispering began, accompanied by several glares on Romena’s part and some clenched fists on Thanatos’s.

With braziers the only lighting, some would find it hard to see in the dark room. Drake however, like all the other creatures in this world, had enhanced hearing and eyesight, making it easy to read the tension written on the two women. Guessing from the lack of Thanatos’s usual impassive attitude, Drake didn’t think he was the only one who was in the dark on who, or what, caused the mysterious voice and the powerful force that swept through Hell’s castle just moments ago.

Outside of the small meeting chamber, chaos began in the halls. The sound of running feet and a few shouts drifted to the four occupants in the room. Kasandra, Drake’s second and the only other Sin in the room, sensed the approaching form and was across the room with a small dagger by the time the servant burst into the room. With the blade at her throat, a plumb humanoid figure with blue skin and purple horns tried to calm her laboring breathing.

“Out with it,” Romena barked, snapping her fingers in front of the servants face, giving the daemon no time before demanding answers.

Fear in her eyes, the trembling surf looked at Thanatos, the well known leader of the Horsemen, and told her what had happened.

The next few seconds seemed to pass in slow motion. With few words, Thanatos ordered Drake and Kasandra to return to their private chambers, not breathe a word of this to anyone, and to await further orders. Without another word the two generals of Hell left the room with the small daemon leading the way.

A few seconds passed as the clacking of boots against marble faded. Slowly, almost fearing that it was too good to be true, Kasandra faced her leader and gave a wicked smile. And the Sin of Wrath gave an answering smile that could make entire armies quake in fear.

~

In. Out. In. Out. Thanatos kept the chant up in her head, reminding herself over and over that she needed to breath. To distract herself from what was happening, this can’t be real, she did what she was trained to do: command.

“I want the realms on lockdown. No one is to come in or out. All guardians should be on high alert.” Romena nodded, sending dark pixies that appeared to be no more than little black balls of light to obey Thanatos’s commands.

“I also want all members of the court Council in the great hall immediately.”

Romena looked at her commander at this, her face scrunched up in distaste. “Most members of the council are asleep at the moment.”

“I don’t care!” the warrior snapped. “This is of highest importance. No one is to leave the castle and all high level personnel will be in the Great Hall within ten minutes.” Sensing her companions growing temper, the War left with few parting words.

In. Out. Now alone, the immortal warrior felt the first signs of panic set in. In. Out. With a few deep breaths, she followed the black and white marble halls to the Great Hall. I am Thanatos, daughter of Lucifer and one of the four great Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I can handle this.

Her leather boots made little noise on the floor as she entered the Great Hall but her presence was enough to silence the previously loud hall. The many types of demons, fae, spirits of the dead, and other such creatures parted and bowed, letting Thanatos pass. She took in the room within a few moments. Tall pillars of red quartz broke up the black and white marble walls. Outside the picture windows on the walls the sky was dark save for the lit braziers. At the head of the room, on a slightly raised platform, stood the 7 Deadly Sins with the other three Horsemen next to them. They all gave a short bow as Thanatos walked up and brushed pass them without a word.

Facing the gathered crowd, Death herself took a final breath and spoke.

“King Lucifer is dead.”