[Before the fall of Az'Talon...]
Location: The Grand Plaza (Immortal City)
The Emperor flew toward Evelyn. He hovered before her and offered His hand.
She looked at the outstretched hand with caution and suspicion.
"Take it, Evelyn. We must talk."
The barbarian heard the words and they sounded exactly like her old friend Rio was speaking. But she found out that Rio, at least in name, did not exist.
She reached out and took the Emperor's hand. The two disappeared from the Grand Plaza and reappeared on a distant mountain within the Empire's borders.
They were far from the Immortal city that boasted a starry sky of endless night. They bathed in the rays of the rising sun.
"It has been too long since I stood in the sun." He said.
"You have such power..." Evelyn began to speak, "but you did not save my people when they were slaughtered in the wilderness."
"Of course not. Who tells the strong what they must do? The weak? I have seen more sentient beings come into this world only to be extinguished by time and stupidity. I remember them all clearer than you remember what you ate two days ago. I told you that you must not seek a saviour, grow strong and save yourselves."
Evelyn sunk down to her knees as tears streamed down her face.
"Why did you let us into your empire? Why let the weak into your land of the strong?" She asked but she could not gather the strength to look at Him.
"Your people made their way through the wilderness, battled both beast and savage, many noble sacrifices were made to secure the future of their kin. That was strength. That was something I respected. So why not allow you the sanctuary you sought?"
His wings wrapped around Him and looked like a cloak again. He crouched down to Evelyn's level.
"This is not my first life, Evelyn. I remember many of my past lives. I was a mortal in my most recent life in a different world, a different universe on a world called earth. The life expectancy was not even past ninety years." The Emperor laughed.
"There was no magic. No immortals. Only myths and legends. War was constant. Poverty was normal. Pollution a common practice. Health care a tragedy. The concept of democracy failed. Elected leaders would seek to undo the work of their predecessors and progress stagnated.
"It was a terrible life. Children were unhappy. Many had their innocence taken from them from an early age. That world was terrible. This world, Idris is a world that was not supposed to exist in this universe. This is not the form I had when I was born into this universe.
"I hold so much knowledge and I still fail to understand the nature of mortals. I created the nobles. Beings who actually were superior in intelligence and strength to lead the others unified under one immortal ruler whose stances do not waver and change. I set laws to protect and punish all equally regardless of status and wealth. I made healthcare and other services free. Provided for those who had little, created roles for the unemployed.
"No a belly goes hungry. No head finds itself with no warm bed to rest for the night. No corruption goes unpunished. Equal opportunity for work beneath the reigning leadership is happily offered but that was not enough for you and your people. I cannot allow the poisonous greed of the power hungry and the fantasies of the ideologists to destroy what I built.
"People are not born equal. They are not born with equal ability but in the Crimson empire, your rights as a sentient being are respected. I will not allow that to change for the sake of your pipe dreams. Is this the right way? I do not know but it feels right to me and I have the power to defend my ideologies."
Evelyn could not digest everything she had heard. She could not understand everything that had been said.
"You once called me your equal and I told you that you are merely one Pureblood. I told you that overall your opinion did not matter and yet in this world, your opinion is all that matters. You must have held back your laughter that day." She said with a bitter smile.
The Emperor chuckled. 'I just answered some of the greatest known mysteries about myself in the empire but that is what you chose to say?'
"No, that day I was sad. I feared I had lost you but I still watched over you. When your plots were becoming too obvious, I shielded you and made them stay hidden."
Evelyn looked up into His eyes asking 'why?'
"It was because I waited for the day when you would realise that your goals were wrong. I waited for the day you would return to me as my friend and say that you have seen the truth but also because you are my only friend and friends can disagree. It is understandable."
"You-you could have stopped this at anytime! Many will die for our mistakes! Let it go. Treat it as an isolated incident. Re-education and probation but not mass murder!" Evelyn shouted.
The Emperor rose up and looked at her with compassion. "Would your compatriots have offered me and the others the same?"
Evelyn knew they would not. It was their goal to end tyranny and create a new empire but the new empire could not exist while the darkness of the old empire still loomed over their heads. The dragons would not care who was in charge. They only wished to be left alone but at the Emperor's command even they would move.
"You could be better than us! You are better! Take the road of mercy. Their loyalty and love will be cemented! Be better than us!" She pleaded.
"I told you that within these borders all obey the law for all are equal under my banners and only I move above the law. I am a hypocrite but I have the power to back my hypocrisy as well. Do not be saddened by my lack of mercy. Be saddened by your lack of power to back your beliefs."
"So will you kill me too?" She asked and stood up to face the man she had known as Rio.
"You were prepared to die the moment this began." The Emperor smiled sadly.
"What will you do after this?" She asked.
"I sense too many threats are coming. Many beings from other worlds are spying on this place. A true hell must be created. I grow bored of being the Devourer but it is necessary. I have killed too many living creatures. I will perhaps create a place full of heathens and name them demons to carry on the work of being a scourge and serve as a reminder to those who would sin against me but before that I will cast out the rebels and turn their Gift into a Curse."
"We made a truly powerful enemy."
"I have missed you, Evelyn. I wish to see you again in this life or the next whether we are friends or enemies that will be for you to decide."
Tears still streamed down her face but a beautiful and earnest smile appeared. "I wish to know your name before I die."
The Emperor gave a deep and merry laugh. "If you insist and must know then my name is Samael. It is a pleasure to truly meet you, Evelyn."
The barbarian girl laughed too. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well Samael. know we will be friends in my next life!" She nodded. "I am ready."
Samael nodded. "I will make it quick."
"Please do." She said, her smile eclipsing her tears.
The vampire moved with incredible speed, punched into the barbarian's chest, wrapping His hand around her heart and moving behind her then grabbing her neck. The barbarian let out slight gasp.
"Till we meet again." He said.
"T-till we me-meet again." She replied.
Samael ripped out her heart and snapped her neck in one fluid motion. Her life was snubbed out immediately. He did not let her lifeless body hit the ground.
He carried her in His arms and returned to the Immortal City.
*****
The Lord of Az'Talon appeared in the Grand Plaza carrying the corpse of a barbarian rebel. His magnificent wings were unfurled and His hair danced as His power flowed through His body.
He activated His bloodline ability as the progenitor of vampires, [Blood Principality], to curse the traitors.
"I, the Lord of All, cast the rebels out of the Crimson empire.
[Where the ground is consecrated, may you never set foot on.]
[Where you once enjoyed the strength you were Gifted, may it curse you in the day.]
[Where you were once free and admired, may your ugliness be seen and hated.]
[Where you once enjoyed vitality and youth, may you now thirst for the blood mortals to maintain your existence.]
[Where you were once protected by my Dark radiance, may you fear all things in the light.]
This is my edict.
This is my judgement.
You are no longer welcome.
You are no longer protected.
I cast you unto the beasts both barbarian and vampire alike.
I severe all blood ties with you. I disown you.
I strip you of your Gifts and brand you Cursed. [May your children pay for the sins of their forebears] This is my word and [my word is Law]!"