Demona had a very mysterious appeal. She was evidently alluring and extremely attractive, but something unseen about her was delightful beyond words. When men saw her, it was as if their willpower was completely lost. All men that were close to her wanted only to please her. They would willingly and without realizing it become her slaves. This didn't work on all men though. There were a few exceptions. But even if some weren't as susceptible to her charm as others, over time, everyone eventually was bent to her will. There was no will left unbroken in her presence... Her will reigned supreme.
~ A very long time ago~
There used to be a normal human girl named Silfil, a very long time ago. She had a mother that loved her very much. She also had an older sister called Lilith. In the town where they lived, all the men were drafted for war, so most of the time there were only women in town. Most of the men died in that war. Her father was believed to have died as well, though Silfil had never met him. The town's government had become a matriarchy, and they seemed to manage themselves pretty well.
One day, the town was invaded by an army of soldiers belonging to a conquering king. They burned the houses, killed anyone that offered resistance, and enslaved most of the women and children. They were forced to march with them extremely long distances tied up without food or water. Many of those people that were enslaved by this barbaric army died in several of those marches.
In one of those moments in which they were walking through unappealing lands, Silfil's mother stumbled across a sharp piece of rock, which she picked up and hid within her dress. She used the sharp stone to discretely free herself and her children, though she never actually expected to escape. She instructed her girls to run without looking back no matter what. She distracted the soldiers so that her girls could escape. The vicious and heartless soldiers killed her as an example for the others, so no one else would attempt the same thing she did. They also said that they'd do the same to the two girls once they found them.
Both girls spent a long time on the run... going from town to town and trying to stay ahead of the soldiers that were after them. Silfil was scared all the time, but at least she had her sister to give her strength in the darkest hours. Quite some time passed with them on the run. Her sister Lilith eventually died trying to save her from one of the soldiers that found them while they were in hiding. Silfil was of course devastated, filled with fear, anger, and despair.
She spent a while on her own, devastated due to the horrors of war and by what wicked men with power did to defenseless people, including her family. One day, she came across a temple. It looked like a nice place to get food and water... maybe even a place she could steal something of value. Once she entered, to her surprise, there was a huge serpent-like monster inside that seemed badly injured. She looked like a giant serpent from the waist down, but from the waist up, she had some resemblance to a woman... a quite monstrous woman, though.
Serpent monster: What do you want, little girl? Leave! Let me die in peace!
Silfil was frightened at first, but once she got a good look at the monster, she felt pity.
Serpent monster: Why aren't you afraid, girl?
Silfil: You're in pain... I can see that. I'm in pain too... But while your pain is on the outside... mine is on the inside...
The Serpent monster saw that Silfil's eyes were shedding tears. She was also trembling a little. It wasn't clear to her if it was due to the cold or if it was fear of something else. Could have been both.
Serpent monster: There is nothing but pain in this wretched world, little girl. Humans are as evil as monsters. No… they are worse than monsters. Humans kill their own kind for the most trivial of reasons. I have seen it. They all deserve to die. Too bad I can't make that happen anymore… some of the champions of humanity made sure I don't live to continue hurting their kind.
Priestess: If you want, I can save you both. Maybe you could see all humans and monsters getting what they deserve.
Serpent monster: Who are you? When did you come in here? I didn't hear you enter the temple…
Priestess: You came into my domain, after all… I am the priestess of this temple. This is the Temple of our Lord of Destruction.
Silfil: Lord of Destruction?
Priestess: Yes, child. The Lord of Destruction understands. He wishes to end all things. End those who prey on the weak. Put an end to all the injustice in the world. To suffering. To evil. And that is why I await his coming.
Silfil seemed fascinated by that. She never thought it would be possible. Someone that could end her suffering. So, upon hearing the priestess, she was naturally curious.
Silfil: Can he really do that? Can he... end all the suffering? Even mine?
Priestess: Yes, my child. With both of your help… he can. And he will. But I need your consent... Your souls will become one. You will be reborn as someone that will never again suffer at the hands of men or monsters.
Serpent monster: What say you, little girl? I had already given up on my life. But the priestess made it sound like this Lord of destruction would be worth it.
Silfil: I don't want to be powerless anymore... I don't want to be afraid of them… I want them to be afraid... I want them to be powerless… I want them to get what they deserve! I accept!
The serpent monster was a Lamia. A very high-level one (she was the queen of the Lamias. She had escaped by the skin of her teeth from some bounty hunters that were trying to collect some coin off her carcass). The priestess made a circle around them and had them stand in the middle. The priestess engraved some strange markings within the circle. She then touched both their chests, and afterward, put her hands together. She uttered words in an unknown language. Their bodies immediately glowed and then seemingly dematerialized… shortly after that they both joined together, becoming one. Their souls were also combined. A new being was born at that moment... In that mysterious temple... With that strange priestess. The priestess told Silfill her name was Demona, and she was a servant of Adramellech, the Lord of Destruction.
Priestess: I have been waiting for a worthy soul that understands what this world needs. The moment I saw the Lamia, I knew I had half the answer. And then little Silfil... a girl that had experienced firsthand the senselessness of the wars of men. Who better than a former victim to deliver justice to this wretched world?
"I am not Silfil or the Lamia queen anymore... I am now reborn… someone else... something else. I like your name... I shall also be known as Demona."
Priestess: I am a Summoner. If you succeed in learning my Summoning skills, I will allow you to take not only my name but my essence as well.
~ Present-day ~
At the fortress of The Reach empire in the Eastern Continent.
Demona: Tell me something, Dante. Why are you loyal to the emperor?
Dante: I have no desire to speak with you. Be gone.
Demona: What is it? Did I hurt your ego that day when we first met? I only acted in response to your attempt on my life... I meant no disrespect.
Dante: I can't stand people like you. You think that everyone and everything should bow down to you and give you everything you want just because of your beauty. It's sickening.
Demona: I can appreciate the compliment. But I believe you got the wrong impression of me. I value each individual by their achievements. Although, I also am attracted to beauty. Why not value both?
Dante began to lower his defensiveness. They were on a balcony from which they could see the mountains that blocked the view of the Great Sea.
Demona got a little closer to Dante. Something strange was filling the air.
Demona: You tried to kill me, and I forgave you. Can't you at least give me the chance to start over?
Dante: I understand. I apologize for that. In a time like this, coups are a common thing. Even assassinations perpetrated by infiltrated enemy combatants. Not that anyone would dare touch the emperor... but we must always be vigilant.
Demona: As I said, it was only my self-preservation instinct. So... About my question...
Dante: Why I'm loyal to the emperor? Right. Well... I believe that power is wasted on the weak. Only those with absolute strength should rule. Emperor Aurelius is ruthless; his strength is without question. Therefore, nature dictates that he should... or must rule over everything and everyone. Well… might I add, everywhere.
Demona: {Just another mindless fanboy of another power-hungry monster...} I see. That is an interesting point of view indeed.
Dante: You do not approve?
Demona: Oh, I do... And I live to serve... I was just wondering... No... It's so silly. Forgive me for wasting your valuable time...
Dante: No, My Lady... Please... I assure you, speaking with you has been ever so refreshing. I truly regret the misunderstanding at our first meeting... Especially now that I feel we have gotten... A little... Closer... Please tell me... What is on your mind? – Apparently, Dante started cozying up to Demona. He wasn't irritated as how he usually was nor fearful. An alluring aura had taken over him…
Demona: The Demon-Halberd... Where does his Majesty keep it? It is so odd... A weapon as powerful as that one... I just cannot sense it.
Dante: What is it you want with- As he began questioning her, Demona held his hand.
Demona: Forgive me! I knew I was out of line! It's just... I am so curious... – That touch obliterated Dante's will and logic. He now only existed to please her. The longer Demona was in proximity to someone, the more she was able to influence them. It wasn't even necessary to cast a Charm spell. Men lost their will immediately when they were close to her. If she touched someone, the effects were incremented tenfold.
Dante: Fret not, My Lady. It is alright. I know it's always in the emperor's chambers. And he has placed dimensional shields there, so it is impossible for anyone to...
Dante began wondering why he was speaking so much. He then realized he had fallen under a strange spell... and it was obvious who the culprit was. The only problem was that he didn't learn this early enough.
Dante: What have you done to me, you hag!?
Demona: Forgive me, Dante. What I will do to you is only because of my self-preservation instincts.
Her appearance quickly and suddenly changed into that of a Lamia, a large serpent-like creature that is not appealing at all when it feeds. She quickly devoured him in one bite. Not a trace was left of him. After eating Dante, her appearance reverted back to her dazzling human-like figure.
Demona went searching for the emperor's quarters and found two sentries guarding the entrance.
Demona: Hello boys. I need you to go create a diversion. Go a level below and kill all the guards you find on the way there.
Sentries: Yes, My Lady. As you wish.
The sentries started rampaging on their way to the lower floor, and many guards were sent there to try to contain them. While that diversion was in effect, Demona summoned a beast that could nullify dimensional barriers. That way she was able to enter the emperor's quarters and take the Demon-Halberd. As she had it in her possession, she teleported out of the castle, rode on Hydra, the three-headed flying beast, and easily escaped without being noticed.
When Aurelius realized what had happened, and understood that he was played for a fool, he got extremely angry. For the rest of the day, he executed anyone that dared address him, whatever the reason.
While Demona was flying over the Great Sea, she used her magic to communicate with Zeldrys.
Demona: Zeldrys. I was successful in finding and retrieving the Demon-Halberd. Such a magnificent weapon... I bet you would love to wield it. Anyway... you and Merlin don't need to continue pretending anymore. The third and final weapon may pose a bit of a problem to retrieve though.
Zeldrys: Great work, Demona. We will deal with it, whatever the problem may be.
Demona was able to send her voice through space to any location she wanted. That made it easy for her to communicate with the other Cabal members.
The Cabal was one step closer to summoning Adramellech of Destruction to the Arkana. Our heroes were overwhelmingly defeated at Dalmacia by the forces of the East, and now thinking of seeking aid from the rival Kingdom of Moriah to the southernmost part of the continent.