Ether was at my side within seconds moving in front of me with her guard up. I looked at the back of her neck where her demon horn marking was. I smiled at the silver glow it gave off. The atmosphere in the Hellscape always reacted strongly to my power.
" I HATE YOU. " Her disembodied voice resonated in the air around us. I smiled harder as she blocked an angry attack from Miranda. Her talons inches from my face but I didn't flinch because I know she would protect me.
" Yeah that's cool and all but no one told you to break my seal though.
"SO NOW YOU NEED ME TO FIX YOUR RUDE ASS TOY... DOSE SHE EVEN KNOW WHO I AM?" she blocked another attack aimed at my face.
" Do you?" I questioned her honestly, I guess my honesty was not appreciated because she spun to face me with a glare that could kill. I watched her jaw clench and unclench as she forced herself to calm down unsuccessfully might I add. She caught Miranda by the throat and slammed her against the concrete basement floor and then stormed over to me, grabbing my shirt.
" DO YOU? " Her eyes started to glow orange and her face started to twist with a mixture of Pam and anger.
" Nope... And she doesn't care either. " I said while I motioned to Miranda who was trying to learn how to breathe while she pushed off the ground.
" BI-"
" Silence!" I intercepted. I knew what she was going to say and I wasn't in the mood to hear it. She immediately fell silent. Knowing better than to speak out of turn especially when I wasn't in the mood. I took a deep breath and released the time flow from its forced stand still then I immediately froze it again the time Miranda froze and of course Ether was free to roam. I walked over to Miranda swiftly stepping past Ether who had slightly tensed up and relaxed with my passing. I placed a demand horn mark under Miranda's left eye this time I made sure the mark was only visible to royals, so you can imagine my surprise when Ether spoke up.
" WHY THERE?" My wordless gaze caught Ether off guard and made her tense. I don't blame her for her fear. I was silently staring at her from over my shoulder but what she didn't know was that my gaze was a curious one. I was actually confused...
'Who is she?'
I then released Miranda who attempted to throw a punch at me. I simply caught it and pushed it to the side.
" Calm down and let's go. " Her eyes focused on me before closing them and taking a shaker deep breath, slowly letting it out. She then opened her eyes and spoke to me but glared at Ether.
" That was fun. 10/10 would not Do that dumb shit again. '' I chuckled at her sarcasm turning to ether who tried to warp away.I didn't think so.
" Ether. " She halted and spun around to face me.do
" YES AIDEN? " I smiled a cheesy smile.
" Give me a description of yourself."
" OUTWARD OR INWARD? "
" Outward... We went inward last time. " I snickered this will be her punishment for the trouble she caused. This was going to be entertaining.
" YES AIDEN. " I could hear her teeth grinding. I couldn't help but laugh at her.
"I ETHER ELAINE COSGO AM A 6'4 FEMALE DEMON WITH ORANGE FATIGUE PATTERNS COVERING MY BODY. MY HAIR AT ITS LONGEST IS TWO INCHES AND AT THE THE SHORTEST IS NO LONGER THAN ONE FOURTH OF AN INCH. IT HAS NOT BEEN CUT RECENTLY BUT THE DESIGN WAS A UNDERCUT WHICH IS STILL VISIBLE. MY EYES ARE HONEY BROWN, MY SKIN IS A MOCHA COLOR. MY HAIR IS NATURALLY WAVY, I SPIKE IT UP WITH ECO CLEAR GEL. LAST BUT NOT LEAST MY NECK HAS A LONG DEVIL HORN MARKING ON THE BACK. SHALL I DO MY OUTFIT TOO? "
" No thanks. But... That was truly a learning experience." I stifled a chuckle.
"YES AIDEN... I HATE YOU. " Once Ether was released from the command she got all teary eyed and expressed her hate. I was walking away with Miranda but when I saw her expression my laughs came to an immediate halt even my waking stopped... I don't know why but her tears were bothering me on a personal level. I guess I stared for a Little to long because she summoned a portal.
" Come on Miranda we have places to be. " I shifted to continue walking, resuming time as I did so that's when she spoke again.
" I'LL BREAK THIS SEAL AND ONCE I DO YOU AND EVERYONE YOU LOVE WILL BE FU- " she was screaming at us at this point.
" Silence!" She made one more moment of eye contact with my glare against hers. Her face twisted with pain and anger as she grinned her teeth, then she stepped through the portal and disappeared.
I navigated through the shelves of the Hellscape abandoned building. I then turned to face Miranda and took her hand. My mind was elsewhere. I know every Ember on an almost personal level. Royal or not, but why... Why don't I know more about her. And sure is another one too. He's the only other Ember I don't recognize. And I don't even remember what his name is...
" Well... Um she's gone... You ready? " I tone my gaze from the ground.
" Yes let's finish this. " Her eyes were calm and she was collected.
" We're past the hard part right?
" Yep. Now this one will be ten times easier. " I confirmed.
" Okay... Cool. " her breathing slowed as she sighed her stress away
" Let's finish what we started shall we? Restore. " I giggled as she nervously cleared her throat.
" Yeah let's. Jeez it's really very in here ain't it. My eyes and head hurt too. "
" You're almost done don't worry. " She put one hand over her eyes, her thumb and index on either temple. She was trying her best to message the discomfort away.
I had full faith that the pain would disappear but when she lifted her head something caught me off guard, her eyes were a new color. They had gone from a not so common bluish silver. The color signifying a halo Ember to an ultra rare deep pink... Next to honey brown although I don't remember what that color meant. Anyway the ultra rare deep pink means Burning Ember status the only high rank Ember that can bounce between Blue Veil, Earth, and Hellscape. I would have been surprised but number one I am a princess number two my soul enhances other souls and draws other Royal or special souls to me, against my will might I add. But it's still a pleasant surprise whenever I find a new Royal.
" Well aren't you a special case. " My green eyes piercing her deep pink almost fuchsia ones.
" What? Why do you say that? " Her nerves instantly got bad.
" You're a Burning Ember."
" ... and that means...? "
" So before we purified your soul your eyes were bluish silver which would have meant that you were a Halo Ember those are the kinds of Embers that have the ability to torture souls until they have been redeemed. Essentially giving them a second chance you also possess... you guessed it halo. But then your eyes changed after you were purified which means you are now what is called a Burning Ember one of the single ranks among the Royals that can traverse between layers when you want to. I would be careful of how long you stay in Limbo but other than that... Yeah free reign."
" What color are my eyes? "
" A deep pink or fuchsia. "
" Whoa really? That's cool and all but the world looks kinda weird. " She noted.
" Yes it might be wise to keep them closed. When you are near the soul you are in charge of tormenting your eyes will glow bright. Your tortured soul is the only one who can see this glow. Here's the kicker you only can see them clearly when your eyes are closed otherwise your world is all blurry and your soul is just a black shadow against a grayish white world.
" I noticed that. But I can see you just fine either way. " She said this while she opened and closed her eyes.
" Yes all your surroundings will be colorless but any soul you look at will either be a shadow or a clear image. Well at least while your eyes are open, when they are closed its normal view and color. Do you understand? "
" Yep."
" Then bring him Hell. "
Once Miranda walked away I fast forwarded time to see what happened to Mr Audrey satisfied with how he was being punished. I summoned a portal and left Audrey my final words, finally stepping through my portal back to earth where Ignius was waiting for me. Leaving the one layer Ignius is banned from, leaving the friend I just made to torture the man who murdered me. She will make him pay. For me and for all the other Little ones he harmed.