Merener smiled wryly at this sudden and casual display of his Lord's powers and walked to the meeting room door silently. Like a good subordinate, he understood his Lord's silent message, so he locked the door from inside and pulled out the key that in the next second was covered in shadows, and disappeared in his hand as he nodded in satisfaction upon his own display of powers.
The Knights behind the table quickly turned at the sound of the doors being locked and saw Merener, who smiled at them and dissolved into shadows leaving them locked in the room with his Lord.
Turning their heads back at Christopher who looked like an Angel of Death, ready to make a deal with them, they felt a primordial fear just from watching this man.
His pale yet somewhat soft skin looked like a cracked porcelain thanks to the permanent black veins covering his face and body. His fully black eyes formed two blood-red glowing irises as the flames of the candles in the room started slowly fading until the only light there, was coming from the blood-red moon.
"...Why did you betray your Queen? " Christopher continued in this casual talk, showing that something like this was normal for him, which sent even colder shivers through the Knights. He was a Monster in disguise of beauty!
"W-we...-" one of the Knights wanted to say something when he suddenly stopped and shouted "HE! "
It was the one facing Christopher's left side who suddenly stood up and pointed at his friend who was sitting on the other side.
"He! Tonny was the one who came to me and Alex with that damn letter which said you my Lord are looking for warriors. It's his fault." he started shouting at his friends.
"Ronnie! Shut the hell up! We are in this together! We are like brothers! Why are you accusing him of something we wanted as well? ... Wait a minute, heh, you sneaky bastard, you didn't want to leave, right?! " the man facing Christopher's right, Alex said when he understood Ronnie's intentions and then looked at Christopher who wore an amused but understanding smile.
Trying to at least save himself and Tonny, Alex spoke.
"My Lord, we betrayed the Queen because our Kingdom suffers thanks to her and her reckless ruling. That's the reason."
Suddenly "You see, our world was never meant to be ruled by Light individuals. I don't know what problem the Light with the Darkness has but this decision just slowly leads us to our death," the Knight in the middle, Tonny spoke as he eyed Ronnie who was deep in thoughts, trying to find a way out of this sittuation.
"Then why did you join her in the first place, my friends? Someone brave and... hmmm... healthy~ like you should have had enough power to outnumber her, don't you think? " Christopher asked with a wide smile, showing his sharp teeth while differently shaped creatures made from pure black mist started emerging from the dark corners of the room as a strain-like mist of black darkness power started escaping from Christopher's body who now looked like a true King of Darkness.
"Because we didn't stand a chance against someone like her! When she came, she tortured everyone who didn't submit to her. Then, she lit up the entire Royal Capital with that sun divinity, or what the hell is that, and infected us with this... holy light of hers."
"We became mindless knights with edited memories, until one day, we started regaining our old memories for some reason... That was when you came here... on Aragos... My Lord." Alex spoke.
"Sit down Ronnie. We are in this together! You promised us help! " Tony, the Knight in the middle suddenly spoke and looked at Ronnie, the Knight facing Christopher's left side.
"NO, we are not in this together! I don't wanna die! Because of you fools, I was cursed so if I say something about this meeting, I will DIE! " said Ronnie as Christopher focused his entire attention on the Knight and his next words with an understanding smile.
As his eyes glowed, they met Ronnie's for a few seconds which was enough for Christopher's compulsion to act.
Suddenly "You know what? Damn you all, I'm out! I will go to the Witches to get a cure for the curse and then I head back and tell my beloved horny Queen everything," shouted Ronnie with a smirk and walked towards the door when his eyes widen, understanding that he revealed the truth instead of lying.
He wanted to lie but instead, he revealed his true plans and now, the entire room fell silent.
A strong and heavy pressure suddenly fell on the Knight when he was just a few steps from the door, pulling him towards the ground.
His body couldn't move and after a second, he fell to his knees, tired.
"I see, a Knight who betrays his Ruler because of the Ruler's bad rulership but will become loyal to the other one who knows how to rule is an honorable Warrior who cares for his well-being as well as for those living around him."
"But a man who will betray his Friends and Family in exchange for lying with the pathetic Ruler, a Knight who will betray the closest... the closest thing that us all hold to not die from the loneliness of this cruel world, is nothing but a worm that should be evaporated from the face of this universe," Christopher spoke in a heavy tone filled with disgust and disappointment as he got up from the chair and slowly but elegantly walked to the kneeling Knight.
"Bed a Light Queen? " Tonny and Alex pondered upon Christopher's words with dangerous gazes focusing not on Christopher but on the idiot Ronnie, their friend who was sleeping with their Enemy all this time, probably feeding her with intel?!
'So that's why our actions never worked! She knew from the start! ' thought Alex as Tonny thought a similar thing.
As Christopher walked, his shadow following him on the wall started to resemble a skinny being with bad posture, long twisted horns and big, bat-like wings, sharp fangs, and long, pointy claws that were also on the edges of his wings.
For Tonny and Alex, the shadow image resembled a demon, a possible image of a Satan to be exact and it was so creepy for them, that those two didn't dare to look at it for longer than a few seconds.
Just the glimpses of it made them shudder in existential fear and pray for their souls recalling all bad things they did in life.
'W-Will God ever forgive me for my sins? ' thought Tonny.
'Will God have mercy upon my pathetic soul? ' thought Alex.
When Christopher was in front of kneeling Ronnie, he spoke up in an ordering tone.
"From this day forward, you are nothing but a cursed soul. A soul who has no right to speak without permission. A lifeless doll who will do anything I command."
"Ugh, you can't order..."
"Shut up worm! This is your Judgment day," Christopher aimed the palm of his hand at the Knight and spoke in a low tone.
"Touch of death~"
A sudden beam of black energy with a purple glow on the edges fired from his hand and hit the Knight's forehead.
The man suddenly looked down and started screaming as a mark in an unknown language started being craved in his forehead and when the process ended, the man got up and looked at Christopher with fully black eyes like a lifeless doll, asking.
"What are your orders... Master? "
Christopher looked deeply into Ronnie's black eyes as he stayed silent and just extended his hand toward him and Ronnie flew into his grip.
Inspecting him and understanding the process is not full while holding him by his neck and wielding him from the ground, Christopher's eyes turned fully black again, and pulsating dark veins began to form under his eyes, coming all the way down to his jaw.
Opening his mouth wide, all of Christopher's teeth sharpened, turned into long fangs, and found their way into Ronnie's neck that immediately began to heavily bleed, painting the floor under him with a few litters of blood.
Tonny and Alex just stayed silent with scared, almost horrified expressions, taking a few slow steps back as Christopher drained all of Ronnie's blood.
Even the one on the floor was consumed by him, through his legs somehow.
"Hah, tasty~" Christopher commented as he pulled away from Ronnie who fell on the ground, dead.
"Y-You murdered him?! " Alex, who was Ronnie's closest friend, shouted in anger.
Even when Ronnie was a dick, he was still his friend.
"Ohh, don't be such a buzzkill. He will be alright in no time~" Christopher said but then he smiled sadistically and added "Well, I mean, as much as an undead creature can be, right~ HAHAHAHA~"
As the conversation ended, a slight movement could be seen on the ground as a few seconds later, Ronnie, pale as ash with eyes dark as night rose from the ground but immediately kneeled when he recalled he is in front of Christopher.
"My Lord, your trusted subordinate returned from the lands of Death and is asking you for an order."
Christopher smiled sadistically and pointed at the two Knights.
"From this day, you are under their command. What they will say, you do, what they will order, you fulfill with obedience. Rejoice my new ally, this is the night I gave your life a new meaning~."
"Yes, master." Ronnie nodded and turned towards his old friends.
"What are your orders, Masters? "
"W-we don't have any orders..." the two mumbled as Ronnie nodded and went silent as he walked behind the two Knights where he waited without a single word.
"So, now when we have the betrayer of betrayers from our way..." Christopher patted his hands and everything went back to normal.
The tentacles with the monsters disappeared back into the black mist, the candles lit up again and the entire atmosphere turned to a calmer one.
"You want to join my army, huh."
"Y-yes... Lord."
"Okay, every new man can change the results of a war," Christopher spoke casually with a slight smile as if the demonstration that happened before was just a mere act.
Even his face looked somewhat beautiful now, not like a few minutes ago when he resembled more a Vampiric Demon than a beautiful Lord.
The two would fall under this illusion if it weren't for their friend, standing behind them like a lifeless doll, waiting for any orders from them.
He looked pale and his eyes were black as if he was possessed by a demon.
The big bitemark on his neck was surrounded by black veins, his expression was stoic, and the sygil on his forehead was glowing purple resembling a weird-looking number 3 with two dots on opposite sides.
"How many are you? " Christopher's sudden question pulled them out of their stupor as they turned back at him.
He was already sitting back on his throne with a slight smile, looking right into their eyes.
"Huh? How did you..." Alex tried to ask something but Christopher interrupted him with a smile.
"Boy, I consumed and killed so many beings, that thanks to their souls, I can say I lived at least five thousand years. To deduce you two are not alone is a pretty easy task for me."
"So, I ask again, how many are you? " he asked again but now, slight annoyance can be heard in his voice.
Understanding that the next question might be their last, "Two thousand sir," Tonny answered his question.
"Fine, gather all of them here. Use this," Christopher threw some kind of device into the Knight's hands.
"What is it? " Alex asked as he eyed the purple glowing orb.
"A teleportation device made by one of my competent citizens." Christopher smiled and turned with his throne towards the windows bathed in red moonlight, looking at the sky with melancholy in his eyes because of the sudden memory with Rose.
"C-Can we leave now? " asked Alex in hesitation.
"Yes, but before that. I have the last two questions."
"First, what are your names again? "
"I'm Alex and this is Tonny."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Christopher," he said as he looked deeply into the reflection in the windows and asked his second question.
"Second... Are these Knights who want to join me trustworthy? " Christopher spoke in a serious tone.
The two looked at each other with gazes filled with doubt. Until now, they thought Ronnie was trustworthy too but the man in front of them proved that their thoughts were so much wrong.
"I see," Christopher spoke and turned his throne back towards the Knights.
"Here, take this as well," Christopher threw another item at the Knights and continued.
"This device recorded the entire incident that happened here. If necessary, show it to them and bring Ronnie with you as evidence. Kill those who would want to betray us and those who would want to leave from the fear of death bring here together with others. I will have a word with the scared ones," Christopher got up from the throne and spoke.
"Merener..."
In an instant, a shadowy figure appeared next to the door and bowed.
"My Lord, you called me? "
"Yes, accompany them to their meeting and record everything."
"As you wish my Lord," Merener bowed again and unlocked the door, leaving through them the next second.
"I'm awaiting good results from you, my Knights," Christopher looked at the two Knights who quickly bowed and wanted to leave the room with Ronnie but suddenly stopped.
"Ahnnn~, my Lord~"
A sudden, sweet female voice entered Christopher's ears and when he turned, Ariel's wide blushed smiling face greeted him, a few inches from his. She looked like a true succubus demon even when she was just a fallen corrupted angel filled with loyalty and happiness towards her new Lord, a feat only possible thanks to his darkness power and his venom running through her veins.
Some might say Christopher was controlling them, but it was far from the truth. If they would not want the Darkness inside them, their bodies would be constantly fighting against it, meaning they would be in a coma.
But the image of Ariel standing in front of Christopher now proves they want it, and even if Christopher would control them, so what, they attacked him first, he's just returning the favor...
"What in the..." Alex and Tonny opened their eyes wide as they looked at the body and face of Ariel whom they knew very well. At least her previous self.
"Lucy's legions of Knights are ready at your command my sweet Lord~"
'Sweet Lord? ' Christopher narrowed his eyes together with Alex and Tonny at the display of her sudden affection and tone she used.
"Fine, I'll be there in a minute," he spoke with annoyance and looked at the two Knights.
"By the way, Ariel, these two are our new allies. Tonny and Alex. Say Hi to them~"
Ariel turned her head slowly towards the two Knights standing in the doorway and when their eyes met with hers, she nodded at the two men, who had their hearts beating at in fast pace at the sight of such dark beauty while Ariel's face suddenly narrowed.
"What are you looking at worms?! Stop looking at me with those eyes and dirty thoughts! Only my Master can do that~" Ariel raised her voice as dark purple lightning started forming behind her and a pillar of dark power erupted from her body toward the ceiling, destroying it.
"Ariel stop," Christopher looked at his subordinate with a small smile but that tone he used allowed no refusal.
"Yes My sweet Lord~ Please forgive my manners," Ariel's mood changed so quickly that if Alex and Tonny hadn't already seen something similar, and the hole in the ceiling wouldn't be so visible, they would have thought this was just an illusion.
When Christopher stayed silent, Ariel fell on her knees and started asking for forgiveness.
"My sweetest Lord, My God, please forgive me..."
Christopher bent down a little, questioning Ariel's bipolar personality a little, and touched the fallen angel's chin whose face was turned towards the ground, lifting it.
Looking into those fully black eyes, Ariel felt a strong sensation running through her mind as if she finally found what she had been looking for all this time locked in Royal Capital.
"Fine~ but it's the last time... my sweet Ariel~. I would be sad if I would need to execute you..." Christopher was satisfied by this display of loyalty and respect but as a good Lord, he can't take sides.
He needs to see the entire picture and acts of casual forgiveness can be seen as weakness, as if Christopher can forgive anything. But, at the same time, he was not cruel enough to punish her for something small like this, so he used some kinder words that turned the entire Ariel's being.
Only now Ariel saw the true face of her Lord, kind yet possessive and she understood that she can't take too much advantage of this kindness or she will disappear without a trace.
She remembered very well what happened to her on the battlefield and she was not in a position to see it again.
This was her last chance. If she fuck up this chance, her life will end.
Without knowing what he did, Christopher turned and left the room calmly with Tonny and Alex as Ariel dissolved back into shadows from where she appeared with wide eyes that had their irises shaped into the shape of hearts and were glued on Christopher's back.
A wide smile was plastered on her face, and her heart was beating incredibly fast.
She was a little wet too and the first thought that appeared in her mind was: 'I need a pair of new clothes,'
Sadly, Christopher didn't saw this 'beautiful' expression of his horny commander who thanks to this conversation and her, to this point, hidden bipolar personality became fully lovesick. No, he was busier with war plans in his mind and how he could finally leave this cursed planet once and for all.
Well as he said, every action has a reaction...
...
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