Liam Dankworth wasn't all that fond of Edrys. She acted like he was some insect and looked down at him and loved ordering him around as if he was a child.
She bragged about her Draconian lineage most of the time. He managed to keep a straight face while fuming inwardly. Until they accomplished their goal, he had to humour her.
He sat across Edrys as she poured champagne into a glass. "Up to now everything has been going smoothly, you say," she remarked as she offered the glass.
He nodded and reached for the glass. Edrys suddenly pulled back, holding it out of reach. He paused, sweat forming on his brow.
"We barely have less than ten months left. Even so things are only going smoothly?" She leaned back and sipped the champagne spitefully. Liam's hands tightened into fists.
She burst out laughing. "What are you panicking for? I'm just messing with you," she declared. Liam said nothing. This is why he hated her, she always did this.
She settled the glass onto the table and gazed at him inquiringly. "We have two keys and the sacrifice. We still require the third. As you said, it's going well. The boy, Haneul Kang is helping with the progress, yes?
Therefore, the estimation is he will finish the revival potion before the deadline."
"Indeed. The sole problem is to obtain the blood of the Sith," Liam said grimly. Edrys smirked. "Those pesky beetles. If I could exert my full power, I could've burst their little bubble and stolen their blood easily," she ranted. Then she sighed.
"Regrettably I can barely wield a third of my power in the mortal world, so I can purely rely on you." Edrys shifted impatiently. "You still haven't discovered any signs of the portal?"
"None. We investigated all the places that exhibited evidence, but we detected nothing," he notified her tensely.
"How useless. If they have so much trouble finding a portal, maybe you should put in a bit more effort?" she gazed at him intently.
"What do you mean?" he frowned. He was trying his utmost to help her.
"Go look for one yourself instead of sitting around in your little office," she implied cruelly.
Liam's eye twitched as he responded, "I cannot just leave. I must stay in the research facility—"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Do you have anything else to say? I'm beat," she spoke as she dismissively waved her hand.
Liam pondered for a minute, then pulled out a business card. "I know you don't like hiring external personnel, but perhaps in this case he might be of help."
Edrys accepted the card with interest. She huffed as she read the information. "He sounds wacky." She flicked the card in Liam's face. "Don't approach him just yet, but have someone keep an eye on him and report back to me.
I want to know what kind of person they are, and whether they are exceptional at their job. Moreover," she grinned, "if they will be worthwhile."
"Now go and don't bother me until you have a progress report. Or a marriage proposal, ha!" she laughed boisterously. Liam smiled politely but cursed her inside as he departed.
He climbed into his Mercedes. "Drive me home to the Dankworth estate," he uttered angrily. "Yes sir," his chauffeur acknowledged. Liam fumed the entire journey.
*
Edrys' laughter had faded and she was grim. She loved mocking Liam since he was only human. She never respected humans. Even though their creations were unique, they were so weak and fragile. Scarcely give them a single push, and they break so easily.
Edrys dismissed all her servants and entered her room. By her bed, she pushed a narrow hole and paused as a trapdoor opened.
She descended into the darkness as the door closed above her, erasing all traces. Walking leisurely in a spiral downward with a torch in hand, the draconian's heart beat ominously.
After what appeared like an eternity she stood before a massive wood door. She flicked her hand and blue sparks flew. The door radiated blue for a moment before it creaked open.
She went inside a lit room. She barely acknowledged the creatures working inside. "Welcome mistress, how did your meeting go?" a young hellcniht asked nervously.
"So-so. How's the Veil coming along?"
"With the sword's power, we made headway, but without the blood and sacrifice I'm afraid it'll take about five hundred human years before we can penetrate the barrier."
Edrys smiled toothily at the undeveloped ugly warlock. He squealed as she snatched his pointy ear. "You listen to me. You don't make headway; you make achievements. To date all you did was allow a few minor demons to escape through."
He whimpered as she released him, rubbing his bloody ear.
"But, but-it's complex. Unless we possess the keys, we can barely…" he faltered at her glare. "I don't care. Work harder. We must create a crack in the Veil large enough for one of the captains, or the Sith will send someone to disrupt the operation or worse, kill us all." She lifted a finger in warning.
"Once they hear of this, it's the end. If you don't want to die, hurry up."
The warlock bowed and fearfully scuttled to his co-workers while Edrys observed the dull light of the red portal.
Behind the Veil lay the Netherworld filled with demons and monstrous entities. While most were weak, those with ranks were considerably strong and hard to deal with. Only their Queen could defeat the strongest ranks.
And now, their beloved Queen is dying. Edrys gnawed her lip with worry. If her majesty died, their world would erupt into a war. Edrys was one of the Queen's advisors and is desperately trying to develop a healing potion in the human world.
Edrys knew that that would not be enough. Because of the Queen's failing health, the atmosphere on the demon planet is deteriorating, so returning to human society is the only way to survive.
However, Edrys knew that the King of the Fae, Finvarra would not allow them to leave the Veil. He would prepare everything in his power to prevent that.
She started biting her nail. Hellcniht and Fae were mortal enemies for millennia. They won't compromise, even if they knew what was happening to the Queen. Ideally, they would celebrate.
Liam seemed impressed by that Otherworld Investigator. Edrys wondered if she could add her own hopes to that person as well. She glanced up, startled out of her thoughts as the red glow flickered.
"Hmm. How interesting," she muttered. A shape emerged as the light flared. Edrys beamed at the large figure before her.
When examined closely, it appeared to be a beautiful black horse, but it had fish gills with wild red eyes and sharp fangs. It stamped its flipper-like hooves in angst.
"I know exactly what to do with you," Edrys said insidiously. "Let's see how Nathan McNeill handles you, shall we?"