Ch 16 Veil of Shadows

(Meanwhile: In the Hall of Doom [I'm going to wear this joke out. I regret nothing])

"Lord Diak, I come with news" Marminy announced as she walked into the meeting room. The respective dark kings and queens in their seats awaiting the brief. "Marminy, my favorite girl. What news have you brought us? Good I hope." Diak replied with dark intent lacing his words. "Yes and no my king." She replied waiting for his okay to continue. Diak's eyes turned pitch black but he nodded. "As we feared, the Brotherhood of False Kings has begun their mating process with the human. "And pray tell how that is good news?" Mele, the 'Queen' of Sirens asked. "They are taking turns with her, Queen Mele. This means that she is only with one king at a time and based off our intel, they've only just begun." Makabuyts looked vexed and slammed his fist down on the desk in front of him. As his hand lifted some flesh peeled off or was stuck to the surface. "Get to the point wench!" he yelled. "Mind your tongue leech." Diak warned. Marminy had to bite back a smile as her king defended her. "For those of us who can't see the grand picture," Noroi started, "She means we can still take the girl if we throw enough weight around. One king is easier than 6". This time La'ana spoke "But we would have to know where she is. And to be honest, it may only be one, but he's a king for a reason." The dark faye queen reasoned. "Let's also not forget that the kingdoms may not recognize her if she's not properly marked and mated. Especially the Werewolves." Ku'e informed. "Right but," Marminy started to form a plan, "we could still wait till she's with the last king. She'll be tired and weak. Not that she put up much of a fight before, but it'll be easier to take her. She'll need recovery time and they have to put her somewhere. If I can find out where then we would have time to plan and strike.

"That is a major risk. We need her sooner rather than later, Marminy. Find out when she will be confirmed as luna with the mutt. Once that's done the dogs will follow." Diak ordered. "I'm right here you festering fuck." Ku'e raged at Diak his eyes glowing red. "Who me, or Tales of the Crypt over there" Diak replied with a humorless laugh pointing to the Rouge Vampire. "Enough!" Mele shouted before the men could bicker any longer. "When you're finished comparing the sizes of your cocks, can we get back to the matter at hand? What is your idea Diak?" La'ana asked. "With our people and whatever kingdoms she already has domain over we can take the other kingdoms by force." He replied sure of himself. Noroi rolled her eyes and scoffed. "I'm surrounded by infidels." She muttered loud enough for everyone to hear. "You are forgetting a major point here everyone. She was protected by a white witch. A GRAND WHITE WITCH!" she yelled throwing her arms in the air in frustration. "Inna of all people. One of the main reasons we have to stay hidden in the shadows like roaches. Why would she herself protect this human child?" she asked to no one in particular and the room fell silent except for the sounds filtering in from the dungeons below. "Marminy, we need to know her past. Can you find anything on her parents and why she was given up?" Mele asked. "Can we get a feeler close to her and see if she has any latent magic or powers?" she added. "As far as we know she's human, DNA results don't come up in any databases or as showing anything other than human genetics." Marminy replied. "It's clear there's something we're missing. The real question right now is can we risk waiting to find out? Even if we go get her and she is indeed not human. We have no idea what she is or how powerful she'll be." Makabuyts informed.

"I'll reach out to our informant and see what they know. As of right now she's only completed the process with two of the six kings." Marminy informed them pulling out her phone and sending an encrypted text. "Until we know more or something of sustenance we should get to working on making sure our kingdoms are ready. We may have to strike sooner rather than later. Everyone nodded in agreement and left the room, Marminy following Diak.

"My king. What is our end game here? Besides taking over all the kingdoms, that is." Marminy asked him. "Get to the point, what are you asking truly?" He replied unbothered and bored. They walked to a doorway that was a dead end. A witch stepped down from her stool next to the opening, "Where to king Diak?" she asked in a tired voice. "SoHo penthouse." He replied. She turned to the door way and muttered a spell waving her hand over the opening and a purple and black film appeared over the opening. Without hesitation Diak and Marminy walked through and the portal closed behind them. "What I'm trying to ask is, what are you going to do with the human? You'll need her power over the people but you need a proper queen to rule. She's not fit to be by your side." She said disgusted at the idea of Sara wearing the crown. "Mhmm and who do you think would be best fit to stand by my side? You Marminy?" he asked. "If my lord would have me I'd be honored. I live for you, to make you happy and to see your dreams realized my king. If we-No. When we kill the kings and have the girl she can abdicate her throne and pass the power to you. We off the girl and I can rightfully stand by your side." She supplied as an idea. He chuckled and nodded, not necessarily as an agreement. "Ever persistent and strong headed my Dearest Merrats." He commended. "Help me secure my dream and let's see if we can grant you yours yes?" he supplied as a compromise. "Of course my King." She replied bowing and leaving him.

Diak's penthouse was the entire top floor of the building he owned. Large open space with an open floor concept. The walls were pitch black except for the wall the living and dining rooms shared, which was floor to ceiling windows. To the left was the living room with a 4 seater couch, 2 seater sofa and loveseat in black with gray accent pillows and a gray throw over the couch. To the left of that was the simple 6 person stone dining table with black chairs. To the right of the penthouse was the kitchen area with a gray scale backsplash, dark steel appliances and a gray marble island. To the left of the kitchen was a hallway that had 4 doors. The left door was a guest room, the first door on the right was a bathroom and the second door on was his study. At the end of the hall was the master suit. (I mean he's a necromancer. Come on guys what did you expect? Yellow and polka dots?)

Diak entered his study and made his way over to his personal bar pouring himself a large cup of amber liquid. "I know you're lurking in the shadows Styx. What do you know?" Diak asked taking a sip of his drink as he sat at his large mahogany desk. Glowing red eyes appeared from the shadows in the room and a man stepped out. Standing at 6'5" Pale gaunt and leather was Styx, Diak's left hand man. "My lord." He greeting Diak with his right arm over his body his fist touching his left shoulder. "The rogues we paid failed to find and capture the girl on the dog kings land. It seems they have a witch among them and she was able to sense them as they snuck through her barriers." He informed Diak. In a fit of rage Diak down his drink before tossing it across the room and it shattered against the wall. Styx was unmoved and waited to continue. "What else?" Diak asked through gritted teeth. "She has mated with the wolf and if Marminys information is correct, she will have mated with the angel as well." Diak finally looked at Styx. "What makes you think that?" he asked. "Well per our research, she's had no viable partners in the past or any kind of true romance. Assuming she was a virgin, the Angel going first would make the most sense since she would be purest then." Styx reasoned. "What about the others, can we predict who she will be with next?" Diak asked. "No sire, not without more from Marminy's informant. However we do know that the king of her informant will be with the girl in a week give or take. It seems they spend about 2 days with her and them pass her down the line." He stated. "We would get the best Intel then. Do you think we should try and hit them then?" Diak asked. "No my lord. We risk exposing our informant. Let's see if we can get details for a date right before or after." Styx advised. Diak nodded in agreement. "My king if I may speak freely?" Styx asked before speaking up. Diak nodded, "what are you going to do about Marminy once you get the girl?" He asked. Diak leaned back, the chair groaning under the shift in weight. "The human is needed for my plan to succeed. I will be king of all the kingdoms. If Marminy gets in the way of that and risk the girls life ...you know what must be done Styx. I'll be counting on you." He replied. Styx nodded "Of course my lord, protect her as I would protect my queen." He said with a bow. "I will see if I can do some reconnaissance on my own and let you know what I find." He informed Diak before slipping into the shadows.

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Styx appeared in a dark alley and walked out of the shadows. He walked up to the back door of a club and pulled out an envelope and handed it to the man waiting at the back door. "Any and all information that can be spared, as soon as possible of course." The man nodded and slipped inside the club. Walking to the back of the club he climbed the stairs. He knocked on the door to the private room twice and slid the envelope under the door. A few minutes later the envelope was slid back out and the man returned to the awaiting Styx. Handing him back the envelope he disappeared back into the club. Styx opened the envelope, read the contents and pulled out a lighter burning the letter. "Interesting…." He muttered to himself before returning to the shadows.