Chains, Judgement and Piercing Gazes

7 hours ago.

"Everyday. Everyday you continue to do this, Rat!... What are you talking about? A client!? DON'T YOU DARE HANG UP ON ME!" The woman crushed her phone in her hand before throwing the broken pieces against a wall.

She pulled herself together rather quickly as she ordered herself in the mirror. Using her over grown blonde bangs to cover her eyes before tying up the back of her hair into an untamed ponytail. She checked out what looked like small slits that ran up her cheeks before covering them with a bit of makeup.

Putting on a black suit, she left her almost palace like bedroom and walked down her red and black halls, chains and paintings of fire and hope strung up on the walls.

Every Decaynine she passed bowed to her as she sat down in a cold, corporate yet almost devilish black office, sipping on a coffee mug that had the words "Worlds Best Mother" on it.

"Pan, Pan, Paaaan!" A sing songy voice said as it climbed onto her desk.

"Eido. What do you want now?" She said in a cold yet prideful tone.

"Oh nothing, just wondering if you're coming to my show tomorrow?"

"I can not. I have far to much to sort out with The Rat, The new Paladin, The Jackal and Desires in general."

"Aww, come on boss! You're so boooring!"

"Eido, what have I said about saying things like that to my face."

"You'll cover me in the mist I breath and laugh as my body melts into a puddle."

"Exactly." Panila said with a smile, taking another sip of her coffee before eating a biscuit.

"So... What are your plans for the day?"

"Do you actually care or are you making small talk?" She said with a sigh before starting paperwork. Eido rolled all 6 of her eyes and left, taking that as a hint to leave.

"I'll call you if anything happens."

"Fine fine." 

Over the next few hours, Panila went about filing and filling out forms, occasionally staring out of her window with a blank stare at the many lives she helps live a new normal. Only for her mind to wander about life before Eden. "The sun on my skin... The leaves of autumn falling... The bitter racism. I don't miss that part." She thought to herself with a small smile before being interrupted by a call on her computer.

"Hello?... I told you not to call me Panny. I swear to the gods if YOU DO ONE MORE TIME I WILL... A bird named Idiot? Or do you mean her name is bird? Eido speak clearly... Wait, Undead? Bring them in. Please." 

Panila sighed, hanging up the call and having to send for the other domain leaders on such short notice. She sent out the mass email and made more coffee for what was sure to be a long night.

Panila entered the judgment hall, a large room with thousands of seats, and 5 seats that stand above the rest. Panila sat in the centre, giving quick glances to her chosen leaders.

"Is this really how I have to spend my time? I was about to serve up the most delicious dish." A woman with straight white hair and a pair of antlers said as she sat up straight.

"I thinks we should let the deer get eatenz. What purpose doez She serve other then meatz?" A robotic young man who had cat ears said with a grin as he slouched in his seat.

3 hounds walked behind Panila, remaining silent. They were her personal guards, strike force Cerbi. The tallest was a masculine black wolf, the second was a feminine white jackal, and the last was an unidentifiable orange fox. 

"Where are Tophi and Ami?" 

The antlered woman shrugged, eating a small slab of raw meat. 

"I don't know where Tophi is... Last I heard was that he was messing with his weird candy caned tomfoolery... All I know is, I'm starving. How about we fetch some food after this? I think I have a few snacks still." 

She laughed a little as Panila remained as stoned face as usual. "Worry about your famine first, Deer."

After about 13 minutes of waiting, Eido had finally arrived with a young woman wearing a face mask and, to Panila's dread, an undead rabbit who she knew.

"R-Rabbit!?" She yelled in surprise, much to everyone else's shock.

"You know this guy?" Eido said with a stunned look as she turned to face Ven.

"No..."

"Hey." Ven said with a casual nod before Eido hit him around the head for speaking out of tone.

"How are you alive? All undead shouldn't be so... Disobedient." 

"I mean, I got an AI keepin me alive. So she probably helps." He said as he lifted his shirt to show off The Sub-mind Heart.

Panila's entire body went stiff, her face dropped at the thought. "Y-You have t-the last heart?"

All of the other leaders where confused as to why Panila, their usual stone cold boss, was so worked up over this. Panila quickly organised herself and let out a sigh.

"Well... not all of them are in the city. The one for Desires was stolen." She muttered, but Avis quickly froze up. The antlered woman laughed at seeing her reaction, tapping Panila's shoulder.

"I think the girl knows about it."

"WHATNOIDON'T!"

Panila sighed, using her magic to summon chains and pulling Avis close. With a small smile on her face, she glared at Avis, and despite her eyes never being seen, Avis still felt like she was staring into her soul.

"Where is the heart, Miss."

"I-I-It was I-In one of my instrument cases... But I had to leave them when I was chased..."

Ven casually chimed in with: "I got your cases right here, Avis. Hear that Bit? We got one of the 6 already!"

Panila dropped Avis with a thud before she calmly sipped her coffee.

"Everyone. I have come up with a sentencing. Since this Rabbit here has the last heart, and since he is a danger to the city. The best course of action is..."

"Execution."