Nuntius Summons

A young demon with light gray skin stepped through the door, he was dressed in a formal uniform of the royal courier conveying the importance of the mission. He wore a light blue shirt paired with dark pants and black boots. Over his shoulders draped a dark blue cloak embroidered with silver and bearing the royal crest on the right chest.

The orange haired young man’s jet black eyes scanned the room, looking at a glowing stone held in his hand. Spotting the women gathered around a kneeling woman on the floor, he cleared his throat. “Excuse me, my ladies, I am Nuntius, royal courier of the court of his majesty King Belphegor. I have an urgent message for Lady Hekate and have tracked her to this establishment. Have you seen her?”

Hekate’s face flashed as she glanced back over her shoulder. “Nuntius, boy, what do you want with me child.” Standing up her shoulders squared, her aura flashing towards the young courier. Irritation mixed with relief as it was a distraction from her guilt at almost enthralling someone she cared for as a friend and lover.

The young demon took a step back, “Lady Hekate?” he stammered as he eyed the human nervously.

Hekate placed her hands on her hips, her lavender eyes sparking with electricity, tilting her head slightly, “Yes, little nephew, so you can’t even recognize your own family, Lord Noam would be so ashamed of his little boy.” Allowing it to sink in that she not only held a position in the Royal Court above him but as the half-sister of his father.

The man bowed his head, “I apologize, My Lady, but have an urgent summons for you. You are needed at the cathedral at once, Mistress Hekate.”

Hekate smiled seeing his reaction, glancing back over her shoulder, “I must go, we will talk soon, Fortura.” Then mouthing silently, “I am so sorry.”

She smiled back to the raven haired woman, “yes, of course, Princess.”

As the woman turned back to face Nuntius, Alexis rose up and stepped right beside her. “And I will be coming with her.”

Hekate looked back over her shoulder, a grimace across her lips. Nuntius injected, “um, who are you, miss, I am only instructed to bring Lady Hekate.”

Alexis smiled to her, before looking back to the young man, attempting to direct her aura to intimidate him just as Hekate had moments before. “I am Alexis, daughter of Hekate!” Stepping a half step closer, placing her hands on her hips, and tossing her hair back with a twist of her head, “ and I will be joining my mother today.”

The man flinched—not from the weak aura she directed at him, which paled compared to others in the court, but from her unexpected declaration. “You, you are Lady Hekate’s daughter, the child everyone in court is gossiping about. But I thought you were just a child, but, but you are an adult?” Blinking as he glanced between the two, but how, after all it was just being spread around the Cathedral that Hekate had a child, how could she have kept it from everyone long enough for this girl to have grown up. Besides she is not even two hundred and fifty yet, none of noble blood would settle down to raise a family that early in life. Then glancing quickly to the spunky red head, and who could the father be, the girl looks so human, although so does Lady Hekate right now. When he gets back to the Cathedral, he will have to see what some of the others would say, maybe they would know.

Alexis beamed at causing this young man to babble in confusion, nodding her head.

Hekate though chuckled, “Yes, she is my daughter, and I guess I will be presenting her to the Court today.” Glancing over to Alexis, and in a lower tone, “Sooner than she is ready for, but I will allow it, this time.” Closing her eyes for a moment, to consider the ramifications of this introduction today, is the girl truly ready for this. She does seem to be more confident since the pact, but how much of that is her just pretending and preening. Although in truth sometimes that is the only way to build confidence is to fake it and convince others. She just hopes they don’t destroy this wonderful child she is trying to prepare to face the world.

Alexis grinned reaching out to grab her forearm, as they stepped towards the young demon and the door. Allowing her aura to flow back tightly around her, as she accepted the win not yet realizing the growth she will need in the future to truly use her presence as a weapon like Hekate.

Nuntius regained his composure and reached the door holding it open for them. Although before exiting, the two women looked back to Fidelisa and Fortura. Fidelisa nodded, “Don’t worry, my ladies, Fortura and I have some things to take care of here.”

With that, Hekate, Alexis, and Nuntius left the Silken Web, weaving through the bustling streets of Gehenna toward the Cathedral and the awaiting audience.