Vermillion: Order

***Author's Thoughts: Sorry for the long wait, I've been busy with work. Hoping to wrap this series up in 3-4 more chapters following this one. I will also probably do a spinoff of two of the characters from this series in the future. Thank you all for reading!!!***

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As if there weren't a huge tension already with her evil uncle and dealing with Iris' crazy aunt, and all the other dramas that played continuously throughout their lives. Luna was sick of it, but she wasn't tired. In short Nyla was once her best friend who had various things in common with her, she had her issues with Nyla turning people, but that wasn't what killed their friendship.

It was the fact that Nyla, like her uncle and Iris' aunt desired power above all else. And over time Nyla prioritized her wants over the lives of others. But it didn't stop there, she personally sacrificed those weaker than her for magical items, all under her bestie's nose. She may not have killed those people personally, but in Luna's opinion that made it worse. And now she was here on the day of an important meeting.

"Who is this?" Alex asked frowning, it didn't take much to set off alarms for him. He could feel the darkness brimming off of Nyla as she made it up the hill to that very room.

"An old friend." Nyla smiled.

"You're no one's friend. I learned that lesson a long time ago." Luna narrowed her eyes, she rubbed her fingers against a knife on the table almost as if on a reflex. Nick and Dom both watched carefully unaware if this would go south or not. But to their relief Luna suppressed her anger and moved her hand from the knife.

It was the first time the king had ever seen such dead calmness radiating from her warm eyes before, it actually scared him. The feeling was pure dread that made a knot form in the pit of his stomach.

"You'll have to wait, we're expecting someone for a private discussion." Nick informed her "If there is anything you'd wish to relay to anyone at this table, you'll do so afterwards."

Nyla looked around at the table before looking at Luna, then at Nick. She gave a faux bow "Of course of your highness, any room?"

"On the first floor, yes. And then we can discuss your abrupt...entrance."

"Sure." Nyla smiled before whipping her hair as she walked away.

Luna sighed with relief.

"What the hell was that?" Lynx asked "Who was sh- Luna turned to her shifting the dread her way.

Sirus looked to Nick who sighed "We will have to discuss this later, but for now let's focus on who's at the front door now."

"Fine with me." Luna turned away from Lynx with Nick patting her leg to calm her. It was a nice gesture. But it only helped a little.

It wasn't long before Cane arrived donned in a dark gray custom-made suit, Elyra wasn't far behind him. He pulled out his seat across from the king and Elyra pulled out hers, across from her brother.

"Shall we begin?" Sirus asked Elyra who nodded. She broke out into a huge grin.

"Everyone, this is Cane, he works for the big bad wolf from the other world. And it's taken me some time to try and strike a deal with him to keep us all...safe and satisfied."

Sirus could already guess how she had gotten her newfound satisfaction, but glossed over it to focus on what was really at play "And this is what we've come to, this meeting. So, what exactly do you want?"

Cane didn't even blink "The girl." Everyone's tension shifted, but then Cane spoke again "At least that's what I'd like to say. It would make my life easier, your lives easier. But Elyra's been telling me repeatedly in an annoying fashion that it would make life difficult. So, I'm here to observe and chat."

"Chat?" Elizabeth folded her hands into her lap while reading for any signs of deception from this new guest "And then what? Report to your master?"

Cane smoothed out his tie "I want to know if the girl is a good investment. I'm not the type to get sentimental about these things...people, objects...they're things that fascinate me before fading when they lose their shine."

"And if she is a good investment, you'll side with us?" Dom asked suspiciously.

"Side is a strong word. No. I would simply keep these findings to myself at my own behest."

"And your brother?" Elyra smiled wickedly at him "He is my friend."

"You knew before you met me, I don't really care about my brother. Not like you care about yours." Cane said turning to Sirus, he got a small jolt from seeing Elyra's smile fall "And that would be the consequence if this meeting ends with my dissatisfaction."

"No-

"You wanted a deal with a demon." Cane told her chillingly "Your life is more valuable, I'll give you that. But Sirus is younger, still growing in power...so many uses for such talents. Wouldn't you agree, Elyra?"

Elyra looked down in anger "You promised."

"I did. But surveying him now..." Cane gave a long vicious smile that turned everyone's stomachs "He seems good enough to keep alive for a time. And we do need more tools, weapons, you know to keep the higher ups from dirtying their hands."

"Careful, Cane." Elyra's eyes sharpened with her rage "You're letting your appetite overshadow your reason."

Cane looked at Elyra and breathed in and then out carefully before turning into a stoic once more "You're right, I am getting ahead of myself. King Nicholas."

"Yes?"

"You rule this kingdom, these people here are your charge."

"They are." Nick replied "But I doubt that any of that matters to you or your master."

"No, it doesn't. But despite what people may think, what you may think, all demons aren't blood thirsty and want the destruction of innocent lives. Mortals and the meek don't interest me whatsoever, only here and now does."

"Then please get to it."

Cane looked down the table straight at the source of power his master was seeking, she was girl with dark violet hair, eyes the color of a canary, palish skin. She was beautiful and surprisingly calm. Even when facing this demon, she didn't shirk away in fear or nervousness, but stared straight into the abyss.

"What is your name?"

"Luna."

"That's a lovely name. I never knew Enn, but from the descriptions that I've heard you definitely resemble him, mostly your eyes do. It's haunting in a way." Cane told her, he leaned back against his chair "What are your powers?"

Luna raised a hand and moved it on way with the water from the air turning into an ice crystal. She then looked down at the floor and the dirt granules imbedded there clumped together, softened, and then hardened into a ball. Luna didn't even do much but think once and then it began to rain before clearing again.

"Several things that I've been trying to understand. I can change matter into whatever I want without much thought, but I've only used it for small scale things. I can infuse my energy into that matter and make into a weapon against supernaturals. I can change the weather, the temperature, I can even affect nature. I can draw power from the sun and the moon, but I get dizzy if I try to absorb too much too fast...it's all a learning process for me still."

Cane's eyes never left her as he ate up this information "That isn't bad progress, I wouldn't be surprised if you could do a lot more with control in a few more years, maybe a few more months with the right guidance..Hm."

Cane looked down at the table thinking.

"What does my uncle want?"

Cane rubbed the bridge of his nose "Don't take it personally, Luna. In our world it is eat or be eaten. And those from the top families have to fight it out to remain on the top, if not then we'll be dispatched ourselves."

"Even if it means killing your own family."

"Sometimes, that's not always the case. My brother never wanted power but would rather be less than what he could be. Your uncle is our leader, we are our own kingdom in our realm and there are several kings and queens there. They will usurp power with the snap of a finger."

Luna didn't relent, letting the feeling of dread slowly wrap around Cane who was in awe of it. It actually made him shiver in fright, splendid. "His name is Dorian Aurelis, and of the sectors he controls many live in fear of him."

"I don't want to overthrow him." Luna said this quickly "I just want to live my life without worrying about my friends being caught up in this."

Cane placed his hands on the table "To be honest, the only reason I work for him is, because I'm not as powerful, and sometimes I agree with his mind. But his obsession with you is beginning to take its toll. He's killed three heads of major families in the last week with his wonderings about you."

"And this is all for power-

"Dorian's power pales in comparison to yours, yes, he is powerful, Luna. But his abilities are limited, it's one of the faults with being born to powerful demons. Not everyone is equal, those who have stronger, rarer, limitless abilities are those who lead. Dorian gained his power from killing off his family members and leeching off of them. But even then, his powers weaken with time. With you being the only one left, he'd finally have what he's wanted, he'll finally be over those who thought he was lesser, and he'll finally have full control, maybe enough to start a war in our realm and that is something that I do not want and what no one needs."

"Then what do you propose?" Neimos asked.

"The succubus' brother, the seer. That you help Luna grow into her full potential, because whether I'm here or not a battle will ensue. Either here or there, they will clash and only one will survive. And with it a change for the better or worse in my realm and yours."

"You like power-

"I also like my quiet too, my peace. Killing is so easy, so tedious to get one's ways. But I'm not opposed to a change for peace. I'll still have power, still be in power, just not under anyone's rule." Cane then smiled at Luna "If somehow you defeated him, would you rule?"

"No."

"I thought at as much, everyone here did too. I'm sure of it." Cane sat up straight in his chair "Loyalty is a two-way street and Dorian has never been loyal or honorable in any way. As the remaining heir of Oeriel, it is you who determines the fate of our world. You can pick a leader."

"Like you?"

Cane rolled his eyes "I said I liked power, not leading. I'm not a people person. I'd have to care for every single life there and I just don't have that capacity."

"What about for one person?" Iris asked, her eyes steadily moved over to Elyra.

"I don't love my little brother, it's hard for me to understand it all...Miss Iris."

"Ohhh, I'm a miss now." Iris beamed "Do you have sound judgement?"

"I suppose-

"Then why not decide for yourself who it should be or better yet vote for it." Lynx scoffed "Or are you that inept?"

"Elections get messy, but I guess that would be fair.."

"So, do we have a verdict?" Nick asked him, despite Cane looking elsewhere Nick never moved his eyes from him, holding onto Luna's hand under the table. He wouldn't take a no, if Cane did turn and leave without backing Luna, it wouldn't matter if he kept his mouth shut, Nick wasn't going to allow him to leave alive.

"Yes." Cane looked at Luna then at Nick "I'll support you and keep your secrets until the time comes for you to unveil them."

"Thank you." Luna sighed with relief "But how will you conceal yourself from here?"

"With a few backsteps from here to there. I'll be fine."

"What about her?" Luna pointed at Elyra who had crossed her arms "She's your informant and has had contact with Dorian, what if he brings her in. What happens then?" Luna asked thinking she would get a different answer from the one that Sirus shared.

Elyra shrugged "It doesn't matter-

"I don't like you." Luna said this bluntly, because it was true "You're a bitch to say the least, and volatile without real reason. But you shouldn't have to burn at the stake for this."

"I wouldn't burn...How did you put it, Cane?" Elyra shot him a dirty look as she smiled and Cane for once looked away thinking back to what he had said before. "I'd be passed around, tell me who created that specific punishment for me-

"Lyra-

"No, I want to know, because you specifically told me that you'd kill my brother on his say. So, who?"

"Who do you think?" Cane asked slightly irritated "You flit between to realms, and you thought you were safe."

"No, I'm free." Elyra stated "He needed a spy, Sirus' father failed him, sins of the father and all that. What were his plans, specifically? Tell them."

Cane blinked "Use you to get to your brother, if your brother failed him, he'd send someone to execute him, and you'd be given to him."

"By you." Alex murmured.

"No, to keep things distinct and distant, he'd most likely switch me with someone else."

"So, what would happen if she hid Sirus?" Alex wondered "Would he kill her?"

"No, he'd want her to suffer. He would toss her to the wolves."

"The major families?" Sirus asked, "He's not one for participating, is he?"

"No, he would just want her to suffer, break. And the more she resists the more weight he would put on."

"This happened to someone before?" Areya questioned.

"A young demon who found herself becoming his wife, but then she kept stepping out of line and she refused to bend for him, so he had her bend for someone else. Many someones. A few years ago, pieces of her body were found in the sapphire lake there, Dorian's reaction was slight. He said ~It's a shame, she was such the beauty~"

"So.." Lynx looked over at Sirus who didn't seem upset at all by the turn of conversation "Do you want Elyra to suffer-

"Not in that way-

"Oh, but you want me to suffer?"

"Yes!" Sirus shouted and his eyes blacked out with his fury "Because you can't just pop back into my life and manipulate me, I'm already cleaning up my own mess I don't want to clean up yours. Or think about what happened then or why you did it."

Elyra pouted "I only did those things to bring you out of your shell..be freer-

"I am free, you messed with my mind-

"Is this about your addiction-

"No." Sirus calmed himself rubbing his head "I got caught up in drugs and yes, became an addict. It's not something I blame you for, I did it. Lynx and Iris helped me get through it, I can't take you, Elyra. Because you want what you want without regard for me or anyone else."

"I care-

"I'm not you." Sirus told her "Or whatever twisted mommy issues we both have."

Elyra sniffed "I'm sorry-

"You have to do better than sorry, better than being here and not killing people just to stay in my good graces. No, I don't want you turned out, for me, or because of me. That's enough for now."

"Fine..So what do we do?" She nudged Cane.

"I'll cover you-

"No." Sirus said.

"Sirus, he's trying to help you." Nick warned "At least hear him out."

"It's a little hard to see this working when they're sleeping together." Sirus told him. Nick was aware due to their body language, scents, the way they looked away or at one another, but Sirus was an incubus and could see, smell, and taste sex without little to no effort at all.

"You bewitched an enforcer of our enemy...nice." Lynx dully drank from her glass.

"She didn't bewitch me."

"Quite right." Elyra said and then pointed at Cane "He bewitched me."

"Ha ha." Cane leered at her "No one can tame something so wild."

"What can I say? I love living on the edge."

"Either way, covering for her won't be an issue..The only risks are the demons Dorian will send next, taking them out would raise issues so keeping Luna concealed here is the best plan of action whilst Sirus goes back to Hirea and Lyra does the same."

"We're in agreement then." Nick nodded.

"Yes."

"Are you dating her?" Iris squeaked pointing "Lyra, that is."

"Mind your own business-

Cane mulled this over "Yes. You could say that we're seeing one another. Does that satisfy your question, Miss Iris?"

"Yes...um is there a reason you're calling me miss?"

"Dorian's been in contact with people in contact with Sirus, that includes those in contact with you. Are you not a lady of the shifting vale?"

Iris blushed "One of many...and we rarely go by that title."

"Oh my god, are you nymph royalty?" Alex's eyes brightened with excitement.

"We're rare not royal."

"He contacted Lady Jimson for questions about you."

Iris paused "Did she say anything about my sisters?"

"Not yet, I think she's still deciding whether to trust him, so you have some time."

Iris bit her lip "Not much."

"No, but Dorian has always been intrigued by how and why a nymph was able to absorb powers of a demon. And then he looked into your family tree, literally. You not only shift into different types of nymphs, but you can shift your abilities and your roots, the ones that you're born with are blessed by the soil of your hidden world. You and your sisters can absorb and transfer the energies of demons, spirits, and other paranormals to one another without cost. That is what makes you so rare."

"Yes, but it has its costs. Depending on the power and the strength of the nymph it can be deadly to do, which is why no one in my family has tried to use it on another paranormal, besides our aunt. It throws off the balance of nature in our world and can have adverse effects, even shorten our lives which are supposed to be eternal."

"Don't think too hard on it." Sirus whispered, "I have my plan."

"How long, Si?"

"Not too long, I promise."

Iris sighed "Thank you for informing me."

"It's no trouble, but it seems that I am out of time for today. I'll take my leave now." Cane stood up sliding the chair under the table with Luna staring after him.

"What do you want, Cane?"

Cane shrugged "In a word, possibility. Keep up your progress, Luna." Cane gave a half wave and then Elyra got up and followed him out.

"Damn it.." Sirus was now suffering from a huge migraine left by his sister and her new beau..so much to think on, the past and future.

"A lot of people become addicts, Sirus." Lynx told him "It's not something to worry over now."

"Can we talk about this later?" Sirus asked, his snowy eyes had a look of defeat within them that even Lynx pitied.

"Okay...so we're still into the unknown, what now?"

"Next order of business." Alex said "Luna, who was that woman?"

"She's the one I saw in my dreams." April told him "Nyla..your once upon a time friend."

"Yeah, well I had other acquaintances that could have been friends, but Nyla blocked them."

April nodded feeling the aura around Nyla she knew enough to know that she was headed down a dark path "She's come for me, Luna. Not you, this just happened coincidently."

"But why?" Lynx asked "She's a vampire-

"Over the years she's collected items to transfer power, given her power, at the expense of trading people's lives over. She's a vampire, but she's clever enough to know how to become more than just that." Luna rubbed her head "She became corrupted by power and lusted after it, the body count didn't matter after a certain point."

"Then what does she want from April?" Iris wondered.

"To take my mantle as the new Crimson Witch...I already knew this day would come." April finished the food on her plate calmly "Invite her back in so we can settle this. Please."

Nick looked to Luna who gave a small nod and soon Nyla returned taking the seat Cane was in before. "You look well, Luna."

"Why The Crimson Witch?" Luna asked "There are other powerful entities, why her?"

"Right to the chase. Her power to use multiple sources, I'd like to do the same with blood, I have so many ideas for those powers. And she was also easier to track down. Retirement suits you."

"Thank you." April smiled "Walking in the light does good for the soul, even better for your pores. You should try it."

Nyla cracked into a grin "Are you fully retired?"