The meeting was unannounced.
There were no messengers, no calls, no formal summons—just a quiet understanding passed in glances, in sparks of aura between high demons, in the subtle weight of expectation. The gathering took place far from Lilith's domain, beneath the obsidian cliffs that cut across Kur'thaal's eastern spine.
The stone there was old. Unmarked by runes or creation magic, it bore no allegiance to any power but time. It was the perfect place to whisper treason.
Orithyx stood first at the center, his presence shadowed and poised, his obsidian skin laced with crimson lines that shimmered faintly beneath the light of the hollow sky. He crossed his arms, one hand resting lightly over the chain of his weapon—his power was fear, yes, but also suggestion, the ability to plant truths where none had bloomed. His gaze swept the room with sharp calculation.
To his left, Vehla leaned against the wall, her broad frame cloaked in leathers, braids trailing over one shoulder. Her molten eyes glowed as she toyed absently with a dagger, letting its point draw circles in the stone. She had command over elemental transmutation—able to twist matter into fire, ash, even wind. Her body hummed with contained violence.
Behind her stood Rahz'Keth—Razy, as Tix so fondly called her. Her skeletal wings twitched as she adjusted the carved bone pauldron on her shoulder. Razy's power was biological manipulation, able to accelerate decay or trigger evolution in living tissue. She had a reputation for cruelty, and for never speaking when she could simply act instead.
Near the back, tall and silent, stood Drexoth, his red-and-black body carved like a statue. His power was the bending of stone and structure, the shaping of terrain and cavern with a thought. He said little. He listened well.
And of course, Tix—Orithyx—was already pacing, flicking strands of silver hair out of his eyes with dramatic flair. "Is everyone here?" he asked, clearly bored.
No one answered. They all knew who was missing—and who wasn't welcome.
Moments later, Varasha entered, gliding across the shadows like water across stone. Her golden eyes shone with confidence, but the moment she arrived, the room grew colder.
Razy's wings flared. "No informants."
"She doesn't speak for herself," Vehla added, folding her arms.
Varasha raised a brow, amused. "You're scared of my mother's ears?"
Orithyx rolled his eyes. "You are her ears."
"And her eyes," Drexoth murmured.
Varasha tilted her head, letting the accusations roll off her like mist. "Then maybe you should tell me something worth reporting."
"We're done here," Razy snapped.
Vehla turned her back, clearly dismissing her. "Leave."
And to everyone's surprise, Varasha did. She smirked, bowed slightly, and turned on her heel, vanishing into the rocks as if she'd never been there.
Silence fell once more.
"She'll report everything," Drexoth muttered.
"Yes," Orithyx said flatly. "Which is why we waited until now."
He turned toward the rest. "It's been months since Lilith began training him."
"Him," Razy spat.
"Lioren," Vehla said softly, her voice unreadable.
"Fallen angel. Amplifier. Supposed savior of Kur'thaal." Orithyx's tone was razor-thin sarcasm. "And she's pouring her blood into him."
"She's not wrong," Drexoth said. "His power is… considerable."
"That's not the point," Razy snapped. "The point is why? What's the purpose?"
"He's changing Kur'thaal," Vehla said, finally meeting their eyes. "The jungle he's building with her. The beasts. The life. You've seen it."
"And?" Razy snarled. "What happens when that 'life' spreads beyond Kur'thaal? What happens when it takes root where we have carved death into this land for eons? What happens when he changes us?"
The silence grew heavier.
"I say we strike now," she continued. "While we still have ground to stand on. The angels are watching us. Building a fortress on our cliffs. And we just sit here."
Drexoth's eyes narrowed. "Lilith's orders were clear. Do not provoke. Do not attack. Not unless they strike first."
"And you follow her like a blind dog?" Razy growled. "She's changed. All of you know it."
"She hasn't changed," Orithyx said. "She's just playing a longer game than we can see."
"And I don't like being a pawn," Razy muttered.
Orithyx shrugged. "Then crown yourself queen. See how long you last."
"Enough," Vehla interrupted, stepping forward. "Whether we trust Lilith or not, the truth is simple. The angel is here. He's training. He's not weak. And he hasn't run."
They all looked at her.
Vehla exhaled slowly. "I don't trust him. Not yet. But I don't hate him either. And if he's going to stay, we need to understand what side he's really on."
"And if that side isn't ours?" Razy asked coldly.
Vehla turned her gaze to the far north, toward the mountain cliffs. "Then let's hope we survive long enough to find out."
For a moment, the demons stood in uneasy silence, united only by uncertainty.
The air around them pulsed with the weight of tension—of old loyalties, new doubts, and a single truth none of them wanted to say aloud:
If the war came now, none of them knew which side would win.