"How many Demon Lords are there total?" Satou asked.

"Twelve seats in the council, but only eleven are currently filled. The seventh seat has been empty since the previous holder was slain by heroes Six years ago. You're being considered to fill it."

"And the other Demon Lords are they going to be hostile?"

"Some will be," Loki said honestly. "Others will be merely skeptical. A few might even be supportive. Demon Lord politics are complicated, and you're walking into a room of some of the most powerful beings on the continent. Each one has lived for centuries, commands vast armies, and has abilities that could level cities."

"No pressure then," Satou muttered.

"Oh, there's pressure," Loki said with a grin. "But I have faith in you. You killed a hero, Satou. You've built something new and interesting. You have my support, which carries weight. Just be yourself, be honest, and don't let them intimidate you. Demon Lords respect strength, but they also respect those who don't cower before them."

"Any advice on the others? Who should I watch out for?"

"All of them," Loki said bluntly. "But I'll brief you on the way. We're traveling by portal, Morgana is waiting outside to open the gateway. The summit is being held at the Obsidian Citadel, neutral ground that belongs to no specific lord. It's about as safe as a gathering of demon lords can be, which is to say, not very."

They walked outside where Morgana, the vampire mage, was already preparing a portal. The air shimmered with magical energy as she carved intricate patterns with her staff.

Jessica followed them out, that confusing feeling still churning in her chest. She watched as Satou prepared to leave, to go to a meeting with beings powerful enough to destroy entire settlements.

"Be careful," Jessica found herself saying, her voice smaller than intended.

Satou turned to her with a warm smile. "I will. Take care of Lyra and Kelvin while I'm gone, okay? And Jessica, whatever's bothering you, we'll talk about it when I get back. I promise."

Jessica nodded, not trusting her voice. She watched as Satou turned away, as he and Loki approached the portal that would take them to the Obsidian Citadel.

That pressure in her chest intensified as she watched him prepare to leave. It felt like something was being pulled away from her, like she was losing something she hadn't even realized she had.

But she still didn't understand what it meant.

"Ready when you are, Lord Loki," Morgana said.

"Excellent," Loki replied. He turned to Satou. "Once we step through, we'll be in the presence of beings who've existed for a long time. Stay close, follow my lead, and remember, you're there as my candidate and ally. That affords you some protection, but only some."

"Understood," Satou said, squaring his shoulders. He'd faced dire wolves, fought a hero, and executed corrupt elders. He could handle a meeting of Demon Lords.

Probably.

The portal opened, revealing darkness on the other side.

"Let's go meet your new peers," Loki said, stepping through.

Satou took a deep breath and followed.

Jessica watched until the portal closed behind them, leaving her standing alone with Morgana in the early morning light.

The pressure in her chest hadn't gone away. If anything, it had gotten worse.

She pressed her hand against her heart, feeling it beat rapidly beneath her palm. What was this feeling? Why did watching Satou leave hurt so much? Why did thinking about him with Lyra make something inside her twist painfully?

"You care for him," Morgana said quietly, her ancient eyes knowing. "More than you've allowed yourself to realize."

"He's like my big brother," Jessica protested weakly. "Of course I care about him."

"Is that all he is?" Morgana asked gently. "Just a brother?"

Jessica opened her mouth to say yes, to confirm that was all it was. But the words wouldn't come. Because somewhere deep down, in a place she'd been carefully avoiding looking, she knew the truth.

Satou wasn't just her big brother. He was more than that. Had been more than that for a while now, even if she'd never let herself acknowledge it.

And now he was with Lyra. And that hurt in ways Jessica couldn't even begin to process.

"I don't know," Jessica whispered, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "I don't know what I feel. But it hurts."

Morgana placed a gentle hand on Jessica's shoulder. "Then you have some thinking to do, child. Before these feelings become something that damages the relationships you cherish. Sometimes, the heart wants what it wants. But sometimes, what the heart wants isn't meant to be. Learning the difference is one of life's hardest lessons."

Jessica nodded, wiping at her eyes. She looked back toward Satou's quarters, where Lyra was probably still inside, probably still smiling that soft, happy smile.

The pressure in Jessica's chest squeezed tighter.

She had a lot of thinking to do indeed.

—---

The portal deposited them in a massive hall carved entirely from black obsidian. The walls gleamed like dark mirrors, reflecting distorted images of anyone who passed. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, lost in shadows that seemed to move independently. At the center of the hall was a circular table made of the same black stone, with twelve chairs arranged around it.

Ten of those chairs were already occupied.

Satou's enhanced senses immediately went into overdrive, cataloging threats, assessing power levels, trying to understand what he was facing.

The beings seated at that table were not human. They weren't trying to appear human either. Each one radiated power so intense that the air around them seemed to warp and shimmer.

"Welcome, Loki," a voice said, deep, resonant, like the grinding of stone. "And this must be your candidate."

The speaker was a massive figure, easily twelve feet tall even seated. His skin was dark red, almost black, and covered in what appeared to be living armor made of bone and shadow. His eyes glowed with infernal fire, and when he smiled, his teeth were like daggers.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.