The light of dawn cascaded over the horizon, enveloping all in the sun’s warm embrace. The inhabitants of hell began to rise for their daily tasks, servants rushed around, guards patrolled leisurely.

  Nico walked calmly through the busy corridors of the mansion, by his side was Lucifer.

  “I still don’t understand why you gave me your position on top of the two I inherited from my father. The amount of paperwork I have is incalculable and that’s without mentioning the responsibilities that come with those positions,” complained Nico.

  “At least you are not the unofficial second of the warband,” said Lucifer trying to comfort his junior.

  Nico gave him a look, realization struck, the angel’s eyes widened in horror and pity.

  “My condolences.”

  “A funeral would be better, at least the dead would be silent,” he responded morosely.

  “A small mercy but now that you speak of it, how many positions do you have?” asked Lucifer now actually curious.

  “Let’s see. I am head of the Black Serpent clan. High General and High Administrator of the Demonic Alliance. Meaning I take care of all matters involving every group including those of hell,” began Nico.

  “At least the prime minister and supreme commander takes some work off your shoulders,” said Lucifer trying to be helpful.

  “You know very well the two report to me and they only take care of hell’s problems not all the other groups,” he responded.

  Lucifer smiled knowingly at Nico’s misery but did not comment further.

  “Where was I? Oh yes, unofficial second of the war band, to my eternal misery, and technically Grand Admiral,” Nico finished sadly.

  “But Leviathan is still alive,” remarked Lucifer.

  “True, but he now resides in the abyss and seeing as you are the only one of the seventy two who ever comes here, he is by all accounts retired,” explained Nico. “But that’s beside the point. Why the fuck do we have a Grand Admiral? We have no fleet!”

  “Leviathan wanted a fancy title,” was the curt answer.

  “Damn that sea beast,” cursed Nico.

  “But to answer your question I gave you my position as High Administrator because Emryn insisted you would be able to handle it.”

  Nico briskly turned to stare at him with haunted eyes feeling the greatest of betrayals.

  “I should've known! Of course he would. Probably vengeance for all the trouble I caused him,” said Nico in horror. “Damn you dad!”

  “You would be correct,” said Lucifer hiding his pleasure at seeing his misery.

  “Why did you accept and not choose your own successor?” asked Nico after a moment.

  “Because for every problem you gave your father you also caused one for me,” he responded flatly.

  Nico let out a sound of understanding and conceded. He did deserve it, apparently you do reap what you sow. They were very active in their youths and very mischievous causing all sorts of trouble for the old guard.

  “In my defense Ragnaros lead those problem inducing expeditions I was simply along for the ride,” said Nico

  “That statement is a lie and you know it. Speaking of the young king where is he?” Lucifer wondered having expected to cross paths with him by now.

  “Still in bed I’d wager but don’t worry I’ve got someone on it,” replied Nico with a smirk.

  (Break)

  A shadow moved through the darkened room with the upmost stealth intent on reaching the perfect position to strike.

  Reaching the foot of a bed the shadow moved in excitement unnoticed by the two occupants. With a triumphant shout the shadow jumped unto the bed waking the sleeping couple.

  “Oh! A surprise attack!” Exclaimed Ragnaros in glee.

  With swift reflexes he grabbed the intruder before he could escape.

  “My what a little rascal we have here,” said Midnight with mirth.

  She began to mercilessly tickle him causing Nyx to giggle joyously, his laughter reaching all corners of the room.

  Deciding he had enough the king and queen released their little prince.

  “Why did you wake us up?” asked Ragnaros.

  “Uncle asked me to,” replied Nyx.

  “An important meeting for the council then, there is no other reason my dear brother would risk incurring my wrath,” said Midnight.

  “Must be serious but not pressing enough if he sent our son, alright little shade ready for round two?” Said Ragnaros with a smile.

  With a squeal Nyx’s body dissolved into a cloud of darkness flying away in a swarm of black feathers.

  His shadowed form fled under the door and escaped.

  The parents felt joy as they heard his laughter echoing down the hall.

  The demons standing guard outside the room all smiled as they watched the little ball of shadows go past them.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Ragnaros would have loved to stay and cuddle with his wife but his duty called.

  Reluctantly he raised himself and began to get up but stopped when he felt a hand holding his arm.

  He looked to his wife, she had a glazed look and was staring at him strangely. Her breathing was slightly labored and her hand felt hot on his skin.

  It took him less than a second to understand what was happening.

  “Midnight what brought this on?” he asked in surprise.

  “You told me that you would make sure all my desires were fulfilled, no matter what they were, correct?” she asked for confirmation.

  “Yes even if I have to steal the moon,” replied Ragnaros without hesitation.

  “Well seeing our son fills me with pride and also made me realize how grown up he is now. I want another,” she replied lovingly.

  “Are you sure?” questioned Ragnaros remembering the birth of their son.

  “Yes, give me another child!” she shouted losing herself to lust.

  With that Midnight jumped on Ragnaros sending them tumbling down off the bed.

  (Break)

  The members of the royal guard standing outside the door looked at each other and silenced the room with a spell.

  A moment later Nico turned the corner and walked towards them.

  “Are they still in there?” he asked incredulous. “We need the king, the other generals have gathered and are waiting for him, at his behest might I add.”

  “Sorry Nico but we will not disturb them at this time,” replied a plant-like demon.

  “Fine, open the door I’ll take responsibility and face the brunt of my sister’s anger,” declared Nico thinking they were scared of his sister.

  “We’d rather not,” replied a winged knight.

  “Why would you… Oh… Are they doing something I’m better off not knowing about?”

  “To save yourself from haunting images the door is better off closed,” said Viper.

  “Understood, I was never here and this conversation never happened,” ordered Nico with a shiver of disgust.

  The royal guards relaxed and averted their eyes as if no one else was in the hallway.

  “Good lads.”

  (Break)

  Nyx reformed outside the dining hall and went inside already smelling the breakfast that was being served.

  He spotted his two friends and rushed to their side to sit between them.

  There was Gal the son of Damocles, with light blue hair that seemed to spark. He covers the lower half of his face with a mask and wears a steampunk version of sorcerers robes.

  Then there is Nora the daughter of Alucard, with short black hair, dark eyes and a very gothic appearance.

  “Hey Nyx how are you?” asked Gal.

  Nora mumbled her greeting as she was too busy eating pancakes with either raspberry or blood syrup.

  “I’m great, just completed a task for my uncle,” he said proudly.

  Gal blinked before nodding to himself, completing a task for the high general was indeed a worthy accomplishment.

  Nora still busy devouring her food simply gave a thumbs up.

  As the three conversed Nico entered the dining hall and spotted his nephew. He walked to their table and sat himself beside him.

  “How are we all this morning?” he asked casually.

  He received positive answers and a curious look from his nephew.

  “I thought you had an important meeting?” asked Nyx.

  “Yeah we delayed it because your father was busy with something else. Don’t ask I won’t tell you what,” he replied.

  “Oh so adult stuff got it,” said Nyx confidently,

  Nico unsure if Nyx understood what he was implying decided he better change the subject before this somehow got back to his sister.

  “Well while we wait you wanna see something fun?” he asked quietly leaning towards Nyx.

  At his nod Nico smiled mischievously and eyed an imp serving a table some food. As soon as he was done and passed by them Nico gave the imp a viscous kick.

  The imp flew rapidly and rolled itself into a ball to avoid damage to itself. The imp bounced off various demons before crashing into a table.

  “What? Who dares?” shouted a monstrous tree demon.

  The demons began to argue before the inevitable happened.

  Darkblade and Alucard who happened to be side by side glanced at each other. In the blink of an eye their weapons were raised and collided.

  As if a bell had been rung the hall fell into a brawl, demons fighting their colleagues. With more getting involved because they were hit by something or someone.

  Nico hid his laughter as the kids erupted into cheers, if he laughed some would notice and would assume, correctly, that he was responsible.

  As the room became more violent Nyx returned his attention to his uncle.

  “Uncle I’ve always wandered why is your name Nicholas?”

  “Because my father, bastard that he is, lost a bet to Krampus and was forced to name me after good old saint Nick,” answered Nico annoyed.

  Before anything else was said a cup flew across the table and smacked Nico on the forehead. His head tipped back for a moment, he took a deep breath through his nose. He calmed himself and remembered he had to be an example to his nephew.

  A chair hit him in the back and shattered, his body was pushed down unto the table.

  As soon as he raised his body he hit the table with his fist, cracking it.

  “Damn it all!”

  He got up and tackled the nearest demon, who so happened to be Legion. The two crashed through a table and began to wrestle on the floor.

  Nyx, Gal and Nora found this very amusing and watched with rapt attention as the brawl intensified.

  Culvarin exchanged blows with Dallade, their swords gleaming as they fought on a table, dancing around each other. Their blades colliding viciously as if they were actively trying to kill the other.

  By now Nico had beaten Legion unconcious and had moved on to the rest of the royal guard. Throwing them around like ragdolls he moved fluidly, his attacks as wild as the lightning he uses.

  And across all the carnage two demons steadily moved towards the other, dodging attacks and random objects that flew their way.

  Iruma and Nilrem walked towards the other with killing intent.

  Nilrem pointed his staff at his rival and channeled his power into a dark orb of maleficent energy. He aimed at Iruma and launched it not caring for anything else.

  Iruma smiled and in the blink of an eye had drawn his katana, holding it tightly.

  The orb split apart in the middle, both parts passing by him and exploding on the wall behind him. The force of the blast propelled dozens of demons into the air. They all flew passed Iruma who did not even budge as those around him were sent flying.

  With a smile the two launched themselves at the other their weapons colliding with great force. The two struggled to gain the upper hand. The floor below them cracking, small shards floating upwards.

  “What the fuck is going on here!! cease this racket at once,” ordered the rough voice of their king.

  Struck by the unexpected interruption all demons froze in place. Acting like children being caught by their parents doing something they weren’t suppose too.

  While Ragnaros regarded them with annoyance, Midnight and the rest of the royal guard entered the hall. She went to her seat on an elevated table and sat on her throne. She began to serve herself and ignored the ruined room. Nyx appearing beside her so she would feed him some things from her plate.

  “You all are idiots and will fix this place after breakfast,” ordered Ragnaros.

  None would challenge the order, they would complain of course but would repair the damage they did in their zeal for a good fight.

  “Oh come now you know a full moon just passed, it’s not entirely our fault,” said Nico trying to shift blame.

  “I know you are somehow responsible but I can’t prove it,” responded Ragnaros.

  Nico slumped in defeat but hid it with shrug as if he was just an innocent bystander being slandered.

  “Whatever the cause gather round for I have an announcement. I would have organized this with my generals first but I was delayed and see no reason we can’t do so later,” began Ragnaros.

  “Yes. Delayed,” said Nico with air quotes causing laughter, until a glare from Midnight silenced them all.

  “As I was saying. After careful consideration and reminiscence of the good old days. I have come to a decision. The wild spirits, rogue demons and all other creatures of the night running rampant in the world of the living can be tolerated no longer!” declared Ragnaros. “I will contact the mercenary guilds and also inform the neutral groups of this development at a later date. But yes it means that after more than one thousand years we will finally go raiding again.”

  Unanimous cheers erupted from the bustling crowd.

  It seemed the angels had been lacking in their duties to maintain the balance of the world. If rogue entities could roam freely in the world of the living and cause chaos. They would have to intervene again and show them how its done.

  If they did any other activities in the interim well that would be none of the angel’s business.