Chapter Text
In a darkened room, a hand with claw-like nails hovered over the assortment of delicious snacks brought in to accompany the tea.
Egyn grinned at the mouthwatering sight. Everything looked so good, and without Amaimon or Beelzebub there devouring everything sweet in sight he actually had time to choose.
And it felt great!
After some careful consideration, he picked up one of the small, cube-like confections, taking care not to damage the intricate decoration on top before promptly shoving the entire thing in his mouth.
"Swo," he began curiously, talking around a mouthful of cake and sending crumbs flying. His manners weren't dreadful by any means but since it was just the two of them, who cared. "Way'd'ou call m'here?"
Iblis did, apparently, glaring at him before rolling her eyes upwards as if beseeching some deity - Father, maybe - to give her strength, and the sight of it very nearly made Egyn roll his eyes.
He didn't, of course. Because he wasn't an idiot.
Just because his sister looked all calm and collected now, he knew full well the tiniest thing could set her off. She was a lot like their Father in that regard.
Huh… Wonder if she'd take that as a compliment.
Millennia spent in close — relatively speaking — contact had taught him how to navigate the minefield that was the King — or Queen, if you wanted to be nitpicky — of Fire's temper. And while he liked to skirt the edges every now and again, teasing and annoying her like only a younger brother could, he didn't actually want her angry. And definitely not if he would be the sole target off her rage. No, those things were better left for when the brats were around.
"I heard something interesting a little while ago," she said suddenly. A flick of a finger sent the teapot floating up, as if lifted by an invisible hand. As it filled their cups, her gaze lingered on the steam rising from the delicate porcelain. "The Impure King was revived in Assiah."
Purple eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
Iblis hummed, taking a sip of the fragrant liquid.
Peering at his own cup, Egyn took a whiff. Earthy tones washed over him, brightened by notes of citrus.
"And?" he asked when his sister didn't elaborate. "Is Assiah a wasteland of rot now? It can't be." Distaste colored his words. "If it was, Astaroth would be in here bragging about his pet."
Iblis shook her head. "It was defeated. However, that is immaterial."
Oh?
"And why's that?"
"Samael's exorcists used some of my kin to fight it-" nothing out of the ordinary there, "-and when they failed-" again, totally predictable, "-Ucchusma went to see what could be done. He told me he met someone near the core."
Iblis turned to him then, her voice never changing from its dispassionate state and glittering garnet eyes the only thing betraying her interest.
"A child, neither human nor demon."
Understanding bloomed on Egyn's face.
"Oh. He meant that one...?"
"What else?"
Egyn shrugged, eyeing his sister carefully. "You never know. Perhaps Father has more bastards running about," he suggested. The well-timed comment had the intended effect and he had the singular satisfaction of watching his prim and proper sister choke on her tea in a most unladylike fashion.
Iblis slammed her cup down with such force that Egyn was surprised it didn't shatter on impact. Tea sloshed over the edge, evaporating before it even had a chance to hit her skin.
Her glare burned. In fact, the entire room was starting to get uncomfortably hot.
Egyn fiddled with the silk of his shirt collar and quickly gave her his most disarming smile.
"My apologies, Sister."
After a few tense and unpleasantly hot seconds, Iblis looked away. Neither spoke for a while. No doubt his sister was weighing the pros and cons of eviscerating him but what else was new. Egyn had never seen the point in worrying about things he couldn't control and so he just grabbed more cake.
"I'm going to Assiah."
And now he was the one coughing.
"Eeeeeh? But why?"
You'd think with the way Iblis was looking at him he'd asked her if water was wet.
"Amaimon has not returned for some time. No doubt he is with Samael. And Lucifer is there, too," Iblis waved her hand, an indistinct gesture, "Somewhere. Assiah is becoming interesting. I want to see what happens from this point on."
With that declaration, Iblis rose from the table and swept across the room. At the door, however, she paused.
"Besides," she murmured, "I have yet to meet our littlest brother."
A grin found its way onto Egyn's face.
"Same here," he said. "Say…mind if I tag along?"
"Do as you please."