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Aidas had been talking to Thanatos when his heart began to tug. Originally he thought it was a mortal talking about him again. Until he began to dissappear. His mind didn't immediately jump to what was really happening. Why would it? He readied himself, straightening his hair and so before standing up and answering answering call. If he had known what was coming for him maybe he would've taken his cat form for he found himself stood within a circle of obsidian salt with Bryce Quinlan staring at him. Nothing else mattered to Aidas at that point, where they were, why he was here, only Bryce.
Bryce surveyed Aidas for a long time. Hunt now rigid at her side. She had guessed that Aidas would be surprised to see her but she could see in the demon's icy blue eyes confusion as deep and vast as the universe. The cold bit and tore through her skin, chiling her to her bones. Memories of the past flittered through her mind and yet she kept the emotions from showing, as a white cat once told her.
Hunt was confused, frightened and completely pissed off. Standing in front of him was Prince Aidas, 5th Prince of Hel, Prince of the fucking Chasm. And Quinlan had told him nothing. He felt like such a god-damned idiot for thinking that after all this time together Quinlan would trust him. Hunt let his anger show, perhaps as a warning to Quinlan he was thoroughly pissed off or perhaps to warn Aidas to keep his hands off Bryce. Why he did it didn't matter all he knew was that Aidas was looking at Bryce familiarly and that seriously pissed Hunt off.
Rigelus saw the strong disturbance in world borders on his monitors. The power was that of an orange class. Prince of Hel perhaps? A powerless mortal summoning something orange-grade was rare and so Rigelus investigated. With the Asteri's heavy surveillance and data systems he quickly managed to find where the disturbance was. Apartment of Bryce Quinlan, previously owned by Danika Fendyr. Bryce was Half-Fae yet never displayed any power and is now summoning an orange-class demon? Rigelus would have to investigate this 'Bryce'.
Standing in an obsidian salt circle had never felt good to Aidas. He'd always wanted to feel 'human' in a strange sense, he was proud to be a demon but really, it was never good. From the look on that... male's face he probably was expecting Aidas to look like some animalistic brute. Shit. Bryce was stood with a male. One with a dark crown at that. Disgust rolled in Aidas' gut. Maybe Bryce saw the look in his eyes as she simply said with a voice as soft as cotton, a long forgotten voice to Aidas, a voice that had always reminded Aidas of love long lost. "Aidas."
Fuck. She knew him. A primal possessiveness filled Hunt and his temper flared. It didn't get better. Aidas stared at Bryce familiarity flickering through his stare and then he fucking smiled. With a voice as soft and calm as Bryce's he responded "Bryce Quinlan." The way he said her gods-damned name made Hunt's hand drift down, towards his belt, towards his gun. Whether it would do anything against the demon meant nothing to him. He would blow Aidas' fucking head off.
Bryce could feel Hunt's rigidness next to her. He knew nothing of what was to come. So Bryce smirked, knowing only Aidas could see, he could tell these things about her. "You appeared as a cat last time." Short, sweet and simple. She'd played her card now it was time for Aidas to play his, in this game they were both playing while Hunt was completely oblivious.
"You were very young then." Oh this was going to be fun.
The smouldering challenge in Bryce's eyes dimmed as Aidas uttered those words. He could see her processing everything, what to say next to rile up the Lightning-Singer. "I was thirteen-not that young." The restraint on that male was applaudable but the best was yet to come. So Aidas tilted his head and softened his gaze.
"You were very sad then as well" And the male's face was priceless. But the game was over now, Aidas saw it in Bryce's eyes. It was time to talk.
"Let's talk about you, Your Highness."
"I am always happy to do so."
What the fuck was going on. Hunt knew many things. He knew how to kill someone slowly causing pain, he knew many types and species of demons he also didn't know many things. Like what past Aidas and Bryce had, why this was all happening and why he was feeling so fucking jealous. Cold burnt him, turning his fingers numb, they'd only have a few minutes before Bryce couldn't take it. Fuck's sake, what the Hel was going on?
By the Urd this was going far. Yeah, Bryce wanted to tease Hunt but lord she could feel the discomfort rippling off him. Bryce knew that they'd have to start serious conversation before Hunt's tether snapped. "You and your colleagues seem to be getting restless in the dark." She lowered the challenge in her eyes indicating Aidas to tone it down. He did. Only slightly though.
"Is that so?" He glanced down at his shoes and frowned. "Perhaps, you summoned the wrong prince, for this is the first I've heard of it." The challenge was still in his voice keeping it bored, laid-back, and Bryce wasn't playing games.
"Who is summoning the kristallos demon to hunt through this city? And what killed Danika Fendyr?"
"Ah yes, we heard of that-how Danika screamed as she was shredded apart." The moment the words left Aidas' mouth he knew he'd pressed to hard. The pain was evident on Bryce's face. But he just smiled. It would be best in the future, right? Bryce was strong though. He'd underestimated her thank Urd.
"Do you know what demon did it." Aidas didn't like her tone, it scared him, seeing someone he cared for, with Theia's song in her blood talk to him like that. So he acted as he would with Theia.
"Despite what your mythologies claim, I am not privy to the movements of every being in Hel." Clearly Bryce wasn't playing games as she replied
'Do you know, though? Or know who summoned it?" Aidas knew what she was saying but ignored it he was tired and wanted to actually get one with thelat card game with Thanatos he had planned so he simply blinked and responded
"You believe I dispatched it?"
"You would not be standing there if I did."
Aidas was being awkward deliberately at it was thoroughly pissed Bryce off so her replies had become shorter and sharper. Still, Aidas insisted on being a pain in the ass
"No tears from you this time." Challenge once again glimmered in Aidas' eyes and so, she accepted and began to dance with the Prince of the Chasm.
"You told me not to let them see me cry. I took the advice to heart." Hunt stiffened beside her. Fuck. Bryce had completely forgotten about Hunt. Shit. Shit. Hunt was tensing beside her, Aidas noticed and didn't care so he smiled. Only slightly, Hunt never would've noticed.
"Information is not free." For fuck's sake.
"What is your price." Aidas surveyed her and then blinked, slowly and looked Hunt up and down again and again before speaking in a completely flat voice.
"Who are you."
The Prince's voice raised Hunt's temper even higher but Bryce only made it worse by saying
"He's eye candy." She looped her arm through his, absorbing his warmth and she pouted pointing at his forehead "And he is not for sale." Aidas paused for a few seconds and.. something in his eyes flickered before he simply smirked
"My pets like to rip out feathers-it would be a good trade." Gods, Hunt had never been so pissed, lightning crackled through the room and Hunt just stared Aidas down. The Prince simply smiled and looked Hunt down again. "A Fallen warrior with the power of... oh" His eyes were now burning with deepest passion. "What are you doing with a black crown around your brow?" Aidas turned away slightly and yet still kept his eye on the pair. "The seven princes dwellin darkness and do not stir. We have no interest in your realm." Hunt replied seconds later.
"I'd believe you if you and your brethren hadn't been rattling the Northern Rift for the past two decades."
Oh the angel had an attitude. But Aidas really didn't like being spoken to like that, he kept his attitude reigned and simply sucked in a breath and then glared at Orion. "You do realise that it may not be my people? The Northern Rift opens to other places-other realms, yes, but other planets as well. What is Hel but a distant planet bound to yours by a ripple in space and time?" His words confused Orion, clearly, and the angel replied,
"Hel is a planet?" Honestly, they knew nothing? Aidas simply shrugged
"It is as real a place as Midgard, though most of us would have you believe it wasn't." Aidas pointed towards Orion. "Your kind, Fallen, were made in Midgard by the Asteri. But the Fae, the shifters, and many others come from their own worlds. The universe is massive. Some believe it has no end. Or that our universe might be one in a multitude, as bountiful as the stars in the sky or the sand on a beach." The pair simply looked at Aidas although he was a high-ass student after a night out.
Aidas was fucking nuts. Completely off his rocker. And she wasn't having any of it. "You're trying to distract us." She crossed her arms. "You're not rattling the Northern Rift." Cold spread across the floor.
"The lesser prince's do that-levels one through four. Those of us in the true dark have no need or interest in sunshine. But even they did not send the kristallos. Our plans do not involve such things." Hunt tensed once again and growled,
"Your kind wanted to live here, once upon a time. Why would it change?" Aidas simply chuckled.
"Oh, it is dreadfully amusing to hear the stories the Asteri have weaved for you." He smiled at Bryce, a soft care in his eyes. "What blinds an Oracle?" Bryce felt her face leech of blood.
"What sort of car visits an oracle?" Aidas smiled, a sad smile though.
"Winning first words. I did not know what you might prefer now thay you are grown." He smirked towards Hunt. "But I may appear more like that, of it pleases you, Bryce Quinlan."
Urd, Orion was pissed as he remarked,
"Better yet: don't appear at all." And Aidas noticed Bryce squeezing his arm. He couldn't contain his chuckle.
"Your temperature drops. I shall depart."
"Please! Just tell me what killed Danika. Please." Aidas felt pity for her begging, perhaps it was Theia's touch that has made him soft. The thought made his laugh.
"Run the tests again. Find what is in-between." He could feel the fade, could see Thanatos lounging on his couch massaging some low-level humanoid devil. A voice mercifully cut through the vision.
"Aidas!" Bryce blurted, "Thank you. For that day." Aidas tried to hold on, a few seconds more to tell her the important words, words to change the course of future. Words he could never tell Theia.
"Make the Drop. Bryce Quinlan. And find me when you are done." He was still fading, Thanatos could now see him and was pushing the devil away. "The Oracle could not see. But I did." He could only just see Orion whirl on Bryce, before Tharion whispered to Aidas,
"It was her, wasn't it?" Aidas only had the strength to mutter,
"Yes" before he sank to his knees and screamed.