Lunae Lucem

My name is Selene Lunae of the Water Clan. I’m merely thirty years old, a child compared to my fellow demons. No, I’m not a human. I have demon blood running in my veins, so that makes me a demon, or at least half of me is. I’m not a pure blood demon. I’m what our kind calls a demi-demon. Years ago, Manannan Mac Llyr, Master of the Sea, fell in love with a beautiful human. From their union a child was born: me. All demons have humanoid forms, but it’s the blood that separates us from the common mortals, the blood and the magic within us. I had power and magic running in my veins, both inherited from my father’s side, but I was mortal, like all humans are. I won’t age after my 30th birthday, but I can be easily killed. The world became vicious and cruel, no longer a safe place for us, demi-demons or pure blood demons. Humans are a strange race. They seem not to be able to live at peace with their own kind, nor any other kind, as a matter of fact. They are always quarreling, either for land, reaches, power or greed. And what they don’t understand, they fear, and they have the tendency to hunt and kill what they fear. It’s in their nature. So we, who used to be worshipped in the old days by mankind, were now being hunted as preys. Some demons were killed and some were captive, kept alive for the use and study of their powers. It was when all the Nine Clans gathered for the first time to forge an unbreakable alliance between them. The First Alliance dictated that all the clans were going to be scattered among the Earth, to live in secrecy in hidden places where no human could enter, not without powerful magic. Humans are a cleaver kind, but they don’t possess magic. That’s why they are so weak. Caligo was the name chosen for the demon’s world. Sometimes a demon would go on the human world and return with a human, like my father did. If a human went beyond our magical barriers, they could no longer go back to their dimension. They would live among us, forever young and healthy, but if they crossed the Veil again, all the years they were keeping away from their mortal bodies would fall upon them at once, and they would turn into dust scattered on the wind. That was exactly what happened to my mother. Her name was Vivienne Lacroix and she was very young when my father seduced her and brought her to live with his clan in the Water Citadel. She was only eighteen, with skin as white as porcelain, golden locks, ruby lips, and emerald eyes. My father fell in love with her when he watched her picking flowers near a river shore. They married soon after and my mother was happy, at least until I was born. She couldn’t handle the weight of motherhood nor the fact that my father’s attention wasn’t all for her anymore, so she became permanently sad. My grandfather told me that she committed suicide, though my father always refused to see it that way. For my father, she became homesick and she decided to cross the Veil, which brought death upon her. She was living in Caligo for almost a century. If you ask my personal opinion on this matter, I will say that she committed suicide willingly. She knew that the moment her feet trespassed the path to the human world, that very same century would fell upon her without mercy, and her ashes would be scattered by the wind, leaving no trace of her existence behind. I never wept for her. I was just a small baby when she killed herself. I never knew her, only her portrait hanging on the wall, but I miss my father every single day.

I lost my father when I was five. He was killed during the Battle of the Five Leaders. Humans aren’t different from demons. Power is what moves us, but power corrupts, and demons are easily corrupted. We quarrel as much as the humans do, no difference about it. Because my grandfather abdicated his position as leader of the Water Clan to beneficiate my father, he could no longer claim it. The title fell on my head. No one in our clan was against it, but I was just a small child, too young to sit upon the Aqua Throni. So, my grandfather was named a regent ruler while I was sent to Japan for education and training. He sent me to Gorudenshiti, the eternal golden city of prosperity and royalty, where the rulers of our realm lived since the beginning of times. I was hosted in the Palace of Glass, were I first met Princess Nyx Starlight, the Bringer of Light, a royal of pure demon blood and our next Supreme Queen. She’s the only living descendent of Lilith, Mother of Demons, the first of our kind. Nyx was also a child, same age as I, so we became friends. While she was being educated in the matters of etiquette, History, linguistic, poetry and music, I was being harshly trained in weaponry, combat, strategy and magic. I had three teachers: Master Belial, Master Baal, and Master Amon.

Master Belial trained me in the arts of combat. He was a storm demon who served the House of Lilith as Captain of the Royal Army. He was very strict and severe, so saying that he made my days a living hell was being kind. Master Baal was a fire demon. He trained me in weaponry and war strategy. He was the second in command and Belial’s most trusted Lieutenant. He wasn’t as severe as his Captain, though, more humble and funnier too. He taught me how to master the fine art of a Japanese tea ceremony. Master Amon trained me in the arts of magic and sorcery. He was a void demon. Though he was centuries older than me, I always thought he was a handsome man, with his long black hair and sharp amber eyes. Demons don’t have fangs, hoofs or horns, like humans write in their fairytale books. We just have physical characteristics that no human has, like green hair or crimson eyes. Well, most of the demons anyway. The Fox Clan is a shapeshifter clan. They use magic to look as humanoid as possible, but in their true forms, they have fox ears and tails. I, for example, can pass by a true human. I’m 5 foot and 4 inches, short for a demon, green eyes and scarlet hair. All the demons are 6 foot or taller, even the females. My skin is as pale as porcelain, but not that milky white that most of the demons possessed. I could mingle among the humans and no one would notice my true nature.

I left Japan when I was eighteen years old and I returned to Ireland to fulfill my duty. I inherited the Aqua Throni, as it was demanded of me, and I became the leader of the Water Clan, with my grandfather by my side as my right hand and adviser. My clan lived peacefully and in prosperity during those ten years I ruled over them. No one could care less if I wasn’t a true blood demon. I was a good ruler, fair and impartial, loved by my own people. From moon to moon, I received correspondence from Princess Nyx, brought by Taka, her familiar. I was always friendly to animals, always had a strong connection with them, but I was never able to build a bond with Taka. The hawk was always suspicious of me, like he didn’t trust me, though I don’t know the motive behind such distrust. I received her last letter during the winter season, when she confided to me that the Royal Counsel had begun the competition to earn her hand.

When the heir to the royal throne reaches his or hers 25th birthday, a silver goblet carved in runes is placed in the center of the Great Hall. All the leaders who are unmarried and seek to rule us all as our Supreme Queen or King must write their names in blood in a piece of papyrus and slid it inside the goblet. On the 30th birthday, the Royal Counsel empties the goblet and gathers in closed doors for five years to discuss who among the candidates is the most suitable. Then on the 35th birthday, they announce the chosen one. The royal heir must marry the one they choose on Lupercalia, so they could bring health and fertility to all the realm. News got out that Princess Nyx had four candidates, all of them powerful and fearless demons. The first one was Kuso Kami, leader of the Wind Clan. The second was Frost Pruinae, leader of the Ice Clan, the third was Nodens Nox of the Void Clan, and the last was Aragon Agni, leader of the Fire Clan. I didn’t know them in person, only by name and reputation. I’m a younger ruler, so I never attended the gatherings to discuss our internal problems and sign a new peace treaty. Those only happen once every century. Nemain Goldenleaf, my lady-in-waiting and my former nurse, loves a good gossip as much as she loves spying, so when I told her about the four candidates, she didn’t restrain herself from giving me her personal opinion. If she had vote on the matter, she would choose Aragon Agni. When I asked her why, she simply said that he was the most handsome of all. Nodens has a mysterious beauty, all made of a delicious darkness. I still don’t know what she meant by that. Frost is as cold as his namesake and a brave warrior. According to Nemain, when Frost kisses a woman, she blows snowflakes into the air. Kuso Kami is a shapeshifter, a power that he inherited from his mother’s side. When I asked Nemain how she knew so much about the candidates, she gave me a mischievous grin and said that she had bed them all. I couldn’t do anything else other than to stare at her in silence. I know nothing about the pleasures of the flesh, but intercourse is a common thing among the demons. We can have sex as many times as we want it or with who we want it, until the day we get married. Then, we are bind in monogamy by an unbreakable spell, the Spell of Faithfulness. I think that’s why most of the demons avoid marriage. Usually, it only happens when a pregnancy is involved. I never had sex, not because I didn’t have the opportunity, but because I’m waiting for the right person, which means that I’m waiting to fall in love before sharing my body with a man. Apparently, my lady-in-waiting likes to have her share of fun. I can’t blame her, though. All demons are voracious lovers and lust runs wild in our veins.

September 19th, the Year of the Sand Dragon, will be always marked on my mind as the day that my fate changed. I was finishing my sword practice when Lord Llyr Lunae, Ruler of Titans, and my beloved grandfather, came into the training room. He had a scroll in his large hands. I bowed to Master Silennus, who was helping me improving my sword skills, and I walked toward my grandfather while sheathing my sword on my back. My sword was named Aqua Mortem and it belonged to my father. The hilt was made of silver with encrusted aquamarine stones and it had its name engraved in runes on the blade. It was a heavy sword, difficult to maneuver. It required a lot of training for me to be able to fight properly without having the feeling that my arm was going to fall from my shoulder. It was a sword made for a strong man, but I’m stubborn and didn’t want any other sword as my main weapon. I bowed to my grandfather and he waved it away. He never liked to see me bending my neck before him, but he’s an elder demon and the former leader of our clan, so I must show him the respect that he deserves. He looked extremely young for his age, five hundred years old to be precise, but that’s the problem about not ageing. He’s my grandfather, but he looked more like my brother. When demons reached their 30th birthday, they simply ceased to age, so they look decisively young, even if they are walking this earth for centuries. He’s a tall man, broad of shoulders, with straight blond hair, wise orange eyes, and a long blond beard. Today he had his hair carefully braided, trailing down his back in a long yellow braid that reached his knees. Warrior demons, especially the leaders, always used their hair knee-length. I, on the other hand, have my scarlet hair above the waist. It never grew longer than that. Should I thank my mother’s human blood for that? Most likely.

“News came from Gorudenshiti.” he said while handing me the scroll. I raised one red eyebrow to him, intrigued by his words. “It came addressed to you, my dear, but I took the liberty to read it first.”

I gave him a crooked smile while taking it on my hands. My grandfather is as curious as a cat and he was always the first one to read our correspondence, except for the ones Taka brought. The hawk didn’t let anyone else but me to take the scroll from his paw. The scroll that I’m now holding in my hands is made of papyrus, which means this is an official royal letter. Only the Royal Counsel or the House of Lilith used papyrus as a meaning to write messages. I read it without interest. Politics isn’t my favorite subject, but as a leader of a clan, I can’t avoid it. The message was short, but straight to the point, like usually is.

“We, of the Royal House of Lilith, summon Selene of the House of Lunae, leader of the Water Clan, to participate on the Fifth Alliance, taking place on Samhain day, in the city of Gorudenshiti. We invite the Ocean Nymph to honor us with her presence during the celebrations that will occur a week before the signing of the treaty, so all the leaders can reunite once more in peace and harmony.”

It was signed by Marduk Enlil, The Right Hand, Nyx’s main adviser, and the head of the Royal Counsel. I looked at my grandfather while giving him back the scroll.

“It seems that I was summoned to attend my first gathering.” He nodded in response. “Well then, I should make my preparations for such a long journey, if I must honor them with my gracious presence a week before Samhain.”

“First of all, let’s have a lesson about the Nine Clans.” he said while walking out of the training room.

My grandfather loves to talk about the clans, the old faded glories and the fierce battles, while I think all of that is just annoyingly boring. But I don’t want to embarrass myself on the gathering, so it is best to review it all. We walked side by side and I noticed that we were going straight to the Mermaid Garden, my favorite place to be.

“Tell me all you know about the first clan, Selene.”

“The first clan is the Wind Clan. Their leader is Kuso, son of Arai, of the House of Kami. His namesake is Master of the Wind. He sits upon the Aer Throni, in the Wind Citadel, hidden in the Fuji Mountains. Their element is air.”

“Tell me about Kuso’s powers.”

“He manipulates air and wind. He’s a shapeshifter and he can transform himself into a crow. He can also suck up all the air in a room, create blasts of wind, tornados and hurricanes, and he has the ability to raise anything into the air and move it under his will. He’s also one of the candidates to Princess Nyx’s royal hand.”

“What is the name of his main weapon?”

“A Japanese katana called Ravishing Wind. Rumor says it can cut a demon’s head like cutting through butter.”

My grandfather nodded, pleased with my answers. I’m glad that I still remember my lessons. We arrived at our main lake, the Rainbow Lake it was called, with its beautiful waterfalls that produced colorful rainbows in the sunlight. There were dozens of turtles living in the lake, some swimming peacefully in the cool waters, others taking their time enjoying the sun while piled up on the rocks. Our lake was also blessed with goldfishes, gorgeous white and orange veiltails with their silky, translucent fins, and red ryukin with their peculiar and unusual hump on the back. It was my great-great grandfather, Aegaeon Lunae, Lord of the Rivers, who brought these goldfishes from Japan to breed them in our lakes. It gave so much lively colors to our Mermaid Garden and that’s one of many reasons why I love this place so much. I grabbed a few stones from the ground and I started to skip them into the lake. I always did like to throw skipping stones into water.

“Now tell me about the Fire Clan.” my grandfather said.

“Very well.” I said while skipping another stone. “The Fire Clan is the second clan. Their leader is Aragon, son of Aed, of the House of Agni. His namesake is Lord of the Flames. He sits on the Ignis Throni, in the City of Fire, in the island of Crete. Their element is, of course, fire. His powers are diverse. He can create and manipulate flames. He also can transform his body into living fire, communicate through burning flames, burn anything that he wishes, walk over and into fire, and he controls the sun.” I turned my green eyes at my grandfather. “Is it really true that he can control the sun or is it just a legend?”

“He can steal energy from the sun if he finds himself in a weak state, not control the sun itself. He can’t snap his fingers and make the sun dance at his will. Those are foolish legends.” I nodded. It makes sense, though. “You forgot one thing, my dear. He also has the power to dispel evil spirits.”

“Yes.” I said, skipping another stone. “He’s a powerful demon, no doubt.”

He nodded. “What is his main weapon?”

I forced myself to remember it. I was never good with that subject.

“He fights with a sword named Star of Fire.” How about that? I remembered it all. “Oh, and he’s also a candidate to the royal hand.” Now my grandfather seemed solemn, like it bothered him to know that. I thought it strange, but I didn’t make much of it. “Isn’t he an ally of our House?”

“He is, and our friend as well. He was a close friend to your father. They were brothers-in-arms.” My father had left me a letter before he went to war, saying that if I ever needed help, I should contact Aragon Agni and trust him unconditionally. I never met him in person. My grandfather says that he’s a friend and an ally, but I don’t remember Aragon ever visiting the Water Citadel. My grandfather’s strong voice rumbled in the air, saying “The Earth Clan.”

“The Earth Clan is the third clan. Their leader is Satyr, son of Cernunnos, of the House of Danu. His namesake is Lord of the Wild Things. He sits his green ass on the Terra Throni.” My grandfather throws me a warning look and I gave him a small bow with my neck. “I apologize. It was rude of me to speak in such manners about a fellow leader.” He nodded, so I continued. “The Earth Clan lives in the Emerald Forest, in Cornwall. Their element is wood. Satyr can regenerate any earth life form, such as trees, flowers, plants, animals and so on. He can also manipulate minerals and crystals, which I think is something odd, coming from an earth demon.”

“Minerals and crystals rise from the earth, Selene.”

“I didn’t think about that.” My grandfather gave me an amused smile and tapped his index finger on my forehead, as saying for me to use my brain. I cleared my throat, embarrassed. “He can turn mater into grass, has the gift of divination and premonition, controls and manipulates plants and animals. He also can grow any kind of vegetative form anywhere he wishes to. He’s a strong healer, like all earth demons are, and very good with poisons. His main weapon is a wooden staff with ivy vines entwined named Green Scream. They say no metal blade can cut through that old staff. He still is worshipped by some humans as The Green Man.”

“Very good, Selene. Now tell me about the fourth clan.”

I frowned. “You want me to tell you about our own clan?” He nodded. I crossed my arms under my breasts and said “As you wish then. The Water Clan is the fourth clan. Their leader is Selene, daughter of Manannan Mac Llyr, of the House of Lunae. Her namesake is Ocean Nymph. She sits in the Aqua Throni, in the Water Citadel, placed in the green fields of Ireland. Their main element is, obviously, water. Selene has the power to control water, breathe underwater, absorb water from any living form, communicate through water, generate water from nothing, and she also manipulates rain. She has the ability to bespell any living creature with her singing, like a siren. Her main weapon is a heavy silver sword named Aqua Mortem.”

“I wouldn’t have putted it so well myself.” he said, smiling. “Tell me about the fifth clan.”

“The fifth clan is the Darkness Clan.”

“They prefer to be called the Void Clan.”

I shrugged. “Isn’t it the same?” He gave me a condescending glance, so I added “All right, the Void Clan it is. Their leader is Nodens, son of Hypnos, of the House of Nox. His namesake is Lord of the Night. He’s one of the royal candidates. They say that he is a handsome man gifted with a strange beauty.”

“And when you said they say, you mean…?”

“I mean Nemain.”

My grandfather grinned. “Of course. For an earth demon, she really loves the pleasures of the flesh.” Yes, she does. He made a gesture with his hand, saying “Go on.”

“The Void Clan lives in the Moon Citadel, in Motuo, China. It’s such a remote place that most travelers, even void demons, lost themselves through the fog and find an easy death. Their element is the absence of light, meaning darkness itself. They are weak during the day and at their full power during the night, which explains why they all are night owls. Nodens rules over the Noctis Throni. He can manipulate and control darkness, shadows and dreams, block out the light, transform day into night, be unseen anytime he wishes, become a shadow himself, and he is able to see while standing in pitch black darkness.” I thought about it for a second and then I asked “He can also transform himself in mist or is it someone else’s power?”

“It’s one of his powers. He’s more powerful than his father is, maybe because his mother is a wind demon, and that gave him some new abilities. Hypnos can only transform himself in shadow, but his son can also be mist. On the other hand, Hypnos can make any living form fall into a deep sleep and his son can’t.”

“Is Hypnos still alive?”

“Unfortunately he is. He’s a hard one to kill, that pompous bastard. I tried it myself many times over the centuries, but he’s as slippery as an eel. He fought beside the Death Clan against all the others. They used to be strong allies, the Void and the Death, until Nodens gained the throne. He doesn’t trust Arawn, like his father did. A man who is able to kill his own father because he’s too impatient to rule over his clan is a dangerous man, devoid of emotions, conscienceless, even for a demon. Arawn will do anything to reach his goal and he’s very ambitious. He has his dead eyes on the Impius Throni for too long.”

“But he signed the last peace treaty, didn’t he?”

“Yes, but that never stopped him from defying us. After he lost the Battle of the Five Leaders, where that bastard ripped my son’s life, your father’s life, he was forced to bend his knee before the Royal Counsel and all the leaders. I was there, representing our clan, because you were just a small child. Nodens did well by not joining forces with Arawn, honoring his word by staying at our side until the end. I can’t say the same about his father. Hypnos fought beside Arawn with his clan against us. Nodens was the only void demon who refused.”

“Nodens fought against his own clan? Against his own father?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes. It shows how strong his character is.”

“You like him.” I said, grinning.

“I do. He’s a great leader, much better than his ancestors were. The Void is very lucky for having him.”

“But if his father is alive, how Nodens ended up having the throne so soon?”

“Hypnos was punished for his treason and he was forced to abdicate on his son’s behalf. A lot of warriors lost their lives in that battlefield, Selene. Your father was one of them, as it was Aed, Aragon’s father.” He took a deep breath, kept his silence for a brief moment, and then he turned his serious orange eyes to me. “A quick History lesson, my dear, to amuse me. Which clans fought in the Battle of the Five Leaders?”

“That’s an easy question. It was the Water Clan, the Fire Clan, the Void Clan, the Fox Clan, and the Death Clan. Four clans against just one and it was one of the most brutal battles in our History.”

“And why was that?”

“The Fox and Void leaders, Arai Kami and Hypnos Nox, betrayed their allies by joining forces with Arawn. It changed the course of battle, with two clans now fighting against three. While Arawn and Hypnos escaped death, Arai ended up being killed by Aragon. It was Arai who killed Aed, wasn’t it?” My grandfather nodded. “Then his son did well by avenging his father. I would kill Arawn myself, if I wasn’t forced to be at peace with him.”

“We must honor the treaty, Selene, always. Aragon killed Arai in battle, so he had that right. He tried to go for Arawn too, but he was severely wounded and it was already nighttime, so he didn’t have the sun to help him recovering from his injuries. If it wasn’t for the treaty, I would have killed Arawn myself, but it’s just a question of time until he falls back into his treacherous behavior. We only have to be patient.”

I saw the fire of hate burning in my grandfather’s eyes. It felt like he was waiting for Arawn to slip and make a mistake, something that would give us a reason to go after him and cut his head off of his shoulders.

“If he desires the Impius Throni that much, why isn’t he a royal candidate?”

“He knows that he would never be the chosen one. It’s too dangerous to have him as our Supreme King. He isn’t an easy demon to kill, because he’s already made of death. Not all weapons are able to cut through that thick neck of his.”

“Is it true that Arawn is into necrophilia, into abusing female corpses?”

That’s something so repulsive that I can’t imagine a man, demon or no demon, doing such a thing.

My grandfather actually seemed to think about it and he then shrugged. “For all I know it’s only a myth, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it bares truth. Arawn is capable of anything. Now…” He looked at the sparkling lake across from him, face solemn. “We aren’t finish with our lesson. Nodens’s main weapon, what is it?”

“He uses a mace named Darkness Rises.”

“It’s a massive weapon of destruction and it belonged to his grandfather. That’s the kind of weapon that could kill Arawn. Now, tell me about the Ice Clan.”

“The Ice Clan is the sixth clan. Their leader is Frost, son of Boreas, of the House of Pruinae. His namesake is Knight of Ice. Their element is ice. They live in the Winter Citadel, placed in Iceland. Frost sits upon the Nix Throni. Nemain told me that he’s a man as cold as the northern wind.”

“Frost is a practical man. He doesn’t like to speak much, but when he does, he always says the right thing. He’s highly intelligent. What are his abilities, his powers?”

“He can control and manipulate the weather, cold, snow and ice. He can freeze anything he wishes, especially water. Our element is weak before the ice demons.”

“True, but we never had to worry about them. They are our allies as well.”

“Then I’m glad that I won’t go to war against Frost. He could freeze anything that I would through upon him. He can turn anything in solid ice, bring winter whenever he wishes, lower the temperature, control snow, and he can absorb and generate ice. His main weapon is a white sword named Winter’s Kiss. He’s also a candidate for the royal hand.” I kept my silence for a few seconds and then I asked “Who do you think the Royal Counsel will choose as Nyx’s husband?”

My grandfather looked at the peaceful lake with a serious face and then he answered “I’m not sure. Probably the strongest among them. They won’t be judging beauty, but power.”

“And who is the strongest one?”

“I would say Aragon, but it’s a close match between him and Nodens. Frankly, I don’t know. I never thought that Aragon would be a candidate. He always said it wasn’t his wish to become King. I found it… odd that he placed his name on the Silver Goblet. He was never fond of Nyx.”

I raised my eyebrows at that. “Why isn’t he fond of her? She’s beautiful. Any demon would be happy by having her as his wife.”

“I never asked him why, but it’s clear that his mind changed. He knows that he’ll be bind to her by an unbreakable spell, if he’s the one chosen to be her husband.”

“That’s certainly true.” I watched the lake in front of me while the turtles that were resting on the rocks decided to jump at the same time into the fresh waters. A sudden thought crossed my mind, one that I decided to share with my grandfather. “Will I have to marry one day?”

“You will, so our bloodline can linger on, other by love or by an alliance with another clan. The House of Lunae can’t die, Selene. We rule the Water Clan since the beginning of times. If you won’t find love in the next years to come, then I’ll have to choose a suitable husband for you.”

The thought of marrying someone by obligation other than love scared me.

“Do you have someone in mind?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment and then he answered “Your father did, but it doesn’t matter, not anymore. Now, we aren’t here to discuss your future. Who is the seventh clan?”

“The seventh clan is the Storm Clan. Their leader is Khaos, son of Notus, of the House of Tempestas. His namesake is Ruler of Storms. Their element is lightning. They live in the Grey Citadel, placed in Mount Vesuvius. Khaos sits on the Tonitrua Throni. He has the power to control and manipulate weather, create storms, absorb lightning, and transform his body in a lightning-like being of pure energy. His main weapon is a spear named Queen of Lightning. He’s also the only leader who has a wife. He’s married to Ceres Tempestas, daughter of Cernunnos and Druantia, and the youngest sister of Satyr. Rumor says that she’s infertile and Khaos is looking for an excuse to end their marriage and annul the spell that ties him to her.”

“They are married for over than one century and still there is no child from their union. A leader needs to keep the bloodline alive.”

“They can perform a fertility ritual, if they seek so desperately an heir.”

“They already did. Ceres is dead soil. No child will come from that womb. Khaos will have to get rid of her if he wants his House to keep ruling over the Storm Clan.”

“I thought that all the earth demons were fertile.”

“Apparently there are exceptions to that rule. It will be shameful for the House of Danu if Khaos repels his wife, but what choice does he have? It wasn’t a love match, but a political one, so he won’t weep for Ceres’s lost. I’m certain that he’s going to ask the Counsel to intervene on this delicate matter. I hope Satyr won’t take it personal and starts a quarrel over pride.”

“I’m sure that he won’t do such a thing.”

“It happened before in our History, when the Battle of the Maiden took place. Boreas, Frost’s father, was first married to Luna, of the House of Nox, aunt of Nodens. Boreas had specifically asked for a virgin to be his wife and Hypnos had promised him that his younger sister was still a maiden. Well, she wasn’t, as Boreas found out on the first night. He felt betrayed and he pleaded to the Royal Counsel to annul his marriage.”

“How can you annul an unbreakable spell? Even if Khaos gives back his wife to her family, he still is bind to her by the Spell of Faithfulness. He can’t have intercourse with anyone else other than Ceres. His body won’t work, not even with his groins on fire.”

“You can annul a marriage by killing the person to whom you are bespelled to. Death breaks the chains that keeps you tied to your spouse. It was what happened to Luna Nox. The Royal Counsel agreed that Boreas had been deceived and they executed Luna for it. Hypnos took it as a personal attack to his House, so he started a war over it. Years later, Boreas married Lumi, a noble ice demon who he fell in love with. That’s why Frost is so powerful in his element. Both of his parents are ice demons.”

“Nemain said that, when Frost kisses a woman, she can blow snowflakes out of her mouth.” My grandfather laughed and I blushed. “It was what she told me and I don’t think she was lying.”

“Your lady-in-waiting is an expert in what comes to the prowls of the leaders. I think that only Khaos and Arawn escaped her bed.”

“Who would bed Arawn?” I asked, disgusted.

“You would be surprised, my dear.” he said, crossing his arms over his strong chest. “Some women are capable of anything for power and riches, even bedding a sadistic bastard. Plus, Arawn is a very handsome demon. He has to thank his mother for that perfect chiseled face.”

“I thought that he killed both of his parents to rule over the Underworld.”

“He killed his father. Morana, his mother, is very much alive, living in chains in the Underworld.”

“Then I’m glad that Nemain had senses on that matter and she ran away from his filthy bed.” I threw my last skipping stone into the lake while adding “I didn’t know that she knew all the leaders in person.”

“Once Nemain belonged to Satyr’s entourage, so she was present during official gatherings and feasts. She knows them well.”

“Why did she leave her leader’s entourage? It’s a great honor to belong there.”

“She was Satyr’s favorite mistress, but not his only mistress. When she realized that he would never marry her, she left. Your father hired her as your nurse when you were a baby, after your mother’s suicide. She’s a good woman, just a bit foolish.”

“I like Nemain. She’s honest and kind.”

“She certainly is. Now, what do you know about the eighth clan?”

“The eighth clan is the Fox Clan. Their leader is Kitsune, son of Hiro, of the House of Tenko. His namesake is Mischievous Prince, very suitable for a man like him. His clan lives in the Skulk City, in Japan. He sits on the Animalia Throni. Their element is blood. Kitsune is a shapeshifter and he can camouflage according to his surrounding environment. He can transform himself into a white fox. He controls animals, but only familiars of the fox. He’s a powerful telepathic and runs as fast as the wind. Rumor says that no living being is capable of hunting him down. He also can get rid of malevolent spirits and wandering phantoms. He’s a remarkable trickster, so you must be careful around him, because he can deceive you easily.”

“He’s very good with lies. That’s why he’s called Mischievous Prince. Now, tell me about his main weapon.”

“He fights with a white Japanese katana named Fox Shadow. According to Nemain, he’s fond of humans and kabuki plays.”

“He likes to fool around in the human world, which almost costed his life once or twice.” He made a pause and then he added “We finally reached the ninth clan, the last one of the Nine Clans. Tell me about them.”

“The ninth clan is the Death Clan, a clan filled with treacherous snakes and perverse creatures.” He gave me a disapproving glance and I shrugged. I’m not telling a lie. “Their leader is Arawn, son of Hades, of the House of Annwn. His namesake is Lord of Shadows, but I would call him shitty bastard instead.”

“Focus on your lesson, Selene, and not on your hate. You need to be polite with Arawn during the gathering, even if you have to bite your tongue until it bleeds.”

“I know.” I gave a deep sigh before continuing with my lesson. “The Death Clan lives in the Underworld, in Acheron, Greece. Their element is ash. Arawn rules on the Funus Throni. He controls nightmares, ghosts, and all sorts of malevolent spirits. His war scream can strike madness upon any human. He has the power to manipulate the essence of death, which means that he can make any living form wither, rot, and die. He also controls decay matter and he can request assistance from the dead during war. He also guards the souls of the dead and helps them crossing the Veil. His weapon is a scythe named Mortuus Dolens.” I turned to my grandfather and I gave him a wide smile. “And with that ends my lesson. So, did I pass the test?”

“You did.” He started to walk back toward the Blue Palace. “I’ll have a meeting tonight with our counsel to arrange everything necessary for a safe journey.” He made a small pause and then he added “You’ll be traveling alone.”

What? Why, in the name of Lilith, would I be traveling alone?

I furrowed my brows. “Alone? Why would I be traveling alone when I have an entourage? What about provisions, my wardrobe, gifts for the Princess, not to mention weapons? I can’t carry all of that by myself.”

“All the leaders travel alone when they are summoned for the Alliance. Your entourage will arrive a few days after you. You’ll be traveling with only the essentials, meaning a few provisions, a change of clothing, and your main weapon.”

“Can I at least take Nemain with me?”

“No. She’ll be traveling with your entourage.”

I stopped walking and I gave him the full weight of my green eyes.

“This is my first summoning. What if someone attacks me?”

“If someone dares to attack you, the leader of a powerful clan, then I’m sure you will be more than capable of defending yourself.” I opened my mouth to speak, but he raised his hand to silence me. “There will be no discussion about this matter, Selene. All the leaders travel alone to Gorudenshiti when they are summoned. It’s tradition and you can’t show weakness.”

I bowed to him. “As you wish, grandfather.”

Later at night, Nemain was in my chambers, brushing my hair before I went to sleep. I was sitting in a blue velvet bench, in front of a mirrored dresser, watching the ivory comb sliding in my scarlet hair. Nemain was humming a song, concentrated on her task. The dim light of burning candles casted strange shadows on the walls. I gave her a meticulous stare, something that I never did before. I’m so used to have her around that I never paid attention to her physical traces. She has the typical beauty of an earth demon. Her skin is pale green, as are her eyes, a green so liquid that they looked almost transparent. Her long hair was falling on her back in perfect curls, a dark green equal to ivy. She’s tall, slender of body, with small breasts, long graceful legs, and a narrow waist. Her mouth is big, with plump lips, and her nose was perfectly symmetrical. She truly is beautiful. No wonder she was Satyr’s favorite mistress.

“Nemain?” I called, ending her humming. She looked at me through the mirror, giving me a gentle smile. “Can I ask you a question? I mean an impertinent question.” She nodded, still smiling while brushing my hair, turning her attention back to her task. “How many of the leaders went to your body?”

She turned her green eyes at me again. There was no shame in them. Why would it be? Demons are a lusty lot.

“I enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh with five leaders, my lady.”

“Can you tell me who were them or is it a secret that you want to keep it to yourself?”

She giggled. “It’s no secret, my lady. I bedded earth, fire, void, ice, and also wind.”

So that leaves Khaos, Arawn, Kitsune, and myself out of the list. Of course, she would never bed me. I’m not a lover of women and, as long as I know, she isn’t one either. Though my father was a widow, as for my grandfather, at least she had the good sense of not seducing them.

“What can you tell me about them?” I asked, curious. “I want to know more about my fellow leaders, something other than their main weapons and namesakes.”

“Which one do you want to know first?” she asked while starting to braid my hair.

Which one makes me more intrigued? I thought about it. How about my father’s closest friend?

“Begin with the Lord of the Flames.”

She gave me an amused smile. “Do you wish to know about his sexual prowls?”

“No! I don’t have interest in such things. I want to know about his character, his personality. What he likes, what he doesn’t like, and so on.”

“Aragon Agni is a man who appreciates solitude. He always leaves the bed after he gets what he wants, which means pleasure.”

“He likes to be left alone in his own thoughts.”

“I guess we can say that. He also likes books, enjoys fine wine, smokes tobacco, and he’s highly sexual.”

“All fire demons are.”

“True. He’s the most handsome of the leaders, in my humble opinion, and the best between the sheets. His body always irradiates warmth, a heat of some sort, as if he’s feverish. It gets worse when he’s having sex, like he’s on fire. He’s a good man, a proud leader who cares deeply for his people. He’s also sarcastic and arrogant.” She stopped talking for a brief moment and then she added in a soft voice “Princess Nyx will be very fortunate if he’s the chosen one.”

“My grandfather thinks he’ll be our next Supreme King.”

“I think the same.” She gave a deep sigh, like she was sad. “Pity, though. Things could be so different.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean nothing, my lady.” She finished the long braid and then she sat on the edge of my bed. I turned on the bench, giving her my full attention. “Satyr, the leader of my own clan, is a down to earth man. He likes tea, gardening, enjoys long walks, and has a deep interest for medicinal herbs and poisons. He’s a charming man,considerate of others, and he likes to tell stories. He also is the one who laughs more. He’s always amused.”

“Did you love him?” I asked, curious.

First, she gave me silence, and then she nodded.

“I did, my lady, with all my heart, but he never loved me back. I don’t regret leaving the Emerald Forest. I’m very happy here, as a part of your entourage.” She gave me a smile and I smiled back. “Nodens… Well, he’s like the night itself, mysterious, a fascinating man, and he's incredible in bed. Oh, and he’s very big in that field.”

I raised one eyebrow. “What field?”

She gave me a crooked smile, clearly teasing me. “I'm praising his cock.” Oh. I think that I’m blushing now. She seemed to wonder about something else before saying “I’m not sure who is the biggest, him or Aragon.” I cleared my throat and she giggled. “I beg your pardon, my lady. My mind was drifting. As I was saying, Nodens likes to hunt, smokes tobacco, and he likes to play luck games. Though he can be intimidating at first, you can approach him easily. He likes to talk about any subject. I also think that he’s a romantic man. When a woman catches his attention, he gives her beautiful things.”

“Had he give you something?”

“He did. My pearl necklace, the one that I only wear on special occasions, was given to me by Nodens. He also bought me a hand fan with ostrich feathers, very expensive. It was stolen from me by some envious whore when I left the Emerald Forest. I still weep its lost.”

“He seems to be very fond of you, Nemain. Why didn’t he marry you?”

She looked at me like I alreday knew the answer to it.

“He’s a leader, my lady. He can only marry nobility. And what we had was only meant for pleasure. We like each other, but there is no love between us. The only man that I loved was my lord Satyr and he was the one who told me that a servant couldn’t aspire to marry a leader.”

“That was cruel. Our History tells that some leaders did marry servants whom they fell in love with.”

“I know that, my lady. It was his way of telling me to stop dreaming about something that would never happen. I beg your forgiveness for my impertinence, but if love never knocks on your door, and the day comes when your grandfather will have to persuade you to marry someone, than remember my advice. Tell him to choose Nodens. Don’t be afraid of him just because he’s made of darkness. He has a kind and generous heart.”

“Nodens is one of the candidates to the royal hand. He can be our next Supreme King.”

She shook her head. “It will be Aragon Agni.”

“How can you be so certain of it, Nemain?”

“I have my suspicions.” I opened my mouth to speak, but she shook her head. “One day, I will tell you all about it, but not tonight.” If she wants to keep this a secret, I can’t force her to tell me. Well, I could, but I won’t. “Frost is a cold and serious man, practical and pragmatic. The way he talks is harsh, but what he says is usually on point. No woman can forget his kiss, I'll tell you that. Frost’s body is cold to the touch. His temperature is always lower than normal. He likes politics, chess matches, everything that has to do with strategy and mind games. He also appreciates music. He’s surprisingly gentle in bed. He likes foreplay and to extend intercourse for as long as possible, no rush in it. I think he’s the only candidate that might be in love with the Princess. If that bares truth, then I pity him, for she will never turn her eyes to him.”

“Why?”

“She prefers fire to ice.”

Now I’m really surprised.

“And how do you know that, Nemain?”

“As I said, I have my suspicions.” She stood from the bed. “You should sleep, my lady. Tomorrow your journey will begin, so you need to rest.”

“Tomorrow?” I asked, shocked. “But I didn’t arrange anything yet.”

“Your grandfather did. You’ll sail tomorrow to Japan.”

Well, that was fast. Nemain gave me a bow and she started to walk toward the door to leave.

“Wait!” I shouted. “You didn’t tell me about Kuso, Khaos, nor Kitsune.”

“Oh. I don’t know much about Khaos. He’s a solemn man and he doesn’t speak to servants. He thinks that we are beneath him. He’s also proud and arrogant, for what I’ve heard. Kuso is a serious man. He won’t address you because you’re a woman, so he’ll wait for you to approach him first. It isn’t because he disrespects our kind, but because he seems to have trouble to approach women, but if you talk to him, he’ll talk back. He’s shy in bed, so the woman is usually the one who gives the first step, but he doesn’t disappoint on his performance. He’s actually very talented with his mouth.” She gave me a meaningful smile. “He likes to drink sake, to read poetry, and he’s passionate about birds. He’s also an artist and he likes to paint. I modeled for him and that was how I was able to seduced him. He may seem a cold man at first, but he isn’t. You only need to gain his trust. If he likes you enough, he’ll show you the moon.”

“What about Kitsune?”

“Be careful with that one. Kitsune is a fox, so he behaves like one. You must pay attention to his actions. He’s a trickster and a good liar. Beware of him, my lady. He can read your mind if you don’t raise your shields against him. He never hides his animal parts from others. He also has a weakness for humans. I don’t know from experience, for I was never invited to his bed, but I heard from other servants that he’s very good between the sheets, very creative.” She gave me an enigmatic smile while opening the door. “Good night, my lady. May Lilith bless your dreams.”

The door closed behind her softly. I was still sitting on the bench, staring at my reflection. I’m a demi-demon. Even if I wanted to disguise my true nature, I couldn’t. It was visible in my physical appearance. I could use magic, but it would be an illusion, and it wouldn’t help to cover up my human body. I could change the color of my hair, my eyes, my skin tone with magic, but I couldn’t disguise my small frame or my curves. Will the other leaders think of me as less because of it? I must admit that I’m nervous with this summoning, for having to meet all the leaders in person. I had been able to escape that dreadful fate… up until now. The fact that I’m going to travel alone also makes me anxious, but my grandfather is right in one thing. I can’t show weakness. Whatever it comes, I’ll face it. I stood from the bench and I went to bed. With a simple wave of my hand, I blew the candles away. Now I can’t see anything other than this immense pitch-black swallowing my room. Darkness can be scary. Telling otherwise would be a lie. I tucked my head in my pillow and I closed my eyes, hoping that Lilith would bless me with good dreams.