Winterfall

Once Théoden and Maria were out of the room I turned and felt my brow furrow as I stared at Crimson. “Killing the whole Council?” I couldn’t help but spat out some spit as the anger within me burned heavily.

“It wasn’t me.” Crimson muttered quietly.

I didn’t buy it, only a few people had access to my poison and two of them were standing in this room. “So, how do you explain it then?”

“I don’t know… I drank the wine too.” Crimson said.

That was the truth, her lips did touch the wine glass and some did go down her throat. If she was to poison anyone why would she poison herself? Let alone myself for the matter.

“How this one could have happened then, unless it was the new recruit…” I said as I trailed off in thought. Our most recent recruit from Hells was a lesser devil and perhaps they strayed a bit from the plans we set in motion. “I’ll have to check up on them…”

“Yes and check yourself too Marcel. You are stepping a thin line with me.” Crimson hissed.

“What are you talking about?” I arched my eyebrow even further if that was possible.

“You and her are getting oddly close.”

“And? Wasn’t that the bet? I had to sleep with her…”

“That doesn’t mean you have to take her to dinner.” Crimson said, crossing her arms.

“Are you jealous that I spent time with her?”

“Please, jealous of that..”

I cut her off with a kiss and she willingly kissed me back. However, she ended the kiss rather quickly and slapped me across the face. “I know you don’t know what love is, so don’t go playing with my heart. Focus on your prize.” She snarled and in a misty flash she vanished before my eyes.

“Women…. I will never understand them.” I said as I scratched my head.

I teleported myself out of the chambers and in one of the inns in the kingdom. This inn I knew was the inn where my lesser devil was staying at.

“How may I help you?” The man at the front desk asked.

“I am looking for Pavlo.”

“Ah, that fuckin bastard? He hasn’t paid and I am about to kick him out.” The front desk man said.

I groaned and reached into my pocket and handed him three platinum pieces. “I believe that should cover the back pay and cost for the room for the next few weeks.”

He shook his head, “I afraid he has caused some damage. And charged quite the bit of food bill.”

“Worthless help… “ I muttered beneath my breath and handed the man another two platinum. “Does that cover it?”

“One more shall do it.”

I had no idea if the man was being honest or just using me for a quick coin but I didn’t have the time to question. I needed to question Pavlo and his actions. I tossed two more platinum at the man in hopes to cover any future pay.

“Thank ya for your patronage. Check room six for ya.”

I shook my head and headed up the stairs the man pointed at. Foolish bastard going with room six, I swear these lesser devils don’t have a sense of knowledge.

Once I reached the first floor I headed down the wooden hall and counted each door I passed. Upon reaching the sixth door I pressed my ear to the wooden frame and heard Pavlo and another voice talk.

“Ya think the Council is dead yet?”

That voice… I tried so hard to resist groaning in disgust, as it was a female voice, one I was familiar with, Adali. A lesser devil who put herself up on a pedestal as she thought she was better than everyone else.

“I don’t know. Do you think it was wise to poison them all? I mean the way I understand Marcel’s plan, Crimson was acting as Lead.”

“If the bitch dies so what?” Adali said.

Alrighty, I heard enough. I forced my way into their room and shouted, “What the Nine Hells is this Pavlo?”

“Oh! Hi Marcel!” Adali said in a cherry voice.

Whereas all Pavlo could do is stutter, “I… I… Sorry sir.” Pavlo was one of those devils, that had the appearance of a human with jet black hair, tanned skin, and a regular fit. Pavlo was one not to care too much about his appearance as long as his appearance got his job done.

Adali on the other hand was a classic tramp. She had hair auburn colored hair that flowed down her back to the top of her butt. Her skin was fair with freckles across her rosy cheeks and her eyes a baby blue. Her chest popped out of her thin strapped black shirt and her butt fit snugged in her ripped black pants.

What Pavlo was doing with her had to of been nothing but trouble as that is all that hellish woman was known for.

“You better be sorry! You two are fools!” I shouted my feet stomped against the wooden planks as I stormed closer to the two idiots.

“Ya may want to quiet it down. You broke the door and there are other residents here.” Adali said with a smirk.

I looked back at the door as the wood had splintered and broken off in several pieces. I took several deep breaths and lowered my voice as I stopped in my tracks. “What in the Nine Hells do you two think you are doing?” I snarled in a whisper.

“Taking our own action.” Adali said, “Pavlo told me your plan and I found it foolish.”

“And yours wasn’t? I had a bit of that drink too.”

“Eh, killing you isn’t the worst thing in the world. Besides, aren't you immune to poison?” Adali said with a shrug.

I couldn’t help my rage anymore. I slapped the shit out of that lesser devil. “You know, I may just feed you to the Captain himself.” I grappled her and stared at Pavlo, “If you ever step out of bounds again, I will discard you too.”

Pavlo nodded in fear as he remained quiet. I teleported out of there with Adali in my arms. I tied her up to a tree just outside the kingdom. “I order you to stay put and tell Captain Théoden your involvement with the Council.” I used my manipulation against her, forcing her to stay tied up until the Captain found her. Knowing how my manipulation worked I had a good feeling that she wouldn’t be a problem anymore.

As for Pavlo, he had one more chance to prove himself worthy or perhaps he would suffer the same fate and be fed on a platter to the silver dragon.