Stepping into the luxurious interior, the two of them were told to head to the back, as the celebrations were in the garden. Going through the vestibule, they were greeted by a wide garden with flourishing late summer flowers, autumn peeking its nose around the corner by tinting the trees of a slight yellow. Quickly scanning the room, observing the mingling guests, Keela spotted about twenty-four Ivory Razor rings and grinned. The hostess of the party came forward to greet them, her face stiffening as she read Keela’s facial features.

“Why are you here? You should be dead by now”, she said, her stiff expression cold and eyes filled with rage.

“Now, now, Clara, is that any way to greet an old friend of your father’s?” replied Keela, properly putting down the hood of her cloak.

“You’re a traitor!”

“No, I don’t believe I am. I think the only traitors here are Ivory Razor, trying to meddle in everyone’s affairs like they own the place.”

“Screw you. Guards!”

“A little late missy. Sorry about this, but I promised your dad I’d do it.”

She punctuated her statement by putting her dagger through Clara’s throat, effectively causing her to start drowning on her own blood. Raising her hands to her neck, she stumbled back, causing panic to spread to the party. Focusing magic into her ring, Keela invited a small troop of demons, rising from the shadows of the canopee. Bowing to her, they awaited their orders.

“Kill everyone on this estate. Don’t let a single one leave”, she said, turning back towards the interior, heading for the basement door.

And so the killing commenced. Screams echoed through the halls as patrons met their ends, some slower than others. Keela’s head started hurting, the pain climbing to a level so high that her vision completely clouded over in white. Her horns gained another inch of length and her teeth were properly pointy, more akin to beast than elf. Her legs shaking, she stood back up slowly with Velka’s help and continued making her way to the door.

She had seen this door only once before but recognized it immediately. The same treated wood, the same brass handle. Seeing as she didn’t possess the key anymore, she simply kicked it in, making it fall off the hinges and fall down a few stairs. Walking down the stairs slowly, she was met by the guard at the bottom with a drawn sword and futile questions. She dismissed him, striking him hard enough in the stomach that the lock on the door broke and his unconscious body slid across the concrete to the middle of the room, under the incredulous gaze of the Ivory Razor members. Keeping her back straight, she walked over to the throne room, disregarding the confused looks and floating questions. The few who attacked her were met with a quick death by Velka’s sword. Stepping into the tall stone carved room, she stared the chancellor straight in the eye.

“Greetings Chancellor. It’s been a while”, she said, eyeing him like one would a worm.

“Indeed Keela, it has. Or should I say Kalianore?” replied the chancellor, his toothy grin showing a few holes.

“You shouldn’t address me by name. I just came here to finish what I should’ve done a long time ago.”

“And what would that be?”

Two anti-magic squads stepped into the light from the shadows, their faces covered as usual. The chancellor smiled as if this alone gave him the edge to win.

“I had a feeling you would do this”, said Keela, unclipping her cloak.

She rolled her shoulders and turned to Velka.

“Velka, honey, could you stand back please?” she said, a pained look in her eyes.

Simply nodding, Velka took a few paces back, leaning against a wall next to the entrance. The room had now filled up, fifty followers in two distinct groups around Keela. Focusing, she poured magic into one of her new rings, giving her last smile before the darkness shrouded her mind.

From the outside, the show was much less simple. Her skin darkened, her hands lengthened and long claws grew on her fingers and spikes erupted along her back, tearing through the silk dress. Getting low to the floor, what was once Keela grinned and lept to the chancellor in a movement too fast to react to. The man saw the claws too late as they tore into his eyes, allowing the demon to unceremoniously tear his head off, bringing the spine along with it. Throwing it on the floor behind her, she went to work, hacking through the crowd ferociously, not noticing Velka’s silent tears as she avoided looking. Through a shadow, a large looming figure stepped up next to Velka, a recognizable inhuman shape that seemed oddly familiar. The demon prince stood there, from his eight feet of height, looking at the spectacle that was currently unfolding in front of him.

“Is this your handiwork?” asked Velka, putting on her ring.

“Yes”, simply replied Er’arath, shining a sharp grin from ear to ear.

“Was I right in my theories? This would’ve happened sooner or later, whether you had rushed it or not?”

“Yes. Such is the price to pay to work with me.”

“Can you dull her senses when she’s done? Or at least make it so I won’t die? She asked me to kill her. I know this seems preposterous but I’d appreciate it.”

“I’m a demon, bunny girl, not an asshole. I’ll let her have her final few minutes with her loved one.”

“Thanks.”

The two of them stayed put, the prince watching the show, Velka averting her gaze. The tall stone ceiling echoed with the screams of the last Ivory Razor leaders as Keela finished shredding them. Turning her gaze towards Velka, she leapt forward, only to be stopped by a command from the demon. Her eyes were completely glassed over and of a deep crimson, showing immeasurable rage. With a wave of the hand from the prince, she fell to her knees and the demonic features retracted, leaving her covered in blood and shaking from the physical strain of the pain. She fell backwards onto the floor, breathing heavily.

“This is the best I have for you. You have five minutes before she turns again. Good luck”, said the demon prince, walking back in the tunnel.

“Thanks Er’arath. You know, for a demon, you’re pretty alright”, replied Velka, walking towards Keela with a wave towards the prince.

With a slight grin, the demon vanished in the shadows as Velka kneeled next to Keela, slapping her face a bit to wake her up, nestling her in her arms.

“Hey, I’m here”, she simply said, looking at the bloodied features with a shaky smile and watery eyes.

“I was wondering…” replied Keela in a voice between hungover and a whisper.

“You think I would just leave you? Come on Keela, you know me.”

“But I thought I knew Saphielle too… Shows that you can’t ever know for certain…”

“Hey, there’s one thing I’m certain about, one hundred percent.”

“What would that be…?”

Choking up, Velka grabbed Keela in a hug, her tears finally coming out.

“I love you… and I’m so sorry…” she said, sobbing.

“I love you too Velka… and I’m also sorry…” replied Keela, a single tear running down her cheek.

The two hugged for a while, Velka counting seconds feverishly.

“Can I ask a favor…?” asked Keela, breaking away from the hug and holding her hand to the side of Velka’s face.

“Sure thing…”

“Can I have one last kiss…?”

Velka’s tears fell on the bloodied skin, diluting the crimson. She leaned in and softly kissed Keela, pushing the dagger inside of her heart before she turned again. The saltiness of her tears meddled with the taste of iron, making this goodbye most bitter. Breaking away from the contact, she looked at Keela as she let out her last breath, a wide smile on her face. Holding the lifeless body in her arms, she rocked back and forth, muttering under her breath.

“I’m so sorry…”

After what seemed like an eternity, she decided against bringing the corpse back and held her hand one last time, stepping back upstairs after dousing the room in oil. The trail laid back upstairs, where the furniture also ended up covered in oil. Looking back one last time, she set the trail on fire and walked off, down the street and into the crowd, hiding her bloody clothes and her tears under her cloak.

A few days later, she would board a caravan headed towards the east, towards a new country and a new beginning. She looked at the silver band on her hand and put her hand on the one in her necklace with a faint smile. These few next years would be long without Keela. But she would try her best.