Stathis’ head throbbed and ached, as she slowly blinked her eyes open, vision wavering for a moment before returning to normal. They were… still in the underground chamber? Although everything was covered with a fine layer of stone dust, probably from whatever that magical effect had been. There was a strange squealing sound, and Stathis turned her head, shaking off the aching sensation and healing herself. Semari had pinned one of the street kids down and was tickling them, fingers running over their flanks, forcing them into laughter, their body shaking.

She pulled herself to her feet, hoping her armour wasn’t too dented. Parth was squatting in a corner, a pained smile on her face, two of the street kids having a conversation with her. Well, it looked less like a “conversation” and more like the two of them talking at her, but at least it didn’t seem to be a fight.

In the centre of the room were three black podiums, each shaped into thrones, the backs shifting and warping with ever-changing arrays of spikes, spines and other ornamentation. She couldn’t see who was in the closest one, but the two others were occupied by Skotadi and the… incarnation? Avatar? Of the Bell.

Skotadi looked different – she still looked under-fed and malnourished, but she was taller now, closer to a gangly adolescent than a child. Her dress was baggy still, but was closer to fitting her frame, her horns bigger now, wound about with dark jewellery. Her throne had merged into that of her sibling, the shape of it rippling around her. They hadn’t changed form, but their clothing had improved itself, their robe now obsidian midnight shot through with silver starlight, small and stubby horns poking through their hair. The resemblance was undeniable, although there was now an obvious age difference between the two of them, a child and an adolescent.

Stathis walked around the triad of thrones, gently pushing on the back of Janaxia’s – it was rock solid, not budging at all against the pressure she applied. When she pushed harder, putting more of her strength into it, then a dome of energy became briefly visible, surrounding the three of them. Stathis tried putting her hand against it, feeling cold energy permeate into her flesh, through her armour.

‘They’ve been like that for a while.’ Semari continued to tickle her victim, before picking them up and throwing them into the air. ‘Dunno what they’re talking about though. Think they’re probably being, like, creepy at each other?’

‘Probably? No explosions or demons though? And why didn’t anyone try and wake me up?’

‘Eh, you’ve been through a rough time lately. Figured you could do with the rest. Not like we’ve got Pajaran to heal you either. You seem fine now though.’ She caught them, before spinning them around by the arms – that was probably just playing, right?

‘So anything happened?’

‘Skotadi showed up, but she’s, like, teenaged now. Did have a lot more bling, but Janaxia finger-waggled at her and some of it vanished. Then they all throned up and they’ve been like that since. Dunno how long it’s been though – not like there’s clocks or anything down here.’ She let go, the child hurtling away, managing to twist and land with a semblance of grace, or at least avoiding any injuries. Before Stathis could ask any other questions, she’d darted away, grappling a child – Stathis couldn’t tell if it was the same one or a different one.

Stathis walked around the room, circling the triad of thrones, Janaxia coming into view. She was in one of her “casually regal” outfits, without the impracticalities of a full and large dress and masses of jewellery, but there was a silver circlet around her brow, gems studded across her skin, her red dress sleeker and better fitted to her body than Skotadi’s. Her tattoo seemed fresh and vivid again, spinning at a steady rate. A faint aura-bubble of thin shadow surrounded the three of them – although none of their lips moved, their heads occasionally moved, probably showing who was talking to whom.

She carefully walked around, not wanting to get snagged by it, going over to Parth, who gave her a look of absolute misery, rising to her feet and taking hold of Parth’s sleeve. The “conversation” didn’t stop, one of the speakers standing and still addressing Parth. It sounded as though they were describing the group down here, and who got on with whom and what current arguments and disagreements there were.

‘Anything happen?’

Parth gave her a look of gratitude before answering. ‘The darkness rises, and engages in conversation. Silent shadows.’

‘Any idea what they’re talking about? Or why Skotadi looks older?’

‘Shadows shift to match desires. And kin-conversations are storm-laden.’

At the moment, Skotadi was staring at her sibling, both of them drawing themselves up in their seats, hair rippling as power surged through them, their eyes both abyss-black pits of nothingness. Faint lines of darkness rippled across their brows, coalescing into iron crowns.

‘Isn’t that the spell that makes people obedient?’ The twin crowns flickered into solid, concrete existence, burning with crazed light, the two of them staring at each other. They weren’t entirely stationary, their heights slowly changing as they tried to look down on the other. Were they trying to make the other one submissive? The shielding dome of energy was even more obvious now, vague lines of shadow flicking through empty air.

Stathis watched as Janaxia rolled her eyes before she waved a hand, bolts of darkness flicking out and smacking both the others between the eyes, shattering the crowns. They both seemed dazed as she glared at each of them in turn. Skotadi flushed and squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, the throne visibly shrinking, and then it was the turn of the other one. Janaxia stared them down, until they couldn’t meet her gaze, turning away, throne also deflating.

‘Should we be worried?’

Parth managed to shake off the child grabbing them, although they didn’t stop talking. ‘Darkness calls to darkness. Even through long, lonely years, connection persists. And a warden to protect.’

‘You mean Janaxia? I guess they’ve probably not had people do much other than use them as weapons or tools. So what do we do now?’

In a single motion, Parth drew a blade and sliced at the barrier. It connected with a solid chiming sound, shadows rippling out from the point of impact, dense and thick. When she pushed on the blade, it didn’t penetrate any deeper, the swirling darkness getting thicker and thicker.

Janaxia looked up from her probably-conversation, irritation across her features. She waved her hand, and the dome went totally opaque.

Stathis sighed. ‘I guess that means we wait? If this takes too long, then I can try breaking through, I suppose.’ She pressed her hand against the dome – it now felt flat and smooth, glossy like obsidian beneath her palm. ‘Is there any food or anything to do?’

She turned around to face Parth, but one of the urchins was in front of her face, being held up by Parth. They grinned, before starting to speak, carrying on as though there had already been a conversation, peppering Stathis with questions about apparently everything, in a continual breathless rush – who was she, where had she come from, was the armour comfortable, how had she learned to fight, who was Janaxia, what the dark dome was…

Stathis tried to pick out a few threads from the torrent of questions, giving answers, but that just vaguely directed the flow, before returning to a generalised barrage, Stathis doing all she could to keep up. The child didn’t ever seem to tire, or run out of breath – had they been empowered somehow? Or were they just this perky and hyperactive?

By the time the sphere of darkness blinked out of existence with a cool puff of air, Stathis felt brain-dead, her thoughts mushy from having to try and keep up with the child’s constant questioning. She’d probably given away several state secrets without realising it as well, but it had been impossible to just blank them. Parth had spent the time napping in a corner, before waking up and patrolling, stalking into the darkness and then coming back, without anything to report.

Janaxia’s throne lowered itself to the floor before vanishing, leaving her standing there. She coughed and glared at the other two, who did the same. Skotadi was trying to imitate Janaxia’s poise and grace, although her limbs were a bit gangly and awkward, not entirely in proportion. Would she grow up somehow and reach adulthood? Being stuck at that age for decades or centuries would probably be rough on her. And anyone that had to deal with her!

‘That was rather lengthier than I expected, but an agreement has now been reached. Although it did take some doing to make these two agree.’ She glared at Skotadi, who looked away, looking vaguely ashamed, while the other one just grimaced. ‘Now that Skotadi is returned to us, then she will be able to aid us in resolving this situation. As will her sibling. Isn’t that right?’ From the way that her voice hardened, that had been a point of particular contention, her eyes flashing emerald as she stared down at them. Their night-black robe rippled protectively and they couldn’t meet her eyes, but they nodded, seeming somewhat grumpy about it.

‘OK. So what does that actually mean? And, uh, not to be rude, but do they have a name? It might be useful to be able to refer to them properly.’

‘Armoniki seemed appropriate. A useful reminder. Now, they and their… allies… have stayed down here to remain safely out of the way, as there are tunnels connecting to various places in the city itself. This is how they have been keeping supplied. Although they did also purloin a number of relics, which will doubtless cause some commotion when such thefts are noticed. Nevertheless, it means that we can attempt an ambush on our foes, especially as the pair of them seem to have some ability to narrow down the location of our foes. Now, in future, if you do have anything of tactical use, it would be best to inform me, as your commanding officer, immediately.’

‘You haven’t…!’

‘We will discuss the details later. But it seemed appropriate, and Skotadi is of an age where she needs some structure in her life. Especially after becoming rather less deceased than was expected. I would prefer to have rather more time to adjust to the circumstances, but matters are rather strained and urgent at the moment, so this will have to suffice.’

Dragging whatever the hell Skotadi and Armoniki actually were into formal military ranks seemed likely to cause more problems than it solved, and Armoniki didn’t seem like the type that would take well to being ordered around, but it seemed easier to let it go than to argue.

‘It might be easier to not let anyone else know?’

‘While I agree with you, I would like to comment that you seem rather too happy to keep secrets, considering your oaths. But this is neither the time or place for such a discussions. And Skotadi doesn’t yet have the figure for the dress uniform, and the field uniform is rather unflattering to everyone, so I will spare her that indignity. I’m sure you can pull some strings to have her counted as an irregular in some fashion? Perhaps seconded to the Sethan detachment?’

‘That’s probably something that can be done. As long as no-one starts any rumours about her!’

Skotadi turned to look at her, eyes bright, unsettling mouth smiling, all fangs and sharp edges. Janaxia coughed at her, and Skotadi plucked at her skirt, making a vague curtsey and dipping her head, oh-so-slightly.

‘My thanks, for aiding Janaxia. It is a pleasure to be material again.’ She twisted in her clothing, the fine material slithering around her body, then winced as Janaxia glared at her. Stathis caught the faint edge of telepathic disapproval, Janaxia probably telling them off for something.

‘So, uh… how did you come back?’

Armoniki answered. ‘We are very durable. And Janaxia bears my sibling’s mark and her seal, and her core. Although her form may have been rent asunder, we are hard to destroy. We have seen long ages come and ago, long enough to wear mountains to dust and rivers to turn into seas, and yet we…

‘I get it, you’re immortal and hard to kill. But your other sibling is getting pulled apart and used to make the black shards. Can’t they do anything about it? The two of you have bodies, can’t they create one for themselves and fight back?’

Bound, in chains of power, and kept weak and feeble. They slumbered for centuries, kept far from soul-prey, unable to feast. Ever were they the hungriest of us all, taking an ocean of blood to waken them to consciousness. Not for sin did they drink so deep, but a thirst that couldn’t be quenched, a need to stay themselves lest they become a ravaging beast.

‘Who actually made you? Most of the demons don’t seem capable of anything that advanced.’

A crafting beyond any else done, then or now. The very warp and weft of the world-that-was, bound into artefacts of the utmost power, made to sustain our kin, even as the world-that-was faded to dust and death.

‘Then how come you look like, uh… children? Shouldn’t you be a little more grown up by now?’

Both Skotadi and Armoniki glared at her, Skotadi looking annoyed, her clothing fluttering into something diaphanous before Janaxia tutted and it solidified.

‘Such is not within our power!’ She hissed, looking deeply aggrieved. ‘Only through destruction may we shed our forms and change them. And the experience was… unpleasant.’

‘Well, hopefully it won’t happen again. And maybe you can do the rest yourself later?’ Stathis stepped forward, lightly tapping her on the top of her head. Skotadi glared up at her, her hair soft and warm. ‘Sorry. Just checking that you’re physically here.’ She swiftly removed her hand – Skotadi looked about ready to bite it off! ‘And don’t fight with your sibling, even if you are related in odd ways. At some point, I want to sit down with your two and figure out what’s properly going on, but I guess that’s going to have to wait – for now, we need to deal with the demons around. Can you command them or anything? That would be helpful.’

I have greater power to bind than my sibling. There was a smug look from Armoniki, Skotadi baring her teeth. But I shall wish for the payment that was discussed! Skotadi turned on them and they glared at each other. If they kept having silent conversations, this could get even more confusing! While they probably-argued, she walked up to Janaxia.

‘So, is there anything I need to know? What did you agree? And what did they tell you?’

Despite their nonchalant attitudes, they do have something of a care for their errant sibling. Not least, I suspect, because they could also be used in a similar fashion, which would be likely unpleasant. But the rest is much as you would surmise. Although I would rather Skotadi had informed me of this when we had met. Had I known that I was so special, then it would have helped alleviate some of my more negative feelings at the time.

The air between the two of them was starting to darken, anti-light warping the space. Janaxia shook her head and tutted again, but flicking a pair of bolts at them, the bursts hitting their shoulders, the darkness draining into their skin. Janaxia glared at each of them in turn, probably joining their telepathic conference.

As that went on, Stathis turned to Semari, who was now wrestling with one of the urchins, their body bent over her knee. They were giggling despite the position, apparently finding it fun.

‘You ready? I don’t really want to hang around, so if we can find out where to attack, then I want this done with, fast.’

‘Hey, does this mean I get to rip off someone else’s arms?’

‘I really wish you wouldn’t make a habit of that! But it’s probably a wizard, so yeah. Makes them a lot easier to fight if they can’t cast anything.’

Semari bent the urchin’s back even further, Stathis wincing, but they seemed fine with it. ‘Sweet! And, uh, what’s the deal with Janaxia and the freaky twosome? She gonna collect the set?’

‘I’ve no idea. But she’s keeping them in line? I think?’

Skotadi had now retreated partially behind Janaxia, using her a shield while glaring at her sibling. Janaxia donked them on the head with the side of her hand, and the glared at her, before she met their look. Then they looked away and mumbled an apology.

Stathis sighed. ‘As long as they don’t blow each other up, then they’re probably useful. Although I would like to say that I always thought Skotadi was suspicious.’

‘Yeah, but you just thought she was, like, normal-creepy, not super-mega creepy. Kinda wish I’d made a bet on this.’