Interlude - Meluza- Before the battle

  There was so much confidence on Lilith's side, it was hard to believe. She had recently ascended to the third aura stage but how could she be so confident against the ancients? I had heard a lot about Amaya and she felt like power, a lot of power, but would that be enough? Her kitsune did not have seven tails yet and her dragon was young. Lily's recent ascension came out of nowhere but she was a fledgling demon lord, this was out of her league.

  My gaze roamed over the massive towers, a recent addition to the defences. I had witnessed a lot since I had joined this new faction but their growth was certainly impressive. The ritual where they had created a new dryad was still seared in my mind. Had I made the right choice, joining them? Pazuzu was getting pushier and I was sure he was behind the disappearance of a few of my patrols. He could be marching straight into my territory while I was gone.

  Sadly, I was too weak to stop him. I needed help and since I was his prize he would have no reason to attack my home when I was gone. It was unlikely that he would make a move until this battle was resolved anyway. The risks were too high until it was clear who survived this war.

  A young succubus approached me and bowed. "Lady Meluza, Lady Lilith would like to have a word. Please follow me."

  "Of course." I replied.

  Lilith had not asked for much from me so far. That she would hold the real negotiations just before the battle was not unexpected. I would not have much time to deliberate right now and she knew that I was desperate. Abaddon would never offer me a good deal and there was no time to negotiate anyway. I was at her mercy.

  Still, I provided value in the upcoming battle. I could leverage that, hopefully. Lilith was known to be shrewd but she was not known to be cruel. I had used my freedom to gather some information and it seemed like the old demon lord had softened recently. Should I try to seduce her? I snorted. Seducing a succubus was not going to end in my favour.

  While I was contemplating the situation I noticed that my guide was not leading me towards the palace, or a command area. We were going into the abandoned part of the city, which had been heavily trapped. Or maybe we were going through it towards the front. Did Lilith want to show me the approaching army to intimidate me?

  "In here, my lady." The succubus bowed and pointed towards a dark building. I gave her a nod and entered.

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  The shadows seemed to awaken all around me as the light disappeared. Even with my darkvision I was not able to perceive anything. Those were not a great start to the negotiations. Also, since when did Lilith have such shadow powers?

  I was getting uneasy and prepared a magical shield. I did not want to seem weak but the situation did not look like the negotiation I had expected.

  "Now, now. No reason to be anxious." A voice purred from the darkness. That was not Lilith!

  "Show yourself!" I summoned the earth and unleashed a shockwave around me. It fizzled out into the seemingly endless darkness. Suddenly the world lurched, then the shadows slowly disappeared.

  I looked around, ready for an attack. But I was no longer in the city. I was in a room made from obsidian. In front of me was the black throne and on it a demon I recognized. Black eyes like the void watched me in amusement. The dark long hair was partially covering her pale face.

  "Ashema…"

  "That is Lady Ashema for you." She replied with a hint of menace in her voice.

  "Lady Ashema." I said. This was not a fight I could win. How did she teleport me? She must have prepared a ritual with her agents while Lilith had evacuated the city. "Why have you…"

  "Invited you?" Ashema finished. "There is a historic battle happening, I wanted you to watch. It would be such a shame if you got hurt." She licked her lips. "Did you know that Pazuzu is offering some artefacts in exchange for you? Really, you should have accepted his offer."

  "Are you intending to sell me?" I asked.

  "Sell you? I am not a monster!" She said with a sinister smile. "Oh no, I have just invited you for tea. A nice meal between fellow demon lords while watching something entertaining. Like a little war. And then, after the war, we can have a talk about your future."

  I swallowed. My allies were not here and they were busy. If they had to cross Ashema they might not even come for me. Who knew how many of Lilith's faction survived, or if Lilith herself survived. If they were weakened they would not be able to challenge Ashema and Pazuzu.

  "Are you participating in this battle?" I dared to ask. If she had truly joined we were all doomed.

  "Of course not! Abaddon is a true monster, you know? What he did to his poor master back in the day, shameful, really. I am a neutral observer, of course." While she spoke she summoned a crystal ball. It grew in size and projected the battlefield. I could see the armies march towards Lilith's city. I could see the ancient lords, in all their glory. How did it come to this?

  Ashema's maids entered and brought me some tea, and biscuits. I was not given a chair but they provided some cushions for me on the ground. And some watched the fight. I watched with anguish as I saw Lilith get beaten, pummeled to the ground. Until she calmly took control and executed Focalor.

  "What…" I watched, confused.

  "Oh my, it looks like little Lilith has learned a few tricks. How amusing." Ashema commented.

  Next we saw Lucy fight Levathius. A doomed fight for the kitsune, there was no way she could stand up to an ancient lord. Or so I thought. I watched first with horror, then with confusion and in the end with hope as she killed her opponent.

  Ashema finally stopped smiling and looked shocked. "How…"

  But the battle was not over. We saw Amaya too, as she faced Abaddon. As he pulled the glaive Ashema smiled again. Yet it did not go as expected. Somehow she seemed to control the storm around her, against an ancient lord. As the battle ended a smoking corpse fell from the sky and Amaya was very much alive.

  I looked at Ashema and saw something new, fear.