The Devil's Smile Chapter Four

Chapter 4: Warnings



"Where have you been?" Enepsigos started, catching sight of Lord Zepar in a chair he had turned to face the door. The look on his face was stormy and cold. She slowly shut the door behind her, then turned to face him.



"Out." He slowly rose from the chair and she stood her ground, watching as he crossed to stand beside her. She could feel the waves of power and anger emanating from him. He gave a scowl.

"I specifically told you to wait here. I told you not to cause any more trouble. You deliberately disobeyed me." His nose wrinkled a little. "And you've been in a fight." Enepsigos crossed her arms.



"I have no explanations to give you," she said coolly, her voice quiet but fierce. Zepar sighed, shaking his head.

"Fine. But you've proven that I cannot trust you as far as I can throw you. I will find out what you've been up to. I promise you that. But in the meantime, you need someone to watch you." Enepsigos's eyes narrowed a little and Zepar raised his arm to perform the summoning of a second minion.

Enepsigos knew an instant beforehand who he was summoning, and she stared as the demon minion in question took shape before them.



"Enigma," Enepsigos hissed, the venom in her tone obvious. Enigma just gave her a smirk, returning her glare with one of her own. Enepsigos's eyes broke contact first as she glanced to Lord Zepar. "You want her to watch me?" Enigma gave a cold little laugh.

"Who better to keep you in line?" she asked. Enepsigos, upon getting no reply from Zepar, grimaced.

They had been born together, when Zepar first learned to summon. The art of summoning was difficult, and only those of a specific caliber could do so. The minions one could summon were from the ether, passed down from father to son through bloodlines, but Enepsigos and Enigma had been created when Zepar summoned them. They had never existed independently before he had learned the skill of summoning.

When a demon summons a minion, that minion is the reflection of his soul, his true being. It was hard to summon more than one, but for Zepar the skill had come easily. At the time of his first summoning, his soul had been conflicted, and instead of bringing one minion to life as his servant, he had brought two. Born together. That's what they were. His darkness and his light: Enepsigos and Enigma, the veritable twins of his soul.

"So be it. I have business to take care of," Zepar finally said, turning towards the door. Enepsigos moved to stop him, but Enigma just gave him a curtsy.

"My Lord."



"If either of you causes any trouble for me, I will banish you both," Zepar stated. "This is your final warning, Enepsigos. I will not tolerate any more stepping out of line. Now, I have business to take care of with a number of demons, and you will stay here and wait for my return. Behave." Enepsigos watched him go, her own face reflecting his stormy one from earlier, and Enigma gave a small smile before the door shut and the two minions turned to examine one another.



"Well then," Enigma stated calmly. "Care to tell me where you were? And fighting no less." Enepsigos glared, then turned away, crossing the floor towards the fireplace and the comfortable chair. "Did you win? Most likely not. I bet you were off chasing old boyfriends."

Enepsigos turned back, glaring at Enigma over her shoulder.



"On the bond that binds us, however obnoxious it may be, I will make you keep this a secret until the grave, Enigma," she at last said, her look cold. Enigma blinked in surprise, pulling up short.

"What am I meant to keep secret exactly?"

"I was following Lord Zepar. And I found out some very troubling news." Enepsigos sank into a seat on the chair, and Enigma, contrary to Enepsigos's plan, took a seat on the arm of the chair to listen.



Enepsigos sighed. "Lord Zepar slipped out to the Mirror Valley, and he did it to meet an angel."

"An angel? Why? Did he kill him?"

"The angel was a girl. I fought her to a tie at dawn. That's why I was late getting back." Enepsigos bowed her head a little, gritting her teeth. "Enigma...I think...I think he's in love with her."

Being created as mirrors of the demon of seduction's soul, Enigma and Enepsigos shared deep feelings of love and devotion unnatural to most demon minions. Enigma, as Enepsigos's dark reflection, loved Zepar just as much as Enepsigos herself did. Both of them were quiet a moment. Then at last Enigma spoke, her voice worried.

"You are sure?"

Enepsigos rose, adjusting her boot and drawing a deep breath.



"No doubt. I followed him to the lake in the Mirror Valley and saw them, and then I confronted her in the woods afterward, and she admitted as much to me. She's in love with him as well." Enigma had a pained look on her face.

"He loves an angel?" she whispered. "It adds insult to injury."

"Indeed." Enepsigos sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know what to do, Enigma, and I wouldn't tell you if it wasn't a serious situation. You cannot tell him we know."

"Absolutely not!" Enigma agreed, looking stricken. "But something must be done about this." She rose and Enepsigos watched as the second minion circle about in thought. Then Enigma drew up short, a look of determination on her face.



"I won't say a word, Enep," she said softly. "And I'll help you. In this at least we agree. We will bring an end to this together." Enepsigos gave a sincere nod.

"The sooner, the better. That woman got my fur on end." She brushed a hand through her tail and then sniffed. "We'll show him what happens when you brush us off." She looked back to Enigma and held out her hand. "A truce, for now." Enigma reached over and took it.

"Yes. Between us, for the time being, a truce." Enepsigos finally gave a small smile.

"It's good to have you back, Enigma. Very good indeed."

***



"Lady Sachael?" Sachael turned, catching sight of the Archangel Sidriel, and gave a welcoming smile.

"Sidriel! I hardly see you in my garden anymore." It was true. Before becoming the Archangel, Sidriel had been one of those angels that worked beneath the Queen of Heaven, Sachael's predecessor. Since becoming Archangel, however, he had rarely visited his old haunts. But today, however, was not a pleasure visit.

"Sachael, I'm looking for Mihr. Have you seen her?" Sachael blinked.

"That's hardly a way to greet me. You've not even said hello." She smiled and ushered him over. "Come, give me a kiss and I'll tell you what you want to know." Her smile was a little coy, and he sighed, relenting, and crossing the distance between them. Then he surprised her by taking up her hand instead.



"Lady Sachael, you're looking radiant this morning. It's well into the morning, however," he straightened and she met his molten silver eyes, "and I cannot find Mihr anywhere. I'm worried she may have - "

"Mihr is probably back at the citadel," Sachael said suddenly. "I expect her here soon. She has things to do for me this morning."

"Oh?"

"Yes, I - "

"Hello! Lady Sachael! I'm sorry I'm late!" Mihr came hurrying up, out of breath, along the path into the garden.



When she saw the Archangel, however, she froze, looking concerned.

"Lord Sidriel! I did not expect to see you here." Sachael gave her a gentle look, motioning for her to approach and join them.

"The Archangel was looking for you, Mihr," she said as the girl drew close. Mihr looked to Sidriel who smiled slightly.

"It's true, I was."

"I was supposed to work with Lady Sachael today. Was there something you needed, my Lord?" Mihr asked softly.



"Well, I suppose it can wait until this afternoon, but I had hoped you'd come and sit in on today's council meetings like Lady Sachael did when she was your age," Sidriel replied, considering the options. Sachael was silent. Mihr just looked a little worried. Sidriel smiled slightly. "Don't worry. We shall see you this afternoon if Lady Sachael permits it?" Sachael gave a gracious nod.

"She may go," she said quietly, "but I have need of her this morning."

"Of course." Sidriel backed away and bid them both farewell. Mihr watched him go, then turned back to Lady Sachael.

"So," Sachael said when they were alone, "care to tell me where you have been?" Mihr licked her lips.

"Lady Sachael, I am sorry for being late. I did not mean to be. I was held up." Sachael arched an eyebrow and was quiet for a moment, then finally sighed.

"Mihr, I understand you don't want to tell me where you've been, and if I'm honest, I've a fairly good guess at where you keep running off to in the evenings. I am worried for you, and I think you had best consider what you're doing very carefully. Today, I told Sidriel you were at the citadel. I did not lie to him, but I certainly haven't told him what I know. I would appreciate not being put in the position again. Lord Sidriel and I have a great deal of respect for one another, but if he knew what you were up to, he would die of shock. Do you understand. I advise you to think hard about this, and to be more discreet."

Mihr blinked, then turned away, running a hand into her hair.



She should come clean with her. She should tell Lady Sachael all about Lord Zepar, and that lake, his kisses, and the demon who loved him enough to fight her for him. She should tell Lady Sachael she loved him back.

But the words froze inside her, she could say nothing. Until at long last, she shook her head.

"I can't tell you," she whispered. "I know I should but I can't. I promise I'm being as careful as I can." Sachael narrowed her eyes.

"I think I already know," she repeated, then crossed her arms, choosing then to deliver her punishment. "Today, you were late. I will not tolerate this. Regardless of what you do in the Mirror Valley over your nights, you will not neglect your duties here. Because you were gone, the angel eggs were not tended. This is unacceptable. As a result, you will not visit the Mirror Valley for three days. Am I clear?"



"Lady Sachael...!" Mihr looked back and froze, staring at the angry and hurt look on Sachael's face.

"I know what you're doing, Mihr. I know you're going there, and I know why. You're meeting him, I can see the look on your face every day. This is your punishment. You cannot put a prince of hell before the progeny of heaven. It cannot be. Three days." She turned away. "Three days, and then you can see him again. I will not change my mind." Mihr stared, her heart pounding, as she watched Sachael walk off into the garden again.

Three days before she could see him again. She had only that morning realized she was falling in love with him. Three days? It was such a short time for what she had done, and such a long time in her mind, and Sachael knew it. She was certain of it. It was the perfect punishment.

But could she last so long without seeing him now she knew the truth? What if he didn't come to meet her because she never showed up? She felt her hands shaking a little, and clutched them into fists at her sides.

Fine. She would do it. She'd bear this punishment. And when finally it was done, if Lord Zepar was not waiting for her in the Mirror Valley, she would go into hell itself to find him.

***

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