Demon's Reign (Updating Every Sat & Sun)

twelve

They all stare quietly as Major Maddox rubs the bridge of his nose.

"La Muerte has killed more soldiers?"

"Yes, sir," Sauda responds.

Maddox leans back in the reclining chair of the office he commandeered, massaging his temples. "This I will have to report," he grumbles. "They will not be happy about this. I'm still dealing with the consequences from Yemen."

"What consequences? We saved the world from a little more innocent blood shed."

"We destroyed a historical castle and left a political nightmare behind."

"So," Sauda sighs, "How bad do you think it'll be?"

Maddox looks at his captain through the phone screen. "They'll be mad at the loss of life and the money behind it, but if you can solve this problem without spending more of the budget, that'll make it easier."

"That's all that matters to these people," Adorna snuffs, "the money."

"It's more than that. It was loss of lives for no reason—at least not a military related reason. That's not even speaking on you going to Iran. It's another political disaster waiting to happen," Maddox says.

"We're only dealing with Demons. No politics— no human politics.," Sauda assures.

"Still, it's more than enough ammunition to get us shut down," Maddox says.

"I don't want to go back."

Sauda looks at the voice. The female Demon's yellow eyes are bright in her face as she determinedly looks at Maddox on the large screen. Her translucent pearl scales shine against her green and aquamarine skin.

It takes Sauda a few minutes, but it clicks. Just eight days ago, this Demon was covered in bruises with hair limp and in a bird's nest on her head. She was scrambling to bond herself to Sauda, clinging onto her arm. In just eight days, she became stronger, and all of it washed the fear out of her eyes.

"If I go back, I'll die," she says.

Sauda looks at every Demon sitting in the conference room as they look back at Maddox, not a single one looking down or away but boldly at him.

"I will not let that happen," Maddox says strongly. "You are U. S. soldiers, under my command, and I will protect you."

Sauda feels a little emotion stir in her chest, and she barely recognizes it as pride and happiness until fear sweeps it away. La Muerte is trying to destroy all of this hard won safety, just to get back her power from Sauda.

"We might have to put a hold on the intake of new soldiers. Human, Demon, or otherwise, but I'll keep us from closure." Maddox nods his head, resolute in his statement. "Can you take care of La Muerte without government backing?"

"I'm only taking Demons. We'll get there through hell and any deaths... the military doesn't have to pay off any families."

"Firearms?"

"I think I'm the only one bringing guns and it's my own personal stash. We'll use the powers we were born with."

"Roger," Maddox says, nodding. "Report to me everything that goes on."

"The paperwork will be in order, Major."

Maddox ends the call and Sauda hangs her head as she closes the laptop and the screen on the projector goes black. She sighs into her seat, not relieving any of the pressure off her chest.

"Everyone go prepare. Be ready with battle gear in two hours. I'll give you your war speech then."

Sauda waits as everyone files out of the room, leaving her father, Kang Dae, Adorna, Ashleigh, Katya, and Jordan. She completely ignores Raum at the far end of the room. The closest she'll let him get to her.