The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 69 - Indigo Intergrade

Charlie Morningstar's stomach turned as the Other Radio Demon's azure eyes swept her up and down; but for all his lascivious glee, her alter didn't seem to care about her presence at all, dismissing her almost instantly as she looked around their environment, carefully taking in the unfamiliar landscape.

"My, how I've missed the Umbral Sea!" Blue smirked. "I'm ever so grateful to you for your assistance in being able to use it again!"

Alastor stiffened next to her, and she saw the shadows of the deer demon's branching antlers spreading in his anger. "You're not welcome," the Princess of Hell replied with a scowl. "Neither for the magic or for being here. Leave my home!"

The black-haired demoness ignored her demand utterly, staring off into the distance. "No games," she remarked coolly to her counterpart. "The task at hand, first."

The cerulean deer demon's ears flicked as he turned to her, his posture somewhat stiff. "Fair enough. Work before play."

"Victory before rewards," Charlotte replied, cruel night-blue eyes turning towards them at last. Her black trident shimmered into view, and she wove it in their direction.

The blonde demoness wasn't afraid to admit she wasn't much of a fighter - with her priorities always being toward peace and talking things through, her first thoughts weren't oriented toward battle. She'd been swept up into the melee on the news; and though she practiced Nox Magia and had even fought using its runes, she wasn't a warrior by any stretch of the imagination.

And her reflexes were slow - far too slow for the opponent she was facing.

But her partner made up for that weakness, sweeping her off her feet and practically gliding them backward, his staff positioned carefully in front of them. Green runes flashed as he conjured a barrier around them, and was perhaps their only saving grace as a wave of arcane energy rippled across the space.

In a thunderous crunch and a swirl of wind, the entire side of the hotel rooftop crumpled, and the pair fell to the floor beneath them.

"Charlie!" Vaggie shrieked her name, but Vox pulled her out of sight, sending a bolt of lightning streaking across the gap in the rooftop as the Other Radio Demon charged them.

"Vaggie!" The princess scrambled to her feet, her pink wings exploding from her back in a flare at the urge to save her friends, though Alastor would not let her go, his grip on her waist slipping to her arm, but he held her fast.

Charlotte ignored the group, frowning down at the Hotel managers in the ruin of the penthouse. "Tying yourself to some other being because you cannot bring the world you desire through your own strength - such a pathetic creature doesn't deserve to rule."

"That's what you want? To take over?" Charlie scoffed. "What about your own damned realm?!"

"Heaven's teeth threaten my people once a year, and even that is too much. I intend to prevent that from happening."

"Seems rather difficult to protect your realm when you're not even in it!" Alastor cut back.

"Oh, but she is in it!" the Other Radio Demon replied, walking around the edge of the hole to stand at his liege's side, and her nerves were shrieking in worry for their companions as she spied stains of crimson on her tormentor's cerulean coat. "This realm will experience the glory of her Dominion!" he proclaimed.

Dominion?! Charlie thought, but then realized her plan. "You're after the power of the Throne!"

"I suspected it wouldn't be here," Charlotte scowled down at her, as if she was covered in filth, her eyes blazing with an oceanic fury. "You know the Truth and yet still play around this useless heap!"