Strings of Fate

Chapter 36: Where Shadows Speak

The walk was... Somewhere between nerve-wrecking and awkward. Y/n told Alastor to leave without them, which was surely for the best. Ghost is always within a 10-meter diameter around them; he refused to leave them alone since they read the letter. Every sinner going too close around them gained a glare from him: one who bumped into them immediately got yeeted on the other side of the road by an invisible energy Y/n knew could only come from Ghost. He kept having his tiny hands near the daggers at his hip. He is completely restless, and they can't tell if they're being tested or if he is.

But if Ghost was this nerve-wrecked, what would that mean for someone like them? He obviously knows what's awaiting them at this meeting, so are they expected to sit with them like they're an equal or be pierced by their deadly gazes?

"It's gonna be okay, boo." Y/n voiced out loud to reassure him, but maybe also for themselves as well. The heat and pressure of Hell felt like it doubled, but Y/n's feathers, or what was either left or started to grow back, shivered. They were close: they could feel it in the fear their feathers signalled to them, and it did not help with the knot that formed in both Ghost and their stomach.

The place Alastor told them was the meeting was hidden in a small alleyway, where what could be described as glass cabins towered for meters until a certain spot up above. Y/n doesn't exactly understand how this is supposed to work, but they sure will soon enough. After all, they must have a certain use if they bring Overlords to the meeting room.

Ghost hovered close as the entrance loomed ahead. His voice, usually so silent and hard to catch, came out quieter than usual, with that half-child, half-teen voice.

"You know you're not forced, huh, boss—?"

Y/n stopped just long enough to glance at him. "Ghost." they stated, looking just a few inches under their own height, where Ghost's eyes were glowing with this mix of worry and affection he didn't know which to show. By the look Y/n was giving him, Ghost knew what they meant, although they didn't say a word about it: he doesn't need to call them this way. Not because they're now an Overlord, not never. 

He ducked his head, shadows curling like guilty smoke. "...Right. Sorry. Just—doesn't feel right, not calling you something."

The raven one sighed, before indicating him they shall keep moving before being late. Ghost kept close and didn't talk further. He didn't need to: what could he say further anyway that they won't realize in the next few seconds? That one of them will probably try to bite their head off? They probably know that already, but how seriously do they know it?

But it's not what matters now. What matters is to bring the now Raven Overlord to the meeting and make sure they make a good first impression... Which probably won't happen now that Ghost thinks about it. He pointed Y/n to those glass cabins without a word, leading them to it before activating it. The ground moved by itself quickly, making it look like some especially futuristic elevators.

Inside, a long hallway of doors, red-tainted floor-to-roof windows, red carpets and white, grey and almost pinkish red accents stood before them. It looked so futuristic, so something that intimidated Y/n, as they are not used to it. Ghost stayed close: after all, he knew what it felt like as he went by that some years ago.

They followed each other in a mix of rapid, however careful steps, arriving at a grand meeting room door of a grayish white. Ghost knocked twice, then twisted the doorknob until the door was wide open to the room.

A large table was in the middle of the room, circled by a row of white chairs of great luxury. That table almost filled the length of the entire room, only leaving enough space for a whiteboard on the opposite wall. The walls, as always, were their infamous hellish red, standing prominently, just like the eyes piercing the ghost and raven demons. Some were easily recognized by both: on one side, Amber's soft look, Alexander's proud gaze, Arabelle's bubbly eyes, as well as Alastor's and Rosie's professional but supportive stare. On the other side, the piercing watches of several other Overlords, many that Y/n couldn't identify. Two Overlords stood at the opposite side: one tall woman with white hair and black strings holding it up like horns, one taller man all in a black and green palette, spider-like face and a teacup in front of him. Two empty chairs were placed next to Alastor, both chairs next to each other: Y/n's and Ghost's empty chairs.