Her chants persisted till thick, black smoke filled the inner circle. With a final squeeze, a trickle of her crimson blood joined the ever expanding pool before her feet. From her coat she retrieved a handkerchief, and she pressed it firmly to her throbbing palm as she stared at the eerie golden eyes that emerged from the darkness. To an innocent civilian, ignorant of the evil and wickedness that once plagued the earth, the demon would have been horrifying to encounter. While she had no intention of killing the beast, she did not trust him. From a very young age, she was told that demons were untrustworthy and inherently deceitful. They were manipulative and devious, never to be relied upon for even the most insignificant of things. Those beliefs that were instilled in her hadn’t gone away just because she was seeking the demon out. She was still on her guard, quietly resisting the urge to slaughter the foul being, especially when it approached the edge of the dark star. It didn’t take it very long to figure out what she was.<br/><br/>“Perceptive.” She remarked, dropping her hand to her side while still clutching the cloth to her palm. “I have a proposition for you. I can assure you, it will be mutually beneficial.” Once it seemed that she had his attention, she continued. “Given that you have been . . . absent from this realm for some time, you may not be aware that the leadership has been passed on. The man who commands the Accolade forces is my brother. For reasons that are none of your concern, he must be . . .<i>removed</i>. Permanently.” She was surprisingly cold. There was no waver in her voice, no trace of hesitance or remorse. “I would do it myself, but in order to assume the leadership for myself I cannot be linked to or implicated in his death. Since your kind are notable enemies of the organization, it would make more sense if he died at your hand rather than my own. Should you accept, you can rest assured that you will have free rein in this world. You have my word that whatever . . . evil endeavors you partake in will go unnoticed when I am in power.”<br/><br/>Her exterior was still icy as ever, but inside Vanessa was slightly was nervous. The ball was in his court to do what he pleased with, and for a cunning being such as himself there were more than a few options available to him. She just had to make it seem as though they were not available to him. “Should you refuse I can simply return you to that fiery abyss you call home. Any action against me will mean your demise, so it is in your best interest to leave peacefully, demon. I will summon another in your place after I have your head. But, if you play nice . . . you can leave with your life.” She smirked, waiting for the pacing demon’s response.