A velvety darkness filled one of the chambers found in the Ninth Circle palace. Only small shimmers of purple light occasionally flashed in a part of the room, leaving behind runes in an ancient-looking book. The atmosphere was tense and heavy, yet quiet and peaceful. Once in a while you could hear the hushed wheeze of someone's breathing and catch a glimpse of curved, scaled horns.<br/><br/>As thick as the silence was, it was swiftly broken by the sound of the two wooden doors to the room opening. A small, bony, hunchback imp entered, hopping nervously from one foot to the other, mumbling and cursing. He stopped in place, only to have the amber eyes of the figure slouched in the armchair fixate on him and say in an annoyed voice:<br/><br/><em>"What do you want, imp?"<br/><br/>   "The Demon Lord has summoned you."</em>the imp answered in a half-growl.<br/><br/><em>"Tell the Demon Lord I'll be there soon"</em>replied the demon while getting up, going to the book and placing another spell on it.<br/><br/>The imp exited the room in the same hopping pace, leaving the demoness to prepare her things for departure. Five minutes later she was heading down the large hall of the Ninth Circle's castle. Every meeting with the Demon Lord brought unease to the amber-eyed demon, who had to weigh her words and obedience in front of him. The imposing metal doors were within reach and with a slight push she entered the Great Chamber, where the Demon Lord was standing on his throne of bones.<br/><br/><em>"You wished to see me, my Lord?"</em>she asked, kneeling on one knee.<br/><br/><em>"Yes, Belphegor. Rumors travelling from the Second Circle have found their way here and, according to them, the Queen of the Second Circle has in her possession a Celestial. I need you to go and interrogate him and keep an eye on my future bride. Will you do my biding?"</em>The Demon Lord narrowed his eyes in anticipation for her reply, taking great pleasure in testing her fealty. His words made Belphegor's scars sear, like they were vividly burning fires.<br/><br/>During her younger centuries, fired up by her fast climb through the ranks and pride, Belphegor dared once question the Demon Lord's decision. That's when she got the scars, made and cursed by the Demon Lord himself, meant to punish her by scorching her flesh every time he spoke to her. She never spoke against him since nor did she question his decisions, but became more driven to climb the ranks even further and she did so until she secured the position as the Demon Lord's eyes and ears.<br/><br/>The Demon Lord didn't expect the reply that came.<br/><br/><em>"As you wish, my Lord."</em>she replied, slightly flinching at his every word.<br/><br/><em>"Good, now go and bring me the information I require."</em>He ordered, getting up his throne and placing a spell on her forehead. As if to answer her bewildered gaze, he said:<em>"For communication".</em><br/><br/>With a<em>"Yes, my Lord"</em>she walked into the first shadow and vanished, as if passing through a black waterfall.<br/><br/><strong>Belphegor, tagged: Zaeroses</strong><br/><br/>Not long after leaving the Ninth Circle she arrived in the hall of the Second Circle's castle. That's when she saw the imp with the angel in shackles, leading him to a room. Entering the shadows again, she exited inside the room, the shadows closing with the sound of a last drop falling behind her.<br/><br/><em>"Tie him to the torture table and go give this rune to your torturer"</em>she said as she watched the creature tie the angel. When the imp finished, she handed him the rune hexed with dark magic, meant to send the message<em>"The angel is mine for now. DO NOT interfere! Or your actions will be considered as direct insubordination against our Lord."</em><br/><br/>She approached the angel as the imp left, with her wings retracted and hidden by arcane magic.<br/><br/><em>"Hello, Celestial. I require some information you might have. Now, you can choose to cooperate or not, either way I will find out what I need. So, I suggest you pick the first option."</em>She addressed him in a calm, yet authoritative  tone.