Swords clashed, screams of horror, grunts of hopelessness and frustration filled the air. Raiders found great success striking at caravans and in the absence of a full on war, it was in events such as these that Callisto found herself obtaining energy. Reckless, yet brave... (even if stupid) men constantly targeted the Eastern Asian planes from horseback. Horse archers had revolutionized the way wars were fought a great deal of time ago, but in some areas of the world, primitive warfare was still the status quo.<br/><br/>In the early evening, a raid of a wealthy caravan headed westward was initiated, and though not technically a 'leader'... Callisto rode with them. These were fast battles... if you could call them battles at all. The men were often swiftly massacred, the wealth stolen, but even more so... the women and children were taken as prisoners. The women were spoils meant to be enjoyed before sold off and discarded. The children themselves often fetched a high price in different slave markets.<br/><br/>It was in this post-battle euphoria of lust and excitement that the conquering horde helped themselves to the women of the men they'd killed. Rape and abuse was rampant, and to a succubus like Callisto, the energy given off by the debauchery which followed provided astounding energy. This caravan was large, promise and potential were potent and soon the fighting, which was expected to be very short lived was underway. A good number of riders enjoyed striking from a distance with their arrows, mounted on their steeds, other's preferred the more visceral sensation of killing their enemy up close and personal.<br/><br/>Callisto herself often took her own immortality for granted and enjoyed the exchange of blades with victims of her own. Now was such a time... men fell beneath her blade, though only a fraction of what was happening around her was due to her directly. You could always tell when the fighting was beginning to die down. Cries of panic and stifling fear replaced the hollering yells of anger and desperation to fight. The cries of the wounded, the painful torment that filled the air was a potent display of balance shifting in favour of the attackers until soon<em>... you could hear their laughter.</em><br/><br/>Attackers laughing... taunting... a display that the intensity of battle was over and they were allowing themselves the indulgence of poking, prodding and helping themselves to the spoils of war, be they wounded victims themselves or the quivering fearful family members who were unable to fight themselves; and now found themselves exposed and vulnerable.<br/><br/>Callisto's lips grinned as she exchanged swiping blows with her latest target, at the beginning, there was some organization, but when the fighting intensifies, it really becomes every man for themselves and very soon, it's simply a matter of time before the attackers find less and less victims to engage. Soon... the level of noise decreases, the resisting fighters fall like flies, obstinate and loud as they are, there is no way<span class="bbc_u">not</span>to notice the reduction in their numbers. At times such as this, the attackers become more sporting... more playful in their attacks, it's less lethal and less 'intense'. It becomes a mockery during the process of 'finishing off' the final resisting men. A series of cuts, swift yet deliberate, non-critical blows... Callisto enjoyed toying with her latest prey.<br/><br/><strong><em>Callisto...</em></strong><br/><br/>She didn't pause at first, another series of exchanges with her prey finally brought him to such a level of desperation that continuing to lift his arm resulted in painful strain. Angry grunts became groans of frustration and a pitiful sight replaced the once proud man fighting to defend what Callisto assumed were his wife and kids somewhere in the caravan.<br/><br/><em><strong>Callisto... I will be requiring your presence.</strong></em>This time she had to pause...<br/><br/>The voice... she'd recognize it anywhere. Her horse was ground to a halt as she glanced left, then right. Lucifer's voice was not one to be forgotten anytime soon. He was was renowned for his own playful indulgence and shape shifting with consistency gave him a variety of voices and appearances in person, but when not present, Lucifer's voice was often dark... subtle, hard to define and yet, any demon he'd ever communicated with would know his voice upon hearing it.<br/><br/><em>"Now?"</em>she couldn't help but murmur slowly. Her eyes glanced around... the men were now moving methodically through the disorganized caravan corralling the women and children, beginning to divide them and very soon... would be transporting them to where they would camp for the night. That night... oh the lust and the need of these soldiers to bury themselves inside of a woman, any woman...<em>many women even...</em>would be quite forceful.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Now."</strong></em><br/><br/>(http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/6600000/callisto-callisto-6674734-1024-1286.jpg?1355112917188)<br/><br/><em>"I'm just... not exactly dressed for..."</em>A flickering spark began at her feet, her eyes dimming, her teeth clenching in frustration as her ankles and knees were engulfed in flame. She had no time even to finish off the man she was fighting... tormenting... her body engulfed in flame was there one moment, then gone in the blink of an eye.<br/><br/><em>"... Western Civilization."</em>she finished her thought as the swiftness of her transport made her shake her head. Pine trees, the smell of iron and wood was replaced by a scented office, her eyes were immediately drawn to the doorway which was shut and, instinctively... her head began to bow slowly in direct response to his vocal tone ushering his version of a welcome.<br/><br/><strong><em>"So glad you could take time out of your... busy schedule to drop by."</em></strong><br/><br/>(http://cdn.ifanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IM_Tony-Stark.jpg)<br/><br/><em>"Of course My Lord."</em>his sarcasm was highlighted by a lone risen eyebrow and contrasted her genuine tone which... for someone as playful as Callisto seemed relatively out of place.<br/><br/><strong><em>"You realize the world ... <span class="bbc_u">has</span> evolved somewhat yes? This-... sword and shield doesn't strike you as ... primitive?"</em></strong><br/><br/>Callisto let her head rise, tilting ever so slightly to the side. Yes he was the Lord of the underworld... Lucifer himself... but technically he had asked her a question and so<em>technically</em>an honest answer couldn't be held against her.<br/><br/><em>"Some things are just a little more amusing up close. Wouldn't you agree?"</em>she uttered, passing her thumb and index finger up along both smooth ends of her blade before the fingers met at the pointy top. She then proceeded to place the tip of the blade into the sheeth before sliding it securely inside, effectively putting the blade away.<br/><br/><em>"A little more... fun."</em><br/><br/><strong><em>"Theatricality over efficiency. I've always found that amusing about you."</em></strong>Lucifer uttered with a half-chuckle, implying an internal debate as to whether or not that was a good thing or not.<br/><br/><em>"Have you ever looked into the eyes of a woman who lost her husband to a bomb? Even due to your... pushing of a button halfway across the world...?"</em><br/><br/><strong><em>"Absolutely."</em></strong><br/><br/>Callisto glanced down at the floor, her feet bringing her slowly towards him, around the desk approaching him with her own coyly risen eyebrow.<br/><br/><em>"I've looked into the eyes of women who've watched me kill their husbands..."</em>she spoke slowly... romancing the motion as though she were creating a painting for him to consider. Her fingers reached out, delicately feathering over the buttons of his formal attire. Again... the contrast of her armour and his official suit provided them both with the context of how she was 'out of place' in this particular venue, but it seemed to accentuate her point fairly well.<br/><br/><em>"... and there's an anger... an intensity... a rage that they cannot conceal when their own eyes witness you personally choking the life out of their loved one. When they witness you personally penetrating the delicate flesh of the love of their life and ending their fragile lives. I would... I would miss the ... <span class="bbc_u">intensity</span> if they were somehow able to blame a bomb... or some piece of equipment out there... for the death that affects them so."</em><br/><br/>Lucifer couldn't help but smile, shaking his head, acknowledging that in a position of authority, efficiency is a must. Sometimes that necessity truly can get in the way of letting yourself indulge.<br/><br/><em><strong>"As entertaining as this is... I brought you here because something has to be done about the second layer."</strong></em><br/><br/>At this... Callisto found herself almost cringing. It was almost as though she were caught in a growing fight between mother and father. Her queen was just that... her queen. Lucifer... well... he was the Lord of the underworld.<br/><br/><strong><em>"Would you know what I'm talking about?"</em></strong><br/><br/><em>"Well... it's ... as you know... a busy place. You could be referring to anything."</em>She couldn't help but glance away, taking a step towards his book shelf as she spoke. Something about being in Lucifer's presence simply produced anxiety.<br/><br/><strong><em>"The rumours floating around... it's enough to ... well... it's beyond the point of ignoring. You understand."</em></strong><br/><br/>Callisto glanced at him... a nod was all she could afford. She couldn't tell if by him saying 'you understand' he was calling her out on her refusal to volunteer further information or if he was just exercising an expression. One thing was for sure... he was going to be visiting the second level very soon... and part of her felt that she was elected to send the message to the Queen.