ㅤㅤIt was close to midnight when it happened. The only ones around were late night maids cleaning up from dinner, and guards posted at the entry doors, along with roaming the halls periodically. Neo was still asleep, Daileth watching him like a sentry, and Quilliene was in her room asleep. When the clock struck midnight, and the twelve gongs sounded from the grand clock tower, it was the sixth that marked her presence.
ㅤㅤQuilliene awoke with a shock, aware of the whispers in her room, traversing under the door and around her. Shadows from the walls bent and broke off in pieces, lapping at the ground like dark, murky water that rose into a form. Two hundred centimetres tall, looming over her bed, nails clicking on the mattress's frame. Her claws scratched along the wood and left a mark as the shadowy humanoid slowly came into clear focus, like the lens of a camera sharpening.
ㅤㅤA creature with billows of black hair that reached her waist, horns climbing into a devil's imitation. Red skin with dark lines that travelled around her stomach, arms, and thighs. She was dressed in a black chestplate that left her abdomen and waist bare, showing off her six pack of abs. Then there was the skirt, which was longer between her legs and shorter on the sides.
ㅤㅤShe wore heels that made her even taller than she already was, and glowing golden eyes rested on Quilliene in a glare that shared an amount of rage that was unable to be matched. A long tail drifted behind her, whipping and curling about, along with wings that could have a span of six feet each if they weren't folded neatly on her back. When she spoke, her voice was haunting and hollow, echoing over itself as she said one simple sentence.
ㅤㅤ"Good evening, your majesty."
ㅤㅤEvery part of Quilliene's body screamed to get away from the mysterious entity. Looking at the creature whose stench caused her nose to scrunch, she realised she found it both terrifying and familiar. Her eyes traced over the form as she scooted back away, standing up on top of her mattress to meet it at eye level.
ㅤㅤ"You," She seethed. "I could smell you, but I didn't think you would find it appropriate to have the audacity to ever show your face to me." She raised her chin in disgust. "What do you want?"
ㅤㅤThe devil faked a pained expression, pressing a hand against her own chest as if offended. "Your majesty, I'm hurt. No introductions? Let's start off easy, alright? My name is Xylless. Now, yours is…?" She motioned to her fluently, raising a playful eyebrow that spoke less of humour and more of danger.
ㅤㅤ"You know my name, foul parasite," Quilliene hissed. "You can keep to the formalities and refer to me as your majesty. Now, answer my question - what are you doing here?"
ㅤㅤXylless withdrew her hand disdainfully, letting out a low growl before she circled around the bed and towards the window on the right side. "Your majesty," She laced the words with venom. "I am here on the utmost of important tasks. To warn you, and to… well, protect what I own."
ㅤㅤThe devil turned to face her again. "Stray from making too much of an imprint on my little pet. I thank you for saving his life and giving me a bit more playtime with him, but alas," Her expression faked sadness. "I fear you do not know what you are meddling with."
ㅤㅤQuilliene was watching the devil intently, anger boiling from the depths of her throat - but it was felt around her as well. Like that anger was resonating from her body and across the room. Though as the devil spoke, her expression shifted from a blank slate of rage into mock disbelief. She turned, bursting into a humourous fit of tears. Practically laughing in the devil's face as she wiped her eyes.
ㅤㅤ"You have such bravery to speak to me in that way," She said, looking back at her with a dangerous grin. "Golly, you really aren't the first to threaten me. I would recommend you watch your next words carefully as you explain to me what I am meddling with. Please, do entertain."
ㅤㅤThe devil seemed to lose all humour in her appearance, skin sizzling as if she would burst into flames. "You hold no power against me. You kill me, and your precious Nathan Erizel Orient will die as well. Alas, when he passes, I will come by unscathed.
ㅤㅤ"So," She stood at her full height, the room darkening. "Back off from my pet. My fun isn't over yet, and neither is yours. I suggest you worry about your own, how do I put it, demons."
ㅤㅤShe started around the bed again, then stopped, stomping on the floor. The wooden boards splintered and shot up, clattering to the floor at the side. Xylless stared down at the hole, smiling as she wagged a finger, a box of papers and files rising up. She directed her hand to Quilliene's bed, dropping it on the mattress in front of her.
ㅤㅤ"A present," Xylless hummed. "From your loving and caring parents."
ㅤㅤWith a laugh, the devil disappeared in a blink of an eye. Quilliene looked around, half believing it was all a hallucination, aside from the fact a box was at her feet. The darkness lifted from the room, as did the violet wisps that were growing about the walls. She glanced around, stiff, but came to notice something. A bouncing of metal, and as she turned, she saw some of her pens on her personal desk had turned inside out. Had she done that?
ㅤㅤShe sat down, rubbing her temples. "She's getting to your head," Quilliene mumbled to herself. "Don't listen to her…"
ㅤㅤHowever, as she peered at the box, she saw a paper sticking out - and it read, Project C227.