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Prologue
In a fortress beneath a mountain range, in a world unknown to a majority of the human race, six creatures gathered.
Each one of them was monstrous in appearance. Horns crowned their heads, curving and interlocking into grotesque shapes. They had no eyes, just blank foreheads, and thin lips covered their needle like teeth.
They were daemons, cursed beings, standing in a semicircle, facing the far wall of a candle-lit cavern. The flickering light cast their already twisted shadows into even more horrific forms. The smoke from the wicks didn’t rise. Instead, it was so dense it cascaded down the stone pillars they were set on, forming a swirling pool of yellow mist around the daemon’s feet
“We all know why we are here,” one of the creatures said, from the center of the semi-circle. It had transparent skin as if wrapped in glass, beneath which was swirling, black liquid. “We have a way to change how things have been for thousands of years. If it works, the human souls will be our playthings.”
“The experiment was successful,” another pointed out, smiling with two mouths, one of which was slightly larger than the other. “All they need are the key components and the right souls.”
“It is risky, we could be outnumbered if the machine fails,” a daemon at the far end of semi-circle said. Its arms were abnormally long, long enough to reach the ground.
“But the rewards could be immense if it works,” said the fourth daemon to speak, revealing not just one row of red teeth in its enlarged mouth, but several. They lined the inside of its cheeks like a shark’s.
“We will need humans to help build it, and we will need the oldest soul there is—we need the Pharaoh,” the fifth said, who had skin so dark it could have been a hole in the surface of the world.
The five daemons nodded to one another. They then turned to the sixth, who was by far the biggest and who had so far not spoken, nor even moved.
It said nothing, it did nothing.
But the other five sensed some kind of response.
“Yes sire,” they said in unison.
“Who would take charge?” the one who had spoken first asked.
“I would relish the challenge,” the double-smiling daemon said.
There were general nods of agreement except from the sixth daemon, which remained silent and stoic.
“I would like Legion to be my second,” the smiler said, addressing the transparent daemon directly.
“If this works, I won’t need such a competent Soul Collector back,” the daemon[DH3] [MD4] [DH5] replied and nodded toward the smiling daemon. “However, utilizing daemons of the greater Violations to handle the Pharoah, may draw attention from the city. I suggest large numbers of the lesser Violations be used.”
There were nods from around the semicircle.
“My daemons will find out where the Pharaoh has hidden himself,” the daemon like a slit of darkness added.
“Where do we start construction?” asked the long-armed daemon.
“I think there is only one place suitable which will provide maximum coverage,” the see-through daemon answered.
“The Garden,” the twice smiling daemon said.
Silence prevailed for a moment as they absorbed the decisions they had made.
“What will happen to the First Life?” the long-armed daemon asked.
“Not our concern,” the smiling daemon replied.
Another pause as they considered the possibilities, then the five said to one another, “Begin.”
The sixth remained silent.
Each one of them was monstrous in appearance. Horns crowned their heads, curving and interlocking into grotesque shapes. They had no eyes, just blank foreheads, and thin lips covered their needle like teeth.
They were daemons, cursed beings, standing in a semicircle, facing the far wall of a candle-lit cavern. The flickering light cast their already twisted shadows into even more horrific forms. The smoke from the wicks didn’t rise. Instead, it was so dense it cascaded down the stone pillars they were set on, forming a swirling pool of yellow mist around the daemon’s feet
“We all know why we are here,” one of the creatures said, from the center of the semi-circle. It had transparent skin as if wrapped in glass, beneath which was swirling, black liquid. “We have a way to change how things have been for thousands of years. If it works, the human souls will be our playthings.”
“The experiment was successful,” another pointed out, smiling with two mouths, one of which was slightly larger than the other. “All they need are the key components and the right souls.”
“It is risky, we could be outnumbered if the machine fails,” a daemon at the far end of semi-circle said. Its arms were abnormally long, long enough to reach the ground.
“But the rewards could be immense if it works,” said the fourth daemon to speak, revealing not just one row of red teeth in its enlarged mouth, but several. They lined the inside of its cheeks like a shark’s.
“We will need humans to help build it, and we will need the oldest soul there is—we need the Pharaoh,” the fifth said, who had skin so dark it could have been a hole in the surface of the world.
The five daemons nodded to one another. They then turned to the sixth, who was by far the biggest and who had so far not spoken, nor even moved.
It said nothing, it did nothing.
But the other five sensed some kind of response.
“Yes sire,” they said in unison.
“Who would take charge?” the one who had spoken first asked.
“I would relish the challenge,” the double-smiling daemon said.
There were general nods of agreement except from the sixth daemon, which remained silent and stoic.
“I would like Legion to be my second,” the smiler said, addressing the transparent daemon directly.
“If this works, I won’t need such a competent Soul Collector back,” the daemon[DH3] [MD4] [DH5] replied and nodded toward the smiling daemon. “However, utilizing daemons of the greater Violations to handle the Pharoah, may draw attention from the city. I suggest large numbers of the lesser Violations be used.”
There were nods from around the semicircle.
“My daemons will find out where the Pharaoh has hidden himself,” the daemon like a slit of darkness added.
“Where do we start construction?” asked the long-armed daemon.
“I think there is only one place suitable which will provide maximum coverage,” the see-through daemon answered.
“The Garden,” the twice smiling daemon said.
Silence prevailed for a moment as they absorbed the decisions they had made.
“What will happen to the First Life?” the long-armed daemon asked.
“Not our concern,” the smiling daemon replied.
Another pause as they considered the possibilities, then the five said to one another, “Begin.”
The sixth remained silent.
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