17 The Seven Monarchs

After everyone left the room Nicholos leaned back on his chair, running a hand through his styled hair he thought about what happened just now.

Even though he'd acted dumbed that day when Lilith had inquired him about Zohar's particular behavior when it came to her, Nicholos knew what Zohar said today was out of pure recklessness and impulsiveness.

He had a premonition that the god's today's moment of impulsive behavior would make him stay away for months.

The history between Zohar and Lilith was so complicated and secretive that even Nicholos himself did not know most of it.

But always seeing Lilith stare off into a distance as if she's lost within herself and sometimes act as if basic emotions were so novel to her, Nicholos would feel his own chest constrict in pain.

Lilith was his sister, the youngest of them all, and the pain she'd been through, even unknown to her was something the rest of them had never experience in their lifetime.

The seven of them were as old as dirt, and there was nothing they haven't experienced, and each and everything had left its scars and memories with them, only Lilith had been so deeply affected that he'd had to keep it a secret from even her.

The past was a time filled with acute pain and simple moments of immense happiness, but it all had been treasured and cherished.

There had been a time when each one of them had been simply happy with no negative emotions plaguing them. Their parents loving, only the bunch of them surviving except for the animals in the whole mortal world.

The simple life they'd spent, hunting the daily prey, eating the simple yet sumptuous meal their mothers would cook up, and breathing in the fresh, unblemished air, it had been a wonderful time.

But their mere existence had made it impossible to continue. The darkness and blemishes were themselves, the taint in the air and the evil in the world was themselves.

So they'd learned, treasure the happiness they'd get, and cherish the memories important enough, otherwise just do not care, for the result only would be more and more painful.

The past already a spent history, it is only the present and the future that was unknown, but his instincts told him that it was not going to be any less easy.

And now they had been dragged into some kind of mortal conspiracy.

The Great God of Life really knew how to bring in trouble and he always spouts about them being troublesome and chaotic.

Utter nonsense I would say.

~~<<>>~~

Closing his eyes Nicholos sent the calling magic to reach the recipient he was reaching for.

The air around him slightly constricted as the undulations took place, a faint ding taking place as the connection constructed.

"It's me," Nicholos spoke and on the other side, the person felt himself still. It had been months since he'd last been called upon.

"My Lord, It is nice to hear from you." The man spoke, the politeness was not fake, but the trembling of his heart due to fear was as true as those prophecies of the three fates.

"No need for that. I have a task for you." Nicholos went right into important matters.

"Investigate what is ad had been happening in Royale these months and report to me in detail. Make sure the rest of the team does not know." He ordered, and after getting the affirmation from the other side, he dismissed the connection, once again settling back in his chair.

The man was a human who had been working under him for a few years now. Only thirty years of age and had authority over a team of supernatural professionals.

But the man's capability was shown with the way the team adhered to his words like docile puppies. But this time Nicholos did not want everyone knowing what he was up to.

While the supernaturals were not firmly loyal to him, Nicholos had the leader in his palm. A slight squeeze was enough to crush the light of the man. So him betraying was not a problem.

And he needed to take such precautions if he were to lead his siblings in solving a bloody conspiracy.

Something he hated the most. Being the villain and helping the nasty was more in their style, not being bloody heroes who slaved for the mortals.

Where had anyone heard the seven of the sins, epitome of evil helped save mortal kind. It was absurd that just merely mentioning it was like blasphemy. But the mighty god of Life had to dump this on them and the bastard god had not even told them what are the rewards are.

Did he think they were his lackeys? To run around at his word.

But what could they possibly do against him? He was a god and their 'guardian', adhering to his word was what kept the relative peace between them and the rest of the gods. So if he ever had the idea of abandoning them, then it would not take long for a bloody war to start.

But thanks to darling little Lilu such a thing was not a concern, but he still had to maintain an image on the surface, so solving problems it is.

The way they took action though, be it by noble or evil means was entirely up to them. The god had no say in that.

Nicholos thought pridefully, a smirk playing at his lips when thinking of the ways to go about this.

At least they did not have to stay in this godawful place anymore.

~~<<>>~~<<>>~~<<>>~~

The castle of the seven monarchs was as grand as the rulers living inside. The walls made of precious stones and decorated with high grade, expensive metals, and stones. The entire thing was lavish and flashy yet very imposing, with no gaudiness to it.

One may think with the way the supernatural presence in the world, the place the monarchs stayed to be ancient as the six sins and the seven virtues. But it was only the ground that remained the same, the castle would always be taken down after two centuries, re-building it with the newest technology and resources.

Financial matters were not a problem, the monarchs were rich in their own right, the treasury sometimes was only for show.

Now within these expensive walls of the castle, inside an average-sized room which was protected with numerous spells and incantations were seven figures sitting on large gold carved chairs surrounding a glass table.

The seven sitting all looked to be extremely young except for the human present who was well into his age the Monarch Baldwin Anthropos with his long white beard and all. As most of the population, humans were of an intelligent species, but sometimes they were always a step ahead of other species when it came to the matters of intellect and intelligence. So the old man could be said to be the brains behind the kingdom, yet he kept a low profile, just like his predecessors.

Humans had short life spans and were physically very weak compared to every other intelligent species in the mortal world. So being lowkey was a means of survival, even a monarch was just an ant under raw power.

The one next to him was larger in size, his arms bulging under his dress shirt and taller than the rest, but he still was a handsome one This was Monarch Ackley Gigantes, representing the Giant species. They had pure unnatural physical strength second to none. Most of his kind was taller than the rest of the species but everyone absolutely had strength strong enough to crush a small village. And being the Monarch representing the Giants he was strong enough to flatten a kingdom.

The remaining five were all good looking too, their supernatural hereditaries helping them in maintaining a youthful countenance.

But anyone who'd come in contact with them would know that except for the human, all of them were about a thousand years old.

The one sitting at the head was the first to break the silence.

"Have you heard the reports of the status outside?" His grave voice spread through the room and the others nodded looking as solemn as him.

This was the monarch representing the mages, efficient in battle. His magic allowing him to handle any battle weapon expertly and deadly. He was Monarch Ragnar Zoleigh one with the highest might in battle strength.

To his right was the Monarch Olaf Daemone, representing the Spirits. True to his origins the man seemed to be almost whimsical in appearance, yet very much true to touch. His powers ranged on the earth element, moving mountains was as simple as flicking his finger to him.

To the left of Monarch Ragnar Zoleigh, was the vampire in them, Monarch Vladimir Dracus, gifted with extraordinary speed, hearing, strength, sight, and an almost immortal life his kind survived on blood. His was one of the most pleasing to the eye creature also famous for their vicious ways. The vampires become stronger the more they age and being more than a thousand years old, Monarch Vladimir Dracus was one of the strongest of his kind.

Then facing Monarch Baldwin Anthropos, was Monarch Aiken Acelynn representing the warlocks and the witches, specializing in spells and incantations.

"Mhm... The situation is not looking good. Some of the old Lords have been involved as well. There is are a few already under suspicion too." Monarch Baldwin spoke asserting what he'd been informed.

"Have the seven been informed?" The giant among them asked and at the mention of the seven Monarch Valdmir's lips twitched as if holding back a curse.

He'd never been able to get along with the pompous bunch.

"They have already been informed. They will be arriving tomorrow." Monarch Olaf murmured.

Hearing this the others nodded already satisfied. There was no better person than the seven to handle this nonsense happening in their joint kingdom.

"If that is all then I have to leave. My kingdom has a matter which needs me to look into." Monarch Aiken Acelynn then muttered ready to leave the place but Ragnar held up a hand, holding him back for a moment.

"While I'm sure the seven would be more than capable of taking care of this problem, the situation seemed to targetted at higher beings and so they have put in a word. Another team will be arriving to help the seven." His words made the others frown in both confusion and understanding.

Monarch Ragnar was on the surface putting in a good word for the seven but the underlying meaning was very clear to all of them. The crimes were all happening for a reason and the seven alone would not be able to handle the outcome.

"Who?" Olaf asked the inevitable.

Taking a deep breath to brace himself Ragnar uttered the words.

"The Seven of the Six Sins." And this was enough for the rest of them to drive into a frenzy.

They were looking for people to solve problems not create them, and Minarch Ragnar could see the thought all over their faces.

"I know, I know, even I resisted at first, but the other party is too forceful and after listening to him even I think getting them to come is the best option."

"What was this 'person's' reasoning?" Monarch Ackley frowned but his expression immediately changed as he heard the rest.

It seemed it was really cannot be helped. Oh Lord, what chaos this would bring?

~~<<>>~~<<>>~~<<>>~~

Lilith rubbed the towel, drying her hair as she looked into the mirror absentmindedly.

"You have not changed." The sentence flashed through her mind repeatedly, over and over, the voice delivering it branding itself on her soul.

The great god she'd come in contact with all these lifetimes had seemed to finally acknowledge her existence, speaking to her directly for the first time.

But now Lilith wished he had not, for the questions she'd earlier had only seemed to have increased more.

The sense of Deja Vu so intense it had sent herself reeling that she'd had to take an ice cold shower to calm herself down.

Even with a calm heart, she still could not get the sentence and the voice out of her mind. Where had she heard it before? Whom had she heard it from? Why couldn't she remember?

And on cue her chest constricted as if someone was holding her heart hostage, taunting her with it as she tried diving deep into her mind.

But it was no use, she could clearly remember everything that happened in her life clearly. The days with her parents, the birth of her younger siblings, the estrangement with the seven virtues, changes of time, causing mischief around the world, destroying the kingdom of Lena, the reasons for it, then the latter maters, she could clearly remember everything right?

She had not forgotten, then why this feeling?

Lilith could only ask herself, for no one seemed inclined to answer her questions.

Tossing away the towel Lilith sat on her bed still staring at herself in the mirror. Her silver, wet strands clung to her face, ruby eyes watching emptily, a small exquisite face with no expression on it.

This was how she was, like an empty, beautiful shell.

She could smile, she could joke, she could kill, she could destroy, she could be amused, she could sleep and she could act cute, then why did she feel so empty?

Amara, though she always acted unbothered, her feelings for the bastard of chastity was very clear. Even Lucien always with annoyance painted on his face would never turn away the sunny Celene.

Nicholos had an unending passion for leadership, he was always up to something new, and an unexplainable excitement to his being always whirling around him.

Col and Damien, one a glutton to the born, yet his love for art, food, and simply life were endearing to watch. And her twin brother, Aaro, when one looked the man seemed to be always lazing around doing nothing useful all day.

But Lilith knew that was not true. Though Sloth plagued her brother 24/7 he was not without appreciation for life. He enjoyed the simplicity of just relaxing and had even had a couple of relationships over the millenniums.

Every one of them had except for her.

Sometimes she always wondered what it was like, to love someone outside of the family.

'Was it wonderful?'

But she was only an empty shell, she only felt amusement, so she wouldn't know.

Then what was this pain in her chest?

Her mind was plagued with such questions that she finally fell asleep.