The Hounds of War

"I will kill you!" Howled, The Knight of Hell bearing his fangs. He clenched his fist, creating a swirling inferno around his hands that revealed that blood-stained Katana I knew all too well.

"Come on. I'm not even hiding my aura. You should know much heat I am under. You attack me, Little Ty here will defend. Even if you manage to defeat her, I will have time to lead the angels here. Why not chill, and talk? Or does the Knights of Hell thinks himself invincible?" I swiftly threatened, holding on to a faint smirk.

"God, I hate you," He stammered, lowering his blade. "Say what you want and leave my bloody home."

I glanced around at the rubble, then towards the various guards of many races racing towards me, holding back my infernal heritage behind a veil of shadows. I spoke, "Anywhere we can have privacy?"

"Follow me," Said Karthronig shortly.

"Kill all that saw me," I commanded, patting Little Ty's head, and followed behind, the Knight of Hell who shot me a long stare but said nothing.

Leading me deep into his castle, I found myself heading deep into his lair hidden underneath the ground. Getting a whiff of the most unspeakable, I frowned and glanced at a particular door.

"Let's just speak here." I swiftly said as Ty appeared on my shoulder, wiping away the blood on her lips.

"Fine." He addressed sharply, "What is it you want from me, oh Prince of Hell."

A little startled by that title, I chuckled when I figured it out, "I only married Lilith. I don't have the power of a Prince yet. Although I do like the ring of that."

"Get to the chase, Arsene." Said Karthronig irritably, placing his hands behind his back.

"Fine. I am officially requesting your help within the depths of the Abyss." I cautiously explained, "As I am sure you know, the angels are after me. More so than anyone in particular. I would like you to be my Knight."

"Have you gone mad like your Master? Me? Your Knight? By the Hells boy, you are Mad!" Shouted, Karthronig bellowing in laughter, slapping his thigh, he sneered, "Prince or not, you can go to Hell!"

Not in the least bit surprised, he would say such a thing, I patiently continued, trying to cool that building pressure rising in my chest. "I swear whether its Demons or Devils, the only way to get you all under my thumb is to threaten you. Allow me to break this down clearly for you to grasp, oh Great King Karthronig, or whatever they call you here."

"Right now, the Angels are intent on wiping out the Bed of Chaos. You lie in the bed of Chaos, hiding yourself to be a normal king, so if you cannot grant me what I want. I do not mind making it my mission to destroy you. Prince Sitri has already fallen after crossing a line.

Karthronig was silent, but the sneer upon his face never left. " Boy, your threats mean nothing to me. Do you know how Knights are born? We are cast into the very River of Despair and forced to make our way towards the Seventh Layer of Hell through the Serpents Wings. Death is but one consequence of this trial. Even if my Lord Asmodeus commands me, I will not help you. "

I nodded and smiled, "Yes, quite the conundrum. Tormenting a demon-like yourself is not very wise. How can you break the broken?"

"So you understand?" He mocked, but that smile slowly faded as I spoke.

"Then all that will be left for me is to make you like everyone else. A mortal, a human," I calmly said, as my chest began to burn with a hellish fire of wrath I tried to keep at bay. Try as I must, my tone began to grow deeper, till flames blacker then night rose from my breath.

"You," He stammered with worry, "You do not have that power!"

"Aye, I don't, but what other way is there to kill immortals like you demons and Devils? But to purify you, of course? I will uproot your very nature Karthronig. And once you are mortal, real flesh and blood. I will build you up, grant you so much, and shred it all away. What can you take from a demon or a devil? Well, the simple answer is what they hold dare—their very sins. All I need is an Angel. Which I already have."

"I can flee," he reminded me, but I merely chuckled.

"I am to be the next Monarch of Darkness. I will find you. There is no hiding from the absolute grace of the Darkness." I coldly remarked, drawing close, peering up at his fearful eyes.

"I am still young, still weak." I added, shaking my head, "You may try to kill me. But Asmodeus will save me, Ty here will save me, Freya, my Knight, will save me. I have many who will save me, but you. Who will save you?"

There was an audible gulp that was not my own, nor was it Ty.

Not bothering to speak anymore, I patted Ty's soft head. Snapping my fingers, a large gate emerged from the void. Similar to the one Freya had been using. A large swirling vortex of energy began to surge as I turned away from the Gate of Abyssal Night, "I do hope to see you in Midgard; my people could use the help. Oh, and Welcome to Vaevictis."

Stepping into the Gate of Abyssal Night, I emerged before a tall goddess draped in snow-white armor. Falling to her knees, she greeted me, "Master."

"The fastest way I knew how to get back home." I softly said, shaken by the aura encompassing my domain. "Seems the battle hasn't started yet."

"Soon, Sire," Said Freya keenly, her tone was all but filled with bloodlust.

"Then it's time I start turning Thor and the rest of the Acier. The next to join will have to be your kind, then the Giants. I have much to do."

"You're turning them all!" Freya shouted in shock, 'What about the price? Would it not be high?"

"Screw it. I am already in deep shit. If God sends The Hells after me, all I need to do is take control of the Hells. Right now, The Seven Heaven is after me. What is the worse that can happen?"