Demon Empress

500 years ago, a nameless, peasant demoness appeared in a desolate village overrun by the tyrannic, slave-driving soldiers of Emperor Silvan l’Nera. She drifted silently from town to town like a shadow, making her undeterred way to the First Ring of Hell with only her torn rags for armour on her delicate frame. When a challenger finally rose for the Bone Crown after two millennia of Silvan’s violent and undisputed rule, even the Heavenly Council descended to watch — But Silvan never showed up. A slender figure clad only in a tattered cloak stood alone on the Challenger’s Ground, and they all watched A’Esha’s Hourglass as the grains of sand noiselessly fell to a heap. It was A’Esha’s, the Two-Faced Mother’s, Demon Law that once a Challenger for the Bone Crown appeared on the Challenger’s Ground and started her Hourglass, the Crown and all its powers returned to the ground until the end of the battle. To not answer a Challenge for it was not an option. But the last grain of sand sparkled and gently fell to rest atop the mound of sand, and the vicious, almighty Emperor Silvan forfeited the Bone Crown. For a long stretch of time, deafening silence thundered through the air. The Crown shone onto the head of the lonely figure who had not once moved since issuing the Challenge, but before it could weave itself into and around the nameless demon’s head and thorns, the powerful demons in attendance all rose in a roar. They were not content, not satisfied with this pathetic sort of outcome! How could they kneel to and obey the laws of some unknown nomad without seeing proof for their right to it? The Twelve Commanders of the Emperor’s Twelve Demon Legions all issued a Challenge, one by one; but during each fight, a thick fog would fall on the Ground, covering everyone’s eyes. With it came an eerie silence that numbed ears, and each time the fog passed, they once again saw the slender figure on the Ground was alone, with no opponent nor corpse in sight. The Heavenly Council watched in silent glee. Even for an ‘immortal’, Silvan’s rule had been significantly longer than the others who had come before him in history. He was a mighty force on his own, but his Twelve Demon Legions had always been a threat to Heaven’s might under his iron rule. A Challenge against Silvan l’Nera had long become a forgotten dream, yet it had not only brought his dethronement, it was accompanied by the deaths of all Commanders of the Twelve Demon Legions. Like this, the new owner of the Bone Crown was decided. As the Bone Crown once again shone to life, the figure raised her hands to withdraw her hood. The onlookers could only gasp. Dark, russet eyes glittered against a deathly pale face. Matted, platinum-gold hair fell below her waist. Soot and ashes dusted her cheeks, and her hair was so clumped together that not even Hellwind could affect it, but she was the most beautiful being anyone had laid their eyes on. It was a girl. Such a delicate, fragile-looking thing — had Hell ever had an Empress? The Bone Crown once again shone against her head as her horns grew out majestically to wind around her head like a crown. The Bone Crown wove itself into her scalp and wound its way up her horns like a grape-vine, decorating her small head magnificently. Despite this unprecedented event of the keeper of the Bone Crown being a woman, this time, no one dared interrupt her. No one knew where the twelve Commanders had gone, whether they were dead or alive. They didn’t know why the feared Emperor had not turned up to protect his Crown, and their bodies still remembered the way the dense fog oppressively incapacitated them. Like this, the Nine Rings of Hell welcomed its new master. For a while, no one knew what to do. The girl stood silently, scanning those present with her smouldering eyes, fixing the onlookers down where they stood. Under her powerful gaze, one by one, they fell to their knees and lowered their heads. When no one within visible sight was left standing, the girl slowly raised her head, as if finally registering where she was. Although her face remained blank, her eyes took in all her surroundings, as if fiercely willing an imprint of the looming castles and grand buildings of the First Ring. Her melodic voice was very muted, quiet when she parted her lips, but in the silence, there was a tangibly cold emptiness to her gently spoken words. “Summon the Twelve Demon Legions to meet their new master.” Hearing the command of the Bone Crown, the dispersed cohorts of the Twelve Demon Legions immediately spread their wings and launched themselves in the direction of the Challenger’s Ground. Their demon blood and flesh bent to the calling of the Bone Crown with absolute obedience, as did all existences of Hell until a new Challenger rose, and their hearts pumped powerfully in their chests at the new Emperor’s first order. The Twelve Demon Legions gathered mightily at the Ground within hours. When the Ground was full, they started taking their places atop ledges and flat surfaces on the surrounding buildings, then kneeled in wait. A mix of emotions corroded them as they waited — a female! A young demoness, the Emperor? Was this not a joke? But the powerful figures residing in the castles and mansions of the First Ring were kneeling, and seeing that they did not dare even raise their heads, the soldiers dared not issue a claim on the Bone Crown. After all, a demon’s power would not be based on her appearance. “Mm.” It was a quiet sound, almost like an approval. When she spoke next, her words no longer rang with the irrefutable authority of the Bone Crown, but remained frigidly devoid of feeling. “The Seconds-in-Command of each Legion, step forward.” Slowly, tentatively, the Seconds-in-Command stepped forward, then sank to one knee in a neat line before her. “Luvr of the Empress’ First Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” With the Second-in-Command of the First Legion taking the lead, slowly, one by one, the Seconds-in-Command of the other legions acknowledged the abrupt but very real change of owners of Hell. “E’Ru of the Empress’ Second Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “Veliel of the Empress’ Third Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “Reis of the Empress’ Fourth Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “Sulyur of the Empress’ Fifth Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “D’Los of the Empress’ Sixth Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “Gayn of the Empress’ Seventh Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “Lesen of the Empress’ Eighth Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “S’Rin of the Empress’ Ninth Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “Arumvel of the Empress’ Tenth Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” “Vernard of the Empress’ Twelfth Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress.” The girl lowered her gaze to the last demon. As if feeling the weight of her stare, the demon submissively lowered his tousled, midnight head further. “Ruas of the Empress’ Elite Eleventh Legion pays respects to Your Highness, Empress. As decreed by the Two-Faced Mother, Goddess A’Esha, from this moment henceforward, for as long as you are the keeper of the Bone Crown, the skies and the earth of the Nine Rings of Hell will kneel before you. Long may Your Highness rule.”