The Ashes of Justice

A dark night lies overhead as ashes blow in the wind, more ashes than were common beyond the Wall in the depths of the Dark, but perhaps it should be expected after they were released into the wider world. They had had their chance to multiply, and then they had been sent back to their origin. They had been so vengeful before, but now they lay dormant, not yet reaching out to devour the three women who stepped into this land. These women had been banished here just like the Ashes, but now they will have to face judgement for their failure and the closing off of the Dark from the rest of the world. You really have failed this time, a voice tells Princess Qélla Darkstar, contempt laced throughout its words. It was always inevitable, she responds to the voice somewhat indifferently. She had not brought the closing of the gates. She had only brought a disease to her own kingdom of Raylinette and set it on fire. Perhaps, the best way to leave it really was to leave it destroyed. At least, Harlesen was destroyed as well. She knows that is not for the best, though. She had promised her mother dedication to Raylinette, and then the kingdom had been destroyed by the Ashes, along with much of the rest of time. Qélla would much prefer order over destruction. Evresca seems somewhat disconcerted by the change in circumstances. She had found her sister only for her sister to die as a spirit in the midst of the fighting. She had never left the Dark much, though, so it would almost seem if her life would go back to normal, but they will soon have to face a demonic judge. The angels had thought it appropriate to notify the demonic authorities before sending Qélla and Evresca back to the Dark. As much as the angels appreciated that they had dealt with Justice, the bringer of the apocalypse, they did not want demons left to spread evil in the ordinary world. Qélla finds their judgement appropriate because it would appear to restore order. The angels had also decided that the vampire, Daffodil Kelvex, no longer belonged in the ordinary world either. Daffodil had never been to the Dark, and now she faced the prospect of remaining in it forever. It is unclear whether she is more disturbed by the dark or the passing of her friend, Monnette Jason, the medusa who led her to believe that she could be a good person. That advice will hardly help her here where everyone is cold and cruel. Evylenne Seanna of Starlington had also passed away in the fight against Justice. Qélla had known since she was a young demon, although she had always pretended to be a dark fairy, yet it did not matter much to Qélla. Growing up in the Dark, she was accustomed to fighting to the death against people her age. Still, Evylenne had trusted Qélla even after she had found out that Qélla was a demon, and Qélla would not take loyalty lightly. Qélla passes through the gates and turns left to the lavish estates. They will have to walk a fair distance to reach the transport to the main city. Normally, Qélla would appear closer, but she does not want to risk using her privileges before she has faced judgement. Daffodil carefully avoids the veins of lava protruding from the ground. It is a strange look for her, having come from the daylit world, to avoid the only light, even if as a vampire she is sensitive to fire. “Where are we going?” she questions. “To the judge,” Evresca responds hesitantly. Evresca is cautious. She never would have expected to end up before a judge for making a mistake, much less for trying to protect the world, and then getting discovered by angels. Qélla has never had to face a judge either. She would always criticize anyone who did. It us not necessary to send someone to a judge if they have done something wrong. In most cases, they can be punished directly by their superiors. The judge is usually for disputes or, as in this case, if something has happened outside of the view of someone who could deliver a punishment. There are few rights in the Dark beyond property rights and the right of the state to punish insubordination. Between the estates, few people are walking around. They are probably mostly inside where it is potentially safer. There are usually thieves on the streets, but they keep to the shadows. “Does it ever rain?” Daffodil asks. “Not here,” Qélla replies. Daffodil sighs seeming disappointed. She glances around the dark underground village. She seems unimpressed by the black estates. A faraway look envelops her eyes before she shakes it off. They walk to a smaller black building at the edge of the village. A line of lava frames the doorway. They walk inside. A ticket booth sits to the right. No one sits behind it. It seems that not enough people travel into the city by the traditional method for it to be well-staffed. Generally, people as high-ranking as Qélla could simply create a portal into the city, and it is more often lower-level demons that would use the traditional method, because they do not yet or do not still have the power. It is a serious offence to a***e the hierarchy of power, and it would certainly not look good in the eyes of the judge. Lower-level demons would often travel back and forth, but if they were low enough, they would just use the lighthouse, or an even less pleasant alternative. Anger rises in Qélla. The demons know that they are coming, because those nasty angels told them, and yet they all have to go through the long travelling process to get to the judge. To have this unstaffed… Lord Darkstar would have given them a lessen on efficiency if he had ever had to lower himself to this form of travel. He would be so ashamed of her now, but then again, it is largely his fault that she is in this situation. If he had not made that sword, there never would have been an apocalypse, and the angels never would have found out that she is a demon, because she never would have had to stop that apocalypse from spreading death across time. Her father is really the failure.