Leon sat miserably in his office surrounded by mountains of paperwork. Each stack higher than the other and each filled with meddlesome problems that shouldn’t even be his concern.

  But with the ever so wonderful Morrison delegating most, if not all, of his paperwork to him. The sea of paper seemed to be never ending.

  At least he wasn’t the only one suffering, working near him both Ellios and Raiden were deep in their own paperwork.

  With Ashley busy with lessons and most of his men on patrols their quarters were tranquil. His musings were cut shore when the door opened and another stack of paperwork was distributed among the three.

  “This is getting ridiculous! Even demons wouldn’t be this cruel,” complained Raiden.

  “Why do we even do paperwork?” asked Ellios sullenly.

  “I don’t know. But if that fiend ever gets found I’ll personally have words with em,” said Leon with a drop of rage in his voice.

  Perhaps the one thing both angels and demons agreed on. Whoever invented paperwork had a bounty on his head by both sides. Heaven and Hell both collaborated to find that person with so far fruitless results. That did not stop them from continuing the search.

  “What good would that do? We’d still have tons to do,” remarked Ellios.

  “It would bring satisfaction,” responded Raiden with a raised fist.

  “Spare me your squabble we’ve got enough on our plates already, I don’t need an argument as well,” said Leon

  “You agree with him and you know it,” accused Ellios.

  Leon did not reply and looked away confirming his guilt.

  The door opened again this time bringing a most welcome guest.

  Rosenweiss entered with all the confidence a man of his station could produce. His proud look and demeanor alerted Leon to one fact.

  He had completed his work, before them, and came to gloat.

  “Still bust I see my friend. I could help you know but I won’t. That would be beneath me”

  “If you’re here to spread your superiority just go away,” said Leon.

  “No I actually came here to hide from my secretary who would probably try to make me do more work, like inspect the barracks or something. I have captains to do that, so why should I,” said Rosenweiss taking a seat near Leon.

  “Coward,” muttered Raiden, while Ellios hid a smirk with his hand.

  “Shut your mouths, you two don’t have to deal with an overbearing secretary,” said Rosenweiss.

  Both looked at Leon who did not bother to raise his head and continued to work.

  “I’ll remember that,” said Leon calmly.

  The door opened and another stack came through. Rosenweiss laughed.

  “Well looks like more work for you poor boys… eh?” Rosenweiss stopped when the stack was dropped in front of him. “I think there’s been some mistake I...”

  He froze as his gaze met the ones of his secretary who was glaring at him.

  “Trying to evade me by hiding in the High Lord’s office. How daring of you to think I wouldn’t look here,” she said while adjusting her glasses.

  Rosenweiss’ whole body sagged in sadness not bothering to look as she left the room.

  “Who’s still busy now?” asked Leon with a smile.

  “Shut up Leon,” mumbled Rosenweiss.

  With all four now busy with work the notable presence of a fifth in the room did not go unnoticed.

  “By the way isn’t this boring for your niece?” asked Rosenweiss.

  “What she’s never been happier. Ain’t that right little rose,” said Leon turning to the corner.

  Little Rosalia had been placed with her toys in the corner and surrounded by pillows to act as barriers. She raised her arm and waved her hand while holding a toy, babbling happily at hearing her uncle say her name.

  Leon turned to Rosenweiss with a smug look while he scoffed and returned to his work. When he turned back to look at her the corner was lacking the presence of a baby. Only a bunch of white petals lay scattered about.

  “She’s gone!!” shouted Leon holding his head with both hands.

  “What!?!” panicked the other three in the room all converging to the corner.

  Rosalia was indeed gone with no trace except the trail of petals going over the pillows.

  (Break)

  Baby Rosalia waddled along in the hallway with a sense of purpose. With happy noises and gurgles she turned the corner.

  Coincidentally missing four very high ranked angels tripping over themselves to leave an office.

  Guards witnessed her but stood confused as their princess clearly knew where she was going or at least believed she did.

  “Should we stop her?” asked the first.

  “Are you crazy she outranks us both,” replied the second.

  “Does that matter she’s a baby,” said the first.

  “She looks like she knows where she’s going. We can’t stop her. But we could follow to make sure nothing bad happens,” said the second.

  Agreeing they looked back at the princess and found an empty hallway.

  Rosalia had passed them and was on her merry way to a destination only she knew.

  Servants and guards bowed as she passed them before realizing what was wrong but by the time they came to their senses the baby was gone. She was quite fast for a baby.

  She crawled rapidly until she bumped into tall legs. She looked up annoyed at the angel that dared block her path.

  “Well what is this? A princess all on her own and without supervision. That Leonard will hear about this,” said the nasally voice of Morrison.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  He bent down to grab her but she dodged by crawling around him. Annoyed he turned around and tried again but due to her speed he tumbled. He caught himself and didn’t fall but he was now angry at this little brat.

  He chased after her and managed to close in and grabbed her.

  Or so he thought.

  His hands grabbed something that wasn’t a baby and he fell onto the floor. He looked at his hands and saw he was holding a bunch of white petals.

  In his moment of distraction he lost track of Rosalia, frustrated he hit the floor.

  Rosalia finally saw the end of her journey, she babbled happily and pressed forwards.

  She entered a classroom with only two inhabitants. The teacher looked at the intruder in surprise.

  “Princess?” she asked confused.

  “Rosie!” exclaimed Ashley happily.

  She rose from her seat and rushed her sister, seeing her Rosalia clapped happily.

  “Ah-y, Ah-y,” she repeated a few times.

  Ashley picked up her sister and hugged her.

  “Yes Rosie, Ashy’s got you.”

  Rosalia was a very happy baby she had accomplished her goal.

  (Break)

  As for Leon and the three overworked angels they searched tirelessly all over the palace. Only to be told a few hours later of where Rosalia was and what she had done.

  Leon would contemplate this incident and would reinforce his niece’s play area so she wouldn’t escape again.

  Morrison would never make mention of this as he would have to explain how he was bested by a baby if he did.

  (Break)

  In his office the demon king Ragnaros was busy with the most important task of his life.

  Trying to get his son to come to him.

  He was squatting and stared at his son who was seated on a couch in front of him. Both looked at each other, one in hope and the other in confusion.

  Nico who was drinking nearby chuckled.

  “Give it up he won’t budge.”

  “Never!” exclaimed Ragnaros. “Now come here kiddo, come to papa.”

  Nyx tilted his head like a bird would and continued to stare confused at his father.

  Ragnaros sighed in defeat.

  Suddenly Nyx giggled and his whole face shone with delight. With a swift movement a twister of darkness and black feathers headed for Ragnaros.

  The king became excited and opened his arms ready for a hug, only to freeze in surprise as Nyx flew passed him.

  “Oh mama loves you too my little raven, how are you?” said the musical voice of Midnight behind him.

  Ragnaros was disappointed but couldn’t be mad his son chose his mother over him.

  “Mama,” said Nyx cutely.

  Silence reigned until Midnight squealed and hugged her baby close.

  “He said his first word!” she shouted with joy.

  Nico smiled as well but laughed heartily as he saw Ragnaros’ hunched form. He looked like his heart had been pierced by an arrow, and not the romantic kind.

  The king must of felt a sense of betrayal and stood there in a depressed state which amused Nico greatly.

  Midnight sat down on the couch she gushed at Nyx who giggled and enjoyed the attention.

  “His first word, what a day indeed,” said Nico pleased. “Don’t take it badly Ragnaros, he could have said anything.”

  Instantly a treasonous thought emerged in the mind of the demon king. He looked at his son silently asking for conformation.

  Nyx looked at his father then at Nico confirming his guilt.

  “It was you!” exclaimed Ragnaros. “Nico! you son of a bitch!”

  He turned to his friend and glared at him while shaking his fist in his direction. However a frosty voice behind him made his whole body go still.

  “Ragnaros dear, did you just call my mother a bitch?”

  Afraid for his life Ragnaros slowly turned to his wife with a horrified look.

  Midnight was staring at him with contempt and was visibly unimpressed with him. She tightened her hold on Nyx and promptly headed for the door.

  “Well if you can be so brazen I’m sure you will find great accommodations to sleep tonight,” she said without ever staring in his direction.

  Ragnaros tried to speak but choked on his words and could only watch helplessly as his wife left. The realization that he’d been also banned from their room would come later.

  Nico laughing in the background, at him specifically, angered him greatly. His body shook a little from the rage, his fingers twitched.

  In the blink of an eye Ragnaros appeared in front of Nico. His right arm pulled back ready for a punch. A sphere of molten hellfire formed in front of his fist.

  Nico, having stopped laughing to drink spat it out in panic.

  He vanished from his seat in arcs of blue lightning, just as Ragnaros’ fist descended.

  An explosion of hellfire consumed that section of the room, the walls shaking from the power behind the attack.

  Nico reappeared behind Ragnaros, blue lightning dancing around his body in small sparks.

  “Ragnaros you crazy motherfucker!” shouted Nico.

  “You’ll pay for your impudence you bastard,” responded Ragnaros enraged.

  “Oh! You wanna go,” challenged Nico with a dark smile.

  His whole body became active with lightning flowing around him and sparks crackling on nearby furniture.

  Ragnaros in response crossed his arms and channeled his power. He uncrossed them, releasing a shout as a red aura covered his body and the room began to shake.

  “Bring it on!” he shouted accepting the challenge.

  The entire mansion shook as the two colossal powers clashed.

  (Break)

  In the vast dining halls demons knelt and braced themselves as the mansion shook uncontrollably. The culprits were evident, the power being released a very good tell.

  Various demons, previously trying to have lunch, cursed the pair in their minds.

  “Have they lost their damn minds,” growled Iruma holding unto a bottle of beer.

  The mansion shook again, some dust and small debris falling from the ceiling.

  “If this continues the mansion will be torn asunder!” shouted Nilrem over the noise of the fierce battle.

  “On a side note, I reckon if Nico gets clobbered his position will open up. A strong demon would be needed to take over,” said Iruma suddenly.

  “Naturally no weakling could take over the titles and their responsibilities,” agreed Nilrem.

  “Yeah...”

  “Which is why I would be the best candidate. After all it requires cunning and a certain amount of charm,” interrupted Nilrem.

  Iruma looked at him sharply, a glare as hot as the sun directed at the magician.

  “What?” he asked in disbelief with a note of anger.

  “It would only make sense I be chosen. Besides my clan can handle the duties of the black serpents easily,” answered Nilrem, his clansmen around him agreeing.

  “Hold on! The bloody blades are the greatest fighters among the clans, we should be chosen,” argued Iruma.

  “My intellect is superior compared to the lot of you. Your clan is too brutish to be civilized anyway,” countered Nilrem.

  “Who’re you calling brutish!” shouted an angry armored demon.

  “Like anyone would follow a condescending prick like you,” said a hooded demon.

  “Hey! How dare you insult our leader,” said a robed demon outraged

  “Yeah, we’ll kick your ass for that,” threatened a blue-skinned demon.

  Tensions boiled over as the dark fairies and the bloody blades glared at each other.

  With a growl Iruma acted.

  “Bloody blades unite!”

  Iruma and many of his clan jumped into the air, their forms shifting into purple lights. The lights combined and merged into the form of a dragon.

  “Like hell!” shouted some dark fairies.

  They raised their arms and sent dark spells into the glowing dragon. Interrupting the merge the lights reformed into their original bodies causing them to fall back to the ground.

  The battle began as the dark fairies engaged the bloody blades in a brawl for a, as of the moment, fictive position.

  Tables were overturned, chairs were thrown without a care and the dining hall began to descend to madness.

  Wielding his magical staff as a spear Nilrem thrust forward into the stomach of an armored demon and sent him stumbling. He spun around and blasted a vampire with a fireball, sending him flying into the wall.

  Iruma witnessing this glided towards Nilrem, in his rage he barely noticed as an undead tried to gut him. With a single hand he picked the demon by the neck and threw him backwards. Not bothering to look as he crashed through a table and caused another fight to start.

  Iruma reached for his sheathed katana and in one move had it aimed at that damned magician’s neck.

  Nilrem having seen it from the crystal in his staff turned and met him halfway with glee. Their weapons clashed creating a strong gust of wind that sent all sort of cutlery flying.

  “I seem to remember you losing that staff to a bet,” said Iruma with a sadistic smile.

  “Like that would stop me, I stole it back,” said Nilrem calmly as Iruma laughed. “If the fool wanted to keep it he should of watched it better.”

  From the other side of the room Alucard and Darkblade watched them with different expressions. Alucard simply smiled while sipping his wine, Darkblade looked at the captain of the royal guard in contemplation.

  Alucard’s smile became sinister, knowing the intention of the specter.

  In a cloud of darkness Darkblade appeared behind Alucard, spiked swords raised ready to strike. In a flash of movement Alucard rose from his seat and spun around. His elegant rapier blocked the spiked swords.

  Alucard’ smile was predatory and his slitted eyes became filled with excitement.

  “Well what an unexpected surprise. I wonder what caused you to resort to this,” said Alucard already knowing the answer.

  “Chatter all you want, I will reclaim what was lost and avenge my honor,” growled Darkblade.

  “Oh! But I quite like being called the ominous knight, your title fits me so well,” said Alucard with a smirk.

  Growling in rage, Darkblade’s eyes glowed fiercely through his helmet.

  With a shout but separated and began an intricate dance of swordsmanship.

  Alucard would thrust his blade at Darkblade who would parry and attack with ruthless strikes. Which Alucard would sidestep and dodge with elegant movements.

  It would not take long for the royal guard and the dark blade clan to begin fighting.

  It would take even less time for the rest of the dining hall to start fighting whomever was closest. Chaos reigned as demons brawled with each other, most for no apparent reason.

  And all caused by two fools who decided to duke it out in an office.