Tap. Tap. Tap.
Vapula could do nothing but resist the urge to flinch at every tap, his back bowed low, not even daring to raise his head above the wooden floors. That air of confidence and pride now nowhere to be seen as he waited on baited breathes. Despite the dread drilling deep into his bones, he couldn't help his traitorous heart lusting after this level of power on full display.
To think, he, a noble Devil would be shivering like a leaf in the middle of a tornado before a simple and comedic toy. A pink wand that looked almost exactly like the cheap plastic wand often used by children, with a bright pink ribbon frozen in place. It's heart pulsing a cheery light that wasn't entirely appropriate for the current mood.
"Raise your head, Vapula."
The voice commanded, sounding both young and ancient all at the same time. And without his bidding, he found himself staring into a pair of cold, violet eyes that looked really to flail him to the bones.
"I apologize, my lady." He bowed deeper, cold sweat rolling down his spine as that pressure slammed into something beyond the physical, making him feel as if he was once more nothing more than newborn cub who'd finally opened his eyes for the first time. "My behavior...my behavoir was unbecoming of someone of my station...I should've never allowed that Bishop to rile me up to that extent."
"Indeed." Unlike the usually goofy mask she usually wore, Serafall didn't even allow a hint of amusement to touch the edges of her lips. Her gaze remaining as cold and flat as she pondered over the most recent events. "As a noble, it is your responsible to allows possess poise and decorum even to your most hated of foes. Even if you want nothing more than to turn them into a bloody smear on the ground, you must always smiles and bear it. Do you understand?"
"….Yes, my lady." He said through gritted teeth, it was humiliating to be talked down to like he was a child. Spoken to as if his family hadn't injected countless resources into his development to make sure he would never be in a position for a peer to cut him down to size. He wanted to shout, wanted to snap at the Satan, to place all the blame at the feet of others for his failing...but he could do none of that, only swallowing back his own pride in a barely perceptible movement. The next words, as decorum demanded, tasted like ash and glass in his mouth. "Thank you for your guidance, I will endeavor to improve."
"...Good, then I will not beat around the bush then. The original plan has failed. A blockade only works if everyone stands united, with the Grigori falling first, there's no longer a reason to continue. Vapula, you will sign tomorrow."
"B-but!"
"The Grigori have already gotten the better end of the deal here," The Satan just steamrolled over him, completely uncaring of his protests. "That's fine...I will need to speak to Azazel about this, we did have an agreement after all, he will need to pay the price for stabbing us in the back like that. We can't afford to wait any longer, this is beyond just our personal needs. This is about our future place in the pecking order. I want a more severe crackdown of Strays in Japan, especially with the Yokai's new alliance with the Fallen Angels. And tomorrow morning, make sure to sign before the Church does. Last I heard, their Saint-est was on her last leg and I do not want them getting their hands on a youth rejuvenation fruit."
"They have that?"
He'd looked thoroughly over the long list of possible fruits the Yokai would be able to theatrically provide, but nowhere he searched had anything to do with something so miraculous as that...and frankly, dangerous.
"No." She shook her head primly, twin pigtails waving in step. "But if there's anyone who would have something like that up his sleeve, it would be The Heavenly Demon."
"But I thought he and Saint Elizabeth weren't on the best of terms?"
Didn't she work with you and a lot of different factions to completely unearth everything this figure stood for? Was what he truly wanted to say, but he valued his head far too much to be that much of an idiot.
"He's currently safe guarding one of his apprentices Inheritance sites right now, even after all they've done. So there is a chance, that if she asked, he might have a solution for her age. Which isn't something we can afford to happen. Facing her in her prime once was more than enough."
"Very well," But there was one more question he needed to ask, for not just his own safety but also the continued existence of the Vapula bloodline. "But my Lady, I do have one question. If I may be so impertinent."
"You may."
"Thank you, my Lady...How will Lord Sirzechs react to this news...I was sure the original plan was to get Lady Grayfia back up in working order I know some things have changed, but I do not wish to face the wrath of this a couple tens of years down the line.
"He will understand, even if unwilling. This isn't the first sacrifice we made for our people, and it won' be our last. Besides, Grayfia is awake now. Weak as a newborn kitten but strong enough to keep that man at bay for awhile. There will be other opportunities, that I know. So no, you will not be facing any backlash from him for signing."
"Should I try to push for our previously agreed upon terms?"
"Yes but lessen them by a bit or she'll send you away for another day, Yasaka is petty enough to do exactly that. And remember, you are not in your playground anymore. The Yokais are a real force now and they will begin to act like one. Spread this to all of our heirs in Japan, tell them to keep a low profile and to not cause trouble...And also tell them to tightened the reigns on the Strays. We need this gesture of goodwill to get something similar to the Grigori. Do you understand, Nellial of House Vapula?"
"Yes, Lady Serafall Leviathan!"
Nellial rose into a full salute, demonic energy churning in his chest as the command settled into place.
"Dissmissed."
And just like that, the pink-ish image of the Satan faded away. The wand blinking once, twice before finally returning to it's previously dormant state. He kept deathly quiet for an hour, eyeing the wand a few more times just to make extra sure there was no way of her zipping back on. Only after that, did he finally let out a steady breath of relief. Shoulders sagging as the pressure subsided.
"Soon." He gazed forlornly at the wand in question, a greedy gleam to his eye. "I too shall stand at the level of Satans...All it will take is time and when that happens...when that happens, I can't wait to see how you fair, Serafall."
His aura shifted, demonic energy crash against each other as the subtle roar of a lion cried out into the world. It was the roar of a king, a ruler who just spotted their next seat of power. It didn't matter if it was held by another competitor, it was the king's by birthright, and if they wanted to stop the king's advance, they would have no choice but throw their own bodies in the conqueror's path.
Nellial wouldn't just be a Satan one day...no he would never, ever be content with something a measly as that. He would the King of all Satans and there wasn't a damn thing of them could do to stop him. The first step? Showing these Yokai that they were nothing more than farmers getting a bit too uppity for their own good. He would smile and nod now, but just because Yasaka was hard to deal with in a frontal assault...she was harmless with just a simple teleportation spell.