The burning twin suns rose in the sky, and with their arrival, the cobalt blue night sky receded like a prey stepping back slowly. With the light of the day returned, snarls filled the grey and black labyrinth. Occasionally, the gold lacquer on the building sparkled like stars. The narrow roads in between were now used by the horned citizens of the pitt.
However, the grey labyrinth ended at a bronze border. It rose into the sky, higher than the grey buildings. But it was not just a wall; the top of the bronze border had a rampart, and a few black and bronze armoured fiends walked on it, their eyes scanning the streets below. The bronze wall was embedded into a bronze bastion; it spanned across a hundred miles like a mountain.
There were domes, peaks, and walkways. Rising high into the orange sky, in the centre, a lone tower stood tall and proud, matching the height of the obsidian wall.
In one of the sections of the bastion, heat took over as the fire beneath the utensils. The metal scraped as few chefs dressed in brown aprons cooked. Their eyes were fixed on the ingredients sizzling before them. Sweat rolled down a few foreheads, but they didn't let it fall into the food. Instead, the fiends simply used their infernal essence to heat their bodies.
The beads of water quickly turned into tiny white mists before disappearing completely. There was one corrupted human chef, and he simply wiped his blotchy red forehead.
Two servants dressed in brown placed a huge cart in the corner of the kitchen, and the walls were made of stone. Black granite counters stretched across the walls, each had a stove or a sink, or they were made to place ingredients.
One of the servants breathed heavily as he leaned against the wall and looked at the other one.
The other servant returned the glance, and his breath was also unstable. But he was in a better position. His voice whispered, "Let's go, we have another cart to carry."
The first one still breathed heavily, his eyes still fixed on the other one. "Give me a moment."
But the other servant did not listen, and he instead pulled the first servant out. "Don't stall!"
The first one got dragged before he could comprehend. In defiance, he retaliated. But his voice didn't rise. He instead tried to snatch his arm back. "Piss off."
As soon as the words of retaliation left his lips, the grip on his arm tightened. His fellow servant's horns glowed a little.
The other servant's voice grew serious as he leaned closer, "If you don't want to spend your first day in the gallows, do your duty."
The first one stared into his fellow servant's eye, and he gulped. Without any delay, he followed him. As a new servant, he did not know why they were woken up early before dawn. All the servants in their sections have been moving in a hurry, as if there was an occasion today.
He was assigned a servant to guide him in his first week, and he was following him right now. But at the same time, he voiced his doubts, "What's there today?"
His mentor met his gaze as they walked down a corridor, "Duke Carilose is visiting Lady Vakharath today. Now, shut up and hurry."
Both of them walked toward the storage in silence.
…
Rows of guards stood behind a massive gate, and the torches crackled as none of them said a single word. They stood patiently, each holding a metal spear. Their armours had tiny sockets fitted with glittering stones and a special belt made out of gold.
A loud noise spread across as the massive gates moved. Behind them stood a fiend who was dressed in an elegant purple robe with black accents. His neck had many gold necklaces, each of them unique and sparkling. Behind him, a tall fiend covered in grey armour stood. His arm was resting on a Longsword on his belt. Twenty guards, each covered from head to toe, formed two rows behind the man waiting. The hall was filled with an oppressive aura.
Before the man stepped in, his influence moved in, and the guards bowed. All the guards behind him followed.
A fiend dressed in muted red stepped forward and bowed elegantly as she lifted her robe slightly and addressed the two fiends. "My dominion and exalted, House Carnax, welcomes you."
Carilose spoke, his voice devouring the silence across the gateway. "Rise, child."
The lady stood slowly and lowered her robe, and she gently stepped aside, giving way to the man. "My lady Vhakarath is deeply regretful, as she couldn't receive your Dominion. Please, this way."
Carilose walked forward, and the lady followed, staying beside him. He looked at the gateway stretching forward and the glowing lanterns built into the walls. Each had a dragon face and an open maw. Light spewed out of them, lighting the walls. He took a glance at them and said, "My daughter by law has great taste."
The lady beside him smiled gently and bent her head, "My Lady appreciates, your dominion."
After a while, they reached a metal platform, which was large and had bronze plating on it. Behind the platform, a wall stretched into the sky with a chain in the middle. Carilose entered first, and then the rest of them followed. Even with twenty fiends, the platform had a lot of area.
The chain in the middle of the wall moved, and a rattle travelled across it like a wave. The platform began ascending into the sky, behind the wall, a tower stood. Behind the platform, the city of Pitt looked like a map with intricate details.
With a loud thud, the platform came to a halt at the top of the tower. The ramparts on the side had trees and flowers from the overworld. They managed to thrive in the scorching atmosphere. As such, they had yellow leaves and purple flowers. The wood bent like a wave; no single branch was straight.
A few servants were taking care of the plants. A few of them watered, while the rest cut the branches and leaves. Some trees had unripe fruits growing on them.
In front, multiple arches stretched into a door, and it was connected to a house. It had gold lacquer across it, and the roof slanted. Few spires on the edges. Thuds rang as they made their way toward the door.
Carilose and the rest now stood in front of the door, and two servants standing on either side gently pushed the door in. Their eyes never rose above their feet, and their backs never straightened. Both of them bent as they said, "My dominion."
The stone floor of the tower was now replaced with soft carpet, which was red with gold laces in place. Inside, the halls were decorated with hanging beast heads. Few relics were placed on display along the hall, they duke moved past them. As it was not his first time coming.
Finally, they reached the end of the hall, where a few chairs were arranged. Behind those chairs, two banners in grey hung. A yellow crown between fire was located in the centre of the banners. It was the sigil of House Carnax.
The lady bowed and left after she spoke, "My dominion, I will inform my lady of your arrival. Please sit," She pointed at one of the chairs before the banners.
A few moments had passed as Carilose sat on the chair, the doors to the right flung open as the lady returned. Following her, a woman entered, she was dressed in a bright sanguine robe, gold accents on it complemented the red. Her golden hair was brushed to her left, and the waves in her hair looked like tides in a sea.
Her face was shaped like a diamond, her cheeks were defined like a fiend's. Her muted red skin was enough to turn all the guards in the hall toward her. But they did not, as it was the Duke's relative by marriage.
Carilose turned toward her and smiled, and his fangs were exposed. He sat still, waiting for her to come to him.
Vhakarath gently bowed down and took his arm, her soft black lips touched a ring on his hand. With that, she rose slowly, "Welcome, your dominion."
Carilose stood up and nodded, "You look beautiful as ever, child."
Vhakarath smiled and bent her head a little in gratitude, and she extended her hand to her right.
Carilose started walking, Vhakarath followed him, standing beside him. The doors to the left were opened, and a long table with many chairs stood in the middle. They were painted red by the painted glasses on either side.
The smell of grilled meat and glazed sauces instantly filled the room as they both stepped in. Carilose sniffed and smiled heartily. His eyes scanned the table. All the plates were filled with different kinds of meat.
Two servants stood behind the table with their gaze fixed on the floor. The guards did not follow into the dining hall.
Carilose sat on one of the chairs, and Vhakarath sat opposite him. The servants began to serve as they sat. He took the silver glass beside the plate, which was filled with wine. His voice filled the dining hall suddenly. "To my son. May his soul rage like hellfire."
He raised the glass and waited for Vhakarath to follow, and she did.
Vhakarath raised her glass and spoke, "To my late husband."
With that, both of them took a sip and put the glass down.
Carilose took the cutlery and started slicing meat, but his gaze was not on it. His movements felt instinctual.
Duke's orange eyes were fixed on Vhakarath; the anticipation in his eyes carried information, and he wanted to lay out that information. "Shall we begin?"