Chapter 39
Coming out of the temple with our gains, I paused at the top, looking at the group around me.
"Merlin, Winnie, I want you to take the forces we have around the Amazon and start a grid sweep.
I want us to start identifying and destroying any and every demon.
" I looked straight at Merlin. "Bring William, but make sure he stays as protected as we can manage.
You two should be able to sweep the city and the tribal area of demons. "
The two of them nodded, and my attention shifted to Almeria.
"Your forces should sweep in from the surrounding oceans and clear the waterways. It's your chance to get back at the demons who attacked your people," I told her.
Almeria bobbed her head, and I shifted my attention to Nyx.
"Get with the Mul Branova across the world and have a thorough scouting of any known demon populations.
I want to know if the Demon Lord has a retaliation plan bubbling up," I told her.
"Venthra, if you can, double-check on the Borrsons and, Circe, the Heros Clans.
We need to make sure we haven't caused an outsize reaction anywhere else. "
Everyone began nodding, and I met Gloria's gaze.
She lifted her brow, seeming to be waiting for her own instructions.
"I wasn't aware you needed more work. I can certainly give you more, if you'd like some," I teased.
Gloria held up a hand. "Pass. I've got all the work I need."
"Figured," I said with a slow chuckle and glanced at Simone last. "We're going to have to install a Mul Branova chapter here if we're going to keep a hand on the region."
"Already on it." Simone snapped a salute. "What will you be doing?"
"I'll be supporting the efforts here in the Amazon, as well as being on call should the Demon Lord lash out anywhere else. Which, I suppose, means I'll be stuck with Merlin if anyone's trying to get hold of me."
The group all looked around at each other but exchanged only quiet nods.
"We'll get it done," Simone said, looking away from the others and back to me with a giant grin on her face.
"Though if we need to install a new Mul Branova chapter here, I could use a little assistance from Gloria on getting a base built that's more than a bunch of people huddling in a city.
" Simone flashed her most charming smile.
Gloria simply grunted an acknowledgment. "Yeah, we'll get you something. But if you want any construction done, you're going to have to build a teleporter here."
"Already on the list," Simone shot back before turning to face the full group.
"All right, team, on three." Simone put her hands in the center like we were a sports team.
Gloria stared at Simone.
Simone stared at Gloria.
Gloria held that stare for a long moment, like she was trying to decide whether she had to participate or could get away with brushing it off. It seemed her final assessment was that she would have to give in to Simone in this battle of wills.
Gloria sighed and put her hand in the center, which seemed to kick off a domino effect. The other women, even Venthra, did not put up a fight against Simone's cheer.
"On three. One, two, three… Team Bran!" Simone cheered with a giant smile on her face, though I was half convinced the smile was purely at winning that argument without much of a fight from any of her usual opponents.
"Don't get used to it," Venthra said, pulling her hand out of the huddle.
Simone's bottom lip popped out in an adorable pout. "You don't mean that, Venny. You're allowed to like being part of something greater. You're practically being given the option to help lead it, too, if only you were a little less stubborn."
Venthra barked a dry laugh. "This is a Bran show, through and through."
"Well, yeah, but not like a dictator. More like a council," Simone said quickly, in response to a complaint that was barely a real one.
Venthra's eyes traced Simone up and down for a second before she shook her head.
"Don't worry, Simone's not going to force you into anything," I said, standing behind Simone and placing my hands on her shoulders.
"Nothing she won't like," Simone started, and my look only grew heavier, causing her to cross her arms, pout, and lean into my arm. "Fine. Venny is her own woman, after all. Even if I bet she would love teaching all the new recruits plenty of things."
That answer was so vague I was unsure whether Simone had an absolutely terrible idea or the greatest idea ever, and she just didn't want me to know it yet. The jury was still out, and I wasn't about to push Venthra more than Simone already had.
"Thank you," Venthra said to me with a nod before she frowned, as if unable to believe she'd just said those words.
"All right, no time to gawk," Nyx broke up the conversation. "Merlin, if you would."
Nyx stood aside as shadows jumped up from every corner, grabbing at the various members and shuttling them off where they needed to go.
I narrowed my eyes briefly at Nyx before letting my gaze shift back to the group I was left with as she disappeared.
"Don't blame her," Almeria said. "Venthra's quite shy, it seems, and Simone asked that we be careful about how much we nudged."
"Does that matter?" I questioned, staring at her, thinking about the recent timeline.
Merlin went to move us along. "I will go get William, and then I believe it's time we cleansed the demons from the Amazon."
I glanced into the air and nodded. "Long past overdue, if you ask me. After this is done, however, we're going right into hunting for the Demon Lord's next fragment."
Now that I'd gotten a taste of how quickly I could progress with soul absorption arts, it was clear I needed to go on the offensive, and as quickly as I could. I did not want to give him time to figure out countermoves to stop me.
But that didn’t matter; we had work to do.
***
Over the last few weeks, we’d been hard at work in the Amazon, but today, Simone had dragged me out of there to my office before jumping on my back and holding her hands over my eyes while directing me through the citadel and now out into the open air.
"Surprise!" Simone peeled her hands off my eyes and unwrapped her legs from around my waist as she dropped to the ground. I stared out at the Citadel of Blood courtyard.
Red streamers were hung from every point they could be, decorating the place in a field of red.
Meanwhile, tables had been pulled out from what must have been every nook and cranny of the citadel itself, filling the rest of the courtyard.
Food and drink were laid out for everyone as Mul Branova milled about.
I blinked, and in the time it took me to realize what was happening, thousands of eyes turned to me. The Mul Branova all shouted, "Lord Bran!" at the top of their lungs.
I didn't know all of them by name, but I knew enough to recognize some, and to realize that what I was seeing wasn't just those from the citadel. The grounds were filled with people from our locations all across the world.
"Happy Bran Day!" Simone shouted, throwing her arms wide, only for her words to be echoed by everyone nearby. Then, like a ripple, the cheer ran through the entire courtyard.
"Wait until you see the city," Gloria said, walking by and chewing what smelled like heavily seasoned meat off a kebab.
"What's happening in the city?" I asked, somewhat afraid of the answer.
"They went all out." Gloria gestured with the kebab.
"The city's decked out to the nines, and the new recruits are running a recruiting drive, as well as giving some of the initiates and trainees higher-tiered robes.
It's a celebration of you, the order, and a little bit of a promotion ceremony rolled into one. "
"Good vibes only," Simone said, bobbing her head. Her eyes were practically glowing with excitement.
"Yeah, I guess. Good vibes. Makes sense." I looked out at everyone around us, then turned to Simone with a smile. "And I'd say you very successfully captured only the good vibes."
Simone beamed and jumped up into my arms for a hot, sloppy kiss. Only once we'd finished did I glance at Gloria.
"Don't expect that from me. But congratulations on Bran Day." Gloria stepped up, grabbed me by the collar, and pulled me down for a brief but no less genuine kiss.
I blinked, still shaking off being stunned by the whole affair. "Thank you. I'm sure it wasn't easy to put all of this together," I said to both of them.
Simone beamed up at me. "Well, thank you for killing a fragment of the Demon Lord and bringing us closer to saving the world.
Unfortunately, the people of the world aren't exactly going to recognize you for it and throw a celebration, so I thought we'd do our best to honor all the work and dedication it takes to go through five hundred years of suffering.
And when given the chance to do it over again, to try to take it all on yourself to protect the rest of us. "
I felt my heart clench ever so slightly at her words, and a genuine smile lifted itself onto my cheeks. "Thank you," I said, finding my throat a little tighter and clearing it. "I didn't do it for any accolades," I said, noticing that almost every Mul Branova in the courtyard was now watching me.
My eyes paused when I noticed my harem, which now seemed to also be joined by the few women that Simone had clearly been pushing for as potentials.
They stood nearby with drinks in hand, smiling at me.
I couldn't help but feel that they agreed with everything Simone had said.
Though I knew the Mul Branova didn't understand the full story, their unwavering support hit me right in the heart.
I smiled at everyone present and dipped my head. This needed a moment from me. "Thank you for your trust. Thank you for following me into what I'm sure can feel impossible and dangerous."
"Not with you!" someone shouted from the back, and I smiled at the sentiment, only for someone to hand me a drink.
I raised it and tipped it toward the person who'd shouted.
"No, you have it all wrong. I wouldn't be nearly where I am today without all of you." I glanced towards Simone. "Some of you somehow make the impossible seem like it might just be doable after all. And none of this would have come to pass without all of you."
I understood now why I'd been handed the glass and lifted it high into the air for the crowd to follow suit. "Thank all of you for being here, and for making my goal of ridding the world of demons a reality."
"Bran Day!" the Mul Branova shouted, and I smiled, glass still raised, and glanced over at Simone, who had a big smile on her face.
"Thank you. I didn't know I needed this," I told her. Seeing the community all around, and the people we had trained to be able to defend themselves, was moving.
Simone tilted her head and smiled. "Of course. We're partners. Through thick and thin, we'll always take care of each other… even when the other is too stubborn to realize what exactly it is they need." She poked a finger into my chest.
I nodded at her words. "Fair, I suppose. You might know what I need better than I do myself. I thought Merlin might have said something."
"And if Merlin said anything, what would she have said?" Merlin said, appearing nearby, a hand on her chest.
"Yeah, what would she have said?" Simone asked.
"Just that I was nervous for Bran Day." At times, it was important to understand when to stretch the truth.
"But you liked it?" Simone asked, wanting confirmation.
"No," I said flatly, letting it hold for just a brief moment before I grinned wide. "I loved it. You can make it a yearly thing."
"Oh, good," Simone said, her smile growing even wider. "I was thinking next year we'd add some sort of wedding ceremony to the mix."
I nearly choked on my drink. "Wedding ceremony?" I wheezed out.
"Yeah, duh," Gloria said from beside me, a smirk plastered on her face.
"Not to mention, by then it seems we'll be done with most of the war nonsense… especially the way the Demon Lord is speeding up his agenda," Simone told me.
I nodded but was brought down by the reminder.
Realizing I had the potential to kill the mood, I flashed a smile to try to bring it back.
"Well, he's not going to have much luck, but I suppose he can try.
" I felt a little more confident after our last encounter, but I knew the Demon Lord would continue to be a formidable enemy.
"To Bran Day." I lifted my glass, and the Mul Branova all cheered.
"So why don't you show me where else the Bran Day celebrations are happening?
I want to see and appreciate all the work you've put in.
And I assume the rest of you have been dragged into at least part of this," I said, and several of them closed in, similar drinks in hand, which I took a closer look at.
All of the drinks were a deep red, though they came in various configurations. I was almost certain Winnie was drinking some sort of beer that she'd dyed red herself.
"What did you use to dye them?" I asked, tilting my glass to the side, then turning to Simone.
"Berries," she said. "I mean, they've been the bane of white clothing for years. At least now they finally have some purpose."
A good chunk of the women around me laughed, before Nyx snagged my arm. "Come on, let me show you some of the other fun they're doing in the city."