The brands on my arm burned hotter as Dantalion mentioned their names. Was Dantalion going to give in to them and sign the oath? The summoning was something that was kept hidden from him all these years. He was protected so he wouldn't be coerced to join with his brotherhood of infernal demons. Those whose powers would become not just equivalent to God's third heaven, but would call forth a New Order.
Belial hissed…"My brother, when thou ascended the rank of guardian, the protection sigil on the girl's arm…yours…was replaced with something more permanent. The brands of the Four Kings of Hell. They can never be removed…nor can her true identity. Remember Dantalion, she originates from Satan's creation, though her body was restored by your God, we will possess her slowly, bit by bit. Every day she will become more like us…a part of us. There is nothing you can do to protect her, nor the powers of your half-demon. A ritual takes place as we speak. Our brothers, the Illuminated Ones, tap initiates of the Skull and Bones. We will recruit them into our New Order…the Brotherhood of the Four Kings of Hell."
Satan strode past us, dragging his claws across my searing forearm.
"Everyone the girl knows and loves will now answer to us. Live by the law, die by the law… Remember the oath Dantalion? We leave now for the initiation ritual. If you do not sign the oath, she dies….slowly…and mercilessly…as you have already witnessed once before, and your duty as her guardian has failed. Either way, you lose your immortality. Why not join the Brotherhood once again? You can have the mortal…or should we say immortal demon… it was always her destiny from the beginning."
Dantalion needed time. He would have to evade signing the oath as long as he could and prevent my unforeseen fate with this new evil. He returned to his guardian form, shape shifting out of Rowan's half-demon body, sending us outside the borders of the Courtyard, to the safety of the Realm of Goetia. The transformation happened instantaneously, four shadows moved in closer toward me, and I felt hands grip my arms, guiding me away from the boundaries.
"What's going on?" I finally caught my breath, staring at Rowan.
"You're under protection…," Rowan glared, nodding at Druitte, Halphas, Vine and Sitri. They were watching my every move. "Now that they're mortal, you can think of it as your own Brotherhood of bodyguards," Rowan gestured for them to follow.