章 91: CHAPTER 91: NEGOTIATION

Night realized that he could offer Mere Pazuza the option to become a Ker instead of dying from the poison. She had a background full of hardships and seemed to be in desperate shape....but he wasn't sure if he should even make this offer to her at all.

His first two Keres were created for his own reasons. Distress became a Ker because Grief had acted to select her on her own.

'Why not select someone that can offer a few benefits for my situation? I have no issue as long as she agrees to some conditions,' Night thought to himself.

If she accepted, it could be a great benefit to Night for the immediate situation. He would also like another increase to his power. But since he was considering this option, he needed to figure out how to go about making the offer to the woman. Mere was staying in the Countess' Palace, so visiting her in her dreams was not an option. Night's soul perception couldn't penetrate the palace walls easily due to some security measures that they had in place. He only routes left were to approach her through the Countess or approach her secretly by sneaking into the palace.

Most of his evening was spent debating with himself which one of these routes to take.

While most of the high ups in the Limim Clan had found out about the Keres entering the dreams of others, no one knew that they could also manifest physical forms. By making the offer, he would have to give up this bit of information about himself. For some reason, he had developed a liking to hiding his strength.

After a good bit of thinking, Night decided that he would go ahead and reveal a bit more about himself to the Limim Clan in order to make this happen. The main reason for taking this approach was that he thought that if he displayed more strength, then his position in any upcoming battles with the Diego Family would be better. He would much rather have his independence in battle then be stuck under the control of some general if a war broke out. After making a few mental arrangements and preperatuons, Night decided to head over to the Countess' Palace to begin the discussion.

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Arriving at the entrance to the palace, Night didn't beat around the bush to announce the reason why he was here, "I am here to meet with Countess Asta concerning Mere Pazuza. The information can be considered urgent."

One of the door guards scurried off away from the entrance while the others remained to keep Night company. After a few minutes, the guard returned and said, "Countess Asta will see you now."

Night followed behind the guard as he was led along to somewhere he had never been before in the palace. After a few minutes of walking, Night and the guard approached a door. Before the guard could say anything, a voice sounded from within the room, "Night, you may enter."

The guard dismissed himself and Night opened the door and walked inside. He was expecting another meeting room, but that is not what he got. Countess Asta was layed out on a bed with most of her apparently nude body showing out from underneath a set of sheets. Lili's father, Roth Dreamwalker, was sitting up in bed next to her shirtless.

'At least he has some pants on. These fucking demons are weird,' Night thought to himself as he mentally pulled himself away from the sight.

"ha ha ha ah.....," Countess Asta belly laughed which made her body shake and some of the sheets slide more to the side, "Your reaction is priceless. I have been trying to get an idea of just who and what you are for some time now...and its like you are from another world....not familiar with our culture or customs at all. I really wonder what you are here to offer."

Night gave the woman a grin and thought to himself, 'Of course you would think that, I am from another world you fucking weirdo.'

He knew that the emotion on his face would give something away, but he had come here to give up a few secrets anyway...so what the hell. From his previous talk with the Countess, Night had figured that she was always fishing for signs of emotion on his face. After all, she had said that once she learns the emotion, then she can fill in the rest of the story. This time, he wanted to give her something to think about.....his story was crazy as hell...he doubted that she could piece together that fucked up story.

"I can extend Mere Pazuza's life for some time...however, there will be some consequences on her end. I came to you first to ask your permission out of respect. I have a hard time telling what is genuine out of the mouths of Succubi...so I wanted to ask you directly before offering to her," Night said while not breaking eye contact with the Countess.

His soul had been progressively growing stronger from both his own cultivation and the contribution from the women linked to his soul. Since he was mentally prepared this time, he thought that he could resist her draw....and feeling her pull on him increase...he realized that he could resist it just fine. Last time they met, he had just increased two levels to become a Level 6 Demigod. Over the months spent in the City of Setting Sun, he had consolidated and increased his strength greatly.

"Oh my, you are quite an interesting one," the Countess said before turning to look at the man in bed next to her, "What do you think, my mate?"

"I didn't even hear what he said. I am still trying to figure out if he is human or just partially demon or something else entirely. You aren't exerting that fantastic power of illusion are you?," Roth Dreamwalker said dryly.

Night shivered slightly outside of his control when he heard his origins questioned. He had always wondered if they really couldn't tell, but now it appeared that they had some guesses. These two people were dangerous. Night had no doubt that both of them were Gods.....and both of them seemed to like asking questions that generate an emotional response that they can read.

'Fuck, I should have at least hid my facial expressions with illusion. I should have just went to Mere directly. Why did I come here again?,' Night cursed to himself as his mind tried to stay on task. He had basically walked in on his girlfriend's parents after a sex session and the whole thing was throwing him off his game plan.

"Oh.....some truth in that," Roth said under mutter breath as he stood up out of bed and walked toward Night, "Hello....I am Roth Dreamwalker. I do not believe that we have ever been formally introduced. Since you are the mate of my daughter, then just consider...me not immediately killing you as a gift."

Then, the man moved extremely quickly toward Night. On reflex, Night instantly made the room pitch black and disappeared on the spot. Night had been constantly alert since he knew this was a risky move....so the second Roth stood he was already prepared to react.

"What?," both the Countess and her mate said as all light vanished from the room and Night just disappeared in front of them. Then the light fluctuated and returned to the normal dimly lit room. The Countess actually sat up in bed and revealed some more of her body. She was actually wearing some little bits of clothes that were hidden under her bed sheets. Roth had pulled a spear from somewhere and was standing in front of her on guard.

Night hadn't left the room. He was still in the room hiding in the shadows behind some furniture. He had pushed his Presence, Death, and Shadow concepts circulating to the maximum and was rapidly using up his energy to sustain their power. His guess was that he had about 5 minutes before he was completely out of energy. Night was very thankful that he now had the Darkness elemental gem in his eye...it really boosted the strength of his Shadow and Death concepts.

This whole plan had not gone as he had expected. It seemed he was wrong in his assumption that they didn't know he was a human. He needed to figure out a new plan now. If they knew about him and were really going to make a move, then he didn't need to hold back his thoughts.

As the couple were standing ready for a fight, a breathless whisper of a voice echoed around the room, "That was very rude. I have no intention to act against your Clan...I was forced into becoming a mate with your crazy ass daughter....and I come here offering a resolution to a problem you requested help with.....and you fucking attack me. I am very disappointed that this is the way you treat relatives...I guess that it is time for me to leave this place...tell your daughter goodbye for me," Night said from the shadows of the room. The words were manipulated by all three concepts so he was sure that there was no way that they could pinpoint his location.

Night also wasn't as nice as he could have been. He was pissed that things didn't go as planned.

"Wait. Wait!," Countess Asta yelled off into the room before calming her voice, "We apologize. We are very on edge after what happened to the City of Southern Wind. You are too new to be trusted completely so we had to test you...and well...that didn't go as we planned....Please stay for a talk...we would just like to know more about....our daughter's mate. Roth, put away your weapon. If he can hide like this in front of the both of us, the. he could basically do what he wants anyway."

Night was still trying to decide if he wanted to show himself when Roth put away the weapon. He moved in the shadows to build a bit more distance. He decided to give it one more chance. If they made a move again, he was gone.

The room grew slightly darker and Night stepped out from the shadows and back into the room. He had moved himself to keep a considerable distance between himself and the couple...just incase they went back on their word and tried to attack.

"The Diego Family murdered my mother and father. Then, I was brought to this planet against my will by the Diego Family to serve as a slave," Night said as he allowed anger flashed across his face, "My goal is to kill as many of the Diego Family as I can.....and to destroy the passageway between Earth and Nibiru."

Countess Asta and Roth were not really expecting Night's admission.

"So you are a human? Fuck!," Countess Asta said, "How am I supposed to have grandchildren? Humans can't breed with Succubi."

The comment had completely caught Night off guard. He wasn't expecting that reaction. Then, sweat started to roll down his back. He had never considered the possibility of having a kid with Lili...the thought hadn't even crossed his idiotic mind.

"Sorry. I can remove the soul mark between the two of us if you want. Just say the word," Night said trying to get himself out of a hole. But this comment really threw the Countess and Roth off for a loop.

Seeing the Countess tense up, Night realized his slip up and immediately said, "This isn't my doing or something I can teach others....my godmother modified the soul mark for me....and she is so powerful you don't have to be concerned....I have a feeling she could destroy this entire planet if she wanted...ha ha ha."

There was a lot of information in Night's words and it gave the couple of Gods a bunch to think about. The room was quiet for a good five minutes before the Countess spoke.

"Please don't break the soul bond with our daughter. She has grown tremendously since she met you....just don't tell her that you are a human....she will lose her shit when she realizes that she can't have children with you....she has always wanted some daughters of her own," Countess Asta said with a bit of sadness in her voice.

Night couldn't handle this conversation. Nothing had gone the way he planned. He needed to get out of here.

"So are we good? No more attacks?," Night said in question.

"Yes....we are good," Roth said as he continued to eyeball Night, "As long as our goals align and you stay true to our daughter...we will not make a move against you. Just keep the news that you are a human to yourself....if others find out, we can't guarantee your safety."

"If you can save that Pazuza child, go ahead. I have no objection," the Countess continued, "One of my guards outside will take you to see her. Please leave us....we have some things to discuss."

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The incident with the Countess and her man had completely drained Night. He wasn't in the greatest mood. He also had a lot going through his head when the guard had finished leading him to Mere Pazuza's room.

He had no patience and had strolled right into the room after introducing himself.

"I have an ability that can prolong your time here in this world," Night said dropping a bombshell on the two people standing in front of him.

"However, you will no longer exist as you are now...and you will have to obey me if ordered," Night said, "These are not conditions. They are part of the ability that can save you....I have no leeway."

"What?," Mere and the man next to her said in unison. This stranger had walked in their room and began spouting all this nonsense.

"You can save her?," the man said while growing excited. But he could continue he was interrupted.

"No longer exist as I am? What does that mean? And what do you mean that I have to obey you?," Mere said questioningly. She was a noble demon of the Pazuza Clan and no one had ever mentioned her serving them before.

"Novik, I think someone sent a comedian to torment us. Please see him out," Mere said to the man at her side. She looked to be extremely displeased at Night's words.

"This isn't a joke," Night said with firmness to his voice, "Either you agree to these terms or you will die and your soul will reincarnate or whatever it does."

Seeing the look on their angry faces, Night realized he was being insensitive and decided to elaborate a bit. He didn't want to give away all of the details until she committed.

"The power I have will remove your soul from your body. Your current body will die, but you will gain a new more powerful body. The power is linked to my soul and requires my soul to maintain. Therefore, I will have absolute control over you if I desire to use that power. However, I do not exert any of my will on my current warriors. They are allowed to be independent and make your own decisions. I will not force you to do anything you do not wish to and I will help you get your revenge. However, you will be required to leave your current life behind one day and follow me as one of my Keres."

The duo were still looking at Night like he was some sort of snake oil salesman. He had really screwed up his chance at a good first impression because he was in a bad mood.

"If you need an example of my strength, so be it," Night waved his hand and a body began forming from thin air. Of course, Night was hiding a few things by exerting his Presence Concept, so the whole process really looked like he made someone was condensing out of thin air.

After a moment, Grief's form became visiable to everyone. The somber looking beauty looked up at the group and asked Night, "So, this is the one that you are considering giving the honor of becoming one of my sisters?"

"Yes, she is currently trying to decide....between becoming your sister...or dying," Night said. He was trying to push the issue a little bit, but he didn't want to be too forceful. All of his Keres had willingly committed to being his warriors and he wouldn't ask for their commitment otherwise.

"Grief, why don't you show her how you can change your appearance?," Night said before turning to Mere, "If you agree to be a Ker, I will let you see this battle with the Diego Family through to the end as your current self. You can continue to lead your people and reestablish your family. But after that, I will need to go on a journey across this world to find some people....that I owe some pain."

Grief proceeded to shift her appearance to look like Night. He wasn't expecting her to change to look like him. The whole thing sort of creeped him out and he wondered what kind of stuff these women had been doing to know his appearance so well.

"See..,,,you can continue to look like yourself and lead your clan just fine," Night said once Grief fully changed to look like him.

"Alright, Grief," Night said as he reached out his hand she started to fade back into a blood mist and into his hand.

"You can take a day or two to consider. But remember, I will need a day to complete the process....so don't wait too long," Night said as he walked toward the door, opened it and vanished off into the darkness of the hall way.

Nothing had went according to plans today and most of it was due to his own negligence. He was tired and didn't really have the energy to continue. If Mere bought his story and agreed, then he would welcome her. If she didn't see the truth in his words and decided against becoming a Ker....then that was her fate.