Emerald eyes glanced up at the violet sky the first night it painted the dark sky. The purple moons also gave her pause. The vampire tilted her head with a confused yet amused expression. Neveah briefly thought about checking in with Nemesis to see if he knew what was going on. The thought left as quickly as it came. If this had something to do with the divine, the vixen didn’t want any part of it. She had not reached this point in her life without learning a few lessons along the way. Too often mortals took it upon themselves to meddle in the affairs of the gods. Veah only believed in Fate at this point. The vampiress also knew that if the Dark Kaiser wanted her assistance, he need only reach out through their connection. Until then, she could not bring herself to care.

A soft tap on her door reminded Neveah that one of her business partners had requested a meeting with her. She lazily pointed a cluster of candles as she walked over to the door. A soft glow embrace the room once the candles caught fire. The vampire barely opened the door then stepped aside and opened it further, ushering in her guest. Good evening, m’lady,” the cambion said as he took a seat at her table. “Hello, Malikai,” Neveah grinned. “A drink?” The vampire did not wait for a reply, already bringing two cups to the table. She lazily leaned back in her seat. Her hair had been pulled out of he face, leaving her neck and shoulders completely exposed. She wore an ornate choker necklace with a black corset and leather pants. Her feet remained bare, a reminder that though she was in charge, she was also in her own home. Control meant everything to the vampire.

“You may drop the disguise if you choose,” she began with a soft, almost eerie tone. “I have heard nothing but positive reports lately. Exports are moving effortlessly, there seem to be no new competitors, and exploration continues at a steady pace. While I do enjoy your company, one does wonder what is so urgent when we have regularly scheduled meetings?” The vixen took a sip of blood infused wine. The half demon nodded, allowing his true form to come through, but did not drink. This did not matter to the redhead as she reached for a pipe. She filled it with some dried herbs and began to smoke while her colleague explained. “You have seen the shift in the sky, no doubt, but have you heard of the insects plaguing Valley of Vada?” Neveah shook her head and so Malikai continued. “Evidently history is repeating itself and toxic bugs are infesting the lands, ‘causing people to lose their minds. It seems those infected experience horrid symptoms before dying. Healers are trying their best to counter the effects but to no vail.” “Oh? While that is unfortunate for them, I fail to see why this impact us,” the redhead responded. “The Apex of Terror is giving out rewards for anyone who may can uncover the reasoning behind this turn of events.

With that, the half demon had her attention. She took another long drag and nodded slowly, ideas beginning to form. “I see - all activity near Vada is to cease immediately and until further notice. I will investigate further and you are to oversee things in my absence.” The vampire rose from the table causing her subordinate to do the same. “Given the terrible circumstances, it seems time is of the essence. We simply cannot let more innocent lives be lost. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. We will speak again soon.” She ushered him out, only pausing to nod in response to his bow.

Over the next few nights, she began packing a small bag and made various arrangements to get to the Valley of the Vada. Neveah did not care about random people dying. Instead it was the source of the hallucinations and agony that caught her attention most. The vixen wagered the insects had a toxic venom that, if manipulated properly, could be of great use to her and her business partners. The vixen had never traveled to this area of the world and was curious what she would find. The rumors of the crystal trees and indescribable beauty sounded far too good to be true. The journey had been long, reinforcing the need to brush up on her traveling spells. Traditional means through the oceans and mountains took far too long. Soon enough, she would make her way to the Valley.