The three of them stood silently looking at each other, Settsu was feeling anxious, he searched to see if anyone was there, He said worryingly "Let's go inside"
Satasha agreeing "Yes, I have something to tell you privately Lily"
Lily turning pale "What?"
Satasha hushing "Not here!"
Settsu "Follow me"
He walked toward the palace, Satasha followed him but Lily was hesitating but she followed them; They walked into the palace toward Settsu's room. Satasha noticed that the palace hasn't changed since the last time she was here. When they reached his room he closed the door and demanded " What on Earth are you doing here? We've been looking for you for long time! Are you okay? Are you safe?"
Satasha smile "I missed you so much brother, I am fine thanks for asking, really I appreciate it. How are you two? "
Lily was taken back that Satasha might do something to her, she nervously said "Doing great! What do you want from me?"
Satasha remembered "Oh, I wanted to give you this" She handed the pendant to Lily, to her amaze she seized it from Satasha and said at once "Grandma! How is she? When did you met her? Is she safe?!"
Settsu looked at the pendant "That necklace means power" he pointed out to the word that was carved in the big maroon crystal that was sustained by silver chain.
Satasha guiltily "I met her four years ago, maybe I don't remember particularly when but she seemed fine and she named you her successor if anything happened to her and as far, as I know your people are fine but they want you because they know that you have the throne now"
Lily raging about Satasha's carelessness, she tried to keep her tone steady not raging infront of them "Who want me?"
Satasha "Zeta and the others but mainly Zeta"
Settsu confused"Why do he want her?"
Satasha "He wants her and her people to be under his control, to be army on his side when he needs them, I have managed to speak to him and ask him to make Lily stay in the red palace and free her people if he want their powers and love .." Settsu interrupted
"Zeta? You made a deal with Zeta? Are you mad?"
Satasha "perhaps, I only want Lily to be reunited with her people and family not living someone else's life, don't you want to go back to your grandmother?"
Lily frustrated "If she was alive, yes I want to?"
Satasha arching her brows "And if she was not?"
Lily angrily "Then I have to go back and make sure that they are safe"
Satasha smiling bitterly "Yeah, of course you must do so, that is why they want you. If Zeta didn't get you by his side then Zeus will and that is even worse"
Settsu curiously "What happened to you all these years? You've simply vanished"
Satasha amused "Well I went here and there, learning new skills, gaining powers and being free is amazing"
Lily worried "I must go, I must see grandma"
Settsu "I don't think that is a great idea Lily, what if Satasha was telling the truth then you are in danger and you must be protected"
Satasha "I agree, you are in danger that is why I risked everything and came here, we must leave at once or they will come to us, I know someone from the red palace that will help us so pack up the necessary stuff and leave"
Settsu "Where are you going?"
Satasha "Away, I don't want her or me to be held as a captives in Olympus again"
Lily saw her sincerity and went to pick up one dress, two under-wears, a note book and her cloak.
Lily "I am ready, let us go and see grandma"
Satasha "No, we will go to purgatory first"
Settsu worryingly "Wait what? Are you mad? How can you go there?"
Satasha sarcastically "By a port gate!"
Settsu "I know by aport gate but it's dangerous place to go to!"
Satasha "Then where you suggest to go then?"
Settsu "The red palace, talk with the man who you have mentioned and stay there till it's safe for you to return"
Lily "It is never safe for us, not until we cut that monster's head"
Satasha jokingly "Which one?" Lily smirked.
Satasha kindly "You don't need to impersonate me, you can be you now"
Lily ashamed "I am terribly sorry for the damage that I have caused" And she shape shifted back to her real self.
Lily now grew to a beautiful young lady. She was now taller than before, her face was longer with rosy flickered cheeks, her hair was less red than before with beautiful wavy curls.
Satasha smiled brightly "You became stunning, let's go"
Settsu holding the door shut "You are not going anywhere without protection"
Satasha "Please Settsu there is no time for security measures, we must leave"
Settsu "Well I didn't say anything about packing up an army with you but what I meant was that I am going there with you, I am not going to let you out of my sight again, you can trust me Satasha, I can protect you. You are my sister the only one that I care about in this damned family besides Hiro"
Satasha felt happy by his words she hugged him, she barely reached his chest but it was close enough to her his heart beats, he hugged her as well. Lily gave Satasha new clothes for her to wear instead of the old one she was wearing and the three of them set of to the red palace.
Sakata had a bad feeling that Zeta might find out Satasha didn't bring Lily to him but to the red palace without waiting.
Settsu made a portal gate to the red palace and they crossed it .
The under world was so much different from purgatory. The place was abit similar to a normal city with trees, plants, houses, streets and one big crimson red palace that was up hill, to Sakata's amazement the sky was light just like a normal sky in dawn. The sky was glowing red and yellow that surrounds the whole place, after that was pitch black. A roof or sky he didn't know but it looks like if he went there he couldn't see his hand if he held it up to his eyes, the atmosphere was a bit hot and tense.
The city on the other hand looked much more modern than its time which its carts, shops, the design of the house resembles the twentieth century era but with different people and horses neither of them looked similar to human. The demons varied in shape, features, hight and ages, they looked human like but much colder and sharper, the horses that dragged the carts were like the normal ones but with glowing red or blue eyes, smoke came out from their eyes, noses and mouth, they were a bit taller and thinner than the normal horse.
The three of them with Sakata walked toward the red palace, curious eyes was following them on the way there.
It took them half hour to the palace gates, between the palace and them stood a large garden circulating it, they walked threw the garden trees and plants reaching a bridge that connects the garden that they had just walked threw to an other smaller one, between the two gardens was a trench that lead deep down to the hell fire; the whole city and palace were floating. When they crossed the two gardens they walked toward the palace main door, climbed few steps then the stood up.
To Sakata's amazement there were no guards standing in the front door nor anywhere in the gardens nor the bridge, it looked completely deserted and quiet, Settsu put his hand on the door and it flung open.
Settsu "Stay here and don't enter till I call you"
Satasha "Where are you going?"
Settsu "I am going to get the only reasonable guy her"
Satasha "Yama ?"
Settsu "Exactly!" he went in the palace leaving Lily and Satasha waiting, the door shut closed behind him once he had crossed it .
After several minutes of silence Lily spoke "Strange place isn't it?"
Satasha sees no difference between it and purgatory "How so?"
Lily "Don't you feel this heavy atmosphere on your chest?"
Satasha feeling nostalgic "Yeah, it feels weird like I have been here"
Lily "That's not what I meant!"
Satasha "I know"
Lily gazed at Satasha as if she is trying to read her mind "Why are you helping me? Why you kept this pendant with you all these years and didn't threw it? Why didn't you kill me that day when you saw me with your father?"
Satasha calmly "What will I get if I tried to kill you or stripping away your birth right? You and I both know what Zeus is capable of, and we both know he likes threatening people with killing their beloved ones, I won't lie to you but I wanted to kill you that day but I took advantage of you filling of my place there, I am deeply grateful for that and I will protect you from now on to pay back your deed"
Before Lily could say anything they heard footsteps and someone saying "Are you out of your mind? You brought how here?" the door opened, Settsu and Yamazaki was standing there, Satasha saw that Yamazaki hadn't changed since the last time they met.
Yamazaki irritated "What on earth are you doing here? They can get you anytime, are you mad?"
Satasha smiled brightly " I missed you too, I have alot to tell you. Can we come in?"
Yamazaki "Tell me here I cannot let you in without the resident permission"
Satasha "This is Lily the new fox tribe leader and I want her to stay here for a while because Zeta and the rest want her so they can control her tribe"
Yamazaki glanced from Settsu to Lily and Satasha, they all looked deadly serious at him, he sighed "Wait here I'll get you your invitation to step in the palace and discuss this matter with them"
He went in and after five minutes he returned "Follow me" They followed.
The red palace was beyond beautiful with its golden roof, white sculptures, and beautiful carved walls. They walked in the main hall and it was big with a distant Y shape stairs that lead to the second floor; the Y shape stairs was separating the main hall from another smaller one. They walked under the decorated roof with paintings of some battle, Sakata felt like he was walking in museum, it was filled with rich history and art, they climbed the stairs toward the right section of the palace. In that section's hall way there were portrait of demons who Sakata guessed are the VIP residents here. As they walked Sakata's eye fell on one particular portrait of a handsome young demon who Sakata immediately recognized as his father, he looked at it quietly admiring, next to his father portrait was his uncle's, they both looked very strong and firm. He walked abit and saw a younger girl who looked similar to them, he had guessed that this is Tian his aunt, next to her was Naina's portrait and her husband's portrait, Sakata stood peered at his grandfather that he had never met Marvok, then followed the pack to an office down the end of the hallway.
Yamazaki opened the door and there was Sauro standing next to his father, and Marvok were sitting behind the desk. They were discussing something so intensely and in quiet tones fearing that someone might hear them out. Their conversation ended when the door was opened, looking at the pack
Marvok "So children of Mitskaki what brought you here?"
Settsu spoke after Yamazaki closed the door "We want your help"
Sauro curiously "Why?"
Satasha "I came here with them to ask a favor from you my lords, I have a request of keeping my dearest friend Lily under your protection till things calm down "
Sauro looked at his father who was rather amused by what he had heard, Marvok sank comfortably in his armchair repeating "You want your dearest friend to stay here under our protection till things calm down?" he grinned and continued "Your dearest friend, don't make me laugh, we all know she is an imposter, why shall I keep her here?"
Satasha annoyed by his attitude but didn't show, she calmly explained "That is because she is highly valuable, ask Zeta if you want he bothered me to bring her to him but I said why I don't bring her here instead" Sauro arched his brows, Marvok wanted to speak but Satasha continued "You see that this friend of mine is the new leader of the white fox tribe, and your nephew want her authority to control her tribe so he can gather as much power as he can get to rebel against Olympus, sound familiar isn't it"
Satasha glared at Marvok firmly and they both exchanged threatening looks. Marvok stood up leaned forward on the desk "And how can I trust your words?"
Satasha "I know stuff that no one knows and you know how, few hours ago I found out about the prophecy about Hades's request and I have glimpses of his life inside of my head so you can go into my mind see if I am telling the truth or not without any drama"
Sauro "You speak like you have high authority or something, you are just a kid have some respect"
Satasha "I only came here because I don't trust Zeta not to start a fight because of my attitude. Forgive me but I didn't live my past years learning how to speak properly, I am simply some poppet of power that was burnished to be a worrier not a lady"
Marvok laughed "You are amusing kid. Now tell me why Zeta want to rebel against Olympus?"
Satasha "He want to end Zeus and take his place and to gain his powers, you and I both know the full story of Zeus and who he really is"
Marvok's expression changed, he was now looking both shocked and fearful by what he had just heard, he moved slowly toward her demanding "How do you know this? Who told you?"
Satasha "I have said that I know stuff that no one knows or few knows, I can tell you now something only you know"
Sauro curiously "Where did you gained this knowledge?"
Satasha "From Pandora of course"
Everyone in the office was shocked to hear this.
Marvok at once "You obtained her powers?"
Satasha "Perhaps, I really cannot tell you the full detail about this but you already know how and why, I am sure lady Naina had told you!"
Sauro confusedly glanced at his father who seemed firm again "So you want her to live here, till when?"
Satasha "Till she gets stronger and can lead her tribe"
Marvok "I will agree under one term"
Satasha getting along with him "Name it?"
Marvok " When the time comes, when the end comes tell me at once and let me gain extra moments"
Satasha bowed low falsely respecting him to make him feel dominant "Anything else my lord?"
Marvok "When the time comes I shall tell you what I want from you"
Satasha bluffed "You order and I will oblige"
Marvok stood straight like a peacock spreading his feathers "Great you can leave her under my care and face Zeta on your way back"
Satasha nodded and got up "Thank you !"
She glanced spitefully and almost threateningly "We will meet soon in the future!"
Marvok nodded and called"Nero"
Yamazaki opening the door "My lord"
Marvok "Take care of our new guest after you lead the rest out safely"
Yamazaki nodded and escorted the pack out of the office.