Private Finished Ultimatum

Arach had always been at the ready to answer Chloe's summons since the incident last year. She decided never to miss a second as soon as as called for her. She decided she was never too late for anything. That was her pride as a familiar.

But as of late, she'd noticed... well, quite a lot of things. She didn't consider herself much of a genius, but she'd be utterly stupid not to notice what's been going on with Chloe. Something happened; something clicked, and slowly but surely, Chloe began plotting. Arach kept quiet and observed, just as she always did.

The demon familiar answered the summon just as she had always done, appearing in her least conspicious form on her master's shoulder. Arach noted everything in her surrounding at that moment. There was a moment's hesitation before Arach climbed onto the offered hand and yet another one, before she followed the commands given.

Arach stood in her human form before Chloe, her expression almost unreadable under the dim lights. Her gaze never left Chloe even as Ozerchabal had stepped behind her to fasten the cuffs. She had the sense to resist, but chose to follow orders and allowed it. Chloe rarely gave her orders that way, she noted.

She took a moment to pass until Ozerchabal had stepped away from where she stood still. "I can say I know enough. I must say I'm a bit surprised to know you have the audacity to even consider the idea of sending us away," she replied, her speech pattern stiffer than her usual. "Rest assured that I haven't allowed My Lord to know any of this for your safety, but I was also hoping for you to reconsider. It seems that won't be the case at all. Is it?"

The demon familiar resisted the urge to bare her fangs; it wouldn't have been for her own defense but as an old reflex to anyone that spoke unpleasant things about Mikhainon. They were almost always mostly true though; and there was no lie in what Chloe had said. She said nothing to confirm or deny it but they both already knew that wasn't needed. Chloe heard it with her own ears, and Arach was more than simply familiar with Mikhainon's ways. Despite being at the top of his servants, having stayed loyal for millenia, she was always just moments from being replaced for every little mistake.

Arach hesitated to speak, opening and closing her mouth as she held back a response. Freedom. She considered it more than once, but never acted on it, knowing the possible consequences if she attempted so. She was far from her goal by now; so she chose to accept what she had. But Arach had always been unsatisfied that never once did she stop thinking of moments she was free from his rule.

"You do realize if this fails, he won't be very kind to either of us," she spoke instead. "Are you sure you want this, Chloe?"

The expression on Arach's face seemed to soften as she heard Chloe's confirmation. Oftentimes she found herself a little envious of her position; but they both seem to know what was behind all the lavish gifts Mikhainon gave her. They both understood what Mikhainon wanted for her and that was now clear for Chloe. The dim light kept her from seeing much, but she could hear the way Chloe spoke

It wasn't just recently when she found out but she'd pretended she didn't hear anything. She never brought it up but she wouldn't be so surprised of Mikhainon knew of it. Perhaps she would be punished for not keeping her eye on her, or convincing her to do otherwise, or possibly even aiding her with this rebellion. Either way, he would have her head on a plate.

The familiar wouldn't have had any choice in the matter if Chloe herself hadn't offered one. She considered reporting to Mikhainon beforehand but the offer made her think. Arach looked at Chloe with calculating eyes. Had she thought of this beforehand or was this something simply to appease her? Arach couldn't think to trust anyone at that moment.

Arach didn't respond immediately, quieting down to dwell in her thoughts. In either scenarios, she would have to be punished for her 'incompetence', or for her betrayal. In either of those scenarios where she takes one side or the other, she could be dead. Still, whether or not they succeed, the risk would have been worth it.

The corner of her lips quirked into a small smile, "Honestly, I never understood how your mind worked, Chlo," she said, finally relaxing her stance. "Alright then. So what else do you need done?"

I can't turn off my human side, Chloe told her familiar. Arach would have laughed if it were any other situation; but that was also one of the things Arach praised her for. Arach would have also considered it as a weakness: If she were any other demon, Chloe's show of compassion would have been already a mistake on her part but Arach had always acted out from her design. On the other hand, Chloe acknowledgement of her existence earned her more consideration from the familiar. She gave Chloe a smile that seemed to reach her eyes. "You know your people so well," she spoke vaguely.

Arach didn't add anything more to what she said, simply following Chloe and the other pair to the other room. Her eyes were quick to study her surroundings: desks set aside, ritual circles at the ready. As she was lead to the desk, she turned her attention to the other person in the room. It was not a stranger's face, but it was one person she didn't deem worthy to pay more attention to anyway. She heard their exchange and resisted the giggle that bubbled from her throat. Arach responded with a grin to Chloe, "I am a little bit peckish. I could really use a snack."

The little jest kept her mind out of the moment for just a second. She wouldn't admit aloud that she felt some semblance nervousness when she laid her eyes on the circles on the floor, but she was indeed nervous. There was a chill she felt down her spine that she swore she would have felt even in her real body back in Hell. For now, that was only a mere thought while settled on the spot where she sat.

"You sure you're all set, Chlo?"

Arach gazed back at Chloe, looking for the hints of hesitation in her eyes. For the type Arach was, she would have though willingly sacrificing one's own free will was a load of bullshit. Being real though, she would be a hypocrite and the circumstances between her and Chloe were vastly different. She just went to look for an easy way out; Chloe needed this more than she did then.

Still, she had to ask questions. "You're absolutely sure Pandora is the right choice?" It wasn't that she didn't trust Pandora, but the more she asked questions, the more she could be sure Chloe really thought it through. She was all set, Arach could see that, but she wanted to be sure Chloe wouldn't hesitate at the last minute.