by Jana LaPelle
Tolin chuckles, “You do have a way with words, Little Bit.” He pauses, looking around, “Would you take a look at that?”
I turn to see what Tolin is checking out and my eyes widen when I take a really good look around me. The sky in this realm is a deep crimson, almost like a fiery sunset that has been placed on pause. The only difference is that the color spans the entire sky, not just the western horizon. From our vantage point, I can see for miles. It’s not barren like I thought it would be. There is a field of wildflowers far below us and on either side a wooded area for as far as the eye can see. In the distance, I see a large dark castle surrounded by what looks like a small ancient city. I don’t know what I expected, but I’m pretty sure this wasn’t it. We appear to have entered the realm high up on a mountain pass. I look back to my right, back to where Tarron and my Guardians are to see a small squadron of what appears to be female demon warriors mounted on the most enormous, most ferocious looking wolves I have ever seen. My eyes widen as I take them in. The demon warriors are fierce looking, their skin is an unusual shade of blue, their eyes are red, they have black horns that curl up and back over their head, their hair is black as midnight and stick straight, and they are each sporting intricate patterns of tiny woven braids throughout their hair. Their most shocking attributes are that they have four arms and a barbed tail that twitches as if it has a mind of its own. The beasts they are mounted on snarl at our presence. Their fur is as dark as soot, and their eyes blaze as if there is an inferno within. They paw the ground and chuff, shaking their heads as smoky tendrils drift into the wind from their nostrils. “Whoa,” I whisper, somewhat terrified of the sight before me.
The she-demon in the lead says, “Our liege is expecting you, little goddess, but you may only bring two of your companions. Our Prince was precise in his orders. Choose who will remain and who will go back.”
“Surely, Luc will hear reason on this,” I demand, irritated at her commands.
“I have my orders. I do not question my liege. Choose. Now. Your kindred awaits you in the Fields of Punishment beyond this mountain range.”
This chick means business. I’m more than a little-pissed off that she is using Alaric to push me into action. She has no idea how motivated I am to get to him. That and she is demanding that I send half of my hand-picked team back to Faerie. Clearly, I have no choice but to comply. Luc and I are going to have words when I see him. I glare at the female before turning to my friends, “Alright then, Tarron and Tolin you stay with me. Garrik, Lorcan, and Khatar head back to Declan for further instruction.” I hang my head for a moment before looking up to meet their gaze, “Thank you all for following me here without question. Your allegiance to Alaric and me is something I will treasure always.”
Lorcan steps forward, “Take care Ashlinn. Tolin is right. You have a penchant for finding trouble. Send T back for us if you need us. Bring him home, Ashlinn.”
Standing on my tip toes, I reach up to hug the large elf, “I plan on it. Thank you, Lorcan. Hopefully, we will be back before you know it.”
From over my shoulder, I hear, “Gah… You are… nauseating. The lost in this realm will be drawn to you like a moth to a flame. Can you tone it down a notch? Come, little goddess, your chariot awaits,” the she-demon’s laughter echoes around us as she gestures toward their mounts with a smirk.
Turning back to my Guardians, I watch as three of my crew steps back into the rift and disappear from view. Turning I scowl at the she-demon, “I don’t think I asked for your opinion.” My panther definitely does not like this place or the demon in front of us. It’s as if she is pacing and her tail is twitching in agitation, she is pushing for the shift. I have denied her release since Alaric was taken, I’m not sure how much longer I can deny her. I knew if I gave into the shift, that she would take off after her mate. Her single-minded intent is clear, and she is not happy with me at the moment. In my distraction, I finally register the last three words the she-demon spoke. I look down at the beast that she sits astride and then back up at her. The beast is as large as Tempest or larger. Her intent is clear, and I exclaim, “Oh, hell no! Are you kidding me? We’re riding those beasts to see Luc?” I query.
“These Hellhounds will do you no harm. They have their orders as do we.” She retorts, affronted.
“Who will guard the rift?” I counter.
She sighs, “We have been on watch since the rift appeared, but I fear that soon there will be a clamoring to leave this realm, at least the rift appears on this side of the mountain range and not the other. Come, little Keeper. The sooner you speak to Luc, the sooner you can be reunited with your kindred.”
Taking a deep breath, I ask, “Who will be escorting me?”
The leader of the she-demons smiles, “I have the very great honor of escorting you to Luc. Come, the Hellhounds are fast. We should be back at the castle shortly.”
“And my companions?” I ask.
“They will be accompanied by my Lieutenants. Come, time is wasting.” She implores.
I step toward her and her mount and realize that I’m going to need help up. I look back to see that Tarron is right behind me.
He smiles, “Mo solas, I’ve got your back.” He turns his attention to the commander of this battalion and delivers his lethal threat, “If any harm comes to her… You will suffer the consequences.”
“Such devotion from The Horde King, it would appear that you too are under her thrall. What a pity. No harm will come to her under my watch. Quickly now, we are wasting valuable time.” Her tail lays docilely against her left leg before she reaches down to take my left hand, and with Tarron’s help, I find myself seated behind the demon who knows how to push my buttons. She turns her red-eyed gaze back to me and says, “You’re going to need to hold on to me, or you will find yourself on your ass in an instant.”
Mumbling under my breath, I say, “Well, this just got awkward.”
Laughing, the she-demon turns back to me, “I think I may actually like you, Ashlinn. My name is Sahzu. Hang on tight little Keeper.”
She spurs the Hellhound into action, and I’m forced to grasp Sahzu firmly around the waist as the beast leaps forward. I look around to see that Tarron and Tolin have mounted their beast behind Sahzu’s lieutenants and are following right behind us. Sahzu was not kidding when she said the Hellhounds were fast. It doesn’t take us long to leave the mountain pass behind and enter the formidable forest below. I lean in close to Sahzu’s ear and ask, “Why go through the forest? Why not go through the field of wildflowers?”
She calls over her shoulder, “Because the flowers are not what they appear to be, they are poisonous, and their vines attack with a vengeance. They are like barbed thorns that will rip your flesh to pieces. Many a child has been lured to their death by their intoxicating beauty.”
“That’s horrible. Okay. Good to know.” Her laughter carries on the wind, and I realize that this she-demon thinks I’m hilarious in my ignorance of this world. I lean in again and shout over the wind, “I would appreciate your sharing your knowledge of the pitfalls of this place. I’m going to need all the help I can get to traverse this realm.”
Sahzu turns a severe eye my way, assessing me before saying, “That you will Ashlinn, that you will.”
She turns back to guide our mount through the maze of this dark, menacing forest and before I know it, we have come out on the other side and are racing to the main street of the city that leads up to Luc’s castle. There are all matter of strange looking beings that have gathered to watch us race pass them. All stand along the side of the road and clear a path for us. Sahzu does not slow her beast as we race through the town. I hear a horn blast that must signal the gatekeepers to open the gate to the entrance to Luc’s domain. I see over Sahzu’s shoulder that the gates are slowly beginning to open, and yet she does not slow our pace. I hold my breath, thinking for sure that we are not going to fit through the tiny opening as we speed toward the gates. At the last second, the gate swings ope
n just enough for us to pass through, and I release my pent-up breath and smack Sahzu on the back before shouting, “You could have slowed down. You nearly had us bouncing off of the gate.”
Sahzu chuckles, “I do like you little goddess.”
Her mount comes to an abrupt stop just before the main entrance of this enormous fortress, and I’m nearly dislodged from my seat, and I grumble, “You’re crazy, she-demon.” Swinging my right leg behind me and over the back of the beast, I drop to my feet. I look up to see the Hellhound has turned to look back at me and I find myself staring into his blazing eyes. The beast assesses me for a moment and then nods as if saying that I meet his approval. I only step away at that point. They’re scary as hell, and I don’t want to cross them.
Sahzu motions for us to enter the enormous arched door that is looming above us. She leans down and says, “My liege is waiting for you. Until we meet again, little goddess.” Turning back to her team, they race out of the courtyard back the way they came.
I mutter, “So much for her imparting her knowledge of this realm.” I look over to Tarron and Tolin and then back up at the entrance to Luc’s formidable castle. There must be at least twenty steps to climb to reach the landing of the entrance, and the arched door must be at least twenty feet tall. The castle is, well… it’s gleaming black walls stand out against the crimson sky, it’s very intimidating. I swallow back my fear and take the first few steps before calling over my shoulder, “Come on guys, let’s do this.” My two companions flank me as we take the necessary steps to acquire Alaric’s release from this strangely beautiful, yet terrifying realm.
Chapter 7
(Alaric)
Several days have passed since I woke in a house full of imps. If there is one thing that I have learned from my time here is that they are fiercely protective of family, and highly mischievous. The borough, I’ve come to learn, is a hidden township for all those that seek to hide from the slavers. It has become a sanctuary, and everyone here is highly protective of it. My being here brings danger to them all. I understand that now. It is much larger than I thought it would be, and it’s an underground oasis. Everyone here just wants to stay off the Princes’ radar, so much so that they are willing to live underground, which from my point of view is a step up. The soft glow of the cavern is pleasant and not as harsh as the red skies from topside. All these people want is to be able to live their lives without the threat of being forced into the games or to serve the depraved. Evidently, on this side of the mountain range, or the Great Divide as they call it, there are factions of individuals that have found favor with the Princes. To become a resident of their citadel is highly coveted, granting the resident the right to live in luxury, to never go hungry, to never have to fight in the games, and to purchase slaves to see to all their needs, it's barbaric really. Once they become citizens, it’s as if they forget from whence they came.
It doesn’t matter what race you are; anyone can be caught in the Fields of Punishment or the Valley of Despair. Anyone is fair game. The shades are the one exception. They are known as the shades, the dead, ghost, spirits, restless souls, whatever you want to call them. Some are the damned and have become something else entirely, some wander aimlessly around The Underworld, but eventually, they end up in the Land of the Restless Dead or they cease to be. Those that have been here for a while begin to lose their physical form. The upper echelon that the Princes surround themselves with snub the shades, they only want live unwilling beings to bend to their will in the games, and as slaves or whatever the hell they want to use these people for. If you are caught by the slavers, then you are brought to the citadel for assessment. There are three categories that potential slaves fall into, gladiator or champion, harem candidate, or household servant. Honestly, I want no part of any of that. I just want to find the rift and get the hell out of this realm, and when I do, I’m taking Pip and his mother with me. I don’t need Ashlinn’s confirmation that they are good souls. Anyone with half a brain can see that.
The truth is, this realm, it’s… intense. So many scenarios of where good people find themselves in bad situations. I had no idea what The Underworld was all about. I always thought that it was just a punishment for the dead. That the demons here were meant to torment the souls unworthy of The Overworld, my education of this realm has been sadly lacking. The demons that reside here are not all bad. This realm is much more like our own realm than I care to admit. The truth is, I’ve learned from Paynga that not all souls that land here are bad, some are just tortured. They just made decisions in their life that they can’t forgive themselves for, or something happened to a loved one that they believe they should have been able to prevent, or there were events in their lives that they are unable to move on from. This knowledge has given me pause.
When we first ascended, Ashlinn was so worried, and she couldn’t understand why I took it all in stride. I think that somewhere along the way she retained an inkling of knowledge as to how huge our role in The Realms was going to be. I’m just now beginning to grasp it all, and only after being deposited here. There are so many shades of gray. Not every soul that is relegated to The Underworld is evil. Some are just lost, and I mourn for those lost souls. No wonder they call it the Land of the Restless Dead. Even though our kindred bond has been nullified, I sense that Ashlinn is near. Within the last few hours, or what feels like hours, the ache in my chest has lessened. That can only mean one thing. Ashlinn has arrived. I never wanted her to follow me to this harsh realm. I know that she is not close, and I can only hope that she does not venture this way. I know that she’s hardheaded and she’s determined to find me. I miss her so damn much, her and the twins and I’m counting the days, hours, cycles, whatever to get back to my family and The Otherworld Realm.
“Hey, Mister!” Pip comes barreling into the room, pulling me out of my ponderings. He beams up at me, “Come on, Mister, Momma said that today is the first day you can go outside to visit the borough. I’m giving you a tour and showing you all my favorite places.” He smiles his toothy grin up at me, “Come on.” I can’t help but smile back at my little friend. He has become so much more than a friend. I look forward to our interactions daily. He’s bright and full of life, and he is helping to shape my view of demon-kind. I can sense that I’m growing attached to him.
My back is still a mess of healing wounds, but at least I’ve gained my strength back, and I’m able to wear a loose-fitting tunic without flinching. I hop up from my sleeping cot and head out to follow Pip. He grabs my hand and leads me through the underground cavern that is, honestly, massive. There is an underground spring that supplies water and forms an enormous lake which helps with the crops that they are growing here. What they are doing is truly extraordinary, and their borough is more like a hidden haven.
Pip’s uncle steps into our path, blocking our way, ever the sour look on his intimidating face, “You need to leave here. Now. You are not welcome here any longer.”
“Rynik, in two- or three-days’ time, I will leave this place. I promise to not look back and not to draw attention to this sanctuary.”
“Uncle, Mister’s my friend, and I want him to stay.”
I smile down at Pip before saying, “Your uncle is right, Pip. I need to be on my way as soon as I’ve had a little more time to heal. I need to find the rift so I can get back to my realm, back to my family and friends.” Looking back at the intimidating imp blocking our way, I say, “Rynik, I would like for you and Paynga to consider traveling with me to my realm. The three of you would be welcome in my world. I would make sure of it.”
“Why would we do that? We have a home here. We do not belong in The Otherworld, we belong here. You do not, and that is why you must go.” Having spoken his piece, he turns abruptly to leave, and I watch him spread his massive red, barb-tipped wings to take flight toward one of the darken tunnels above. He’s right. I don’t belong here.
“Mister, don’t pay no never mind to my uncle. Momma told me that he and my father wer
e the best of friends growing up. He ain’t ever gotten over my father’s death.” Pip pulls me forward with him before looking back at me speculatively, “Mister, don’t leave without saying goodbye. Promise?”
“I promise, Pip, I won’t leave without saying goodbye, and I will talk with your mother about considering following my friends and me back to my realm.”
“I’d like that, Mister. I would really like to see the realm you hail from.”
Chapter 8
(Ashlinn)
Since the almighty Prince of Darkness is expecting us, I forego knocking on the front door, so to speak. As I approach the massive doors, I blast them with the force of the air element. The doors swing back violently and bang against the wall, echoing loudly around the inner chamber and announcing our presence. I look around the dimly lit gothic atrium and shudder. This doesn’t look anything at all like I thought Luc’s abode would resemble. I thought it would be a bit more modern, more like Glenndale Loch Keep.
Clapping echoes about the chamber from above, I look up to see the handsome prince looking down at my little ragtag crew and me, “Well done, little Keeper. Such the dramatic entrance, I should try that sometime. Wait… Been there, done that. I’ve been expecting you. Come. We have much to discuss.” He turns and marches up the stairs expecting us to follow in his wake. He’s already two stories above us. Where the heck is he taking us?
I race up the dimly lit stone stairs after Luc and call after him, “Wait! Where are you going?”
“Somewhere where I can speak privately with you and your three companions,” he calls after me.
