02 Wrath of Flames

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  Inside the part of his mind with lights, seven more stars appeared within the darkness. It made it all the proof he could ever ask for to have their loyalty. “You guys are awesome. Are you ready to get the hell out of here?” he asked as now everyone was awake. The others were a bit more hesitant to get near him with the Demons so close. Especially Volkenm now that he got a sharp sword in his hand.

  “Master, I believe you are forgetting weapons for yourself.” Panther said. “And another meal will do all of you much good. Though you are better than before, you are all still malnourished. Even you, Master.”

  “Point taken, but… Damn, how could I have overlooked everything.” He closed his eyes and said “Armor, return to me!” The command caused a bright flash and when eyes readjusted there sat a pair of gauntlets, leather armor and a sheathed sword wrapped in the middle that came along for a ride. “Awesome, it worked… but my headset…” his large fingers lifted a broken device beyond repair so he dropped it. “Seems I could call it in here, but not in the dungeon.”

  He backed away and pulled out the leather jacket to fit it on. It was tight, further proving he’d grown, but silvery runes lit up to suck on his energy and adjusted to fit. The fingerless black gauntlets could barely be slid into, but they also grew to a snug, comfortable fit. Pants were much more difficult to squeeze into, but he did. Even his tail had to wait minutes till the constricting material made for a perfect fit.

  Seeing him call upon his gear gave the others the same idea. Apparently everyone he was locked up with were warriors. Flashes of light returned weapons and armor to their owners, wherever they were stored. A great change overcame them as they hopped into something familiar and comforting. No longer was this a bunch of scared prisoners tortured and had expected to die.

  These were warriors looking for payback in a bad way.

  Of them all, Ethan was the most intimidating after using the sword that was a dagger in his hand to groom his beard and fix his hair. He was lethal, especially as he flexed and created reddish purple fire that would whip around him. “Oh, yeah, now I’m good.”

  But before heading out the room that all ate their fill and rested for several minutes to let it settle. Used a corner to relieve themselves and then came vengeance.

  Aware of his newly learned skills, Ethan slipped inside the fireplace of Sheedan’s bedroom to find her asleep in the form of a red dragon with Ximr slumbering between her claws, but now that he was master over fire again they didn’t notice the flames turn colors and creep to the huge metal doors or hear him weld it completely shut and lock them in without arousing suspicion. Ethan grinned. “She’s locked up good and tight so she won’t be getting away from me anymore. Ready for payback?”

  Volkenm hissed “Save some for us will you?”

  “Sorry. You volunteered to go back down to the dungeons and rescue the others.” Ethan said as he drew himself up after walking beneath the frame as the wall closed from behind. The Naga shrugged as he drew his blade with an Ogre and the Witch began making offensive spells and curses to support them.

  A royally pissed off roar shook the entire mountain from within and in the early breaking sunlight all noises became deathly still before all hell broke loose.

  Fires, no matter how small began growing and changing color, blocking the two exits. Only the Demons with Ethan were shielded as it recognized his blood oath. The rest were roasted without any mercy. All captive beings with a soul stared in both horror and glee as all consuming fire bathed everyone, but didn’t harm them. All creatures who weren’t naturally fire resistant or fireproof were vaporized. Shaman spells, no matter how strong, failed against the intensity roaring throughout the entire mountain worse than lit gasoline poured in an anthill. Only these flames were under complete control. Areas of darkness were sought out like wolves on the hunt. Impossible to reach places were found and those hiding shared the same fate. Arachne nests caught fire in their flammable spider silk webbing. Elves couldn’t escape as spells prevented any instantaneous transportation into or out of the stronghold.

  Ethan led the way up into the main hall where twenty dragons guarded the main hall. Ethan’s narrowed focus bent on destroying each and every single one of them. He roared as he threw himself at the front most and was so fast it couldn’t react as he grabbed its lower jaw and ripped it off before braining it with its own jawbone.

  Panther was also there, using massive claws to devastating effect as he snarled and tore out throats, stabbed brains and pierced hearts.

  Tokala smirked, but wasn’t going to let the two of them show him up. Only he had more finesse. He threw a seed which turned to razor vine and wrapped itself around the largest one of them all, squeezed and shredded the reptile to pieces.

  The others stared in awe of the power the three powerful beings were capable of. Moombae and the others followed the devastation, jumping over burnt corpses that numbered tens of thousands and helped those unaffected to know what was happening. Amazons, Nymphs, Nagai, Ogres, a few Shifters Ethan knew weren’t part of this mess and several other slaves were freed and quickly gathered.

  Wrath consumed Ethan when his eyes landed on one Ice Dragon that blew frigid air to fight back. He knew it was the second largest of the three and said “His ass his mine.”

  Panther and Tokala watched as fire and ice fought, but Ethan’s unbridled power would not be denied this time. He was not trapped this time and would not be outnumbered. The cornered Ice Dragon seemed to realize this and went to flee, but it was too late as a pair of ignited hands suddenly tore through powder blue scales at the base of its skull and was spread, tearing thick muscle, spine and bone till the head was nearly ripped off in half. The body shuddered and roared before falling like a puppet who’s string had been cut.

  Blazing red eyes turned to new noises and the fire allowed him to see the Ice Dragon general hauling ass for the exit with a tall Elf Ethan knew about who was about to escape with her and leave his grasp again. He yelled “Panther, Zandri’s escaping down that tunnel!”

  The Balam didn’t question the order he would have done on his own as he went to all fours and was a sleek black blur tearing the floor up in his haste for speed. In terms of speed, no Demon could outrun a Balam. None. His narrowed blue eyes locked onto a spiked tail sheathed in ice slip outside as he caught her scent of fear. It drove him faster, but she had a good lead.

  A feline fireball flew out of the mountain like a burning comet. Claws were fully extended as he was airborne.

  But just as his sharp claws touched her tail, the Elf made them both disappear. Panther roared in outrage his prey had escaped, but not unscathed as ten feet of frozen tail fell with him.

  Agility known to no other Demon, Panther landed in the forest without a scratch while carrying the twitching tail his claws severed before becoming a blur of speed as he ran back up the mountain from the base and dove faithfully into the fire.

  Before his bond to his master led him within visual range, everything went dark after a rush of air threw out every shred of gagging smoke. Panther had to touch a wall and go slower when he was temporarily blind.

  Sheedan heard sudden silence outside the welded door she could not budge in any of her forms. She ordered “Report! What is happening out there!”

  A deep and ominous voice replied on the other side “You’re finished, Bitch.”

  “Who’s out there!” She declared.

  “Someone you shouldn’t have pissed the fuck off.”

  She shrieked as her ten foot thick metal door suddenly glowed white hot and started melting like running water. Even on the other side of the room was not far enough away from the heat that scalded the skin. A tall being wreathed in violet flames walked in it as if the heat didn’t bother in the slightest. She trembled as the terrifying slit eyes of hatred landed solely on her. Then she couldn’t hold her shape as she even wet herself. Her Sexy Succubus turned into a six legged jackal with floppy years and two hairless tails. She was ugly, with swollen teats
and a round pregnant belly.

  Then the fire went out and standing before them was Ethan, wings spread with malice. Hands dripped with fresh blood and the spikes at the knuckles had hunks of meat. Ethan could smell not only her fear, but also Ximr’s. His hate filled eyes didn’t change as he lightly said “Well. Well. Well. Consorting with another creature, Ximr? I thought you Nependis were pure blooded uptight racial pigs… well I guess it isn’t too far a stretch with being part porker and all now is it?”

  “Elemental!” Ximr snorted with malice.

  “Not anymore. I’m some kind of part fire Demon now. And this is for all you’ve done for your pathetic ambitions.” Ethan’s fist and eyes glowed as he traced the demonic runes for agony and suffering.

  Ximr squealed just like a pig as he writhed helplessly like a fish. Ethan enjoyed watching the asshole suffer, but not for long. Sheedan was too terrified to move when he strode into the terribly hot room as if he owned it and towered over the Nependis. As soon as his fist stopped glowing the noise stopped except from the stone sparking from the molten metal what once was a door. “And this is for sending those religious bastards you sent after my angel.”

  Ethan made one finger go stiff while his other hand wrapped around its thick throat. Ximr still reeled from the pain, but went still as soon as he saw the finger slowly coming forward. It was clear what would happen, but he pleaded “No! Please don’t kill me. I’m begging you.”

  “Like that has ever worked in life or in movies.” Ethan growled. “How many did you kill to get what you want? All so you can fuck that sorry excuse for a whore. You made your bed and laid in it happily as you gloated over the suffering of others. I’m not giving you a second chance you double dealing, backstabbing bastard!”

  Slowly Ethan’s finger pressed between Ximr’s eyes and didn’t stop. Bones broke before the skin and Ximr tried kicking, biting and screaming his way out, but was sorely outclasses. It didn’t do anything at all. Then his already bloody finger pierced the brain and killed the squealing traitor.

  A blue ball of a soul came out and Ethan wondered why Demons got so high off them. He could not smell anything out of the ordinary. Still, he pocketed the soul for now.

  “Going somewhere?” Sheedan stopped cold as she tried crawling with the distraction and had tried to take her chances through the molten door while he was occupied with Ximr. Not going to happen. Before she could turn he grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and gently popped her between the ears with both palms.

  Her body went limp from unconsciousness so she dangled like a wet noodle.

  Ethan walked back through what remained of the massive door and found a large crowd of uncertain people. His attention turned when Volkenm and others all appeared from a tunnel entrance, many seriously and mortally wounded. Some had strength to help those lesser than themselves. Everyone was looking at him aside for Panther who stood in front holding a twitching bluish tail. He asked “Any Pixies, Volkenm?”

  “Sorry, but no. Pixies aren’t known for being resilient to damage for long.” Came the reply.

  “Alright, change of plan. Tokala, watch Sheedan for me. If she wakes up, knock her ass back out.”

  “Oh goodie!” The Kitsune gladly lifted the fallen Demon Lord with a single hand.

  “The rest of you, let’s go find some fresh air.”

  News like that gave renewed strength to even the most wounded and Ethan led them out and away.

  Real sunlight after so long under the cover of darkness was painful. Even covering his eyes wasn’t good enough. But sunlight and real fresh air was beyond invigorating. Leaving that stench saturated mountain was so amazing he couldn’t hold back silent tears. He wasn’t alone in the outdoors experience. Pain of the eyes was a tiny price to pay for getting freedom again. He walked further out and into a warm wind that brushed against his body and wings. It had rained recently and the smells of the forest were like the ultimate cure all for the endless foul darkness they all endured. For a few brief minutes he forgot all about the experiences that threatened to break him down.

  He then felt the need to fly and went with it. He managed to adjust and knew it was his new eyes that adjusted much better than any human’s who’ve been underground for a prolonged time. It still stung through the crack in his eyes, but he could see the outside world after so long. Two Gargoyles still fit enough, joined him in the air.

  Eventually he had to come down up on top of the stone entrance into the cave and sat down. Panther stealthily stood at his side to say “I’ve gotten everyone’s word that those who know you have Demon ancestry will keep quiet. What will we do now, Master?”

  Panther’s black coat in the sunshine was beautiful. It shone so much his silky soft fur had an indigo hue. “I’m going to bring in everyone to search this place. I agree my origins shouldn’t be widely known and you should be a cat again. If Balam are so dangerous it would be bad to be seen and harder to ease worries. Odin and the others wouldn’t understand.”

  “No, they would not.” Panther agreed. “What are you going to do?”

  “Change plans. Without Pixies, it will be hard to go to the First House, but I need to discuss something with the other Demon Lords… What are you going to do with that tail?”

  “Eat it.” Panther said simply. “Prey is prey. First law of Demon World. Kill to eat. Kill for the sake of killing will get you killed. I shall depart, Master, and see you soon. I only ask you not leave me again from now on that you know my identity.”

  “Wasn’t panning on it. I’ll see you later.” Ethan pat his first true minion on the back as if they were old friends and Panther jumped like a flea or Superman and disappeared far down the mountain and vanished in the trees.

  Everyone was too preoccupied to notice Ethan close his eyes and focus on the five weakest bonds to say in Blood Speak “Gaia, Kyoko, Dileep, Methrom, Sarimee.” Around the world all five Demon Lords stopped what they were doing and listened. “I’ve been busy. I need you, Kyoko, to send word to the First House of my location and have word Sheedan is in custody and come for extraction and to bring medics. But do so ten minutes after you all get your ass to me pronto. I’m in South America, two hundred miles south of the Amazon. I will send out a wave of power you will all be able to detect. I will set up a space where we won’t be seen or heard, but if you are loyal to me, you will meet me before sending word to the First House.”

  Gaia’s loud voice said “We will come, Young Master.”

  “I’ve made the arrangements, Ethan-sama.” Kyoko said.

  “My warriors and I are already enroute.” Methrom rumbled.

  “As are mine.” Dileep the gigantic Kelpie said.

  Sarime hummed “I will be a few minutes late. My warriors are fighting a raid.”

  Methrom looked to six of his dragons while flying over South America and spoke quickly. “I send reinforcements now, Sarimee. They will bring you to me after the skirmish is razed.”

  Ethan raised his voice after cutting blood communications “Denizens!” All attention turned up to him. “Follow me! The rest of you, sit tight. Help will be on the way shortly. Tokala, you too and bring her.”

  Roughly forty Demons followed him to a wide area he spotted as he flew by and began throwing up powerful enchantments before ushering them all in and they disappeared from sight. To lure in the Demon Lords, Ethan made a compressed fireball in his hand and focused it before throwing it up and watching it explode. The magnitude alone shook the sky and land, sending birds into the sky and scaring all the animals.

  Gaia’s transfer was closest of them all to the mountain as she appeared ten miles away. Ethan knew it was her since moments ago there weren’t any four armed naked Titans who were taller than the surrounding trees. Despite her size she moved quickly through the wild jungle, clearing a path of destruction. At her back she was flanked by Harpies and Dragons. Soon the ground shook in her run as she got ever closer. Shaking to minor earthquake levels. Her gold circlet around her brow, that suppres
sed her oppressive aura, glinted in the morning light.

  Tremors relaxed when she slowed down as she saw Ethan hovering in the air, his large wings easily keeping him stationary. But before she could give warm greetings there came a group yelling ‘Mistress Gaia! Mistress Gaia!’ she came to a complete stop so she wouldn’t flatten her recently freed minions. Bronze skin around her cheeks blushed as she smiled and knelt. Two of her hands came lower so she could brush a knuckle against her lesser minions and show love and affection despite her overwhelming size. She said in a soft, but loud voice. “Fear not, my lovely minions, you will be well taken care of and nursed back to full health immediately.” Movement in her long brown hair showed several Elves coming out of the thick mass of strands before disappearing and reappearing on the ground. The squad of ten Elves made a quick assessment and half disappeared again with those in life threatening conditions.

  “Young Master, my mind is eased you are alive.”

  “And it’s good to see a friendly face.” He gestured. “Go inside and wait for the others. All I ask is when you see a white nine tailed Kitsune, don’t kill who he’s guarding. It’s Sheedan, but she will die by another’s hand.”

  “Very well, Young Master. I will not devour her.” She stood again and walked into the optically shielded area.

  Dileep and a herd of Kelpie came charging in with archers riding their back a minute later. Sensing Ethan’s power from even great distances made it easy to teleport in a nearer area to save time. The demonic horse bowed his head so his fangs touched his chest. Like Gaia’s minions, his also came to greet their master in a joyous reunion. Though his didn’t show such love like Gaia’s, he was unconditionally respected.

  Next came Kyoko and her personal guards with Dallare still glued to her side. They all looked up at his face as he landed. The powerful and fair Yuki-onna bowed and said “Ethan-sama, I must let you know I gave fifteen minutes rather than ten if that is alright?” He nodded and let her disappear within.