Holly held her breath, but instead of being incensed, Nergal looked amused.
“Control your goddess, Eresh.” He grinned at his queen. “Or I’ll imprison her right now.” He waved his hand and a freestanding cage appeared a few feet behind Nergal’s throne. Lenore snorted.
“I know the way you gods work, and you and your wife have already struck a bargain. You can’t go back on whatever word you’ve given, so your threat is empty.” Lenore strolled over to the stark eight-by-eight jail cell, leaning her head in the open door. “Needs a little something.”
Using what Holly knew were acquiring skills, Lenore willed the thick fur that graced the floor in front of Nergal’s royal chair to follow her into the small chamber where she positioned it to her liking.
“There. That’s a start.”
Enlil, watching Lenore’s antics along with Holly and the queen, couldn’t suppress a groan. Clearly he’d witnessed Nergal’s anger in its many forms and waited for the king’s retribution. The big guy hadn’t conjured a cage for nothing. Holly―and Enlil from his stunned look―were therefore amazed to hear the sovereign laugh.
“You and I are going to have lots of fun, Lenore.” It took some time, but Nergal was able to bring his mirth under control, then he glanced at his wife who looked at him in amazement. “What? It’s time we had some new entertainment around here. I’m tired of the imps and their same old antics. If I have to watch them perform Sweeney Todd one more time, I’m going to slit their throats myself.”
Hmph. A bit touchy. Holly chewed the inside of her cheek. The interaction between the king and queen had her surmising that something was still off. Perhaps if she found out what, it might account for Nergal’s poor behavior. She’d have to ask Lenore if she’d noticed anything. Nothing ever escaped that savvy lady.
Holly, itching to move, stuck with her earlier metaphor. “It’s time you let us get on the yellow brick road, Sir King,” she quipped. “We need to get out of Munchkin Land and find Dagon.”
Lenore did a little jog back to where her companions stood. “Maybe Enlil could get us started.”
Holly figured she was right. After all, he’d spent many years battling in these corridors. He’d know best where they should be heading.
“Yup. Follow me,” Enlil encouraged. With one last distrustful look at Nergal, the god shouldered his backpack and ambled off toward a tunnel to the right. Holly would have known which passage to take as well because, while Lenore had been distracting Nergal with her antics, she had watched Ereshkigal surreptitiously point Enlil in the right direction.
“See you soon, my lady Lenore,” Nergal called out.
“Not if I see you first,” she shot back cheerily. Holly was betting on Lenore. She’d have the king’s number before this little game ended.
“So where are we going?” Holly asked Enlil’s broad back. “And how come I can see you even though you’re not near Hux or Tess?”
Enlil’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Did you forget? I’m related to you too, great-granddaughter. Stay close, now. I’d like to cover as much ground as we can before the demons come out.”
“What do you mean?” Lenore managed to keep up quite nicely in her heels.
“Things here work in six-hour cycles. Odd, but Nergal likes to run a tightly controlled torture schedule. We would always have six hours of leisure time, followed by six hours of battle time, six hours of regeneration, and then six of sleep.”
“Regeneration?” Holly wasn’t sure she wanted to ask.
“It’s hard to withstand six hours of fighting with demons, depending on what type they are, without being somewhat…injured.” He clearly attempted to soft-pedal. “You saw a couple of different types when we battled in the alleyway outside of the bar. The first batch was easy to dispatch, the second…not such a walk in the park.”
Right. Holly screwed up her mouth. The viscous ones who’d taken Dagon away. She shivered.
Enlil continued, “When they get the better of us, they make sure we’re, uh, out of service for a while before we pull ourselves back together.”
“But Holly’s not an immortal.” Lenore quickly pointed out something that had just occurred to Holly herself. “If they tear her apart, she’s not going to regenerate.”
Holly huffed. “Don’t worry about me,” she said. “I have a feeling this pretty amulet the queen gave me does more than she told me. Ever since I put it on, I’ve felt less…vulnerable, for lack of a better word. Besides, we have all these osmium toys that can put the hellions out of commission permanently, and hopefully, once they figure that out, they’ll think twice about messing with us.”
Enlil raised his brows skeptically. “The demons I know are a pretty dopey yet stubborn bunch, kind of like lemmings. They just keep on coming until they are all sorta dead, and then like us, they regenerate for more.”
Ah shit, Holly groused. They can do that too?
Enlil nodded and then continued. “Killing them suits me just fine, but killing them for keeps is going to be a lot harder.” He proceeded to tell them about the amulet-like, life-giving force that each demon sported and how they’d always been less than successful locating them.
While they talked, the group wended its way farther into Hell.
****
Dagon, my dear?
Dagon received the queen’s voice in his head.
Dagon, can you hear me? Are you well?
Ereshkigal couldn’t possibly know anything about Dagon’s environs. He was astonished that she’d found him. Yes, my queen, I am well. I’ve met up with a new species of demons who are quite friendly and amusing. He chuckled. I’ve just found out how they sleep. Let me send you a mental picture.
There was a long pause from the queen as he gave her a visual on what would look to her like a whole bunch of glowing tabletops attached to cavern walls.
Just what am I seeing? she asked tentatively.
My new friends call it “folding.”
Ereshkigal laughed and he continued. They climb up a wall using some sticky substance on their limbs, then fold themselves in half and go to sleep attached to the rock. They look like those shelf mushrooms that grow on trees.
That’s nice…and interesting, she came back. But we have business to conduct. Listen carefully, Dagon. I don’t know how much time I have before Nergal finishes up in his office for the day, and he mustn’t know that I’m talking to you.
I understand, my queen. Dagon waited.
You’re location, by my reckoning, is five miles closer to the main level than when we last spoke, which means you’ve traversed a quarter of your journey.
Dagon had hoped for farther but, without her help, he wouldn’t have made any progress at all. He gave her a fast summation of his trip so far. I’ve passed one demon-guarded portal, and soon will attempt to breach a second. I can only ascertain there is a doorway every five miles where a new level begins. That means I have three more entries to break through. With the help of my new friends, I’m hoping it will be a piece of cake. I won’t be really worried until we get to the entrance of the main level. I know what kind of demons we’ll meet there.
About that… Ereshkigal seemed hesitant. Dagon had a feeling that whatever she was about to say, he wasn’t going to like.
A few of your friends have decided to come to your rescue. They’re on the main level, trying to keep it clear so that, when you do come up, you will have less difficulty.
Dagon’s blood ran cold. Who has come to help me?
She didn’t prolong his terror. Enlil, Lenore, and…Holly.
Rawrrr! His answering scream resonated with more serpent than god. It released from his very core. Why have you involved them in this? Dagon spat furiously. He roared his displeasure again. My eyes are turning black. I feel them, he warned. Send them back. Send them back right now. He didn’t care that he spoke harshly to his queen. Torment ate at him.
I’m afraid I can’t do that, Ereshkigal answered. What nobody realized when you
were taken, was that you and Holly had already begun a bond. Because you recognized her as your Chosen, nature had started taking its course. The only way forward for her is for you two to get back together. The earth-bound gods understood this and your cousin Anshar willingly risked his own bond by sending his Chosen to help.
But why did it have to be Holly and Lenore? My once-brothers should have come. They should have made the attempt to free me.
Ereshkigal sighed in his head. Another of Nergal’s games. At first, he would only allow Holly and the two goddesses to go to your rescue, but Marduk’s woman, Tess, is with child so he allowed Enlil to go in her stead. Unfortunately, as soon as they locate you, Enlil will be whisked back to the surface, Lenore will be imprisoned, and you and Holly must find the throne room and release her to win this game of Nergal’s. If you do not succeed, you are all doomed.
Dagon wrestled himself into control. Then I have no choice but to be successful.
Yes, the queen agreed. I will give you as much help as possible. But for now, I must go. Nergal will be checking on my whereabouts to make sure I’m not physically intervening for my team.
Thank you, my queen. Dagon did a mind-bow, and took himself out of the queen’s head.
Chapter Fifteen
Ereshkigal breathed a sigh of relief and laid back on the reclining chaise in her chamber. Why must she always be the one to impart bad news and when would this incessant posturing with Nergal come to an end? Never, she supposed, if their history was any positive indicator.
She thought back to what Nergal—with her help—had done to the girl, Holly. As soon as the human had been spread for his ministrations and Ereshkigal had begun to work Holly’s clit, Nergal’s lovely cock had hardened behind his loincloth. When he had ordered Eresh to stimulate the girl’s nipples as he performed the operation, he eagerly watched her every move.
Ereshkigal had positioned her body to give him the best view as she tongued each tender nub. When they’d brought Holly to climax together—gods! It was the most erotic thing they’d done in each other’s presence in more than a thousand years.
Ereshkigal ached just thinking of it. Her pussy pulsed, moist and needy between her legs. The queen got up off the chaise and crossed the room to retrieve her vibrator from the bedside table.
Nergal chose that moment to drift in and she got caught, naughty sex toy in hand.
“What’s that, my dear?” he questioned a little sharply. “An accomplice for self-stimulation?”
Ereshkigal refused to be embarrassed. “Oh, why don’t you go get sucked off by an imp.” She pointed at him with her favorite plaything.
Nergal didn’t rise to the bait, but instead approached his wife and took the large, penis-shaped device from her hand. He held it up and took a good long look.
“A little small after the gods you’ve used.” He turned it on and watched it vibrate.
Ereshkigal’s pussy throbbed as the king perused her well-used device. It looked so good in his hands. What would it take to get him to lift the hem of her long gown, lower her wet panties, and rub the blunt tip against her clit? The queen’s mouth went dry, and she took a hesitant step in Nergal’s direction. He didn’t seem like he was ready to put it down.
Would he remember, from all those years ago, how she liked to be teased? How he’d finger all around her swollen pussy, making her squirm with anticipation. Then, before giving in, he’d stroke repeatedly, front to back, in the moistness of her begging slit until she screamed for his touch? Could he ever forget, after all their foreplay, that exquisite moment of joining when he would plunge his massive cock into her aching cunt and she grabbed for his taut ass to hold him in? Ereshkigal couldn’t forget…and it made her bold.
She took the vibrator from him where he stood seemingly enthralled, and never let her eyes drop from his as she brought the humming device to her mouth. She gave the end a long, slow lick and then put the entire head of it into her mouth, lathing it, round and round. While she loved the item in her hand, she dropped the shoulder of her gown and slowly exposed skin that Nergal hadn’t seen in eons. Another few inches and she would succeed in freeing her nipple.
“Eresh?” Nergal’s voice emerged in a husky whisper. “What are you doing?”
She stopped licking for one moment. “I’m making this phallus nice and wet so that when I hold it on my nipple, it will be warm and slippery.”
Nergal seemed in danger of being seduced, but she couldn’t be sure. Eresh slowly eased the material of her dress downward. She licked the vibrator again and gave one final shimmy, exposing her full breast for Nergal’s eyes.
Gods! You are so beautiful. Nergal blew out a tormented breath.
Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. It had been so long since Ereshkigal had heard such a declaration from him, even if he let it slip inadvertently. His big hands twitched at his sides. Would he resist, or would he reach forward and touch?
Ereshkigal hoped the latter, because once he touched her breast, he might forget himself enough to continue. With that thought in mind, she brought the vibrator to her swollen peak.
Nergal’s hand engulfed hers and a thrill shot up her spine. With his help she applied the pulsating implement to her distended bud. They watched together and she couldn’t help the naughtiness that made her reach down with another finger and press her nipple even harder into the soft, wet, vibrating penis. Nergal’s breathing became ragged. Was it a moan that escaped from his throat?
She turned to stare into his glazed eyes and almost drowned in his lust. Eresh leaned her hip into him, and gasped. His cock was rigid enough to bust a hole through one of their stone walls.
“I shouldn’t be doing this,” he murmured.
Ereshkigal abandoned the vibrator to his hand alone, and brought her fingers up to wind and tug at his hair. She slowly lowered his head for a kiss. One kiss. If she succeeded…he wouldn’t be able to walk away.
“I won’t do this!” Nergal yanked away, seemingly using all of his willpower to do so, to throw the still buzzing hardware onto her bed. “Nice try, Eresh, but it won’t work.” He adjusted what had to be a painful package and strode toward the door.
Dammit. Why did he have to be so stubborn? He was ridiculously worked up and she might go out of her mind with hunger for his touch.
“I’ll go find that willing mouth you so helpfully suggested earlier,” he spluttered, “and you’ll just have to take care of things by yourself.”
So that’s how he wanted this to play out, did he? Well, fuck him…and not literally. He would drown in her next words, which she threw at him in complete desperation. “Oh no, my dear Nergal, not by myself.” She laughed, a high brittle sound. “Have you so quickly forgotten that one of my favorite gods is visiting our realm?”
He halted, clearly thunderstruck.
“You’re going to call…”
“Enlil.” Ereshkigal claimed triumphantly, hiding the break in her voice. “It’s been a few hundred years, but I’m sure he’ll still be eager to serve his queen.”
Nergal missed her overbright eyes when he refused to look back. Good. She didn’t want him to know how badly she bluffed. He needed to be in as much pain as she.
He answered her stiffly. “By all means then.” His feet moved over the threshold. “Serve yourself right up.” And he was gone.
Ereshkigal dropped, trembling, to the floor. Why did her husband have to be so stubborn? She didn’t want Enlil, she wanted Nergal. But now she had backed herself into a corner. Her husband would know if she didn’t invite the wind god into her room, so she’d have to do it. Oh, why did things have to be so complicated?
She picked herself—still throbbing and vulnerable—off the floor. As calmly as she could, she went to her bed, sat down, and composed herself to call Enlil. It would not do to have him aware of how needy she truly was.
Enlil? She let her mind trail out from the throne room to locate him. Good. The group hadn’t gone far.
Yes, my queen? Enli
l’s comforting, no nonsense voice answered her summons.
Is your party in danger at the moment? She hoped for a negative answer and was rewarded.
No, your majesty. So far we’ve encountered no demon activity. We’ve actually stopped for a bite to eat before moving forward.
Ereshkigal hated to say the next words. That’s good because I require your presence. Come to me.
Chapter Sixteen
“Spill it.” Holly looked up from her rocky seat when Enlil finally reappeared. “You can’t just say Ereshkigal needs me and then leave. What could she possibly have wanted that is more important than protecting us and finding Dagon?”
Enlil didn’t strike her as one to blush, but color worked up into his neck as he fussed with indecision. What was he hiding?
“I’ve never talked about it before…even with the rest of the guys,” he said sheepishly. “It used to be that, when your turn came to be summoned, you just answered the call, did your duty, and returned. We were all…used equally by Ereshkigal, with the exception of Emesh who always came back with painted toenails. Obviously, with him, it was just girls’ night out.”
He must have seen their confusion because he took a deep breath and started again. “Funny thing,” he began. “Long before our group of twelve, excuse me, thirteen was summoned to the Underworld, something happened between Nergal and Ereshkigal that made them not, uh…you know…” he hesitated.
“Fuck anymore?” Lenore had no such problem.
“Right.” This didn’t seem to be getting any easier for poor Enlil. “So once she had access to us, she…” Enlil waved vaguely in the direction of his dick.
“Are you kidding me?” Lenore squealed.
Holly bit her tongue to keep quiet.
“You just had sex with Ereshkigal? Wait. Does this mean Anshar did it with her too? Not cool.” Lenore ramped up.
Enlil dared a peek at Holly, but she avoided his eyes and studied her sneakers. “No,” he qualified. “Not sex. Well, not exactly.”
Going Deep Page 13
