Going Deep

by L. J. Vickery

  “Demons have no souls, but if he was loyal to Nergal and only following orders in the big scheme of things, he will have a place in the heavens. It just won’t be Shangri-La.” He shrugged. “There is a hierarchy up above, and someone has to be on the bottom rung.”

  Holly, satisfied, listened as Enlil turned his mind to Dagon. Twenty-three will be waiting for you. The eleven who are tall and white hold their essence inside their left elbows. The remaining twelve will be a challenge. Start the countdown whenever you have your troops in place. We’ll attack from this side on your go.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lenore looped the collar through her belt. Holly figured she secured it well. After all, the goddess said she needed to use it on the king later.

  The group hadn’t discussed it, but what the hell was up with Nergal? She recalled the kill order the minion said he’d received. Was it possible the king sought to double-cross his queen, have them decimated, and then place the blame on rogue demons? Or if Holly’s group prevailed, would Nergal make good on his word and give Holly and Dagon a shot at escaping while sending Enlil home and imprisoning Lenore? Unfortunately, all these questions would have to wait until after the big battle to come.

  “I think Holly should carry the idol,” Lenore said to Enlil, bent over what remained of their belongings. “If my witch relatives are right, she and Dagon will need it to negotiate their release, and you certainly don’t want it going with you if Nergal poofs you back to the surface.”

  Shit, yeah. Enlil swore. You’re right.

  Wait, Holly thought. Lenore had said “if.” She hated not being able to trust Nergal’s word.

  The god fished around and drew the small, stone talisman from his bag, examining it carefully. “It has a hole through the top. If I take the lacings off the front of one of our packs,” Enlil told Holly, “you can wear it like a pendant.”

  Holly nodded, busily sharpening a knife as she sat on a rock, not taking her eyes off the portal.

  “We’ll know when the attack is about to happen,” Enlil assured her while configuring the tether for the idol. “Dagon promised he’d keep us informed.”

  Holly sighed. “I’m sorry to be so nervous, but we’re close and I haven’t actually heard him in my own head yet without going through yours, nor have I been able to speak to him…privately. Even though I know the plan, I feel isolated and edgy.”

  Enlil handed Holly the necklace, then repacked the bags. With the modification, they consolidated down to two.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll be in the thick of things soon enough, and then the two of you will be reunited. Before you know it, you’ll be having date night at some fancy restaurant.”

  “Good,” Holly answered, kicking at a bug husk in the dirt next to where they’d had last night’s fire, and slipped the new necklace over her head. “Because I’m getting tired of insect meat.”

  Lenore laughed. “Don’t ready your palate too quickly. You’ll still be living off that shit for a while.” She got a cheeky look on her face. “But I bet there’ll be a little variation in your diet once you actually get with your man.”

  Holly’s eyes grew large at the comment and her cheeks heated, but she responded gamely, “Yeah, well. There’s a mouthful of protein I’ll be looking forward to.”

  “Oh, baby.” Lenore crowed.

  Enlil shook his head, looking skeeved. “Do you women always talk like this?”

  Duh. Guys had smut on their minds all the time, but he’d probably never known that equal banter existed for the fairer sex.

  Lenore, bolder than Holly, dove in for the kill. “Don’t think I haven’t been checking out your sweet ass whenever I’ve had the opportunity…not to mention the generous bulge—”

  “That’s enough! I get the picture.” Enlil stopped Lenore midsentence, blushing hideously. “I promise I’ll never ogle a woman’s chest again, and you’ll be happy to know that I won’t mention those comments to your husband.”

  “Please do,” responded Lenore. “I just love it when his serpent half gets all jazzed.”

  “Right. The serpent thing.” Holly still hadn’t been filled in properly on that score. “My guy and yours turn into sea creatures.” She pointed to the still crimson god, “Enlil morphs into some other animal thing…”

  “A bull,” Enlil muttered petulantly.

  “Fine. A bull. And some of the others sprout wings and tails. It was too frantic back in the alley to get a good picture.” She turned to Enlil. “What makes you go bovine?”

  “Any pulse-raising situation will do, be it life threatening or…sexual. The abilities are unique to us, assigned arbitrarily when we were given dominion over various elements in nature. The gods in charge at that time ascertained that humans felt more comfortable around us if we looked more like mascots than gods. Go figure.”

  He shrugged as if the subject should be closed, but Holly had another question that had been tugging at her brain since she’d seen Dagon turn. “How much bigger do your penises get?”

  “What?” Enlil almost choked on his spit and Lenore burst out laughing.

  “It’s an honest question, Enlil.” Lenore would give her the scoop on Anshar, but she was more interested right now in what Enlil had to say.

  Holly was not deterred. “You can’t tell me that you all get taller, broader, hairier, and scalier without something happening to your equipment. Hell, the fangs alone are enough to scare the shit out of any consenting adult.”

  “Mmm. Fangs.” Lenore sighed. “You can’t believe how those babies feel on your…lady parts.” She shivered. “You’re really going to like fangs.”

  Enlil looked horrified, like he’d been dropped into a horny pajama party with no way out. Then he started sulking. “I’m not telling you how big my equipment gets, so you can stop asking.”

  “Well, I’ll fill you in, Holly.” Lenore sounded stoked. “Anshar’s cock not only gets nearly twice as thick as normal, he gets these marvelous ridges…kind of like small dorsal fins—”

  “That’s it! I don’t need to hear about Anshar’s prick, and I don’t think he’d want me to. Please ladies, for the love of gods, save the porn talk for when I’m not around.” Enlil made a hideous face. “Guys might talk about women and sex, but never once have I shared with my friends the shape and color of my partners’ pussies.”

  “What a shame,” purred Lenore. “You mean I’ve been shaving for nothing?”

  Enlil turned a lovely shade of purple. Both she and Lenore burst out laughing when they got a very succinct picture in their heads of what might have been Lenore’s tiny landing strip. Enlil was so worked up that he’d forgotten to block his thoughts.

  Enlil. We’re in place. Dagon’s voice cut through Holly’s head―via Enlil―and her heart thumped, stopping the penis-talk in its tracks.

  My scouts tell me that all twenty-three of the demons are in a large chamber on our side of the portal. When you enter from your side, there will be a large fiery pit to your right and to the left some boulders that will give you good cover. As you said, there are eleven large, white enemy. There are also twelve orange ones who are diminutive but have tentacles that protrude from their upper torsos.

  Enlil filled everyone in. I’m familiar with those. Every time you cut off a tentacle, a new one instantly grows back. What’s more, they can wield a weapon with every appendage. Though small, these are the worst of the worst. I’ll wait while you inform your friends about the capabilities and weaknesses of these demons, including the location of the white one’s life essence and the ability of the orange ones to regenerate.

  Now that they approached the final showdown, Holly wished she could talk directly to Dagon. She wanted to tell him everything in her heart and admonish him to stay safe so that they could be together soon. Instead, she put on her game face and continued listening to her man, through Enlil.

  There’s one more thing I want to attempt before we attack. Dagon spoke hurriedly. Now that we’re close to each other,
I’d like to try and hook you and Lenore into my glowie network. Open your minds to me completely, and I’ll see if they can reach you using me as a conduit.

  Lenore and Enlil did as Dagon asked, and only a few short minutes passed before a shrill case of feedback assailed their heads. The noise quickly resolved into hundreds of soft voices and murmurs, indistinguishable as words.

  We’re getting something, Dagon, but nothing we can make out. Enlil let the god know.

  Dagon answered. I’m going to have the collective quiet down, and I’ll hook you up with one individual. There was a brief pause. Slaggat, will you welcome my friends, Enlil and Lenore, to the collective?

  It is our pleasure Master…uh…Enlil and Lady Lenore to be linked to you, Mas…Dagon’s friends.

  The pleasure is mine. Enlil sent forth.

  And mine. Lenore added. Talking to you, my head feels all full and comfortable. Almost like my stomach does after a good meal. Lenore turned to Holly, but it wasn’t translating. Holly frowned. Going through the conduit of Enlil had sapped the energy from the transmission. She wanted to shout her frustration for not being included, but it wouldn’t do to become a big baby. Dammit, she couldn’t wait to be with Dagon and hear everything for herself…as well as touch him, and hold him, and kiss every inch of his lovely face.

  ****

  Dagon paced. He wanted the fight to get started so it would be over. He wanted everyone he cared for to come out of this alive. He spoke into the now-all-head network. Enlil, Lenore…and Holly—she listened through Enlil and his heart softened, picturing her face—wait until you hear from our commander, Lavarette. The rest of you glowies? Now’s the time. Fight hard. Stay safe.

  The first hundred blue beings, led by Lavarette and Graville, drifted into the cavern. They had discussed a plan with Dagon, and implemented it now.

  “Food? Food?” They all started crying, hiding their blades and using their voices. Dagon crouched behind rocks, watching. He’d told them that the upper demons would respond to verbal communication.

  The group moved slowly as one, crying and imploring with raised arms, capturing the attention of all the arch-fiends, drawing them away from the far portal.

  The demon in charge appeared flummoxed. He had clearly never seen this type of creature before. Dagon was sure the minion had never heard an inferior species talk.

  “Stop,” the white thing ordered. “Who are you and what do you want?”

  “Food. You must help us. We’re lost and hungry,” the glowies implored. Another hundred breached the cavern, and Dagon rubbed his hands in glee. The glowies were alarming Nergal’s demons even more with their increasing numbers.

  Voices rose in volume. “Hungry! Food!”

  The confused and irate upper demons moved toward the strange interlopers, their leader once again demanding, “Tell us who you are or die.” Weapons were drawn and all their attention was on the opaque invaders.

  Enlil. Come quickly. We have them distracted. Dagon spoke into the wind god’s head.

  Lavarette sent instructions to the collective. Draw your blades.

  The fight was on.

  With the element of surprise, the glowie warriors dropped three white demons before any understood they were under attack. Enlil and company charged through the doorway undetected and, one by one, picked the group off from behind.

  The osmium blades did more damage than regular steel, and while Dagon battled several creatures, he watched the avenging trio―including his intrepid Holly―swoop into the fray.

  Enlil quickly severed a head or a limb, and with the creature down, Lenore and Holly made short work of the left, inside elbow. Amulet excised and poof…demon-be-gone.

  The glowies however, much to Dagon’s horror, quickly ran out of luck. Armed only with the talon blades of the chicken demons―and a few items from Dagon’s meager arsenal―they were hard pressed to take out the enemy, let alone the many-armed and regenerating orange horrors. The best they could do was surround and overwhelm with their sheer numbers.

  Lenore must have seen it too. All of the white demons had been picked off, but not one of the orange type had succumbed to injury. Glowie people. Lenore called. Stall for time. I have drugs that can knock one of the orange atrocities out. If we can get one down, and do a quick dissection, we can see where their essence lies.

  Take all the time you need, the voice of Lavarette came breathlessly over the air. We are prepared to fight to the death so that Dagon can be reunited with his Chosen.

  An aura of agreement came from the entire collective, and Dagon met Holly’s eyes and then Enlil’s over the battle. He sent a plea to god ears only. Move quickly on this one, friends. None of these beings deserve to die.

  Enlil grabbed the syringe from Lenore—who had just extracted it from the pack—and flung himself into the fray. His bull emerged, his snout flattening, his horns curling, and his body enlarging until he towered over the orange enemy. Even then, it took all his cunning and a good, sharp osmium blade to overwhelm one of the fiends. He stabbed the sedative into its neck, and dragged it back to the rocks.

  Holly held her blade high. “I’ll do the honors if you keep me covered.” She’d been feeling useless as the god and goddess continued to leap in front of her to keep her safe. But this was something she could do.

  The Enlil-bull combo dropped the victim at her feet and quickly backed up. He didn’t want her upset by his beast persona, but far from being scared, she became amused when his worries gave way to a growl. Cheeky Lenore. The goddess ogled the front of his pants where they’d been shredded as he’d morphed.

  Yes, she checked out Enlil’s package with pointed interest. His snarling roar at Lenore only made Holly grin wider.

  “Some questions just beg to be answered,” she snarked, and then Holly stabbed downward into orange flesh with all her strength.

  Enlil grunted, reigning in his beast and set himself, legs braced over her position, guarding her as she attempted to uncover the demon’s secret.

  Holly―between incisions―dared a glance at the action, and saw Dagon across the way, making inroads through the enemy as his snarling serpent-self. Love surged to fill her heart. Her man was dirty, sweaty, and wild, his eyes blazing. But his darkly bronzed skin and the hair that whipped wildly around his head still begged for her touch.

  He fought with every ounce of concentration to clear a path toward where she performed her pseudo-autopsy. It was so frustrating. She could see him, but no matter how many orange limbs he cut through, more got in his way, impeding any progress he tried to make. She needed his touch, his scent. She sent a quick prayer to whoever in hell might be listening. Please help Dagon stay safe and bring him to me.

  Many glowies writhed on the ground, bereft of weapons, attempting to heal from wounds. The whole scene was ugly, and she needed to come up with an answer quickly that would save them all.

  Holly was knee-deep in orange snow. As she’d cut, coldness spewed forth. The interior of the thing at her feet was cold and icy, and she had no luck finding its essence. She had given up neat dissection in favor of just ripping the thing apart, but still she couldn’t find it.

  Think, Holly, think. She’d gone through almost every square inch except…except for the arms…because they got repeatedly cut off then regenerated. So how could that be? But maybe that was the answer. Holly sliced off an arm then split it from pit to fingertip.

  Bingo. A hard, clear ice chip sat right underneath the slushie’s version of a fingernail.

  A horrifying thought hit her. She bent to a second arm, and popped the end. Sure enough, another life essence. To make sure, she sliced a third.

  “My God, they can’t be killed!” She looked up despairingly at her companions after seeing another chip. “They have a life essence in the end of every tentacle, and when the appendage grows back,” she waited the few seconds it took to regenerate the first arm she’d sliced off, then dug in again, “they have a nice, fresh source of energy.” She held up the
item toward her companions as evidence. “What the fuck?”

  Dagon, the orange ones can’t be killed. Unless… Holly listened to Enlil and then watched his eyes travel toward the deep fire pit that led down to the center of the Earth. Flames sporadically leaped from its depths, reminding her of the only other way immortal lives could be ended. Holly knew what was going through his head. He and Dagon, in their animal forms, were strong enough to toss the orange demons in, and it was their only choice.

  They need to be thrown into the chasm. Enlil’s feet moved toward the flames, spouting orders. Dagon, fight your way to me. Glowies, push the orange demons to us, one by one, and we will hurl them into the depths of hell.

  A massive growl of agreement came from the collective. It seemed the little beings liked nothing better than a plan. This could work. If the two gods’ strength didn’t give out, they could toss the remaining dozen demons and be done with this nightmare.

  Well, she’d be damned if she’d let them do it all alone. Holly jumped to her feet and grabbed two more osmium weapons. Lenore was already ahead of her. They worked side by side with the glowies, who tirelessly and selflessly drove the orange slush-monsters back. Dagon finally made it to Enlil, and the pair grabbed for the first victim. They grinned at each other, and as if they’d always been a synchronized team, they heaved the thing over their shoulders and into the pit.

  One down, eleven to go. Dagon’s white fangs peeked from beneath a curled lip.

  Yes. Holly thought. He is so fucking beautiful, even as a serpent.

  Soon, the tentacled termagants figured out what was going on, and ignored the nearly impotent glowies to concentrate on the two gods trying to toss them to their deaths.

  Dagon managed to vault up onto a rock to safety, hurling everything he could get his hands on toward the advancing harridans. But Enlil was relentlessly driven back, closer and closer to the edge of the pit.

  “Stop, Enlil! You have no more room,” Holly screamed.

  Enlil looked behind him and down. In his last minute, he grabbed two orange fiends, gave a final smile, and slipped backward into oblivion.