by Jack Crosby
I let Jecella wake Terrek while I got Jacar up and going. It again was odd how amiable the Pride demon was, even being woken up. “Is it that time already?”
“Yeah, I’m afraid so. I’d let you sleep a bit longer, but as you know time isn’t a luxury.”
Terrek wasn’t nearly as pleasant with Jecella. “Do not touch me you whore! Were you playing with yourself again? You stink of sex, slut!”
“Terrek, grow a pair would you? She’s just waking you up you giant pain in the ass.”
He grumbled so more, but Jecella gave me another odd look. This one wasn’t of lust or anything, more like affection. Oh great.
With everyone up and for the most part ready, headed out, away from the forest and on to the second set of plains. We moved at a pretty rapid pace, especially with the threat of Pride demon raiders. A few times I heard the beating of horse hooves off in the distance, but they never came all that close.
After we’d been walking awhile, Jecella called for us to halt. “The Edge of Despair is close. Soon, the negative energy from there will try to overtake us. Death, Jacar, prepare yourselves mentally. Terrek and I are mostly immune to the effects by now.”
The Wrath demon grunted in agreement. “This place is vile, that is why Yezial has taken up residence here. The demons under his command will be more vicious and bloodthirsty than any you would encounter elsewhere.”
“Thanks for the heads up. Jacar, you up for this?”
His Pride demon side kicked in. “There is nothing in this miserable place that can overpower me. There was a reason I was the Pride of Baal.”
I believed him. With his proclamation, we went forward, the Edge of Despair just out of sight.
Chapter 12 – The Ruins of Starlight
The energy rushing from the Edge was as strong as, maybe even stronger than the demons had warned me about. I guess I owed Michal an apology. His knowledge of this place and the power it has over people who get too close turned out to be valuable.
However all those good vibes were gone with my recent behavior. I’d now twice slept with the Lust demon currently in front of me helped give me other things to obsess over. I didn’t know what it was about her, but even all my threats were worthless and didn’t mean shit. Ughhh, what was wrong with me?
I privately scolded myself for being so weak when it came to women, but those were the breaks in the game. Each Horseman had a fatal flaw; women (me), over-aggression (War), untrusting (Famine), and vanity (Conquest). Working together as a unit, when together, we helped the others (mostly) overcome their weakness. Having been apart for so long, my weakness was the most glaring.
Terrek was leading us around the main entrance of the ruins, to the far west side which they hoped would be the least patrolled. As we circled the area, the first sight of the ruins came into view. “Those are some big, black rocks.”
“These are the Ruins of Starlight. The material used is mined to the east of here, obsidian.”
I didn’t need the Wrath demon to tell me what it was. Obsidian was what most of Hell’s fiends used to make their weapons from. Ironically, none of my three demon partners were using the rock. “I notice the weapons you provided from your camp aren’t obsidian based. Is there a reason?”
Jecella grabbed the tip of her whip. “All of our weapons had been lost; these are the ones we were able to get our hands on, made of steel. Steel is easier to find than obsidian, as we obviously do not have access to the mines.”
Huh, well then. “Something is better than nothing.”
We creeped forward, the western edge of the ruins were practically vacated. And I saw why. The Edge of Despair was butting right up against it.
The bottom fell out and across the vast expanse of nothingness was a cold wind that blew. The wind caused a permanent howl to streak up from the depths below, giving this area a feeling of complete despair. Hence the name I guessed. I really am a pretty smart guy, honest.
“From this entry point, we can make a straight line to the center of the ruins.” Terrek pointed off in the distance. “Chances are high the Yezial would have made the old treasure room his new shrine.”
Hell mythology was beyond me, so I didn’t know anything about these ruins or what treasure they used to hold. “Where will the majority of his army be?”
“Those who are not out on patrol will probably be towards the front, in the barracks.”
I was willing to go along with Terrek’s thought process. “What will we be facing coming in from the west?”
“The western side of the old fortress was the armory, the mess hall, and the Sanctuary. The treasure room is just on the other side of the Sanctuary.”
The guy was a super dick but his knowledge of this place made it all worthwhile. “We know what we are up against. Let’s try to keep this quiet, but if it comes to it, we fight and we kill. Any questions?”
No one from the group said anything and we began the journey into the ruins. I was personally glad to be going this way to get away from that power the edge had over me. The black rock that ruins were built out of soon blocked the view of the eternal pit, but there was still a bit of lingering energy. That soon went away too as we entered the main part of the fortress – the armory.
Privately I hoped we would stumble upon a plethora of weapons that my companions could upgrade with, but alas, no dice. The armory was cleaned out, probably by all the patrols that were roaming around this part of Hell looking for the rebels Jacar and I had stumbled upon. Unfortunately for us, we ran across our first guard as we were preparing to leave.
The Wrath demon wasn’t paying attention when he came in. Terrek was and with a quick thrust of his sword, red Hell goop was spilling out of the intruder’s chest. Leviathan was right there to follow up, splitting his skull in two and then for good measure, cleaving the body in half. There was hardly a sound.
“Thank the Almighty we were prepared for that.”
Terrek looked at me in disgust. “You should be thanking me.”
As I put my weapon away, “Maybe one day, but you’ll have to prove that wasn’t just luck. C’mon…”
Quietly, we exited the armory and entered a hall. We were at the very end of it with only one way to go. “At the end of this passage is the mess hall. Chances are we will run into a lot of resistance there.”
Jecella looked sure of herself. “Jacar, me and you will enter first. Hopefully with some element of surprise that Death and another Pride demon are here we can catch ‘em a bit off. Terrek, Jecella, once the party gets started, get your asses in there and slaughter as many as you can.”
There wasn’t really much else to say. The four of us looked on wearily at the door, knowing what awaited us on the other side. Well, I wasn’t one to wait around, so I marched off like a man on a mission. Taking, a deep breathe, I swung open the door, only to find the hall completely empty.
Jacar joined me and as his sword lowered, “Well this was certainly anticlimactic.”
“Where are the legions of demons to be slaughtered?”
Terrek seemed really disappointed, but I was more suspicious. “This has all the hallmarks of a trap. Don’t jinx us yet.”
I barely finished my thought when a gust of wind blew open the other side of the hall. With it came the stench of many dead demons. “Don’t mind the smell, it sure beats the alternative.”
Stepping out of empty space was the one being in the entire universe most fear, only second to Abaddon, and with good reason. Lucifer Morningstar, in full battle gear, looked on at the four of us. In his hand was the fabled Morningstar Blade.
His red eyes addressed each of us with the cool leisure that his position in the celestial hierarchy afforded. “Death, what a most welcomed surprise. I take it you were coming to do what I have already completed?”
The sinking feeling that Lucifer just killed every demon in this place, minus the one we ran across, hit me. “How?”
“Let us skip the how and get to the why.” He smirked a bit as
he brought his sword up to eye level. “Some needed to be reminded that stealing from me is a crime with only one punishment.” He looked to Terrek and Jecella. “Your realm is once again yours. I expect fealty or else.”
Both of them dropped to a single knee. “Of course your majesty.”
“Jacar, The Pride of Baal, so long has it been since I have seen you. Tell me, was the mortal realm kind to you?”
Jacar didn’t drop to a knee, but his whole body was tense. “It was. I plan to return once my mission with the Horseman Death has finished.”
It was back to me. “I know of your mission Horseman, and I know you need this very blade to complete the task. Do not look so surprised.” I couldn’t help it; I didn’t think this was common knowledge. “I have questions of both you and this mission that is currently underway. Come to my home in Pandemonium, and once there we will discuss it in great detail. Until then…” He vanished.
I still was dumbfounded by the impromptu meeting with Morningstar himself. Meanwhile Jecella and Terrek were beside themselves with joy. “Lucifer himself anointed us! Astaroth’s kingdom is now in the hands of the rebellion!”
While a small part of me was happy it worked out for those two bozos, I was even more annoyed that the blade was once gain far away from me. “Jacar, how far is Pandemonium from here?”
“It is not an easy journey. The closer we get to Lucifer’s city, the more dangerous and likely we are to run into an Arch Demon…”
“Terrek, go back to the rest and tell them of our victory. Death, Jacar,” Jecella dropped to a knee again, “it would be my honor to join your party and help in your journey. As I said before, ruling this kingdom has no interest with me.”
The Lust demon had caused me nothing but grief so far and I knew there was an ulterior motive, but help was hard to come by in Hell. “Fine, but no more funny business, got it?”
She winked at me and I knew I was in big trouble.
Chapter 13 – Lessons NOT Learned
The journey back out to where we’d found the rebellion was tough. Between another hell worm bursting out of the ground and almost eating us and a band of deserters from Yezial’s army, we dealt with quite a bit more than I figured. Both Jecella and Jacar were tired, so we found a nice open spot and called it a day, err night. It’s impossible to tell down here.
The good thing about the two of them being tired was I got to be left alone. Once the campfire was made and a rotation set up to keep guard, the two demons were out. Doing something I hadn’t done in a long time, I started meditating. My peace and quiet was not to be however.
Even with my eyes closed, I sensed a presence close by. “I know you’re sulking in the shadows, Tiberius.”
I heard the gnarled gasp of the werewolf. “How did you know I was there?”
“You don’t stay alive all these years by letting your guard down. Besides, out here on the barren plains, no other werewolf scents are present. You stick out like a sore thumb.”
I felt the creature sit down beside me. “I have come to repay my debt to you Reaper.”
You know that sneaking feeling you get when someone else wants to offer you their lackluster help? Yeah, totally got that right now. “I appreciate your offer, but where I’m going you wouldn’t do a lick of good, no pun intended wolf.” Pun was totally intended.
“My pack offers wishes me to assist you in the hopes we can maintain strong relations with the Horsemen, that way when the Days of Judgement come, we will be remembered.”
This was a total catch-22 situation. I already had Jacar who I trusted, Jecella who formed an unhealthy interest in my penis, and now a wolf with blatant ulterior motives. “You’re going to keep following us aren’t you?”
“If the pack has decreed this necessary, then I will fulfill it, with or without your consent.”
“Fine, but just stay out of my way. And play nice with those two, okay?”
“As you wish Reaper.”
Tiberius went over to the fire and curled up in a ball. In little to no time he was fast asleep. I didn’t know how any of them could sleep. Between the smell of brimstone everywhere, the heat, and of course just the unnerving nature of the place we were, I was on paranoid level Red Alert.
Not that I was tired, but it was time to wake one of these sleeping beauties up, mainly because I was bored being alone (don’t judge me, meditating can only last so long). At first I tried to wake Jacar, but the Pride demon delivered a backhand to my face. Not expecting it, I was sent tumbling into the darkness.
When I got back, I guess our little confrontation had woken up the one demon I didn’t trust myself to be alone with. Jecella was looking as sexy as ever staring me down. “The Pride demon will not awaken?”
“Apparently not. By the way, we got a fourth member to replace that dick head Terrek, the wolf Tiberius.”
She looked down at the creature and gave a small laugh. “You cannot help but bring outcasts together, can you?”
“I wouldn’t call it a gift, but it does appear that way.”
She stood up and took a step towards me. I backed up accordingly. “Why do you fear what we have Horseman?”
“I wouldn’t say I fear it, more along the lines of I don’t want it.”
“All of your deposits inside me beg to differ.”
The way she talked, like an animal in heat turned me on so much. The husk in her voice made me skin crawl in ways I can’t even explain. “Why do you chase me down? You can have any man you want, yet you continue to come to one who doesn’t want you.”
“On the contrary, you want me so much it makes you hurt. I remind you of a lost love, one that you can never have back.”
That jab hit me hard. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course I do. Even in remote parts of Hell we have ears. Death and the former mistress of Beelzebub together? The gossip was never juicier.”
I hated her at that moment, but I hated the truth even more. My love and devotion for Astrid was real, but I was missing a part of my life. Her name had been Roxanne. I grabbed Jecella by the arm and pulled her away from camp, to an unlit rocky road not far. I pushed her down on to the ground. Fear was alive in her eyes, the fear of one who thinks they’re about to die.
Instead, I pulled her leather pants off, exposing her puffy pussy for myself. The look on her face was on of pure anticipation. I unbuckled my pants, causing her to start licking her lips. Then when she was bracing herself, I buckled them back up and just looked down. “Never forget that I’m the one in charge.”
“You are just playing me?” Her voice was a mixture of hurt and shock.
“Yeah, I am. You didn’t believe that I could control myself around you and I just proved it.”
She didn’t move, pants still around her ankles. Apparently she was so turned on that her juices were leaking from her and dripping on to the ground below. The only thoughts running in my mind were sports and old ladies.
“I offer myself to you in this capacity and you humiliate me?! You are no better than the lowest slug!”
Maybe I had stepped a bit too far. “I never intended to humiliate you. I was just trying to prove a point.”
“Congratulations, you have done so. Lust demons have terrible reputations as it is and for a man of your stature to act like such a juvenile is level with expectation.”
Why was this happening to me? “Why are you taking this so personally?”
“Fuck you! Why would I not? The act of a Lust demon giving themselves willingly without underlying cause is our greatest form of admiration. And for you to mock it, threaten me, and now treat me like the whore most assume, you do not get the right to question me you bitch!”
Uh oh, I guess I still had a lot to learn. “I promise you I wasn’t trying to make a mockery of your feelings. Oh man… I’m sorry Jecella.”
“Your apology means nothing to me. You have shown to be as vain and crude as your reputation tells us. I thought when we first met you were
not like that, but again you have proved me wrong.”
“Wait a minute, you were the one who jumped me while I was asleep! You’re the one who kept seducing me even when I said I wasn’t interested?! Again, I’m at a loss how this is my fault?”
She kicked her pants off entirely. Her long, red legs were so toned, so perfect. Her boots were still on, giving her the perfect little demon porn star look that she had to know drove me crazy. “Your words never matched your actions. You wanted this union as much as I did.”
Shit, she was right, I did. I wanted nothing more than to feel her warm, wet slit wrap around me. Sweating, and not from the heat, “I don’t get your obsession with me. You looked death in the face (thumbs up!) to continue this.”
“The way you took in Roxanne, one of the oldest and most respected of us, and gave her a chance to truly live. Legends will be told of the two of you in Hell for thousands of years.”
Was that it? Did she want to be treated as a person and not a whore? “So your lust for me is born from the way I treated another Lust demon?”
“Of course! No one treats us that way and the chance to become yours is a chance I am not willing to give up.”
“But I have someone important in my life. She’s not only that, but she’s going to be the mother of my child.”
As soon as I said the word child, a shimmer of joy leapt from Jecella’s eyes. “Let me be the mother to another of your children! To produce such a joy would be the pinnacle of my life!”
“Almighty help me…” I sat down beside the mostly naked Lust demon. “What is it with you crazy broads and wanting to get knocked up?”
She took my sitting down as an invitation to move closer. I didn’t stop it. “Even female demons want to become mothers. It is the most precious thing one can do in this life, bring another one into it.”
“I don’t know that’s such a good idea.”
Graceful, like a cat, she whipped herself on top of me. “Of course it is. Your children, your legacy should rule all the lands! Together, our child would be strong, strong enough to bring Hell under new leadership if he or she chooses to!”
