by Diem, J. C.
“I’ll let you out of that cell if you promise not to attack me, any imps we come across, or my hellhounds.” My pack had moved to surround me protectively. They were growling at the gigantic insect mistrustfully. “Click your claws twice if you agree to these terms.”
After several moments of debate, it clicked its claws twice. I had no way of knowing if I could trust it, but I didn’t have much choice. I needed an edge to fight my way through dozens, or possibly hundreds, of demons to reach their prince.
“Unlock the door,” I instructed Max. He moved forward, but he was trembling so badly that he couldn’t fit the key into the lock. I took them from him and did the job myself. “Stand back,” I warned the imp and my pack as I stepped inside. “I don’t know if I can trust this thing yet.” The beetle clicked its claws angrily. “No offense meant,” I added and it settled down again.
Eyes the size of my fists watched me warily as I approached the bug. I tensed when I came within range of its acid, but it didn’t attempt to melt my armor off with its deadly fluid. Crab beetles had been hunted almost to extinction. Prince Valac had defied Satan by keeping one locked up. For all I knew, he might have more of them stashed in other cells. Maybe he was secretly breeding them.
I was now tall enough to reach up and unlock the chains that held the bug’s claws suspended. It gave a groan of pain and cradled the large appendages against its shell. I waited patiently until it tentatively extended the limbs and clicked its claws to test them. “Are you good to go?” I asked. It couldn’t nod, but it gave a click in response.
Max had moved away so his back was pressed against the barred cell across the hallway again. “I cannot believe you are going to trust a crab beetle,” he said. He was still shaking with fright and almost dropped the keys when I handed them back to him.
“It wants revenge on Prince Valac as much as I do,” I said with a shrug.
Lumbering through the door of its cell, the beetle only just managed to fit. Turning to face us, it clicked its claws impatiently, urging us on. My hounds watched it suspiciously, but they knew better than to attack it. The bug was our ally and we needed its help.
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Chapter Twenty-Three
Trusting my hellhounds to warn me if the crab beetle was going to turn on us, I followed Max as he headed back to the center of the dungeon. When we reached it, I spared a brief look at the cage where I’d been imprisoned. My congealed blood still coated the flagstones. The first stirrings of wrath began and my hounds growled softly in response. They were attuned to my moods and they were almost as eager as I was to rend and tear my foes.
Prince Valac was my main target, but his son was also on my list. Zach was going to discover that had been a huge mistake to play with my emotions. Hadn’t he heard that old saying that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned? He was going to find out firsthand exactly what that meant.
My fury built and my hand clenched on the hilt of my dagger as Max scurried over to unlock the door that led to the palace. Realizing what was in my hand, I lifted my weapon up to examine it. I knew it was my original dagger and that I hadn’t somehow conjured up another one. I’d called it to me across dimensions. The blade was marked with runes. Maybe they’d tied the dagger to me from all the blood that I’d spilled with it. My demonblade was different from the others I’d seen. My foes’ blades glowed constantly when they called on them. Mine remained dull silver until danger was present. Only then would it begin to glow scarlet.
Max listened intently to make sure the area was empty before pushing the door open. Wide enough to allow two crab beetles to fit side by side, the hallway stretched far ahead. Black stones lined the floor, walls and ceiling. Flaming torches intermittently lit the way, not that they were necessary. All creatures in these realms could see in the dark.
The crab beetle managed to fit through the door, but it was a tight squeeze. Its multiple legs made soft scuttling noises as it followed us. Every now and then, it would use its claws to propel itself along. The ground would shake slightly when the heavy appendages thudded on the stones.
We rounded a corner to see a pair of soldiers heading towards us. They gaped at us in terror then turned to flee. Two of my hounds appeared in front of them. They leaped up to tear their throats out before they could sound the alarm. Badly wounded, they fell to the ground then shimmered and disappeared. I had a feeling a lot of demons were going to be sent back to the first realm of hell today.
We turned another corner and I saw a door at the far end of the hall. A hubbub of voices filtered down from above. “What’s through that door?” I asked Max quietly.
“Several flights of stairs,” he replied. “There is a door at the top that opens to a hallway that is only a short distance from the throne room.” He was shaking so badly with fright that the keys were rattling.
“You don’t need to guide me any further,” I said to his immense relief. “You should evacuate from the palace with the rest of the imps.”
“If you think that would be best,” he replied and handed me the keys.
“You’ve been a great help, Max. I won’t forget this.”
He gave me a shy smile that was so reminiscent of Sam that a stab of pain hit me in the heart. “Good luck, Hellscourge,” he said and hurried back the way we’d come. He hadn’t bothered to lock any of the doors behind us. He would be able to escape through the hidden tunnels.
Turning to the crab beetle, I looked at its spindly legs doubtfully. “Will you be able to climb the stairs?” I asked. It lacked the ability to show emotion, but I was pretty sure it tried to roll its eyes as it clicked its claws impatiently. “Okay then, let’s go kill some demons.”
I unlocked the door and began to climb. The bug did its best to be stealthy, but it wasn’t easy. Its bulk barely fit inside the stairs and it became stuck on the first turn. I turned when it made a frustrated sound and saw that it was wedged in tight. “Give me your claws,” I said and held out my hands. My dagger disappeared to leave my hands free.
Staring at me mistrustfully, it gingerly extended its claws. I grasped hold of them and gave it a hard yank. It came free with a slight screeching sound as its hard shell scraped on the walls. Proving it was my ally, it didn’t chop my hands off.
We repeated the maneuver several times until we finally reached the door at the top of the stairs. From the number of voices I could hear, the throne room was packed full. I would carve my way through however many enemies it took to reach my targets. Anticipation built along with my wrath, but I couldn’t unleash it yet. I would need it to take down the prince. He was far more powerful than his minions and wrath was the only thing that could kill him. I couldn’t squander it on the weaker demons.
Unlocking the door, I left the keys in the lock and ushered my hounds and ally through the opening. Eyes swiveling in every direction, the beetle was softly clicking its claws with the same anticipation that I felt. Closing the door, I crept along the hallway until I came to a doorway. Peeking around the corner, I saw soldiers packed shoulder to shoulder in the throne room. This palace was far smaller than the others, but the throne room was still fairly large. There were even more demons than I’d expected. Captains and lords were arrayed around the throne, guarding their leader.
Prince Valac lounged on his black throne made of stone, listening to a hooded hellscribe as she whispered in his ear. I drew back when his scarlet eyes swept across the room as though he felt danger approaching. One thing I noticed before I ducked back was that Zach and Bob were missing.
With so many underlings in my way, I wasn’t going to be able to reach the prince easily. I would have to chop my way through his minions first. Thinking hard, I gestured for the crab beetle to follow me back along the hallway. My hounds trotted silently after us. When we were a safe distance from the throne room, I divulged a plan that I’d come up with. “Give me one click if you agree with this idea,” I said when I was done.
It debated for a moment then clicked its claws o
nce. Following my directions, it turned and scuttled off down the hallway. My hounds crowded around me and the alpha whined in protest. He thought my idea was too dangerous, but I didn’t have a better one. “Don’t worry,” I said with a hint of bitterness. “Fate won’t let me die today. She needs me to live so I can finish my mission.”
Not mollified by this at all, they disappeared one by one to do my bidding until only the alpha was left. “I’m counting on you and your pack,” I said to him and stroked his head. He stared up at me then licked my hand in agreement. He disappeared and I was left alone.
Conjuring up my dagger again, I transformed it into Morax’s beloved double headed axe. “Okay, Morax,” I whispered. “I’m going to let you take over for a while.”
I opened the door in my mind a crack and his voice came through. It is about time you spoke to us, he said gruffly. I was fairly sure I heard a note of relief in his voice.
I’m about to head into Prince Valac’s throne room and it is jam packed with demons, I told him. This is your time to shine.
He sucked in a breath. Are you insane? Not even I can take on hundreds of my kin alone!
You won’t be alone. You’ll have some allies to back you up.
He grumbled, but I knew the lure of battle was too strong for him to resist. I allowed him to shunt me aside and he took control of my body.
Be careful, Sam said mournfully a moment before I erected the barrier in my mind. Then everyone but Morax was locked out of my head again.
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Chapter Twenty-Four
A spectator inside my own mind, I settled back to enjoy the show as Morax strode back down the hallway. I was over ten feet tall now and was far larger than even a Demon Lord. No longer restricted by my pitifully human body, he could finally use the strength and speed that he was accustomed to.
Reaching the doorway to the throne room, he paused for a moment to assess the threat. One of the soldiers sensed me and turned. Her eyes widened when she saw me looming over her. Morax swung his weapon and it sheared through her throat, separating her head from her shoulders. Since he was using my hands, he was as deadly to them as I was. Her body fell and he stepped over it and swung his axe again.
“Hellscourge is among us!” a servant shouted and pandemonium broke out as the throng tried to stampede away from me.
“Hold your ground!” Valac ordered. His captains and lords called on their weapons and moved in closer to protect him.
Bound by his command, the soldiers and lowly servants had no choice but to turn and face me. Morax proved once again that he was a genius with an axe. He easily deflected their blows and chopped off arms, legs and heads. Soon, limbs littered the floor like branches that had fallen from a diseased and dying tree.
Another scream rang out when my hounds materialized in the middle of the crowd. They savaged the demons then disappeared before they could be cut down. Using the nowhere lands to shift their location, they reappeared to attack in a different area.
Morax’s gravelly laugh issued from my mouth and reverberated around the throne room. Prince Valac scowled in reaction. He knew doom was coming for him, but he was too proud to flee. He sat on the edge of his throne and watched my progress as Morax chopped his way through the throng.
The next shriek that sounded was full of panic and horror. “A crab beetle is in the throne room!” It came from one of the captains guarding the prince. I was tall enough to see my new ally scuttle out of the shadows to spit acid on the nearest demons.
Valac whipped his head around in time to see the bug that he’d held in captivity chop two captains in half with its claws simultaneously. Its acid washed over them and they shimmered then disappeared. I was sure it was hungry, but revenge was its goal right now. It stared straight at the prince and clicked its claws menacingly. It was sending a clear message that he was its target.
“You cannot run, Valac!” Morax shouted when the prince stood up. “Hellscourge has you in her sights now and she will not stop until you are dead!”
The prince’s face turned ashen. “Who am I speaking to?” he asked.
“I am Lord Morax, commander of Hellscourge’s legion.”
They all knew that I was able to ingest the essence of their brethren. This was the first time they’d realized that they could act through me.
“Traitor!” Valac spat. “You have turned your back on your own kind to side with a human!”
Without pausing in slicing down his opponents, Morax sent the prince a sly grin. “Does she look like a human to you?” he replied. “She is turning into the first Demon Princess. Who do you think will rule over hell once the leaders of the nine realms are dead?”
Understanding dawned and Valac’s face became even more ashen. His scarlet eyes were trained on me and he ignored the crab beetle and my hounds as they continued to decimate his underlings. “Is that what you intend to do?” he asked. “You wish to rule over hell?”
“Of course she does,” Morax replied on my behalf. “All demons long for supremacy over others.”
I didn’t long for supremacy over anyone, but I didn’t bother to argue with him. He was having too much fun and I didn’t want to ruin his focus. His strength wouldn’t last forever and he would become tired soon enough.
The crab beetle was turning out to be even more fierce in battle than I’d expected. It was small and young, but it was far from stupid. It used its claws to protect its face and dropped to the ground whenever someone tried to hack off its legs. Its shell deflected all blows and its acid was strong enough to burn through its opponents easily.
My hounds were having a ball popping in and out of existence to savage their prey. Each time they were wounded, they returned to the nowhere lands to heal and came back whole again. It was a handy skill that I wished I shared. Morax couldn’t evade all attacks and I was bleeding from wounds on my hands and feet. He’d mainly managed to protect my face, at least. My armor was as strong as the beetle’s carapace and weapons just bounced off it.
All too soon, Morax ran out of steam. He was the strongest of the legion, but it taxed him to be in control of me for so long. Unfortunately, there were still hundreds of demons left to fight. I have done what I can, he said tiredly and relinquished control to me. He’d killed over a hundred lesser demons and he was reeling from exhaustion.
I opened the barrier in my mind a crack to let him subside and someone else eagerly pushed through the gap. Allow me to take over from Lord Morax, the only female lord inside me offered.
With a mental shrug, I let her take charge of my body. Testing out my limbs, she laughed in glee. “Now it is my turn,” she said with a growl and transformed the axe into a broadsword. She didn’t have Morax’s finesse, but she made up for it with enthusiasm. Fresh and eager to kill, she cut down four soldiers with one swing. Their heads went flying and she stepped over their bodies. “Who will face me next?” she bellowed and the minions flinched away from her crimson gaze. “I am Flauros and my blade hungers for blood!”
Quite understandably, no one wanted to take Flauros up on her offer. If it hadn’t been for their ruler’s orders, most would have fled from the palace rather than face her. She cut down dozens of lesser demons before she began to grow tired. When her strength finally waned, she released her control over me. That was quite enjoyable, she said as she mentally panted to get her non-existent breath back. You can call on me anytime you need my assistance.
Thanks, I replied and let the barrier drop. Does anyone else want to step up?
The lords surged forward, fighting to be the next in line. I had twelve more of them inside me and all were eager to do their part. The next one took control and changed my weapon into a spear. He roared a challenge and the demoralized throng quailed when they realized that another warrior had taken over.
“We are doomed,” a soldier wailed. “She will kill us all!”
“Hellscourge vowed that she would destroy every demon in this palace,” the newest lord to take over said.
“She never reneges on her promises.”
It creeped me out that he knew me well enough to make that pronouncement, but I said nothing as he went on the attack.
Shunted to the back of my head again, I only realized that I hadn’t raised the barrier when I felt an incorporeal hand holding mine. I couldn’t see Sam, but I knew he was there. Heather stepped up beside me and took my other hand. They were doing what they could to support me through the battle. They knew that I would have to face Prince Valac alone and they were afraid for me.
A squeal of rage and pain came from the crab beetle. I looked up to see one of its spindly legs had been chopped off. It was crouched down with its large claws covering its vulnerable face. It was surrounded by lords and they were determined to kill it. At my thought, my hounds went to the rescue. They tore into the lords, distracting them enough for the beetle to spit acid on their legs. The viscous fluid ate through their flesh and bone and they fell to the floor, shrieking in agony. The hounds went for their faces and throats, wounding them badly enough to send them back to the innermost realm of hell.
Using its claw as a club, the bug sent a lord flying. She crashed into one of the gigantic columns that stretched to the ceiling high above and slid to the ground in a daze. My alpha bounded over and tore her throat out before she could recover.
The lord who was in control of me grinned fiercely. “Hellscourge is coming for you, Prince Valac,” he roared.
Valac flinched and for a moment I thought he was going to make a run for it. Then he steeled himself and called on his sword. Resting the tip on the ground, he wrapped his hands around the hilt and waited for our inevitable clash.
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Chapter Twenty-Five
