by J. C. Diem
“What is that thing doing here?” Brie asked. My eyes cleared in time to see her sword appear. Nathan pushed me behind him and called on his sword as well.
“No!” I shouted and darted around him to shield our guest. The imp was on his knees with his hands covering his ears. Tears dripped from his eyes that were squeezed tightly shut. “He’s a friend,” I said, to their combined astonishment.
They looked at Leo, who nodded wearily. He was looking better now that we were away from the strange alley. The color was already returning to his face. “The imp assisted us,” he confirmed.
Sophia hurried into the room, took in the wailing imp and me standing in front of him protectively. “Cease the spell,” she said to Brie.
“Are you certain that is wise?” the teen asked.
“No, but the noise will draw unwanted notice if it continues.”
Trusting her friend, Brie did as she’d been asked. She chanted a few words and the imp slumped face down on the carpet in relief.
“Why was he screaming like that?” I asked, shaken by the noise.
“I have warded the building against demonkind and their minions,” Brie replied. Her sword was still in her hand, but Nathan had made his disappear. His arms were crossed and he was watching me in silence. “It is impossible for them to enter, but they can apparently be teleported inside,” she continued. “I imagine it must have been quite painful for him.” Her tone was imminently satisfied.
“You poor thing,” I said and knelt beside the imp. “Are you okay?”
“It is nothing, mistress,” he said hoarsely. “I have suffered far worse beneath the unkind rule of my master.”
“My name is Violet,” I told him and helped him to sit up. He stared at the gathering of angels and one clairvoyant warily. Their expressions were far from welcoming. “What can we call you?” I asked.
“I can think of a few choice names,” Brie muttered then subsided at a frown from Sophia.
“My name was Samuel when I was still human,” he said humbly.
“Wait a minute, you were a human?” I asked. He nodded, but it was hard to wrap my brain around his transformation. “Are you still human or are you a demon now?”
“He is neither,” Nathan said in something close to distaste. “He is an abomination and should therefore be destroyed.”
Tears welled in the imp’s eyes. Now that we were in the brightly lit store, I saw that they were brown. He looked like a puppy that had been abused and starved and my heart went out to him. I rounded on Nathan in Samuel’s defense. “He helped us even though it meant his master would torture him. He is not an abomination and no one is going to destroy him.”
“He is right,” Samuel said in a low, miserable tone. “I deserve to die.”
“Why?”
“Tell her how you became what you are so that she might understand why you should be despised,” Nathan commanded.
I wasn’t sure that I wanted to hear this tale, but I didn’t have a choice. I was going to hear it whether I liked it or not.
₪₪₪
Chapter Twenty
Sniffing back tears, Samuel looked up at me with a vulnerable, yet resigned expression. “I was taken from my family during a pirate raid when I was small,” he explained. He held his hand out to indicate he’d probably been about four or five at the time. “Instead of killing me, they took me on board their ship. I was used for the pleasure of the Captain, but I was lucky that he kept me for himself rather than passing me around to the entire crew.”
My stomach twisted at the abuse he’d suffered, but I nodded for him to go on. “It was a cruel, harsh life, but he lost interest in me when I reached my teens. I became a member of the crew and had no choice but to join in on the horrors that they inflicted on the inhabitants of the towns and ships that we plundered. If I showed weakness even once, my throat would have been slit and my corpse would have been cast into the ocean.”
“It is a pity that did not happen,” Brie said not quite beneath her breath.
I glowered at her for interrupting and motioned for Samuel to continue. “I was seventeen when we came across the ship that would mean my doom.”
He went silent then took a watery breath. “The ship belonged to a wealthy man who was transporting his family from England to America. His wife and eldest daughter were very beautiful. His youngest daughter was only eleven, but she was also quite lovely. As the youngest sailor, I had never known a woman. The crew always taunted me and made me watch then denied me the pleasure that they all received.” He couldn’t bring himself to look at me and laced his hands tightly together to stop them from shaking.
I had a feeling I knew where this was heading and felt ill. He’d performed deeds that had turned his skin as black as his soul. “You don’t have to explain any further,” I said.
He glanced up at me and then away. “You need to hear it so that you can pass judgment on me.” Leo nodded silently in agreement and his expression was bleak. Swallowing down my sick feeling, I let him continue. “After watching the crew have their fun with the mother and eldest daughter, I was sickened, but perversely excited. The Captain was an evil, twisted man who delighted in the pain and torment of others. He had the young girl stripped of her clothing and brought before me. I was also stripped naked. When the poor child saw my arousal, she went mad with terror. Her screams still haunt me to this day.”
“I don’t want to hear any more,” I said, unable to hide my distress. My imagination was vivid enough that he didn’t need to describe what he’d done to the little girl.
He went on as if he hadn’t heard me. “At first, I was so driven by lust and need that I thought I could go through with it, that I could actually violate someone so innocent and pure.” His face was filled with self-loathing, but hope leaped into my heart. “Then I came to my senses and realized what I was about to do. Even though it would mean my death, I did not assault her young body. Instead, I wrapped my hands around her fragile throat and throttled her to death.” He looked up and met my eyes, silently pleading with me to understand. “Surely it was a better fate for her to suffer than what they had planned for her?”
“I guess,” I said uneasily. I knew I’d rather die by strangulation than to be raped to death.
His shoulders slumped in relief that I’d agreed with him. “The Captain was furious that I had defied him. He was so enraged that he laid waste to the entire crew until there was just him and me left. He took me by the arm and told me that he was going to make sure that I suffered for my impertinence for eternity. Then the world that I knew disappeared and we were standing before a portal to the shadowlands.
“Once we were halfway along the narrow pathway, black fog was expelled from the Captain. When it solidified, he was in his demon form. Murdering the man that he had possessed with a sword that he conjured from nowhere, he took me through a gate into hell. When the gate closed behind us, he told me that I would be his servant until the end of time.”
He took a shuddering breath before he continued his tale. “He tortured my body until it was broken and my voice was gone from screaming, yet I did not die. Taking me to hell while I was still alive changed me forever. Over time, my body withered and became entwined with my soul until the two were tightly bound rather than separate. I cannot age, eat or sleep. We imps are few, but we are the lowest of the low. Each of us are evil and deserve our fate. I do not know if bringing me back to Earth will make me mortal again. But it would be a blessing if I could die.”
For a moment, I was speechless. I was so overwhelmed with sorrow for him that I couldn’t articulate my thoughts.
“You see?” Brie said. “He is not worthy of your pity. If he truly cannot be killed, then we should return him to where you found him and allow his master to drag him back to where he belongs.”
“I thought angels were supposed to be compassionate,” I said, shocked by her callousness.
Her expression was incredulous. “Surely you do not feel for this crea
ture?”
“Did you actually listen to him or are you so full of self-righteousness that you’re incapable of hearing his words?”
Taken aback, she stared down her nose at me. “Of course I listened to him.”
“None of what happened to Samuel was his fault.”
She made a sound of disagreement. “He admitted that he performed atrocities on many people.”
“He was stolen from his family when he was just a little boy,” I reminded her. “He was abused by the Captain for years. You don’t have human emotions, so maybe you’re not capable of understanding what that could do to a person.” My voice dripped with scorn and she looked away. “He had no choice but to go along with them when he was old enough to join their crew or he’d have suffered even more torment before they killed him. I don’t care how long he was trapped in hell. At heart, he’s just a seventeen year old kid, the same age as me.”
“I thought you were only sixteen,” Leo said.
“It was my birthday yesterday.” As I’d expected, what should have been a reason for rejoicing went straight over their heads. “Even after going through horrible torment, he was still willing to help me. That tells me he’s capable of redemption.”
Samuel looked at me as if I was his savior. “You truly believe that I can make amends for all the wrong that I have done?”
“Do you want to make amends?” I asked.
He nodded vigorously. “I will do anything that you ask of me. You simply need to command me and it shall be done.”
I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of having an imp for a servant, but at least I had another ally now. “Good. By the way, I hope you don’t mind if I call you Sam. Samuel is kind of old fashioned these days.”
He nodded eagerly and stared at me worshipfully while the others exchanged silent looks. Clearly, the thought of bringing an imp into our inner circle didn’t sit well with them. I just hoped I wasn’t making a terrible mistake by taking pity on him.
₪₪₪
Chapter Twenty-One
“Does anyone have any clothes that might fit Sam?” I asked. When no one answered me, I huffed out a sigh. “I guess I’ll go shopping again and see if I can find him something.” I didn’t have any money left, but Sophia would probably give me some cash.
“You will not,” Nathan said. His cobalt blue eyes were cold as he looked down at the imp. “It is too dangerous for you to wander off again. You have already fallen into one demon trap. It was lucky you managed to escape.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” I countered. “Sam saved us and I’m not going to repay him by letting him wear a filthy loincloth.” We glared at each other in a standoff. Neither of us were willing to back down.
“I will go shopping for suitable clothing,” Sophia said, breaking the tension. “We need more food anyway.” Now that I’d joined them, she needed more than just milk, tea and a few staples. I needed food on a regular basis even if no one else did.
“I will accompany you,” Brie decided. “I could use the fresh air.” She sniffed pointedly, as if our newest acquaintance was stinking up the store. Apart from a faint trace of sulfur, he didn’t give off any bad smells.
“See if you can buy a new attitude while you’re out,” I said to her back as she followed Sophia to the door. “I think they’re having a sale at Macy’s.” Brie cut me a narrow glare then switched it to Leo when he couldn’t quite smother his snigger.
Feeling uncomfortable beneath Nathan’s disapproving scowl, I headed for the kitchen. Sophia had an old kettle that she boiled on the stovetop. Filling it with water, I switched the burner on and placed the kettle over the flame. Turning around, I jumped back when I came face to face with Sam. “A little space?” I said, trying to control my thundering heart.
“Sorry,” he said contritely and took a couple of steps back. Nathan was watching us through the doorway. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, trying to appear casual and failing miserably. His sword wasn’t in evidence, but he could call on it with a thought.
With my new sidekick hovering behind me, I waited for the kettle to boil. Sam darted looks around the room, taking everything in. It was all new and strange to him. He started and clutched hold of my arm when the kettle started to whistle. I poured water into the teapot then put it on a tray along with a cup for myself. Sam picked up the tray before I could reach for it. It was unnerving to have him waiting on me like this, but I figured he needed time to settle his nerves.
We trooped back into the front room and sat at the table. Nathan opted to remain standing, but Leo plopped down in his usual seat. Sam placed the tray in front of me then moved to stand behind me. I twisted around to see him wringing his hands together in worry. Having my guardian angel watching him with an unblinking stare wasn’t helping. “Why don’t you take a seat?” I said.
Reluctant to move, he slunk out from behind me and I realized he’d been using me as a shield. He might have been imprisoned in hell for several centuries, but deep down he was still just a timid teenager. He slid into the seat on my right and inched it closer until our elbows were almost brushing. I hadn’t yet decided if it was endearing or annoying how attached he’d become to me already.
“Since no one else is going to do the introductions,” I said, “this is Leo and the brooding, silent one is Nathan.” Leo smiled and Nathan just rolled his eyes. “The girl that looks exactly like Leo is Brie and the woman with the long hair is Sophia.” He nodded in acknowledgement and appeared to be committing their names to his memory.
“I have a question,” Leo said to Sam. The imp gulped and clutched the edge of the table in trepidation. “What were you doing in that alleyway?”
Sam relaxed slightly when he realized he wasn’t going to be verbally attacked. “I was trying to find the courage to leave the shadowlands.”
“It is supposed to be very difficult to escape from hell,” Nathan said. “How did a pitiful creature such as you make it through a hellgate?”
“I hid beneath my master’s carriage when he was sent to this city about a week ago. He was so eager to return to this realm that he did not realize that I had stowed away. If his carriage had been drawn by nightmares rather than nags, I would have been discovered for certain. The beasts have uncanny senses.” I had no idea what he was talking about, but I didn’t want to interrupt him by asking questions.
“Once the carriage reached the shadowlands, I dropped to the ground,” he continued. “I waited for the coach to become distant then followed it to the portal. Hundreds of years have passed since I was taken from my family. I did not know what I would find on the other side. I could see freedom at the far end of the alley, yet I was too afraid to leave.”
“Why was your master sent here and who gave the order?” Leo asked.
“I do not know why he was sent here, but a Demon Lord gave him the order. The Lord has taken charge of the town on the other side of the hellgate. Tens of thousands of demons have gathered there, with more arriving daily. There are apparently other portals scattered throughout the city, but I overheard the Lord say that only one is not blocked by the wards. They use this pathway to come and go from hell.”
That meant the demons weren’t permanently trapped here like we were. They could still return to hell whenever they needed to. Once they were back in hell, they could probably use alternative portals to enter other cities. Only angels, and apparently me, were really imprisoned here.
I felt chilled at the thought of tens of thousands of demons massing near the portal where we’d found him. “What’s stopping the hordes from coming through the gate?” I asked.
“They have not yet conquered it,” he replied. “Only strong demons can defeat a hellgate. If it was easy, the Earth would have been overwhelmed by evil long ago.”
“Why are there so many lesser demons in the city if conquering a gate is so hard?”
“Demon Lords and the stronger Captains can carry a small entourage of five lesser demons through the g
ates in their carriages.”
“That might all change soon,” I said glumly. “I hear their new leader is trying to break down the gates to let all of the hell spawn free.”
“They have a new leader?” Nathan asked sharply. “Is Satan not still in charge?”
“Apparently not. He disappeared a couple of decades ago and someone else has taken over.”
“How can you possibly know this?” Leo asked.
“I saw it in the memories of the demons that I’ve absorbed,” I replied with a grimace then turned to Sam. “By the way, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about your master ever again. I’m pretty sure he’s one of the specters who is floating around inside me.”
Samuel looked at me with such hope that I thought he was going to burst into tears. “Are you certain?” He’d seen me absorb the two lesser demons, so this wasn’t a complete shock to him.
“I saw his memories when his essence invaded me. I caught fleeting glimpses of him as a Captain of a ship. I saw the tantrum he threw when you’d defied him and he wiped out the entire crew.”
“Then I am truly free,” Sam whispered in a trembling voice. “He will never be able to torment me again.”
“If we are discovered, another demon will no doubt take his place as your master,” Nathan reminded him. “It seems it would be in your best interests to remain in our good graces.”
I frowned at him in disapproval. “There’s no need for threats. Sam knows he’s better off with us than being back in hell.” My new sidekick shuddered hard enough to make the table rock at that possibility. I snatched up my teacup before the liquid could slosh over the brim.
“My mistress is correct,” he said fervently. “I have thrown my lot in with her and I am now hers to command.”
“I’m not your mistress,” I said with a sigh. “I’d rather you think of me as your friend.” We didn’t really know each other well enough to be classified as friends, but I didn’t want him to be so subservient.
