Tirade

by Cambria Hebert

  It seemed I waited forever. All I wanted was another sound, another brush of his voice in my mind. And then it came.

  Listen to me. Get out of the dungeon. Move quietly. Get outside. I’m in the castle. I’m going to meet you outside.

  “He’s upstairs. I think Beelzebub must be with him. He said we needed to get outside as quietly as we could. He said he would meet us out there…” I told everyone.

  We all moved quickly to the stairs. I tried to go first, I tried to push past Cole and Riley, but they blocked me behind them. At least Gemma had the grace to walk alongside of me as we went up the stairs.

  About halfway up the steep, dark stairway there was a loud shattering sound.

  Then all hell broke loose.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Heven

  We burst through the door in time to see a large black hellhound careen through the room ahead, destroying everything in its path as it bounded toward the door, which was standing wide open from when I burst in only minutes before.

  Beelzebub was screaming and hot on his heels. I watched in horror as he uncoiled a whip from his back and was about to lash out at Sam.

  “No!” I screamed and lunged forward as Sam made it through the door to the safety of the outside.

  Beelzebub stopped when I screamed and was now focused on me. “I’ve been expecting you.”

  Riley moved to put himself in front of me. As he went, he whispered, “Take advantage of this and get the hell out of this house.”

  I didn’t understand what he meant until Beelzebub looked away from me toward Riley.

  “You!” he screamed. “You dare betray me after everything I have done for you!”

  “I just couldn’t get enough of your pretty face,” Riley said in a biting tone.

  They knew each other?

  Sam lunged back inside the door, his wild eyes locking with mine. I raced forward, Gemma and Cole close behind as Sam stood, lifting his considerable frame (had he gotten bigger?) onto his back legs and used his body as a shield as the three of us ran past.

  We all made it outside and were running across the drawbridge when I heard a loud crash and I looked over my shoulder to see Riley, now in hellhound form, bound out the door.

  Beelzebub was seconds behind, screaming as usual. “Stop them!”

  Hecate appeared before us and lifted her hands and we all skidded to a halt.

  Cole came up behind me, brushing his hand against mine. “In case we get separated,” he said low as he deposited a Lucent Marble into my palm. I closed my fingers around it, not acknowledging what he had done.

  Gemma gave a sudden cry and sent a dagger spiraling at an impossible speed at Beelzebub, who caught it. “I should have known you’d somehow be involved. I see you still haven’t accepted the fact that you are fallen.”

  She didn’t bother getting into a verbal debate with him, which I found impressive. Personally, I would have tried to get in the last word. Instead, she pulled out yet another dagger and fell into a fighting stance.

  “Is that why you wanted the curse broken after all these years? Are you picking up where your grandfather left off?” he said to Riley.

  Cole wasn’t as good at ignoring Beelzebub’s taunts. He gave a shout and threw his own dagger at Beelzebub, which he dodged with ease.

  “Ahhh, so it’s that way, is it?” Beelzebub said with amusement, then sent the dagger in his hand hurling through the air toward Cole. He wasn’t fast enough and it lodged itself in his belly.

  He made a weird gurgling sound and went to pull it out.

  “No!” Gemma and I cried at the same time. Pulling it out would only make him bleed faster.

  Cole looked from the wound up to me and then Gemma. “Well, shit.”

  “Cole,” I whispered, staring at my brother, the only family I had left besides Gran. I looked at Gemma. “You’ve got to get him out of here, now.”

  Gemma nodded. I threw down the Lucent Marble that I was holding and a swirling portal to home appeared. “Go!” I yelled.

  “Come with us,” Cole urged.

  I looked over my shoulder at Sam and Riley who were circling Beelzebub like they had found a tasty snack.

  “I’ll be right behind you,” I yelled and Cole handed me the last two Lucent Marbles he had before Gemma pulled him through the portal and disappeared.

  Sam and Riley had backed Beelzebub up to the moat and were about to pounce when two demons, coated in black sludge, rose behind him and reached out, yanking Sam and Riley down into the nasty water.

  They struggled to break free as Beelzebub grabbed my arm and yanked me off my feet. “Give me the name!” he demanded as I struggled to stand.

  “What name?”

  “Don’t play with me. I know you saw it!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

  Hecate appeared at my other side and stared at me with empty eyes.

  “The name of the Soul Reaper. Tell me!” Beelzebub demanded again.

  The Soul Reaper? I must have not answered fast enough because Beelzebub stamped down hard on my ankle and foot and I screamed as the bones gave way.

  “This is only the beginning if you don’t tell me what I want to know.”

  “But I don’t know,” I cried, as my ankle burned.

  I heard Sam snarling and knew he would be here in seconds. Beelzebub seemed to realize he wouldn’t be able to torture me much longer because he pushed me toward Hecate. I stumbled, as my ankle wouldn’t support my weight, and I fell to my knees. Both Lucent Marbles fell from my hand and rolled away.

  “I want her to know what it’s like to feel true evil inside her. I want her to come begging me to make the pain go away. I want the only peace she will know to be here, in the place she hates most. In hell.” Beelzebub ordered. And then he turned his evil face toward me. “Let’s see if this loosens your tongue.”

  The witch started chanting. I didn’t understand a word she said, but I knew whatever she was doing would not be good. I tried to get up, to get away, but her words held me frozen, helpless to what she was doing. Sam and Riley also seemed to be held back by whatever spell Hecate was casting. My skin crawled when she muttered the word beast and cage and I flinched when a strong wind picked up and a dark cloud seemed to wrap around my body, then dissolve. I felt as if my skin was being ripped open. It hurt so much that I couldn’t even cry out.

  And then it stopped.

  Beelzebub looked down at me with satisfaction as Sam attacked him from behind. Beelzebub gave a startled yelp and looked to Hecate, who smiled a brittle smile, then disappeared—leaving him to be attacked. Yes, Beelzebub was powerful, but he was no match for the angry teeth and claws that ambushed him. It seemed Sam had finally gotten the upper hand.

  He probably would’ve been able to fight off Sam if he had seen him coming, and if Sam’s teeth weren’t already buried in his neck. But they were. He made one feeble attempt to fight and then he didn’t move at all. I turned away from the carnage. Not because I was sorry Beelzebub’s latest body was ruined, but because it was gross.

  I struggled to stand. Riley noticed and came to my side so I could use his body to lean on. But Sam beat him to me, sliding his bulky, furry frame beneath me.

  The wind picked up and The Devourer swooped out of the sky. He landed right next to Beelzebub’s remains, sniffed, then drew back as a white cloud seemed to lift out of the body and float up into the sky. It didn’t really have a shape, but I knew it was Beelzebub’s immortal soul and it would be searching for a new “host” body.

  I wasn’t sure what power he held without a body, and I watched warily for what he might do. But he did nothing, just floated into the air and disappeared. I let out the breath I was holding and then turned back to Sam, opening the backpack still strapped to my back, pulling out some clothes and dropping them on the ground.

  Both Sam and Riley morphed and pulled them on. Then, finally, blissfully, Sam was there reaching for me. He wrapped his arms around me and
I buried my face in his neck.

  I was finally home.

  “What did he do to you?” Sam murmured, running his hands down my back.

  “I’m fine,” I said, tightening my arms around his neck. “You’re free.”

  Sam pressed a kiss to my forehead and I wanted to weep at the familiar feel.

  Behind us, Riley cleared his throat.

  Sam released me and turned toward Riley, narrowing his eyes. I moved to step forward, but stumbled and grabbed Sam’s hand. “My ankle is broken,” I told him.

  He growled and swept me up into his arms. “The marbles!” I gasped. I had no idea what happened to them during the commotion.

  “I’ll get another one,” Riley offered.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Sam asked.

  A large growl came behind us and Sam turned. The Devourer was still sitting there, staring at us.

  “What the hell is that thing?” Riley asked.

  “That’s The Devourer,” I said, reaching for the bag Sam held. I reached inside and pulled out a Snickers bar. The dragon took a step closer and Sam stepped back. “He wants a snack.” He was probably hanging around because he didn’t get to suck up a soul like he usually did, or maybe he figured death followed us everywhere, so there was bound to be another body turn up.

  “Let me down,” I asked Sam. He did what I asked and I quickly unwrapped a Snickers bar and tossed it to the waiting dragon. Then I tossed him two more.

  Even after the dragon ate his snack, he still stood there as if waiting for something. I thought after his chocolate fix (a dragon with a chocolate addiction is so unreal it can only happen in my life), he would fly away.

  “We need to go,” Sam said, and I nodded.

  We turned and the dragon made a horrible sound. I peeked back over Sam’s shoulder and it was coming at us, doing its best to move its massive body in a nonthreatening way.

  “No more,” I told it. “Chocolate should be eaten in moderation, even for big guys like you.” It stared at me for long moments, then dropped down and offered me its back. I glanced at Sam. He was frowning at the dragon.

  “No,” Sam said flat.

  My reaction went along the line of Sam’s, but then I told myself to think past my overwhelming need to just go home and be with Sam. I thought past the throbbing in my ankle and the questions that simmered at the surface of my mind. There was a reason The Devourer was still here. There was a reason he was offering his back. Ignoring that reason, though I wanted to, probably wasn’t a very good idea. Besides, how often did a girl get to ride a dragon?

  “I think we should go with it,” I said.

  Sam frowned, but Riley was all for it. “Cool. Let’s go.”

  He stepped toward the dragon. It made a hissing sound and raised some of the sharp spiky things on its back. Riley took a step back and I thought maybe I was wrong in thinking The Devourer wanted to take us somewhere.

  In experiment, I took a hobbled step toward him, cautiously. The dragon lowered himself to the ground. I turned toward Sam, who stepped up next to me, and held out my hand. The Devourer didn’t seem to mind.

  Sam turned to Riley. “He doesn’t like you.” That fact seemed to please Sam.

  “Clearly.”

  I thought it was odd and it reminded me of something Beelzebub said earlier. “Beelzebub acted like he knew you. He said you betrayed him after everything he had done for you.”

  Riley shifted uncomfortably. “How am I supposed to know what he was talking about? That guy makes no sense at all.”

  “He did seem to recognize you,” Sam said thoughtfully.

  “He also was screaming at Heven for some name. Did you know what he was talking about?”

  “Well, no,” I admitted. “You can’t trust anything he says.”

  “Exactly. And since Dragon Breath here doesn’t want me around, I will leave you two for your joy ride.”

  “Riley,” Sam said in a serious tone, “don’t disappear. Clearly, we have things to discuss.”

  Riley saluted, then headed toward the black sludge to get a Lucent Marble. I looked at Sam. “I know I have a lot of explaining to do too.”

  Sam’s eyes softened and he held out his hand. “Later. How’s your soul?”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Then let’s go for a dragon ride.” He stepped toward the dragon, who watched him warily, but didn’t make a sound when Sam found a place on its back that was not lined with sharp quills. He sat me between his thighs and wrapped his arms around my waist. My ankle was throbbing and my head was pounding, but I was determined to see where the dragon would take us.

  “Maybe we should make sure Riley gets a marble,” I said, glancing at the black sludge Riley dove into moments before.

  “Riley can take care of himself,” Sam said.

  Before I could protest, the dragon spread its great wings and took off.

  *

  I wish I could say flying on the back of the soul-eating dragon known as The Devourer was thrilling and exciting, but I couldn’t. It was terrifying and extremely uncomfortable. The speed at which he flew jostled us around and sent pain shooting up my leg. Although, I was relieved that those insanely sharp quills and spikes on his back didn’t feel sharp at all against my skin (for reasons I couldn’t explain. I mean, those things looked brutal). I felt dizzy and weak and the insane chanting that Hecate had done while standing over me kept replaying through my mind. I didn’t understand much of it, but a few words stuck out and they made fear churn in my belly. The Devourer swooped down abruptly and I jerked, trying to stay on, trying not to make Sam support all of my weight.

  “I’ve got you,” Sam murmured into my ear. That deep raspy voice brushed over my skin and I almost groaned. It was so, so good to be with him again. Desperate to look at him, I turned and another wave of dizziness came over me, making my stomach turn. Sam frowned. “We need to get you home.” He reached up and brushed away the hair that was sticking to my damp forehead.

  I closed my eyes, thrilled at his touch, and let myself sink a little bit deeper into him.

  “You’re positive this dragon doesn’t plan to make a Heven and Sam shish kebab?” Sam said into my ear.

  I opened my eyes and looked up.

  It absolutely couldn’t be missed.

  It was a huge wall of fire. It burned with awe-inspiring intensity, rolling in colors of red and gold mixed with orange. I looked down, pushing away my fear and dizziness to note that it stretched as far as I could see. There was no getting by it. If we went through it, we would indeed be a Heven and Sam shish kebab.

  Well, really, it would only be a Heven shish kebab.

  Hellhounds were fireproof and I had a feeling The Devourer was too.

  “It’s the gate of hell,” Sam murmured.

  “This is the entrance to hell?” I asked, yelling a little over the roar of flames.

  Sam gathered me closer and I felt his words echo through his chest and tickle my back. “Yes. I know it instinctively. Originally, hellhounds were charged with guarding this gate and helping souls cross over.”

  “Why are we here?” I asked, fear sliding into my belly. I was so tired of being afraid.

  “How good of a friend did you say this dragon was?”

  “I didn’t.” I pointed out, wondering if maybe I had been wrong about the connection I seemed to have with The Devourer.

  Just as I thought the words, The Devourer made a shrieking sound and turned to fly directly at the wall of flames.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Heven

  Sam’s body was tense and his breathing was labored. He gathered me as close as possible and wrapped every part of his body around me while still keeping balance on the dragon’s back. My ankle screamed in pain and my muscles ached at being held this tightly, but I kept my mouth shut. This pain was way better than being burned to death.

  We neared the wall of fire, so close the intense heat stole my breath. Brilliant flames reached out to me until red wa
s all I saw. Then the dragon turned. Actually, it felt like he fell from the sky. My stomach threatened to empty itself, but I swallowed it back and reached out to steady myself. Just when I was sure we were going to die, the dragon threw its wings out and took a wide arc away from the flames, dropping down in the gray sky. I opened my eyes and looked back.

  “That was close,” Sam said, gentling his hold on me.

  I looked down and gasped. We were flying over what looked like an ocean. An ocean filled with black sludge. But that wasn’t the surprise. It was what was sitting in the center or the ocean.