Finding Retribution

by Jana LaPelle

  “I can only manage one if Lillie has been compromised. Poppy is small enough to tuck under my wings or hitchhike easily, but I won’t be able to take Cara with me. There has to be another way, maybe I can call Onyx? He can take all of us over the mountains.”

  “Listen to me, Daxell. I’ll take Cara with me and we will keep her safe. We are not going back to the Citadel of Depravity, Levi has taken your mother back to our Houses, the Houses of Lust and Envy. The citadel is Mammon’s domain, it is where he has established his house, the House of Greed and Depravity. You must avoid that place at all costs. This way, we are in control of who comes and goes from our residence. All those that dwell in our House are loyal to us. Son, The Underworld is dividing and those of us that reside as princes will have to choose a side. Either we side with Luc or we side with Mammon. Levi and I choose to side with Lucifer, the almighty Prince of Darkness. Wrath and Pride. Once you find Lillie, you will need to shadow-walk back to us. It is the one gift that I’ve bestowed on you that you rarely use. It is a unique gift and not many can do what you do, but you will have to let your demon come forward. It’s the only way to stay under the radar of those that seek to find favor with Mammon.”

  I know he’s right. Holding Cara, I caress each side of her face and say, “This is my father, Asmodeus, but he likes to go by Dez. He’s a good male and he’s going to take care of you until I can bring Lillie back to you.” She whines, low and soft, all the while making these unusual trilling sounds. Shaking her head as if saying no, but then she lays her head on my shoulder and nuzzles my neck before pulling away. Her signal that she’s okay with going with my father. Looking him in the eye, I say, “No harm comes to her. You protect her with your life. Got it? LJ will kill me if something were to harm a single hair on her fox.”

  “She will be treated like a princess. Now go. Find her and bring her back to our House. Shadow-walking all the way to her and back to our place. You got it?”

  Nodding, I watch him leave with Cara and turn to Poppy. She grins, “Well, you’re just full of surprises aren’t you, you shadow-walking stud muffin? What is this shadow-walking and why haven’t you mentioned it before.”

  “Because I can only shadow-walk in demon form,” I growl. “Stand back while I shift, and be ready to go. My demon is chomping at the bit to be on his way. As soon as my shift is complete you will need to hold on tight because he is going to launch into the sky and ride every available shadow he can find. My vision should be clearer in a convoluted way. You will understand once I pull you into the darkness with me. Whatever you do, do not let go. You could be lost in the shadows. Once lost, you will begin to lose your sense of self. The shadows can be worse than even hell.”

  “Well, that’s just peachy. Let’s do this, demon boy, but if you lose me in the shadows, Lillie will never forgive you. Do you hear that, demon? Do not lose me in the darkness! Now let’s do this.”

  I can’t help the smirk that creeps up the corner of my mouth at her fierce determination and then I let my demon out. Our shift takes less than a few seconds and then my demon throws his head back and roars. The only restraint he shows is that he waits for Poppy to land on our shoulder and make her way under our right-wing. She latches on tight and we launch into the air on a powerful downward thrust of our wings, catching the shadow of Luc’s fortress as we lift quickly into the crimson sky. My demon roars again as we gain altitude and slip into the darkness. There are always shadows to be found in The Underworld. Stretching my wings in flight, we fly higher and higher, hidden from everyone.

  “This is so weird. Please don’t lose me in here.” Poppy sounds a wee bit frightened as I continue to glide through the penumbra.

  “Hold on tightly, little one,” my demon growls and we soar higher, hidden within the shadows of this world, all the while our eyes adjust to the unique vision that allows us to see not only the shadow world but The Underworld as well. As we crest The Great Divide, we speak to the now timid sprite, “The dead that find their way here to The Underworld will wander the Fields of Punishment, eventually making their way to the Land of the Restless Dead.” Our voice is rough and deep, all the while we scan the Fields of Punishment for my LJ. Our mate. We glide along the currents before stretching our wings once more to gain altitude, before continuing, “The restless dead at some point lose all sense of who they were before they died. They eventually become wraiths that become lost in the shadows and that is why you must not be lost to the shadows little one. They will seek you out and drain all knowledge of who you were before and then you will join them for all eternity.”

  “Well, that’s just creeptastic. Seriously, dude, I really don’t need to hear anymore. I’m good. I’m good.” Poppy squeaks.

  A deep chuckle rumbles through our chest, and I’m beginning to realize that my demon is not so bad. He has a sense of humor that I never knew. Internally, I relax and hand over the reins to my demon, which I’ve never done before. It’s then that I realize that he could have taken control of me at any time but he’s been waiting for this, for me to accept him. At that moment, we both home in on what I believe to be LJ but we are confused by her light. It’s tarnished and not as bright as before.

  My demon growls, “Hold on little sprite, we are about to leave the shadow world. I think we have found my Lillie Joanna, but she is … different.”

  “Different how?” Poppy askes as we gently land by what looks like a sand statue. All but her head and upper torso are covered in sand that seems to have a life of its own as rivulets of granules are coursing all about her, and it appears as if she is being pulled down into the sandy earth. She breathes out, “Sassafras and scarab beetles, what is happening to Lillie?”

  “She’s being assimilated into the Fields of Punishment,” I say as my demon allows me to shift back to my natural form.

  “Assimilated? That can’t be good. We need to get her out of here.” Poppy demands, her tiny wings fluttering manically.

  LJ murmurs, “It’s not real. None of this is real.” She doesn’t even see us. It’s then that I see that she is covered in their evil pixie dust. It glitters in the low light like a fine dusting of coal.

  My demon growls, “We need to wake her first. She can not be moved until the spell is broken.” I look for the demon spawn responsible for the torment that LJ is enduring. When I spot the offensive creature watching from around a dead tree, I demand, “Release her, spright. She does not belong here!”

  Laughter bounces around us as more than just the one evil sprights answer in unison, “You think that this can be undone, duke?”

  “Yes,” I bellow. “I demand that you undo your wicked spell now!”

  “We do not answer to you. Although you are powerful, we answer to Lucifer and the Fields. If you want to take her from this place you must break the spell that binds her. But be quick!” They quip, “Soon there will be no going back. She will be tied to this unholy place forever.” The dark sprights snicker, their twittering laughter setting me on edge as I watch more of LJ disappear under the sand and earth that continues to creep higher, claiming her body and soul.

  Not knowing what else to do, I walk over to where LJ is held immobile. I lean in and gently take her head in my hands and tilt her head up to look into her distant, unfocused eyes. She shakes her head and murmurs, “Is it you, Daxell? Why are you here now? Oh …” She sounds defeated when she spots Poppy, “You brought Poppy. The two of you are here to torment me some more? Please … I can’t take anymore.” She looks down and she sinks further into the ground.

  “No. No, honey cheeks. Look at me. You were right. We are meant for each other.” I lift her head and touch my lips to hers and gently kiss her enticingly full lips. Closing my eyes, I wait for her to pull me closer and nothing happens. Pulling back, I all but shout, “Wake up LJ. I’m here. I’m going to get you out of here.”

  Her eyes flutter closed and she murmurs, “That was nice, but none of this is real. I’m in hell and nothing here is real. Nothing.” Then she
whispers as the sand encases her neck, “I just want to go home.” Her voice trembles as a single tear leaks from her left eye and trails down her dirt-covered cheek. I lose it, and roar into the crimson sky as my demon takes control.

  Poppy is by my side and fluttering around both of us. Not sure what to do. What to do? Nothing has worked up to this point and then I look at Poppy. Pixie dust? Could it be that simple? Could her light dust counteract the dark sprights dust and break the spell?

  I growl, “Poppy, you’re the answer. Your pixie dust is the exact opposite of theirs. Can you dust her? With only light and happy thoughts? Help her remember? It may be the only thing that will break their wicked spell.”

  Poppy nods vigorously, “Yes. I’m on it, demon boy.”

  I step back from LJ and watch as Poppy goes to work. Her first pass is a gentle dusting and I hear the dark sprights react in anger, their screeching is music to my ears. They don’t like what Poppy is doing and that clues me into the fact that we are finally on the right track. “Again,” I demand, and Poppy dusts her again.

  Slowly, LJ seems to come around. She looks at me and her broken state is evident, I march toward the little demons responsible for her current state. “I will smash you all into a bloody pulp for the harm that you caused my mate.” Smoke curls from my nostrils and floats above my head.

  “Dax?”

  I whip my head around and see that LJ has been released from her prison, “Mate.” I breathe out. “Mine.” My arm whips out to haul her to me. I inspect her, my eyes traveling over her, “I should have gotten here sooner. I did not protect my mate.” My demon asks for forgiveness and lowers his forehead to LJ’s. She pulls away and cowers from our touch.

  She whispers, “This isn’t real. None of this is real.”

  Poppy looks at me and says, “I think she’s going to need some time.” Her face is full of sorrow and she moves to comfort her friend the best that she can.

  I turn to the wicked sprights that are pissed by our interference in the Fields of Punishment. “You have done enough! Stand down, you vile bloody creatures. She is no longer any of your concern!” I bark at the mischievous creatures and they slink back into the shadows. Turning back to LJ and Poppy, I say, “We need to go.”

  LJ shrinks from me, “I’m not … I can’t … I don’t know what is real and what is an illusion. I’m …”

  “You’re confused and that’s okay, but Daxell and I are here to get you out of this horrible place. Come on Lillie JoBug, we need to get you out of here and safe from those heinous evil sprights. I do not claim them in my family tree, by the way. They are a blight on this evil place.”

  LJ looks back toward me, “You’re really here?”

  “Yes, mate. You will need to trust me and I will get us out of here, but to do so I will need to hold you close as I slip into the penumbra to shadow-walk us to someplace safe. Can you do that?” My demon has softened his voice the best he can as he holds his hand out to Lillie. She looks around and sees that the little demon horde is creeping back toward her.

  She jumps into my arms and closes her eyes. She mutters, “What do I have to lose at this point? Whether it's real or not?”

  “I’m going to leap into the sky and fly, so hold on to me around my neck. I won’t let you fall. Poppy, come.” Poppy finds a place around Lillie's neck, nestled between us. I deem that she is safe and glare at the wicked sprights one last time before launching into the air and putting the Fields of Punishment behind us as I slip into the shadows and ride the currents back to my childhood home, the House of Lust and Envy.

  28

  Am I Dreaming

  (Lillie Joanna)

  Iwake with Cara by my side and Poppy watching me from her perch on Cara with a look of worry on her face. I feel as though I’ve been asleep for far too long. My nightmares plague me and I can’t seem to shake them. A feeling of worthlessness engulfs me. Closing my eyes again, I snuggle Cara closer to me and just let her nearness comfort me. How long has it been since I saw her last? It feels as though we’ve been separated for weeks. My stomach grumbles, forcing me to wake fully. Poppy is still watching me, but she has taken to the air above me, her wings fluttering softly.

  Scrunching my nose, I sit up, “What? You’re creeping me out, Poppy,” I whine, my voice sounds disused and rough.

  Poppy launches higher above me, her tiny dragonfly-like wings fluttering furiously as she whizzes overhead. “Are you awake? Finally?”

  “What do you mean finally?” Cara nuzzles under my arm grabbing my attention as she tries to fit on to my lap.

  “It’s been days since we rescued you from the clutches of the Fields of Punishment and those wicked little beasts. You would wake for just a minute, look at us, and then close your eyes again. So? Are you really awake this time?” She demands.

  It’s then that I begin to look around me. The chambers are large and airy, although the skies outside are an eerie scarlet color. So unusual for Faerie or The Mortal Realm. The room itself is lavish in its décor. The large bed that I find myself tucked into is covered in a deep blue raw silk plush coverlet, with golden accent colors. The furniture in the room is a combination of navy, browns, gold, and turquoise. All the furniture in the room is made from what looks like a black wood that gleams under the high polish. I don’t know this place. One wall is open to a balcony that showcases the foreign-looking sky. Am I awake? I look up at Poppy in confusion, “I think so. Where are we?”

  “Lillie, we’re in The Underworld. We’ve been waiting for you to wake for days. You will have to trace us out of here as soon as possible. What do you remember?” She lands on my lap and plops down next to Cara waiting patiently for me to answer.

  “I don’t know. Not really, all I know is that I’m starving. It feels as if my stomach is caving in on itself. And my throat is as dry as the Badlands.” My voice is dry and scratchy.

  “It’s no wonder. The way we have figured it, you’ve been here far longer than we have. We had to track you from The Mortal Realm to The Otherworld. Once we got there it wasn’t long before you ended up here. We just have no idea as to how you got here, who took you, and who took Vengence. We need you to fill in the blanks for us. Here, get some water and we’ll get you some food.” Poppy flies over to the bedside table to a crystal pitcher full of water. I gently sit Cara aside, petting her softly before swinging my legs out of bed. I feel as week as a day old kitten. How is that possible. My hands tremble as I try to pour a glass of water.

  Strong hands wrap around mine gently, staying my attempts. “Here. Let me.” Daxell pours the water and holds the glass to my lips as if I were an invalid. I stare up at him and he just nods for me to sip and I do so. Smiling down at me, he gently lifts the glass tumbler from my lips and says, “My mother is having some broth and some bread brought up. We thought we would start you off easy. It’s been days since you have had anything to eat, that we know. It’s why you feel so weak.”

  Nodding, I look at both Daxell and Poppy, “Why do I feel like I’m missing something? The last thing I clearly remember is that night at Rapa-City. After that everything becomes jumbled and fuzzy. I can’t distinguish what is real and what is just a huge nightmare, and then there is this.” I hold up my wrist, looking at the shiny silver bracelet that looks so foreign to me, yet I should know what it is. It weighs me down.

  “Daxell, dear, don’t crowd her. We have time to get to the bottom of Lillie’s disappearance. Right now? We need to get some food in her so she can regain her strength.” Seraphina enters the room carrying a tray with what looks like a teapot, but I soon realize that it carries a broth that smells like beef, but different. There are a couple of biscuits and a tall glass of something that looks like iced tea. She sits the tray on a table in the room and Dax sweeps me up in his arms and carries me over to the table and gets me settled. Whatever has happened has him acting very overprotective. He and Cara, she leaps off the bed and launches herself into the chair next to me.

  “Thank you,
Seraphina,” I mumble as I take a sip of the broth with shaky fingers, “this is good. What is it?”

  “Don’t ask questions dear. The food here in The Underworld is a bit different than what you are used to, but the meat from this creature is tender and reminds me of beef from back home. It creates a hearty stew that we can give you a little later after this meager meal. We just didn’t want you to overdo it.”

  After a few more sips of the broth, I butter one of the biscuits and take a small bite, “This is very good. I’m already feeling better. So, why don’t we all stop walking on eggshells and tell me what the hell is really going on here.” I look up from the biscuit in my hand, “I’m not going to fall apart. I promise. Contrary to popular belief, I can take whatever you throw at me.”

  Daxell growls, the sound resonating from deep in his chest. My oh my, I love that sound, but it also stirs flashes of him in his demon form looking at me uncertainly. Poppy lands on the table in front of me with her hands on her hips, “Lillie JoBug, I think that its best that we give you time to remember your time here before we found you. Sweetie, you were not in a good place. Those wicked little demons did a number on you, I think they messed with your mind.”

  Seraphina reaches over to pat my hand, “Lillie, you have all the time you need to recall what happened to you.”

  “Mother, with all due respect, we do not have time. Lillie cannot be found here in The Underworld. Mammon will exact his revenge. As soon as it is discovered that we are harboring a fugitive she will be brought to trial. We need to leave here as soon as possible.” Daxell’s concern has me on edge. What the hell has happened? Something seems to be on the verge of revealing itself to me but it's just out of my reach.