Above her, she heard Agares hiss and realized he was having trouble fishing around in her heart. It was not her self-control and her defense system which kept him out. It was love. The more he had her doubting herself, the more he had her under his control and could torture her. Yet there was one thing which would hurt a demon beyond all others. Love. She loved her dad and, even after everything, she loved her mom. She still missed the good times they had had together, and yes, there were some of them.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Heart," Eden yelled.
And then she focused on her dad and the day at the beach. She focused on the times when she had gone out shopping with her mom and went to the hair salons and all of the best stores. She focused on Thema, who waited for her and her sister. There were so many people in her life she loved who counted on her, and they loved her too. If they didn't, they would have abandoned her ages ago when she took on this mission. As she was trapped in Agares's arms, she came to recognize she had so much love in her life — enough love it filled her heart completely, blocking out all of the bad times.
Agares screamed in pain and withdrew his hand from her soul. He stared at his hand, which was swollen and blackened as if it had been burnt. The smell of smoke filled the dungeon; the other demons stared at her and gasped. She gazed at Agares, deciding only to pity and not to hate him. Hate would bring him power, but pity… A demon would not know pity. And she had every reason to pity Agares. What life would it be, not to have any understanding of the most beautiful thing in the world, love? How horrible would it be to neither be able to give love nor receive it?
"Y-you dirty wench," Agares said, glaring at her. "So you do have powers after all. Out with it. Tell me what God—" Agares shuddered "—has done to you to allow you to fight me."
"It's the most powerful thing in the world," Eden said.
"What is it?" Agares said. The demons waited with bated breath.
"It's love."
All of the demons laughed except Asag who let out a pained moan as if even mentioning love was the most horrible thing on the planet.
"You humans," Agares said. "You and your emotional hogwash. Love is nothing but a feeling. It has no power."
"Then tell me what burned your hand," she said defiantly. "I won't let you ever, ever do it again. My heart may have darkness in it, but every heart does. Do you know what else my heart has, though? Love and happiness. It's the incredible thing about being human. You can choose to let darkness fill your heart, or you can choose to fill your heart with love and keep the darkness at bay. But you would never understand it. You have never felt love. You have no heart."
The demons stopped laughing and Agares's hand shook in anger.
"You are strong now," Agares said, "but we shall see how strong you are when you see this."
With a snap of his fingers on his unburned hand, the room became filled with a strange smell of rotting, decaying corpses. Eden searched around for the demons, but they had all disappeared. No, she realized. They were still there. They were watching her. She must have angered Agares enough that he had thrown her into another hallucination. Her heart filled with fear, even after her latest pronouncement. It was like walking into a haunted house of the mind, she realized. It did not matter how much time she spent convincing herself she saw nothing, the fear was still there.
But what am I supposed to be seeing to frighten me?
She saw the door to the dungeon creak open on its own, or maybe one of the demons had opened it. A second later, she heard the sound of feet upon stone and then the sound of strange, frightening snarling. She knew what this was. After all, Agares had apparently seen her worst fears.
"I hear you fear the undead… I hear you are more scared of them than anything else in the world…"
Though she willed herself to shut her eyes, she didn't. She stared straight ahead and watched as a zombie with a grime-crusted face limped into the room. He looked at her and hunger filled his eyes. He began to move toward her with an inhuman moan.
She tried to move only to find chains suddenly appeared on her arms. Another hallucination? she thought in horror. She was held up against the wall as more zombies entered the room from the open door.
"Not real, not real, not real," she said. Oh, why had I told Yuri I fear zombies more than anything?
As the zombie neared Eden, foul breath washed over her. She willed herself to not believe in the chains, but when she opened her eyes and stared into one empty eye socket and another glazed, dead eye, she could not help herself. She screamed. Even after all she had been through, the undead were what she feared. It was illogical, but sometimes fear didn't make sense. She could practically feel the zombie's teeth on her flesh, even though she had no body.
She heard Agares's voice cut through the vision, though he did not appear.
"You humans are so easy," Agares said, cackling. "I have a world to destroy. I think I'll leave you here with your new friends awhile longer."
As the zombie continued to breathe over her face, she shuddered.
Chapter Five
As the zombies walked around her, glowering but unable to take a bite, Eden felt her fear of them disappear. It truly was like a haunted house at Halloween. These ghouls could sneer at her, frighten her, but not touch her. But she knew there was no way that Agares had left her one hundred percent unattended. If she broke through the hallucination, she would have to deal with whatever demon guarded her cell.
I wish I wasn't alone. I wish Yuri or Adanna were here. The thought only made her feel lonelier, so she shut her eyes and concentrated on what she knew her true reality was: that the zombies and the chains existed only in her mind. Not real, not real, not real. Already, she could lower her arms and feel the cool touch of steel slip away. When she opened her eyes, she stood in a dungeon cell with no one around. Agares' powers were surprisingly flimsy, when one knew how to fight them, as were Asag's. Maybe the same could be said for whatever demon guarded her cell.
She straightened up and took a step forward, feeling weary. If she had been alive, she knew she would have been trembling and her palms would have been sweaty. Even after this long year, or maybe it had been even longer because she didn't have much of a sense of time in Purgatory, she still felt the loss of her body. Wearily, she glanced down, scooped up her necklace, then tied it around her neck again. At least now she would have some protection.
As quietly as possible, she crept toward the prison door, pressing her ear to it and listening. She could barely make out the sound of soft shuffling on the other side of the door. Eden turned the door handle and discovered it was locked. A groan escaped her throat. Fear burned white hot in her chest. Demons were vain, angry, and prideful, but they were not stupid. She should have known there was no way Agares would have left the door unsecured.
Why do I always end up in prison cells? I feel like I've spent half the last decade in a cell. She kicked the wood in frustration and then waited. Nothing. Eden gazed at the cell and discovered that there was nothing she could use to open the door. There wasn't even a stick. It was just wood on wood. Frowning, she turned back around and attempted to kick down the door. It didn't give. She didn't want to wait until the group of demons returned from wherever they went. Facing one demon was way better than facing five. She would have to call her guard out. She didn't like it, but it was the only way. Which demon, or demons, would Agares have chosen to look after her? She frowned at the thought.
"Open the door," Eden said. "Open, open, open."
She heard shuffling on the other side of the door.
"Fine," Eden said. "Just letting you know Agares is weak. He didn't even have enough power to use my greatest fears against me. I bet you are just as weak as he is."
Once again, she paused and waited. She heard grumbling.
"I knew it." She continued to bang on the door. "You are a coward. You and Satan are both cowards."
The door shook on its hinges. Though she was filled with fear, she was more determined than ev
er to leave this place and find her last soul. Her time in here had taught her that she had to save her friends because she loved them. She could find the last soul. She could. No door-shaking demon was going to get her to change her mind.
"Oh, a shaking door." Eden rolled her eyes. "I am so scared."
"I can do much more than shake doors," replied the grumbling voice. Eden recognized it. Lamashtu. "You would do well to not toy with me, human. I do not care what powers you have."
"If you are so powerful, then why are you hiding behind a shield of wood?" Eden asked. "You are scared. No matter what you say, you are."
An angry roar filled the hallway. The door burst into flames, falling to her feet in cinders. The smell of burning wood filled the air. Eden covered her head and then took a step back. She had thought she'd anger her guard. She hadn't thought it would be enough to have her blow off the door from the frame.
"Who is using a door for a shield?" Lamashtu said. "I believe it's you who is scared now."
Eden knew that Lamashtu was right, but what frightened her more was the fact that she couldn't see her. Behind her Eden heard the sound of movement and whipped around. She could not see Lamashtu. This must be a part of her abilities. How can I not find a creature ten feet tall with six feet wide bat wings and a lion's head? She decided she would rather not find out where Lamashtu hid and would attempt to get away. Charging forward, Eden sprinted into the next room, an empty, stone chamber, only to be ripped off her feet by someone grabbing her arm and pulling her to the ground. Blinking, she stared up but could not see anyone. The entire room filled with deep, dark, demonic laughter.
"I was scared of you, but you are a weak human just like the others," Lamashtu said, her voice echoing throughout the dungeon. "How could I have been so foolish? You can't even find me."
Eden struggled to her feet and glanced around, scared. There were stone steps leading down. There was a window and Eden saw spots of light in the distance — lanterns. Those had to be her friends. They would be the only ones brave enough, or maybe stupid enough, to monitor the dungeon. Maybe they would try to find her, or maybe she could get out to find them.
You know what demons are like. Only the weak have to cloak themselves. She shut her eyes and listened to what was around her. There was only the sound of water dripping down the walls. Drip, drip, drip. Or was it water? She had not heard the sound before she started playing hide-and-seek with Lamashtu. Demons could not disappear into the cracks completely.
Eden opened her eyes, zeroing in on a puddle of liquid and the water that dribbled down from the ceiling. Seriously? A demon that could become water? But as she examined the puddle, she realized it was too green to be water. It had to be something else, such as acid or boiling green poison. I have to test this, or else I won't get away.
Knowing she was going to get hurt again, she sprinted for the stairs, and before she could blink, she felt the same hard hand grasp her arm and throw her backward. She fell to the ground with a crack and a groan. Cold laughter filled the dungeon.
"You'll never find me," Lamashtu taunted. "You're making this too easy. Go ahead. Try to run again."
Eden turned on her side and searched for the green liquid. The puddle had disappeared. All that remained was some green sludge on the ground. Rolling, Eden re-located the dripping acid pool and discovered it was now on her opposite side. Yuri told me a lot of demons infested rivers and lakes with poison. I always imagined demons dumping in the poison, not being the poison.
Eden feigned being confused, groaned, and then struggled to her feet again. She gazed at the green sludge and slowly inched toward the wall, as if being too downtrodden to continue. She stood two feet away from the puddle. Once again, Lamashtu laughed, but because it echoed so much, it was hard for Eden to tell where it had come from.
"Some all-powerful human," Lamashtu said. "Even Pazuzu could beat you, and she's—"
Eden kicked the puddle with her foot so it splattered the wall.
"Tag, you're it," she said, then turned around and sprinted for the stairs.
Angry demonic roaring filled the chamber again; Eden continued her path down the stairs before the lion-headed demon grabbed her and lost her temper. She shot out the door and into the night. Her friends' lanterns were close to her, closer than she had realized when she looked out of the window. They could see her. She knew they could.
"Help me!" Eden yelled.
Feet thundered behind her and white Raiders' faces appeared around her, whispering angrily. The mist began to get thicker and thicker, stopping her progress. Eden gasped in horror and tried to move, but then a Raider appeared in front of her and stared at her with cold eyes. Eden expected the Raider to swoop down and steal her soul's energy, but instead the Raider did not move. Suddenly, three other Raiders appeared, forming a makeshift prison as they adjoined hands.
"Let me through," she said. "Please."
Why am I saying please to Satan Spawn? Her brow furrowed as she heard the sound of running. Eden turned and saw the mist parting around Lamashtu like the ocean parted for Moses. A deep growling filled the night.
"In the name of the Lord our God, let me through," she demanded.
The Satan Spawn shivered at the name but continued to grasp hands. She should have known Raiders wouldn't be so simple to overthrow as she did not know if they really counted as demons. Finally, Lamashtu was upon her, and the Raiders disappeared into mist.
"You shall pay for your impudence, human," Lamashtu said.
"Like I'm scared of someone who hides as a puddle," she said, trying to buy time. She turned but the demon grabbed her arm.
"Do you know what I've done? I've poisoned nations left and right. Do. Not. Mock. Me." Lamashtu narrowed her eyes in anger.
Trembling, Eden knew there would be no way she could get away with Lamashtu so close. The lanterns grew closer now, close enough for her to make out Yuri among the front of the pack as her friends ran toward her.
"It's Lamashtu," Eden yelled. "Lamashtu is the one keeping me captive."
With a snarl, the demon seized Eden’s hair and began to drag her back toward the prison.
****
"I would rip you apart if I could," Lamashtu said, dragging her back toward her cell.
"Unfortunately, I am not allowed to get rid of you so easily. Stay in your cell until my Lord comes for you. With luck, maybe all of us will have a turn of torturing you until you can't see straight."
With an angry growl, Lamashtu hurled her into the cell. Eden yelped, rolled, and then gazed at the demon.
"Mmm." Lamashtu snarled. "At last I see some fear in your expression."
Then the demon was gone, but not truly. Eden knew that Lamashtu would no longer underestimate her, which would be a big problem. Demon pride was one of the only things she could take advantage of in order to escape.
Chapter Six
Eden did not know how long she sat there — it could have been hours or days or even weeks — formulating a plan. Every second felt like an hour. She did not dare move from her spot on the floor, or else Lamashtu would charge. I don't know how long I have until Agares gets back. Brow furrowing, she frowned at her feet. He isn't going to be happy when he finds out I broke through his hallucinations.
As Eden let out a long moan of frustration, she felt the ground beneath her shake; she grabbed the wall and shivered. What is going on? In the room next door, she heard Lamashtu give a loud hiss. The demon appeared at the threshold of the door with her eyes narrowed in anger.
"You," her captor shouted. "This is your doing."
Eden sat up. "How could this be my doing?"
"You have ways," Lamashtu said.
"I am still just a human," Eden said. "I didn't have anything to do with this."
There was the sound of more rumbling and an unearthly, evil scream filled the air. Eden yelped and was thrown against the wall. She stared up and saw Lamashtu's face had become, if possible, even angrier, and for once, the anger was not aimed at h
er.
"Pazuzu," Lamashtu said. "I would recognize her voice anywhere. Why is she here?"
"Pazuzu. Who is Pazuzu?" Eden asked, eyes wide. A new demon could mean trouble.
"Ha. You don't know her." Lamashtu smirked with pleasure. "A dog face. Weak, fanged creature. I'm much stronger."
Lamashtu spun and headed over to the window. Eden hesitated and then took the chance to sneak over to the threshold and halted there. Lamashtu stared out the window and into the endless night. Pazuzu screamed again outside of the dungeon, a loud, angry wail.
"Her," Lamashtu said. "She is here to mock me."
The demon turned around and stared Eden straight in the eye. Eden shivered, not sure of her fate.
"You…" Her captor sighed. "I cannot leave because of you."
Once again, Pazuzu roared. An idea sparked in Eden's head.
"She sounds pretty strong. I would be too scared to escape, if she was guarding me," she said. "I can hear it in her roar."
"I know," Lamashtu said. "If you weren't here right now, I'd…"
"You could take me outside with you," Eden said. "You could watch me and destroy her."
For a second, Lamashtu wrinkled her giant lion-muzzle.
"Why would you want me to destroy her?" Lamashtu asked. "You want to escape, don't you? Like I'd let it happen."
A deep, hoarse growl echoed throughout the room followed by the sound of banging down below. Eden heard odd clicking noises coming from outside of the building. She gripped the wall for support and glanced around. The shaking grew and then a deafening roar filled her ears. From over Lamashtu's shoulder, Eden saw bright orange flames lick part of the wall. Pazuzu had set the place ablaze. Lamashtu may have been able to survive flames, but Eden knew it would deplete her spirit energy, effectively ending her existence. Fearful, she stole a look at the stairs and then groaned.
Where All Souls Meet Page 6
