by Lori King
Raina unclenched her jaw. “So, you are his what…errand girl? You do as Daddy says?”
Kyrene’s eyes flashed to red. “Watch your mouth or I’ll send you to him without a backward glance.”
Standing, Raina glared down at the other woman. “Go ahead and try it.” She allowed her body to partially shift, readying for battle. No way in all the realms would she go without a fight.
“Fuckidy duck, I hate being good. It’s so much better to just snatch and kill. But no, I have to grow one of those conscious things,” she mumbled.
“You mean a conscience?” Raina watched as Kyrene began pacing, prepared to battle if the need arose.
Nodding, the demon waved her hand. “Whatever the word is, I don’t like it. Creed has been a very bad influence on me. My mother said he would be the death of me.”
* * *
Creed had been in and out of Hell for thousands of years, but usually of his own volition. The only time he’d needed help leaving was the last time, and never had he tried to enter without alerting anyone. He was the bastard son, feared by just about everyone, and with good cause. Now, he was taking in three beings who were so far removed from ones who should be there, most likely on a deadly mission, yet he truly gave less than no fucks. Yeah, he was a bastard. The only thing he cared about was finding Raina, and securing her safety. He’d then do his damnedest to ensure the men with him made it out alive, if not a little worse for wear. He owed them at least that much.
“All right, men. Don’t talk to the locals. Don’t eat the locals. Don’t let the locals eat you. Any questions?” Creed asked, once their feet hit solid ground.
Lucas raised his hand, but Kellen placed his palm over his face. “Shut it, or so help me I will not be responsible if only one of you is able to make babies in the future.”
The man placed his hand over his dick. “I thought we were friends.”
Kellen shrugged. “I haven’t killed you yet.”
Damien looked up at the black sky. “Why?”
Fed up, Creed began walking. “Try to keep up and shut up for the love of all.”
Through his bond, he searched for traces of Raina. Damning the fact they were unable to exchange essences out of fear of what his blood would do to her, his mind reached for hers.
Frustration ate at him. “Can either of you reach her?”
“Let me try?” Damien’s eyes swirled with power, flashing to red.
Lucas jerked next to him, his body the exact replica of Damien’s. “What the hell is a Gallo demon?”
“She is with a being named Kyrene, but she isn’t sure if she is friend or foe. They escaped the Gallo, but said they were searching for them.”
Creed growled, and he was sure the beasts around them would know what the sound meant. His demon, unhappy their Chosen had been threatened, pushed forward, skin stretching, uncaring that his woman’s brothers would see his other form completely. “Follow me. If you can’t keep up, you will die. She is with my Halfling, who may or may not die by my hand. No one is to touch her but me.” Knowing exactly how he sounded and appeared to them, he walked away before he saw the fear, or revulsion in their eyes.
“Dude, our brother-in-law is fucking awesome.”
“Lucas, you really need to turn your stupid meter down.” Kellen’s voice sounded exasperated.
He held his hand up. Several things became evident. One, was the brothers were funny as shit, and he would probably like them after he got over the urge to kill them. Two, Kellen was a deadly adversary, and he was glad the wolf was on his side. Three, they were surrounded by Gallo demons. “Guys, I hate to break it to you, but we are surrounded by at least ten of some of the nastiest demons on this level of Hell. Now, I don’t have to tell you how to fight, I’m hoping, but just for shits and giggles, don’t get dead, and don’t let them rip your head off. They enjoy the brains first.”
“Lucas is in the clear.” Damien dodged his brothers’ fist, then each man became focused on the fight.
The first wave hit, streams of creatures he was sure none of the men with him had ever thought to see. Creed took out two, his claws ripping their stomachs open, then taking off their heads in two swipes each.
Kellen watched, then did the same with one who attacked him. Creed spun, looking for his next victim. The Cordell twins fought like two extensions of the same being. His distraction allowed a horde of smaller Gallo demons to launch themselves at him. The pain of their teeth sinking into his arms and legs had him yelling in both agony and anger. Razor-sharp teeth ripped into his flesh, tearing into him while sucking on his lifesblood. He growled, knocking the ones on his arms off, then slicing the heads off the two on his legs. Luckily, their poisoned saliva didn’t affect him, yet he stumbled as he tossed another Gallo away. They were like cockroaches, breeding without a worry for population control.
“Die, you fucking prick,” Kellen growled, lobbing a head in the air, then made a show of hitting it with his fist like a baseball.
“He shoots, he scores,” Lucas called out.
Creed watched as the trio used a Gallo demon as a bat, knocking into another. The blood and other matter flew everywhere. He shook his head, arms flying out to the side as he felt two more trying to sneak up on him, and he kicked out as one jumped. The sound of crunching bones and tearing flesh went on for another ten minutes. Ten minutes which allowed his rage to build as he thought of what Raina could be going through. In all his thousands of years, he’d never felt nearly as much as he did at that moment. The need to decimate everyone and everything that stood between him and his woman flooded him. Power raced through his veins like the hottest place in Hell he’d ever been.
“Ah, shit. Someone has unleashed the power.”
He turned to see who’d spoken, the beings behind him looking smaller than before.
Kellen raised his arms. “We’re on your side, big guy. Let’s go find Raina. Remember, your Chosen?”
He stepped on the remains of a Gallo, then over a rock, the scent of Raina all over the area. “This way,” he growled.
At the edge of the cliff he stopped. “You coming or what?”
“Dude, you wanna slow your roll? We ain’t twelve feet tall like you.” Kellen stopped next to him.
Creed pointed down. “We go down.”
“Can we like hitch a ride with you?” asked Damien. Creed looked at the speaker, was sure it was the older of the two.
He grabbed the three men, then stepped off the edge. The fact none of the men squealed like little girls got them some brownie points. Landing on the edge of his Halfling’s cave, the ground fell apart, making him scramble forward with his three burdens.
“Motherfuckinghellsomebitch,” Kellen cursed, rolling to his feet.
“Like I said, nobody kills my Halfling.”
Lucas looked a little green, but stood straight. “Let’s do that again, like never.”
His brother slapped him on the back. “Buck up. It could’ve been worse. We could’ve kept falling, or got eaten.”
“What’s the plan? We stand out here and yell till someone comes and lets us in, or something else tries to kill us?” Kellen’s words echoed around them.
Creed ignored them, walking up to the wall, pounding his fist with a singular purpose. “Kyrene, open the fuck up, or I’ll tear this entire mountain apart.”
He raised his fist, prepared to do just that, as the veil lifted. Kyrene stood with her ash blonde hair all around her, wearing drab gray clothes, soot covering her from head to toe. She looked frail, but he knew she was anything but. “Where is she, Halfling?”
“I’ve missed you, too. Oh, and I am great. Thanks so much for asking.”
The scent of his Chosen’s fear hit him. Without missing a beat, he lifted Kyrene, sat her down behind him and entered the home. “Raina,” he breathed.
“Creed, how are you here?” She was up and in his arms.
“So, yeah, we are with Big Red. I’m Lucas, and this is my brother Damien. As long as
you haven’t hurt our sister Raina, we won’t hurt you.”
“How have you survived without strangling them all these years?” Creed lifted Raina into his arms, cradling her like the precious thing that she was.
“Probably the same way you haven’t strangled Kyrene.”
He looked back at their siblings and Kellen standing with their arms crossed, glaring at him. “Point taken.”
“Now that we are all here, I guess father-deadliest will be here shortly,” Kyrene said with a grin.
Not liking the look on the younger demon’s face, he placed Raina on her feet. “We need to get Raina and you out of here. If Satan finds you here…” His words were cut off as a creature scuttled into the cave, his eye darting wildly about.
“KyKy, he’s coming. Run,” he gasped.
Kyrene flicked her hand, knocking the creature back out the way he’d come.
“You set this up? You brought my Chosen here to lure me. Why?” Creed allowed his demon to come forward, knowing the battle with his father would be brutal, and deadly for him. His only hope was to get Raina, her family, and friend back to their realm.
“It’s a matter of living, and living well. You think I enjoy scraping by on the pieces of shit I’m given? You think I want to be alone for the rest of my life?” She pounded her fist on her chest. “I will be given a place at his side. I will be his favorite, instead of another forgotten bastard thrown away. I proved I could bring him your woman, and you. No longer will I be the bottom of the food chain, having to fight off Gallo demons every time I step foot outside these walls, or the thousands of other creatures who’d love nothing better than to have me for their snack.”
Creed watched the façade of the beautiful creature he’d seen her put on, fade into the skeletal being he knew her to be. The hate demon of her mother’s people completely took over her appearance. Yes, he’d tried to visit her as often as he could, bringing her treats, and pretty things, all in the hopes it would fill her with light, but clearly it had failed. Her cave was supposed to be a safe place, not a prison, or somewhere she felt isolated.
He ran a hand down his face. “I don’t know what he promised you, but you should know it’s a lie. Satan doesn’t keep his promises, and he sure as shit doesn’t care about you, or any of his bastards. Kyrene, I cared for you. I saved you when nobody else would have.”
“That was just another mistake in your long list, Creed, bastard son of an angel.” The booming voice had him tensing.
Kyrene’s home only had the one entrance, but Satan didn’t need a door. He made his own, appearing behind Kyrene, his appearance a deeper shade of red than his own.
“Hello, Father. How’s it going?” Creed smiled, showing no fear.
The Cordell twins looked ready to attack, but he pushed a singular thought into their minds, knowing the invasion would hurt them, yet it would be the only thing that would save them. “Do not move or think about trying to hurt him. He will kill you without a thought, and you’ll never see your Jenna again.”
“Wow, I never thought I’d see the day you’d control two alphas with ease. I’m impressed.” He eased his arm around Kyrene’s shoulders; the huge red forearm bulging with muscles looked even larger next to the hate demon. “Now, for this one, wasn’t she good at getting your Chosen here?” A long, razor sharp nail raked down her jaw, and black blood welled on Kyrene’s cheek.
“Let her go. She did what you wanted,” Creed gritted out.
Satan laughed. “Always the protector.”
“You said I would be by your side,” Kyrene tried to twist away.
“Foolish of you to believe me. You’ve served your purpose, and I have no more need of you.”
Before Creed could reach the duo, Satan’s talon grew. With their eyes locked, Satan took Kyrene’s life, uncaring he’d killed his own flesh and blood.
Creed’s roar of no shook the cave, yet he couldn’t allow his focus to stray from protecting Raina. His father was devious, and if he so much as took a step away from his Chosen, Satan would take the opportunity to do his worst to her.
“What’s the matter, boy? She was just a demon. I have hundreds of others just like her. Just like you. What I need is from that one.” He pointed a finger at Raina. “I’ll make a deal with you. After she gives me a son, I’ll let you have what is left of her.”
Twin growls came from behind him, and he knew it was taking all of their strength not to attack, but the Cordells were doing as he’d instructed. Kellen was a mystery to him. The Iron Wolves alpha had been strangely quiet, yet he knew he’d be ready to strike if needed. What they all needed to know was this was one place they were all the lower men on the totem pole.
“I’m gonna have to regretfully decline your oh, so generous offer. You see, she is my Chosen. That supersedes your crazy plan. How about you go find your own Chosen?” Creed placed Raina slightly behind him, focusing his inner light as he searched for the link to his mother. If anyone could get Raina and her people out of Hell, it was her.
The laugh grated on his nerves, but he held the black stare.
“You were one of the smarter of the bastards. Now, I tire of this. Give me the girl.” His arm lifted and a thousand blades shot out of thin air.
7
Creed waved his arm, making the weapons disappear like nothing. “Stop playing, old man.”
Satan clapped his hand, then they were no longer in the small cave, but in his castle. “Ah, this is much better. I was getting claustrophobic in that small place. Not to mention there was a mess to clean up.”
The mention of Kyrene was meant to hurt Creed; the barb hit its mark, yet he pushed it to the corner of his mind to deal with later. “As you said, there are too many of us. Need to cull the weak.”
“They don’t belong here. Let them go, and I’ll be your willing beating boy…again.” Creed kept his eyes on Satan, watching as he took his seat on the black throne. He shook his head as he watched the bastard sit and casually drape one leg over an arm, while he rested his arm on one side, cradling his head in a palm.
Raina flinched, her fingers fisting into the material of his shirt. “No, Creed,” she whispered.
“Don’t speak out loud. You must let me handle this, or you will suffer a fate worse than death. I have a plan.” Sure it wasn’t solid, nor even good, but it was one that would see to their safety and removal.
“Why don’t you put on a little show for me? It’s been a while since I was truly…impressed.” Satan’s booming voice had a sardonic tone to it.
Turning to face Raina, he met the eyes of her brothers and Kellen. “Hold her, and no matter what happens, do not interrupt or let her go.”
All three men nodded, but none said a word. He bent with the intention of kissing his Chosen, then thought better of it. “If I kiss you in front of him, it will give him a perverse pleasure. Know that I am doing so and remember.”
A shield was put up between the four of them and the rest of the chamber, one he hastily constructed. “Let’s do this.”
“Very well. Let’s make a deal, shall we?” Satan’s horns grew, gleaming onyx that looked deadly, and were if he struck you with them. Only you wouldn’t die, you’d be his, consumed into his body as an extension of him. He didn’t take many into himself, only those he wanted, and Creed’s soul was one he wanted. Part angel and a part of himself. The caveat: he couldn’t kill his own son; however, if Creed died of his own free will, then all bets were off.
A small horde of demons entered from all sides. The first wave as Creed liked to call them. He glanced at his Chosen and the men holding her, knowing they’d see him at his worst, and hoped they wouldn’t hate what they saw. Although, he probably wouldn’t survive. Most assuredly, he wouldn’t, but he needed to buy time for his mother to get through the wards keeping her out. Once she did, she would know to get those four out. His mind was brought back to the battle as a giant claw raked across his back, and a fist rocked his front; he allowed more of his demon and angel to ble
nd.
Black wings tipped in white sprang from his back. He manipulated them, making each tip a weapon; as he spun, razor sharp feathers sliced, sending appendages flying. First wave gone, he looked down to see a few gashes had made their mark on his own flesh.
His wings retracted and he didn’t have time to wait for the next attack. Females poured out, their gruesome forms went from distorted to the most gorgeous. Bodies covered in nothing but rotting flesh became naked, voluptuous. A man’s living fantasy come true. His demon roared at their touch, a blast of power sent them flying away.
“Quit playing, old man. You and I both know I would never betray my Chosen. Nor would I hurt a female of worth. Those are your slags.” His father would stick his cock in anything with a hole.
Black eyes filled with rage glared at him. “Very well, let’s skip to the finale, shall we?”
Shit! His father’s pets entered. Worse than the Gallo, yet very similar. These creatures looked like a mix of Satan and a goat. It’s where the myth of Krampus came from. Fucker that he was could enter children’s dreams and cause havoc on Christmas. They weren’t limited in Hell, though. Their hooved feet and goat-like legs allowed them to leap great distances, while they could strike their prey with their hooves, and kill with one lash.
Smoke came from their snouts, hatred burned from their beady black eyes. Why couldn’t any of them have an ounce of intelligence? “Could you not spawn anything with brains, Father?”
He lobbed the accusation, then prepared for battle, or did what he could to prepare. The Krampus demons didn’t come at him one-on-one, but as a pack. They circled, showing they did indeed have some sort of brain. Some launched over his head, their hooves hitting his horns, bits of bone chipping off. If he unleashed his wings, they’d take no time in ripping them to shreds, as he’d experienced in the past. He’d have to cull the herd, as their number was too great. Summoning two swords, he sliced through the head of one, then another, taking more kicks and hits. The pain made him stumble. He blocked out Raina’s fear and worry, although he could scent her need to help, her overwhelming pain at seeing his lifesblood pouring from dozens of cuts.
