Demonheart Boxset 1: Book 1-3

by J. J. Egosi

  Once again, Michael found himself crouched in the cargo hold of a ship, this time, with his two companions by his side.

  “I can’t believe how easy it is to sneak into ships these days,” said Isabella.

  The three of them nestled tightly into a single crate. It was damp and creaked ever so slightly.

  “She’s right. You’re quite stealthy for someone who sticks out like a sore thumb. Maybe you have some assassin potential in you after all.”

  “When everyone wishes you dead, you become pretty good at making sure no one sees you,” said Michael. He tried to adjust his position so that his limbs weren’t trapped under either of the girls.

  “For what it’s worth, you never have to conceal yourself with me,” said Julianna.

  “Or with me.”

  “Don’t worry about all that,” he said. “Let’s change the subject.”

  “Are you sure?” Julianna asked with a forlorn gaze.

  “Tell me more about where you came from. The Light Realm. What’s it like?” Michael asked.

  Isabella looked over at Julianna with the same level of intrigue. “I’d like to know too.”

  “Alright,” Julianna nodded. She proceeded to describe a town far more industrious than the Dark Realm. The buildings were taller, built with finer material, better quality wood, and bricks instead of stone.

  “Sounds very advanced,” Isabella said. Julianna’s description had made the Dark Realm seem simple by comparison.

  “It’s also rather religious,” said Julianna.

  “You mean they have a lot of churches?” Michael inquired.

  “That’s right. Huge churches. One on every corner. So expect to see a lot of people portraying a false sense of joy.”

  Michael struggled to envision towering religious monuments. The idea was as awe-inducing as her final detail was disturbing. He wasn’t too sure what she’d meant by false pretense, and he was nervous about finding out.

  Their discussion came to a sudden halt at the sound of the ship docking.

  “Sounds like that’s our stop.” Julianna carefully lifted the lid from the crate. She scanned to make sure no one was around before she clambered out. She then gave the others a simple nod of assurance to let them know that it was safe to follow.

  They gave the crew members a wide berth and hid behind every crate and wall they could find. The three of them walked off the ship’s ramp, one by one, hiding behind whatever cargo they could until they were safe.

  They retreated into the woods before they could be seen again, hiding in a cluster of trees.

  “Well, that was certainly close.”

  “Yeah, I’ve never done anything so sneaky. It was sort of fun,” Isabella said.

  “If you also enjoy killing people, I could make an assassin out of you.”

  “You never miss an opportunity to recruit anyone, do you?” Michael said.

  “That I don’t.”

  “Let’s put it on hold for now and focus on finding our way into town,” Isabella said.

  “Fair enough.” Julianna appeared to see something in the distance and nodded to herself. “This way.”

  Michael and Isabella followed her. All the while, Michael couldn’t shake off what she’d said earlier. I can understand an assassin not seeing eye to eye with the church, but she seemed especially put off by the whole ordeal.

  He remembered what she’d said before about the churches she’d seen and the angels they spoke of. She seemed dismissive about the faith but enjoyed the satire of angels.

  “Beings with blue eyes and white hair that descended from the clouds. Beating their wings like doves.”

  The Dark Realm doesn’t have many churches. People aren’t too religious there. I’ve never been to church. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Isabella go with her parents either.

  Religion might just be something that’s frowned upon in the Dark Realm. Angels too. Perhaps that’s why people give me such a hard time. Maybe things will be different in the Light Realm.

  He pondered this for a while as they wound their way through the trees. The hours traveling felt incredibly long as his mind raced with images of what the Light Realm must be like. He imagined people greeting him with open arms, praising him. Michael even pictured them lifting him over their shoulders and singing songs about him.

  A sword-wielding legend.

  Now, that’s a welcome I’d gladly accept.

  Isabella caught a glimpse of a glimmering of bright light in the distance. “Hey, I think I see something.”

  “I do too.” Michael peered through the trees. It appeared to be a large town up ahead.

  “It seems we’ve arrived.” Julianna’s scowl turned into a smile. She stopped in place and turned around to face them. She pushed aside the nearby branches to widen their collective view. “I welcome you to my homeland. The town from which I came, Dawncastor, located in the heart of the Light Realm.”

  They were only a few hundred feet away now, perched at the top of the forest’s hill as they looked down. It was exactly as Julianna had described. The city gleamed like it had fallen from the heavens. Chapels acted as the centerpieces of their respective street corners; the air was filled with the aroma of vendors selling various delicacies. The buildings were taller, and the streets were cleaner from what either Michael or Isabella were accustomed to. The people sang and danced in the bazaar. Long lines stretched out from each market stand. Everything seemed to be filled with life. It was like a well-coordinated stage performance.

  “This is seriously where you’re from? It’s incredible!” Michael said.

  “If I lived here, I don’t think I’d ever want to leave.” Isabella nodded in agreement as she eyed all the shops in the bazaar. Stalls cascaded through the streets like a never-ending waterfall of things to indulge in.

  “Looks can be deceiving. All these smiling faces are hiding layers upon layers of crime and violence. There are countless organizations ready to take advantage of foreigners like you, so be careful and stay close. We should be at our destination shortly.”

  “Right. I think you mentioned something about meeting a merchant the other day,” Isabella said, vaguely recalling a conversation over a fire as they roasted their dinner.

  Isabella had wanted to know more about the mission Julianna was on. Julianna didn’t reply with much and only explained that her targets were defeated and that the Light Realm was where she needed to go to claim her reward.

  They walked through the village now, following Julianna’s lead. Michael broke free from the mystified trance that the architecture had put him in.

  “What exactly do you plan on exchanging for your rewards? What proof is there to the merchant that you killed the elementals?” Michael recalled watching Julianna slay each of the five elementals, but he couldn’t remember her picking anything up from their remains.

  “Here, look.” Julianna opened her knapsack. He watched, perplexed, as a seemingly ordinary knapsack expanded its contents, spreading open like a never-ending pit of inventory.

  “This here is an Infinity Bag,” she said. “As the name suggests, it holds an infinite number of items.”

  Michael marveled at the sight of it all. From swords to armor, clothing and food, to equipment and shards of what appeared to be enemies she’d slain. It held everything anyone could ever need and so much more. It had all been kept inside this unassuming bag she’d kept slung over her shoulder.

  “There’s our tent and all our cooking supplies!”

  Michael knew she’d carried an unusual amount of supplies with her for only one person, especially for an assassin. He’d never thought about how she’d managed to hold it all or where it all went. He’d always been more befuddled by their quest and her as a person. He imagined her shoving a large tent inside this little bag. It was bewildering to know he’d never once seen it happen. He wished he’d known sooner. Such information would have kept his back from aching when he’d lugged all the supplies over his shoulders hims
elf.

  “That’s correct,” Julianna’s tone was a matter-of-fact. “And anything else an assassin needs on the move.” She stared at the aisles of swords she kept on her iron racks with a twinkle in her eyes.

  I guess that explains where she’s been keeping all her stuff. Admittedly, I feel a little embarrassed for not asking. Then again, asking her questions doesn’t ever seem to come easy.

  “You asked for proof that I killed the elementals, right?”

  Julianna reached her hand towards a shining light peeking out from under her clothes. She pulled out a couple objects that resembled golden marbles.

  “What are they?” Isabella asked.

  “These are cores. Think of them as the essence of a creature. When you defeat a beast in battle, their essence is harnessed as souls and is immediately sent into the infinity bag of the person who defeated it. All thanks to a special magic-infused fabric I used when I made it. It attracts magical items from my victims like a moth to a flame.”

  And a terrifying fire it is.

  “It’s important to be the one to kill it and to have one of these bags near you. Otherwise, you have to scour the battleground looking for it,” said Julianna.

  “Woah. So that’s why you killed those elementals by yourself. If you had let them kill each other, you wouldn’t have gotten any reward,” Michael mused.

  “Precisely.”

  I suppose this bag’s magic also works with people she killed, not just the monsters. He looked down at his armor. He was certain it had all been inside her bag at one point or another.

  “Did you say elemental?” Isabella stared down at Julianna’s bag curiously.

  “Yes, they’re towering entities carved out by the forces of nature long ago. They were forged by a witch who later tried to return them back to the land and failed,” Julianna explained.

  “A witch?” Isabella took one of the cores and examined it. “I remember hearing the story as a child. A lonely little witch performed a magic ritual to make friends for herself from nature.”

  “Really?” Michael fixed her with a fervent stare.

  “The story tells of how those very friends turned against her. The ritual was performed incorrectly. She tried to reverse it, but it was too late. They couldn’t be controlled by her anymore. Now, she wanders these lands, all alone, in search of new friends to call her own.”

  “Wow. I had no idea the story was so tragic.” Michael could certainly sympathize with that loneliness.

  “If you ask me, she sounds more possessive than lonely. Did she want friends, or did she want a pack of loyal dogs?”

  “Are you serious?!” Isabella was repulsed by her lack of compassion. “Just how hardened are you?”

  Julianna gritted her teeth. “I only care for what’s in front of me. Michael. And my bounty.”

  She took the core back from Isabella and returned it to her infinity bag.

  Isabella took a deep breath, not out of frustration, but because she felt a sudden connection with Julianna. It was like she was guarding something in her past as well.

  “Isabella, are you alright?”

  “I’m sorry. Did you say something?” Isabella was startled from her trance and focused back on Julianna and Michael’s worried faces.

  “I wanted to know if you wanted to take a look in my infinity bag,” said Julianna.

  “You definitely should. It’s incredible!” Michael added.

  Isabella took in their smiling faces, blinking until her disorientation passed before she nodded.

  She peeked inside and saw what he saw; an endless syndicate of possessions. Jewels and diamonds fit for the closet of any heiress.

  “No fucking way! Just look at all these clothes!”

  “Of course! In my line of work, you need enough disguises to accommodate any mission. But also, it never hurts to look good,” Julianna said, tightly linking arms with Michael.

  “Sounds like I’ll need one of these bags too.”

  Isabella took Michael’s other arm.

  “Do you both mind? People are staring.”

  Villagers watched, both disgusted and amused, at the sight of two women latching so tightly to the same man in broad daylight.

  “Don’t worry about them. They’re just jealous they don’t get to come home with us,” said Isabella.

  “Exactly. Besides, we’re nearly there. We’ll be out of the public eye soon enough.”

  “You said the merchant lived in a sketchy part of town, right? Everything still looks very proper. Are you sure we’re in the right place?” he asked.

  “Positive,” said Julianna.

  They followed her down an alleyway. They turned into what appeared to be a particularly depraved establishment. The gas lamps with hardly any fire left in them were hung crookedly over the sign.

  “It’s called Guilty Pleasures? You’re taking us to a brothel?!” Michael was mortified. He watched the patrons walking in and out; each appeared to be more nefarious looking than the last.

  “Relax, Michael. It’s just a front for their main business. I don’t usually go to this one, but since they run such a hotel… We could get a room, use some handcuffs, and take turns having our way with you.” Julianna gently bit Michael’s earlobe.

  Isabella joined in, rubbing the lower part of his stomach and gliding her hand lower.

  “Handcuff me?”

  “Oh, I’m just kidding, Michael. Well, a little bit…”

  “Why don’t I feel any better about that?”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll have safe words,” Isabella added.

  “That’s good…” Michael sighed with relief before backtracking. “Wait, why the hell would we need safe words?”

  His anxiety grew as they entered the building, and he looked around the lobby. It was full of young couples around their age, in their late teens and early twenties. They all wore carnal grins and minimal attire.

  “Probably because we’re going to do it right now. So I hope you’re ready.”

  Isabella slid her hand up his arm.

  “What?! It’s too sudden. I’ve hardly had any experience with women. I can’t have a threesome! Certainly not in such a dirty place!”

  Julianna and Isabella looked at one another and laughed.

  “Relax, Michael. We’ll get the payment first. Will that make you happy?” asked Julianna.

  “I’d be happier if we postponed this activity for a much later occasion. I want to feel like I have some sort of control.” Michael’s expression was solemn; it took them both by surprise. “I’m not a servant anymore. If you want me to stick around, I want you to respect my boundaries.”

  Julianna and Isabella failed to hold back their laughter.

  “Wow! That was so manly!” Julianna patted him roughly on the back.

  “I haven’t a clue where that came from, but I like it.”

  “You just seemed like the kind of man who needed to be shown the ropes,” Julianna said.

  “Please don’t say ropes.”

  “As you spoke your mind, we’ll let you pick the room… And the experience,” Julianna seductively whispered in his ear.

  Michael took a deep breath and sighed. “That really wasn’t the point I wanted to make.”

  At least they won’t try to keep suffocating me with their affection. Michael imagined picking a room. It should be one with less aggressive colors than either of them undoubtedly had in mind, and no handcuffs to speak of. It should be in a calm place for the three of them to enjoy, in a way that was pleasing for everyone.

  He looked to where their arms were linked around his. Having these two fighting over me isn’t going to be easy, but it beats being a servant in a town full of people that hate your guts. It might be a good change of pace. At least I hope so.

  Michael was led through the lobby by both arms and down a dark hallway. It led them down a torch-lit stairwell and into a cellar. Their dim surroundings and the eerie creaking sounds made him feel uneasy.

  Just what s
ort of place is a black market? Should someone who’s been accused of murder be somewhere like this?

  A small, hooded figure sat behind a lone stand in the cellar.

  “That’s the merchant,” Julianna said.

  “I don’t know about this place…” Michael noticed that there were scratches and blood stains covering the fetid stone walls.

  “What do you mean?” Isabella asked.

  Michael took a deep breath. He was unaware that the merchant was watching them closely, grinning with desire. “I sense an evil power down here. I can’t explain it. I think we should leave.”

  “I didn’t walk all the way here for you to bitch out, Michael. There’s nothing wrong. She’s a trusted merchant. Everyone knows her.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Come on. You’ll be fine.” Isabella took his hand. “I’m pretty sure anyway.”

  Michael groaned.

  The three of them approached the stand. Julianna looked down at the merchant. Her blonde pigtails peeked out from under the hood of her mantle.

  “I took the posting of the elementals earlier this month. I think you’ll be impressed with what I’ve got here.”

  Julianna placed the cores of the five elementals onto the dry rotted table.

  The merchant carefully examined each of the cores. “Very impressive, girl. Two more than what was listed.”

  “I appreciate the compliment, but I prefer gold or jewels if you don’t mind.”

  Julianna held out her hand for the payment.

  “How did you come across such rare and powerful items?” asked the merchant.

  “Let’s just say I’m one hell of a swordswoman.”

  The merchant grinned from cheek to cheek. “Then I’m sure you’d have no trouble getting more!”

  “What are you talking about? Just give me my payment, or I’ll find another buyer.”

  The merchant laughed. In one quick movement, she’d snatched up the cores from the table and stashed them into her bag. Before they had a chance to react, the merchant was racing from the cellar.