Demonheart Boxset 1: Book 1-3

by J. J. Egosi

  That’s right, Michael thought as he gazed at the entity from which they crawled out. They very well could.

  The pink-haired woman looked them all in the eye with suspicion before looking at her travel companion. “Have you found anything over there?”

  “Not yet, but this girl with the orange hair gives off a strange scent,” said the blue-haired girl.

  “Really?” the pink-haired girl said, raising her eyebrow. She walked up to Isabella, pointing her device at her.

  “Hey, are you two just going to ignore us? We want answers!” Julianna demanded. “Just what are you doing here?”

  The pink-haired woman looked over at Julianna before scanning Isabella. “We want answers, as well. If you have what we’re looking for, perhaps we can entertain your trivial demands,” said the pink-haired girl.

  “Trivial?” Julianna’s face reddened.

  What is it they’re looking for? Michael thought to himself. His eyes then widened. A realization sunk deep into his mind.

  Suddenly, the pink-haired girl’s device beeped out of control. “Yes, this girl has what we came for.”

  “What are you talking about?” Isabella asked.

  The pink-haired girl put her device in her pocket and pointed at Isabella, catching her off guard.

  “Hand over the dimension titan now.”

  “Like hell, I will!” Isabella shouted. “First you just crashed from nowhere and completely ignored us when we talked to you. Now you think you can just steal from us? Seriously? How about you start by telling us where the hell you came from? You fucking creeps don’t even know our names and you’re getting in our faces, smelling and scanning with your weird golden device.”

  “You want pleasantries and their tedious qualities? Fine.” The pink-haired woman sighed. “Very well, my name is Alexa and I come from the sixth dimension.”

  The sixth? Isabella thought as she recalled Hecate’s chant before summoning her titan. She’s not from the same world as her, then.

  “My partner, if you could call her that, comes from the first dimension.” Alexa continued, “Her name is unimportant.”

  “Well, I think they’d like to know what it is.” She turned away from Alexa. “My name is Ursula. Super nice to meet you guys, by the way,” the blue-haired girl said, quickly shaking hands with Michael and his friends.

  “A pleasure meeting you,” Michael said as he shook her hand. His feeling of unease deepened. What exactly are other dimensions like?

  “Do you come from other planets?” Isabella asked.

  “No, same planet.” Ursula smiled. “Just different time periods.”

  Alexa sighed. “Yes, very nice. Make friends with the natives. You do realize that will only make killing them off more difficult for you, right?” Alexa interjected. She covered the top half of her face with her hand, embarrassed.

  “Wait, you’re going to kill us?” Michael asked in astonishment.

  “Possibly. However, you might get lucky if you hand over the ring and choose your words wisely when explaining exactly how you attained it,” Alexa said. “I wouldn’t count on it, though. The people who carry these rings tend to be of the malevolent persuasion.”

  “Bold words coming from someone who wants it,” Isabella said, coldly.

  “Even bolder coming from the one keeping it to herself,” Alexa snapped.

  “Why don’t you just cut the shit and tell us why you want the rings and maybe you’ll be the lucky ones,” Julianna said.

  “Happy to.” Alexa smiled. “Ursula and I are dimension walkers. We scour all corners of the omniverse for its greatest treasures.”

  “And in this case, you’re after the titan rings?” Michael asked with a stern gaze.

  Tension filled both him and his friends as the severity of the visitors’ intentions sank in.

  “Yes. You’ll be impressed to know we currently have three titans,” said Alexa.

  “Are you serious? You already possess three out of the seven titan rings?” Michael’s head spun with fear.

  “Yeah, and our adversary only has two,” Ursula interjected.

  “You weren’t supposed to say that, dumb ass,” Alexa shouted.

  “Sorry,” Ursula whimpered.

  “Your adversary?” Michael’s eyes widened.

  Alexa sighed, and then continued, “That’s right. As my bumbling partner said, they’re trailing us by just one titan.”

  “So, you’re racing for influence is what you’re saying?” Julianna suggested.

  “Correct. And the first person to claim four titans will be the winner of the race,” Alexa said.

  “Because that would mean no one can have more than you. Not your adversary. No one.” Julianna nodded with a better understanding.

  “I like the sound of that. You come off as a woman of business, which I can respect,” Said Isabella.

  Alexa grinned. “I am. I own Clockwork Designs, the largest military base in the entire omniverse. No one designs more hi-tech or devastating weaponry than I do, and no one ever will.”

  Impressed, Julianna said, “You’re quite confident. What sorts of weapons do you make?”

  “I make many types: missiles, cannons, rockets, tanks… the list goes on. I also lead countless soldiers, the world over,” said Alexa.

  “Sounds like you’re the queen or something to have that kind of power,” Isabella joked.

  “I am,” Alexa said with a proud grin.

  Isabella and Julianna looked at her in stunned silence.

  “I hope my title of the sixth dimension’s queen makes it clear to you three that I get what I want. Without fail.”

  “Hold on,” Michael began. “Are we just going to ignore the part where they told us about their search for the titan rings?”

  “Right,” Ursula began with a friendly smile. “So what Alexa was saying was that we’re actually doing the omniverse a service by collecting these titans.”

  “Are you now?” Julianna raised an eyebrow.

  “Yeah.” Ursula nodded. “Our enemy’s led by this super bad guy that wants to use them to take over the omniverse, so the obvious option to stop him is to capture them all.”

  Julianna’s eyes widened. “You speak of immense opposition. Do they go by a name?”

  “Yes, the Legion of Morningstar,” said Ursula.

  Michael and his friends froze in place because of the revelation. They looked at her in stunned silence, completely dumbfounded.

  Ursula looked around, confused. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

  If their enemy is the same as ours, our goals could align, right? Michael thought. But he couldn’t shake the bad feeling about them.

  Alexa slapped her on the back of the head. “You weren’t supposed to tell them who we’re after, either. Now, they’re going to want to go after them, as well.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t know,” Ursula said, rubbing the back of her head.

  “You never know anything, you nitwit,” Alexa yelled. “Just shut your mouth from now on.”

  “We already know about your secret. We’re already acquainted with the Legion of Morningstar,” said Julianna.

  “In fact, I just killed off one of their members. That’s how I got my titan,” Isabella said, matter-of-factly.

  Alexa scowled. She rushed towards her and grabbed the front of her shirt. “You mean to tell me you’ve encountered a member of their legion, defeated them, and took their ring?”

  “Yes,” said Isabella, struggling to breathe because of Alexa’s grip.

  Alexa put her down, then took a deep breath. “I see. When I heard the Legion’s titan count went from three to two, I figured it was because one of them was stolen. I never would have thought someone from this glorified landfill of a dimension could actually defeat one of their members and take their ring, no less!”

  “Well, I did. And I have this shiny new ax to prove it!” Isabella proudly said as she pulled the ax from her infinity bag. She oozed with confidence and showoff. />
  Alexa’s attitude irritated Michael. “Who are you calling a glorified landfill?” he asked.

  “Believe me. It was a compliment. I swear this air is going to make me sick.” Alexa coughed with disgust. Ursula did the same.

  “Sure doesn’t feel like one,” Michael groaned.

  Alexa looked back at him with a smug grin. The gleam of Isabella’s blade caught her attention and shocked her.

  “An unholy relic?” Alexa’s eyes widened, and she smiled. “You are who you say you are. I am convinced of that now.”

  “Hey, where did you get that cool bag?” Ursula asked with intrigue.

  “You like it? It’s an infinity bag. Julianna made one for me. Promise to leave us alone and I’m sure she’ll make one for you, too,” Isabella said with a smile.

  Ursula’s face lit up with joy.

  “No promises…” said Julianna, looking the other way.

  Alexa sighed. “Why would you want such an arcane piece of technology? You know my dimension has far more advanced equipment than some infinity bag.”

  “Hey, you seem to be pretty knowledgeable about stuff like the titan rings, the Legion of Morningstar, these unholy relics, and even these infinity bags,” said Michael.

  “And your point?” Alexa asked.

  “My point is I’d like you to tell us what else you know. You see, the member of the Legion of Morningstar we killed told me that their leader is after me. Do you know him on a personal level?” Michael asked.

  Julianna and Isabella signaled with their hands to stop him from saying any more, but it was too late.

  “You’re about as airheaded as Ursula. No, I don’t know him personally. Nor do I even know his name. They say he works in secrecy,” said Alexa.

  That means I must wait until these two leave before I can reveal the details of my encounter. Or at least until I think I can trust them. He thought.

  “However, I’m thinking we kidnap you and use you to draw their leader out. If one of their members said their leader is looking for you, in particular, then it must be true. No one from that organization just asks for someone by name,” said Alexa.

  “Hey, who do you think you are, threatening to take my boyfriend from me?” Julianna said, grabbing Michael by his arm.

  “Boyfriend? That’s my husband you’re talking about!” said Isabella, grabbing onto his other arm.

  “Is this really the best time?” Michael asked, aching from the tugging of his limbs on either side.

  Alexa watched in astonished silence as they tugged at his arms. “I’m surrounded by morons.”

  “At least you’ve got me by your side,” Ursula said with an eager smile.

  Alexa’s blood boiled, unable to bear everyone around her any longer. She panted heavily as the last of her restraint left her.

  “Damn it. Don’t speak until you’re spoken to!”

  Alexa hit Ursula across the face and knocked her to the floor. She kicked up the dirt from the grass under her feet with a thud.

  Isabella and Julianna watched in shock. Michael broke from their grips and marched up to Alexa with disdain in his eyes.

  “Hey, what the fuck was that for?” he yelled.

  “She was being insubordinate,” said Alexa. “And I don’t tolerate that sort of behavior.”

  “Look, I don’t understand half the shit you say, but I know that you don’t just go around hitting people,” Michael replied, gritting his teeth.

  “How I treat this girl is none of your concern,” Alexa replied, watching as tears rolled down Ursula’s dirt-covered face.

  “It is if I see it.,” Michael insisted, grabbing Alexa by either collar of her trench coat.

  Isabella and Julianna laid an unfleeting look at him as he stood up to Alexa. Ursula looked up from the ground, smiling with a whimper as she wiped her tears away. She dusted herself off and stood with restraint. She knew better than to react. Instead, she flashed a bloodied grin of submission.

  Alexa looked down at Michael’s trembling hands and scoffed at his remark before slapping them away. “You’ll be taken captive no matter how I treat Ursula. I’m afraid you don’t get a say in this.”

  Michael shook in the presence of the woman Alexa just hit, and then a devious smirk formed across his face. “I suggest you change your tone unless you want to find out, firsthand, why the Legion’s leader is seeking me out.”

  “Are you threatening me?” Alexa asked with a surprised smile.

  “I don’t make threats. I make promises. And I promise to teach you some manners right here and now unless you apologize to your friend,” said Michael.

  “She’s not my friend!” Alexa shouted. “And I have no use for such things.”

  “Well, she’s something if she traveled all the way here with you,” Julianna insisted.

  “She’s the same thing you are.” Alexa gritted her teeth. “…just disposable pieces of flesh. Waiting to be thrown to the slaughterhouse once they’ve reached their full use.”

  “You’re sick!” Michael shouted.

  “I’m giving you a dose of reality,” said Alexa. “Those two girls over there? The ones who seem so infatuated with you? Do you think they’ll be around forever? I doubt it.”

  “What are you saying?” Michael replied.

  “Once they get what they want, be it sex or children or money, you’ll be on the streets, just like Ursula was before I was gracious enough to pick her up.”

  Get what they want?

  Memories of his encounter with Lucifer flooded in. He remembered the painfully awakening words Lucifer said about desires leaving a trail of ruin. His heart sunk when he imagined plunging back into a life of servitude with no escape.

  “So, you’ll excuse me when I tell you I know what’s best for Ursula,” Alexa said, standing closer to Michael and looking him straight in his eyes.

  “You don’t scare me, Alexa,” Michael said with a nervous gulp.

  “Then, you haven’t been paying attention,” said Alexa.

  She turned to Isabella. Her face somehow blended a friendly smile and a menacing stare. Her demon eyes fixated on Isabella’s. Alexa took a graceful step toward her. Isabella grinned to mask her fear, but Alexa could see past it.

  “Don’t forget you still have something I want.”

  “I haven’t,” Isabella replied with a callous gaze.

  “And when I take it, I’ll be also taking your precious husband to bait out the Legion’s leader,” said Alexa.

  “Not if I can help it!” Michael thundered.

  His aura grew. The still wind heightened into a raging tempest. A tributary of cracks formed in the ground as it crumbled. Michael released his wings and summoned his scepter. His eyes turned into blue incandescence, looking piercingly at Alexa. He plastered a look of awe on everyone’s face. His form left Alexa’s eyes agape. It was almost as if she succumbed to fear.

  “If the way you treat Ursula is any sign of how you treat people, then I won’t allow you to lay a hand on Isabella. I don’t know what you plan on doing with the titan rings once you have them. For all I know, you could be planning to use them for evil, as well. Either way, if you want to kidnap me, you’ll have to defeat me first!” said Michael.

  “So, this is his archangel form?” said an awestruck Julianna, feeling his divine presence take her breath away.

  “It’s even more beautiful than I remember,” Isabella said.

  “Is he?”

  “He is,” Alexa said to Ursula. “The prophecies are true. This man is the archangel, Michael.”

  “The prophecies?” Isabella asked.

  “Yes. I thought it was just a legend. I mean, it talks about a time we could never even conceptualize as our reality.”

  “Wait, I’m lost,” said Ursula. “Are you saying Michael came from a time before our own?”

  “We knew that much.” Isabella turned towards Michael with a bewildering glare. Julianna did the same.

  “But how long before our time?” Julianna a
sked.

  “I’m afraid so,” Alexa continued. “The prophecy talks of two primordial forces of light and dark that fought over the monotheistic rights to the omniverse. It was a battle spanning eons, as expected from two evenly matched deities. Neither could defeat the other so they slumbered in the outskirts of the world, only to be awoken by the return of the titans, so their rivalry can continue again.”

  Michael grew dizzy, overcome by the revelation. He questioned its legitimacy with fear as Lucifer’s crow-masked face appeared in his mind.

  “It seems the time is now. Michael, you’re that force of light. It’s safe to assume the leader of the Legion of Morningstar is the force of darkness.”

  I’m the primordial force of light? What does that mean? Michael thought, unable to make sense of the revelation.

  “This man here is one of the most powerful beings to ever grace the concept of existence. Rather, he used to be,” she said with a devious grin to accompany the dark look on her face.

  “What’s with that grin?” Isabella asked in annoyance.

  “Well, there’s a bit of an issue in the prophecies,” she started. “They say when Michael went onto his slumber; he lost all his powers and memories, so waking is a completely fresh start.”

  “Wait, so is that how Michael lost his memories?” Isabella asked.

  She and Julianna looked over at him. He stared blankly as if his mind had numbed, unable to register her words.

  This is not only who I was, but how I forgot.

  Alexa let out a sinister chuckle as she turned to Michael. “You may have released your angel form, but you’re no march for demons of our level of power!” She released her wings, and Ursula followed suit.

  “And we’ll do anything in our power to protect the rings from all evil,” she continued, beating her wings against the dusty air.

  “Does that also include you?” said Isabella.

  “I can assure you our intentions are purer than you think,” Alexa replied.

  “And yet you plan on kidnapping me and hurting my friend to get what you want,” Michael said, angrily.

  Alexa looked into his eyes and smiled. “You act so high and mighty. Demons are morally loose, by nature. Sure, we may break a few souls here and there, but as long as we don’t destroy the entire world, we’re just fine.”