Demonheart Boxset 1: Book 1-3

by J. J. Egosi

  “…and that’s when I made a discovery that changed my life forever.”

  Ursula slid her hand across the cave walls, imagining the scriptures taking life before her very eyes.

  “What did you see?” Alexa said, taken aback by the conviction in her voice.

  “I was taken to a world like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Ursula said.

  “Another world? What are you saying?” Alexa asked.

  “I’m saying the tablet took me to another place in history. When the city of Atlantis still ruled.”

  The three of them gasped, certain they’d heard wrong. Yet, Ursula’s conviction refused to waver even in the slightest.

  “You’re saying the tablet transported you to the lost city of Atlantis?” Alexa asked.

  “What was it like, then? What did you see?” Isabella asked.

  “It was beautiful.”

  Ursula’s mind took her to that hazy moment she awoke in an underwater city she instantly knew was far away from home.

  “More advanced than anything I’ve ever seen. The architecture was beyond its years and the citizens all had fish-like appearances. The technology, the art, the economy, it was all of the highest tiers. Nothing I’ve seen could ever hope to match it.”

  “Yeah, right.” Alexa scoffed. “Like anything could surpass the city of The Steamlands. The sixth dimension is in a league of its own.”

  “Sorry, Alexa. The Steamlands don’t even come close.”

  Alexa took a step back, completely stunned. “How does a city become so powerful? So advanced?” Alexa said, burning with interest.

  “Remember that stone I told you about? Well, it is known as the orichalcum. I discovered that during my short trip there.”

  Ursula remembered walking through the narrow alleyways to keep from being spotted when she saw statues and fountains forged in the citizens’ celebration. They lit the streets in green light in their worship rituals.

  “Praise be the everlasting wisdom! The orichalcum,” she remembered hearing the citizens chant as they bowed before their idols.

  “The townspeople were prideful of their good fortune. They spoke of the day they suddenly showered the sky. This alluring glow brought in the merfolk into a renaissance of prosperity—unbridled intelligence and wisdom—allowing them to build the greatest city that ever was.”

  “This is unbelievable,” Alexa’s mouth remained agape.

  “The orichalcum not only raised the intellect of the merfolk, allowing them to advance into the monolithic civilization it once was but it was also used as their currency.”

  “Currency?” Julianna asked, intrigued.

  “Yes, and a very valuable one at that. It’s said to bear more valuable than gold or jewels or diamonds.”

  “No way…”

  She remembered the prosperity they boasted from the hundreds of different roads in a syndicate to the towering and elaborate buildings. The people were all dressed like royalty. Even the peasants; as philosophers preached on every corner.

  “Hold on a minute. What did you mean before when you said it once was a monolithic civilization?” Alexa asked. “It is said the city was lost long ago, so what made their good fortune take a sudden turn?”

  “Something absolutely horrendous happened,” Ursula spoke with a coldness in her gaze that left them shivering.

  “What was it?” Alexa asked with a sinking heart.

  “I remember watching it with my own eyes.”

  She remembered walking through the streets, unable to hide her curiosity in the shadows of the alleyway. She noticed a blacksmith in the middle of the street and he suddenly dropped to his knees, screaming in pain.

  “No one knew what was going on. The citizens ran over to see what was wrong. Then—they watched, in horror, as he morphed into something completely different. Something that still makes my skin crawl.”

  “Into what?” Isabella gulped.

  “His skin grew green, gills spawned from his neck, and tentacles emerged from his beard. That man was no longer a beautiful merfolk. He was a terrible monster. And soon, everyone else.”

  She recalled the look of terror as everyone began to transform into monsters. She feared she’d be next.

  “I was more terrified than I’d ever been among the lizardmen. I wanted nothing more to return home.”

  “And how did you get back?” Isabella asked.

  “No offense, but this story seems so far-fetched,” Julianna commented.

  “I know what I saw.”

  She narrated how the sky came crashing down with a stone and how she tried to take cover. Terrified, she regretted ever leaving the safety of the alleyway. When the stone dropped just inches before her with such a violent glow, her vision came to an end.

  “Just as a stone took me into the past, a stone took me to the present.”

  The girls stood there in silence with their jaws dropped, shaking as they trembled toward her.

  “This is insane. You really traveled back in time and saw a civilization collapse?” Alexa asked.

  “I wouldn’t lie to you. That’s what I saw.”

  “I always thought time travel was make-believe. The stuff radical scientists from my dimension would write about. Trust me when I say I’ve tried conjuring for myself and failed,” Alexa said.

  “Well, that’s what happened. If you’re still skeptical, take a look at the writings.”

  “What do you mean?” Alexa turned her curiosity toward the walls.

  “The writings. I can decipher them if you’d like,” said Ursula. “That was a skill I inherited from that vision.

  Alexa’s scoffed in utter shock. “You’re telling me you can read this fucking chicken scratch?”

  “I can.” Ursula approached the wall, skimming through the writings. “It tells of everything I’ve spoken of and more.”

  Alexa took a deep breath. “This all reminds me of another story I heard long ago about terrible things taking place in an ancient city not so different from the one you’re describing. Things about cults. About hideous godlike creatures devastating other dimensions with their psychic powers. I wonder if there’s any correlation.”

  Ursula stopped in her tracks, shaking with fear. She then slowly turned toward Alexa. Alexa and the others then looked back, anxious.

  “Seems there is a correlation,” Alexa said.

  Ursula looked down toward the sand around her feet, seemingly lost in another memory.

  “How did you know?”

  “I’m a very researched individual. I am constantly keeping myself up to date with the latest developments in the omniverse. If there are any potential threats to my empire, I want to know about it,” Alexa said.

  “Are you sure you didn’t mean to say titans?” Isabella asked.

  “I meant gods,” Alexa said. “Horrific brutes with the ability to enslave dimensions with just their minds.”

  “That sounds like make-believe, I must say,” Julianna said. “Even compared to what Ursula’s told us so far.”

  “Not as much as you’d think.”

  Her somber tone took the attention of the others as Ursula continued to read the markings, making her way to the images of altars surrounded by hooded beings with tentacles.

  “The city was filled with hopes and dreams, but also nightmares. People were greedy under the stone’s embrace. Crime took over this city from its underbelly as cults formed. The most famous one I heard about was the cult of Blackwater.”

  “Did you say cult?” Isabella’s eyes widened.

  Everyone turned their attention toward the largest image before them upon the walls. It depicted temples and people bowing before a black flame. Standing over them on a tablet were five beings of immense stature with various aquatic features. They could only assume those made up their pantheon.

  “I never once spoke to anyone there, but there was no keeping this one a secret, nor its reputation,” Ursula said. “They were a group of powerful merfolk who worshipped the stones
like deities.”

  She remembered searching the alleyways as soon as she heard word, demanding to see it for herself. And then, she did—merfolk gathered in the shadows, slitting hands and offering blood upon glowing green altars scattered in scriptures as they chanted: “All shall praise the stone. Great deities of Blackwater, hear our call.”

  “They believed that with the right offering, the deities would emerge from the deepest chasms of the ocean to destroy the entire world.”

  “Why would anyone worship such a thing?” Isabella asked.

  “Because that’s what power does to you,” Alexa interjected. “It drives you mad.”

  “That’s not true. We’ve all had power and we’re fine.”

  “But like Alexa said, these gods had psychic powers,” Julianna began. “If I had to put the pieces together, I’d say the stone was a part of their plan.”

  Isabella gasped. “You’re saying the stones are what gave the gods the ability to take over civilizations?”

  “That could very well be the case,” Ursula said. “They built an incredible city that collapsed because of their overwhelming desire for knowledge and their inability to handle it. Those gods know that.”

  “Knowledge? What sort of knowledge?” Isabella asked.

  “The orichalcum,” Julianna said. “They wanted to know more of its origin, I bet. And what other powers it could offer them.”

  “They didn’t just want money or intellect, did they? They wanted immortality and dreams fulfilled beyond their imagination,” Alexa said.

  “They were used somewhat of a gate to contact their gods. They called upon them, hoping to learn the true meaning behind all of this, even at the expense of losing everything they’ve come to gain,” Ursula explained.

  “I suppose it’s true what they say,” Julianna said. “It is only with absolute loss we can hope to learn the truth.”

  “Intense,” said Isabella, “and very deranged.”

  “To think gods could have such an influence.”

  Alexa looked at the image of their sadistic gods on the wall with a blend of outrage and terror.

  “And you never”—Isabella stopped with a nervous gulp.

  “I would never succumb to such foolish will,” Ursula said. “I may be a bit clueless at times, but I know what I saw and I knew not to repeat the atrocity before me.”

  Alexa smiled. “I’m glad you didn’t succumb. Truly.”

  “And it’s good to know there are also gods like Michael out there who would never drive their people to such maniacal extremes,” Julianna said.

  “Speaking of him, I think we’ve gotten more than enough rest here,” Alexa said.

  “Hold on. I think I see something,” Isabella said.

  During the conversation, they saw what had captivated her: a portion of the walls covered in sand.

  “What is it?” Julianna and the others walked over to join her.

  There appeared to be an image seemingly depicting some sort of an altar but she couldn’t quite make it all out.

  Lulled by the secrets it held, the girls began wiping the sand off the walls. Curiosity filled them as the image grew in clarity with every inch of sand they removed.

  “This must be some sort of joke,” Alexa exclaimed.

  Once they removed all of the sand, the image became clear. They looked at it in awe and utter disbelief.

  “Could this be real?” Julianna asked, shaking.

  “I have no idea. Even I’ve never seen or heard anything about this image before,” Said Ursula.

  Before them was an image of two figures resembling sorcerers facing one with scepters in their hands. There was an altar between the figures and an unfamiliar beast with tentacles above them.

  “Those figures… who are they?” Isabella asked.

  “The one on the left”—Alexa gazed upon the angel wings spouted from his back—“looks like Michael!”

  “And the one on the right looks like Lucifer!” Isabella pointed toward the demon wings on the other figure.

  “What does this all mean?” Ursula asked.

  “Well, we know they’re destined to face one another, but what bothers me is the altar, that monster, and the writings that surround it all,” Alexa said, gazing at the various incantations etched all across the image. “What the fuck is going on here?”

  “Do you think you could translate it?” Isabella asked Ursula. “Perhaps knowing the text could give us a better idea of what this image is trying to say.”

  “I’ll try, but I sense something sinister behind these words. Something mortal eyes were never meant to see. You may want to stand back,” Ursula said. The girls did as she told them. Fear and questions churned within them. The moment of suspenseful silence broke with a distant roar that startled them.

  “What was that?” Julianna asked.

  “I don’t know, but I certainly don’t want to spend any time here finding out.” Isabella stormed toward the cave path.

  “What about the translation,” Ursula asked.

  “It’ll have to wait until we deal with whatever’s lurking in those waters,” Alexa replied.

  Ursula nodded and then joined the others in following Isabella toward the darkened trail, hoping to outrun whatever was hiding in the water.

  Just as they edged to the exit, a towering beast emerged from the sea, stopping them in their tracks. The girls screamed out as their raced.

  “Unreal.”

  The beast’s green-blue-red skin glistened with water. The creature had a human form but stood much taller than any human Ursula had ever seen, but she recognized it, nevertheless; she couldn’t believe it was him, after all those eons.

  “That’s the blacksmith from all those years ago. How is he still alive?”

  “You think he got that immortality, after all?” Isabella asked.

  The man grinned down at them, sharpening his blade against a hook where his hand once was.

  “I don’t know, but it’s coming for us!” Julianna said, bringing out her sword.

  The pirate-like creature slowly walked out of the sea, lazily grabbing for the girls as it approached them.

  “This thing is slow, as well as ugly,” Isabella said.

  “What’s he even doing here and how did he find us?” Julianna asked.

  “Those who align with the Blackwater deities have an immense perception of outer threats. He must be furious we’re here on his sacred grounds,” Ursula said.

  “Sacred grounds?” Julianna turned toward the writing on the wall. “Are you referring to all the cave markings?”

  “That’s right. Fortunately for us, this underling’s most likely a weak one. I doubt it’ll take much for him to go down.”

  Ursula watched as he trudged toward them. His bellowing shouts and flailing arms were like those of a decrepit tree moving through algae and a fetid stench.

  “Be that as it may, they’ve proven they prefer fighting in packs,” Alexa said.

  “It won’t be long until it calls reinforcements. Don’t forget the cults I spoke of earlier.”

  “I haven’t. Leave it to me to kill it quickly!” Julianna said, igniting her sword in shadows.

  “What the hell are you going to do with that?” Alexa asked.

  “You’ll see.”

  Julianna sprinted toward the slimy figure clad in seaweed and slammed her blade on him. The merfolk retaliated with the hook for a hand, capturing the blade in between. With a mystifying gaze like two ocean depths, her force was weakening.

  “What’s this?” Her eyes widened. “He’s countering a blade with a hook?”

  “I told you cult members offer more than meets the eye. In this case, it’s a bit of psychic magic given to him by the deities,” Ursula said.

  “Although, I can’t imagine he was given very much,” Alexa added. Ursula nodded in agreement.

  “Is that a fact?”

  With a furious grunt, Julianna kicked the merfolk away. He attempted to grab on as he let out a bel
lowing groan. He was too slow, however, and his influence was lost.

  “Well, I’m not one for putting faith in false gods. No merfolk is going to change that.”

  Julianna stormed back at the merfolk with much more force—enough to withstand the psychic magic it possessed. She and the merfolk clashed their blades, sword against hook.

  Her influence in the battle quickly spread. She pushed him further toward the water with each vicious swing of her blade until he could flash his hook no longer. With another strike, the battle was over. Julianna jammed her blade in his neck. He screamed in pain, dropping to his knees. He gasped in pain and flailed his arms until he collapsed.

  “Well, that was disappointing,” she said. “I thought he’d be stronger.”

  “I suppose the followers aren’t as strong as their leaders,” Isabella said.

  “A shame, really. He was just like anyone else. Trying to live honestly until the stone corrupted him.”

  The merfolk slid off her bloodied blade and fell into the water. Julianna looked down at his hat and sword as the currents washed them away.

  “I wouldn’t dwell on that. He’s not who we’re looking for,” Julianna said. “Also, that was his decision to make and mine to finish.”

  “I suppose that you’re right. Also, I don’t see any others arriving any time soon.” Ursula said, surprised by the unusual calmness of the water.

  “A minor detour, then. We have work to do and an archangel to find,” Alexa said.

  “Which won’t be easy without the speed and projections of your steamcraft,” Julianna said.

  “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that…”

  Ursula pointed at a glimmer of gold in the waters of the cave. The others turned their attention to it, just as mystified as she was.

  “I see merfolk have unusual taste when it comes to transport,” Alexa said. She couldn’t understand why merfolk would need submarines.

  Emerging from it, however, was not a merfolk. The girls watched in shock as a snow-white head of hair emerged from the roof’s hatch.

  Chapter 7

  Forbidden Treasures

  M

  ichael brushed the hair off his face and looked across at his friends with a gleeful smile.