“What are you suggesting?” I replied.
Harper grinned. “Oh, yeah, I know exactly what he’s suggesting. It’s what we talked about,” she said. “With Fiona handling Zane, and more than half of the daemon forces out, uselessly looking for us, we can wreak significant havoc in Draconis. They’ve got plenty of daemon pacifists locked up in this joint, and we’ve got the skeleton keys,” she added, then gave the Druid an appreciative nod. “We’re on the same page, believe me.”
My synapses clicked with lightning speed as I prepared for the aforementioned “significant havoc”. I drew my broadsword and pushed its sharp tip against the warden’s throat. “You. Tell us where we can find some pacifists.”
“They’re next door, and put that thing away before you cut me with it!” he hissed, prompting me to raise an eyebrow. “I told you, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, as long as you spare me.”
“You don’t hold a candle to Velnias,” Ryker muttered.
“Velnias is a pacifist,” I replied.
Ryker seemed surprised. “Oh. So that’s why I got this bastard as the new High Warden. I see.”
“But you do make a fair point,” I said. “At least Velnias wouldn’t be so quick to betray his people.”
The High Warden scoffed, shaking his head slowly. “Oh, please. You don’t even know what it’s like down here. The king is barely holding onto his power, and you outsiders made everything ten times worse. The pacifists have been growing in numbers over the years and so have the Exiled Maras. This truce between the daemons and the Exiled Maras is a sham, hanging by a thread. I’m merely trying to survive what’s coming.”
“What do you mean?” Harper asked, moving to stand next to me and face him, while Caspian stood by the door, listening for any noises coming from outside.
“They’re desperate to rebuild Infernis. Fast,” the High Warden explained, then paused to spit more blood. “We’ve got patrols, pit wolves, and generals on high alert. The last thing King Shaytan wants is for the Exiled Maras to find out he took such a hit. And from a bunch of outsiders, to top it off. The alliance is fragile. There’s a lot of greed, plenty of internal machinations, Lords backstabbing other Lords. Same with the daemon princes. The Council’s been a mess since they arrested Zane. The daemon people are unhappy. Addicted to souls and faced with a dwindling population of Imen. We’re all frustrated. The balance keeps tilting. If the Exiled Maras hear about what happened in Infernis, I tell you… They wouldn’t mind being the supreme species of Neraka, so they wouldn’t have to share resources and souls with the rest of us.”
A couple of seconds passed as we all processed the information. We finally had extremely valuable insights into this so-called alliance between the daemons and the Exiled Maras. The only thing both species seemed to agree on was the value of the swamp witch, which was why they had “shared custody”. But the High Warden made a good point. If one side discovered the other side’s weakness, all bets were most likely off.
“I’m about to literally pat myself on the back for what we’ve done so far,” Harper muttered, slightly amused. “I had no idea it reverberated to such a level.”
“I know, right?” Jax chuckled softly. “All the more reason to tear this place apart while we’re here.”
“Oh, yeah. Just let the pacifists loose,” the High Warden chimed in. “They have their secret meeting spots and ways of delivering messages. They know all the city’s weak spots. They’ll have a field day dismantling Draconis. Just make sure you leave me here and lock the door behind you. I’m perfectly happy to plead for amnesty once you leave,” he added with a smirk, making my stomach churn.
“Nothing stops us from letting a few pacifists loose,” I said, ignoring the daemon and focusing on Harper. “It’s on our way, if you think about it.”
Caspian, Jax, Pheng-Pheng, and Harper all nodded in agreement. Ryker chuckled softly.
“I like you crazy folks,” he said. “A handful of you are resourceful and vicious enough to decimate a daemon city. I can only imagine what an army of your kind would do.”
“You will find out, actually, as soon as we get Lumi out of Azure Heights,” I replied with a smile. “She’s the only thing standing between us and our people back home. Though, it’s not her fault. And she’s the only one who can bring the shield down.”
“And you said Telluris doesn’t work, either?” Ryker asked, frowning.
I shook my head, then sighed. “Not at all. It doesn’t even work between us, on Neraka. Whatever that shield does, it cuts off everything. One of our own nearly got blown up while trying to leave the planet in a travel orb.”
“And the Exiled Maras have her, for sure?” Ryker replied.
“Laughlan overheard some other warden talking about it, yes,” I said.
“I can’t confirm that, but it seems like a safe bet,” the High Warden interjected. “It’s probably why King Shaytan is so worried the Maras will find out about what happened in Infernis. The Maras might disable the daemon grunts with whom they’re jointly guarding the swamp witch, thereby canceling the truce. A weak king will bring his kingdom down. He’s not even letting Darius go back to Azure Heights. He’s afraid he’ll tell the others and he’ll lose access to the swamp witch,” he chuckled.
Harper started pacing the room, her gaze darting around as she quickly reassessed our position and our options, given these revelations. I had to give the vampire sentry credit. Despite her age, Harper was sharp and ruthless. I could easily see her taking Derek’s place in a few thousand years. She didn’t focus on a problem, but always went straight for the solution, bypassing the moment of panic that made many younglings choke. I could see great things in her future, provided we all made it off Neraka in one piece.
“If the pacifists know one another and can communicate with one another, we could easily have them not only sabotage Draconis, but also spread word back to Infernis and other cities,” she said, then took out her skeleton key, grinning. “All they’ll need is this.”
“They could also spread the word about King Shaytan,” Pheng-Pheng added, her scorpion tail twitching with delight. “The rumors would fly back to Azure Heights. And our enemy would have some internal turmoil that would make it easier for us to get the swamp witch out. I doubt the Maras would pass on an opportunity to disable the daemons, even with outsiders loose on Neraka. They’re greedy.”
“And greed often leads to foolishness,” Jax replied with a nod. “Whatever they thought they were going to achieve when they brought us over here, they overlooked two very important aspects. One: we came with a dragon. Two: they know little to nothing about GASP and how it operates. They’ve been stranded here for so long, they’ve actually become convinced they’re superior.”
The High Warden let out a brief, malicious cackle. “Oh, please. The only reason King Shaytan hasn’t been able to wipe them off the face of Neraka has been because they snatched the witch and forced him into a truce. They’ve been trying to con and outsmart one another for thousands of years. The best they could come up with was the truce, until the Imen started dying off and they realized they needed more souls to feed on.”
“That’s where we came in,” Harper scoffed. “Their first test. An attempt to draw supernaturals to Neraka, capture and enslave them, force them to reproduce and grow in numbers, in captivity, so they can have more souls to consume.”
“Sadistic bastards, I know,” Ryker breathed, visibly disgusted.
Jax gave him a sympathetic smile, followed by a friendly pat on the back. Well, it was meant to be friendly, but Ryker was still so weak that it made him wobble and nearly fall over, before Jax caught him and helped him stay upright. “Don’t sweat it, Druid. Soon enough, you’ll see the light of day again,” he said.
Ryker gave him a weak smirk. “It’s been almost… what, eight thousand years since I’ve felt the sun on my face? I’ve lost track.”
“It’s a wonder you’re still alive,” the High Warden grumbled, a muscle tw
itching in his broken jaw.
I clapped my hands once, then took out a second supply of invisibility paste. Jax gave some to Ryker, too. “We’re good to go, then. Stopping by next door first, then off to get some Maras out,” I announced, then swallowed the shimmering paste, mounted the red lens over my eye, and sheathed my broadsword.
We gathered by the door, watching one another as we gradually vanished, Ryker included. The High Warden stared at us, then put on a hopeful, sheepish, and crooked smile.
“I’ll let the pacifists know you let me live when they get here,” he said, no longer able to see us.
“Who said we’re letting you live?” I replied dryly, then nodded at Pheng-Pheng.
His face dropped. All Pheng-Pheng needed was a couple of steps and a jab of her poisonous tail. It wasn’t just that I couldn’t stand daemons who fed on the souls of the innocent. I absolutely loathed traitors, and the High Warden would’ve easily turned against us, if given the opportunity.
I wasn’t born yesterday.
Harper
We left the High Warden’s body behind, the Manticore poison collapsing his lungs and gradually making him rot from the inside out. Hansa was right to have him killed. He had been so quick to betray his own people, after we’d only just caught him feeding on Ryker’s soul. There was no honor in that sack of meat and bones. He would have stabbed us in the back the moment we looked away, and there were too many lives at stake for us to take that risk.
Once again, we split into three groups. Caspian, Pheng-Pheng, and I took the lead, with Jax and Hansa in the middle, watching our backs, and Caia with Blaze at the back, keeping Idris, Rayna, and Ryker safe by their side. I locked the door to Cell 9 behind me, after we tossed the daemon guards’ bodies inside, on top of the High Warden’s. The longer it took for someone to figure out there was something wrong, the better. We didn’t want anyone stumbling upon dead daemons thrown behind meranium boxes, anyway.
“We need to prioritize,” I whispered as we crossed the street, mindful of any daemons who could pass by. “The Maras are just over on this side,” I added, pointing to my left. “Let’s get them out first, then come back for the pacifists.”
“Agreed,” Caspian replied with a nod, then motioned for me to lead the way.
I went ahead and made a sharp left turn, sneaking between meranium boxes until we reached the neighboring block. I caught a glimpse of Hansa and Jax, twenty yards behind us, frowning—until they figured out what we were doing and immediately acted as our look outs, hands on their swords, as they kept their distance.
Just like before, Pheng-Pheng disabled the daemons guarding the Maras with her poison. This time, however, we simply unlocked the door with my skeleton key, tossing the bodies inside and scaring the living daylights out of Rush and Amina, the two surviving Maras from the Druid delegation. They couldn’t see us, but they could certainly see the limp bodies of the paralyzed, dying daemons.
“By the Daughters!” Rush gasped, pulling Amina into his arms and retreating into a corner.
“Don’t be afraid,” I said. “We’re friends. We’ve come to set you free. Laughlan, Ryker, Idris, and Rayna are waiting for you outside.”
I put two of my spare red lenses in Amina’s hand. She gave one to Rush, and they both looked up and simultaneously frowned, now able to see us. They were even more confused, as they tried to figure out what we were.
“Vampire.” I pointed at myself, then at Caspian and Pheng-Pheng. “Mara and Manticore. We’ve got another Mara and a succubus outside, along with a fae and a dragon, plus your friends. There’s no time for me to explain everything now, but you need to come with us if you want to live.”
“Oh… Wow,” Rush breathed, his eyes wide with recognition. “You’re the outsiders that put the daemons on edge.”
I couldn’t help but smirk a little, resting my hands on my hips. “We did, huh?”
“Self-congratulatory pats later!” Pheng-Pheng chimed in, motioning for the Maras to come out from their corner. She took out a supply of invisibility paste and tossed it at them. Rush caught it with one hand and looked inside. “Invisibility paste. Swallow it and keep that red lens on. We’re getting you out of here.”
Amina instantly teared up, her lips trembling as Rush fed her some of the shimmering paste. “I never thought I’d see the day,” she murmured.
“It will be over soon, I promise,” I assured them.
They both vanished with a subtle shimmer and locked hands. “What now?” Rush asked.
“Come with us,” I replied, then walked back outside.
As soon as they were out, I locked the door with my skeleton key, but a familiar voice made me freeze on the spot.
“Guards! Guards! My brother is out! Guards!” Cayn was shouting from the bottom of his lungs, just fifty yards down the street. He held his side, occasionally leaning against a meranium box as he moved to find daemons to go out and look for Zane and Fiona. He’d yet to spot us, with his back to us, but chances were that he was wearing a red lens and that he was going to see us once he turned around. We had to move fast.
I heard Amina gasp behind me.
On pure instinct, my mind clicked. I pushed the skeleton key into Pheng-Pheng’s hand. “You know what you have to do,” I told her. She gawked at me, suddenly worried. “Take them to Caia and Blaze so they can be with the others. And get those two pacifists out. Leave them the key so they can do the rest.”
“But what about you? Caspian?” Pheng-Pheng mumbled.
“Come back for us. But take care of them first,” I said, nodding at Rush and Amina.
Fortunately, Pheng-Pheng was quick to obey. She grabbed Rush’s hand, who, in turn, held Amina close, and rushed them back past Jax and Hansa between the meranium boxes, disappearing around the corner, where the others were waiting.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Caspian asked as we both turned to face Cayn.
The daemon seemed gravely wounded, unable to stand upright. Not that it was in my nature to tackle a wounded enemy, but I was willing to make an exception for vermin like him. I knew where to hit in order to bring him to his knees and disable him.
The main street was farther back behind him by approximately one hundred yards. He had to be silenced before others heard him.
“We have to,” I said. “I’m assuming Cayn was there when Fiona came for Zane. I’m also assuming she locked him in the meranium cage, but the bastard had his own key, which they didn’t take from him. Or they did, and he shouted till some other guard let him out. Either way, he’s loud.”
I braced myself for what came next. Inhaling deeply, I darted down the street and drew my swords, hoping he wouldn’t see me just yet. He turned around as soon as he heard the blades’ gentle screech as they came out of their scabbards.
He spotted me and put on a wicked grin, quick to take out his broadsword.
“I see you, little vampire!” he hissed, sending shivers down my spine. There wasn’t much time to figure out how he knew what I was. Not that it mattered, anyway, as I was determined to silence him forever.
“Good,” I grunted, and made a high leap forward, bringing both my swords down hard.
Our blades clashed with a loud clang. Despite his side wound, Cayn still had some fire in him. Much to my dismay, he was also very quick in blocking my hits. I tried to slash him once more, then immediately pulled out of his sword’s range. The third time around he hit back, turning his defense into an offense before I could take my precautionary step back.
Next thing I knew, I was the one defending myself from Cayn.
Caspian intervened and almost rammed his sword through Cayn’s hip, but Cayn heard him come and dodged, then swerved and launched his sword from the side in a wide curve. Caspian only had a split second to bring his blade up and block that hit.
We both took on Cayn, but he was annoyingly good at keeping us on our toes. I managed to slash his thigh, though, blood quickly blooming out of the long, diagonal gash.
&n
bsp; Footsteps erupted from a side alley. I caught a glimpse of two daemons coming in, followed by the sound of swords leaving their scabbards. Hansa and Jax intervened, tackling the guards, while Caspian and I kept working our way closer to Cayn.
With every failed attempt to cut him, I felt my blood get closer to reaching a boiling point. I exhaled, understanding that Cayn was the kind of fighter that required me to take more risks if I wanted to deal a decisive blow. I had to stop pulling back to avoid his broadsword swings.
“Take the back,” I told Caspian, panting as I lunged forward with a flurry of double sword hits.
Left, right, left, right, until he missed a left hit by a split second and my blade slashed down his chest plate. Don’t stop!
Cayn was forced to bring his broadsword up to hit me, then turned to push Caspian away.
“Traitor!” he barked at Caspian.
That was the opening I needed. I took another step forward and sent both swords up and straight to the back of his thick neck. He ducked, and my blades nearly hit Caspian’s, as we both went for his head.
Cayn slid to the right in a fast, twisting motion. It caught Caspian by surprise, and the first three inches of his broadsword cut right through his stomach. I yelped, my joints instantly freezing, as Caspian fell to his knees, blood spraying out of the wide wound. Cayn kicked him back with his sandaled foot, then turned to face me with a satisfied sneer.
My mind went into overdrive. My instincts flared, and I pushed a strong barrier out. It knocked him back a couple of feet, but he was still too big and too strong for my sentry pulse to cause significant damage. I launched another flurry of sword hits, but Cayn kept blocking them. It was infuriating now, because every second I spent fighting him and not giving Caspian some of my blood was a second wasted.
It also distracted me, and it cost me dearly, as Cayn spotted my stolen glances at Caspian on the ground. He dropped and swung his leg around, sweeping me off my feet.
I fell and landed on my back with a hard thud. It knocked the air out of my lungs. Cayn brought his sword down with so much strength that my arms nearly popped from their joints when I crossed my blades to stop his from literally slicing me in half.
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