The Infernal Games

by Reed Logan Westgate

“I was nearly killed,” Xlina interjected.

  “But you survived,” Oxivius continued. “You went to Maine, enrolled in college, got an apartment, all on your own.”

  “She helped me,” Xlina countered, not able to bring herself to mention the demon’s name.

  “She pointed a direction for sure,” Oxivius rebutted. “She showed you a road, but you chose to walk it. You chose to act on your dreams and hunt the hunters. That was all you.”

  “It cost me a mark,” Xlina countered again fiercely. “And perhaps my soul.”

  “Yes; an oddity that,” Oxivius said leaning back in his chair and stroking his beard in thought. “Why do you still have it? Why not feed on you and be done with it?”

  “Maybe it’s more fun to drag it out,” Xlina offered sarcastically. “The Brothers seemed to think I could be used as leverage on my father. That they would go to him and offer my soul in exchange for passage through the Mist.”

  “Maybe,” Oxivius nodded. “But the druids have been guardians for centuries. Why do you think they gather in groves? No one druid would be enough to allow such a turn of events. You would need to corrupt the entire grove.”

  “Then it’s more fun,” Xlina added. “The long slow devouring and eventual corruption of her prey, right?”

  “Perhaps,” Oxivius agreed. “But why the long game? She waited for now, this moment. Set the stage at just the right time. For what? She could have tricked you at any time.”

  “Hey,” Xlina barked defensively, swatting at Oxivius with a light open hand.

  “You were unsuspecting,” Oxivius continued, ignoring her pleas. “Easy prey, alone, vulnerable, trusting. Why wait?”

  “You got me,” Xlina shrugged.

  “Because you don’t see your own worth,” Oxivius concluded. “There is a larger game than we realize afoot, and if we are to see you survive this, we must figure out what exactly that is.”

  “So holy ground?” She pressed.

  “Can’t you just accept a compliment, love?” Oxivius teased back. “Whether you care to admit it or not, there is something there, a greater plan for you. The sooner you start accepting the facts as they are, the sooner we can start twisting them to our advantage.”

  “How so?” Xlina questioned dubiously.

  “Why do you think your demon master is going to allow the fae to snipe her precious prize away from her after she waited so long to get you?” Oxivius replied.

  “You think she’ll fight the fae for us?” Xlina replied, full of doubt.

  “Not fight,” Oxivius replied cunningly. “But she’ll put a good scare into one if we can figure out which of the bastards was tipped to your mark.”

  “You think it’s just one?” Xlina inquired.

  “Love, the fae folk are as varied and unique as humans. Many factions, many claiming to be the rightful ruler,” Oxivius explained. “But unlike humans, fae are beings that live on trickery and deception. They spend as much time undercutting each other as they do meddling with humans and other species. If ever they united, they could rule both Earth and the Otherworld. Such is their combined power, but their species is incapable of such collaboration.”

  “So we just need to figure out who has my number.” Xlina nodded.

  “Indeed,” Oxivius smiled cruelly. “There was one more bloke outside of your apartment sent by the fae. I think it’s time to invite him for dinner.”

  The tone in his voice made her uncomfortable, but she was beginning to trust him. How could she not? She looked at her pajama bottoms stained with blood and her bare feet. She had no idea where the sneakers she had snatched up were, perhaps the hearse? At any rate, she would need a shower and fresh clothes before they began tracking down the mysterious assailant.

  “I assume there is a shower available,” Xlina said, breaking the silence, only then realizing how intently his icy blue eyes had been fixed on her. Not in a lewd way like the pigs at Pandora’s, whom she could feel undressing her with their eyes. This was a look of understanding, like he was looking at an optical illusion with focused intensity to determine how it worked.

  “Naturally. I’ll show you the way,” he said, rising from his chair and sweeping his arm toward a door next to the hearth. Xlina swore it had not been there just a moment before. He led her down a short hall lined with many doors. Coming to the door at the very end, he reached for the onyx knob and gave a twist, revealing a luxurious bathroom. The countertops were a white marble with black flecks, and the walls were lined with giant mirrors that looked like they belonged in a museum. She walked in speechless as he motioned to the towels and a shower door that looked like it was made of fine crystal. The fixtures were all bronze with a silver inlay, and if she had to guess, the whole setup cost more than her entire apartment building.

  “Thanks,” she said, looking around in wonder.

  “The soap dispenser is enchanted,” Oxivius added. “I found it in a pharaoh’s grave. Its scent matches a memory you focus on during use, so choose wisely.”

  “Naturally,” Xlina replied with a hint of sarcasm. “Was all of this taken from tombs?”

  “You would be amazed what some folks are buried with,” Oxivius smirked. “Can’t take it with you, they say, but you can bring it to ole Ox in the Necropolis when you are long forgotten in the ebb of time.”

  “Thanks,” Xlina replied with a short smile.

  “I’ll leave some clothing things by the door,” He added. “Please don’t explore on your own. Call when you’re ready, and I’ll show you to a guest room for the night.”

  “Afraid I’ll find some skeletons in your closet?” Xlina teased.

  “No, love,” Oxivius replied grimly. “Some doors lead to other places. You’re not ready for that yet.”

  With a quick turn, he left her alone in the elegant washroom with her thoughts. She eagerly stripped down and cautiously opened the magnificent crystal door, revealing a full-sized tub you could lay down in with ease and an ornate bronze shower head. The warm water soaking over her was well worth the wait, and her thoughts lingered on Amber resting in a coffin on the other side of the house. What was she going to do with Amber?

  Chapter Nine

  The Dream Eater

  The noxious smell of acid lingered in the air, tickling her nostrils and causing her face to scrunch in disgust. Xlina stood over an emaciated corpse, its skin and clothing burned away as wisps of acrid smoke lingered in the air. It was night, sometime late into the evening. She looked up at the moon, which was nearly full and hanging in the sky like a pale neon light offering respite from the darkness. She looked back at the smoldering corpse lying face up on the pavement. The face was all but melted, leaving behind shiny bits of bleached bone poking through the crimson bits of remaining muscle tissue. The ribs on the chest cavity were busted, as if the victim had been hit with a sledgehammer. She looked down at herself uncontrollably, only now realizing the man’s heart was clenched in her blood-stained hand. She closed her eyes, trying to focus and assert control over her dream state. With a deep breath, she opened them once more.

  She stood on a stage in front of a crowd of students adorned in blue and white graduation gowns. The center of the stage held a solitary microphone on a slim stand instead of the podium traditionally used at such events, and the dean of the university rambled on about commencement and hard work leading to the end.

  “Now without further ado,” the dean said with dramatic flair. “Your valedictorian, Amber Sedgewick!”

  The crowd applauded wildly with hoots and hollers as a curtain was pulled back from the stage to reveal Amber, dressed solely in a racy thong complete with matching brassiere that left little to the imagination. She walked to the microphone and began her speech without any ado, apparently unfazed by her lack of clothing.

  “Esteemed peers,” she began. She was immediately interrupted by jeers and catcalls from the crowd. A handful of guys in the front row made some obscene gestures. Confused, she looked down, and horror spread on her f
ace as she realized she had forgotten her dress and gown.

  “I am in her naked at school dream,” Xlina sighed as Amber desperately tried to hide behind the all-too-thin microphone stand. The dean came forward, trying to grab the microphone to speak and inadvertently ripping away what little cover she had to hide behind. She fumbled, trying to cover herself with her arms as the students whooped and wailed in delight, throwing their caps in the air. At the far end of the stage, a boy mounted the stage and blocked the exit like a defensive lineman, bringing more cheers from the crowd. Amber, caught between the flabbergasted Dean and a raucous crowd, seemed to wilt there on the stage.

  Xlina closed her eyes again, focusing on the dreamscape, but this time, when she opened her eyes, she was back in the luxurious, soft bed of Oxivius’ guest room, snuggled in between red satin sheets. Oxivius had left her a bundle of silk pajamas that were three sizes too large, and she had put them on, looking like a child wearing their parent’s pajamas. They had both laughed when she had called to him, and he had led her through a maze of halls and doors until they had come to the guest room. She remembered being shown the room and marveling at the furnishings. It was nicer than any hotel she had ever stayed in. A four-poster, king-sized bed was the focus of the room, made up with red satin sheets and a matching canopy fit for royalty. The room had a matching vanity dresser and a black leather reclining chair in the corner situated next to the nightstand, which was littered with books.

  Her stomach grumbled, reminding her of the scant dreams she had consumed in her slumber. With the only other dreaming souls in the vicinity being Oxivius and Amber, she had taken her much needed nourishment from them, but it wasn’t as filling as the abundant nightmares of the city of Portland. She smirked to herself, at least knowing that she had consumed Amber’s dreaded naked at school dream. The poor girl wouldn’t be having that nightmare again anytime soon. She took it as a good sign that the girl wasn’t dreaming about the Cu Sith or monsters after such a traumatic event the day before.

  She looked to the dresser at the far end of the king-sized bed and contemplated whether she would find anything in there her size. She cautiously approached the dresser, unwilling to try the closet door after Oxivius’ warning about doors in his house leading elsewhere. The dresser itself was massive and made of a fine hardwood. It was a deep cherry red and had shiny brass hardware on its drawers. The back was adorned with a large ornate mirror, which seemed to shimmer as if its surface were made of water. With bated breath, she pulled open the top drawer, revealing an assortment of undergarments for both men and women. She picked and pawed through the selection, which seemed random at best, before narrowing her options down to a pair of men’s boxers that looked like they would fit her hips and a lacy pair of panties that looked like they came from the shelves of Victoria’s Secret, complete with a little pink bow on the crotch.

  “Maybe another time,” she said, tossing the ladies underwear back into the drawer and slipping into the men’s boxers. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but it was better than the day-old bloody garments she had been slumming around in yesterday. She searched for a sports bra or some kind of support, but found nothing that would fit her smaller size chest. She cursed herself for having such a figure, feeling a moment of jealousy for Amber’s supple figure, which had curves in all the right places. The nightmares she consumed burned calories in her sleep. Active nightmares had her heart racing like she was boxing for fifteen rounds as a warmup before running a triathlon. This left her diet very flexible, as she received most of her nourishment from feasting on the magical energies buried in dreams. The regular exertion had given her tall figure a long and lean sculpt like that of a swimmer. Her muscles were taut and toned, but her body fat paid the price, mainly in her chest and butt. Most girls would dream of that kind of weight management system, until they had to face the everyday challenge of living with a gymnast’s body in a pinup’s world. With no support fitting just right, she gave up her search and moved on to the next drawer, which brimmed with an assortment of shirts and tops. There was everything from a medieval leather jerkin to the stereotypical disco black shirt and vest combo.

  “Some things belong dead,” she commented to herself before finding a suitable t-shirt. It was smaller than she would have liked, fitting snugly to her torso and showing a few inches of her midriff, but it was better than the leather jerkin. She dug around in the next drawer and found a suitable pair of jeans. She slipped them on and finally started feeling presentable. Looking in the mirror, she frowned at her long brown hair, which was tangled and matted. She would have killed for a hairbrush.

  Walking to the door and cracking it open, she called for Oxivius as instructed, not wanting to roam freely in the magical maze of doors. She heard the clang of pots and pans ring down the corridor just before he slipped into view from a door to the side. He was wearing his typical black on black, with a pleated dark blue vest under a white kitchen apron that bore fresh red stains.

  “I say, did you sleep well?” he asked, motioning for her to follow him.

  “I did, though I am still famished,” Xlina replied, padding down the hall to join Oxivius at the open door.

  “I’m afraid the Necropolis isn’t as populated as your Portland,” he replied with a scoff. “At least not by any still dreaming.”

  She passed through the open door to a quaint kitchen, which had the largest refrigerator she had ever seen looming like a giant next to a standard-size gas stove, where a collection of pans and utensils lay as if strewn about by a tornado. In the center of the room was a medium-sized island that held assorted plates and barstools. Sitting at the far end of the island was a disheveled looking Amber.

  “Amber,” Xlina gasped, running to the girl and embracing her tightly. She was dressed in a mishmash of clothing, no doubt having to pick from assorted garments left behind by the dead like Xlina. Despite this, she still looked like the best dressed, most popular girl in her class. Her platinum-blond hair tickled Xlina’s nose as she pulled the girl close.

  “What is going on?” Amber asked, her voice still shaken.

  “You are okay,” Xlina said, not letting go for a second. “We saved you.”

  “What were those things?” Amber whispered, fighting desperately to hold back the tears.

  “They were after me,” Xlina said softly. “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have dragged you into it. That was never my intent.”

  “You didn’t drag,” Amber whispered through sobs. Holding Xlina tightly and steadying her breath, she continued. “You were trying to push everyone away, and I wouldn’t accept it. I literally barged into your apartment. I wasn’t expecting for hell dogs to follow me in.”

  “Fae dogs,” Oxivius chimed in as he worked a cast iron pan on the stove. “Hell hounds would have been... much worse.”

  “Who are you people?” Amber asked in dismay. She finally released her embrace on Xlina and sat back, wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “I am Oxivius,” he barked from the stove. “And your friend there is a very special girl, though she struggles to accept it.”

  “I devour dreams,” Xlina said pensively. She looked at her feet and took a stool, waiting for the imminent rejection.

  “I don’t understand,” Amber said, shaking her head.

  “She’s magic,” Oxivius said, turning with a smile and a pair of plates brimming with bacon, sausages, and eggs. He set the plates on the table and turned back to his stove, a slight whistle escaping him as he began cleaning his mess.

  “Like a witch?” Amber asked.

  “No. I don’t cast spells,” Xlina said, shaking her head but thankful that Amber was still somewhat following along. “I have nightmares every night. Well, they are not my nightmares. I see other people’s nightmares, and I consume them in my sleep.”

  “Consume them?” Amber inquired.

  “They nourish me,” Xlina explained hesitantly. “I eat people’s dreams. They give me power.”

  “That’s what made you
go all glowy,” Amber said in awe, holding up her fists in display.

  “Yes. I can focus the nightmare energy to my hands.” Xlina smiled. Finding some kind of acceptance from Amber warmed her heart. She had never really confided in someone who wasn’t already familiar with the Otherworld and magic. Her father had wanted her to be a normal girl, like her sister, and he had been mortified when her powers had manifested. Telling Amber was her moment of truth, an act that exposed her most vulnerable side.

  “That’s cool,” Amber said awkwardly. She poked at the plate full of meat politely, but she clearly had no appetite yet. “So you, um, fight monsters often?”

  “She’s a hunter,” Oxivius rang in from the sink, his voice raised to be heard over the running water.

  “Sometimes my nightmares show me when bad things will happen, and I can’t just let them happen,” Xlina explained. “I think they are the nightmares of witnesses perhaps? The dreamscape doesn’t have the same linear time as we do. It’s more like a jumble of past, present, and future. Have you ever dreamed something and then months later it happens, and you suddenly remember that you had a dream about it? It’s like that.”

  “So the night at Pandora’s,” Amber questioned, the pieces falling into place. “You weren’t meeting a guy. You were looking for a monster. That’s why you were dressed like that?”

  “She stopped a nasty critter,” Oxivius added proudly. “One that was waiting for you and that meat snack jock. Though in hindsight, we should have let it eat that dirtbag.”

  “What?” Amber hissed unexpectedly.

  “Indeed, it was a good night for our girl,” Oxivius said, walking over and casually leaning on the table, eyeing the plates. “She killed a right nasty beastie that was going to turn you into hors d’oeuvres with a beefcake for the main course. Then she knocked your beefcake in the danglies and saved you from his ill intentions. Twice in one night, she protected you from the filth of the world.”

  “Ox, please,” Xlina begged, her face flushed red with embarrassment.