The Infernal Games

by Reed Logan Westgate

  “Ox?” Xlina stammered, her head clouded, drawing Amber to shake her roughly.

  “Yes, Oxivius,” Amber replied as she moved her head close. She extended her tongue and licked Xlina from her jawline up her cheek, as if tasting her life force. “Beg me to finish you, and I’ll forget about Lexxes and Oxivius. They were never a part of the game anyway.”

  “Fine,” Xlina relented. “Just finish me and let them go.”

  “Come on, X,” Amber huffed in frustration. “Is that the best you got? Beg me... I want to hear it in your voice...”

  “Please...” Xlina tried again. “Please... don’t hurt my friends.”

  “Please what?” Amber said again, shaking her roughly.

  “Please, Amber,” Xlina repeated. “Please don’t hurt my friends... I... beg you.”

  “Ohhhh, that’s nice,” Amber cooed, and Xlina could feel her shudder on top of her. Amber looked in her eyes. Her black stained eyes were no longer a window to her soul, rather an endless pit of darkness. At that moment, Xlina knew she had failed her. She had failed to keep her safe, she had failed to protect her from the perils of the Otherworld. Oxivius was right. She couldn’t have it both ways, and Amber had paid the price. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. She wept uncontrollably. She wept for her friend, for her soul, which would soon be lost to her, and most of all for Oxivius, whom she knew would blame himself for all of it. Her last words to him had been filled with betrayal, anger. She had assumed he was Eritgan’s puppet, and her assumption had no doubt hit him harder than anything Amber had leveled at him. At the end of it all, she knew she would die here alone, with just Valeria watching on, ready to claim her soul.

  Amber leaned in once more, her lips parting and mouth drawing open as she pulled Xlina’s mouth to hers. Xlina looked up at Amber, her head a dark silhouette against a bright light as Brick slammed into her from behind. She wailed in protest as the fire spirit and the demon fought for space within her. Her hand flung out to the sides; her back arched as she flung her head back, lost in the struggle within.

  “I’m sorry,” Xlina said softly through a mask of tears as she placed her hands over Amber’s heart and released all of her remaining nightmare energy. The resounding crack of magic echoed in the room as a torrent of dream magic ripped through Amber’s body. Crackling bolts of blue cascaded out from her core like lightning as her body convulsed under the strain. The magic poured into her chest in a release of anguish as Xlina screamed, pushing every ounce of her energy out through her hands. It seemed like a lifetime, but it was only a moment before the room became silent. Amber’s body smoked from the torrent of energy, and her head remained frozen in the throes of agony. Brick emerged, dimly lit, and he hobbled about the room, whining sadly. Amber’s husk flopped to the side as Xlina lay on her back, her hand still frozen in place as her action registered in her mind.

  Brick staggered over to Xlina; a whimper escaped him as he circled. He acted confused as he nudged Amber’s body, but it remained unresponsive. Xlina freed herself from between Amber’s legs and dared not look at the corpse of her fallen friend, instead looking to Valeria, who lay amused on the dais. She clapped slowly with a wicked smile.

  “You won,” she said through her crimson lips. “I didn’t even have to compel you. I knew you could do it.”

  “Won?” Xlina asked in dismay, looking around at the devastation in her wake. “You call this a win?”

  “Well, the Council is in disarray,” Valeria responded, ticking off a finger in the air. “Ertigan’s plan to sow a council loyal to him has failed, his attempt to win the game at the outset spoiled by our little Baku. Honestly, I couldn’t be prouder, my dear, dear girl.”

  “Proud,” Xlina shook her head. “Proud?”

  “You performed well,” Valeria replied, hopping down from the dais. She looked about her tattered clothing and sighed. With a snap of her fingers, a torrent of flame shot up from the floor, engulfing her until only a shadow in the flame could be seen. As the flames died down, she stood in a sleek red dress with matching heels, her makeup done to perfection and her hair pulled back in a sleek braid, save a single strand that hung by her face, which curled perfectly. She looked flawless for a fifty-year-old woman.

  “Amber,” Xlina said under her breath. Shaking her head, she wrapped herself in a hug.

  “A brilliant play,” Valeria replied, walking to Xlina and placing her hands on her shoulders. “I didn’t see it coming. Betrayal. It was heart wrenching; I’m truly sorry. I was jealous of her, I admit that, but I didn’t think it would end like this.”

  “Sorry?” Xlina barked, pulling away. “Amber’s dead, and you’re sorry?”

  “I did warn you about getting attached,” Valeria corrected, as if nothing that had transpired had been her fault. “Did I not?”

  “I chose you,” Xlina stammered. “Oxivius and Amber asked me to fight Puc, and I chose to save you...”

  “I’m grateful,” Valeria said, patting a finger on Xlina’s nose playfully.

  “Amber’s right,” Xlina lamented. “Every time, I chose someone other than her. I put her in the background. I pushed her to him.”

  “Listen, Xlina,” Valeria pouted in response. “Ertigan’s a demon. It’s what we do. You can’t blame yourself for her weakness. Let’s focus on you, okay?”

  “Her weakness?” Xlina spat back indignantly. “Her weakness? It’s all just a game to you, isn’t it? She had no value at all.”

  “What can I say?” Valeria shrugged in response.

  “You’re a demon,” Xlina replied, finishing Valeria’s sentence with the all-too-familiar adage.

  “Precisely,” Valeria smiled. She was a vision of beauty once more, and Xlina found it hard to look away from her. She was free to come and go as she pleased and apparently was well on her way to being mended. The choker no longer bore any signs of life, but Xlina realized it had never been what she had expected. In that moment when Valeria, still a passenger within her body, had seen her patron’s rival Ertigan who had tortured her in hell it became clear. Xlina had known, deep down, that the choker had just been a tool all along, just another ploy to manipulate her. It was a maze, and she was the mouse trapped within its machinations, running its course for the promise of cheese. Valeria had manipulated everything. It had been Valeria’s voice in her head, telling her she wasn’t pretty enough. It had been Valeria stroking her thoughts of inadequacies. Valeria had consistently made her choose, time and time again, every time she had put the choker back on, every time she had felt the warmth of the reward and the good sensations that went with it. It had been the demon rewarding the mouse in the maze with another bite of cheese until the mouse behaved exactly as desired.

  “It’s been you the whole time,” Xlina replied coldly. “Hasn’t it?”

  “I surely don’t know what you mean,” Valeria cooed playfully. “But as it’s all about me, I would be inclined to agree. It’s all about me, Xlina. You and I, together.”

  “Together,” Xlina replied vacantly; the lingering thought that the infernal game was more than pawns on a battlefield resonated deep inside her.

  “Forever, pet,” Valeria responded, taking her hand. “Now you have done such a fine job. Why don’t you take a break? Go home to the Hearth. Soak in a nice hot bath. Get some rest. I’m sure Oxivius will be mended anew in no time.”

  “That’s it?” Xlina asked numbly. Her heart felt cold. The shock and grief filled her. Brick whined, pacing about with a hobble.

  “For now,” Valeria answered with a careless shrug. “Until I need you again.”

  “For what?” Xlina replied curiously.

  “Well, for whatever Ertigan comes up with next,” Valeria cooed, bopping her on the nose once more. “I doubt he’ll take having all his hard work ruined lightly.”

  “Is that all?” Xlina replied. “Is that all my life is now, one battle to the next, fighting for your patron?”

  “Was it any different before the mark?” Valeria asked, drawin
g a shrug from Xlina. “Come on; you’ll feel better after some rest. Time heals and all that.”

  “You’re going to let me return to the Hearth?” Xlina asked skeptically.

  “For now,” Valeria replied. “But I am thinking, now that Puc is dead, about acquiring Pandora’s. It’ll be a nice investment, and now that you’ve been expelled from the university, you’ll need a job. I’m thinking bouncer?”

  “Expelled?” Xlina asked.

  “You missed too many classes,” Valeria explained. “Come on; it’s not like you were enjoying it. Besides, would you really want to look Amber’s classmates in the eyes after today?”

  Xlina stifled a tear. The numbness of the moment was the only thing preventing her from a complete breakdown. The demon had won. She had played the infernal game and lost everything dear to her. Worse yet, she was trapped in a hopeless cycle of violence, and anyone close to her would be sucked into the death spiral that was her life.

  “Cheer up,” Valeria cooed, wrapping an arm around her. “You still have me and Brick.”

  She looked at Valeria, her porcelain-skinned perfection, her demon-like features hidden under the beauty of her mortal coil. Amber’s corpse lay smoldering on the floor, the remains of the Council strewn about where Ertigan had discarded them. This was her life. She thought back to Amber, to the night they had shared staring at her ceiling fan in her room. She thought of all their foolish banter and the kiss they shared before going to save Oxivius from Puc. Most of all, she wondered just what she was going to tell Amber’s father.

  “I’m going to need some time,” She sniffled, wiping away a tear. “To sort things out.”

  “You’ll have it,” Valeria responded with a smile. “Whatever you need.”

  “I don’t want her to be some missing person,” Xlina replied, looking back at Amber’s corpse. “Her dad shouldn’t have to live hoping his daughter will be found someday.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Valeria replied. “Personally, if that makes you happy.”

  “I don’t think I can be happy anymore,” Xlina responded numbly.

  “You will,” Valeria answered, whistling for Brick to join them. “In time you will. You’ll see.”

  “Fine,” Xlina replied. “Bouncer it is.”

  “Excellent,” Valeria answered, leading Xlina from the grisly tomb the Council chambers had become. “I know you said you need time, and I’ll give you space to... recover. When you’re ready, I’ll be back. Maybe we can explore this coil of mine in more intimate ways. Perhaps you can come to my loft in Boston for the weekend. You won’t be disappointed.”

  “I don’t know,” Xlina replied cautiously.

  “In time, my girl,” Valeria answered, stroking her hair. “All things in time.”

  Epilogue

  It had been nearly three months since the Battle of Otherworld that had claimed Amber’s life. As promised, Valeria had allowed her to return to the Hearth, and the Burglecuts had welcomed her with open arms. A part of her was happy the odd couple had survived the infernal game, as she now understood just how easily the people around her could become pawns for the demon’s ambitions and will. Also true to her word, Valeria had taken care of Amber’s death. The news had spread quickly on campus of the drunken rave at Pandora’s that had nearly burned the place down and cost Amber her life in a fateful drunken accident. Valeria was efficient if nothing else, seizing on the opportunity to claim Pandora’s and weaving in an explanation for Amber’s death in one fell swoop.

  Xlina sighed as she emptied the drawer of the dresser into a box on her bed. Returning to the Hearth had been comforting at first. The Burglecuts did their best to fill her days, letting her help with odds and ends around the tavern. She was even allowed to frequent the night life as patrons once again returned to the Hearth each night. Lexxes had taken charge of rebuilding the Council of Magic, and her first order of business was to disband the Burnished Rose and restore the good name of the Heart’s Hearth. Lexxes made rebuilding the magical community a top priority, and in doing so, she spent many nights in Portland, away from Turtle Island. She was friendly, continually checking in on Xlina, but after everything that had happened, Xlina didn’t dare to let anyone become too close again. Instead, she took to the tavern each night, almost robotic in nature as the days became weeks. The weeks soon became months.

  Oxivius had mended, rather quickly too, thanks to a touch of magic. He had worn a sling for a couple of weeks as Penny fussed about, insisting he take it easy. Conversation was awkward between them. Xlina had wanted to say so much to him, had wanted to air out her feelings, but there remained an unsaid strife lingering in each interaction. When the chips were down, she had assumed it was him that had betrayed her, that he was Ertigan’s pawn. Worst of all, he had seen it in her eyes, and it had stung him, in that very moment before he had tried to save her the pain of killing Amber by striking himself. Deep down inside, she wasn’t sure if he could forgive her. She wasn’t particularly sure she could forgive herself.

  She slid the drawer closed, taking one last look around her room at the Hearth to be sure she had packed all of her things. She was grateful for everything Penny and Burglecut had done for her, but this place reminded her of Amber. Every day. The way she had laughed, the way she had pranced about in the morning, her eager curiosity about all things Otherworld. Every time Xlina left her room, she stared across the loft at the door that was Amber’s. Every day, a reminder of what she had lost, of what she had done.

  She looked back over her things as a knock on her door startled her. She turned to see Oxivius, his beard trimmed tight, with his red sunglasses on the tip of his nose. He smiled weakly, adjusting his glasses with the tip of his finger before motioning to the box on her bed.

  “Is that the last one?” He asked gently.

  “Yes,” Xlina nodded coldly. “Just my unmentionables and a couple of loose ends.”

  “You just mentioned them,” Oxivius teased, his attempt at levity falling short. She folded the flaps shut and lifted the box from the bed without so much as a smirk.

  “We can wait until Penny and Burgle get back from the Otherworld,” Oxivius replied, holding the door. “If you want to say goodbye.”

  “I’ve had my goodbyes,” Xlina answered with a sniff as she scooted by, box in hand. She had exchanged pleasantries with the couple the night before, thanking them for everything and explaining her lingering sense of loss. Penny understood and wrapped her in a ferocious hug, letting out so many tears that Xlina could only assume she cried from all eight eyes under her glamor.

  “Well then,” Oxivius replied tentatively. “I guess there is nothing left.”

  “Nope,” Xlina agreed as she stared at Amber’s door. She could almost hear the girl’s voice beckoning to her from beyond as she stifled another sniffle.

  “I miss her too,” Oxivius added, looking at the door.

  “You were right,” Xlina ventured sourly. “I dragged her into this, and it cost her everything.”

  “You were right, love,” Oxivius replied gently. “Once she had a taste of it, there was nothing either of us could do to turn her back. It was just her spirit.”

  “I guess,” Xlina answered vacantly. “But I should have tried.”

  “You did try,” Oxivius countered. He wore the same dark-red shirt with a black vest, but he had shed his jacket to help her move her boxes down to the hearse. He had at least offered to help her move, which she appreciated, and they were able to be civil, though she keenly felt a change in their relationship.

  “Let’s go,” she replied, heading to the stairs that led down to the main foyer and dining hall. Oxivius merely sighed and followed along.

  The main dining hall was empty, with the hearth aglow from Brick and Mortar. The tables were all cleaned from the night before, and everything was in its proper place, save for a single box on the table near the door, wrapped in a blue paper with a black ribbon. Oxivius extended his hands in an offer to take the last box, and X
lina agreed, handing him her belongings as she approached the wrapped package.

  “It’s been here all morning,” Oxivius added, shifting the box to his hip. “Penny and Burgle left it for you... just in case you finished before they returned from the Otherworld.”

  “They have already done so much,” Xlina sighed, lifting the box and admiring the perfectly wrapped gift.

  “It’s Penny’s way,” Oxivius remarked with a grin. “She gets attached easily.”

  “Is that so, Oxy,” Xlina teased absently, using the pet name that Penny called him to accentuate her point.

  “That’s so,” Oxivius agreed with a nod. “You’ll always be welcome here, Xlina...”

  “I know,” Xlina said, running her hands over the delicate wrapped box. “But I can’t stay.”

  “I know,” Oxivius replied with a nod. “Are you sure about Pandora’s? I mean with her?”

  “As long as I bear the mark, the people around me are targets,” Xlina replied, pulling on the black ribbon. “If that’s the case, then I’ll keep the demon close. At least if they harm her, it’s a win-win.”

  “Still,” Oxivius replied. “You have friends.”

  “I know,” Xlina answered, pulling the last of the ribbon away and peeling the blue paper off to reveal a garment box below. She pulled off the lid to see a finely woven athletic bodysuit.

  “Silk,” Oxivius explained. “Penny wove it herself. Smooth as silk, but hard as armor. It’s a treasure.”

  “It’s more than I deserve,” Xlina answered, returning the lid and placing the gift under her arm, gesturing for the door. Oxivius moved ahead with a shrug of his shoulders, pushing open the door and allowing her to pass to the street beyond. His hearse sat on the road outside, the back stuffed to the brim with boxes. He approached and put the last box in the rear. Closing the rear access door gently, he leaned on the back of the hearse and peered intently at her as she maneuvered around the front to the passenger’s side door. She pulled it open and disappeared into the vehicle.