Wars of the Underworld

by Olivia Ash

  She summoned Hobson, as she allowed Steele to hold and kiss her. Within moments, ever dependable, the gargoyle showed up and cleared his throat. She pulled from him and smiled at her butler.

  “You summoned me?” he asked.

  “Yes. I need all possible locations the queen would hide stuff she didn’t want anyone to have. Can you get me a list?”

  He shook his head. “Sadly, I wasn’t privileged to that sort of information. My apologies, but I cannot help with this one.”

  She waved her hand through the air. “Don’t worry about it, Hobson. We’ll figure it out. Thank you anyway”

  The succubi entered the foyer of the fortress and Steele visibly stiffened, standing even closer to Sadie. She rolled her eyes and took a step back. She did value personal space, and she could only handle him being on top of her for so long. Besides, now wasn’t the time to be needy. The succubi were obviously needing something and she needed to put her crown on and play queen for a moment.

  Deseree, the queen, wouldn’t look at Sadie. Instead, she addressed Steele, and him alone. “We are leaving now.”

  “Well that’s unfortunate. Why, pray-tell, are you leaving?” Sadie asked.

  The succubus queen shifted her ruthless gaze to her and narrowed her eyes. “You should already know. After all, it’s by your doing.”

  Sadie clenched her jaw and her hands balled into fists at her sides. “I beg your pardon?” It was more of a statement than a question, and she let her anger slip into her words.

  Steele stepped between the two of them. “There’s been an attack. A servant was killed, and she happened to have been Deseree’s favorite servant. She believes you had something to do with the murder.” He added in the description of the gashes which puzzled Sadie. She didn’t know of any one in her fortress that would have the capability to cause such injuries, much less herself.

  As though to further prove Steele’s words, the group separated to show a body covered in silk and jewels carried on a makeshift gurney.

  “I assure you,” she said to the succubus queen, “that I had nothing to do with any deaths under this roof.” She shifted to Hobson. “Has anyone entered the fortress unannounced? I haven’t sensed anything.”

  Hobson closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, he shook his head and said, “No. I don’t sense anything unusual either. No one who shouldn’t be in the fortress has been within so much as the gate. The defenses would have stripped the intruder bare.”

  “As I thought,” she said and turned to the succubus queen. “I’ll make sure we find answers to the death of your servant and will deal with the perpetrator accordingly.”

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Your word is not good enough. I want sex with Steele.” Her eyes hungrily ran over Steele’s body.

  Sadie scoffed. “Well, that’s out of the question. The previous forms of payment and the promise of due course with the murder is all I can do.”

  Deseree turned without another word and headed through a portal. Her servants followed, as their sullen faces were streaked with tears. They carried the body through as well, and once the last succubus was through, the portal sealed, leaving Sadie, Hobson, and Steele in thick silence.

  Steele shuffled beside her and huffed. “I’m sorry for the loss of my allies.”

  Sadie leveled her gaze on him then took his face into her hands, making sure he couldn’t look away. “Don’t be. I don’t blame you. Though the drop in numbers is a cause for concern, we will make do with who we have now. Perhaps the succubi will have a change of heart before the battle starts.”

  Astrid entered the room, slowing down as though entering a cloud of tension that filled the air just moments before the succubi queen arrived. The negative energy still hadn’t managed to fully clear out.

  “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said.

  Sadie gestured for her to approach. “Of course not.”

  Smiling, she held up a small stone that reminded Sadie of river rock between her finger and thumb. Except, this one was iridescent and blue. “This is a charm I created in hopes that it would help us hone in on the location of the staff. I took the liberty of testing it out on a local map from your war room. It works, and I think we have a general location to hunt.”

  “Excellent, where?” Sadie asked. Astrid was certainly proving herself more and more a valuable part of the team.

  Her eyebrows knitted themselves together. “Some place called the Darkhaven Caverns. It’s not far from here, and the best part is this will glow brighter the closer we get to the staff. Pretty cool, huh?”

  Sadie said, “Yes. Very much so.”

  “Great. When do we set off?” she asked.

  Sadie thought for a moment. There was no telling when Zagan would return. He was likely amassing an even larger army. They ran the risk of not having enough time to get the staff and return before he did show up. Now was ideal.

  “How about immediately?” Sadie asked.

  The men collectively agreed with either a nod or a verbal response.

  Damien added, “There’s one problem though.”

  Sadie narrowed her eyes on him and propped a hand on her hip. “What’s that?”

  “There are too many people here that have pledged their magic and sword to you. These are demons we are talking about as well. The fortress, more specifically the one that belongs to the demon queen, is way too much of an opportunity for mutiny.” He leveled his gaze on her. “There’s already been one murder. Let’s not invite more.”

  Sadie nodded. “True. At least until we discover who is responsible for that death, we should have at least two of us stay behind. I’m going and so will Astrid. Damien, you are my second in command. You should stay here and keep everyone in line. Mordecai can help with reconnaissance.”

  They both nodded.

  “So, any ideas on how to get to this location?” Sadie asked the men.

  Steele nodded as he rubbed his chin. “I suppose we could even portal there, but I haven’t personally been there.”

  “I have,” Kaiser said. “It would be tricky still. The terrain is unsteady in much of the area. I suggest a portal just outside the entrance.”

  Mordecai huffed. “Has anyone noticed that each location we’ve had to go to so far has had some level of peril? You should walk the whole way.”

  “That would take too much time, I would think,” Sadie said. “A portal would be quicker. And with Kaiser having been there, he could land us in a safe spot. That would save us a lot of time. Besides, the sooner we can get the staff, the sooner we can return and be that much more ready to face Zagan.”

  Mordecai mumbled something under his breath, drawing Sadie’s attention. She smiled at him and said, “I appreciate your concern for us. Have faith in your brothers and me. We’ll be back before you know it.”

  “If we are going to leave here soon,” Astrid said, “I need a moment to gather some supplies and things I may need for the trip. I want to be prepared for anything.”

  Sadie faced Astrid and nodded. “Very well. I suggest we all do the same and meet back here. Meanwhile, Damien and Mordecai,” she faced the both of them, “see what you can find out about the murder. We’ll need to figure out if anyone else in the fortress is in danger and seclude the perpetrator immediately. I suggest the dungeon with extra wards.”

  They both nodded and took turns wrapping her in their arms and giving her a long kiss goodbye.

  Once they were out of sight, she turned to Hobson. “Make sure you keep an eye out for them. I don’t want anything to happen while I’m gone.”

  “I’ll spare both eyes as often as I can, Your Majesty.” He nodded and headed down one of the halls that led off from the foyer.

  “All right, let’s get this over with,” she said to Astrid, Kaiser, and Steele. Each of them nodded and headed their separate ways to get ready. Sadie made her way to her room for more practical gear and clothing.

  Chapter Thirty-Four />
  Sadie

  While waiting for Astrid to gather a few last-minute things she needed, Sadie practiced with her shadow sword. Whatever the witch expected, she apparently wanted to be overprepared. Sadie could appreciate that, although she hoped it wasn’t so much overpreparation that she would end up slowing them down.

  A loud, ear-splitting scream echoed down the halls and toward Sadie. It was a chilling, blood-curdling sound that caused goosebumps to rise on her arms. Whoever made that sound was in deep trouble.

  Sadie jumped into action. She ran, sword in hand, toward the direction of the sound. On the way, her men joined her. Even Astrid rushed into the hall as they made their way to whoever was in trouble.

  “What was that sound?” Astrid asked.

  “We’re about to find out,” Sadie said as she turned and stopped mid-run. Her men joined her at her side as she stared into the shadow filled hall where a figure leaned over a body lying limp on the floor.

  Cautiously, Sadie moved forward, not wanting to scare off the figure and lose their only chance at catching the murderer within her own home. As she drew closer, she recognized the woman as one of Damien’s witch allies. The poor girl had the same gashes that matched the succubus’s from Steele’s descriptions earlier.

  The figure hovering over the witch stood straighter, and Sadie instantly knew who she was.

  Hecate. The fucking bitch.

  She was in nearly full physical form, sucking the life out of the witch.

  Hecate twisted and set her eyes on Sadie. She glared. “You!” It came out in a growl. “You stole my pendant and my fortress. You have no right to my kingdom. I will soon be strong enough to get you, Sadie, and when that day comes, I’ll take back what you have stolen.”

  Okay, time to handle this.

  Sadie’s blood boiled, and she stood her ground as she bit back every last ounce of self-control. “I’m the thief? I didn’t ask for this. It was given to me. You’re dead! You left your fortress and meandered the south wing like a coward! Now you are preying on my allies like you have a right to their life. Huh-uh. Wrong choice. We end this. And we end this now!”

  Hecate laughed, dark and sinister as she sauntered slowly toward Sadie. “Is that what you wish, little human? Oh, this is going to be so much fun.”

  The space between them disappeared as the previous demon queen swooped in closer and slashed out a taloned hand at Sadie’s chest.

  “I’m going to take back what you stole from me!” she said, seething the words between clenched teeth.

  Sadie tried to fight off the previous queen as her men worked to keep her busy by pulling her attention from Sadie and to them. She used their cover to launch a few fireballs at Hecate. She also used her sword and managed to get in a few shallow cuts before Hecate deflected the blade, making it nearly impossible for her to be killed.

  Even Steele’s illusions weren’t able to distract the woman for long.

  This wasn’t good. Not only was the previous queen gaining more of a physical form each time they had an encounter with her, she was also gaining her strength back. Which was the last thing Sadie needed at the moment.

  She heard Astrid uttering an incantation. She looked over her shoulder and said, “Stay back!”

  Astrid nodded and took a few steps back and ducked into the bend of the hallway.

  Sadie returned her attention to the previous queen who had just attempted to slash Damien’s throat with her claws.

  Oh no she just did not.

  Sadie’s amulet warmed. Energy pooled through her arms and pulsed at her hands, accumulating in strength and power.

  “Back off, bitch!” she said and held her hands toward Hecate. Streams of purple-blue lighting shot from her hands. At the same time, Damien lunged with Lightbane to keep her hands busy from blocking the magic, and Mordecai shifted into shadow form, bending around the bolts of lightning to keep the previous queen’s eyes from being locked on Sadie. Kaiser shot balls of fire at the queen, and Steele stood back with that concentrated expression on his face, likely an illusion that was finally working on the queen.

  Once the lightning ended, the queen had fallen to her knees. Sadie conjured her shadow sword again and pointed its tip at Hecate’s neck. “Leave here and never come back.”

  Hecate narrowed her eyes on Sadie. If looks could kill, she was sure that was the previous queen’s intent. Lucky for her, they didn’t. She summoned Hobson who appeared within moments and gripped the woman from behind, tugging her arms behind her and yanked her to her feet. She groaned against the pain and Sadie found satisfaction in that.

  Just as Sadie was about to deal her death blow, her amulet’s magic seeped through her skin, but it wasn’t the fire she was accustomed to. It was cold. The sensation of the tips of her fingers tingled and burned as well, reminding her of times she went outside in frigid temps without gloves on. Within seconds, a flood of white light burst from her fingers. It surrounded Hecate as she screamed.

  “This isn’t the last you’ve seen of me,” she said, seething. “I’ll be back to reclaim what is mine.”

  The light expanded, swelling to an orb that fully encompassed her and a small area around her. Her men jumped back. Sadie took a step back herself. And in the blink of an eye, the orb of light burst, leaving a stark darkness in the hall for a short moment.

  Once her eyes adjusted to the sudden lack of light, she looked around for any sign of the dead demon queen. There was none.

  “What happened?” Sadie asked.

  Hobson cleared his throat. “If I may, Your Majesty…”

  “Yes, please,” she said, gesturing for him to continue.

  “It appears that you banished Hecate from the grounds. I felt the shift in the energy of the fortress once it was complete.”

  Sadie stared at her hands and thought about that nice tidbit of information. She had learned something new about her amulet’s magic. It protected her once, just before she was brought here to the fortress, but it seemed to have protected her again.

  “I also noticed that Hecate was preparing a counter spell for you. She would’ve likely killed you had she completed the spell,” Hobson added, a look of concern marred his stony features. He seemed genuinely concerned with Sadie’s safety. “She won’t be allowed to cross the barrier if she does come back.”

  And she will. She had no doubts about the next time they would meet--one of them would die. But Sadie would be damned if it were her.

  Hobson nodded. “But at least for now, she can’t get back in and hurt anyone else within these walls.” He turned toward Sadie. “That, in and of itself, is a victory.”

  “We’ll have to keep her sneaky attacks in mind for when she does show back up. And she will. She’ll want her throne back. That much has already been established.”

  She turned her attention toward her men, checking to make sure they were uninjured. Beyond a few close calls with the razor like talons from Hecate, they were relatively unscathed. She sighed in relief. Astrid came up and seemed a little paler than usual. With the loss of a coven sister, it didn’t surprise Sadie.

  Sadie said, “I’m sorry. I had no idea that—”

  Astrid held up her hand and shook her head. “Don’t. It’s not your fault. I’m fine. We all are, and that’s what’s important.”

  She nodded, grateful they all managed to make it through that fight without more serious injuries. Hecate would need more time to regain her strength and form, which galled Sadie, but at least it would give her the time she needed to get the staff and take care of Zagan. Then she’d handle the former demon queen.

  As Damien gathered up the body of his fallen ally, they decided to make their way to the foyer and discuss what to do with the witch.

  Hobson met them in the hall. “It is done, Your Majesty.”

  “Good,” Sadie said. “I hope she didn’t give you too much problem.”

  The gargoyle shook his head. “She did not.” His gaze shifted to the witch in Damien’s arms. He shoo
k his head with a frown. “I would be honored to give her a final resting place on the fortress grounds.”

  Damien hesitated then looked to Astrid. She nodded. Sadie did too. With a sigh, he handed over the witch’s body.

  “I’ll go with him to prepare her body for the afterlife,” Astrid said, voice soft and sad. “I’ll come back with some healing salve for your wound.”

  Oh, right. Sadie had forgotten about her own injuries. She had been too wrapped up in the loss and the fight with the previous queen that she hadn’t thought about her own afflictions. Her chest was cut up pretty badly from the nails that wretched pseudo-ghost had used to claw out the amulet. Luckily, the bleeding had stopped, and the wounds started to seal, but the process was slow, and the salve would likely help with the speed. However, her shirt was destroyed.

  So help Sadie, she’d end that bitch once and for all when the time came.

  “I’m not convinced that is the last we’ve seen of that woman,” Mordecai said. “We need to set up guards.”

  “Agreed,” Damien said, and he and Mordecai set off to take care of that. Steele and Kaiser joined them.

  Meanwhile, Sadie headed to her room to change again and wait for the salve.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Sadie

  Sadie sat on a lounge, enjoying the peace and quiet of her room. She had left her shirt off and allowed a flow of fresh air to the slashes on her chest. A knock softly rapped on her door. She beckoned the door open with a hand gesture. Astrid stood on the other side with a stone container in her hand.

  She smiled and said, “I have the salve.”

  Sadie nodded. “Good, come in.”

  Astrid did so and crossed the floor to Sadie. The gashes had begun to seal, but the process was slower than Sadie liked. She reclined on the lounge and allowed Astrid to put the substance over the open wounds. The smell was heavy of menthol and a slight, sweet lavender scent. As the cool gel-like substance was rubbed in, it warmed her skin.