Erecting Barriers

by L. J. Vickery

  “We have a signal,” he exclaimed. “The glowies have detected a cell phone from an unknown carrier. It can only be Kulla.”

  Everyone scrambled to their feet, picking up discarded gear, new life surging through their limbs. “The glowie warriors are only twenty minutes away, but I say we move in now, and let them back us up.”

  “I agree,” Dorian nodded. “Flick and I have come up with a good plan…”

  He stopped mid-sentence as pounding footsteps approached from one of the passageways.

  Weapons pointed toward the oncoming threat.

  A single, tall male emerged, and Flick spoke first.

  “Hey. You’re that dead guy.”

  Considering most souls in Hell were dead, it might not have been the brightest thing the agent could say, but the newcomer knew what he meant.

  “Yeah. I’m Stave,” he answered. “Nergal sent me down to find out the scoop with my old friend Sal, and it’s a good thing you’re here. Right now, my ex-boss has got one of your friends and is doing a pretty bad number on him.” He motioned to all the weapons pointed in his direction. “Looks like you’re well-equipped to go get him.”

  “So how did you find us, and what’s your game?” Kabta inquired, clearly not about to trust the human on first glance.

  “Sal’s been waiting to get reports of any incoming rescuers back from demons, and none of the ones he’s sent out have returned.”

  The blue-guys looked smug, and Stave smirked knowingly. “I told Sal that there’d have to be a bunch of you in Hell by now, and that his minions weren’t smart enough to avoid getting killed. I convinced him that I should scout things out.” He looked around at the group. “I hoped that I’d find you guys and lead you back in.”

  “Lead us into…?” Dorian’s eyebrows went up questioningly, then a huge smile split his face as he paused. He motioned for Stave to stay put, and called everyone else around for a quick, whispered conference. “Whether he’s on our side or not, when he finds out what I want him to do, he’ll comply,” the warlock assured everyone. “Stave is going to play right into our plan.”

  Bee-Dee and the rest listened carefully as the warlock drew an outline for what was to go down. Pretty ballsy, and fraught with things that could go wrong, but certainly feasible. Dorian’s idea would either succeed, or the humans would be dead and the immortals eternally sorry. She, for one, wanted to roll right the hell now, and by the looks of it, everyone else did, too.

  “I’m going to trust you, Stave.” Dorian turned and faced Nergal’s secretary when the short conference ended. “Since your king and Candy hold you in such high esteem, I will take you at your word.”

  “I know you don’t trust me.” Stave spread his arms and shrugged. No dummy, this doomed human. “Just tell me what I need to know. What you want me to do, and I’m good.”

  Dorian moved toward Stave. “You have to go back to your boss and tell him that we’re fifteen minutes away. Somehow you need to convince him that we have massive forces, and that he needs to gather up every god and demon he can get his hands on to combat us. We need all of our enemies in one chamber.”

  Stave spluttered. “But that’s suicide.” His eyebrows drew together as he clearly counted their numbers, and contemplated what Dorian asked. “He’s got at least a couple hundred demons at his disposal, and several hours ago he called the other five score back from up above, along with his lady friend, Beletseri. If he gets them all together―”

  “You just do your work,” Dorian assured him. “And let us do ours. Okay?”

  “Your funeral, man.” Stave sighed. “I just hope Nergal knows I tried my best.” He turned to go, but something made him stop and tilt his head. When he turned around, he glanced dubiously at Waylon and crew. “You wouldn’t by any chance be related to the glowies, would you?”

  “Why do you ask?” Waylon held Stave’s stare with one of his own, a look of distrust stamped on his face. Seconds later a look came over the king’s face, the same one she’d witnessed earlier in the day.

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” The blue king said, before turning to everyone―except his own men who looked equally stunned. “They’ve allowed him in.” He hitched a thumb toward Stave, “And we can communicate by head.”

  Stave winked.

  So he also knew that a large band of glowies, led by Lavarette, traveled their way. Which meant he had to be one of the good guys. Bee-Dee felt hope. The odds were getting better every minute.

  “I’ll let you know how things progress with Sal.” He disappeared down the corridor.

  ****

  Bel didn’t spare a glance for Kulla, who lay bruised and bloodied in the corner of his cell. Her attention focused on Sal.

  “How many demons have you lost?” Her voice held an excited charge. This could be it. The showdown she’d been waiting for. She’d spent a long time studying the compound in the Blue Hills before heading here, and the gods were playing it as cozily as she. Not one soul, mortal or immortal had shown in the hours she’d patiently studied the abode. She doubted there were many there; maybe a few pregnant women and some animals. The majority, she believed, were in Hell to retrieve the architect. She couldn’t feel them here, but the king had access to all the ore, and he’d probably decked them all out. Bel hoped so. That way, when she defeated the gods, she’d keep the precious substance, and no one would be able, ever again, to detect the enemy forces she would build.

  She wanted to shout her exhilaration to the Overworld and back. At last, her chance. With Matthew by her side, and Sal’s uncanny scheming, she would win it all today.

  “Five scouting parties, each with half a dozen to a dozen hellions have gone out and not come back.”

  Bel snapped her mind back to the question she’d asked Sal, as he jerked a finger in Kulla’s direction. “The guy’s rescue party is here, all right. We just don’t know how big.”

  He had to see the excitement in her face, as he kept feeding her only good news.

  “I sent Stave out to do some re-con,” he said. “He knows how to lay low. I expect him back any time, and we should have numbers. Should I send some demons out, deep, to maybe surround them from the back?”

  Bel knew it went against Sal’s grain to ask a female for an opinion, but he was smart enough to know that she had more familiarity with the Underworld terrain.

  “Don’t waste them.” She pursed her lips. “All the Hell-spawn are too stupid to be out there on their own and not get caught. We’d just be sacrificing them for nothing. No.” She tapped one bright red fingernail on her cheek. “We’ll wait to see what we’re up against, then decide on a course of action.” Her happy thoughts touched off another smile. “Since they’ve come here to get the architect, let’s make sure they can see the god they think they can rescue.” Her gaze finally rested on Kulla. “Stake him out as bait.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was just as she had thought. Bel rubbed her hands, ecstatically. The gods had come down in force, along with their blue lapdogs and that pesky warlock, Dorian. Sal’s man, Stave, had done a great job of sleuthing, and said that along with all the Blue Hills inhabitants, a contingency of over a hundred glowies approached. Bel would be happy to put a hole in that fucking beehive, as well. The blue opaque creatures had played a key role in her downfall as right hand to Nergal. Payback would be very pleasurable.

  The inert body of Kulla had been staked out, with a rope around his neck, at the entrance to the vast cavern. Just before she arrived, Sal had been messing around inside the god’s head. Literally. Her nasty, yet inventive cohort had been sending needle probes into the architect’s brain to see what he could suck out, and if the immortal would react, or succumb. Bel didn’t know how much gray matter had been removed, but the offshoot didn’t bother her in the least. The god was now a bowl of jelly. Bel shrugged. It didn’t matter. Kulla might be one of the lucky ones. Once the rest of his group arrived and became defeated, they’d find that they’d lost their freedom, stuck i
n Hell for the rest of their days. The architect’s lobotomy might prove to be very soothing.

  “It is my opinion that we should order all our troops into the cavern, have the majority hide, and only show them a small sampling of our strength. That way we can lure the whole group in, and they won’t know what hit them when the entire force of our demons descend,” Sal stated.

  Bel barely managed to stop from rolling her eyes. She’d told him the exact same thing when Sal had insisted on sending a group around to the enemies’ rear, and Stave had also clearly given his opinion that all their strength should be amassed in the cavern. And how had the first plan worked out for Sal? He’d lost every away party.

  She allowed him his imagined power trip this time. The bossy male clearly liked to take credit, and she let him have it. Giving him a nod, Sal signaled to one of the demons to start bringing all the others in. Several hundred in all, if the thug could be believed.

  “I don’t like it.” Matthew sent a toxic look to Sal. “It’s foolish to put all of our strength in one place. I say split our group in two, and once the enemy have all entered, cut off their retreat with our second half.”

  Bel thought both plans over, and felt that Sal’s sounded more efficient.

  Matthew, up in her head, clearly didn’t care what Bel thought, and made his opinion known as the demon scampered away.

  Bel sighed. Matthew, so smart, must be putting this opinion out there to stir up trouble. Her mate was jealous. Sal had created a powerful empire here below, and she had visited the ex-drug boss numerous times. Matthew simply pouted, and probably wondered if anything went on between her and Sal. Bel moved around behind her mate and laid a comforting hand on his back.

  “There’s no need to worry.” She leaned in and whispered, “I’m just using him to gain control. When the time comes and he’s no longer useful, I’ll let you take him out.”

  It was the right thing to say. The goddess felt Matthew relax. She stepped from in back of her mate and gave Sal her most brilliant smile.

  “It’s a good plan,” she spoke up. “We’ll go with it.”

  Sal huffed. He’d already put things into play without her approval and clearly didn’t feel the need to have her stamp on things. Beletseri didn’t care. Sal wouldn’t be around very long. She turned to Stave, whom she decided she liked better, even though he would become the first official sacrifice.

  “Sneak out and check on the enemy’s progress,” she ordered, not even bothering to look at Sal. “Stand just outside and give a yell when they’re almost upon us, then hurry back in.” What she didn’t say, and what everyone knew, was that as soon as Stave gave the warning he wouldn’t have time to get away. He’d be deader than he was already. Fine with her. Bel just wanted to have enough warning to yank Kulla back into his cell. If all else failed, and somehow they didn’t overwhelm the rest of the gods, she’d still have the architect under her control. She took one of the smarter ghouls aside and told him what she wanted. He nodded and drifted to the downed god’s side.

  Stave trotted off obediently, ignoring the spluttering of Sal who told him to ignore the goddess. “Stave. Get back here. You take your orders from me. She’s sending you on a death mission.” Sal glared at Bel who only gave him a nonchalant shrug, and Stave continued on his way, ignoring everything. Sal looked pissed and didn’t want to cede his right hand man. Bel understood, but it remained best to separate the two. Their bond might be an impedance to her future plans.

  “Don’t be a bad sport, Sal.” She smiled, and showed all her teeth. “He’ll be fine.” Sal hadn’t dealt with any of the immortals except Kulla, who’d been weakened by the osmium. He probably speculated, but couldn’t know for sure that his man would be decimated as soon as the warning came. C’est la vie. Or not “vie,” because they were in Hell.

  Bel took Matthew’s hand and led him to a large outcropping of rock in the center of the room. It would make good cover until they figured out who had the upper hand. She refused to get caught. Let Sal and the minions take care of things until she became certain of her victory. Her Hell-partner had the numbers behind him, and she could only hope that his clout would prevail against the higher powers of the gods.

  ****

  Kulla twitched involuntarily on the ground. He couldn’t make his body do anything, and he couldn’t see, yet his senses said he wasn’t alone. His brain, after the invasion by Sal, didn’t function properly, but thank the gods his reasoning ability hadn’t been impaired. If he remembered correctly, before he’d blacked out, his captors had said that a rescue party drew near. He couldn’t move his lips, but he could hear, and sent out a plea in head-speak to see if he got any response.

  Is anyone near?

  I’m here brother. Kabta’s voice soothed him. I’m right next to you. You can’t see me because I’m wearing Nergal’s special ore.

  I can’t see you because these assholes have messed with my brain and my visual cortex has been damaged. He needed his brother to know the extent of the impairment. My motor control is also shot. I can’t move.

  I’ll get you out of this. I’m going to carefully undo the rope around your neck. There’s a demon just to our right, and I don’t want him to see anything suspicious. Could he be working on the ropes as he soothed Kulla’s worries?

  There’s more. As soon as I get the signal, I’m hauling your ass out of here while everyone else takes care of business.

  Stave?

  Stave’s on our side. He’s hooked up to the glowie network, which now includes our blue friends, and he’s on his way to lead them in. There’s going to be a hell of a battle, and you’re headed into safe-keeping brother.

  Kulla wanted to argue, but he knew better. He remained little more than dead weight right now, and was better off out of the way.

  He heard a blood-curdling yell, then sensed he had been picked up. Dear gods. Was it his brother, or the bad guys who had him? Kabta? What’s happening?

  I’ve got you, brother. I’m putting in a call to Nergal for an evac, then I’m leaving you with Bee-Dee so I can join the fight.

  Obedience is here? Kulla would have groaned, but he had no control over his mouth. His woman in Hell? Had Marduk and Dorian lost their minds? He couldn’t wait to have his body back. He’d pound the two into dust for allowing his witch into the fray.

  Kabta spoke again. Of course she’s here, his brother snorted. You think she’d be anywhere else? Don’t think anyone could talk your stubborn witch out of coming. He gave Kulla a head’s up. I’m about a minute away from putting you into her capable hands.

  I can’t speak, Kabta. Kulla didn’t want Bee-Dee to worry over him. Tell her I’m sure that all the damage is temporary. The asshole, Sal, sucked out some of my brain, and it’s taking time for a few of the more sensitive areas to regenerate.

  Prick. Kabta expounded. We’ll take care of him for you. A short span of silence ensued before Kabta spoke again. I’m putting you down now. Obedience is here.

  Kulla heard his intended. “What the hell? Why can’t he move? What’s wrong with him, Kabta?” She sounded panicked. He must look pretty bad. His brother explained the brain injuries, and a string of swears left Bee-Dee’s mouth that would have made him chuckle if he had the ability. His proper little miss had come a long way from colonial times. “I get first crack at the dickwad who did this. But don’t worry. I’ll bide my time and wait with Kulla until Nergal comes to pick him up.”

  Although regular gods had to travel by foot in Hell, anyone, with the help of the king or queen, could be transported instantly. That’s what would happen to him. Kulla figured on a quick trip to the throne room. Bee-Dee, being a witch, could spell from one place to another, but Kulla groaned. He knew she wouldn’t have the good sense to accompany him to safety.

  ****

  Obedience gazed down at Kulla and silently fumed. As soon as she deemed him safe, she would head into that cavern to extract her pound of flesh. The witch spit nails as she cradled Kulla’s abused cranium
on her lap. He couldn’t see, he couldn’t move or speak, and she was pissed. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt so much rage boiling up inside. Her hands were hot and sparking with the need to cast spells and do damage. Dorian had told her to stay behind, but she needed to expend the negative energy building up inside her. Besides that, she could be of help. The blue-guys had super strength and demon-vision, the agents were lethal and smart, but only she, Dorian and Kabta had powers. They could use her.

  Nergal popped into the space where she stayed tucked with Kulla. He looked around, then heard the sounds of battle not far away. His feet turned in that direction as the fighting called to him.

  “Don’t even think about it king-man,” Bee-Dee shot. “Kulla’s hurt and needs to be safely away. And what will we tell Ereshkigal if you get incinerated or de-energized?”

  The king spluttered, trying to find the words. The witch forestalled him.

  “Nope.” She held up a hand. “We’re not going there.” Bee-Dee spit adamantly. “Now take Kulla and go.”

  Unintelligible noises came out of her lover’s mouth. If she knew him at all, he had ordered her to abandoned the fight and come with him. Obedience smiled. Good thing she couldn’t decipher his words.

  Nergal easily picked up her man, called for Stave, who appeared out of nowhere, and within seconds the three had disappeared. She turned toward the action, more than ready to kick some ass.

  Just as she exited her small enclave, a large group of beings made itself known to her left. She shot back and held her breath. When she recognized them she put a hand to her chest to slow her fast beating heart. The glowie collective had scared the shit out of her.

  “You’re here.” Bee-Dee recognized the ethereal beings from her few previous encounters.

  “And happy to be of service.” The female in charge kept her feet moving but stuck out a capable three fingered hand. “I’m Lavarette, and you are…” The being took a deep breath, clearly probing her essence, “…a witch.”

  “Nifty trick,” Obedience grinned. “I’m Bee-Dee. You ready to do some damage?”