by Michael Todd
Brock took a step back. “Well, I just find that odd. I thought you actually told us that your parents left town when the lava started coming down. You said they didn’t realize they needed to wait for you. You didn’t say anything about a cousin.”
Brock carefully pulled his sword out and held it in front of him, but Sasha seemed to ignore him. “Sasha?”
He struck the ground with his sword, and it made a sound like a ringing bell. Sasha snapped her head toward him, her eyes glowing yellow. Brock swallowed and took another step back. Sasha tilted her head to the side. Brock thought she might lunge at him, but instead, she pulled her top over her head. “I knew that out of the four of you, you would be the biggest problem.”
Eddie and Sean stopped checking Turner and looked at the topless woman, their eyes wide. Brock put up his hand. “Don’t move.”
She began to laugh, quietly at first but then it became a booming, grating thing. Her skin shimmered and wiggled, pulsed, and writhed as it began to turn into a rough purple hide. “Turner was the easiest. I could tell he didn’t want to be suspicious of me. I was a girl, and a pretty one at that.”
Brock pointed his sword at Sasha. “What did you do to him? Undo it. Now!”
Her eyes flashed yellow like some jungle cat, and a smirk moved across her lips. She dropped her skirt to the ground and stepped out of it, then kicked off her shoes. The rough purple hide spread over her like a wave, covering her like a tight suit.
Brock’s grip on his sword wavered. He put one hand to his temple, pressure pounding through his head.
Sasha easily pushed the sword out of the way. “Oh, poor humans. Inundated with hell demons and you just can’t seem to catch your breath. Be careful, Brock, you might fall and hit your head. Why don’t you take a knee?”
Sasha flipped her hand down his arm and Brock’s legs buckled under him. He held tightly to his sword, but the pressure in his head was growing stronger with every moment. He blinked, his vision wavering. Sasha had completely transformed, now somehow wider and taller inside the small room. He looked for his guys but they too had taken a knee, both of them holding tightly to their heads.
The beast giggled in Sasha’s voice. He swallowed hard as his sword fell from his hand. “Oh, shit.”
2
One Week Later
Katie sighed as she looked out the window of the chopper at the small Romanian town. As soon as she was able, she had headed straight back to the lava-covered town. She had to continue to look for Brock and the team. One of the sergeants had kept her in the loop, but the last time she talked to him, nearly three days ago, there was still no sign of the team. There was every reason to believe the team was dead, but there was something about that theory that didn’t sit right with her.
Through Katie, Pandora peered out the window. You okay?
Katie sat up straight in her chair, forgetting she wasn’t alone in her thoughts. Yeah, just ready to get out there and start searching again. Every day I’m not looking is one more they might be hungry, wounded, or worse.
Pandora didn’t say anything. Katie knew why. She was starting to lose hope just like everyone else. Katie refused to see it in that light. She refused to allow things to just go unanswered. As far as she was concerned, Brock and the team were just as important as anyone else in her life. Especially Brock. She wouldn’t say it out loud, but there was a burning in her chest. A gaping wound at the thought of Brock being dead.
The shuddering of the chopper’s descent shook Katie from her thoughts, and she pulled her bag into her lap, clutching it in front of her. They knew she was coming, but it didn’t make much difference at that point. There weren’t any demons for her to fight. She was there for the search.
The chopper touched down, and she opened the door. The sergeant was there to greet her. “Katie, I’m glad you’re back.”
Katie nodded, ducking as she followed him away from the chopper. They stood to one side and waited for it to take off again. Once it was quiet, Katie turned to the sergeant. “Any word? Did you get the tattoo description I sent you?”
He put his hand on Katie’s shoulder. “I got it—the tattoos of guitars. Unfortunately, we have looked everywhere we can think of. We’ve got plenty of wounded, but nobody matching Brock or the other team members’ descriptions. All of our wounded soldiers have been identified by dog tags or by telling us who they are.”
Katie looked out over the town. Steam rose into the air above the ruins. “I’ll keep looking. I know they are out there somewhere.”
The sergeant waved his hand at a couple of soldiers. “Make yourself at home, then do what you need to do. These soldiers will take you to your tent. We made it up today so you wouldn’t have to wait for us. I’ll be here when you’re ready to head out.”
Katie shook her head. “Thank you, Sergeant. It won’t take me long.”
She followed the soldiers through a long line of tents. They stopped and stood at attention until Katie entered her tent and shut the flap behind her. She looked around at the cushioned cot, desk, and sheets neatly folded on the chair.
Sighing, she put her bag down and unzipped it. This is the first time I have actively wished that I was not in this situation.
Pandora understood. You’re doing the right thing, though. Beyond the fact that they are family, we need them now more than ever.
Katie sat down in the chair and pulled a dagger from her bag. I know. Calvin is still pretty fucked up from the fight.
Pandora sighed. Yeah, and he lost Marty, that taco-loving freak of a demon. He may not have been close to any of us, but he protected Calvin. It’s a shame he was lost.
Katie stuck the dagger in the sheath on her calf. It is a shame. He’s pretty messed up about it, but I know Sofia will be supportive. Right now, I’m just glad I still have Korbin there to protect the base. With everything going on, I don’t know what will happen next.
Pandora perked up. Don’t forget you have Juntto. I still think you should have let him come with you.
Katie pulled Tom and Harry from her bag. I know, but Angie just got him back. He came out of a coma not that long ago. It means a lot that he would have dropped everything on a second’s notice to come with me, but I made the right choice. They need time together, time to remember what we are fighting for.
Pandora snickered. You mean time to bow-chicka-bow-wow. Time to get some giant Leviathan loving on. I wonder if his wang stays the same size in human form? If it does, Angie is going to be walking funny for life.
Katie wrinkled her nose. I don’t want to think about what they do with their quality time if you don’t mind. I would much rather focus on finding Brock and the team.
Pandora laughed. Shit, I’d focus on anything else, like bumblebees, demon feces, the general’s dick—
Katie’s shoulders shot up. Whoa, there. I don’t want to think about all that.
Pandora shuttered. Yeah, maybe you’re right. Old wrinkly balls and a flaccid pecker aren’t really better than Juntto’s giant morphing pants ranger.
Katie finished suiting up and headed back outside. Soldiers were there waiting to escort her to the sergeant. As they walked back through the camp, several soldiers saluted Katie. It was not an honor normally given to civilians, but at that moment, Katie didn’t feel like she had done much to deserve it.
When they came to the sergeant’s tent, they found a dozen young, fresh-faced soldiers standing at attention listening to the man give them orders. He stopped when he saw Katie. “These soldiers have volunteered to go with you. They are your protection unit, just in case. They will also be there to help you if…when you find the soldiers you are looking for.”
Neither Katie nor Pandora liked the idea of that. Katie shook her head, lowering her voice. “I appreciate this, but I don’t know what I’ll find. These are regular soldiers. Good men, but without demons. I would rather not put their lives on the line. I can handle this on my own.”
The sergeant looked at her for a moment and gave her a kind smile. “W
hile you are here, you are under my protection. These soldiers may not be Damned, but they are brave and trained. Besides, General Brushwood gave strict instructions that we are to watch your six at all times. They won’t get in the way; you’ll barely know they are there.”
“Sergeant, I really must insist.”
He ignored her, waving his hand at the troops. “Fall in, boys. Katie will be working ahead of you. Watch her back at all times. If there is any kind of attack, you know what you need to do. Keep low, go with the plan, and don’t get in her way.”
He turned back to Katie and saluted her. “Good luck out there. Let us know if you need anything. We can keep an eye on the whole village from up here.”
Katie sighed and reluctantly nodded, then headed down the hill. Her dozen shadows moved with her. Every few steps she glanced back at the soldiers. She stopped halfway down, out of earshot of the sergeant. “Look, guys. I really appreciate the comradery, and I bow to your bravery, but you don’t need to follow me. Just tell the sergeant that I accosted you, then flew off.”
The soldiers looked at each other, and the one in the middle cleared his throat. “With all due respect, ma’am, we have our orders. We are to escort you around the village and assist in the search and rescue of four Special Ops brothers.”
Pandora chuckled. At least they’re fucking hot.
Katie rolled her eyes. Not now, Pandora. For Christ’s sake!
Oh, sorry. You’re still struggling with the whole Brock thing. I get it.
Katie summoned her wings. Uh, duh. That’s one of the reasons we are in fucking Romania right now. I swear you are about as bright as a white crayon sometimes.
Pandora didn’t understand. They make white crayons?
Katie sighed and turned back to the soldiers. “Well, boys, you’ll need to catch up on foot unless you’re half-pigeon or something. Anybody? Half-pigeon? No. Okay, then. If you lose me, just go back to base and be safe.”
Katie spread her wings, flapped them once, and took off. The soldiers chuckled and kept going down the hill, following her as best they could. They were in for a tough time.
Down in the catacombs beneath the church, four fat cocoons were stuck to the stone walls. Three of them wriggled and moved as Sean, Turner, and Eddie struggled inside them. Thick silken fibers wrapped tightly around them, and ooze dripped down the walls and pooled on the floor. The fourth cocoon was split open, sections of the cocoon hanging in jagged flaps. It was empty.
Two rooms over, Brock huddled in the corner with his longsword, breathing heavily. He tried to wipe the goop from his arms. He had found a quiet and calm place to think. He squatted in the shadows and tried to figure out his next move. He had managed to cut himself out of the cocoon, but he was sure he was dying. He was weak and tired. It had been a week since Sasha had turned on them, a week without food or water. The cocoon had kept him alive, but now that he was free? He didn’t know.
He wiped his hands on a tablecloth he had pulled from the center of the room. He ran it down the handle and blade of his longsword, trying to make it possible to grip.
In his head, he could hear Sasha taunting him with her melodic voice.
Brooock. Where did you go, sweet human? Those cocoons were for your own good. Now look what you did—ruined all my hard work. You’ve been a bad boy. Why don’t you come back so we can play? I want to hold you and suck you dry. Sasha laughed menacingly, and Brock cringed at the thought.
He took a deep breath and slunk across the floor to the edge of the hallway. He looked both ways, then hurried down the hall. He stopped and knelt in front of the door. His friends were inside. He carefully pushed the door open. There they were, hanging trapped in their cocoons. They were moving around, trying to get out. That was good. They were alive.
Sasha was nowhere in sight.
Brock breathed heavily and shook his head. “Fuck it!”
He pushed the door open and made a run for it. He pulled his sword back and struck at the tops of the three cocoons. They fell to the ground with a thud. Brock wasted no time. He tried to get them out as fast as he could.
A thud from above froze him in place. It sounded like a huge, galloping horse running around on the floor above them.
A loud crash sent boards falling to the ground, and Brock put his arm up. The thing that had once been Sasha dropped in front of him, then swatted him, sending him flying to the other side of the room. “Do you think you can actually trick me? I am Teyollucuani, the mighty warrior! I am not so easily defeated.”
Brock pushed to his feet, dust coating his sticky arms.
She was ten feet tall and covered in rough purple hide. Eight muscular legs carried her body across the floor. She was something like a spider but had the body of a supermodel and the personality of a demon. Her eyes glowed brightly as she advanced on him.
Brock pulled up his sword and snarled, “Fuck you, Teyo.”
With that, they charged one another.
Mania sat perched on her lesser throne, surrounded by magical black crows. She smirked, her long black hair curling over her shoulders and resting on her heaving breasts. She stood and walked to the side of the room, catching Beelzebub’s nervous eye. Oh, Lucifer wouldn’t like that.
Lucifer snapped his fingers in front of Beelzebub’s face. “Stay with me, fool. Mania is just the advisor. Pay her no attention.”
Beelzebub nodded nervously. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
Lucifer let out a soft growl. “What were you doing on Earth?”
There was a loud bang to one side of the throne room, and Beelzebub tried not to look. He was trying desperately to come up with the right words, but his nerves had gotten the best of him. After all, the last time he’d stood in front of Lucifer, torture had been the name of the game. That was the last thing he wanted to do was think about it, so of course, it was the only thing he could think about.
Mania held up a long-handled club with long, fiery spikes. “What about this one?”
Lucifer looked over, smiling. “Ah, I was wondering where that had gone.”
She giggled and put it down on a table, then vanished into a dark alcove just off the main throne room. When she emerged, she grunted and heaved as she pushed out a tall casket-like structure. It had a small window at the top and a large metal latch across the front. When she pushed it against the wall, the front of the casket swung open and half of a body fell out, full of holes. Inside, the casket was covered with long metal spikes coated with blood.
Lucifer put his hand on his chin. “That’s where I left that body. Mania, would you be a dear and find the soul who used to belong to that one? We can have him clean it up. And he should clean the inside too. I hate it when the spikes get all clotted. It makes the dramatic slam of the door so embarrassing.”
When Mania smiled, and the black tattoo-like markings of tree limbs across her cheeks seemed to move as if they were swaying in the wind. She clucked her tongue and put out her arm. Beelzebub watched as a large black crow with yellow eyes flew overhead. It circled once and landed on her wrist. She nuzzled her nose against its beak and nodded to Lucifer.
Lucifer turned back to Beelzebub and chuckled. “She never fails me, as the rest of you do. Though I have to share her with her other diabolical duties. No matter, partial time with her is better than none.”
Beelzebub pointed at the devices in a pile. “I, um, what are those for?”
“Oh, torture most foul.” Lucifer grinned evilly. “Do not fear, old friend, she is simply cleaning out a closet. Now, where were we?”
Nerves twisted Beelzebub’s stomach.
“That’s right. You were going to tell me why you visited Earth.”
3
Beelzebub rubbed his claws together nervously, taking a moment to collect himself as Lucifer took a seat on his throne. “Your Grace, I was trying to help. Moloch was out of control, and I was attempting to stop him from making any more stupid decisions. I wanted him to rethink what he was about to do, so I let him know t
here were better ways to go about it. Unfortunately, by the time I got to him, it was too late.”
Lucifer ran his claws down his long black goatee. “As in, the event had begun?”
Beelzebub shook his head. “As in, his head had been cut off in the middle of New York City by that human and Lilith.”
Lucifer narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. “I don’t know why you thought it was your place to step in. If you think I didn’t know where things were heading, you would be wrong. I gave Moloch the opportunity to redeem himself, knowing full well my lovely…ex-wife would take his head before she let him anywhere near her human. Still, Moloch was not a weak demon. If he’d planned correctly, he might have had a chance.”
Beelzebub nodded. “Yes, your Grace. I knew he might. I wanted to make sure that he made the right choices to get the job done. Not only for his sake but for yours as well.”
Lucifer looked Beelzebub up and down. “The problem I am having here, Beelzebub, is that when you inserted yourself on Earth, you took on the responsibility of killing these human sacks of shit. You took that into your own hands. But in the end, you and Moloch both failed, which makes me look very bad. I look incompetent. I can’t go around letting my own demons being defiled and killed by demons on Earth.”
Beelzebub’s hands began to shake again. “I understand. I had no ill intentions toward you, Master.”
Lucifer tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Since you went to help, I will not torture you for a thousand years, not this time. Besides, as you saw, my torture room is undergoing some serious renovations. I don’t have the space right now.”
Beelzebub let out a deep breath. “Oh, thank you, Master. You are as gracious as you are evil.”
Lucifer glared at his servant, taking a cup of something thick and red from the tray. He crossed his legs and took a sip, letting Beelzebub stand there awkwardly. He wanted him to think about what it felt like to stand before him. Beelzebub was doing just that, remembering the last time he was tortured. It had taken him a century to grow back the scales on the lower half of his body, not to mention the limbs that’d had to be reattached. It had been more than a mess. The last thing he wanted was to go through that all over again, even if he was one tough sonofabitch.