“Cast that.”
“What for?”
“I’m the leader. Do what I say.”
Jess cast the spell and five targets appeared 100 yards out. She thought about asking what good targets were but thought better of it. Murmur held out his hand in Aim’s direction.
“The rifle.”
Aim handed his gun over to Murmur. Murmur got down on one knee and aimed at the first target. He took five quick shots and hit the bull’s-eye on all five targets. He handed the rifle back to Aim and then held both of his hands out to Jess.
“Find a spell that’s giving you trouble and then give me your staff and the book.”
Jess did as instructed and then handed Murmur the book and her staff. He read the spell and studied the accompanying movements. After he finished the spell, nothing happened. He looked over at Jess and saw a smug grin spread across her face. As he looked back at the book, he realized that he had gotten one of the movements slightly wrong. When he finished his second attempt, correcting his previous missteps and movements, white sparks shot out of the end of the staff. Murmur could see out of the corner of his eye that Jess’s expression had softened to a look that said that she was mildly impressed. Murmur completed the spell a third time and pointed the staff at the middle target of five that Jess had summoned earlier. A lightning bolt erupted from the end of the staff and connected with the target, knocking it over and setting it on fire. He handed the spell book and the staff back to Jess. After a few moments of silence, Aim spoke up.
“What did that prove? That you’re better at our jobs than we are? Not all of us could afford fancy lessons when we were growing up like you and Lord Shadow.”
“Aim, I didn’t do that to put either of you in your place or to show you that I’m better. I did it so that you could see that it can be done. I’ll admit that I’m a terrible sorcerer, but I pulled off the lightning spell. I hit the bull’s-eye five times from 100 yards out. It just takes practice and a great amount of concentration. I think both of you can learn to do what I just did with a little practice and a clear mind. Focus on what you’re doing. Eliminate your surroundings and anything that will get in your way. That’s what my expensive instructors taught us.”
Jess and Aim both let what Murmur had explained sink in. Jess looked at her book again and mimicked Murmur’s earlier movements. When she cast the spell, four lightning bolts shot out of her staff and knocked over the remaining four targets. She turned to Murmur, grinning.
“You’re right. You are a shitty sorcerer.”
Murmur laughed.
“Fine, Jess. At least I made my point. Conjure up some more targets so Aim has something to hit.”
Jess waved her staff and conjured another five targets. Aim looked at Murmur and shook his head.
“I can’t hit anything that far out.”
“You don’t know that. You haven’t tried.”
“Even if I can, what does it matter? You’re already better than I’ll ever be and you don’t even shoot on a regular basis!”
“I don’t anymore. I definitely logged a hell of a lot more hours shooting before the trials though. I’m proficient with many different weapons, which means that I’ve really only mastered fighting with clubs and mallets. You need to become the master sniper. Practice until you can confidently call yourself that.”
“But…”
“Take a shot, Aim. Try.”
Aim got down on one knee and readied his gun. He took careful aim, blocking out his surroundings as Murmur had instructed. His shot nicked the target in its outermost ring.
“See? I barely even hit the target!”
“You hit it though. That’s what matters. A hit in the arm hurts a hell of a lot more than a miss. Try it again.”
This time, Aim focused on the bull’s-eye, blocking out all other distractions. He took the shot and scored a hit two rings out from the bull’s-eye.
“See? You’re getting better. You just need to learn to focus while the target is running at you and moving all over the place. No big deal, right?”
Aim looked at Murmur like he was crazy.
“You’ll get there, Aim. Don’t stress it. You’ll get there.”
“Why are you helping us, Murmur? No one has bothered to teach us anything before.”
“Self-interest. Your ability to pick off a target may save my life later on.”
CHAPTER 20
Naamah had the bound Leech and Lilith taken into her tent. She wanted the pleasure of torturing them herself. Her guards were ordered to wait outside.
Leech spotted his minotaur axe resting on a table not too far from where he was standing.
“Ladies, I really don’t want to listen to the two of you play the ‘I’m more attractive’ game. I don’t understand why it’s all Vixen’s children talk about whenever they’re together. If you insist on being that annoying, please knock me out first. Thanks.”
Naamah looked at Lilith and laughed. With her attention diverted, Leech started to slowly make his way closer to the table that held his axe.
“This mongrel bitch isn’t even in the same league as I am. There’s no point in arguing.”
“Bullshit, Naamah. I saw you checking me out in the trials just like everyone else.”
Leech sighed.
“Someone knock me out, please?”
Naamah turned to Leech and delivered an uppercut to his jaw. Leech’s head fell limp against his chest and she returned her attention to Lilith.
“I was not checking you out during the trials. The crowd was stunned into silence by the mere idea that someone so ugly could be a daughter of Vixen.”
“You’re lying. My lineage was just a rumor at that point. They were stunned into silence by my hotness.”
“Apparently your ‘hotness’ wasn’t enough to seduce Shadow in the death pit. He turned into that horrible monster and nearly took your head off. That’s where you and I are different. You fell short, but I seduced Shadow before the trials.”
Lilith laughed.
“You’re lying again. When Shadow received his minor power negation ring, he had to touch it to my ring because he hadn’t succumbed to any of Vixen’s children. I’m sure you hooked up with someone from my class of demons, but it wasn’t Shadow.”
“It was Shadow.”
Lilith’s eyes went wide as she realized who it probably was. She giggled.
“It was Nightmare. That’s how he resisted my powers. Wow, Naamah. You really don’t have any standards, do you?”
“Shut up, you bitch!”
Naamah drew back her whip and struck at Lilith’s face. Lilith closed her eyes and braced herself but her sister’s whip never connected. When she opened her eyes, she saw Leech standing in front of her. Naamah’s whip was coiled around Leech’s minotaur axe, which he was holding in both hands. The remains of the rope that bound him lay in several pieces on the desert sands.
“Damn the two of you are annoying. You can’t even let a guy enjoy unconsciousness in peace. Well this fight is over.”
Leech pulled on his axe and Naamah sailed through the air in his direction. When she landed, Leech elbowed her hard in the chin and kicked her feet out from under her. Before she could drift into unconsciousness, Leech brought down his axe on her neck and severed her head from the rest of her body.
“Lilith is prettier. I still don’t get why all of Vixen’s kids need to challenge her on that. It never ends well for them.”
Leech cut Lilith loose and she kissed him on the cheek. They gathered their weapons and armor. Leech stepped outside the tent in between the two guards. Before they could react, he had spun 360 degrees with his axe and cut the two guards in half. He saw the remnants of Naamah’s army a short distance from the entrance to her tent and he quickly withdrew back inside.
“Shit.”
“What?”
“Her entire army is just waiting out there. If any of them come up here, we’re screwed.”
“Why are we screwed?”
/>
“Because I kind of um…”
“What?”
“I kind of sliced the two guards in half. You don’t think anyone will notice, do you?”
“Oh of course not, Leech! If I saw the guards of my master’s tent cut in half, I definitely wouldn’t check inside the tent! And when I didn’t look inside, I definitely wouldn’t see Naamah lying decapitated on the desert floor!”
“Oh good. I was worried for a minute there.”
Lilith punched Leech hard in the arm.
“Ow!”
“What are we going to do, Leech?”
“Give me a minute to think.”
As Leech pondered the possible escapes from their situation, he started pacing. He scanned the tent in an attempt to find anything that could help them. His eyes eventually came to rest on Naamah’s lifeless form, headless and bleeding into the sand.
“You know, she looks a lot like you.”
“No she doesn’t. I’m…”
“I know, I know. You’re way prettier, but we only need to trick them for a few seconds. Do you think you can pull of a Naamah impression for that long?”
Leech told Lilith his plan. She laughed loudly.
“You can’t be serious, Leech. That’s insane! They’re going to kill you.”
“I’ll be fine. Do you have any other ideas?”
Lilith thought for a moment.
“No.”
“Then strip and put your dead sister’s clothes on.”
“Sounds kinky.”
She winked and Leech couldn’t help but laugh.
“We don’t have time for that right now.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Naamah clearly likes me the best!”
Everyone listening laughed and the incubus who made the declaration immediately put on a look of defensive indignation.
“It’s true!”
“You must be new here. Naamah brings every one of us up to her tent when the mood strikes her. She’ll eventually get bored of you.”
“That’s not true!”
“Oh really? By a show of hands, who has been to Naamah’s tent for a ‘good time’ within the past month?”
Several of the incubi and succubi raised their hands.
“How about within the past six months?”
Dozens more hands shot up. As the incubus looked around, he saw more than half of Naamah’s army had their hands in the air.
“You’re all liars!”
A succubus who had been listening with a bored expression on her face suddenly perked up.
“Did any of you hear that?”
“What are you talking about?”
She stood from the rock she was sitting on and started looking around.
“It sounded like someone running through the sand.”
Several responses were hurled back at her.
“I didn’t hear anything.”
“It was just the wind.”
“You’re just slowly going insane from boredom. Naamah is going to be torturing them up there for a while so you should find something to do.”
“I’m sure that I heard something. I feel something too. I think I feel… weaker…”
“Well… oh look! Naamah’s back early!”
The army turned to see Naamah standing on the top of a sandy hill several hundred feet from her tent. She cracked her whip in the air and the army bowed.
Leech moved in and out of the ranks of Naamah’s army, cutting throats with his axe. He had used his parasitic touch on dozens of incubi and sucubbi and he felt like a demon on crack. No matter how many he killed, his energy didn’t dull. He had slit dozens of throats, but even at the speed he was moving he knew it wasn’t going to be enough. Lilith’s voice didn’t sound like Naamah’s. She could fool them for a brief time from a distance, but she would eventually have to speak.
A succubus towards the front of Naamah’s army looked up. Naamah had cracked her whip which was the command for them to bow, but she hadn’t said anything or given any further command for nearly a full minute.
“Mistress?”
Naamah didn’t respond.
“Lady Naamah? What’s going on? Why won’t you give us a command?”
The succubus turned and saw dozens of dead demons littering the ground. Leech was moving through their ranks and swinging his axe.
“That’s not our mistress! We’re being attacked! Everyone get up and fight back! Now!”
Leech dropped his axe in the sand and pulled his guns from his belt. He started shooting as Naamah’s army closed in. He could feel each bullet like a small needle stabbing at his soul. He paused to use his parasitic touch and draw in more energy, but they were closing in too fast. As he backed away and continued to shoot, he saw that it was only a matter of time before they cut off his retreat. All he could do now was go down fighting. They wouldn’t need the weapons of a middle demon to take him down; there were enough of them to literally beat him to death. The guns took their toll on his strength and he finally dropped them in the sand and fell to his knees. Leech knew that he was moments away from the end. He closed his eyes and awaited death’s cruel embrace.
CHAPTER 21
“You’re sure I can’t change your mind?”
Queen Persephone looked at Shadow with what appeared to be concern and love. Shadow knew better. Demons were incapable of those feelings. Any desire she had for him to prosper was motivated by self-interest. If Muan had been her grandson, she would have felt the same desire to see him thrive.
“I’m sure. I won’t allow our fathers to be tortured as traitors. Unless you have something that can help us succeed, we’ll be leaving now.”
Queen Persephone hesitated for a few seconds before she spoke again.
“I do have something for you. It’s time it was handed down to you. Wait here.”
Persephone moved quickly into the other room and came back with a glowing white set of armor. Muan shielded his eyes.
“You’re going to want to keep your eyes shut for this part, Muan. This is a relic of the Heavens.”
Shadow wanted to refuse the offering of his grandmother but curiosity got the better of him. He didn’t stop Persephone from opening the small glowing chest. She opened the top and pulled out a white suit of armor.
“Vulcan, the blacksmith of the angels, made this for Michael. He called it the finest set of armor he had ever made. It was forged with the fire of the heavens. I stole it when I left the heavens with Lucifer.”
“I’m pretty sure I can’t wear that if it’s going to blind my demon companions. I can appreciate the thought but…”
“Put it on.”
Shadow didn’t argue further. Persephone obviously had a reason that she wanted him to have his grandfather’s armor. He removed his armor and put on the armor forged by the blacksmith of the heavens. The armor continued to glow white briefly but then dulled to red and finally black.
Without warning, Persephone removed one of Shadow’s scythes from his belt and swung it directly at his chest. The force of the hit knocked him over and nearly knocked him out. When he clutched at his chest, he didn’t feel blood. The armor had absorbed the attack. He got back to his feet and saw his grandmother holding out his scythe, a tear running down her cheek.
“I tried to give this to my son before they took him away to torture him. He wouldn’t take it. It’s completely impenetrable to attack, at least that’s what Vulcan assured me.”
“You stole this… from Michael the Archangel. Grandmother, that’s insane. I can’t take this. What if…?”
“No one will recognize it. You’re more demon than angel so the armor turned black. It’s connected to your soul now and it will protect you where I cannot. Go and save your father.”
Shadow took his scythe back and saw that Muan was still covering his eyes.
“Are the glowing heavenly objects gone?”
“Yes, Muan. You can open your eyes.”
“What if you’re just messing wit
h me and…”
“Muan we don’t have time for this. Open your damn eyes. Now.”
Muan cautiously removed his hands and slowly opened his eyes and looked at Shadow’s armor.
“Wow. It glows black. Do you think maybe I can have…”
Shadow rolled his eyes.
“Forgive me, grandmother, but Muan probably wants a gift too.”
Muan looked slightly panicked.
“That’s not what I was… well… I just want to know if you want to give me anything that I can use to protect Lord Shadow. If I’m out of line, I apologize. I’ll formally withdraw my request.”
Muan bowed to Persephone, returning to his regular rigid personality. Apparently the joking around had scared him a little more than he let on, even though it was well received. Persephone looked the little demon over.
“You probably could use a little something extra to keep my grandson safe.”
Persephone retreated once again into the other room and came back with a necklace consisting of alternating red and black beads. Muan’s eyes went wide.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“That depends. What do you…”
“That looks like the necklace of Iktomi!”
A few seconds later, Muan realized that he had just cut off the Queen of the damned. He bowed again.
“My apologies, my queen. I spoke out of turn.”
“You are right though. This is the necklace first used by Iktomi the trickster as he acquired the powers of a shape shifter. Eventually, he no longer needed it to call upon his power. I acquired it in a trade a long time ago. Since I’m stuck in here, I have little to amuse myself other than the trinkets I’ve collected over the millennia. I will give it to you, but I would like it returned if you ever gain the ability to shape shift without the necklace’s aid. I don’t want everyone in Hell to have this power.”
“Of course, Queen Persephone. I will treat this gift with the respect it deserves.”
Middle Demons (Angels and Demons Book 2) Page 10