“I need to go help Cain fight the three traitors. I don’t know if Baal has showed up yet. Can you lead my legions into the fight in my absence?”
“Yes, but I really think that...”
“I don’t want to lose the rage I have right now. It makes me more powerful. I have to make it there before it subsides. Can you do what I asked?”
Lilith considered his request, almost wondering if she should turn it down. Shadow was starting to seem a little unstable.
“I have to know. Did you release the rage monster or did it come out on its own?”
“It came out on its own.”
“Then you’re right. You shouldn’t be leading this army right now. Just keep control of that monster if it decides to take over again.”
Shadow ignored her last comment and turned to face his army.
“Lilith will lead you into battle. I’m going to kill the three major demons who stepped out of line. Any problems?”
Shadow’s query was once again met with dead silence. He turned and walked straight into the heart of the battle.
“Nice of you to finally join us, Cain. I was just about to send my son to kill you. It seems like Baal and Leviathan won’t be joining us. Think you can take the three of us? Nightmare will arrive shortly and then it will be four.”
“I’m not frightened by the liar, the bitch, and the blob. While I know Leviathan is still too injured to fight, I highly doubt that Baal won’t show up. You’re too predictable. You probably sent assassins. I don’t think it worked.”
Baal appeared in dark blue flames next to Cain. His dark gold armor was stained by splattered demon blood. He looked angry, but uninjured. He tossed a bag at the feet of Lucian, Vixen, and Asmodeus. Several heads rolled out of the bag.
“It didn’t work. A little advice for you guys. Next time, send better assassins.”
Lucian looked angry but grinned as he remembered that they still had the upper hand.
“It’s still three on two. We also took over Leviathan’s armies. The two of you are done.”
“No they aren’t and the part about Leviathan’s armies is a lie as well.”
Shadow joined the major demons.
“Leviathan is commanding his armies. He may not be recovered enough to take one of you on, but he’s definitely kicking the shit out of Vixen’s forces right now. I’m more than willing to take his place against any one of you though.”
Vixen and Asmodeus laughed but Lucian just smiled at Shadow.
“Yes, the new middle demon of war. I thought you might show up. I have a plan in place for that as well.”
Lucian stepped aside to reveal Nightmare, who cracked his knuckles.
“My son has just been promoted to middle demon of half-truths. He’s more than a match for you.”
Nightmare slowly started walking towards Shadow when he was tackled from the left side. It took everyone a few moments to realize what was going on. Leech was on top of Nightmare, vigorously punching at his face. He pulled Shadow’s angel blade from his belt and tossed it to Shadow. Vixen tried to step in to break it up but Baal cut her off and the two of them began fighting with their scythes.
“Actually, it looks like Leech is ready for round two with your asshole of a son. So I guess that means that I get the blob, because I know my uncle wants to kick your ass.”
Cain and Lucian began to fight and Shadow turned to Asmodeus.
“You’re no match for me, little demon. Even with your glowing toothpick.”
“Oh, you mean this? This is the short sword of the Archangel Michael. I’m betting it’s cut your flesh before.”
A look of recognition passed over Asmodeus and he touched a long scar that ran across his belly. Shadow grinned.
“So Michael gutted you once. Interesting. Let’s see if his grandson can finish the job.”
CHAPTER 38
Shadow ran at his oversized target and swung with his angel blade. The strike cut through the air and hit the floor of Hell. Realizing that Asmodeus had teleported behind him, Shadow spun and brought his blade to meet the downward strike of Asmodeus’ scythe. Asmodeus continued to press down and the scythe drew blood from Shadow’s shoulder. He cried out and Asmodeus laughed. Shadow was able to push up and remove the scythe from his shoulder. He then sidestepped and removed his angel’s blade so the scythe arched down and hit the ground. Shadow tossed his blade to his other hand and rushed Asmodeus. By the time Asmodeus teleported away in flames, Shadow had landed several strikes on his bulging belly.
When Shadow turned, he saw that Asmodeus was leaking blood from several locations. None of the wounds looked particularly bad though.
“You forget, Shadow, that major demons all have a power that you don’t have.”
Asmodeus disappeared once again in flames and appeared behind Cain. He used his scythe to trip Cain and then Lucian and Asmodeus both raised their scythes high in the air. Shadow barely had time to scream before both scythes came crashing down and pierced Cain in the center of his chest. Shadow felt the rage monster trying to emerge but he fought it. Instead, he ran to where his uncle had fallen. As he neared the spot, Cain’s scythe leapt from Cain’s hands and found its way to Shadow’s. With a scythe in one hand and an archangel blade in the other, Shadow rushed Lucian. For the first time, Shadow saw Lucian register a look of pure fear. He disappeared in red flames and Shadow knew it wasn’t to a close spot somewhere on the battlefield. Lucian had run from the fight.
Asmodeus was about to teleport away in fire as well but Shadow threw his uncle’s scythe. It sliced clean through Asmodeus right arm and he dropped his scythe and screamed. Shadow flipped through the air, landed on the giant beast’s back and positioned his angel blade across his throat. He grabbed his blade at the other end and pulled backwards as hard as he could. His weapon sliced clean through the neck of Asmodeus. Before his massive head could slide off his blob-like body, Shadow had turned into a shadow rage monster. The rage monster lifted Asmodeus into the air in one of its massive hands and threw it in its mouth. The monster gagged for several seconds while trying to swallow Asmodeus, but he was eventually able to get him down.
When Shadow had returned to his regular form, he ran to his dying uncle. Cain was making small coughing noises and blood was coming from his mouth.
“Shadow, you need to find them and kill them. Avenge me and then you will be powerful enough to go get your father from his prison.”
“I just killed Asmodeus.”
Shadow was going to beg his uncle not to die, but realized there was no point. For the first time since his father had been taken, Shadow broke down and cried.
“Hey now. Don’t go all pussy on me in the end. I still have some things to tell you.”
Shadow was able to force a smile. Cain choked up more blood and then tried to rapidly reveal everything he needed to.
“I’ve planted fake memories in your head for years. I’ve made you remember things that never happened and forget things that you shouldn’t have seen. I did it to protect you, but also to protect myself. When you find out what I’m talking about, don’t let it change you.”
Cain was interrupted briefly as more blood leaked out of his chest. He paused for a few moments and then continued.
“You are my successor. Don’t let any of the other middle demons take command of the armies of murder. They rightfully belong to you.”
Cain looked like he wanted to say something else, but he choked up blood one last time and his eyes rolled up in the back of his head. As his life left him, an earthquake shook the foundations of Hell.
Leech barely had a few minutes to enjoy his victory when he saw Shadow limping towards him. He ripped part of his cloak and helped Shadow bandage his shoulder.
“Is Nightmare still around here somewhere?”
“Nope. He took off. Round two goes to Leech. I owed him a good ass-kicking after the death pit.”
Shadow looked impressed and Leech grinned mischievously.
“Well,
to be fair, I had Muan shooting him with poisoned darts through most of the fight.”
Shadow realized that Muan was bowing at Leech’s side. Leech smacked him in the back of the head.
“I told you not to do that anymore. Shadow and I don’t want you bowing all the time. You’ll ruin your knees.”
Leech noticed that Shadow’s face was exuding a pain far worse than what the wound in his shoulder should have caused.
“How did it turn out with the major demons?”
“Asmodeus fell and so did...”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. He wasn’t ready for his uncle to be gone.
“...Lucian actually took down Cain? I never would have called that.”
“No, I let the fight get away from me. It took Asmodeus AND Lucian to kill my uncle. Then Lucian ran like a coward and I killed Asmodeus.”
“I’m sorry bro. I wish I could have helped.”
“You did. I wouldn’t have lasted without my angel blade and there’s no way I could have taken a major demon and Nightmare at the same time. I appreciate it, Leech.”
“No worries. Where’s Lilith?”
Lilith rode in on the mount of Abigor.
“She’s taking a victory lap after she demolished the forces of Asmodeus.”
Leech grinned up at her.
“You know, babe, demons that talk about themselves in third person are usually annoying assholes.”
Lilith dismounted and went to punch Leech but he caught her arm and pulled her in for a hug.
“I’m glad to see that you’re ok, babe.”
Lilith leaned in and kissed Leech on the cheek and then they both turned to Shadow.
“So what now, bro?”
“We hunt down their armies. Then we kill Vixen and Lucian. General Cain will be avenged by the three of us.”
Thanks for reading Minor Demons. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Randall Morris has a bachelors degree in history from BYU and enjoys writing history articles, travel / photo books, and action / adventure fiction. He spent two years in the Philippines as a missionary and speaks fluent Tagalog. He has worked in the IT field for over seven years. His works are currently available as ebooks, paperbacks, and audio books. Morris has been a self-published author since early 2012.
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Minor Demons Page 23