Netherworld, Soul Guardians Book 4

by Richardson, Kim

  “I look terrible, don’t I?” croaked David as he opened his eyes. “I can tell by the look on your face.”

  “Shhh. Don’t talk. Keep your strength.” Kara whirled around.

  The last of the clown demons scattered. Kara watched them limp away towards the back of the tent and disappear behind a large ride with dilapidated seats.

  Without another word to David, she grabbed him under the shoulders and dragged him towards Peter.

  “I love a strong woman,” said David romantically.

  Kara ignored him. “Peter, can you walk?”

  With great effort Peter managed to stand. “I—I think so. Whatever this disease is, the less strain I put on myself the slower it seems to work.” He hauled his backpack up on his shoulder.

  “If that’s the case, then I’m a goner.” David’s head bobbed to the side. “I can hardly feel my legs.”

  “Don’t say that. You’re going to be fine.” Kara scanned the area. She pointed to an empty ticket booth with a large portrait of a smiling Lilith painted on the front. “Over there—you’ll be safe there until I get back.”

  David coughed up a laugh. “Seriously? With the misses smiling at us like that?”

  “Yes—seriously. They won’t look for you there.” Kara hauled David and dragged him across to the booth. She laid him gently on the ground in a seated position. He turned his head and blew a kiss to the image of Lilith. Peter laughed and slid down beside him.

  David’s smile evaporated. “Kara, I’m sorry,” began David. “I’ve let you down.”

  Kara shook her head to herself. “There’s nothing to be sorry for, David. I should be apologizing to you both. I should have never let you come. This was a huge mistake.”

  “It wasn’t your decision,” said David. “Peter and I wanted to come. There’s nothing you could have done to stop us from coming with you. And I’m glad we did.”

  Kara sighed. She looked at Peter’s backpack. “Got anymore moonstones in there?”

  Peter nodded. “Yup.” He pulled out another moonstone. “I’ve got another five.” David whistled and patted Peter on the back, impressed at his stock.

  “Good. If more demons show up, do exactly like before. Blast them. I’ll be back in no time at all. Don’t let them see you. Just try not to make any noise. ”

  She looked over at David’s shrunken face. His skin was chalky white. He wasn’t going to last very long. The demons had nearly killed him. She hoped Peter would be brave enough to keep them alive long enough for her to return to get them. She prayed silently that he would.

  Kara stood up and checked herself. “Okay. I’m off—”

  “Wait! I need my good luck kiss.” David puckered up his lips. “If I’m to die a nasty demon, at least let me die a happy one.”

  Rolling her eyes, Kara kneeled down beside him. She cradled his face gently in her hands. “You’re not going to die. Don’t be stupid. I won’t let you. I promise. I’m coming back for you guys…and we’re going home. Promise.” Kara leaned forward and pressed her lips against David’s. She shuddered at the coolness of his skin but was glad at his soft touch nevertheless.

  “I can’t believe you’re kissing at a time like this,” laughed Peter, his voice almost a squeal. “Just hurry up and get back in one piece. This place is creeping me out. I know I’m going to have nightmares about clowns for the rest of my days.”

  “I will. Promise.” Kara felt as if the whole weight of the netherworld had fallen on her. She hated leaving them like this, but she had no other choice.

  “Be careful,” said David.

  With one last look at David and Peter, Kara jumped to her feet and bolted in the other direction. She passed the yellow and red striped tent cautiously and gripped her blade firmly in her hand. She listened for the sounds of heavy boots. Nothing. No more demons emerged from the tent. Relieved, she wiggled her way through disintegrating rides where skinless imps fought over their seating arrangements. Their red glowing eyes turned as she passed, and then they continued to fight. Their feral grunts were drowned by the blaring symphony.

  Kara could see Jenny’s limp body sway with the momentum of the giant wheel up ahead. She was nearly there. She followed the music. It was leading her closer to the Ferris wheel.

  A sudden whisper came from behind her. Kara turned to see a wall of rotten clowns wobbling behind her. She quickened her pace. She heard the tread of their heavy boots picking up speed. If they were all behind her, that meant David and Peter were safe for now, unless another foe awaited them in the shadows. She pushed the thought out of her mind.

  The glowing Ferris wheel peeked over a rotten white tent. Kara could see Jenny’s face clearly now. Her eyes were closed. Her skin was the same chalky white as David and Peter’s, but Kara couldn’t see any real wounds on her friend.

  She raced around the tent and came out into a clearing. A large raised platform stood at the foot of the giant wheel. Lights hung from wires that crisscrossed above the platform. And at the opposite end a group of fat scabrous demons howled and played shiny black instruments with sinuous arms and legs. Their alien voices echoed their haunting performance.

  A beautiful young woman in a white pantsuit with a tall white hat pranced around on the stage. Her long white hair rippled behind her unnaturally, like a cape made of mist. Her delicate features creased and broke into a sinister smile when she spotted Kara. Her large black eyes shone with excitement. She skipped and twirled dramatically around the stage.

  “Well, well, well. My little sister, Kara, has finally decided to come and play with us,” Lilith laughed softly to the four higher demons standing behind her. Their identical white faces sneered at Kara.

  A giant man sat in a wooden red chair next to Lilith. The chair was carved with snakes on the armrest and horned beasts for legs. The backrest was carved in the shape of an eye that seemed to watch Kara. A long silky grey robe draped over the man’s strong shoulders. His handsome face was wrinkled in a deep frown. Light reflected off his bald head. He watched Kara with dark eyes.

  “Zadkiel,” hissed Kara.

  Chapter 17

  Jack-in-the-box

  “You two know each other?” questioned Lilith.

  She stopped twirling and was still. She watched Kara and Zadkiel for a moment, and then she lifted her arms dramatically in the air and laughed. “How delightful! This is going to be even better than I had imagined. To think that I’ve reunited two old pals from the legion.” Zadkiel kept his eyes on Kara. He never blinked.

  Lilith gawked at her. “Oh my god, what happened to you? You look terrible,” she giggled. “Did you have a hard time getting here? Did you meet some of my friends along the way?”

  Kara ignored her. She studied the area quickly. She felt the presence of something behind her. She turned around. A group of clown demons scrambled up behind her. She stepped away as they formed a circle around her. They whispered and leered at her as they poked at her with their weapons. One jumped forward brandishing a spiked club. He beat the ground near Kara’s feet. She didn’t move.

  Lilith lifted her hand. The clown demon bowed his head and backed away. She smiled at Kara. “I knew you would come. I knew you couldn’t resist the urge to help your pathetic little friend—what was her name again? Julie? Ginger? Janet?”

  “Jenny,” hissed Kara. She hoped her face matched the wrath she felt.

  Lilith laughed softly. She twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers. “Ah, yes—poor little pathetic, Jenny—it’s all over for her now.”

  She looked up behind her and smiled at the lifeless figure tied to the Ferris wheel. “I hate her hair. Isn’t it awful? I don’t agree with young women who cut their hair short. They look like boys. Why would you want to look like a boy? I think all women should have long beautiful hair like mine.”

  Lilith tossed her hair back with a flick of her wrist. She flashed Kara a pretty smile. “Well, if her soul’s still alive, then it’s holding on by a thread. I gave her some of m
y essence to try and keep her alive for as long as I could. I wanted you to see her suffer. But alas, she is weak, and probably already dead now. So I guess you came all this way for nothing. Ha!” Lilith laughed excitedly. The higher demons cheered with her.

  Kara resisted the urge to run up and smack the smile off Lilith’s face. She looked up and searched Jenny’s face. There was no movement. Her body was stiff, like a corpse. Guilt and anger rose in her chest.

  “You know,” Lilith continued conversationally, “…you guardian angels are so overrated, don’t you think? One would think that with your grand reputation you’d be smart. But you’re not very clever, are you, Kara. This is so obviously a trap. Hello? Didn’t you know this was a trap? Are you that ugly and stupid for real? You just waltz right in, without questions, like a good little soldier. And you call yourself Asmodeus’s daughter? I think not.” She waved her arms theatrically and giggled.

  Kara eyed Lilith but didn’t reply. She knew she wanted to get a rise out of her. She glared at Lilith, her lips pressed together in a tight line.

  Lilith raised an eyebrow. Her smile was empty. “One would think that the infamous Kara Nightingale would have more brains. Kara this…Kara that…it’s all over the netherworld, you know. It’s clear to me that I inherited our father’s intellect and not you. I would never have been so stupid as to risk my precious soul for another. What is that about? Your weakness, my dear sister, is your love for your friends.”

  “I’d rather give up my life to help a friend, than be a self centered psychopath who needs an audience to help her feel important.” Kara’s voice rose, but she strained to stay calm. She needed her wits about her.

  Lilith’s lips twitched into an ugly smile. Her black eyes darkened into a scowl. “I am important. And powerful. I’m the greatest thing that ever was in the netherworld, if you cared to know.”

  She glared at Kara. “You’re just a pebble in my shoe. Don’t think that because we are sisters I will spare your insignificant life. You mean nothing to me. It will give me great pleasure to see you suffer, as I have suffered.”

  “I wouldn’t expect any less.” Kara watched Zadkiel. He hadn’t said a word yet, and that made Kara nervous. He could only be contemplating some scheme. He tapped his thumb against the armrest of his chair. His deep scowl was the only indication of his hatred for Kara. He was worse than a traitor. He was the scum beneath her boots.

  Lilith adjusted her hat and raised her chin in the air. “I was my father’s favorite, you know. He told me all the time. He worshiped me.” She turned and pointed a red manicured finger in Kara’s direction. “You were just a bad experiment gone wrong. He never cared for you as he cared for me. You meant nothing to him. Nothing. He hardly ever talked about you. And when he did, it was because you annoyed him. You see, he was never truly your father. He was my father, not yours. He wanted you dead.”

  Kara shook her head and smiled. She tapped her blade against her thigh. “Wow. You’ve got some serious daddy issues.”

  Kara wasn’t sure where this was going. She saw the hatred flare up in Lilith’s face. It was an ugly sight.

  Lilith glared at Kara. “I’m going to enjoy watching you die, sister.” Her lips trembled with white-hot rage.

  Kara met her glare. “We’ll just have to see about that, won’t we…sister?”

  Lilith raised her arms in the air. “Let’s see if the rumors are true. Let’s see just how powerful you really are, sister dear. Let the games begin!” She snapped her fingers.

  A tornado of dust appeared at the center of the platform. Kara’s hair and clothes rippled in a sudden gust of wind. Green electricity snaked around the funnel. There was a sudden crack. The dust disappeared. A great box with intricate designs stood before Kara. It was red, with green question marks painted on all four sides. It looked like a giant toy box. A crank turned slowly on one of the sides.

  Kara wasn’t fooled by the colorful box. She took a step back. With a flash, the top of the box exploded. An enormous jester sprang out. Clad in a decaying red and green outfit, the demon grinned. It opened its mouth and wailed. Its forked tongue licked its rotten teeth. It studied Kara with bulging yellow eyes. She gripped her soul blade and watched the giant jack-in-the-box.

  The demon laughed so loudly that Kara cried out with the pain in her ears.

  The jester lunged at Kara.

  Its massive maw missed Kara’s feet by an inch as she jumped out of the way. Its head crashed onto the platform and shattered the wooden planks. The leering demon recoiled back into its box. It laughed again from inside. Kara tried to block the sound with her hands.

  The crank spun—at first slowly, then faster. The jester sprang out of the box again. His snake like tongue wrapped around Kara’s right leg. He lifted her into the air. She was upside down, and she watched in horror as its enormous maw opened beneath her. Hot pungent breath sprayed her face. The smell alone was enough to render anyone unconscious. Kara struggled in the demon’s grip. She refused to be eaten by a giant clown. It lowered her to its mouth—

  With a quick slash of her blade, Kara sliced the creature’s tongue. Black liquid sprayed her hand. It released her, and she fell onto the ground. The jester recoiled. The creature howled. It watched her angrily with yellow eyes.

  In a flash, the jester’s head came crashing into Kara again. She flew into the air. Pain exploded in her arm, as its giant teeth enclosed her arm all the way to her armpit. Her blade slipped from her hand. She was tossed savagely to the ground.

  The jester snaked in front of her and hurled her blade into the shadows. She heard a faint cling and knew her weapon was gone. She looked up into its grinning face. She could hear Lilith crying out in delight, applauding feverishly somewhere behind the creature.

  She jumped to her feet and tried to outrun the creature. The jester blocked her way. She could never outrun this thing.

  Kara looked at Jenny’s face. Her guilt immobilized her for a moment. The jester laughed in victory—it sensed Kara was giving up. The sound tore at her like a thousand lashes. A crack sounded, in a blur its black tongue lashed out and wrapped itself around Kara. Her arms were pinned to her sides, and black liquid from the demon’s hot breath seeped into her skin like poison. A wave of dizziness came over her. She tried to focus, but her mind wavered. The jester was draining her.

  Lilith’s sinister laugher echoed around Kara. She was enjoying herself.

  She could see David and Peter’s broken faces in her mind’s eye. Then the world around her disappeared.

  Lilith laughed harder, but Kara only just heard her.

  A hot ripple deep inside her started to emerge. Kara called for it. Her elemental energy came slowly alive. It poured through her freely, renewing her strength. She let herself drown in it, until it consumed her in a haze of gold.

  Lilith laughed and applauded.

  The jester opened its rotten maw—

  Kara’s body exploded in a golden blast. It lifted and hovered in the air. Warmth spread through her from her head to her toes. When her boots hit the floor again, the jester was consumed in gold. Golden current snaked around his giant body. The creature wailed as it struck its head repeatedly against the ground. With a final wail, the jester exploded in a shower of golden dust and disappeared into a gust of wind.

  Lilith’s face was contorted with rage. “Kill her! Kill her you pathetic clowns!” she ordered.

  The platform shook. The demon clowns launched themselves at Kara. She raised her hands, and rays of golden light blasted from her palms. The wall of clowns rose in a cloud of golden radiance. Their bodies sizzled and cracked. And then they dissolved into nothing.

  The platform was silent. Zadkiel scowled. His fists looked like mallets at his sides. His knees shook.

  Kara saw hatred flash across Lilith’s face, and a trace of something else—jealousy. She clearly envied Kara’s power.

  Lilith licked her lips. She watched Kara’s every move. “Well. I must say I’m impressed, dearest sister
.” Her voice trembled. She strolled around the platform and back. After a time, she regained a bit of her bounce. “That golden thing you just did…was a neat trick. But it was just a trick. And your trick won’t save you here. Your pathetic little angel soul won’t last for very much longer. Sooner or later, that power of yours will diminish, and your soul will rot.”

  Kara’s anger returned. “Give me Jenny, and I’ll leave here quietly, with no harm done. I just want my friend.”

  Lilith burst out laughing. It took a moment for her to compose herself. “Oh dear. But you can’t have your iddy biddy friend. Her pathetic soul belongs to me. Forget it. You’ll never have her. But, oh, did she scream and cry out to you for help when I burned her—the lungs on that girl—you’d think she’d be an opera singer.” Lilith laughed and was pleased by the anger in Kara’s eyes.

  Kara gave Lilith a withering glare. “You are your father’s daughter—through and through—a psychopath in every way.”

  Lilith’s face brightened. “I take that as a compliment.” She picked at her nails. “I’m getting bored with all this talking. Aren’t you bored, Zadkiel?”

  She turned to the archangel for an answer, but he ignored her. He watched Kara. Lilith shrugged. “Well, I’m bored. Let’s have more fun, shall we? Let’s see how well she’ll do with my next game.”

  “I have one more surprise for you, little sister.” Lilith glanced behind her. “Come!”

  A higher demon emerged from the shadows and walked onto the platform. Unlike his brethren, he wore a brown leather jacket and scruffy blue jeans. His pallid face broke into a smile as he fixed his black eyes on Kara. He sauntered towards her casually. The tread of his boots cut through the eerie silence.

  Kara tensed as she watched him approach.

  What is this? Why is he wearing David’s clothes? “What have you done to David!” Kara raised her arms menacingly towards Lilith and the archangel. She watched the higher demon carefully.

  Lilith giggled. She twirled a long lock of hair between her fingers. “Don’t you recognize him? I thought the two of you were in love.”