“There is nothing to do.” His flaming eyes looked desperate but resigned. “Go back to Belial. He will help you get home.”
“No!” I insisted. “I’m not giving up!”
Suddenly I remembered the thrak in my hand. Raising it above my head, I started to bring it down hard on one of the slimy black tentacles pulling Laish down.
But somehow, despite the tentacle wrapped around his arm, he caught my wrist before I could strike a blow.
“No—you cannot spare any more of your soul.” He wrenched the black blade from my hand, leaving me with nothing.
“What are you talking about?” I demanded. “Let me stab that thing for you—you told me you can’t use the thrak yourself!”
“Gwendolyn, get back from the edge—it’s not safe!”
“No!” I shouted stubbornly, tears of frustration stinging my eyes. “No, I can’t just watch you get dragged down. Let me help you, Laish—tell me what to do!”
Clearly he saw how stubborn I was prepared to be because he turned his attention to the big horse neighing and pawing the ground beside me.
“Kurex,” he commanded. “Save your mistress! I charge you with her safety and her life.” Suddenly the tentacles writhing around him gave a tremendous jerk. He’d been head and shoulders above the lip of the pit, now he was yanked down until I could barely see his face.
“Laish!”
“Forgive me,” he said, meeting my eyes with his flaming ones. “What I told you was true—I love you, Gwendolyn. I will never stop lov—” And then the tentacles gave another awful yank and he was gone, sliding down into the Abyss. His burning eyes, filled with sorrow and pain, were the last thing I saw and then…nothing.
“Laish—no—Laish!” I tried to rush forward again but something was pulling at the back of my robe, dragging me backward. I didn’t understand what it was until I heard Kurex snorting behind me. The giant horse was pulling me away—pulling me out of danger just as he had when I’d been dragged into the Drowning Pool in Stygia. But this time I didn’t want to go.
“No, let me go! Let me go!” I cried, fighting to get back to the edge of the Abyss. I don’t know what I thought I would do if I got there—I had no weapons, no way to cast a spell, no defenses if the monsters of the Abyss decided they wanted me, too. I only knew I couldn’t just stand there and see Laish dragged down and away and know I would never see him again.
But my screams and protestations did no good. The big horse wouldn’t let go. He dragged me all the way back to the tent, away from the seeking tentacles, and somehow shoved me inside it, standing guard at the entrance and blocking my way every time I tried to get out.
At last I collapsed on the bed and cried. Laish was gone—really and truly gone this time. And he might have turned into a huge, beautiful, frightening being that looked completely alien but still, I didn’t want to see him go. Maybe in time I could have gotten used to that—as I had gotten used to his dragon. But now it was too late—now he was either dead or trapped forever in the Abyss.
I would never see him again.
Chapter Thirty-two
Gwendolyn
I don’t remember much about the trip back across the Sunless Sea. My mind was a blur of grief and images and most of all questions—none of them answerable. Why had Laish sacrificed himself for me? How had he been able to shut the door? Why had he refused the help I tried to offer? What was I going to do without him?
This last question brought tears to my eyes more than once. I’d been so angry with him for his betrayal but now that he was gone I had to admit how I felt. Even though I hated him for doing what he had done, I loved him too. I had given him my heart when I gave him my body—there was nothing I could do about that. And now that he was gone, it was too late to do anything else but mourn him.
I rode on Kurex’s back, plodding stolidly along, not sure of anything anymore. I was wearing the gray traveling cloak Laish had given me. Under it, I wore the pair of jeans and t-shirt I’d brought as a change from the Mortal Realm. These were the only clothes I had other than the white fur coat Laish had told me to keep. Still—they were all I really needed. I had no need to pretend I was Laish’s concubine or consort now—I was just plain Gwendolyn LaRoux, trying to get back home again.
At least I wouldn’t go hungry for some time, even if my journey took a while. While packing the saddle bags, I’d found one that was full of bread and cheese and nonperishable fruit with a note from Laish.
“This food is of my essence. You may eat of it without fear. ~L”
Just seeing the note had made me start crying again and I had packed the food away without tasting a bite. I wasn’t hungry—how could I be when I had just lost the man I loved? Even if he wasn’t really a man, I couldn’t help my feelings. Couldn’t help wishing to have him back again, even if he had betrayed me at the end.
Eryn was sitting on my shoulder, looking like a white snowflake on my gray cloak. I drew some comfort from her presence. No matter what else happened, at least my pet lily-moth was still with me. At least she still cared.
I took comfort from Kurex too. He nuzzled my hair and snorted gently when I put my arms around his neck and cried. He seemed to understand what was going on and sympathized with me.
The presence of the huge horse and the tiny moth made me feel less alone, less friendless in the vast, dangerous reaches of Hell. Still, we were a mournful little group when we finally passed the broken barrier between the Sunless Sea and the city of Dis. One moment we were walking under the endless blue-green ocean with the vast shadows of prehistoric sea monsters flitting by, and the next we were emerging into the daylight of Dis, right beside The Hoof.
“Oh!” I pulled Kurex to a stop beside the tavern. Though the day was gray and drizzly, it was still brighter than the long, endless cavern we’d been traveling for so many long miles. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust.
“I guess we made it,” I said to Kurex, who tossed his head and snorted agreement. “Now if only I can remember the way back to the Citadel of Knowledge…”
But just as I had decided which way to go and was tugging on Kurex’s reins, a huge demon with brick red skin and twisted black horns growing out of his forehead stepped out of the shadow of The Hoof and came to stand right in front of Kurex.
“Mistress Gwendolyn LaRoux?” he rumbled in a voice like someone gargling with gravel.
“Uh, yes? I guess…that’s me.” I wasn’t sure if I should admit it or not but I didn’t know what else to do. “What do you want?”
“To read you this summons.”
Briskly, the huge demon unrolled a large sheet of parchment and began reading from it in his deep, grating voice.
“Whereas the defendant, Mistress Gwendolyn LaRoux, the mortal, did knowingly and willingly enter the Infernal Realm and while she was there did stay at the Hotel Infernal, and furthermore did steal, pilfer, and purloin a treasure beyond price from the accuser, Master Druaga, Demon of the First Order of Lucifer and General Manager and Owner of said hotel, I hereby place you under arrest and order you to accompany me to a place where you will be tried and punished for your crimes.”
“What?” I stared at him in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me! I didn’t take anything from that bastard! Now leave me alone—let me go!”
“I am afraid not, Mistress.” The demon tried to take Kurex’s bridle but the big horse snapped at him and kicked out with one huge hoof.
The demon groaned and cursed as the hoof connected with his shin.
“None of that, now!” he growled, taking a hasty step back. “Master Yerx!”
A massive demon with dark maroon skin and twisted spiral horns growing from the sides of his head strode up, his hooves pounding on the cobblestone road. My heart sank as I recognized him—it was the demon we had borrowed Kurex from in the first place—the one who had caught us trying to sneak into Hell at the very beginning of our journey. But now Laish wasn’t with me to make him obey and something told me th
e huge demon wasn’t going to listen to a word I said in protest.
“Kurex!” He took the bridle at once and though the horse snorted and stamped, he didn’t try to kick or bite. Then he looked at me. “Mistress LaRoux—I see you are well. But where is Lord Laish?”
“He’s…not here,” I said. I didn’t want to admit that Laish was gone—not to anyone and especially not to a being that might harm me the minute he thought it was safe to do so. “He’ll be back soon,” I improvised.
“Mmm-hmm.” Yerx looked at me through narrowed yellow eyes. Then he inhaled, his nostrils flaring as he breathed us in. “I smell the stick of the Abyss on you, Mistress. Why is that and where is Lord Laish?”
“I told you—he’s coming.” I lifted my chin. “I have nothing else to say to you.”
“We’ll see about that.” He tugged on Kurex’s bridle. “Come, we’re taking the accused to be tried before the Council of Elder Demons.”
Kurex tossed his head and let out a ringing neigh. Then he tried to pull back from the demon’s grip.
“Here—what’s got into you?” Yerx sounded both perplexed and angry. “Come, you big brute or you’ll feel my lash against your worthless hide.”
“You don’t dare touch him!” I bent down and put my arms around the big horse’s neck protectively. “Lord Laish will have you thrown into the Lake of Fire if you so much as look at him wrong, you nasty-ass demon!” It was an empty threat but Yerx didn’t know that—and I prayed I’d be gone before he found out.
Yerx looked from me to Kurex, frowning, as though he was trying to figure out what was going on.
Kurex snorted softly and turned his vast head to nuzzle my hand. His demon master still had his bridle, but it was clear he had ears only for me and my orders. As far as he was concerned, Yerx was a distant memory.
“I see,” the demon said at last, roughly. “It seems you have bewitched my horse, Mistress, but you’ll not find me quite so easy to bespell. I have orders to take you to the Citadel of Knowledge and that is where you must go.”
“As a matter of fact, that’s exactly where I was headed,” I said, straightening up and looking down my nose at him. It wasn’t easy since he was twelve feet high but I tried. “I need to speak to Belial—Lord Laish gave me a message for him. I refuse to speak to anyone else until I deliver it.”
Yerx nodded. “Very well—let’s go then.” He tugged at Kurex’s bridle but the big horse refused to move.
“It’s all right, Kurex,” I said, patting his neck. “We’re going back to the Citadel of Knowledge. You can go now.”
At once, the big horse started moving. I saw the angry look on Yerx’s face and hoped it didn’t spell trouble for the big Demon-steed later. But for now, it was enough that Kurex was standing by me.
I just hoped Belial would as well.
~ ~ ~
“I am afraid you are in grave trouble—very grave trouble indeed.” The ancient, hunchbacked demon paced back and forth in the library between the couch and the fireplace. I was sitting on the red leather couch, trying not to remember the tender scene that had taken place right there between Laish and myself just a few nights before.
“But how?” I argued. “I haven’t done anything. Haven’t taken anything from Druaga. I don’t even know what he’s talking about!”
“He will reveal it during the hearing,” Belial said, frowning.
“There shouldn’t even be a hearing—this is ridiculous!” I protested. “If Laish was here—”
“But he’s not, is he?” Belial snapped. “And where exactly is he, young lady?”
“He…he’s…” I could feel the tears building inside me but I held them back grimly. “He’s not here.”
“He’s gone, isn’t he? Into the Abyss, never to return.”
I opened my mouth to reply but he rounded on me, pointing a crooked finger in my face.
“Don’t bother to dissemble—the Mirror of the Eye showed me everything. He is gone.”
“Yes.” There was no point in lying. I could feel the tears coming and this time I couldn’t stop them. “Yes, he’s gone,” I admitted brokenly. “I tried to save him but there was nothing I could do. They dragged him down—the tentacles—they wrapped around him and pulled him down into the pit. They—”
“Enough.” He held up one wrinkled hand to stop me. “You don’t have to explain—I saw it all. The slumber of the Ancient Ones was disturbed and they demanded a sacrifice. They wanted you but Lord Laish got in the way. He gave himself that you might live.”
“I know that,” I whispered, barely able to get the words out. “I don’t…don’t know why he did it.”
“Nor do I,” Belial said grimly. “Do you know what Lord Laish was? What he gave up to save you?”
“A fallen angel—he was a fallen angel, right?” I wiped at my wet eyes with the sleeve of my gray cloak.
“Not just any fallen angel. He was one of the Da`evas—the small group of Archangels that chose to go with Lucifer during the uprising in Heaven. In the ensuing battle, they were cast from Heaven down to Hell. Though some were destroyed in the fall, others gained even more power from being cast down. Laish, himself, fell into the Lake of Fire.” Belial glared at me. “Do you have any conception of what that means? The Lake of Fire is death, even to demons. It is the final place prepared by the Creator for those of us who oppose him.”
“I know that,” I whispered numbly. I remember what Laish had said about the Lake of Fire and shivered. So he had fallen into it when he was cast out of Heaven. And there he absorbed its energy and dark power, becoming what I had seen when he cast off his human form. A being who was burning from the inside out—burning but never consumed because he contained the power of the fire within himself.
“Baptism in the Lake of Fire would have killed a lesser being but not Lord Laish—he absorbed its energy and dark power to become one of the greatest of our kind,” Belial said heavily. “Truly, he was a Prince of Night and Shadows and he gave all that up—immortality, almost limitless power, wisdom beyond measure—for you, Gwendolyn. For an insignificant mortal.”
He spoke the word as if it was a curse, making me flinch.
“I’m sorry,” I said in a low voice. “As I said, I don’t know why he did it. If it makes you feel any better he took half my power with him when he went.” I still didn’t want to think of his betrayal—it seemed so strange that he would do something like that to me and then sacrifice himself to save me. Such a contradiction…
“A pity he didn’t take all of your power,” Belial said grimly. “Perhaps if he had, he might have broken the spell you had over him and saved himself instead of you.”
“I didn’t have him under any spell,” I snapped, goaded into feeling angry instead of sad for once. “He just showed up when I did a summoning and then he wouldn’t leave me alone. I never expected him to really care for me, any more than I expected to…to care for him.” The last word ended in a sob and I had to stop and clench my jaw tightly to keep from crying again.
“Of course you had him spelled—you have the scent of the Eternal Flame all around you,” Belial said, frowning. “At first I didn’t know what it was—it’s so subtle it’s easy to miss. But when I did a little research, all became clear.”
“The Eternal what?” I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”
“The Eternal Flame.” He made an impatient gesture. “Do not pretend you don’t know all about it.”
“But I don’t,” I protested. “What is the Eternal Flame? What does that even mean?”
“Very well, since you choose to play the innocent,” he growled. “The Eternal Flame is what happens when the flames of Hell consume the life of someone you love—someone who loves you more than anything—when you are nearby. It is the scent of sacrifice and love and death. The creatures of the Infernal Realm find it irresistible, as I’m sure you know.”
“No, I don’t…I don’t know anything about it.” I felt sick to my stomach. “But…my mo
ther—she was killed by a fire demon she summoned when I was just a little girl. I…I saw the whole thing through a crack in the closet door.”
“That’s it, then.” Belial nodded, as though he’d been vindicated in some way. “I knew it had to be the Eternal Flame. When a mortal creature comes that close to death—especially death at the hands of one from the Infernal Realm—the scent lingers, like a subtle perfume. Sometimes so subtle that those affected don’t even know they are being drawn by it.”
I felt numb. “Laish did say he didn’t know why he…he cared for me.” He had said it right here in this room, as a matter of fact.
Belial sighed and rubbed a hand over his ancient, wrinkled face.
“I thought he knew of the Eternal Flame, but perhaps not.”
“He must have though,” I protested. “I told him about how my mother died.”
“That is assuming he knew about the lore behind the fragrance you are oh-so-subtly emitting my dear,” he snapped. “It is not common knowledge. I only found it by digging into the most ancient lore books after the two of you had left for the Sunless Sea.” He frowned at me. “I wondered how you, as a mere mortal, had come across it.”
“I didn’t,” I said wearily. “I didn’t have any idea that the way my mother died could have given me some kind of…of aroma.”
“It is more an aroma of the soul than one of the physical body,” Belial said. “But whether you knew of it or not, it seems my Lord Laish was unwittingly caught in your snare and sent to his doom by it.”
“Great,” I said dully. “So he never really cared for me at all. He just liked the way I smelled and it got him killed. Thanks, I feel so much better now.”
“Enough of your flippant comments,” Belial snapped. “Whether you did it on purpose or not, you have been responsible for ending the life of one of the greatest demons ever to roam the Infernal Realm.” He made a disgusted face. “It sickens me to even look at you.”
“Well you’re not going to be winning any beauty pageants either,” I shot back. “So why don’t you just let me go back home to the Mortal Realm and we can agree never to see each other again.”
Ruby Shadows Page 38