Demon's Dream

by Laura Hawks

  “We are unarmed and will reward you for your hospitality should you be so kind as to provide us with a warm bed for the night.”

  Clarissa frowned slightly. Mel was able to produce a sword so easily when all she was able to conjure were rubber balls and licorice. Suddenly, the thought of the candy made her stomach growl audibly and she flushed in embarrassment as she waited for the goblin male to answer. She hoped the goblins would accept the offer made to them and that Mel would continue to have his powers and procure them another sword if they needed one.

  The male goblin bowed to them, slightly in fear as he was visibly shaking.

  “We are simple peasants, my lord. We have nothing to offer you. Our food is scarce enough for us but if you promise me and my wife no harm we’ll share with you and suggest some place more suitable for your needs.”

  He kept his head down, his eyes averted as he spoke while he continued to make sure his wife stayed behind him.

  Mel walked over towards them and closed the door behind them. He spoke softly, calmly so as not to make them any more fearful then they already appeared to be, “We mean no harm but we do need help.”

  The powerful judge waved his hand and a virtual feast appeared on the table.

  “Food we don’t need. There is plenty and your bellies will be full this night. However, we do need shelter and if you can provide us with some information to aid us in leaving this place, you will have my eternal gratitude.”

  “He means out of here as in this realm. We’re not sure how we got here or even where we are. So anything that will help us leave, any knowledge or guidance you can give, we would be most grateful.” Clarissa moved to help the woman goblin who was thrilled to see the buffet while she gathered the contents of her basket. “Please help us find a way home.”

  Azamel pulled a chair out for the old woman who sat down after a moment’s hesitation. The male joined after an additional few seconds. The allure of a decent meal too much for him to resist, he was willing to trust the two strangers in his home. In a low, deep, gravely voice the goblin spoke, “I’m not sure how much we can tell you but we’ll do what we can. My wife, Baryl, and I welcome you to our home and thank you for this bounty. My name is Bebou.”

  Mel moved around to pull out a chair for Clarissa as well and then materialized some wine and goblets before sitting down at the opposite end of the table from Bebou. Speaking with a patience that belied his inner frustration, Mel modulated calmly, “What is this place?”

  “This is a realm like no other, my lord. We call it the Zero Realm, where nothing has any value. Not life nor possessions, we just are. The things outside kill to survive and we stay indoors to avoid being murdered. Life here has no beginning and it has no end. To find the exit you must find where it all begins and where it all ends.”

  The Guardian rolled eyes and thought, ‘That is so not helpful.’ She watched Mel and somehow could tell he was just as frustrated, though his stoic appearance and icy pale blue eyes belied any inner turmoil she felt from him. Or was it her own restlessness she was just projecting.

  “Do you have any idea where the beginning and end meet?”

  “No, fair maiden, we don’t. Legend has it that the path you seek is to the East. Treacherous and long your journey will be. Nobody has ever come back from there in one piece. It is thus a journey we don’t dare take. They say at the end there is a golden gate that you will have to pay a fare to the keeper to enter. That gate will take you out of here to wherever you wish to go.”

  Worriedly biting her lower lip, Clarissa gazed at Mel.

  “None have ever come back in one piece. Staying here in one piece is not very easy either.”

  Her eyes saddened, she got up from the table. She walked back to face the fire, her mind reeling with all the implications.

  Azamel frowned as he looked at Clarissa, concerned how this affected her after all she had already gone through. “Thank you for the warning and the information. We shall depart come morning. If you would be so kind as to show us where we may sleep?

  “You may take the bed, my lord, my wife and I will sleep in front of the fire.”

  “I wouldn’t think of putting you out kind sir. You have housed us and we shall take the space in front of the fire.”

  Standing, Mel went over to take Clarissa’s hand as he pulled her down to the ground with him. Her back to his front, his arms encircled her as he whispered in her ear, “Relax, we need to rest.”

  She mumbled softly back, “You should not be here. This is my hell. I was sent here, not you. You shouldn’t be trapped with me.”

  She starred into the fire as she felt him pressed against her back, his arms holding her tight.

  “I’m sorry. Everything I seem to do is wrong. You should be safe in your home, not stuck with me in a world of horror.”

  He nuzzled her neck and inhaled her scent, reveling in her closeness. “I vowed to help you, didn’t I? Last time I checked, I’m a grown man capable of not only making my own choices but also living with the consequences of them.”

  Turning to look over his shoulder, checking to see the goblins were resting, he moved his hand to turn her head so she faced him. Her lips were very close to his. His warm breath brushed against her delicate skin.

  “I have lived more centuries than your mind can deal with and I’m more than capable of keeping myself and my wards safe. Now ssh, you need to rest. We have a long journey ahead.”

  Mel dipped his head and kissed her lightly, moaning at her taste as she opened her lips. He let his tongue slip inside her warm mouth. Reluctantly, he pulled back, still maintaining his hold on her. “Sleep, Guardian.”

  Her nerve endings roared to life with just a simple kiss and then he told her to sleep. ‘Oh sure. Just as soon as the fire in my body is doused.’ She turned back towards the fire as her mind raced. She had to make sure he got out of here safe, even if she didn’t. Sure, he vowed to protect and help her but that vow shouldn’t include little jaunts into unknown realms of hell or put his life in such danger. Closing her eyes, she immediately felt the whips flashing across her skin as razor blades cut into her flesh. She snapped her eyes open as her body unconsciously jerked. Well that wasn’t going to work.

  Mel felt her twitch. He started to rub her arm up and down in a calm, soothing manner until she settled. Taking in Azamel’s scent, she let it course through her as she tried to conciliate her body and soothe her mind. After several moments, her eyes shut and exhaustion took hold.

  Mel realized her breathing had become uniformed and allowed himself to relax into a restful pose he used to regenerate even though he kept his senses wide awake and attuned to his surroundings. The peasants may have sheltered them but his experience had taught him nobody was above suspicion or treachery. All became quiet, even the creatures outside stopped stirring. The stillness, however, was more disconcerting than the subtle noises.

  The night passed quietly and the morning light came in against Clarissa’s eyelids. Though embers still glowed, the fire had died. The chill made her shiver slightly. She felt safe in Mel’s arms, relaxed, able to sleep a dreamless slumber once she got past the initial discomfort of being pressed against his body. His scent invaded her every pore, his hot breath against her neck stirred her insides. Slowly opening her eyes, she didn’t move as she tried to awaken her senses to discern what was happening.

  Mel felt Clarissa stir slightly. He lifted his head to peer over her, only to notice the goblins still fast asleep. Slowly arising, he stretched his stiff muscles from the night in one position, turning as Bebou suddenly jumped up. Mel offered him a friendly smile.

  “Good morning, friend.”

  “Good morning, my lord. I know it was a humble bed but I hope you got a good rest.”

  “We did, thank you. We don’t wish to abuse your hospitality any longer so we shall be on our way after we break our fast.”

  Clairssa rolled over and stretched languidly with her body arched before she moved to stand. “Goo
d day, good people.”

  She looked up at Azamel, his hair mussed up on one side. She reached out to smooth it with her fingers not even thinking about it until her eyes met his. Self-consciously she removed her hand and smiled softly, quickly turning away. Needing to use the facilities, she headed to the little area and freshened up. Returning, she discovered the table filled with food again, probably thanks to Mel’s magic. Clarissa sighed softly to see him wield his magic so effortlessly while she had tried just to flash in a hairbrush and was granted a pineapple instead.

  “Smells and looks wonderful.”

  “Eat your fill. We have a long journey ahead”

  Mel bent over in a show of affection and held her close as he whispered in her ear, “I’m not sure how long my powers will work in this realm. We need to make weapons now and take some food with us.” Kissing her lightly, he straightened. “Shall we?”

  She looked up into those cold icy pale blue eyes as she nodded. Taking a seat, she grabbed a plate and filled it up. Mel gave her a look as did the goblins.

  “What? Wolf here. With an appetite to match.” She smiled and began to eat.

  Mel chuckled and sat down, making a show of eating, even though the food couldn’t provide the nourishment he needed. Good thing he fed before they got trapped here or he would be in serious trouble. Once they all broke their fast, he got up and thanked their hosts for the hospitality. Mel materialized a warehouse worth of food which would last a while for their goblin hosts. He then conjured a virtual arsenal of weapons, arming the wolf and himself before they headed out the door.

  Clarissa breathed easier being fully equipped and followed Mel out the door after thanking their hosts. Moving quickly to keep up with him as they move further away from the cottage, she broke the silence, “So I was wondering, since you’re a demon and all, do you need blood?”

  She kept her focus straight ahead as she walked.

  Mel faltered slightly at such a direct question and he stopped to give her an intense look.

  “Pray you never find out what I need for nourishment.”

  He turned back to the area, staying on full alert, scoping around for any movement.

  The blood drained from her face at the warning in his voice and the look in his eyes but she lifted her chin and leaned in despite her being terrified of him at the moment. Her eyes narrowed she swallowed past her fear.

  “Pray I don’t have to worry about your ass if you become too weak as a result of a lack of sustenance.” She pivoted and marched on, her heartbeat raced from the encounter. Looking around, her senses were watchful as they walked east towards the mountains. Tilting her head, she stopped. There was a rumbling coming towards them and she looked around quickly for shelter.

  “My nourishment doesn’t concern you or my ability to keep you safe.”

  Mel’s head whipped up as the cacophony rolled towards them. ‘Fuck! Would it never end in this place?’

  Mel grabbed her arm and pulled her behind the closest boulder. Two of the biggest creatures they had ever seen came charging past them. They resembled rhinos but were the size of dinosaurs. The ground quaked and oscillated as they stampeded past their hiding point. As Clarissa started to move, Mel kept her down.

  “Stay still and silent. I’m more concerned with what caused them to stampede than the creatures themselves,” no sooner had the words left his mouth than their pursuers rounded the bend. The thunderous flapping wings belonged to some of the ugliest birds which turned the bend in pursuit of the stampeding beasts that had just passed them. Five birds started to fly by when one turned its monstrous head and looked in their direction. Flapping and hovering like a hummingbird that was a million times larger, it began to move towards them.

  Slowly, Clarissa pulled one of the daggers from the hidden inside part of her clothing and readied the weapon. As it moved closer, it let out a screech which caused both of them to cover their ears and her to drop the knife. The bird reached in while Azamel was still bent over from the piercing cacophony, hitting him in the head with his claw and causing Mel to temporarily black out. The large bird grabbed Azamel by the talons and carried him off.

  “No!” Clarissa jumped up and grabbed the talon of the creature that moved behind the one which had Mel. “Hang on!”

  The bird screeched and tried to shake her off but she had a death grip on it. It started to rise but still followed the rest of the group. She looked down at the desolated landscape and frowned at the misery that covered it like a blanket. The cold air rushed past them as they flew higher up the mountain. She spotted a huge nest lodged between two protruding rocks. Mel swore as he slowly regained consciousness and saw their destination, still too groggy to flash away.

  “Great, just fucking great. I’ve always wanted to be dinner to an ugly mother-fucking bird in an alternative realm trying to save a hot damsel in distress!”

  At least they were headed in the correct direction for the doorway the goblins informed them of but despite that bit of silver lining, Mel still had to manage to not become dinner to a hell realm pterodactyl ugly ass bird. He realized what these birds were. It had been centuries since he had seen one. He had only been a child when they were banished from the upper realms. The Native Americans called them Nunyenunc but essentially they were cousins to the prehistoric pterodactyls. A giant predatory bird from Native American belief, the Nunyenunc preyed on humans, picking them up with their claws and stranding them in their nests to feed their young or devour later.

  Trying to focus, Mel managed to slip a dagger out of his boot, wiggling it free despite the tightness of the talon around him. He was then dropped as the bird took off back the way it came in search of more food. Thankfully, he wasn’t dropped into an open and waiting mouth, or eaten by the bird which caught him and regurgitated for her baby. At least Mel stood a chance to get free. Standing, he looked around the nest that contained a couple of golden eggs the size of his whole body. Feeling semi-safe, he started to climb out of the nest to get a sense of his surroundings so he would know where to safely flash when another bird approached. Mel ducked back down but not before he caught a glimpse of Clarissa.

  The Guardian let go of the bird, dove and rolled into the same nest Mel was in. Getting onto her feet, Clarissa dusted herself off and turned to him. “Are you hurt?”

  Mel sneered at his surroundings. “Oh yeah, my day is just getting better and better.”

  He refused to admit to her that his lungs were a bit bruised or he was a bit sore from the way he was gripped, therefore he shook his head.

  “It looked like you had more fun coming over than I did but I’m okay. Nice thing is- they brought us somewhat closer to where we were going. I don’t know about you but I’m not really interested to see what they planned on doing with us.” Mel added sternly.

  Nodding, she turned back around and started to climb the nest to get out. Mel took her shoulder to hold her back.

  “Wait!”

  He leaned over the edge of the nest, looking down and towards the east where they were headed. The land seemed fairly flat and bleak from there but experience had taught Mel the most innocent looking area was normally the most dangerous.

  Dropping back next to her, he pulled her closer and into his arms.

  “I can see a flat surface a few miles down. I managed to move around the realm before. I think we can risk it.” Mel held her close and teleported them out to a ledge he saw a few feet off the ground.

  Amazed it worked, Mel look around them. His senses open and his body still while he scanned the area. The quiet was oppressive and more disconcerting than the noise. Satisfied they had a momentary reprieve, he released her and stepped back trying hard to ignore her scent which assaulted his senses. Silently, he berated himself for thinking with his dick during a time like this and turned away to focus on their surroundings. His ribs were still tender from the talons of his captor and he wondered how he could think of little else except her, even his own discomfort, when she was within in h
is grasp.

  Clarissa felt him pull back. She vituperated herself for still responding to his simple touch when she knew he didn’t truly care for her. He was just using her for the stone she protected. Didn’t his turning from her just now prove it? She looked in the opposite direction while she tried to regain her composure. She could see nothing much beyond the barren land but there was something about it that made her uneasy. Maybe because it was so quiet in a place she had done nothing except run and try to survive but it just didn’t feel right.

  Suddenly the ledge shifted. She threw out her hand and grabbed onto Azamel before he lost his balance, almost tumbling off the cliff. The ledge continued to be displaced, only now in the other direction. She realized that they were not on a ledge but on the back of a creature and it was waking up.

  ‘Fucking great. This just keeps getting better and better.’ Mel grumblingly thought.

  He held onto her and gripped a piece of the flesh from the creature, slightly amazed the being didn’t appear to even notice the grip. Mel looked down at the dragon like creature. It seemed harmless enough and he pulled her to settle between his legs with her back to him.

  “He seems to be going our way.” Mel grinned as he gave a short laugh, his pain temporarily forgotten as it was already healing. “Let’s catch a ride!”

  Mel was unaware Clarissa sensed his injuries, when he pulled her against him to flash them onto the ledge. She silently healed him when she became aware of his pain. She was astounded her power of healing actually worked, especially since so few of her other powers did. Unfortunately, because she was still so young and learning her powers, the only way she knew how to heal was to bring their injuries into her own body before she could release the damage into the ethos. She was quickly learning, however, in this realm liberating the wounds she took on wasn’t as easy as it should’ve been. ‘Damn, he was really hurt.’

  The large creature moved, lumbering in the direction they were headed. As Mel pulled her down and wrapped his arm about her, she silently winced. She needed to move his arm without him being aware her ribs had taken on his bruising. She took his hand from around her waist and held it. Using her other hand, she placed it over the piece he was grabbing on to. Pressed up against his hard body, his scent overwhelmed her, permeated and she wanted to moan in ecstasy at the smell of him. She vividly remembered the way his lips felt on hers then the pain shot through her again as the creature rolled and he gripped her waist tightly.