by James Wisher
“How do we deal with them?” Gabriel asked.
“They’re no stronger than any other demon,” Solan said. “In fact their human bodies make them weaker. Perhaps we could sneak around them.”
Xander shook his head. “No way they’ll leave that gate unguarded and besides those glowing red eyes scream night vision.”
“They’ll need to be dealt with,” Solan said. “I hate to risk a confrontation, but I see no other options. How many are there?”
“A couple dozen at least,” Xander said.
“Long odds, even with our weapons,” Gabriel said.
“I reluctantly agree,” Xander said. “If they were normal men I could take them one at a time in the dark, but if they have night vision it’s too risky, even for me.”
“We need to deal with the warlock controlling them.” Solan frowned. “During the creation of a corrupted soul a portion of the creature’s demonic essence is captured in a small artifact. That’s what the warlock uses to control them.”
“Even if the warlock is down there how do you expect to sneak past those things to get to him?” Gabriel asked.
“Sounds like a job for an assassin,” Xander said a sarcastic grin twisting his lips. “If we live through this old man I’m sending your church a bill.”
Solan smiled. “We’re not a rich order, so don’t get your expectations too high. The artifact is likely a piece of jewelry.”
“Thank you, that’s very helpful.”
Solan held his hands out to the side. “If I could tell you more I would.”
“Fine, there’s a little side path half a mile from the camp. We can rest there until dark.”
* * *
It got dark faster than Xander expected and after a few hours rest he slipped through the night. He breathed the cool mountain air and sighed. This was how he liked to work, just him and a mark, no one to slow him down or get in his way.
“What do you know about these corrupted souls?”
Pitiful creatures, so far beneath a demon lord of my stature I hardly noticed them.
“You’re as much help as the priest. Can you tell me anything useful?”
They’re little different from a weak demon. Adequate to deal with mere humans, but no match for us.
Xander smiled in the dark. Very little was a match for them. He approached within a couple hundred yards of the dark camp, the creatures glowing eyes marked them as they patrolled the area. Xander crouched behind a boulder and took out the vial Grandfather had given him so long ago. The bottle was half empty, but he still had plenty for this job. He spread a thin film on the mask lens and the night lit up.
With his night vision working Xander studied the camp. The corrupted souls wander the narrow valley. If there was any purpose to the paths Xander couldn’t figure it out. The only ones that did seem to have a purpose were a pair standing beside the door to the largest hut. That had to be the warlock’s place. He pulled up the hood of his cloak and stepped into the shadow realm. Xander drifted closer to the hut, constantly checking the portals as he went. He frowned and circled the hut. No portals existed inside.
It’s warded by demon magic.
“Damn it!” Xander stepped out of the shadows behind the hut.
There were no corrupted souls around. Xander slipped the blade of his sword into the wall of the hut. The devourer sliced the stone like paper. He cut a neat circle, stepped back, and kicked it in. Xander stepped through the hole and dodged right, just managing to avoid a fireball in the face.
“You dare violate my sanctum, human?” The warlock stood in the center of the hut, his body wreathed in flames, his face elongated into an inhuman leer.
“You’re even uglier than your slaves.” Xander leapt aside when the warlock hurled another fireball at him.
He expected any moment to have a small army of corrupted souls attempting to carve him into dog meat. He needed to close with the warlock, fast. The devourer sensed his need and a jolt of power flooded him. Xander lunged forward as the warlock raised a flame shrouded hand to hurl another fireball. He cut a line across the warlock’s chest, but the former human dodged the worst of the blow. The warlock screamed something in a language Xander didn’t recognize.
He’s calling for the guards.
“Damn it!”
Xander renewed his attack. The warlock dodged his first slash, but Xander revered his momentum and thrust through the warlock’s chest. A rush of power filled him. He had no time to enjoy it as the two corrupted souls outside the hut stepped inside. The monsters raised axes with blades more suited to giants than stunted demons and charged.
“How does he control these things?”
Xander leapt away from an overhead chop that shook the hut when it hit the ground. The two monsters didn’t concern him over much, it was the twenty or so outside that concerned him.
The ring on his right hand.
Xander spun away from a side to side slash, reversed himself, and bisected one of the guards. That bought him a second to glance down at the warlock’s right hand. Three rings sparked on three fingers. He somersaulted under an attack from the second guard. The crunching steps of the approaching corrupted souls caught his attention. He needed to hurry.
The remaining guard’s ax swept over his head and Xander lashed out, severing the monster’s arms at the elbows and sending its weapon flying. He drew back and rammed the devourer through its chest. Xander ripped his sword free and slid over beside the dead warlock. He hacked off the corpse’s hand. The first of the corrupted souls’ heads appeared in the doorway.
Xander pointed the hand and all three rings at it. “Stop!”
The monster didn’t even slow.
“Why didn’t it work?”
The corrupted soul could shouldered its way into the room.
You have to command it in Abyssal, the language of demons.
“I don’t speak Abyssal.” Xander lunged forward and cut the first monster in half to make a crude barricade.
I speak Abyssal.
The next creature in line yanked at the corpse of its dead brother. “How do I get them to stop?”
A short guttural sound appeared in Xander’s mind. The corrupted souls ripped the final chunk of the dead one clear and rushed inside. Xander repeated the sound and the monsters stopped in mid stride.
Xander took a deep breath and sighed. “How do I get them to line up outside the hut?”
A long string of sounds filled his mind. Xander shook his head. “You’re going to have to walk me through that one a little slower.”
Just repeat after me.
The devourer made each sound and Xander copied it. He must have gotten it right as the monsters stepped back out of the hut. Xander gave them a couple minutes then went outside. The corrupted souls stood in a neat line in front of the hut. They stood still as statues and stared straight ahead.
“Is that all of them?”
Yes.
“How blindly obedient are these things?”
They’ll do exactly what you say, no questions, no hesitation.
Xander shook his head. How could anything that stupid be of any real use? “How do I tell them not to move?”
The devourer provided the proper Abyssal translation and Xander repeated it. The creatures stiffened, awaiting his next order. Too bad for them there wasn’t going to be a next order. He took a wide stance behind the first monster and swung. Its head fell to the side and the body crumpled. Xander dodged back, guard raised.
Nothing. The stupid things stood without flinching. Like a butcher, Xander dispatched the remaining seventeen corrupted souls; each death gave him a jolt of power, but no satisfaction. Killing these things was no different than cutting out a log blocking the road.
The last one crumpled to the ground. A fine meal.
Xander spat to one side. The slaughter left a bad taste in his mouth. “Let’s get the others.”
* * *
“You killed them all?” The sun had risen twenty min
utes ago and Kiera walked behind Xander along with Solan and his brother through the empty camp. Xander sighed, ready for another morality lecture. “Good.”
Xander glanced back, eyebrow raised. “Did we finally find something I have your approval to kill?”
“Those creatures were an abomination. They have no place in our world.”
“How much further to Drago’s prison?” Gabriel changed the subject, Xander assumed to forestall another argument between him and the druid.
Solan pointed to a jagged peak that came to an unnatural point. “The Demon’s Fang. We’ll reach the base and the door to the prison in a couple hours.”
They trudged through the silent camp. Now that they were so close to the end Xander wondered what his life would be like, assuming he survived. Revenge had been his driving force for so long once he claimed it he didn’t know what would happen to him.
They reached the crude gate at the far end of the canyon and Xander hacked the bar in half, sending it crashing to the ground. Gabriel grabbed the right side and Xander the left and together they wrenched the gate open. They found a narrow pass with near vertical walls behind it.
“This would be a great place for an ambush,” Gabriel said.
“There’s nothing alive nearby.” Xander startled. There was literally nothing alive nearby, even the little snow birds that had followed them off and on for the whole trip were nowhere to be found. Xander drew his sword and led the way through. Behind him the sound of steel on leather said Gabriel had followed his example.
They continued down the narrow pass for over an hour before it widened out into a short landing that led to a deep ravine. A narrow stone bridge was the only way across and on the other side was a wider landing and a blank stone wall. The little group crossed the bridge and Solan said, “We’re here.”
Xander looked at the stone wall then back the way they’d come. “Where?”
Solan pointed to a tiny shield inscribed in the stone. He removed an amulet from under his robe and touched it to the mark. An eight foot section of the wall shimmered and vanished.
“Wow,” Gabriel said. “How’d you know that was there?”
“After Drago was imprisoned priests of the order created that illusion to hide the prison. Unfortunately the demon’s magic was more than adequate to allow them to see past it. The illusion is sufficient to keep ordinary people from stumbling into the prison.”
“I imagine that small army of corrupted souls help too,” Xander said.
“They are a new addition, perhaps a decade old. Their task was most likely to keep us from reaching Drago.”
“That didn’t work out very well.” Xander grinned. “Let’s get on with it.”
They went through the gap deeper into the mountain. Light that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere illuminated the gap. Human hands had smoothed the path and walls. Xander frowned as they continued on. Everything looked altered in some way.
“Nothing about this place is natural.” Kiera said as though reading his mind.
“Over the years evil men, demons and their servants, have visited this place seeking Drago’s wisdom and power. They have attempted to turn this into a shrine of sorts.”
“What sort of wisdom could you hope to gain from a creature like Drago?” Gabriel asked.
“Dark wisdom,” Solan said. “The secrets of demons and their kin. More than one warlock was made in this place.”
“Can’t be much of a prison if he can accomplish so much,” Xander said.
“It’s primarily a prison for his body. His magic is such that he can act in limited ways within a few feet of the door,” Solan said.
“Where is the prison anyway?” Gabriel asked. “All we’ve seen so far is stone walls.”
They rounded a sharp corner and Solan made a grand, sweeping gesture. “Does that answer your question?”
Straight ahead of them the path ended and what could only be called a temple had been carved into the stone wall. Pillars flanked a massive set of double doors wide enough to allow two elephants to pass side by side. Surrounding the pillars all manner of carved demons leered down at the little group.
“Wow,” Xander said. “When you build a prison you go all out.”
“We didn’t build this. The doors appeared in front of a cave sealing Drago inside.” Solan waved a hand at the elaborate facade. “All of this was added later by his followers as a monument to their devotion.”
“Lunatics,” Xander muttered as they approached the doors.
They stopped a few feet from the doors and Solan retrieved the key from his satchel.
“Wait,” Gabriel said. “What’s to keep Drago from walking out when we open the door?”
Solan patted him on the shoulder. “The doors must open all the way for Drago to leave. We’re only going to open them enough for the two of you to slip inside.”
“Two of us?” Xander’s grip tightened on his sword. He smelled a rat. “What about you two?”
“This is where we part ways. Kiera and I have no weapons that could harm Drago and would only get in your way. We will remain here and seal the door behind you. If you fail we will take the key and keep it safe until the one meant to kill Drago appears.”
“You don’t think we can do it.” Gabriel sounded hurt and bewildered. Xander shook his head at his brother’s naivety.
Solan laid a reassuring hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “I have great faith in the two of you, but I would be remiss in my duties if I made no plans for failure. With humanity’s future on the line I can take no chances.”
“If you lock the door behind us, how the hell do we get out after we kill this guy?” Xander asked.
“When you kill Drago the doors will vanish and the key crumble to dust, their purpose fulfilled.”
Gabriel stepped over beside Kiera. “You’ll take care of Solan?”
She nodded. “I’ll keep us both invisible the whole way back to Lord’s Way if I have to.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. “If we don’t make it back, it’s been an honor to know you.”
Xander rolled his eyes. “You coming, or do I have to kill this demon on my own?”
Gabriel laughed, shrugged out of his pack, and drew his sword. He joined Xander and Solan by the door.
“Are you prepared?” Solan asked.
“I am,” Gabriel said.
Xander nodded once.
“So be it.” Solan placed the key in the lock and the doors swung inward. When they had opened enough Gabriela and Xander slipped through. Solan touched the doors and spoke a word in an unfamiliar language. The doors swung closed with a rather final sounding boom.
“If Drago didn’t know we we’re here he does now,” Xander said.
“I imagine he’s been aware of us for some time.”
“Yeah, killing someone’s servants tends to get their attention.”
They continued deeper into the sorcerer’s prison. Unlike the highly worked exterior the inside was just a crude, rough hewn tunnel. The only light came from Gabriel’s sword which glowed cool and bright. Xander was tempted to have him dim the light, but figured at this point stealth was a waste of time and the light was bound to help them more than hurt them.
“Where is he?” Xander asked.
I can’t tell. Drago’s throwing off so much power it feels like he’s everywhere.
Xander shook his head. That wasn’t the sort of encouragement he’d hoped for. The tunnel exited into a huge domed chamber. A gangrenous green light that seemed to come from everywhere at once lit the room. Seated on a stone throne at the far end of the cavern was what appeared to be a man about thirty.
“He doesn’t look much like a demon,” Gabriel said.
“Problem is demons can look like whatever they want. Let’s go kill him, this light is making me nauseous.”
It’s not the light. The demon’s presence is making you ill.
Xander stalked across the cavern, Gabriel on his left. Ten feet from the throne
he hit an invisible wall. “Damn it!” He slammed the devourer into it to no effect.
“I erected the barrier so we might speak.” Drago spoke in a rich baritone. Up close Drago was a small man, thin, with a hawkish face, not someone you’d give a second look if you met him on the street.
Xander and Gabriel exchanged glances. “I don’t see that we have anything to discuss,” Gabriel said.
“On the contrary, you two are obviously the latest demon slayers sent by the Bright Shield’s minions to kill me. All the others have failed and if you wish to throw your lives away I’m happy to oblige, but I believe we can come to an arrangement.”
“I don’t believe you!” Gabriel had a white knuckled grip on his sword. “Solan never mentioned other groups.”
Drago laughed. “Do you imagine he’d tell you were walking to your death? Look behind the throne and discover the truth.”
They split up, Xander circled right and Gabriel went left, neither took his eyes of Drago. The sorcerer wore an amused little smile. Behind the throne they found a pile of scrap metal. Xander frowned and caught his brother’s eye. Together they moved closer. The pile was made up of bent weapons and mangled armor. Gabriel gasped and Xander understood why. Here and there were markings sacred to the Bright Shield’s church. Two of the swords could have been twins to the one Gabriel carried.
Drago had gotten to his feet and looked down at them. “That’s what remains of the fools that have challenged me over the centuries. The church is kind enough to send fresh entertainment every couple centuries. You may find the swords familiar.”
“No.” Gabriel groaned and turned away from the pile.
Xander watched Gabriel’s reaction, his anger growing by the minute. His determination to kill Drago hadn’t diminished, but it seemed the old man had lied to them. “If we live through this I’m going to have a long talk with your pet priest.”
“I can’t believe he lied to me.”
“Will you listen to me now?” Drago asked.
“I will.” Xander couldn’t kill him if he couldn’t get close, but if he played along he might get a chance.