by Jana LaPelle
Slowly, Mammon begins to clap and laughs before saying, “Nice try, little goddess, his abilities are bound, and by the looks of you…, I would say that you have been acquired by not one, but two of my brothers. Lust, I do so love your parties! She’s feisty. I like that. I want her too, to add to my collection. What will it take for me to acquire her?” I’m not surprised when Ashlinn forms a fire ball and lobs the fiery mass at Mammon’s head. He easily catches it and it fizzles away to nothing between his massive hands, and pins her with a glare before saying, “Enough! This is our domain, and you will play by our rules here. Levi, Desmond, control your pet!”
“I am no one’s pet!” Ashlinn erupts.
The twin males at her side grow in size and take her by either elbow, the one with warm brown eyes leans into Ashlinn and says, “Tiny goddess, this is not the way. Tomorrow, you will prove your worth in the games.”
She turns her glowing eyes on the male beside her and bites out, “You people are barbaric, Asmodeus.”
The look of adoration for my kindred is quickly replaced by scorn at her harsh words and he retorts, “We aren’t really people though…, are we, tiny goddess? My brothers and I are the Fallen. Once mighty war angels in the service of our father. When we fell from grace, we became greater demons and now we serve a higher purpose. We rule the realm and you will bow to us. We are what our father made us to be. You and your kindred are surrounded by demons and shades. This is The Underworld and here you will play by our rules…, no matter how barbaric.”
Ashlinn stands her ground, but reigns in her anger and looks my way, once more our link to one another is suppressed now that she has reigned in her fury, “Desmond, I apologize, I mean no disrespect. You know I’m here for one thing and one thing only, and then we will be on our way. May I please talk to Alaric, to my kindred?”
“He belongs to Mammon now, it is not I whom you must ask.”
“I blame Luc for this predicament,” she seethes. Taking a deep calming breath, she turns to my new master, and curtseys. She floats downward, her arms elegantly outstretched on either side of her and she bows her beautiful head in deference to Mammon. Jasmine’s many hours of instruction has paid off as my mate executes a near perfect curtsey. Her voice carries to the far reaches of the room as she looks up toward the prince of greed through her thick lashes, and addresses him, “Please forgive my angry outburst. I find myself out of my element here. My lord, Mammon, may I be granted permission to speak with my kindred?”
“Do you think me a fool? Why would I grant you that request? Here is what I will grant you, I see that you have been entered into the games, so you will be pitted against my best female champion, if you win then you will have an opportunity to speak with your kindred. If you lose, I will spare your life, but I will acquire you giving me a mated pair. I think that is more than fair.”
I can no longer keep quiet and push forward to address my kindred, “Ashlinn, what do you think you’re doing? You have our children to get back to, you can’t fight in the games, and you certainly can’t make deals with the princes of hell. The four of you need to leave this realm while you still can! All The Realms are depending on you.”
“No Alaric, they are depending on us, and don’t you forget it,” Ashlinn argues, and for the first time since walking into this hall she looks at me uncertainly.
Mammon steps between us, “That’s enough! Get him out of here. I need him well rested for the games.”
Mammon’s slavers take both of my arms and roughly push me back toward the entrance to the hall. I struggle against them, and shout over the growing noise in the large room, “Ash, get out of here while you still can!” I break free of their grip and stagger forward toward the dais. One of my guards is quick to come after me. I turn and deliver a quick punch to the throat, he drops to his knees clutching his throat gasping for breath as his reptilian eyes roll back. Several more demons surround me, manhandling me to get me out of the chambers. I shove and struggle against their attempts to forcibly remove me from their gathering.
“Elf-Man!” I hear Ashlinn’s strangled fear laden voice ring out from behind me.
“I mean it, mo grá. I’ll be okay, as long as I know you and the babes are safe.” I’m shoved again and curse as a club connects with the back of my knees, causing my legs to buckle and I lurch forward. I’m quickly dragged from the hall, surrounded by my captors, and I call out, “Ashlinn!!” My cry is cut off as the club of my captor connects with the back of my skull, stunning me.
My vision fades to black.
(Alaric)
I rouse from my stupor as I’m dumped unceremoniously in a heap just inside the door to the rooms that Pip and I share. I swear I have a knot on the back of my head the size of a goose egg. I look up to see that Pip is staring down at me in concern, but I can’t worry about that now. What has she done? Why was she chained to the princes of lust and envy? Why, oh why could she not have just done as I told her to. If only she had gone back while she was on the other side of the Great Divide when she was with Luc.
“What is it, Mister? What’s happened?” Pip’s little voice trembles, and my world feels as if it’s being torn apart. They are all here because of me and there’s not a damn thing I can do to keep them safe.
Standing, I sigh, “She’s here, Pip. Ashlinn has come for me, and now she is to be thrown into the games. She fights for the opportunity to just speak with me. No matter the outcome, Mammon will not allow her to speak with me unless he owns us both.”
“Maybe she’s here to rescue you. I want to go home, and just maybe she has a plan. Did you get to talk to her? What did she say?”
“She told me to have faith. Whatever is going to happen will happen during or after the games.”
Pip smiles a toothy grin, and a look of hope comes over his cute little face, “Then have faith, Mister. She does have a plan. I can’t wait to meet your kindred.”
Rubbing the knot on the back of my head, I sigh, “I certainly hope that she does, and I hope that she is safe tonight. I can’t lose her.” Smiling, I try to lighten the mood and reach over to ruffle his white hair, “Pip, what would I do without you?”
“Well you certainly wouldn’t be here, would ya? Well…, that might be a good thing. I don’t know anymore, Mister. Momma always said that she believed in destiny. Maybe, we were meant to meet. Just maybe this is part of both of our destinies.” He pauses and shakes his head before continuing, “Naw, I’m just a kid. What do I know, that just sounds stupid now that I’ve said it out loud. Don’t you pay me no never mind, Mister. All I know is that I’m tired and you need to be well rested for the games.”
“Well, we’re not going anywhere tonight, that’s for sure. Let’s turn in, Pip.”
Chapter 17
(Ashlinn)
I’m helpless to watch as Mammon’s guards manhandle Alaric to remove him from the room. Desmond and Levi are standing stoically by my side, they have both pulled my leash tight to keep me from going after Alaric. I turn my angry gaze on the two. My eyes glowing in my irritation, I bite out, “I’m ready to leave now.”
“I think not, my dear. You will be by our side this evening and you will enjoy what the City of Depravity has to offer. Who knows, you may come to like it here.” Desmond says, a cruel smirk on his otherwise handsome face.
“Brother, she is magnificent. I would be willing to go against Luc for her. What do you say? She is more powerful than I thought. Did you feel the power radiating from her in her anger? Truly a prize to behold.” Levi’s brilliant green eyes flash brightly my way.
“No way are we staying here, Levi. You can get that right out of your head right this instant.” I retort, before asking, “Will they harm him?”
“Who, my sweet?” Levi asks in confusion.
Snapping my fingers in front of his eyes, I say, “Snap out of your envy induced haze. Who else could I possibly mean? Alaric, of course. Do you think they will h
urt him?”
“No, tiny goddess. Mammon will want him ready for tomorrow’s games. That is what you should worry about. Not his treatment by the slavers tonight. He will be well rested for the tournament on the morrow.” Asmodeus is the one to respond. “Now, the rest of the evening should be spent in indulgence. Come, our evening is just beginning.” The two lead me off the dais, escorting me on either side. Tarron and Tolin follow us from behind. They too were bound prior to entering this gathering.
As we walk through the gathering crowd, I see all matter of demon and fallen. If I thought the dark fae were debauched, I was wrong. These people are cruel and vicious, but the slaves don’t seem to care. Those that have found favor with the princes that rule this city have chosen to indulge in all matter of depravity. The music begins to grow louder as the two princes mingle with their guest. The rhythm is primal and leads those that have gathered here to begin to undulate and move to the tribal beat. Before I know it, the brothers are moving beside me, one in front and the other behind me. Strangely, I feel as though I’ve been drugged, and my reservations are suddenly gone. The two males are dancing erotically around me. I begin to give into the pull of the music, until I’m full on dancing with the fallen princes and the crowd around us. The rhythm has everyone dancing with one another, reminiscent of a rave. In a haze I look around to see that everyone has given into the seductive sound of the music as it lures us all into its mesmerizing dance. The rhythm is erotic and intoxicating. The fallen princes bend and dip me and dance suggestively with me and for an infinitesimal moment, I feel the urge to give into their wanton seduction.
A voice in the back of my mind is screaming for me to stop, but I can’t. Levi and Desmond feed me glass after glass of the richest wine I have ever tasted, and we dance. It feels as though we have danced for hours but then again as if we have just begun. As if in a drugged stupor I look around me to see partners actually having sex as we dance, and my inner voice begins screaming at me to wake up. In a daze, I watch as some sort of demon beats his sex slave to the beat of the music before sexually accosting her and she seems to enjoy the degradation. My movements slow as my short-circuited brain begins to come back online. The music is a constant repetition, undulating, sexual, tribal, but the pull has lost its draw as I turn to watch the masses in the room give into all matter of iniquity. I can no longer ignore my inner voice.
I stand alone in the middle of a house of horrors. Asmodeus and Levi have released the chains that bind me, and I twirl in the middle of the masses that have gathered here to watch their depravity, and I mutter aloud, “Dear God, we need to leave this place before it’s too late.”
Chapter 18
(Alaric)
Tournament day.
The first thing that happened after we ate this morning was that Mammon’s cronies came to collect both Pip and me, and then we were separated. I was taken to the arena and given combat leathers and a breast plate to wear in the games. I have no idea as to what will happen next. So far, there are only a handful of males that are waiting with me for our next instruction. I can only assume that the females are in a different area of the arena. As we wait, the noise above us has become increasingly rowdy as the stands begin to fill, and I find that I’m becoming antsy to get this whole ordeal over with. The last couple of days my training went better than I had anticipated. I’m not as fast, agile, or strong as I used to be before my abilities were bound, but I will not go down without a fight, damn it. I am adjusting and I have skills and wit to fall back on. That and I still have to figure a way to get Pip, Ashlinn, and the rest of our friends out of this wretched realm.
Outside in the arena, horns begin to sound, signifying that the games are about to begin. The champions that I’m surrounded by begin to shift nervously in anticipation of what is to come. None of us have bothered to strike up a conversation with the other. What’s the point? If we’re pitted against the other it’s a life for a life. The rules are clear. Champions that fight in the arena must be adults, race doesn’t matter, no shades are allowed because their already dead, and the only way anyone walks off the fields is if they are the last one standing, unless the princes intervene. We have been allowed as many weapons as we can effectively carry. Other than my breast plate, I’ve opted to strap a small battle shield to my left arm, it’s oblong and comes to a long sharp point at one end and is spade shaped at the opposite end protecting my hand. It will be a good defensive weapon as well as an offensive, the points are sharp enough to impale an opponent with enough force. I’ve chosen swords and blades that are well balanced for me to handle as well as throwing knives, and four-sided throwing stars that are compact and easy to carry. As far as size is concerned, most of us are evenly matched, with the one exception of a large horned male, his blue skin and four arms are quite alien looking, not to mention his red eyes. If anyone will have the advantage today in the arena, it will be him. My foreboding of what is to come has increased ten-fold in the last few minutes.
A loud cheer goes up outside and I realize that the games are getting underway. We are forcibly ushered forward through a short tunnel by the reptilian looking demons that have gained favor in this desolate realm. The tunnel leads upwards and out to a platform that overlooks the arena, but it is not set as high up as the tournament goers in their open circular colosseum seating. We are almost center stage, but not quite. My heart sinks when I see Ashlinn standing on the arena field with one other, Mammon’s female champion. She bows low to show respect of the ones in charge. Her smile is all for show and does not reach her eyes, I watch as she sizes up her competition. Mammon’s champion is dressed the part, but even in all her battle finery she pales in comparison to my kindred, yet I fear for Ashlinn’s life. Mammon’s champion is none other than a fallen Valkyrie. She is magnificent, her black wings are splayed out for all to see and her posturing is one of pure aggression. Ashlinn and her opponent bow low once more before the crowd and the applause is deafening. My kindred looks up and smiles a sweet smile before she waves to the crowd in an attempt to gain their favor. She is dressed in battle leathers, and as soon as the horn sounds, she is off. Her form blends from panther to her elven form and back again, and the spectators go wild. I thank the goddess that she is still able to shift. My heart is literally about to burst from my chest as I watch the scene play out before me. Ashlinn’s panther bounds toward her opponent, I take a moment to turn to look up at the princes of hell as they lounge casually in their box seats, tossing back sweet treats and finger foods without a care in the world. I swear by all that is holy if anything happens to Ashlinn, I will end each and every one of them. That is until I see Pip. I watch as his childlike form looks down at the scene playing out before the stadium and his fear is palpable, he glances my way and our gazes lock, I see his dread. Turning back to the arena, I see that Ashlinn is now in battle with not one but three others. It’s clear that Mammon wants her out of the way and is now playing by his own rules. The Valkyrie has taken flight while Ashlinn’s unconventional fighting style has her taking down the first of her unexpected opponents, but it is not a killing blow. She turns to face her next opponent. Without thinking, I leap from the platform that I’m perched upon and rush to her aid.
The first thing I notice as I sprint toward Ashlinn is that the stadium has grown quiet at my intervention. Evidently, I have breached protocol. What the fuck ever. Screw them. I engage the first opponent that I come into contact with, she is fierce, but there is something lacking in her attack. Our swords clash as we spar with one another, but I have size on my side. I take her down easily and pause to look over to see that Ashlinn has engaged one of the other opponents and she is holding her own. Looking around, I realize that the males that I entered the arena with are following my lead and there are skirmishes that are breaking out all around me. Mayhem ensues. Before I know it, there are quite the number of males and females that are engaging in battle with one another. The crowd goes ballistic as all hell breaks loose in
the arena and the spectators begin chanting, “Kill, kill, kill, kill…” I look around to see that there is all sorts of carnage that is taking place in the arena. Turning, I take out another potential threat to my kindred. I’m like a machine, I take out everyone in my path as I make my way towards Ashlinn, leaving death in my wake. I turn to make my way toward her before realizing that I have left my back open to attack. From the corner of my eye, I turn to see a flash of activity, turning back to my opponent, I see a slight figure swoop in between me, and the giant demon meant for Ashlinn and me, his wings are spread wide. I have no idea as to when he appeared on the scene. Pip’s momentum stalls in midair, his little body bows backward, his arms span outward as his momentum stops, and then he drops like a rock to the ground, his wings curling inward around his body.
“Pipperton! No… no, Pip,” I race across the tournament field and drop to my knees sliding to a stop beside his crumpled form. The entire arena stills and goes utterly quiet. The unwritten rule replays in my head and I swallow back the bile that is gathering in my throat. No children. The large spear that impaled him waves like a flagpole in the air above him. The spear that was meant for me. My hands tremble and I try to swallow past the thick knot of emotion that clogs my throat. I’m afraid to touch him, knowing that I can’t help him, I can’t heal him. I can’t just remove the spear and heal him with my bound abilities. I don’t know what to do. I feel helpless, and with shaking hands I reach over to cup his little face in my hands, and ask, “Why, Pip? Why would you…” I trail off, tears have gathered in my eyes and threaten to fall.
Pip’s body trembles with pain and the shock of it all. His eyes close briefly before he whispers, his breath staggered, “Don’t cry, Mister. You need to… get… back to your… babes. I did… what needed to be done… to see to that. They need you.” His breathing becomes more labored and he pants before saying, “It’s okay.”