The Darkest Torment
Page 45
Notable background: The warrior used to think he couldn’t touch another living being skin-to-skin without infecting him/her/it with disease, not knowing he simply had to share his blood or semen to create an immunity. Idiot! Also, he’s engaged to my former fiancée.
Achilles’ heel: His woman, who used to be my woman. Long live the Red Queen!
Placement: I have no room for him on my team. I’ll kill him at my earliest convenience. I’ll get the Red Queen’s permission to kill him at my earliest convenience. I’ll pretend he doesn’t exist.
Sabin
Demon: Doubt
Height: 6'7"
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Gold-brown
Tramp stamp: Violet butterfly on right rib cage and waist
Other distinguishing marks: Rough-hewn face. Wears a necklace given to him by Baden, former keeper of Distrust.
Preferred weapon: He used to rely on knives, guns, throwing stars et al, but now prefers to unleash his Harpy bride. He finds her methods of killing amusing. I must concur.
Demon naughtiness: Whispers insecurities into the ears of anyone within reach and causes crippling—at times life-threatening—self-doubt. Responsible for multiple suicides.
Notable background: His demon tortured me when I was a child, something he must answer for. He can project his voice into the minds of others (human and immortal).
Achilles’ heel: His single-minded devotion to Gwendolyn the Timid, his Harpy wife. Can’t see great distances. Left knee was injured centuries ago and didn’t heal correctly.
Placement: Rip out his demon, kill it with my bare hands. Demon can be used to my advantage. First string. Lucifer’s biggest weakness is his pride. If I can prick it...
Gideon
Demon: Lies
Height: 6'3"
Hair: Dyed metallic blue
Eyes: Blue, kohl-rimmed
Tramp stamp: Butterfly on his right thigh, a pair of red lips on his neck, and a pair of eyes above his heart. On his waist, the words “To part is to die” are tattooed above a bouquet of red flowers.
Other distinguishing marks: Multiple piercings and general Goth appearance.
Preferred weapon: All of them. He has no specific preference, using whatever is nearby.
Demon naughtiness: Lies has infiltrated politics worldwide, resulting in false promises from world leaders and the disintegration of modern society. The demon has even convinced most of the human race “white lies” are harmless. He is insidious. Devious.
Notable background: Warrior is unable to tell the truth without experiencing terrible pain. He’s had his feet and hands removed at different points in his life, actions I’ve experienced as well. Like mine, his appendages grew back.
Achilles’ heel: Am I a broken record? His woman. Scarlet, the keeper of Nightmares. Also, he vomits when he’s flashed and he’s afraid of spiders.
Placement: Despite his insidious deviousness, can I trust him? Requires further thought.
Cameo
Demon: Misery
Height: 5'7"
Hair: Long, black
Eyes: Silver
Tramp stamp: Glittery butterfly on her lower back, with wings that spread around to both hips
Other distinguishing marks: Her voice drips with the sorrows of the world. There is an oval-shaped mole on her right hip.
Preferred weapon: Semiautomatic, long-range rifles
Demon naughtiness: Misery is responsible for depression and anxiety. The fact that both are reported at higher rates today than ever before suggests the demon’s reach is increasing.
Notable background: She’s caused profound emotional anguish in everyone around her. She loved a human, but lost him to Hunters. She dated both Kane and Torin. When at her worst, she’ll quote depressing statistics.
Achilles’ heel: Her inability to remember the things that make her happy.
Placement: My bedroom?
Amun
Demon: Secrets
Height: 6'6"
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Tramp stamp: Butterfly on his right calf
Other distinguishing marks: The darkness of his skin and eyes. He is leanly muscled and rarely speaks. Photos of him are always distorted. His image can’t even be drawn.
Preferred weapon: Things of an exotic nature.
Demon naughtiness: Fosters a lack of communication in everything from marriages to national security. With him, true peace can never be achieved.
Notable background: The warrior is unable to speak without the secrets of the world pouring from his mouth. The listener hears the voice of the person whose secret is being revealed. He is now mated to Haidee, one of the former keepers of Hate, now one of the keepers of Love. Two Horsemen of the Apocalypse (my adorable grandchildren!) owe him a year of servitude.
Achilles’ heel: Revealing his own secrets—and mine.
Objectives: Avoid or cut from the team
Strider
Demon: Defeat
Height: 6'5"
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Blue
Tramp stamp: Sapphire butterfly on his left hip
Other distinguishing marks: His overall asshole-ness.
Preferred weapon: He embraces all weaponry.
Demon naughtiness: Defeat is determined to win no matter the cost. He has brought about the downfall of athletes worldwide, encouraging illegal tactics—like steroids—in order to obtain a win.
Notable background: He can’t lose a battle or even an argument without succumbing to intense physical agony and prolonged sleep. Loves cinnamon.
Achilles’ heel: His woman, and his inability to lose gracefully.
Placement: First string, on a trial basis. If he challenges me, he’ll have to be cut. Literally. Lads need to be taught proper lessons so they grow into better men.
Kane
Demon: Formerly Disaster
Height: 6'4"
Hair: Mixture of brown, black and gold
Eyes: Hazel
Tramp stamp: Black butterfly on his right hip
Preferred weapon: Rifles and other long-range weaponry
Demon naughtiness: n/a
Notable background: He’s married to the queen of the Fae. Possible new army to utilize?
Achilles’ heel: His woman, of course.
Placement: Will depend on treaty talks with the Fae.
Galen
Demons: Jealousy and False Hope
Height: 6'5"
Hair: Blond curls
Eyes: Sky blue
Tramp stamp: A butterfly on both of his pecs
Other distinguishing marks: Some claim he looks like a warrior angel. White wings are in the process of regeneration.
Preferred weapon: Sword of red fire
Demon naughtiness: Known for ruining relationships, inciting silly shows of pride, and placing people on the wrong road, headed in the wrong direction
Notable background: He was the last Lord created. He’s the one who suggested the Lords steal the box before he turned on them and told Zeus. Once aligned with Rhea, queen of the Greeks. Once coleader of the Hunters, humans who sought to kill the Lords of the Underworld. The father of Gwen, Sabin’s wife.
Achilles’ heel: His obsession with Legion, former demon girl turned human girl
Placement: Requires further study
Baden
Demon: Formerly Distrust
Height: 6'8"
Hair: Red, with a slight curl. The strands used to catch fire when he became angered. (Note to self: help him regain the ability, shouldn’t be difficult but like a muscle memory...he’ll need it.)
Eyes: Copper
Tramp stamp: Butterfly on his chest
Other distinguishing marks: One of the most beautiful males on the planet
Preferred weapon: Everything. A male after my own heart.
Demon naughtiness: n/a
Notable background: He was the first Lord of the Underworld to be created. He is now the son of the greatest king in existence, and he wisely married Katarina, the Alpha of the Hellhounds.
Achilles’ heel: His woman. Because of Katarina’s abilities, Baden’s connection to her is a strength.
Placement: At my side, as my son
Pandora
Demon: n/a
Height: 6'
Hair: Black, straight
Eyes: Gold
Tramp stamp: Butterflies tattooed along her forearm, a kill list
Other distinguishing marks: She now has the strength and agility of a hellhound
Preferred weapon: Chain saw, claws and teeth
Demon naughtiness: n/a
Notable background: Was the strongest female warrior in Mount Olympus, charged with guarding dimOuniak. Killed by Maddox, who stabbed her six times upon the possession of Violence.
Achilles’ heel: Her anger and her curiosity. I must teach her to temper both before she gets herself killed.
Placement: By my side, as my daughter
OTHER DEMON-POSSESSED WARRIORS OF NOTE
(non-mates)
VIOLA: Keeper of Narcissism and the minor goddess of the Afterlife. Long silver-blond hair with cinnamon-colored eyes. Can appear in a puff of white smoke. 5'3". Pierced navel. Smells of roses like Lucien, only sweeter. When the demon overtakes her, she grows two horns, red scales, fangs, claws; her eyes turn red and she smells of sulfur. Her butterfly tattoo is pink. The front is along her chest, stomach and legs while the back stretches across her shoulders, thighs and calves. She has a pet Tasmanian devil/vampire named Princess Fluffikans. Before her possession, she fed on souls.
PUKINN: Keeper of Indifference. Looks to have an Egyptian heritage. Dark eyes with long, straight black hair. Horns. Hands that are permanently clawed. Furred legs. Part satyr. Irish accent. Now bonded to Gillian Bradshaw.
To kill for stealing from William or not to kill?
CAMERON: Keeper of Obsession. Bronze hair and skin, with lavender eyes rimmed in silver. He still mourns the death of a woman—I need more details about this. He chronicles each of his imprisonments with tattoos, and he collects stories from other people and tells them as his own.
WINTER: Keeper of Selfishness. Bronze skin and hair, with lavender eyes rimmed in silver. Sister to Cameron. She has long legs and a curvy body. She also has fangs. Does she like to bite? (Note to self: find out!)
MATES TO THE LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD
JOSEPHINA “TINK” AISLING: Queen of Seduire. Half Fae, half human. Black hair. Blue eyes. Bronze skin. Pointy ears. Scar on cheek and chest. Smells of rosemary and spearmint. Daughter of Tiberius and Glorika. Half sister of Synda. Formerly a blood slave. Has the ability to temporarily steal others’ abilities with her hands, and to project into others’ thoughts. Now has the powers of a Phoenix. Married to Kane; pregnant.
HAIDEE ALEXANDER: Former Hunter used as Bait to kill Baden. Stabbed by Strider when she helped kill Baden. Petite. Shoulder-length blond hair with pink streaks. Gray eyes. Silver stud in brow. Sleeve of tattoos on one arm—the tattoos are faces, numbers, addresses, names (“Micah,” “Viola,” “Skye”) and phrases (“Darkness always loses to light,” “You have loved and been loved.”) On her back is a tattoo scorecard that says “Lords: IIII, Haidee: I”. She grows ice-cold and can exhale mist. Hates snakes. Throws up after flashing. The demon of Hate killed her mother, father and little sister. Was once the keeper of a small piece of Hate, but now holds a piece of Love. Mated to Amun.
ANYA: Minor goddess of Anarchy. Tall. Long white hair. Blue eyes. Pixie face. Daughter of Dysnomia and Tartarus. Has a weakness for lollipops. Helped break Maddox’s curse. Strongest source of power is chaos. Immortals are immune to her commands. Stealing soothes her. She gave up the All-key to help her beloved Lucien.
SCARLET: Keeper of Nightmares. Shoulder-length black hair, black eyes and red lips. 5'9". Multiple tattoos. “To Part is to Die” above a bouquet of red flowers, and a jewel-tone butterfly on her upper thighs. She is the daughter of Rhea and a Myrmidon warrior and married to Gideon. Born and raised inside Tartarus. Disappears into shadows. Weakened during daylight hours. Smells like night flowers. Her demon is mated to Lies. She is pregnant with a game changer (not that she knows it).
SIENNA BLACKSTONE: Keeper of Wrath. Queen of the Greek gods. Wavy brown hair, hazel eyes and overly full lips. Lots of freckles her husband, Paris, is particularly obsessed with licking. Black wings rise above her shoulders and end in sharp tips perfect for slicing an enemy to ribbons. A black butterfly tattoo surrounds the base of the wings. Her blood is liquid ambrosia.
ASHLYN DARROW: From North Carolina. Light brown hair, honey-colored skin and eyes. 5'5". Only twenty-four years old when she met Maddox. Wherever she stands, she hears every conversation that has ever taken place there. Worked as a para-audiologist for the World Institute of Parapsychology since the age of five. After breaking Maddox’s curse, her life span bonded to his. She is the mother to twins Ever and Urban.
DANIKA FORD: All-seeing Eye. A blonde with green eyes and freckles. An artist. Once the Hunters recruited her as Bait, hoping she would kill the Lords, but she mated to Reyes instead. She is a portal into both heaven and hell, and one of the four keys needed to find Pandora’s box.
KEELEYCAEL: A Curator. The Red Queen. Known as Keeley to her friends. Her appearance changes with the seasons. Winter: blue hair, skin and eyes. Autumn: red hair with brown streaks, amber-gold eyes, peaches-and-cream skin. Summer: blond hair, blue eyes, tanned skin. Spring: white skin, light pink hair with green chunks framing her face, and blue eyes. Once engaged to Hades. Now married to Torin.
OLIVIA: Once a Sent One. A joy-bringer for her charges—now a joy-bringer for her husband, Aeron. Has long wavy brown hair and sky-blue eyes. Pale skin. Her wings were cut from her back. She was given a new pair, but they only pop from the slits in her back with strong emotion.
GWENDOLYN SKYHAWK: Harpy known as Gwendolyn the Timid. Long red hair with blond streaks. Eyebrows are dark auburn. Eyes are amber with sparkling gray striations. Button nose. Petite. Twenty-seven years old. Raspy voice. Raised in Alaska. Was imprisoned by Hunters for a year. Mated to Sabin. Youngest sister of Bianka, Taliyah and Kaia. Daughter of Tabitha and Galen.
KAIA SKYHAWK: Harpy. Bright red hair. Golden eyes mixed with gray. Twin of Bianka. Sister of Taliyah and Gwen. Daughter of Tabitha and a Phoenix. Works as a mercenary. Formerly known as Kaia the Disappointment, now known as Kaia the Wing-Shredder. Married to Strider. When she goes Harpy, she has an azure glow and her eyes turn red and black. She controls fire.
KATARINA JOELLE: Once a human, but now the immortal Alpha of Hellhounds. Her father was black, her mother white; both are deceased. She has dark hair and gray-green eyes. She’s tall and slender with delicate features. Known as “Rina” to her mate, Baden.
Top Ten Hellhound Rules
for Humans
Do not, under any circumstances, refer to a Hellhound as a “dog.” “Warrior” is always appropriate. So is “Master.”
What you eat, your Hellhound eats. When you eat, your Hellhound eats. When you don’t eat, your Hellhound eats.
Every time you issue a command, you get bit. It’s a rule. Deal with it.
If a Hellhound wakes you in the middle of the night simply to lick your face, say thank you. You’re still alive.
Where you sleep, a Hellhound sleeps. The floor is NEVER acceptable.
If a Hellhound barks or growls to get your attention, say thank yo
u. You still have your limbs.
Strike the words “sit,” “stay” and “good boy” from your vocabulary. Forever.
If a Hellhound tells you to “sit,” “stay” or calls you a “good boy” say thank you. Your face hasn’t been used as a chew toy. Yet.
What belongs to you belongs to your Hellhound. What belongs to your Hellhound belongs to your Hellhound.
The term “bath time” will now be referred to as “the day you die badly.”
The Who’s Who to Whom
Aeron—Lord of the Underworld; former keeper of Wrath; husband to Olivia
All-key—a spiritual relic capable of opening any lock
All-seeing Eye—Godly artifact with the power to see into heaven and Hell
Amun—Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Secrets; husband to Haidee
Anya—(minor) goddess of Anarchy, engaged to Lucien
Ashlyn Darrow—human female with supernatural ability; wife to Maddox; mother of Urban and Ever
Axel—Sent One with a secret
Baden—Lord of the Underworld; former keeper of Distrust; companion to Destruction (newly resurrected); husband to Katarina
Bait—human females, Hunters’ accomplices
Bianka Skyhawk—Harpy, sister of Gwen, Taliyah and Kaia; wife to Lysander
Bjorn—Sent One
Black—one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse; child of William
Cage of Compulsion—Godly artifact with the power to enslave anyone trapped inside
Cameo—Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Misery
Cameron—keeper of Obsession
Cloak of Invisibility—Godly artifact with the power to shield its wearer from prying eyes
Cronus—former king of the Titans; former keeper of Greed; husband to Rhea
Danika Ford—human female; wife to Reyes; known as the All-seeing Eye