by Jana LaPelle
“Not much before everything becomes foggy and twisted up in the deceitful illusion.” She sighs heavily and spins around trying to get her bearings.
About that time, a swarm of those dark little fuckers is back, and I growl, “Back the hell off if you know what’s good for you.”
The wicked little shits just laugh hysterically and surround us, “Missing something? Are we?” Their sing-song lilting voices grate on my nerves.
LJ races forward before I can anticipate her move. I’m by her side in an instant and she demands, “What did you do with it?” Her arms crossed over her ample chest and her foot taps in irritation.
“Whatever do you mean, goddess? Yes. We now know who you are, but we still answer to Luc and the Fields.”
He’s an evil, dark, little fucker that needs to be eradicated. The growl that rumbles out of my chest has all of his companions stopping their antics, “You will tell us where her belongings are.” I demand.
“We could,” the leader of this little flock mimes, his smug little voice makes my skin crawl, “but … we have no idea. Listen, Lord Daxell, you are a tad scarier than she is, but all we know is that one minute there was a non-descript backpack on the ground beside our newest victim in the Fields and then there was not. We have no idea as to where it went. These things happen here, you see.” His tone is all business now.
My hackles rise at their nonchalance and I move forward before LJ can stop me, “Leave them be, Daxell. They are full of mischief and spite. They are behaving as they were designed to behave. It’s pointless to get aggravated with them.”
“Knowing that is one thing, but … Damn, honey cheeks. We’re at a dead-end already and we’ve not even been gone for an hour. What next?” I ask as I watch the offending little fuckers head away from us over the bleak landscape swarming here and there as they look for their next victim to torment.
“Well? Do you happen to know where the imps underground borough is?” LJ asks, looking around hopefully.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. What underground borough?”
“Oh snap! That’s right. No one knows about it here in The Underworld. Daxell … You and your demon need to promise not to utter a word about their little safe haven. Pipperton would never forgive me for putting that little oasis in danger of being discovered.”
“Did I hear my name?” A deep male voice interrupts my response. I turn to see an intimidating mature imp sauntering our way. His skin rivals that of the skies here, his impressive leathery wings tuck back against his back, and his white-blond hair is long, and grows in a mohawk fashion. He smiles broadly, showing off his pointy teeth, his pale blue eyes twinkling as he opens his arms in greeting.
LJ and Poppy take off in his direction. What the hell just happened? And who is this demon to them? LJ launches herself into his waiting arms and both my demon and I growl. They look way too comfortable with one another and jealousy rears its ugly head. The imp just laughs and exclaims, “It’s been way too long, little flower. By Hades’ demons, I’ve missed you too!” He swings Lillie around and she just laughs hugging him closer.
“Put my mate down and step away,” I growl possessively, needing to know who this demon is to LJ.
The imp slows and eyes me wearily. Slowly he puts LJ down and steps away with his hands up, “Lillie, tell your mate that I’m not a threat. I’m here to help.”
“Chill, Daxell. This is Pipperton. Pip the imp. He’s like an older brother to me. Remember? I told you about him.” She implores before turning her confused gaze upon Pip. “What do you mean? You’re here to help?” She demands.
“Just that. Luc called me to his inner sanctum-”
“You have been watching way too many movies, Pip.”
He laughs, “Yeah, well maybe, but stop interrupting me. As I was saying-”
“Yeah, yeah … Get on with it.” She demands.
“I’m trying! Will you stop interrupting?” Pip exclaims, mockingly.
It’s then that I begin to relax. The two of them are going at it like she would with Lachlan, and I sit back and watch the show. Poppy lands on my shoulder and says, “These two can go at it for days. This should be interesting.”
“Why do you think he’s here?” I ask the tiny water sprite.
She sighs, “She has ties to Pip. Luc knows this. If there were anyone that Luc would send to help her navigate this hellhole it would be Pipperton. I like him. He calls Lillie’s Da, Mister! Isn’t that hilarious? Anyhow, we can trust Pip.”
I watch as the two catch up. There are punches involved and name-calling and then … the two hug again as if they haven’t seen each other in a very long time.
Clearing my throat, I interrupt their reunion, “Pipperton? Is it? Why have you been sent? And what do you know?” I ask.
Lillie smirks and moves to my side, “Daxell, you should be happy that he’s here.”
“Why?” I ask pointedly and then pull her into my arms. She gives me a sour look but doesn’t pull away.
Pip clears his throat, “Daxell? It’s a pleasure to meet the one that completes our Lillie JoBug.” He smiles, his toothy grin before continuing, “The bag you are looking for? Well … it was taken from this place as soon as Lillie dropped it. The demons of discarded things absconded with it and now we have to determine where they took it.”
Poppy exclaims, “Demons of discarded things? Is that an actual thing? Seriously?” She drawls the word out.
Pip looks chagrined, “Yes, Poppy. This world is not like The Otherworld. Everyone here wants to make it to the next level. They want beyond the Great Divide. Here in the Fields, they have a purpose and mostly that purpose is to cause mischief or torment or they create havoc.”
Sighing heavily, LJ asks, “What do we do next? We need to find that backpack.”
“Tonight you need to rest. All of you do. Luc was explicit about that. We saw from his fortress your ascension. We can provide a safe haven as we explore the possibilities of where that elusive backpack has ended up. Come … It’s getting late.” Pip motions us to a rock outcropping that I don’t remember being there before.
“Wait! Won’t our presence here endanger you all?” Suddenly, I’m worried about how those in The Underworld will track us going forward. How they may find us in the midst of innocent imps. Find their hidden borough. I can’t have that.
Pip smiles and nods, his horns rival my own demon’s, “It’s okay. We have a majical protection. Only those that have permission can pass into these caves. You are all under my protection. Come. We have much to discuss and we need to plan on how we move forward. Everyone is expecting you.”
“Sounds like a plan. I know that I need some time. Time to digest everything. Will Paynga be there?” Lillie asks.
“Yes, Momma will be there. She’s looking forward to seeing you again. She’s preparing a place for you to rest. Come. We shouldn’t linger here any longer. The Slavers have been restless and now that Mammon is back they’re eager to please the greedy bastard.” Pip turns to lead us into a darkened cave entrance.
Lillie holds her hand out to me, “Daxell, you coming?”
I take her hand in my own, “Yes, Lillie. I will always follow you. Even into the dark unknown.” I smirk, but pull her to my side, needing her beside me because that’s exactly where we are headed.
35
The Borough
(Lillie Joanna)
Growing up, Lachlan and Timbra and I heard tales of the time that Da was in The Underworld before the battle that brought Morríganna down and restored balance to the realms. Pip and Da’s tales got to be so big over the years that we kids chalked them up to the two reliving the days when they first met. Pipperton has always looked upon our Da as the father that he was robbed of as a wee little imp-child and Da … Well, Da loves him like his very own. It’s been too long since I’ve seen Pip. Mama and Da will want him to come for a visit after we put all this nasty business behind us.
The cavern that we entered not that
long ago looks just like I imagined it as a child listening to the two recount their meeting and I ask, “Pip, is this the same cavern that you pulled Da into all those years ago to escape the noctorbeast?”
“Yes, it is. Just around the bend, it will narrow a bit and there will be a set of stairs carved into the rock leading down. Mister got real woozy as soon as he saw them. Your Da was not in a good way at the time. I knew he needed help, so I went to get Momma and my uncle. It wasn’t his fault, mind you, they can be a bit intimidating, seeing hows there’s no handrails and the steps are steep and appear to descend into the darkness.”
Daxell squeezes my hand, and asks, “How old were you Pipperton? When you met Alaric that is?”
“I was just a child, about yea high.” He holds his hand out above the ground indicating that his height was that of a child maybe eight years old.
“The way I remember the tale, Pipperton, you were very brave.” Poppy croons and lands nimbly on his shoulder. She has always seemed smitten with our little imp and her posturing tells me that her little crush is still in full force. Although, he’s not so little anymore. His shoulders have filled out and are now quite broad, his hips slim, and his biceps rival Daxell’s. Just like the rest of us, he’s grown up and is now a fully mature male imp. Impressive to say the least.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight awaiting us as we come upon the stairs that seem to lead down to nowhere, I stifle a groan and turn into Daxell. Closing my eyes, I say a little prayer that I make it to the bottom. This staircase is the things that nightmares are made from and I’ve not even stepped out onto them before a bit of vertigo makes my head begin to swim. Pipperton was not joking when he said that the stairs were freestanding. Cautiously I step forward and then again with Daxell by my side. Thank the gods that the staircase is wide, at least six feet in width.
“I can glide us to the bottom, honey cheeks.”
“No, I’ve got this.” Turning toward the dark abyss, I ask, “Daxell, can you brighten this place up a bit. I would, but I …” Then I just hold up my arm so I can remind Dax that I’ve been bound. Nodding, he produces a couple of balls of fire in each hand and fashions them into glowballs. Gently, he sets them afloat over the dark abyss. They illuminate the rock-hewn staircase just below us. Then, creating several more fireballs, he sends them further out so that we can see the vastness of this cavernous maze that awaits us. I shudder as I see just how macabre these passages are. From where I stand there are several entrances to this cavern. All have stairs leading down into the darkness below, some intersecting and others seem to lead in other directions. The stairs are steep and some are carved over archways while others appear to be hewn out of solid rock. None of the stairways have handrails and all appear to be suspended in mid-air, connected by stone carved by hand forming the steps that lead down into the darkness. “Pipperton?! Are you sure about this?” I demand, still cautious as we proceed.
“Trust me, Lillie. You all will find safe passage to the Borough. We just need to traverse these dark passages first. Normally, I would glide downward to the bottom, but I think it best that we walk these passages so that you become familiar with them.”
“Okay, but if I fall to my death, I will haunt you until the end of time.” Pip laughs as if I’m kidding, which I’m not, and then he motions us to proceed.
Quietly, we follow Pip down into the bowels of The Underworld. We’re all silent for some time as we traverse the stairs. After a while, I find the downward travel therapeutic. The orbs of light follow us, lighting our way through the dark expanse. Echoing in the distance, we hear water dripping onto the stones below, and even further away, the muffled roar of running water. Daxell grips my hand in his tightly, as we negotiate the passages leading us ever downward until we are greeted with a passage that levels out and is lit by bioluminescence. Pipperton vers off the downward path and takes into the dimly lit tunnel. The fungi that grow along the damp stone walls light up the passages here, so much so that Dax extinguishes the light of his fireballs to observe the natural light of these eternally dark tunnels.
Pipperton turns back and says, “We’re almost there. I know that you’re tired, Lillie. Honestly, you both must be completely tuckered out. Once we enter the Borough and you are safely tucked away you can rest, until the morrow.”
As he says those last words we enter into an enormous underground cavern, more massive than I could ever have imagined. The Borough is highly functioning and very well lit. Daxell exclaims, “This is utterly amazing. How have you kept this hidden from The Underworld at large?” He demands.
“All in due time, Duke … Or should I address you as Retribution? Times are changing, it would seem. Come … Let’s get you all settled and we can speak on the morrow.” Pipperton motions us to a large dwelling on the outskirts of town and we make our way to the sizeable abode. Pipperton motions us inside where we are greeted by Paynga, her brother Rhynik, and another large and imposing imp that I have never met.
Paynga rushes towards me and pulls me into a fierce embrace. All of a sudden I realize, I’m not alone in this realm. I have so many wonderful individuals on my side, people that want to see me succeed. I hug her back and whisper, “I’ve missed you, Paypay. Thank you for this.” My term of endearment from when I was little easily slips out and she holds me even closer.
“Lillie? Why would you think that we would ever turn you out? Our home is your home. Especially now. You are now a goddess of both worlds. Come,” she gestures for us to come in and get comfortable. “You and our young Duke have need of rest. We will all gather together on the morrow to figure out how to move forward. Come, Poppy. We have a modest place for you to rest as well. These two need some privacy.”
My cheeks heat at the thought and Daxell pulls me close to his solid body leaving nothing to my imagination. Paynga isn’t the only one to notice Daxell’s possessive hold. The male imps back away not wanting to incite my demon. Looking back at Paynga, she hasn’t changed at all. It’s like she hasn’t aged a day, just like my Mum and Da, with one exception. The male imp by her side appears to be just as possessive of her as Dax is of me. Smiling, I say, “We really need to catch up, Paypay. Tomorrow? Before we get into all the craziness that is following us. Okay?”
“Lillie, I’ve missed out on your growing up these last few years. I’ll make sure that we set aside some time for just us girls. Now … You three are in need of rest and food. That we have and that we can provide along with safety. Get some sleep and we will meet again on the morrow.”
Everyone was right. Daxell and I were both spent. Once everyone left us to our own devices we got something to eat. There was an assortment of prepared meats and fish, along with several small loaves of bread, and a variety of cheeses. We ate quietly. At times Daxell would lean in to feed me several morsels of food and other times I would return the favor. We fell into a sort of quiet rhythm with one another until we headed off to lay down. Both exhausted and needing sleep.
The next morning we were up early. We both woke feeling better rested and ready to face the challenges to come. Poppy was the first to arrive. I have no idea as to where she spent her evening, but I think we are about to find out as she burst through the open window. No need for glass panes down here.
“Did you catch a glimpse of the waterfall down here? Oh my gosh, this place is amazing. As they cycle down for what we would call night all the glowballs are dimmed to almost nothing casting the Borough in an almost completely darken cavern, but then everything begins to glow like in the tunnel that led us here. Even in the water! You have to see it tonight!”
Laughing, I turn to my tiny sprite friend, “I promise, we’ll see it before we have to leave this sanctuary. Were you on your own? Or did you have a guide?”
She smiles smugly, “Why … Pipperton was my guide.” She sighs dreamily, “Don’t you just adore his horns? He’s just so devilishly handsome.” Her wings flutter ever so slightly as she settles onto the table in front of me, a soft smil
e on her face.
“Poppy? I hate to bring you out of your blissful memories of your time with Pip last night, but we need to meet up with Paynga. Do you have any idea as to what the plan is?” I ask as I stuff some of that wonderful cheese from last night in my mouth with a bit of smoked fish that reminds me of salmon.
Sighing, she looks up at me with a sour look on her adorable features, “You are such a spoilsport some times. Paynga is coming here and we can catch up with her before meeting the males just a little later. Pipperton will be here in a bit to round up Daxell.”
I hear a growl from over my shoulder, “I don’t bloody well think so! LJ does not leave my line of sight.” He wraps his arms around me from behind.
I look up at him over my shoulder, “Dax, nothing is going to happen here. Give us girls some time to catch up, maybe an hour and then we can all come together and figure out where to find that missing backpack.”
“LJ.”
“Don’t LJ me. Luc sent Pipperton to us knowing that we could find shelter here and allies. We’ll take advantage of today, make a plan, and head out tomorrow. It makes sense, demon boy.” I caress his cheek and watch it tick as he mulls over my words.
“All right. Forty-five minutes of girl time. Not one second more.”
“You’re a demanding, demon… but I love you, so you’ve got a deal.” I smile before reaching up on my tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the lips. He grips my hips and drags me flush against his rock hard body. Both of us all but purr as we come together. I will never get tired of how I feel in his arms. He has become the very breath that sustains me.
As he pulls away, I notice the satisfied smirk on his face at my dazed expression. I slap at his chest, “Go! Before I change my mind. You can gather intel from Pipperton and the other imps in the short time that we’re away from one another.”
Poppy laughs, “This is going to be fun. You two aren’t possessive much, are you? Get on out of here, stud muffin.”