by Tara West
What happened next made my soul quake with fear, for a dragon, as large as a steam engine and scales as black as pitch swooped down from the sky, snatching up the sacrifice and swallowing him whole, cross and all. Though I’d heard the rumor Lucifer had been banished to the thirteenth dimension, this beast had to have been created in the image of the Prince of Hell, for swirling beneath the gloss of its dark, ominous eyes, I saw the shadows of demons screaming to break free. This dragon didn’t just feed on their flesh, it feasted on their very souls.
The fourth dimension was far worse than I could have imagined. Each day I passed in this miserable place, I could feel the noose of fear tightening around my neck. I had the unsettling feeling my soul would soon be on this dragon’s menu. Though I knew my penance in Hell would be far from pleasant, if I didn’t escape the fourth dimension soon, I would surely perish in the belly of the beast.
Ash MacLeod
Purgatory
“So what now?” I waved at the centerpiece of the common room, an old rusty elevator. “Do we hop on and ask it to take us to the giants?”
“I’m not sure.” Aedan scratched his head before shooting Cam a questioning look. “I usually banged my scythe, and it took me where I needed to go.”
“Follow me.” Cam motioned toward the elevator. “It has been a long time since I’ve seen my Nephilim kin.” Cam pulled a long silver staff out of a pocket on the side of his toga. It must have been a retractable staff, like Aedan’s old scythe. When he tapped the button pad on the elevator with the top of the staff, I was amazed to see thirteen more buttons appear, each one glowing an ominous red.
Like Purgatory, Hell had different dimensions, commonly referred to as levels. Level thirteen was on the bottom and the shittiest. Level one was the top floor in Hell and sucked less than all the fiery pit’s other dimensions. In Purgatory, level thirteen was the closest floor to Heaven and very similar to my life back on Earth. Level one in Purgatory smelled like old feet.
The Nephilim lived on level one in Hell in a pyramid constructed by the angels. The pyramid had magical defenses that made the place seem almost as perfect as Heaven. They ate delicious ambrosia and had magical water that healed any injury. We didn’t turn into our demon forms in the pyramid, either, which was nice, because my demon appearance was a big yellow bird-woman with frizzy hair. I looked like I’d fallen asleep in a tanning bed and then rolled around in feathers; not exactly a scary demon.
Cam hit the red level one button, and we were on our way. “These elevators are so much more convenient than stairs,” Cam said with a wink. “Imagine how long this trip took me two hundred years ago.”
The elevator opened with a ding, and we stared down the long rows of tables in the dining hall, surprising the Nephilim, who dropped their forks in stunned silence. When Cam stepped out of the elevator, two thousand Nephilim rose from their seats and then fell down on one knee. I tumbled into Aedan as the elevator shook.
“Get your hands off me!” Mar screeched.
I looked over Aedan’s shoulder to see Mar had fallen into Boner’s arms. Unfortunately, Boner had to let go of his blanket to catch her. And though I still regretted allowing Boner to come along, the look of shock and horror in Mar’s wide eyes was so worth it. She gawked at the tube snake pressing against her hip as if it had the plague. I covered my mouth, repressing a laugh before turning back to the Nephilim.
Cam motioned toward the giants with raised hands. “Please rise, my nephews and nieces. We bring you good news. God has decreed you’ve served your penance. He has granted permission for you to pass through the pearly gates.”
The giants shot to their feet, cheering and high-fiving each other. This time the tremors were so violent, Aedan and I tumbled to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs. After the quakes died down, I opened my eyes to see we’d fallen into a pile with Boner and Mar. The way Mar screamed like a banshee, I figured she’d broken an arm, but no, Boner’s flaccid flesh sock was draped across her shoulder. Okay, I so wished I had a cell phone, because that picture was worth a thousand other hysterical memories.
After we’d all untangled ourselves, Aedan offered me, and much to my displeasure, Mar, a hand up. He then violently shoved the blanket back at Boner before we followed Cam down the long row of smiling giants toward King Og’s dais. Though most of the giants looked alike to me, with their elongated necks and slightly greyish pallor, I recognized my friend Garf in the throng. How could I forget his innocent, infectious smile? I waved and blew him a kiss, laughing when his cheeks reddened. By the time we’d reached the king, a few Nephilim were already fastening sling high-chairs for their human guests.
King Og hugged Cam and then received us all with warm smiles. Kind of hard to believe the king and I were exchanging goodbyes only yesterday when it felt like a lifetime ago. After Cam introduced Boner and Mar, the king looked at Cam with a drawn mouth. “No can go to Heaven until we find two Nephilim kin cast down to fourth dimension.”
Cam tossed a wave of blond hair behind his shoulders. “I know, and He has granted permission for you to retrieve them.”
Og’s frown deepened, his heavy brow dipping down to shadow his eyes. “God no help Nephilim?”
“You should know by now He only helps those who help themselves.” Cam motioned to us with a sweep of the arm like he was some sort of angelic Vanna White. “Your friends have agreed to assist you, and I have given them a wishing star. I advise you to send your strongest warriors to accompany them.”
Og’s eyes widened as he looked down at Aedan’s star, a twin to his necklace. He stepped back, motioning toward the table. “Thank you, Uncle. Please feast with Nephilim.”
Cam swept a low bow. “It will be my pleasure.”
My mouth watered as giants set down platters of colorful, creamy ambrosia. I sure hoped Aedan would be able to wish for ambrosia during our trek through Hell, because this stuff was seriously addictive.
Oh, how I’d missed the Nephilim, and we’d only been gone for a day. I took a seat between Cam and Aedan, none too pleased Mar sat on the other side of Aedan as if it was the most natural thing in the world for her to be by his side; he didn’t even bat an eye. Jack sat underneath the table below my feet, whimpering at me whenever I forgot to slip him a piece of food. I couldn’t help it. I kept getting lost in the taste and texture of the savory, creamy fruit and listening with a mixture of fascination and horror as Cam described Hell’s fourth dimension.
“Stick to the tunnels,” Cam said. “The town is far too dangerous.”
“What if our friends are in town?” I asked.
Cam’s features hardened, making him look like one of those stone demons outside the Nephilim pyramid. “Then proceed with caution. The Marshal is a nasty demon.”
Awww, crud. Not another one. I sure hoped he wasn’t worse than Scorpius.
Aedan set down his goblet, leaning forward. “What is his role? Is he like a gatekeeper?”
“No.” Cam folded his hands in front of him and grimaced. “He is the ruler of law and decider of fates.”
“Hasn’t your fate already been decided?” I asked. Why couldn’t level four be like level one, only hotter and stinkier? That would have made my trip so much easier.
“There is a fate worse than the fourth dimension.” Cam’s voice took on a hard edge. Gone were his cherubic, handsome features as hard lines set around his mouth and eyes. “An eternal entrapment inside the belly of the beast.”
“Beast?” I gasped.
“The dragon’s name is Zahaka,” Cam answered grimly, “and she is a soul sucker.”
“That doesn’t sound pleasant,” I mumbled into my wine goblet before taking a long drink. Somehow, I got the feeling I’d be asking for seconds and thirds after the evening was through.
“You must avoid the Marshal and Zahaka at all costs,” Cam said in a tone that brooked no refusal, “and if your friends have already been eaten, then know it is too late for them.”
I ignored Mar’s littl
e melodramatic gasp and the commotion I heard coming from her direction. I imagined her swooning in her seat, begging the servers to fetch her some smelling salts. She was probably worried her beloved sister had already become a dragon snack. Well, I wasn’t about to let that deter me. Dragon or no dragon, there was no freaking way I was leaving level four without my friends, even if the thought of confronting this beast made my insides quake with fear.
I sloshed wine on my hand as I set my goblet down with a shaky hand. “Can’t I just zap Zahaka and get my friends back?”
Cam shook his head. “She is impervious to your magical defenses.”
Just great. “Okay, so avoid the dragon,” I said wryly. “Got it.” But actually I didn’t. After all the shit I’ve been through, and monsters I’d battled, I wasn’t about to let a stupid soul-sucking freak get in the way of saving my friends.
Aedan must have sensed my defiance because he squeezed my hand before shooting me a warning look. “What about this Marshal?” he asked. “He holds the key to the elevator, right?”
“There is no key,” Cam said. “There is no permanent elevator in the fourth dimension. The dragon destroyed it long ago along with the Cerberus guarding it.”
“Oh, lovely.” I rolled my eyes. “How do we escape?”
Aedan held up his necklace. “I have the star.”
Cam let out a long breath of air, before coursing his fingers through his blond mane. I could tell he was about to deliver more shitty news. This guy was more depressing than a country song marathon, only when my loved ones left me it would be because they’d been eaten.
“The star will only grant the wearer, not his friends, a tool for escape.”
All right, the soul-sucking dragon was bad enough. How did Cam expect us to rescue our friends when there was no way back? And why had God sent us down here without any help?
“Then how do we get out of there?” I groaned.
“You must use your scythe.”
Cam said this matter-of-factly, as if all we had to do was pull up our GPS, cruise through Hell in our minivan, and pick up our friends and the missing scythe. Because dodging demons and soul-sucking dragons was so easy.
I shot Aedan a questioning look, but he stared back at me with this deer-in-the-headlights expression. As a matter of fact, everyone in the hall had become so quiet, I could have heard a pin drop, or in this case, a Nephilim fart. As soon as a giant let one rip, the group broke into laughter. But there was no way I was laughing. We were about to get our asses toasted with no divine help at all other than a magical wishing star that couldn’t even transport us back. I leaned toward Cam, eyeing him intently. “What if we can’t find it?”
Cam looked into my eyes as a lump made its way down the column of his throat. “Then you will be stuck in the fourth dimension for a very long time.”
My jaw practically hit the floor as I searched his gaze, hoping he’d bust into uncontrollable laughter and scream, “April Fool’s!”
I gasped. “Won’t anyone come for us?”
King Og puffed up his chest as he stretched his elongated neck toward the ceiling. “Nephilim will come look for friends.”
I smiled at that, knowing at least someone had our backs. The look of pity in Cam’s eyes wasn’t very reassuring. It was the same look my Sophomore PE teacher had given me when I bled through my tampon and all over my pale grey gym sweats after my walk of shame past the boys’ basketball team and a bunch of obnoxious, laughing cheerleaders. The very same look my college sorority sisters had given me when I told them my boyfriend Travis’s penis size was just right. Apparently, I was the only girl in Seattle who didn’t know “just right” was code for “small dick.” Basically, Cam’s look meant “you’re fucked” and not in a good way.
“Time passes more slowly there,” Cam said as his voice dropped. “A day here would feel like a fortnight in the fourth dimension.”
Which meant if we did get stuck down there, it would take a freaking eternity for our friends to come save us. Jeez, Callum and Sarge must have thought we’d forgotten them. And those poor Nephilim who’d been trapped down there a hundred years. It must have felt like an eternity.
I’d known our little foray into the fourth dimension was going to be tough, but this trip into Hell was going to be the trip from Hell. I was already feeling the inferno’s heat, and we hadn’t even descended yet.
Aedan O’Connor
I walked into King Og’s chamber with a heavy heart, knowing what I was about to ask of him went against every rule of common sense and decency.
His private chamber was more than I had imagined, a forest wonderland with mossy floors and vines growing up the walls. A huge tree filled the center of the room, rising up into the vaulted ceiling and disappearing into the floor above. The branches held up the biggest hammock I’d ever seen. So this was his idea of paradise? It suited me just fine, too. I would have loved for Ash to see this. Hopefully, we’d get the chance to come back to the pyramid. Hopefully.
I had no idea why I thought the king would be sitting regally on a throne. I should have learned to expect the giants to be more humble. He sat cross-legged on the floor, leaning against the tree trunk as he whittled a piece of wood into the shape of a dove.
He looked up long enough to scowl before turning his gaze back to his carving. “You wish for meeting.”
I cleared my throat and willed my hands to stop shaking as I summoned the nerve to speak. “I’m sorry for disturbing you, King Og.”
He stuck the knife in the ground and slowly stood, towering above me with a drawn mouth. “This about saving devil woman?”
My jaw dropped as I took a step back. “Cam told you?” Of course he had. When I’d passed Cam outside Og’s door moments earlier, he said he’d told the king about God’s orders to save Shadow. Cam had probably revealed my plan to retrieve Katherine, too. I bowed my head while praying the giant wouldn’t crush me. “I’m sorry. I can understand why you’d be angry.”
He brushed past me, nearly knocking me over as his arm smacked my shoulder. “You understand nothing.”
I spun around, eyeing him warily as he grabbed a goblet off a wooden table and filled it with wine. “Do you know what Nephilim banished to fourth dimension?” He tipped back his head and chugged the wine in a few swallows.
His question churned in my mind. I remembered hearing the story of how Katherine had tricked the Nephilim into giving her their most innocent giants, promising to grant them eternal salvation. “Your most virtuous kin.”
The wrinkles in Og’s brow fell like a fleshy avalanche, nearly obscuring his glassy eyes. “Not just kin. Horfat was niece.” He struck his heart with a meaty fist. “Zam was Nephilim prince, my son.”
My shoulders slumped at the pained look in Og’s expression. Why, after all of the terrible things Katherine had done, had I capitulated to Mr. Murphy so easily? This giant had every right to pummel me into the thirteenth dimension.
He threw the empty goblet to the floor. “Now you go save devil woman who banish kin I love.”
“Believe me, it wasn’t my intention to cause the Nephilim more pain than they’ve already suffered. Katherine’s father saved my life once, and now I must repay my debt.” I didn’t dare mention Katherine had been my wife, or he would suspect I had another motive for saving her. There was only one reason I was being forced to carry out this mad scheme—guilt. Katherine’s father had not simply tried to talk me into saving his daughter. He broke down and cried, begging me to free his child. How could I have said no to the man who’d once saved my brother and me?
He folded his arms, eyeing me with a snarl. “Saving demon bitch is heavy debt.”
“I know. I doubt God will let her ascend, but I must at least try.” I looked away from his cold stare, not blaming him one bit for the hatred that radiated off him.
“And if she no get into Purgatory?” he asked.
I looked him square in the eyes. “Then I will leave her on level one.” I knew this was
probably going to be my only option. Even if Mar did convince her to repent, after all the sins Katherine had committed both on Earth and in Hell, how could God forgive her?
“My warriors no help you save her.”
“I understand.”
He jutted a finger toward the door. “You are fool, Aedan O’Connor.”
“Don’t I know it?” I mumbled under my breath. For only a fool would voluntarily descend into Hell with his girlfriend and former fiancée to retrieve his ex-wife. If and when I made it back to Purgatory, I wouldn’t blame Ash if she tried to have me committed.
I bowed before the king and excused myself, though he’d already pretty much told me to get the hell out of his sight.
Ash MacLeod
After the Nephilim gave us all complimentary togas, Boner begged me to let Jack sleep in his chamber. As I petted my guardian goodnight, leaving Jack with Boner, I worried maybe allowing Boner to tag along wasn’t such a good idea. He looked so lost and frightened. I had no idea where the giants placed Miss Priss. I imagined her sleeping on a dozen mattresses, waking up to complain to King Og she tossed and turned all night because of a troublesome pea stashed beneath the box spring.
Aedan returned from his meeting with King Og looking glum. I knew their little discussion hadn’t gone well. Couldn’t say I blamed King Og, either. But since Aedan had already committed us to his crazy plan, I figured there was no turning back. Secretly, I hoped we wouldn’t find dear Aunt Kate. Maybe we’d get lucky and discover she’d been knocked down a few more levels. I’d have to deal with Mar pouting all the way back to the top, but oh well. Katherine didn’t deserve to ascend. And I wasn’t just saying that because she was my boyfriend’s ex-wife. I was saying that because she was a psycho, evil demon.