by Zoe Knights
“What is that from?” she whispered through a choke.
Sam glanced over his shoulder to the distance behind the fortress across a barren, rocky desert. “The pits…” he said darkly.
Eddie swallowed, her throat rough, unsure as to whether she wanted to know what that was or not.
He continued to lead her onward, and the chittering little inbari finally flew off, startling Eddie as it bristled past her ear.
She watched the small creature land in a tree not far from them, the trunk bone white, while no leaves hung from its dead branches, instead several other inbari nestled upside down. Little red eyes opened to watch them both as they passed, but they did not appear frightening. In fact, Eddie found them almost endearing.
“That really isn’t the type of thing I expected to find in Hell…” she murmured quietly to Sam.
“Well it’s a place like any other,” Sam replied quietly. “It has its good things. Just happens that… Hell has more bad than good.”
Eddie nodded slowly, watching Sam closely.
“You’re going against your father…” she murmured after a few moments.
Sam met her gaze. “Yes…” he agreed quietly.
Eddie held his hand a little tighter, but then the fierce growl from Neeshka that previous night echoed in her head. “Neeshka – she… will she-”
“I trust her,” Sam said back immediately. “She… just tries to keep me safe. She’ll help us.”
Eddie’s brow pinched, and she swallowed. But could say no more for they had just reached the smoky, heated valley that loomed under the shadow of Satan’s fortress.
An array of smells hit her nose; none of them pleasant. And mixed together it smelt something akin to wetlands filled with fermented cabbage.
For beneath the smog… the demons lurked.
Somni
26
Eddie quickly discovered that lurking was the wrong word. Instead, there was a hectic bazaar bustling with creatures of all shapes and sizes. Some were covered in fur, some with red flesh, very few with withered grey like those she had seen on earth.
“Stay close to me,” Sam muttered quietly, his grip on her hand so tight it almost hurt.
Eddie did not have any other plans on the matter, and sticking to his side was already happening as her skin glistened with sweat.
They continued, and she tripped on the uneven ground, looking down to see jagged stone that paved this broken road. It had a strange, mottled surface, and Eddie almost felt like it was looking at her.
Somehow, despite the rattling, clinking, and sizzling of the market place, the bone-chilling wails stretching over the wind only felt louder here. They yawned with each heated breath, constant and gnawing at her mind. Demons chittered and hissed in languages she couldn’t understand, but the wailing remained like an endless, monotonous song playing in the background.
They all looked at them, though their eyes red, black or stark white locked on Sam’s wings and they all made space, steering clear of his wake.
The only demons that seemed less afraid were the grey fleshed creatures with bat-like wings similar to those that had been under Devna’s employ on earth.
The stench grew to be retch-worthy as the air got steadily thicker with smog. Eddie felt sick to her stomach and tripped several more times on the broken stone road.
She looked down again to steady her footing –
And barely stifled a scream.
She launched herself into Sam, both of them nearly falling into a stall with a red fleshed demon selling different cloth.
Eddie clasped her hands over her mouth as Sam steadied them, fear gripping her heart and a wave of nausea crawling over her skin.
There was a face.
Her eyes darted around over the other stone.
Faces! Everywhere. Stretched, torn, open-mouthed, wide-eyed and…
The wailing.
Eddie felt sick. She couldn’t breathe. Everything threatened to overwhelm her, but Sam wrapped his wings around her, pulling her into his arms.
“Don’t look at them,” he whispered in her ear, holding her tightly. “Just don’t look. Okay? We’re going to be gone soon. Don’t look.”
But the image was burned into her mind. How long had she been walking over souls?! The torment in those cold, stone eyes that were yet… still alive!
She shuddered.
“Is that…. Is that what happens to everyone?!” she whispered brokenly, trying to hold onto her sanity, to hold on to herself.
“No,” Sam shook his head, and she felt a hand stroking her hair. But, the way he’d said no did not ease her.
She pulled back slowly, looking up to his grey sheened complexion. “There’re worse things?” she whispered in horror.
Sam ignored her, instead, taking her hand. “Come on,” he murmured. “We need to keep moving.”
Eddie did not look again at the road, but each bump sent a sickening jolt through her heart.
Sam suddenly dropped her hand to grasp his wrist, barely holding in a hiss of pain.
Her eyes darted to his marked hand, to see the rune burning on his palm. She grasped his wrist too, worry and alarm entering her gaze. “Sam!” she gasped, wide-eyed.
Sam quickly took his hand back, closing his palm in a fist. “It’s fine,” he said stiffly. “Let’s just keep moving. The place is just ahead…”
He dragged her onward, taking her hand with his unmarked one and pulling her up to a dark, dingy store made from bone-white dead sticks and rough, grey cloth.
They went inside, and Eddie’s heart trembled in her chest as yellow eyes gleamed from the shadowy corner and a small, horned demon crawled closer.
It was half her size, its flesh covered with black fur. It stood on two legs with a hooked tail while its face was diamond shaped, a wicked smile revealing dagger-like teeth.
“Gar’ishmak, hess-narrash…” it hissed softly, its blackened tongue flickering out of its mouth like a snake.
“English, Brog,” Sam snarled lowly. “I need information. I’m looking for Neeshka.”
“Neeessshka,” Brog repeated, tapping its pointed chin with one long, clawed finger. “I has not seeing her, little masss-ter…”
Sam narrowed his eyes, his wings bristling and flaring up behind him, startling Eddie… and the demon.
Brog scuttled to the back of his tent, yellow eyes gleaming distantly. “Cannot help… tied is my tongue!”
Sam exhaled roughly. “Fine,” he growled. “You’re scared of my father, I get it. Then help me with this,” he shoved his burning, marked hand out and Eddie’s eyes widened as she could see his flesh bubbling at the edges of the mark, blistering from its heat.
The demon’s eyes widened, and it shook its head. “Bel-garnash… grob’lok, ishkanar!”
Sam growled with fury, pulling back his hand and dragging Eddie back out of the tent.
He did not stop there, hurrying down another path away from the main throng of demons. Huge walls of mottled stone shadowed the path to the right of them, screeches tearing from within, setting Eddie’s teeth on edge. “Sam?” Eddie whispered earnestly over the sounds. “What did he… it say?”
Sam was shaking his head roughly, as though he was trying to dry his hair of water. His marked hand clenched so tight his knuckles were white.
“Cowardly little imp,” Sam muttered darkly. “He was no help. And I- agh!”
He broke off, stumbling to the side and falling against the wall, pulling Eddie with him as he held his burning hand to his chest, his face contorted with pain.
“Sam!” Eddie gasped, grasping his arms when he dropped her hand and slid down the wall to the ground. “Sam, what’s happening to you?!”
“There’s… something…” Sam growled through his teeth, his fingers grasping his hair. “I can’t…”
“Can’t what?!” Eddie whispered urgently, her hand moving to his back, brushing past his feathers. They were raised, agitated, sharp. She looked to them and saw at the
base between his shoulder blades, and across the top of his wings, the pure white feathers were blackening. “Sam?!” she urged, eyes wide. “What’s happening?!”
“I…can’t!” he hissed through his teeth, eyes clenched shut.
“Sam,” Eddie spoke as sturdily and gently as she could, moving her hands to instead cup his face as she tried to keep her own head in this situation. “Open your eyes,” she urged softly. “Look at me – can you hear my voice?”
Sam didn’t move, shaking his head while his knuckles shook as he gripped his hair harder.
“Sam…” Eddie’s voice wavered, tears prickling behind her eyes. She moved her hand to try and hold his, but he would not relent his grip. “Sam please,” she begged. “Take my hand, don’t let go – remember? We can do this…”
Sam’s whole body was shaking now, a bead of sweat coating his brow. “Eddie…” her name just escaped his lips, hoarse and broken, but it gave her hope.
“Yes, it’s me. Sam, I’m here,” she whispered desperately. “I’m here. We’re getting out of here, remember?” she urged. “We just need Neeshka. Then we’re going home. Together. You and me. Okay? But, I need you to get up… please… Sam, for me, please…”
Sam’s eyes opened, swimming with torment, yet meeting hers nonetheless.
“Sam!” Eddie cupped his cheeks again, holding his gaze. “I’m here, it’s me, it’s Eddie. You’re ok… you’re…you’re okay!”
Sam moved his hands from his hair to grasp Eddie’s shoulders tightly. “I…” his voice was tight and broken. “I don’t know what’s happening…”
Eddie could hear the alarm, the true fear in his voice and she barely held onto her own resolve. “Just take my hand,” she urged softly. “Focus on my voice. Trust me. Okay? We’re going to get out of here. Can you keep walking?”
Sam leant into her hold, pressing his forehead against hers as he shut his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. He stayed like that for a long moment until his breathing slowly evened out.
He leant back, looking up, his brow furrowed, but he seemed calmer. “We need to move,” he said lowly, standing back up suddenly and Eddie hurried to follow.
He walked off so fast she nearly had to jog just to keep up his pace. “Where are we going?” she asked urgently, gazing with concern at his face, but he didn’t meet her eyes.
“I know where she is.”
Eddie blinked in surprise. “How? I thought-”
“Something the ikbar said made me realise.”
“Oh…” Eddie’s brow pinched, but she nodded, eyeing him carefully. “Okay. Well, that’s good. How… how far?”
Sam took a sudden turn, following the line of this huge wall where strange sounds hailed her ears, getting louder the further they walked. “Not far,” he said sharply and shortly.
Eddie tried to get a glimpse of the mark on Sam’s hand, but his fist remained closed. Her eyes travelled the blackened feathers over the top of his wings, and her stomach churned.
She took hold of his hand again, and he looked at her abruptly. Eddie’s heart jolted uncomfortably, for his eyes that were usually so warm when directed at her, were as cold and black as his father’s.
“Sam?” his name tumbled from her lips fearfully, and he averted his gaze, allowing her to hold his hand, but not gripping it back like he’d done previously. “Are… are you ok?”
He ignored her, and they turned another corner where a ruckus akin to a large and rowdy crowd sounded. One that you might hear at a stadium, but a nasty one. Jeers and screeches common among the noise.
Demons thronged before the entrance to whatever was held behind these large walls. Fear clawed at Eddie’s stomach, chilling her blood and she gripped Sam’s hand tighter.
“She is in there,” Sam nodded to the crowd.
“What’s in there?” Eddie whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from the masses.
Sam looked at her, smiling strangely. “Entertainment.”
Eddie’s brow furrowed at his tone, but then he was pulling her away from the crowds, around a darker back street.
“What are we going to do?” Eddie murmured, glancing around furtively as she hurried to keep up, the sounds from within the walls beginning to drive her insane. “Why is she in there? What do you mean, ‘entertainment’?”
Sam grabbed her without warning and thrust them both down a narrow alley. She jostled and tripped over her own feet, but Sam gave her no time to steady herself.
They reached the end where a blood-eyed demon stood guarding a pale door. Sam’s eyes flashed amber, his wings rustled menacingly, and instantly the demon moved aside, opening the door to let them in.
Sam pushed Eddie through impatiently, urging her forward and Eddie finally snapped.
“Sam, please tell me what’s going on!” she hissed quietly, her eyes darting around the dark, slimy corridor that was their new surroundings. The air was muggy in here and stank like a noxious, pungent swamp.
“We’re finding Neeshka to get out of here,” Sam replied, frowning at her with those eyes that shot fear down her spine. Never had he looked at her with such detachment, even before they were friends.
Eddie stared at him, her stomach churning as this was getting beyond what she could cope with. “What’s wrong with you?” she whispered with fear. “You’re… you’re not yourself.”
In the blink of an eye Sam was smiling, eerily. He took her by the waist and pressed her against the rank, wet wall. His grip was firm and impossible to break from, his head tilted, dark eyes mesmerising in their beauty yet they stilled her with fear.
His chest glistened with sweat, toned hips pressing with dominance against hers as he brought his lips to her ear and whispered roughly, “How is this, love? Does this make you feel better?”
Eddie’s throat shrank, she could not swallow. Her heart thundered so hard against her ribs she thought they might fracture. “W-what are you doing?” she croaked, one tear slipping past the corner of her eye as she could not move from beneath his iron hold. “S-sam, this isn’t you!”
“What do you want from me…?” Sam hissed, dragging his teeth along the column of her neck. “I have seen your desire clear in your eyes…”
Eddie turned her head, trying in vain to pull from his reach. He lifted his right hand, grasping her chin and forcing her to look at him.
Impassive, black eyes stared into her soul. The same shape as Sam’s and yet…
It wasn’t him.
Eddie’s eyes darted to his right hand, and between the gaps in his fingers, she just caught a glimpse of his palm. The mark no longer burned. Instead, it was black like scorched earth.
Eddie’s mouth went dry, this fear threatening to overwhelm her. Hesitantly her fingers found the hilt of her dagger while she maintained his dead-eyed stare.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you…” Sam whispered softly, not moving an inch, yet he must have felt her itching toward the blade.
Eddie’s breath fell shakily from her lips. “You’re not Sam,” she whispered past cracked lips.
Sam’s mouth turned slowly into a large smile she’d never seen upon him before.
“Oh well, it was worth a shot…” he crooned in a tone that was not his own. “Well done, pretty thing. I am not your ‘Sam’…”
Eddie’s heart skipped a heavy thump, physically hurting her in her chest. “Who are you?” she gasped brokenly, her hand gripping the hilt of her blade like a vice.
“Tut, tut, let go of the knife, little one… you would only be hurting his body and doing nothing to me…”
Eddie swallowed with difficulty, nearly choking for lack of saliva, the stench of algae sticking to her mouth and her tongue. “Who are you?!” she hissed through her teeth, not relenting her grip on the blade. “What have you done to Sam?!”
“You don’t need to fear me…” Sam’s inhabiter murmured, his nose pressed to her neck as he drew in her scent, one hand trailing a sharp nail down her collarbone, tracing her necklace pendant. �
��The little devil will come to no harm, I need his vessel for transport…” he breathed, his tongue flicking out to taste her skin sending an unpleasant shiver down her body. “Though the temptations of the flesh are enticing…” his tone was hungry, curious. “And he has had such thoughts of you in his mind… naughty thoughts, indeed… yet never has he tried them… surely he would like this…”
He dragged Sam’s other hand up Eddie’s waist, chasing her ribs for her breast, but then – he stopped, his hand shaking with effort and he barked a laugh, finally taking his lips from her neck to observe his hand.
“How interesting…” murmured the being inside of Sam. “He is trying to stop me. Amazing, truly. He harbours such power that he is so unaware of…I do wonder why Lucifer would hide this from him…”
Eddie grit her teeth, her whole body so tense her muscles shook. “What. Do. You. Want?!” she snarled viciously, her eyes sharp.
Finally, the being moved, releasing her and she nearly collapsed, holding herself up through sheer will.
“Oh, my plans have been long in the making…” he crooned, Sam’s black eyes keeping Eddie glued to the spot. “The marked angel… hidden from others, but unguarded, exposed… her tricky little mark left her open for me…”
Eddie breathed in quickly, feeling so thrown from reality she almost might retch. “Devna,” she murmured hoarsely. “You are behind… her actions?”
“I found her dreams… watched through her eyes…” Sam’s inhabiter sang softly. “Saw her struggle with plans to force Samael’s reveal… saw her fear of his father’s watchful eye… and of course… I saw her ambition. So I gave her the solution – in her own mind…”
“All for this…” Eddie spat tightly. “To… to take over Sam?!”
“To get out, silly human. And for that… we all need the hellhound, and the wrathful Lucifer has locked the poor pup away here to fight…”
“To… to fight?” Eddie shuddered. “What do mean? What are you-”
“We didn’t always have this…” Sam’s lips whispered. “Humans showed us the idea… gladiators… such, such fun…” Sam’s possessor moved away, beginning to skip down the hall in a fashion so wrong for such a scene, but he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. “See, they fuse wretched souls to the body of a tentoria…” he sounded positively excited by this. “A soulless creation… and they fight to the death… on and on… body after body…” Somni petered off chuckling softly. “But don’t be sad, little human…” he continued after Eddie’s stone-cold silence. “This is like a holiday for the cursed things… Much rather be here than my legion, my sweet.”