Middle Demons (Angels and Demons Book 2) (11 page)

CHAPTER 21

“You’re sure I can’t change your mind?”

Queen Persephone looked at Shadow with what appeared to be concern and love. Shadow knew better. Demons were incapable of those feelings. Any desire she had for him to prosper was motivated by self-interest. If Muan had been her grandson, she would have felt the same desire to see him thrive.

“I’m sure. I won’t allow our fathers to be tortured as traitors. Unless you have something that can help us succeed, we’ll be leaving now.”

Queen Persephone hesitated for a few seconds before she spoke again.

“I do have something for you. It’s time it was handed down to you. Wait here.”

Persephone moved quickly into the other room and came back with a glowing white set of armor. Muan shielded his eyes.

“You’re going to want to keep your eyes shut for this part, Muan. This is a relic of the Heavens.”

Shadow wanted to refuse the offering of his grandmother but curiosity got the better of him. He didn’t stop Persephone from opening the small glowing chest. She opened the top and pulled out a white suit of armor.

“Vulcan, the blacksmith of the angels, made this for Michael. He called it the finest set of armor he had ever made. It was forged with the fire of the heavens. I stole it when I left the heavens with Lucifer.”

“I’m pretty sure I can’t wear that if it’s going to blind my demon companions. I can appreciate the thought but…”

“Put it on.”

Shadow didn’t argue further. Persephone obviously had a reason that she wanted him to have his grandfather’s armor. He removed his armor and put on the armor forged by the blacksmith of the heavens. The armor continued to glow white briefly but then dulled to red and finally black.

Without warning, Persephone removed one of Shadow’s scythes from his belt and swung it directly at his chest. The force of the hit knocked him over and nearly knocked him out. When he clutched at his chest, he didn’t feel blood. The armor had absorbed the attack. He got back to his feet and saw his grandmother holding out his scythe, a tear running down her cheek.

“I tried to give this to my son before they took him away to torture him. He wouldn’t take it. It’s completely impenetrable to attack, at least that’s what Vulcan assured me.”

“You stole this… from Michael the Archangel. Grandmother, that’s insane. I can’t take this. What if…?”

“No one will recognize it. You’re more demon than angel so the armor turned black. It’s connected to your soul now and it will protect you where I cannot. Go and save your father.”

Shadow took his scythe back and saw that Muan was still covering his eyes.

“Are the glowing heavenly objects gone?”

“Yes, Muan. You can open your eyes.”

“What if you’re just messing with me and…”

“Muan we don’t have time for this. Open your damn eyes. Now.”

Muan cautiously removed his hands and slowly opened his eyes and looked at Shadow’s armor.

“Wow. It glows black. Do you think maybe I can have…”

Shadow rolled his eyes.

“Forgive me, grandmother, but Muan probably wants a gift too.”

Muan looked slightly panicked.

“That’s not what I was… well… I just want to know if you want to give me anything that I can use to protect Lord Shadow. If I’m out of line, I apologize. I’ll formally withdraw my request.”

Muan bowed to Persephone, returning to his regular rigid personality. Apparently the joking around had scared him a little more than he let on, even though it was well received. Persephone looked the little demon over.

“You probably could use a little something extra to keep my grandson safe.”

Persephone retreated once again into the other room and came back with a necklace consisting of alternating red and black beads. Muan’s eyes went wide.

“Is that what I think it is?”

“That depends. What do you…”

“That looks like the necklace of Iktomi!”

A few seconds later, Muan realized that he had just cut off the Queen of the damned. He bowed again.

“My apologies, my queen. I spoke out of turn.”

“You are right though. This is the necklace first used by Iktomi the trickster as he acquired the powers of a shape shifter. Eventually, he no longer needed it to call upon his power. I acquired it in a trade a long time ago. Since I’m stuck in here, I have little to amuse myself other than the trinkets I’ve collected over the millennia. I will give it to you, but I would like it returned if you ever gain the ability to shape shift without the necklace’s aid. I don’t want everyone in Hell to have this power.”

“Of course, Queen Persephone. I will treat this gift with the respect it deserves.”

Muan still hadn’t looked up since his earlier outburst. Persephone got down on one knee and latched the necklace around Muan’s neck. Shadow looked amused.

“Well let’s see you try it out.”

Muan looked slightly uncomfortable again.

“Lord Shadow, I don’t exactly… know how to…”

“You’re an expert on this Iktomi guy, right? That’s why you cut her off when…”

Shadow stopped in the middle of his sentence. Muan had disappeared and in his place was a Muan-sized spider. Shadow turned to Persephone.

“Is he stuck like that? I really don’t want to march to the lowest circle of Hell accompanied by a large spider.”

Persephone turned to the spider.

“Think about your demon form. How you looked, what you were wearing, and your weapons.”

A few seconds later, the large spider turned back into a wide-eyed Muan.

“This is literally the coolest thing anyone has ever given me. Ever.”

“Alright then. It’s time for us to go. Thank you for your wisdom, grandmother, and for the gifts.”

Queen Persephone caught Shadow off guard when she hugged him. Part of him was confused as he didn’t really know her, but he also understood that this was probably a common gesture for her as a former angel.

“Send my son to visit me if you’re able to free him. I long to see his face free from torment. Should you ever desire to return, simply call out to the sirens. They will bring you to me.”

Shadow nodded. The sirens entered the room and surrounded Shadow and Muan. They placed their hands on the demons’ heads and harmonized. They sang a single word. “Exit.”

The sirens had gone and Shadow looked around. He was cold. Looking deeper in, he could see the frozen river, Cocytus. They had arrived at the ninth and lowest circle of Hell. When he looked to his side, he saw Muan shivering and turning a light shade of blue. A few seconds later, Muan had turned into a white wolf.

“I was wondering if the two of you were ever going to make it down here.”

Shadow turned in the direction of the unknown speaker. A grinning Azazel gazed back at him.

CHAPTER 22

Murmur, Aim, and Jess approached their ultimate destination at a slower pace, pausing for target practice and sorcery lessons on a regular basis. Murmur wasn’t much help to Jess, but he at least helped her get the movements for different spells down. Aim had actually improved under Murmur’s guidance to the point where he could pick off a target with consistency at about 100 yards. When they finally arrived at the corporate headquarters, Murmur quickly scouted the building and returned.

“I’m impressed with the improvements that both of you have made, but don’t get overconfident. Overconfidence is what cost me early on in. I never should have turned my back to Nightmare in the death pit. Don’t make the same mistake. I need the two of you focused. We celebrate victories after we win wars, not battles.”

Aim and Jess straightened their posture and gave Murmur a mock salute. Murmur was not amused.

“Alright fine you assholes. I’m just trying to help.”

Aim continued to smirk but Jess put her hand on Murmur’s arm.

“It’s ok, Murmur. The next time you face off with Nightmare, we’ll be there with you.”

“And that’s supposed to make me feel
better
?”

“Ouch.”

Despite his annoyance with Aim and Jess, he did feel a little better having them around now that they were mildly skilled. At least he had their attention now. Murmur unfolded the map he retrieved from his pocket and set it down on the ground.

“Based on my scouting of the building, we’re going to run into guards at each major entrance. It’s pretty bad all over and the estimates we received of their strength were pretty conservative. The weakest entrance is at the rear of the building by the dumpsters. I counted three poorly equipped demons-in-training and two minor demons with considerable armor and weapons. If Jess wasn’t ugly as hell, I would recommend we send here in as a distraction but we’re unfortunately going to have to go with a full out frontal assault.”

Jess punched Murmur in the arm and he chuckled at his own joke. He caught Aim grinning as well.

“Aim, you’re going to perch in the wooded area over there. On my signal, take the shot. I think you should try to take out one of the demons-in-training as the minor demons present a much smaller kill zone because of their armor. We’ll be behind those dumpsters until we hear your kill and then we’ll move in and take on the remaining four. Don’t shoot again unless you’re sure you won’t hit me or Jess. Got it?”

“Sounds like a plan, boss man.”

Aim ran off to the spot Murmur had pointed to earlier. Murmur turned to Jess.

“I know an invisibility spell would be too much to expect of you at this point, but do you have a spell that can at least camouflage your brother?”

Jess thought on this for several seconds and then consulted her book.

“I think I have something. Let’s see…”

Jess placed her open book on the ground and kept her eyes on the pages as she mimicked the movements and muttered the incantation. Murmur checked Aim’s location again and could only clearly make out the rifle. Aim seemed to blend better with his surroundings.

“Not bad. Alright, let’s get in position.”

Murmur and Jess made their way to the dumpsters. Murmur took a look at the five demons. They were clearly bored and not paying attention to their surroundings. Murmur gave Aim the signal.

Moments later, one of the minor demon’s heads split open and splattered dark liquid everywhere. Aim had hit his mark slightly above the ear. Murmur had to admit that the shot was impressive.

As the minor demon hit the ground, Murmur stepped out from behind the dumpster. He did his best to look intimidating, but the remaining minor demon was close to his size and if he had any strength advantage, it wouldn’t be by much.

The demons-in-training rushed at Murmur. When they made it within ten feet, three large green hands reached out from the ground and grabbed them. Jess stepped out from behind the dumpster and waved her staff again. The three hands crushed the demons-in-training and then disappeared. The remains of their corpses fell to the ground.

Aim took a shot at the final remaining minor demon, but he had moved his shield to his other arm after he realized Aim’s location from his first shot. The bullet ricocheted off of the demon’s shield.

“Call off your dogs, Murmur. I’m willing to fight you one on one.”

The demon removed his helmet and Murmur recognized one of his former classmates from the training school he attended with Shadow long before the trials. The younger generation of demons born into families with money had been sent by their parents to train under some of the fiercest fighters and sorcerers in Hell. Many of their instructors were middle demons. While Murmur wanted to believe he was superior to all of them, he knew the demon in front of him was as skilled a warrior as he was. Murmur held up both of his hands.

“I don’t want to kill you, Reno. Just hand over the soul horde you have in that building and we’ll leave.”

“It’s good that you don’t want to kill me, because I’m positive that you can’t.”

Reno removed his armor and grew into one of the grotesque monsters only found in the department of inaction and laziness. He was now easily twice Murmur’s size.

“Well… damn. I’m going to get him away from the door and keep him distracted. You need to get inside the building and get out with the stash of souls. Understood?”

Jess nodded and cast the camouflage spell on herself. As she made her way towards the building, Murmur took aim and threw one of his mallets at Reno. Reno caught it and crushed it to powder in his hand, but it was enough to distract him from Jess making her way inside the entrance he was supposed to be guarding.

“You’re ok with turning into a wendigo, Reno? You approve of eating other demons? I knew you weren’t that great of a fighter, but I never thought you would resort to this.”

When Reno spoke, his voice was several registers lower.

“Wendigo, rage monster, abomination… it doesn’t really matter what you call it. I’m more powerful than most middle demons with this power and this power is only given to demons in the department of inaction and laziness. I’ve heard rumors that even Shadow has grown increasingly more powerful turning into a demon eater. How many demons has he consumed?”

“At least when Shadow transforms, he doesn’t look like a morbidly obese pig fucker. It’s too bad you can’t become a rage monster like him.”

“Enough talk. Your sniper can’t help you anymore and I’m going to kill you.”

Murmur spun his remaining mallet, ran at Reno, and hit him with all of his strength in his belly. The mallet bounced off, leaving Murmur’s hand, and flew backwards into the air. Reno countered by backhanding Murmur, connecting with his chin. Murmur followed his mallet backwards into the air, his ears ringing and his vision blurry.

Reno started a slow run towards the spot where Murmur had landed but paused briefly as a bullet hit the ground right in front of him. He stumbled back a few steps and then tripped over his feet, falling to the ground and causing it to shake. Murmur got up and limped his way over to the fallen Reno. He pulled Reno’s head up by his hair and punched his face over and over. Reno just laughed. While Murmur had drawn blood, Reno barely felt it. He attempted to roll over so he could get back up. That’s when Murmur saw his minor power ring. As Reno completed his roll, Murmur stepped on his wrist and then pulled his hand back. His fingers were too fat to remove the ring.

Reno could feel that Murmur was trying to remove his power ring and laughed at the attempt. He was finally able to get to his feet and he lifted Murmur into the air and threw him. Murmur landed near the dumpsters. He twisted his ankle awkwardly as he landed. As he clutched his ankle, he felt Tannin’s knife on his belt. As Reno charged towards him again, Murmur pulled the knife from his belt and took careful aim. When Reno tried to tackle him, he sidestepped the attack, grabbed at Reno’s hand, and cut the finger with the power ring clean off.

Reno howled as he shrunk down to his regular size, now missing a finger. Murmur didn’t waste any time. He grabbed Reno’s head by his hair and put his other hand on his shoulder. He pulled with all of his strength and Reno’s head tore off after a few strained seconds. Murmur looked at the head of his former friend with pity. There had always been a childish rivalry between all of the young demons that were fortunate enough to afford training before the trials, but Murmur realized that as they joined warring departments, he may have to kill the demons he once trained with. Reno’s headless soul fell to the ground and Murmur tossed his head into the woods. He wondered for a brief second if he would have the strength to kill Shadow if the circumstances demanded it and then found himself hoping that it never came to that.

Murmur signaled to Aim and Aim jogged to join him. As they entered the building, both demons were surprised by the scene that met their eyes. Jess had a glowing green snake wrapped tightly around her body, immobilizing her. Her staff lay useless on the floor. Jess saw Murmur and Aim enter the room.

“Get the fuck out of here! Astaroth was here a second ago!”

Before either of them had a chance to react, a burst of dark green flame appeared in the center of the room and they were looking into the eyes of Astaroth, the major demon of inaction.

“Hello boys.”