Minor Demons (27 page)

“Blasphemy! Traitor! I sentence you to join Abaddon in the lowest circle of Hell! Guards!”

The two large demons confiscated the Medic’s book and then put him in shackles. Muan pulled his bone knives from the straps on his chest but the Medic shook his head.

“No, my son. Find Leech and help him get back to Shadow. Make amends for your betrayal.”

Muan stood there, deciding what to do. He looked, for a moment, like he might stay and fight but he ran out of the room to find Leech.

––––––––

L
eech looked over the corner at the monstrous demon guarding his armor and weapons. He still had the blade that the Medic had given him, but he doubted it would be very useful. He was about to run in and take his chances anyways when a voice approaching him from the hallway said his name.

“Leech...”

Leech saw Muan closing the distance between them and he started to formulate a plan. He could kill Muan and then use his weapons to make his way past the demon guarding his gear. Leech smiled. It was a great plan, mostly because it involved killing the little pygmy demon that had betrayed him.

“Leech, I’m just here to...”

Leech tossed his sword at Muan’s head. Muan was able to dodge it but it gave Leech the time he needed to close the distance between them, lift Muan into the air with one hand, and begin to choke him. Muan made several choking noises.

“What? I can’t hear you. I’m too busy not giving a fuck what you have to say.”

Muan continued to struggle to breathe. Though he regretted what he needed to do, he saw no other way. Muan grabbed Leech’s wrist and dug all of his fingernails in. Leech didn’t cry out, he just continued to hold Muan in the air and choke him.

“Pain isn’t going to stop me. I’m going to choke the life out of you for what you did.”

While Leech didn’t completely let go, his grip on Muan’s throat did loosen a little. It was enough to allow Muan to choke out a sentence.

“My father... just saved you...”

Leech raised both eyebrows in shock and then threw Muan on the ground.

“This better not be some kind of trick. You told me your father was named Bi... something or other.”

Muan sucked in several breaths of air and then stopped long enough to explain.

“Bifrons is my father’s name. He goes by the Medic. Where do you think I learned how to make poisons?”

“Interesting, but I’m still in this mess because of you.”

“Well I’m here to get you out of it then I’ll help you find your way back to Shadow.”

“Fine. I need to get my gear back so I don’t really have a choice. That doesn’t mean we’re ok though. This doesn’t even begin to pay me back for the shit you pulled on earth.”

“We can argue about you pulling an angel’s blade on an angel some other time. Right now, we need to focus on getting your gear so...”

Muan shoved Leech out into the hallway. The demon guarding the room with Leech’s gear looked confused for a minute and then slowly walked towards Leech. No weapons. No battle cry. The demon looked like he would simply end Leech’s life by sitting on him.

“Goddamn. Is anyone in Asmodeus’ department a
normal
size? I’m guessing there were three guards when you started but you got bored and ate the other two.”

“Laugh it up you small, unarmed demon. You can’t get past me and I’m going to crush the life out of you.”

Leech looked around in a panic to see if Muan was actually going to help him. He saw no signs that he had so far until he realized that the large demon’s belly had been pierced by half a dozen small darts.

“He’s too big, Leech! I can’t bring him down!”

“How good is your aim?”

“Why?”

“Eyes.”

“He’s too tall and fat. I can’t get the angle right.”

Leech rolled his eyes and picked up Muan by the straps that crossed on his back.

“Aim. We probably won’t get a second chance.”

“I’m good. Go for it.”

Leech tossed Muan into the air. Muan took careful aim and shot two darts with precision. They landed in the obese demon’s eyes and he yelled out in pain. He clawed at his eyes and stomped around the hall. Dust started to fall from the ceiling and then stone and brick started to come crashing down as well.

“Muan, dagger.”

Muan placed one of his bone daggers in Leech’s hand. Leech ran to meet their large enemy. He stabbed and then climbed his way quickly up the demon’s large belly and then stabbed the dagger in the beast’s throat. He made a noise that reminded Leech of a deflating balloon and then he fell over on his back and convulsed for several minutes. Dust continued to settle, but the building no longer dropped pieces of the ceiling. Leech removed the darts from the demons’ eyes and the bone dagger from its throat. He tried to find the darts that had landed in its stomach but he could no longer find them. Leech decided they must have been swallowed up in the creature’s fat folds.

Leech dropped Muan’s darts and dagger at the massive creature’s feet and then found the keys to the locked room on his belt. Within a few minutes, Leech had completely retrieved all of his gear and weapons. Luckily, Shadow’s angel blade was with the rest of his gear. Any other department of demons likely would have destroyed it or sent it off elsewhere but not the department of inaction and laziness. Leech secured the angel’s blade on the back of his belt.

“So do you know why the Medic gave himself up to save me?”

“I’m guessing Shadow needs our help.”

“Excuse me? Our help? Shadow needs
my
help. How do I know you aren’t going to try to turn me in again?

“Think about it. My father was carrying around a book of healing written by an archangel. I’m just as guilty as the rest of you. If my father taught me anything using that book as a reference...”

The idea seemed to bother Muan. He was obviously still very conflicted about his father’s recent revelation in the courts of Asmodeus.

“Look, little guy, you need to make a choice. I freaked out the first time Shadow used an angel’s blade in the labyrinth. I decided to stick with him, no matter what he does. We don’t have much time, Muan. Where do your loyalties lie? Are they with Shadow?”

Muan considered the question for a moment, slowly stroking his chin. Leech exhaled, expressing his impatience.

“Lilith knows about the weapon as well?”

“Yes. She even held it a while ago.”

“Does General Cain know?”

“I have no idea. It doesn’t really matter. I didn’t ask if you were loyal to your department or loyal to General Cain. I asked if you were loyal to Shadow. That’s the only loyalty you need to be concerned with right now because if three major demons are after him, it’s up to us to go protect him.”

“I...”

Muan continued to stroke his chin. Leech was about to turn and leave when Muan finally came to his conclusion.

“I’m with the three of you. Shadow, Lilith... and even you, Leech. You’ve slaughtered every opponent we’ve faced so far, so I think it’s time I follow your lead.”

“Which means we find Shadow and Lilith. If we have to fight major demons... promise me you won’t run.”

“I won’t run if you don’t.”

Leech nodded and the two demons ran towards the exit.

S
hadow’s new steed erupted in flames. Shadow gave a confused look at Gangrene.

“That’s what he’s like, Lord Shadow. If he has selected you to be his new rider, the flames won’t harm you.”

Shadow exhaled loudly.

“I don’t have time for this shit.”

Shadow put his hand on the horse’s neck. The flames were warm, but they didn’t burn him.

“Good. I would hate to kill Abigor’s horse. I’m glad you decided to see sense um...”

Shadow looked at Gangrene again. Gangrene just shrugged.

“I have no idea what its name is.”

“So why did all of you follow Abigor? Do you agree that he should be the major demon of murder?”

“Nope. Most of us are loyal to General Cain.”

“Then explain to me why all of you followed him.”

“Fear plus the fact that none of us could kill him.”

“I’m a minor demon. Why are all of you following me?”

“Same reason, I imagine. With you commanding this legion, however, we have the added bonus of...”

“Of what?”

“Not being commanded by a...”

“Gangrene?”

“Not being commanded by a vain dumbass. There... I said it. We all know General Cain would have kicked Abigor’s ass and that’s why he waited until a war to rebel.”

Shadow smiled.

“I want you to carry Abigor’s head and his spear.”

“The honor should not be mine, Lord Shadow. I’m a demon-in-training and I can’t wield a middle demon’s weapon.”

“I’m not giving it to you. You’re just carrying it for now.”

Shadow put the spear and Abigor’s head in Gangrene’s hands and then mounted Abigor’s horse. He had two demons place Lilith behind him on his new mount and then turned to face his new army.

“I know most of you didn’t want to follow Abigor out here into the desert. Is anyone still loyal to your former leader?”

Shadow’s question was met by silence.

“Good. I am in command of this army now. I expect my uncle to give me Abigor’s middle demon position upon our return. All of you are offered a complete pardon; I just need you to follow me into battle. As you all know, three of the major demons are trying to overthrow General Cain, General Baal, and General Leviathan to consolidate power in Hell. As far as I’m concerned, Lucian, Vixen, and Asmodeus are all traitors. So now I need to know... will you help me kill the traitors?”

Shadow’s question this time was met by a deafening roar.

“Then sharpen your weapons, cast your spells, and prepare your poisons. We will show the traitors what it means to be truly damned!”

Shadow’s horse reared up on his hind legs, turned, and sprinted off into the desert with Shadow’s legion following at a sprint.

––––––––

“G
eneral Cain, we can’t hold on much longer. Lucian is calling you out. We can’t wait for your nephew. Maybe we should...”

Cain swung his scythe in an arc and sliced four demons in half.

“Shadow will be here soon. Shut the hell up and fight. Leave the battle plans to me and have some goddamn faith in your commander.”

As Cain continued to decimate demons in large numbers, a small demon appeared next to him and bowed.

“Abigor’s army approaches, General Cain. We can’t send anyone to meet them, but the commander of the legion is riding Abigor’s steed, so that likely means...”

“You have no idea what it means. Speculation is useless. If Abigor is still leading that army, I can spare five minutes to slaughter them all myself. I still don’t believe my nephew failed me.”

“But General...”

“Shut the fuck up and get back to fighting.”

“I’m a messenger demon-in-training, General.”

Cain pulled a knife from his belt and put it in the messenger’s hands.

“Now you’re a messenger demon-in-training with a
knife.
Do I need to show you how to use it or can you go be useful?”

The messenger demon looked at the knife and looked very unsure of himself. Without warning, he ran into the fray, screaming, and started stabbing at enemies. Cain watched him kill three demons before he laughed and went to go meet the approaching legion.

––––––––

“L
ord Shadow, someone is approaching from the battlefield.”

Shadow looked in the direction that the demon was pointing but he couldn’t tell who it was because the dust was still blowing violently, even at the very edge of the desert. As the demon came into view, Shadow recognized his grinning uncle, General Cain, with his scythe resting over one shoulder. When Cain saw his nephew, Shadow, was the rider on Abigor’s horse, he smiled and sighed in relief.

“Did you kill Abigor?”

Shadow looked back into the ranks of his army.

“Gangrene!”

Gangrene stumbled forward and held the head of Abigor in the air with one hand and his spear in the other. Cain took both items and impaled Abigor’s head with the spear.

“You always were a cowardly little son of a bitch. I’m sorry I had to send my nephew, because I would have liked to murder you myself.”

Cain handed the spear, with Abigor’s head still very near the top, back to Shadow. Cain removed a ring with a black skull on it from his hand and gave it to his nephew. Shadow removed his gauntlet and placed the new symbol of power on his ring finger.

“It looks like Shadow has already taken command of this legion. I just want to make it official. My nephew will become the middle demon of war, the position previously held by the traitorous head on a stick.”

Cain disappeared in black flames and reappeared on the battlefield, ready to find Lucian.

––––––––

A
fter being stabbed at the courthouse, Malphas laid on the floor unconscious until everyone had left the room. When he finally awoke, he felt his side. The wound wasn’t deep. The dagger was coated with something and, knowing the reputation of Bifrons, it was probably poison of some kind. Malphas got to his feet, cursed the minor demon that had outsmarted him, and returned to his army on the battlefield. He marched his legion to join in with Asmodeus, who looked fairly angry to see him, or maybe he was just nauseous. Malphas could never really tell with Asmodeus, as he was so large it was hard to read his facial expressions as anything other than blob-like.

“Are you finally ready to contribute to the war that the rest of us have been fighting for hours now?”

“Sorry, General Asmodeus. I’m not sure what was on that dagger, but it was unlike anything I’ve had run through my veins before. It won’t happen again.”

“Of course it won’t. The Medic is being escorted to the lowest circle of Hell as we speak. Cain made his little nephew a middle demon after he killed Abigor. Our plan to get one of Cain’s legions to turn on him is dead. Are you ready to redeem yourself, Malphas?”

“Give me a command, General.”

“Kill Shadow’s legion and then bring me Shadow’s head.”

“Done. I will return when Shadow is dead.”