A Demon Made Me Do It(76)

Kieron, silent up until now, steps forward. “I, for one, feel that if we encounter any hostility, our best option is an immediate and rapid retreat. There are only four of us. We’ll be outnumbered easily. We only have the barest of weapons. If anything should happen, we flee back to Dryndara.”

Bones smirks. “I’m not surprised you’d be the first one to suggest running away. If there’s a fight, then it’s each demon for him—” he looks at me, “or herself. If you want to fight, go ahead. If you want to run away,” he glances at Kieron pointedly, “be my guest.” Pivoting on one foot, he heads toward the border.

Kieron glares at Bones, but says nothing. He falls in behind me as we form a single line. Bones in front, with me following. Jax takes up the rear.

We soon arrive near the spot where we found Cody and Ivy. I look at my Boumeaux to make sure it’s still black. Kieron paces the area, a puzzled look on his face as he examines some of the surrounding earth. “What is it?” I whisper. He just shakes his head.

I can’t bring myself to revisit the scene of the crime, so I stand guard while the other three investigate. I keep one wary eye on the terrain, the other on my Boumeaux. Fortunately the ground here is flat and mostly barren—with the exception of occasional patches of trees—so there’s little chance of an ambush. But if these aren’t some ordinary Light-angels, who knows how they can attack us? Anything powerful enough to take out Ivy is a frightening force to be reckoned with.

After they’re done examining the wooded groves, Bones, Kieron and Jax come back to where I am. “Ivy is already ash and Cody soon will be,” Bones says, his voice flat. He doesn’t know that I’m the one responsible for Ivy’s accelerated decomposition.

“Did you see anything new? Any clues?” I ask, looking at Bones. But my question is really meant for Kieron.

Bones shakes his head. “No. It’s just like it was last night.”

But it’s Kieron’s eyes that have my attention. He saw something... I can tell.

I know he knows something.

But what?

******





The four of us march on through the valley, and I’m beginning to wonder if we’re ever going to see anyone from Hlbafa. We’ve been walking for a few hours now and haven’t seen a soul. Even if they don’t have sentries stationed at lookout points, like we do in Dryndara, we should’ve come across some form of life by now. I’m also starting to get concerned about my time. I still have several hours left, and I can always run if necessary. But still, I didn’t think this was going to be such a bust.

Just when I’m ready to say something, there’s a howling in the distance, quickly followed by another…and another.

We’ve been spotted.

I take a deep breath, and Bones holds the torch up higher. I know he wishes he could shift into hellhound mode right now. But he can’t, as it would surely be perceived as a sign of aggression. But Bones doesn’t do passive very well.

“We stay here,” he says, tensing up. “Let them come to us.”

My heart races and I take several more deep breaths. Even though I know they’re not the ones who killed Ivy and Cody, a rush of adrenaline shoots through my veins. We are trespassing on forbidden lands. This is reason enough to kill us. Even though we carry with us the recognizable peace torch, it’s not exactly unheard of for demons to disregard it, slay the trespassers, and claim no such torch was present.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise, and Kieron shifts closer to me. Both of us are focused on the figures racing toward us. Three…no, four…five hellhounds, each the size of a Sapie automobile, are charging at us from every direction.

We stand in a small circle with our backs pressed together, as the growling beasts surround us. Their eyes are glowing red, and venomous saliva drips from their razor-sharp fangs.

“We come in peace,” Bones says holding out the torch. “We respectfully ask for passing to speak with your leaders.”

The largest hound inches closer, growling and sniffing. Then it shakes and convulses, revealing an Amazonian beauty with blonde hair tumbling in waves down past her hips. She is easily the most exquisite creature I’ve ever laid eyes on, with a face too perfect to be imagined. Half of her body is covered in strange, bright-blue markings, reminiscent of ancient tribal tattoos. I’m more stunned, however, by the fact that the hellhound revealed itself to be a female; I’ve always assumed they were all males. At least, they are in Dryndara.

“Why are you here?” the goddess asks. Even her voice sounds like sublime harmonic perfection. Another large hellhound hovers right behind her possessively, while the other three form a triangle around us.