Azazel grinned, his pointed teeth prominent and his eyes black, bottomless orbs. “Shall we shake on it, Satan"s spawn?”
I spat in my hand and held it out to seal the deal, a little zing of power acknowledging it and binding Azazel to its terms. This interesting aspect of deal-making with demons had been created long ago, by an ancient power whose origins no one remembered. It ensured the demons held to the pacts they made.
Personally, I didn"t care how it worked, so long as I could use it to my advantage to save Auric.
Knowing I had little time, I walked towards Auric.
“Where do you think you are going, Satana?” hissed Azazel.
“To say good bye. Surely you wouldn"t begrudge me that,” I said snapping. “You"ve got your precious deal. Let me kiss him one last time before you send him back, and I will go to your master willingly.”
I resumed my walk, Auric"s injuries looking even worse up close. Tears pooled in my eyes, and I couldn"t stop them from falling as I fell to my knees in front of him.
“Why?” he asked, his voice cracking. “I would have died for you.”
“I know,” I said softly, reaching out to touch his cheek. “Allow me to do the same. I love you,” I whispered, leaning forward and kissing his lips one last time. The salt of tears and blood flavored it, and even with everything going on around us, I felt a spurt of energy enter me at this final, intimate touch.
“Goodbye, Auric. Remember me,” I said, before standing up and taking a step back.
Auric threw his head back and howled. The misery in that sound made my throat tighten painfully. I hoped he"d eventually forgive me for this decision and forget me. Auric began to struggle, his thick muscles straining as he thrashed in his chains. My eyes widened when I heard the squealing sound of the metal twisting. However, his berserker rage was not enough to break the ties which bound him.
Two demons rushed forward at Azazel"s signal, and grabbed Auric around the upper arms. Auric refused to give up, and he twisted and cried out hoarsely. The demons called a portal and hauled Auric through.
I"d done it. Auric was safe.
Azazel, with a triumphant grin, beckoned me.
I looked at him coldly. “When your demons get back, show me that he is safe; and then I will go to your master.”
Azazel growled in frustration, but I just smiled at him evilly and fingered the hilt of my sword.
Within a few minutes, the two demons returned, and Azazel sketched a hexagonal pattern in the air. He shouted a few coarse-sounding words which turned the air cloudy, and when it cleared...
I could see the inside of my bar. Bambi, David, Percy, Christopher, and a host of other familiar faces crowded around Auric"s slumped form on the floor. I saw Percy heave Auric to his feet and help him stagger to the bar, Auric"s lips moving as he no doubt recounted what had happened.
His face was so grim and sad.
The image wavered and disappeared.
“Happy now?” snarled Azazel. “Now come and kneel to me.”
I grinned at Azazel widely and said, “No.”
My refusal took him aback. “We made a deal, Satana, you cannot renege.”
“I"m not. I remember quite clearly saying I would give myself to your master and not fight your master. I never said anything about you and your master"s minions.”
I quite enjoyed the look of consternation, quickly followed by rage, on Azazel"s face. I laughed as I pulled my Hell sword out of its sheath, the rippling fires of Hades gleaming along its blade, matching the fires that I knew shone from my eyes.
Baring my teeth ferally, I stalked forward. “Now you pay, Azazel.”
“Take her,” he screamed, and suddenly I found myself surrounded by demons.
I hacked and slashed with my sword, my technique perhaps not as fluid as Auric"s, but it did the job. Limbs separated, demons screamed, and blood gushed; and all the while, I laughed hysterically. I knew I couldn"t win, and didn"t care if I died. I"d saved Auric. That was all that mattered. But before I died, I"d make sure I took a shit-load of the bastards with me. They"d betrayed my father and hurt my lover.
I could hear Azazel shouting, but I ignored him. I put all my focus into fighting instead. The magic in my body gave me strength and agility liked I"d never experienced before. I twirled and danced among the horde that surrounded me. Every slice of the blade scored a deadly wound. I found the rhythm for my dance of death in the screams and cries of the wounded and dying.
“I am Satana Muriel Baphomet,” I screamed. “Princess of Hell. I am your judge, jury, and executioner. And you will all die!”
Suddenly I staggered, as I swung and hit nothing. Surely I hadn"t killed them all. I focused on the world around me again, a place now strewn with limbs and bodies. The scent of blood and gore hung heavy and nauseating around me. I felt the wetness of my skin, covered in the slime of death, and wondered if that"s why the demons who were left backed away looking fearful.