Lucifer's Daughter (15 page)

“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.

Scary as I am, I knew that couldn"t be the case. Taking a deep breath, I turned around.

My sword fell from my numb fingers, as the promise I"d made took hold of my body and will, forcing me to obey.

I fell to my knees as Azazel"s master approached.

“Who are you?” I asked. I tried to see within the shadowy cowl that masked the would-be usurper.

The voice, when it came, surprised me. Light and almost musical in tone, I couldn"t decide if it belonged to a male or female–or maybe even an „other."

“Bastard daughter of Satan, long have I watched thee. I had almost wondered if perhaps thou had escaped the curse of thy father"s blood. But I smell the stink of man upon you. Unwed slut, you art no better than thy mother. It pains me to think I must touch thy flesh, unpure as it is, but thou hast something I need.”

“Show your face, coward. Why do you hide?”

Chiming laughter like bells rang forth from the hood and gave me chills. Such dulcet sounds should not belong to the evil I sensed in this being.

“I will reveal myself when the time is right. A pity thou shall not live to see my grand victory.

Goodbye, daughter of Lucifer.”

I wanted to fight. My body strained at the invisible bonds of the pact I"d made, but they bound me tight to my word. Azazel"s master approached. I stared up into the dark recesses of its cowl, trying to see its face. I saw nothing but shadows. The figure reached out a slender, pale hand, the skin translucent and unblemished. It pressed its seemingly innocuous hand to my forehead.

Unlike the battle where I"d laughed off my pain and injuries, this time I screamed in pain.

Once the pain started, I thought it would never end. Crushing and debilitating agony consumed me. I began praying for death, anything to escape the unbearable torture. I couldn"t tell how long I screamed, but eventually I did finally stop, and found myself lying on the ground twitching uncontrollably, as if caught in a grand mal seizure. I was unfortunately still aware, inside my prison of pain–barely--and sharing this awareness with me was that parasitic monster Azazel called master. Like a leech, this monstrous being sucked at my power, and it didn"t simply drain it from me; oh no, it savagely ripped the force from me, leaving me feeling weaker and weaker.

Through my head flashed memories, so fast I couldn"t see them, as the being sifted through my mind as if searching for something. Back, back in time; Azazel"s master looked „til it found the day I came to live with my father, Satan.

I sensed the monster"s excitement as it halted its mind-rape and slowly moved my memories back a day. The day my life changed forever. It eagerly attempted to access those memories that even I could not remember, and suddenly shields slammed down in my head and a powerful voice screamed, “Be gone.” A flash of bright light followed, and I found myself flying weightlessly through the air before crashing to the ground.

I shook my head dazedly. I lay with my face and arm hanging over the edge of the abyss. My body throbbed painfully, covered in bruises and cuts, while my head ached horribly. I could hear voices through the ringing in my ears. I turned my face with great effort, and I opened one bleary eye to see the robed figure pick itself up off the ground and come striding towards me angrily, Azazel at its heels. I"m ashamed to say I whimpered.

I looked longingly at the abyss; just a little effort, and all my pain would be gone. I couldn"t be sure the abyss wouldn"t hurt just as bad, but right now, caught between certain pain and death and possible pain and death, I knew which I chose. I heard the beating of wings above me, and cries from all sides. Ignoring them all, I drew on my last reserves of strength and rolled my body into the chasm. And hopefully oblivion.

I heard a familiar voice bellow, “No!”

It had sounded like Auric; an impossibility, I knew, and probably a product of a hallucinating mind. Auric was half dead, but safe in my bar. I"d saved him. It had to be a trick.

Too late anyway, I"d fallen into the abyss and my limp body tumbled down weightlessly.

Then my descent abruptly stopped. Powerful arms gripped me, and I heard the ponderous sound of wings beating. I opened my eyes, and through a haze, I thought I saw Auric, his visage fierce and angry. His lips were drawn tight and his green eyes blazed with fury. If I hadn"t hurt so much, I would have smiled; he looked so handsome. Sprouting from his back, I caught the impression of dark wings.

“Auric,” I murmured weakly, “You got your wings back.”

And then the pain became too much again, and I passed out.

I woke, snuggled in a pair of familiar arms, cradled protectively. I was glad for their strength because I felt so weak.

However, memories began crowding my mind. I remembered falling and being caught. Had Auric joined me in the abyss? Had he joined me in the ultimate death?

But wait, that couldn"t be. The abyss wiped a person clean. I still knew who I was–the most awesome princess of Hell. Thinking harder, I recalled an impression of wings at Auric"s back.

Was he an angel again?

I wanted to open my eyes and ask him, but I realized we weren"t alone. I smelled brimstone and heard people murmuring. Were we both prisoners, still in Hades? Had the master captured us and kept us for a nefarious purpose?

I trembled, overwhelming fear of the pain still too fresh a memory. The arms around me tightened, cocooning, and reassuring me without words that I was safe now.

I felt another measure of relief when I heard my father"s roaring voice. “What do you mean, she"s still unconscious?”

If my dad was yelling then it meant, against all odds, we were safe. I lived and was with Auric again. But how?

The chest against my cheek rumbled. “Would you stop yelling? She"s going to be all right. The healer says most of her wounds are superficial, and look: most of them have healed already.”

My father spoke more quietly. “It"s not her body I"m worried about. That thing did something to her mind.”

“I know, but Muriel"s strong,” said Auric with firm assurance. “I"ve never known a braver, stronger person. She"ll be all right. She has to be.” It sounded like Auric wanted to convince himself along with my father.

I knew it was time to let them know I"d survived–albeit barely. I forced an eyelid open and croaked, “Water.”

Immediately, concerned green eyes peered into mine. “You"re back.” Auric kissed my forehead lightly, and I felt a little stronger.

“What"s that? My girl"s awake. Muriel, talk to me,” said my father. His anxious face shoved Auric"s aside, and his burning eyes gazed upon me with concern.

“Hi, Daddy,” I whispered.

“Damn fool girl, what were you thinking, going in there by yourself? You and your boyfriend here are a well matched pair of idiots.”

Auric shifted me to a sitting position on his lap, and a glass of water was thrust in to my hands. I gulped it eagerly, washing away the dust from Hell, and feeling a lot better in the process.

I finally took note of our surroundings, and realized we were all in my bar. A ring of familiar faces stood around, their clothing and skin smudged with the ash of Hell. Just what had happened after I passed out?

“Um, anyone want to explain?” I asked. I looked at Auric, his face once again whole–not a blemish to be seen. Impossible. Even with his probable ability to heal faster than mortals, he"d been so badly injured. “Auric?”

“Yes, well, after you foolishly traded yourself for me, I ended up back at the bar. Bambi had just come back from Hell and was looking for you when I arrived.”

Bambi approached me, her face smeared with dirt and her clothes in rags. And of course, she still looked drop dead gorgeous. I probably looked like a refugee from Hades–hey, wait, I was.

“As soon as I heard what happened, I went to get Lucifer,” said Bambi, touching me lightly.

“Bloody damn nervy of them to take you like that,” blustered my father. “When I got to the bar, your man here begged for help to go back and save you. Of course, he looked like shit, so initially I said „no".”

Auric rolled his eyes. “Actually, what you said was, „Boy, right now you"re more useless than a third fucking tit."”

I giggled. Yeah, that sounded like my father.

“Anyway, your man here asked me to help him save you. So I fixed him all up, even gave him some wings, and next thing you know, the damn fool goes off on his own to save you without waiting for anyone.”

My eyes widened in horror. Auric had made a deal with my father. Oh, no. “Daddy how could you take advantage of his love for me like that? You give him back his soul, right now!” I had given myself to save Auric from death; I wasn"t about to let my father keep his soul for saving me.

My father frowned at me. “What are you talking about? I didn"t take a thing from your boyfriend. I only healed him and give him powers, on the condition he keep you alive. He did that, so we"re even.”

I think my jaw dropped. No way. My father had to have created some kind of loophole. I"d have to make sure to see the contract later.

“It"s true,” said Auric. “My soul is still yours, Muriel. And I now have back all the powers I had as an angel; actually, more power, I think. I even have wings. Mind you, they"re not white anymore. My new shadow wings are black, but I can live with that. It"s better than living without you. It"s also what helped me save you.”

“Tell me everything.” I wanted to know every detail.

With a few voices joining in, I heard about how Auric, as soon as he found himself healed, opened a portal to Hell and came after me. My brave champion. He arrived in time to see me tumbling over the edge of the abyss. He swooped down and carried me out, then stood over me, fighting with my Hell sword until the cavalry arrived.

“You should have seen him, Muriel,” my father said, looking impressed. “Swinging your sword around like a Viking of old. Standing guard over your body, and growling like a rabid dog at all who approached. Between the two of you, there was barely anything left to fight.” Satan looked almost disappointed with that fact. “You could have left the rest of us a few.”

“I would have figured you"d had your fill of fighting. What with everyone being called back to Hell to fight,” I said, still miffed they hadn"t thought to call me.

“That"s just it,” my father grumbled. “There was no fight. We"d received word that the coup was coming, so I called everyone home to fight, and we were waiting, ready...”

“Everyone except me,” I muttered.

My father drew himself up indignantly. “You, my daughter, happened to be the first one I called, but no one answered.”

My resentment slipped away. “You really wanted me there?”

“Damn straight, I did. You"re the best demon slayer I"ve got.”

“Ah, Daddy,” I said, tearing up.

Satan cleared his throat, “Yes, well, there we were, ready to kick the mutineers where it hurt, when it hit.”

“What?” I asked, leaning forward eagerly. “Trans-dimensional creature? Spirits from Purgatory?

What attacked?”

“Nothing. Everyone kind of fell asleep. When we woke up and found no one to fight, I sent everyone home.”

I laughed. I couldn"t help it; my father looked so put out. “But how? A spell of that magnitude?

It seems impossible.”

“Whoever we"re up against has access to some pretty potent ancient magic. I"ll be talking to my scientists and wizards back in Hell to find out what happened. I may even call my brother, God.

This doesn"t smell like the kind of thing he"d do, and I"m pretty sure he"ll want answers, too.

We"ll be better prepared next time.”

I processed what my father said, and my body shivered lightly in fear. Next time? I didn"t want to ever go through the agony of what that being had done to me. My mind still felt raw, and my body so weak. And Auric? What if they came after Auric again? “Do you mean to tell me that Azazel and his master are still loose?”

At my words, almost everyone dropped their heads and pretended to look elsewhere. Even my father cleared his throat and looked at his toes.

Auric was the one who answered me. “They escaped. Standing guard over you, I couldn"t chase them when they saw the tide turning. They left, just as your father and reinforcements arrived.”

“So they"re still out there?” I said quietly, pushing that little quiver of fear down and coaxing instead the fires of my rage.

Auric nodded. “Don"t worry; I"ll protect you better next time.”

“Me, too,” chimed in my father.

I arched my brows. “Protect me? I expect you by my side, fighting, when I find them and kill them for what they"ve done.”

My father laughed out loud at my vehement words, and for a second, I worried that I might have freaked out Auric with my blood thirstiness; but his face turned hard, and when he spoke, his tone sounded even harsher. “I intend to hurt them before I kill them. They will pay for what they did to you.”