Minor Demons (28 page)

––––––––

T
he army of Malphas parted as Shadow entered into their midst to speak with their commander. Shadow’s army was nowhere in sight. Shadow looked at the army of Malphas and noticed that in addition to regular minor demons and demons-in-training, Malphas commanded some of the large blob-like creatures that resembled Asmodeus. No wonder there was a soul shortage in Hell. These guys were clearly eating more than their share.

“Malphas!”

Malphas walked into the center of his legion. Shadow couldn’t help but remember the fight he had just won with Abigor and a slight amount of doubt crept into his thoughts. After all, he wouldn’t have won that fight without Lilith.

“What do you want, Shadow?”

“A one on one fight. Winner gets both armies.”

Malphas laughed, as did his entire legion of demons.

“Why on earth would I do that? You walked into my camp and basically surrounded yourself. There’s no reason for me to play fair now.”

“Why don’t I give you a very good reason to accept my challenge?”

Shadow whistled loudly and his army surrounded the army of Malphas. Shadow held up his hand, ready to give the signal should Malphas refuse his terms.

“So if I don’t agree, your army will kill mine but I could still kill you.”

“I doubt it.”

“Look at this demon, he’s a middle demon of war for all of five minutes and he thinks he can kill me!”

The army of Malphas gave a half-hearted laugh, many of them were now facing their weapons outward at the army of Shadow. Malphas didn’t appreciate the lackluster response.

“Alright then, Shadow. I accept your terms.”

Malphas was at Shadow’s side within seconds and he pressed two fingers to his forehead. Shadow’s mind became foggy and he began to visualize things that horrified him. His father being tormented in the lowest circles of Hell and his constant cry of pain. His mother being beaten to death by demons that had broken into their house while Shadow looked on, unable to intervene. Finally, an image rested in his mind of Leech and Lilith hanging from ropes tied to the gallows. Shadow was able to remind himself that it wasn’t real and expel the images from his mind. He activated the invisibility he had stolen from Abigor and rolled to the right.

Malphas searched frantically for where Shadow had disappeared to, but he couldn’t see him anywhere. He grinned, as Shadow’s new power finally dawned on him.

“Abigor’s ring of invisibility. It won’t save you, Shadow, now that I’ve entered your mind.”

While Shadow knew that Malphas still couldn’t see him, he brought his fingers to his temples and Shadow could feel his thoughts being manipulated. Suddenly, Leech was standing next to Malphas and looking like he wanted to rip Shadow in half.

“Leech, what are you doing here?”

“I’m not really here, Shadow. You left me to die on earth. Muan stabbed me in the back as soon as you left.”

“That’s not... I don’t believe that... No. That’s not true. Leech is still alive.”

“I would still be alive if you could occasionally put aside your ambition and do what’s right for your friends. Lilith is dead now too. You failed us both, Shadow.”

Shadow shook his head and rubbed his eyes when Lilith appeared next to Leech. There was no way she had died; the nephilim had promised that she would live. As Lilith was about to speak, Shadow swung his blade through both Leech and Lilith. They disappeared. Even though he knew that it was all in his mind, Shadow continued to have a hard time reminding himself of that. He looked over at Malphas. Malphas was concentrating on something that was straining his powers to their limits. Shadow walked towards him and was about to end his life, when Shadow’s father appeared in front of him.

“D
ad you... can’t be here...”

The demon in front of him barely resembled the father he remembered. He had piercing red eyes that looked like they had seen more than they could handle. What remained of his clothing was a dark black and it seemed like blood poured in an unceasing torrent from a number of wounds. Instead of standing, he was on his knees. Abaddon was broken beyond anything Shadow had ever seen.

“Why haven’t you come for me, my son?”

“I’m... I’m not powerful enough yet. I would never make it down there.”

“So I’m left to my fate while you run around climbing the ranks of Hell? I’m tormented night and day, Shadow. They only keep me alive to the point that I can continue to bear their torment. Why won’t you try to save me?”

“If I tried to get you out of there, even with my army, they would kill me. I haven’t forgotten and I
will
get you out... I just
can’t
do it yet.”

Abaddon looked at his son with loathing.

“No, you’re strong enough now. You’ve just decided that other things are more important. You’re more concerned in defending your uncle in the war he started. There will always be wars and bloodshed in Hell. You need to ignore it and march with your army on the lowest circle of Hell to free me.”

“I
can’t
...”

“No, you
won’t
. You don’t deserve the middle demon position that Cain gave you. He did it to distract you. Middle demon of war? That means he can drag you in every time he starts a fight with the other major demons. You’ll be endlessly fighting, but never to save your father.”

Shadow was on the verge of tears, but he finally summoned the strength to say what he had wanted to say for a long time.

“You know,
Dad
, you may not be a traitor to evil, the darkness, or the demons of Hell, but you’re a traitor to me. I’m your only son and it’s clear now that I never really mattered to you. You were too busy visiting the angels and trying to find out who you were to realize that you were abandoning me in the process. You definitely don’t deserve the torture you’re receiving, but you have NO goddamn right to tell me where my loyalties should lie. You have NO right to tell me when I need to get you out of the mess that you got YOURSELF into! I will come when I am strong enough to free you and you will simply have to endure until then.”

Abaddon bowed his head.

“I’m ashamed of you, Shadow.”

Shadow rushed forward to attack the demon in front of him. Father or not, he couldn’t tolerate his presence any longer. Before he made it to Abaddon, however, he tripped over something. When he got back up and looked at what had tripped him, he saw Malphas sweating blood on the ground. Conjuring Abaddon had been a little too much for even him to endure. Shadow took the spear of Abigor and stabbed it down through Malphas’ back. The demon struggled for a moment and then settled into his death. The conjured image of Abaddon disappeared. Shadow fell to one knee, panicking but taking solace in the fact that his mind was now clear.

His respite was brief. Without any attempt on Shadow’s part to summon it, the rage monster emerged from within. Both armies, Shadow’s and Malphas’ fell back and cowered in fear. Some of the demons even turned and ran. The creature was slightly tinged now with the colors of Abigor instead of the pure black that it had been before. It quickly found its target. Malphas was dead, but he was still a middle demon that could be consumed for additional power. The rage monster reached down and pulled up Malphas’ corpse with a fist full of sand. The creature quickly swallowed Malphas’ corpse whole and then turned back into Shadow, who was still on one knee. He stood to address his legions.

“I don’t have time to draw this out. It’s time to join this war. No more distractions. If you still claim loyalty to Malphas, come forward so that we can kill you.”

Several demons turned and ran. They were caught by Shadow’s army and immediately put down. None of the large blob-like demons tried to leave. Most of them still seemed confused as to what had happened.

“We’re going to fight the forces of Vixen, Lucian, and Asmodeus now. If any of you think of betraying me, I want you to remember what happened to Abigor and then to Malphas. I will not be stabbed in the back by any of you. I’m going to fight my way directly to the major demons that stepped beyond their rights to rule and put them down. Understood?”

Silence. Dead silence. They all feared him too much to speak. Gangrene stepped forward and spoke for the armies.

“Understood, Lord Shadow. It will be our genuine honor to serve the most terrifying demon we’ve ever met.”

Gangrene’s words seemed to shock many of the demons back to their senses. They nodded their assent and mumbled in the affirmative to Shadow’s remarks. Shadow saw that Lilith had started to recover, as she was now sitting on his steed instead of lying across it in unconsciousness. Shadow made his way over to her and rested his hand on his horse’s neck.

“Catch the fight?”

“Only the ending. You need to stop going psycho at the end of fights.”

“It works. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.”

“Did you even bring it out this time or did that creature come out on its own?”

“Remember who you’re talking to.”

Shadow hadn’t completely unwound from all the anger and rage.

“...I thought I was talking to a friend. Was I wrong?”

“I need to go help Cain fight the three traitors. I don’t know if Baal has showed up yet. Can you lead my legions into the fight in my absence?”

“Yes, but I really think that...”

“I don’t want to lose the rage I have right now. It makes me more powerful. I have to make it there before it subsides. Can you do what I asked?”

Lilith considered his request, almost wondering if she should turn it down. Shadow was starting to seem a little unstable.

“I have to know. Did you release the rage monster or did it come out on its own?”

“It came out on its own.”

“Then you’re right. You shouldn’t be leading this army right now. Just keep control of that monster if it decides to take over again.”

Shadow ignored her last comment and turned to face his army.

“Lilith will lead you into battle. I’m going to kill the three major demons who stepped out of line. Any problems?”

Shadow’s query was once again met with dead silence. He turned and walked straight into the heart of the battle.

––––––––

“N
ice of you to finally join us, Cain. I was just about to send my son to kill you. It seems like Baal and Leviathan won’t be joining us. Think you can take the three of us? Nightmare will arrive shortly and then it will be four.”

“I’m not frightened by the liar, the bitch, and the blob. While I know Leviathan is still too injured to fight, I highly doubt that Baal won’t show up. You’re too predictable. You probably sent assassins. I don’t think it worked.”

Baal appeared in dark blue flames next to Cain. His dark gold armor was stained by splattered demon blood. He looked angry, but uninjured. He tossed a bag at the feet of Lucian, Vixen, and Asmodeus. Several heads rolled out of the bag.

“It didn’t work. A little advice for you guys. Next time, send better assassins.”

Lucian looked angry but grinned as he remembered that they still had the upper hand.

“It’s still three on two. We also took over Leviathan’s armies. The two of you are done.”

“No they aren’t and the part about Leviathan’s armies is a lie as well.”

Shadow joined the major demons.

“Leviathan is commanding his armies. He may not be recovered enough to take one of you on, but he’s definitely kicking the shit out of Vixen’s forces right now. I’m more than willing to take his place against any one of you though.”

Vixen and Asmodeus laughed but Lucian just smiled at Shadow.

“Yes, the new middle demon of war. I thought you might show up. I have a plan in place for that as well.”

Lucian stepped aside to reveal Nightmare, who cracked his knuckles.

“My son has just been promoted to middle demon of half-truths. He’s more than a match for you.”

Nightmare slowly started walking towards Shadow when he was tackled from the left side. It took everyone a few moments to realize what was going on. Leech was on top of Nightmare, vigorously punching at his face. He pulled Shadow’s angel blade from his belt and tossed it to Shadow. Vixen tried to step in to break it up but Baal cut her off and the two of them began fighting with their scythes.

“Actually, it looks like Leech is ready for round two with your asshole of a son. So I guess that means that I get the blob, because I know my uncle wants to kick your ass.”

Cain and Lucian began to fight and Shadow turned to Asmodeus.

“You’re no match for me, little demon. Even with your glowing toothpick.”

“Oh, you mean this? This is the short sword of the Archangel Michael. I’m betting it’s cut your flesh before.”

A look of recognition passed over Asmodeus and he touched a long scar that ran across his belly. Shadow grinned.

“So Michael gutted you once. Interesting. Let’s see if his grandson can finish the job.”

S
hadow ran at his oversized target and swung with his angel blade. The strike cut through the air and hit the floor of Hell. Realizing that Asmodeus had teleported behind him, Shadow spun and brought his blade to meet the downward strike of Asmodeus’ scythe. Asmodeus continued to press down and the scythe drew blood from Shadow’s shoulder. He cried out and Asmodeus laughed. Shadow was able to push up and remove the scythe from his shoulder. He then sidestepped and removed his angel’s blade so the scythe arched down and hit the ground. Shadow tossed his blade to his other hand and rushed Asmodeus. By the time Asmodeus teleported away in flames, Shadow had landed several strikes on his bulging belly.

When Shadow turned, he saw that Asmodeus was leaking blood from several locations. None of the wounds looked particularly bad though.

“You forget, Shadow, that major demons all have a power that you don’t have.”

Asmodeus disappeared once again in flames and appeared behind Cain. He used his scythe to trip Cain and then Lucian and Asmodeus both raised their scythes high in the air. Shadow barely had time to scream before both scythes came crashing down and pierced Cain in the center of his chest. Shadow felt the rage monster trying to emerge but he fought it. Instead, he ran to where his uncle had fallen. As he neared the spot, Cain’s scythe leapt from Cain’s hands and found its way to Shadow’s. With a scythe in one hand and an archangel blade in the other, Shadow rushed Lucian. For the first time, Shadow saw Lucian register a look of pure fear. He disappeared in red flames and Shadow knew it wasn’t to a close spot somewhere on the battlefield. Lucian had run from the fight.