Jayln lay down in the nook of the branch, uncertain she could sleep in an odd position with the threat of demons. However, after an hour of staring into the dark, the gentle chirp of crickets lolled her to sleep until Fenrin prodded her awake for her watch.

Dawn broke uneventfully and Fenrin helped her slide out of the tree noiselessly and they continued their advance to the fort.

As they approached, it became eerily quiet. The birds had flown away and even the bugs seemed to have stopped moving. The walls of the fortress broke into view and sure enough, the front gate was painted with coppery runes and black robed figures strolled atop its walls.

Fenrin pulled Jayln back into the trees and whispered, "No wonder the imperials left. Easier to leave this valley to them. Not to mention it's on the opposite side of the mountains from the Arch Mage. Should have figured it was a perfect place for Brimstones."

"What do we do? We can't fight them, there's bound to be loads of them inside," Jayln asked, her voice strained.

"We've got to find out what exactly we are dealing with. Maybe it's a small cult in a big fortress. I'm not about to let a bunch of filthy demon worshippers stop me now."

Jayln blinked at Fenrin. His eyes were calculating and she had to admit she admired that he was still determined after the curse he'd gone through their last run in with Brimstones. "So...?"

He licked his lips. "So, we wait until two of them leave and then jump them, steal their robes, and infiltrate the fort. We find out roughly how many there are and how powerful they are. Then we either get out and regroup or do as much damage as possible."

"Are you crazy?"

"Come on, it'll be fine. Can't imagine they're a social bunch, not a tight little family like your cult." She glared at his jab and he grew serious. "Jaylin, this is also a good sign. If they can hold this valley with the Solis Empire AND the Arch Mage actively out to destroy them, it means it's a perfect place for us to do the same."

Jayln opened her mouth then closed it. It was a good point. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but fine." He started to stand but she pulled him down again. "But I need you to tell me everything you know about fighting these guys."

"You've done it once already."

"Sure, right. So wait until you get cursed and useless and then drag your sorry ass out while the place explodes behind me. That about right?"

He scowled. "Don't let them speak if you can help it. Remember their spells focus on messing with your head or controlling you in some way. Most importantly, if you take down the mage, its puppets go down with it. Don't get distracted by aggressive corpses. Focus on the caster."

"And if one of us dies?"

Fenrin shrugged. "If I die, leave or stay, I won't care. Hate to have you killed by my corpse though."

She groaned and then whispered, "Well if I die, make it out and tell my dad I'm sorry."

"Nah, too much effort. If you die, I'll just keep going and either die too or win and carry on taking this valley."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

She took his offered hand and stood up to saying again, "You're crazy."

He winked and they crept down the path from the fort. It took most the morning for their victims to arrive and Jayln was worried her stomach would give them away. Finally, Fenrin gave the signal and Jayln fired her bow. Her shot flew true and her arrow buried itself in the back of the first mage's head. Fenrin charged the second and slit his throat. Before the man had even hit the ground, Fenrin was stripping him of his clothes.

Jayln reluctantly did the same with the second mage. She gagged when she saw the body. It was a woman, her skin ripped and torn in many places, scarred in rippling stitches like patterns. Her body was nearly skeletal, just pale skin stretched over bone. Fenrin's man had only one eye, the other an empty socket and a large blood red tattoo over his face.

Fenrin studied it for a moment. "Wish I knew enough to recognize that mark. Oh well, demon's a demon. Although I admit I've never seen them occupy anything larger than a cave before."

They donned the robes, the fresh bloodstains disturbingly unobtrusive on the garments. Pulling up the hoods, the two and picking their way back to the fort. Jayln was sure they'd be stopped but they were able to walk right in the broken gate. In the courtyard were corpses, animated and engaged in various menial tasks, Jayln followed Fenrin closely as he entered the main building.

It was dark inside and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Three more cultists were coming down the hall in the opposite direction towards them, as they passed each other, Jayln was able to make out their conversation.

"It's about time I got an assignment. I've been managing corpses for weeks."

"Well that's what happens where you get on Lord Vinis's bad side."

"You accidently kill one sacrifice and..."

Fenrin pulled Jayln around a corner, his face grim. "I don't like this. They're too well organized. Let's check the next chamber and then get out of here."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Jayln muttered.

As they approached the large double doors, a voice shouted out from behind them, "You two, open the doors for Lord Viris."

Jayln jumped but Fenrin grinned, reaching for the doors and opening them wide. Jaylin grabbed the other one, doing the same. A man approached, flanked by two cultists, their heads lowered. His robes were decorated with glittering flames. After he'd passed the door, Jayln saw Fenrin watching him with calculating eyes. He winked at her and slipped in the chamber leaving Jayln to reluctantly follow.

What was inside changed everything.

The room was mainly filled with a huge stone table, tilted and carved with grooves. Thirty or more black robed cultists stood around it, all facing the figure at its head. She was...unearthly.

Her hair was black and flickered like flames along her blue skin which was riddled with black veins like marble. Her red eyes looked down as she dipped a goblet into the hollow at the base of the table, drinking from it. The smell hit Jayln—blood.

"Fenrin," she whispered, turning to her companion. He was staring at the woman fascinated, but took a step back, closer to Jayln and the exit.

The woman spoke, her voice echoing through the room. It was strange and hissing, like two of three voices speaking at once.

"Viris. Did you discover what is was that interrupted my brother's meal?"

The flame cloaked man approached the table and bowed deeply. "No, my queen, but I have two mages on their way to investigate as we speak. You will also be pleased to hear, half a dozen requests for our services are being fulfilled."

The woman frowned and stared bored into her goblet. "Six souls is hardly anything to be pleased about. Especially when our border has been so disturbed. I wonder, Viris, why you did not see to my request personally."

"I did not wish to leave your side, my queen."

She pointed a nail at him, it was filed to a point. "Your pathetic attempts to lie to me are almost as amusing as your sense of self-preservation. You think correctly that should the rift still be open, the Master of Despair and Madness would satisfy his hunger with the next mortal to cross his path. I think you would have been wiser to send more than two, however. My brother—"

The demoness stopped and stood suddenly. The room rippled and her nostrils flared. She smiled slyly. "I smell his magic."