“There will come a time in your life when you lose something that matters to you. You'll fight for it and you won't win. But what really matters isn't the war you're waging, it's that you don't lose the person you are in the midst of the battle.”

― J. Sterling, The Perfect Game

The marilith was lightning quick, moving at Tabitha with pure speed. Three swords came at Tabitha from the left, aiming for three different locations at the same time. Tabitha was just as quick, before any of the swords could touch her scarlet flesh. She leaped into the air using her wings to gain speed and height. All three swords swung through the space Tabitha had occupied, the greater she-devil countered with a side kick to the face.

The marilith saw the kick coming but she could not avoid the hit. Instead, she loosened her neck and when the kick connected. She allowed her head to spin with the blow lessening the impact. But Tabitha used the side kick’s momentum to spin around and bring her other leg to perform a spin kick right into the marilith’s chest. The marilith felt the full force of the second kick and flew back a hundred yards striking the wall of the cavern on the other side. Tabitha landed softly on the ground and took a fighting stance.

“You have one chance to walk out of here. All I want is my friend and the two she-demons, go your own way and we will go our own way.”

The marilith was already back up, and she did not look any reasonable right now than before the battle began.

“No one will leave thisss cavern alive. I will not allow Eldessst or any other Nether Lord to dissscover my whereaboutsss. You all mussst die.”

Tabitha could tell that the marilith was determined and would not be swayed. She saw anger, calculation, and resolution. She also saw fear, for some reason, the marilith was afraid. Not of her but of someone else, perhaps the Nether Lords. Something traumatic must have happened to her in the past. Whatever it was, it has messed with her mind and made her paranoid.

“So be it.”

Tabitha said, then she put up her hands with fingers slightly spread. Her black talons which were inches long grew to five feet and crisscrossed each other right in front of Tabitha’s face. Her talons grew into blades, like ten thin and sharp short swords. They reflected light from the lava pool on their surfaces.

“You leave me no choice.”

Tabitha launched herself at the marilith, using her powerful legs and folding in her wings close to her body to gain more speed. She was halfway across the cavern when the marilith cast an illusion spell. Instead, of one marilith Tabitha saw a dozen. She stopped in her tracks, even if they are illusions just one of them is real. The mariliths attacked and Tabitha found herself on the defensive. As they swung their swords, Tabitha dodged four strikes before countering with a slash of her own. Her five-bladed talons went through the illusion of the marilith she was facing.

“Damn! This one’s a fake!”

The illusion did not disappear, instead, realizing that Tabitha knew it was an illusion. The fake marilith drew back into the others and shuffled around them. Tabitha lost sight of the fake marilith in the group and now she was back at square one. The illusions would not vanish even if your strike went through them. They were more potent and the marilith was clever too. She had her illusions shuffle around, slithering over each other and then attacking Tabitha. She ducked and dodged and side-stepped attacks, never knowing if an attack was fake or real. She did not want to take any chances, so she dodged all attacks when Tabitha had a chance she counterattacked. Tabitha slashed, stabbed, and thrust at illusions, never hitting the real one.

Where the hell is the real one? Striking at the fakes is pointless, I need to find the real one. Tabitha used her devil eyes and shifted sights, she shifted to the magical spectrum. Searching for the aura of the real marilith, unfortunately, all of the illusionary mariliths had the same magical aura. She could not tell the real one from the fakes, so Tabitha did the next best thing. Tabitha spread her arms wide and spun around several rotations, using her ten talon blades and her tail as a whip striking all of the illusions several times. Tabitha stopped facing all twelve mariliths in a semi-circle.

“Damn her. She’s not even in the group.”

She must have hidden as soon as she cast her illusions. If she is not among the twelve, then she must have cast another illusion. One that made her invisible which means she’s going to attack me from behind. Tabitha had turned halfway around when something hard and muscular struck her side. Tabitha found herself flying in the air, not of her own free will. Tabitha flapped her wings a few times gaining control of her momentum and landing on the ground feet first. She looked back at where the attack had come from and saw a serpent’s tail disappearing in mid-air. She is using illusion magic to be invisible, the rest are just distractions.

Tabitha shifted her eyesight to several spectrums, infrared, ultraviolet, and spectral. But the illusion magic was too strong to be pierced, so if sight was unable to penetrate the illusions, then she could not rely on her eyes. Tabitha closed her eyes and used her other senses. Using scent and hearing, Tabitha discovered that although the fake mariliths could make all kinds of noise. They did not have a scent, none of them did. Tabitha knew the scent of Zula and the two new scents were mingling with Zula’s. So, Tabitha guessed those scents belonged to the two she-demons who were stuck to the wall. But the reptilian scent was new, fresh, and unfamiliar. And it was moving, flanking her from behind.

The fake mariliths attack but Tabitha ignored them. They were not real, so they could not harm her. The mariliths slashed and stabbed with their swords but the weapons went through her body like smoke. Tabitha blocked out the noise and concentrated on the scent of the real marilith. She had to be patient, she had to wait for the right moment to strike. When the scent suddenly darted forward, Tabitha jumped. She flipped upside down and slash downward with her right talons. Tabitha felt scales and then flesh gave way to sharp talons. The marilith screamed in both surprise and pain which cause her to lose focus on her illusions.

The twelve fake mariliths disappeared and the invisibility illusion she had surrounded her body with fell. The marilith reappeared right underneath Tabitha who was still in the middle of flipping over her. Tabitha had struck the marilith on her chest, right above the breasts. The cut was deep, and it bled black blood, but it was not a fatal wound the marilith was already regenerating. Tabitha used the momentum of her flip to swing her legs over and double kick the marilith right between her shoulder blades. The marilith shot forward but this time she rolled herself into a ball just before hitting the cavern wall once again.

Landing on her feet, Tabitha rushed forward not wanting to give the marilith a chance to recover. On the other hand, having rolled herself into a ball. The marilith had managed to lessen the impact before her body hit the cavern wall. This allowed her to recover quickly, and she was already charging Tabitha not bothering with illusion spells. They met at the center of the cavern in a flash of steel and talons. The marilith used her swords economically, her strikes were precise and with no waste in motion. She was aiming for Tabitha’s more vital points. Using slashes, stabs, jabs, thrusts, and swings, trying to cut the main artery or pierce a vital organ or trying to sever muscle tendons to slow Tabitha down. For her part, Tabitha blocked and dodged and countered all the attacks aimed at her.

………………………………..

Zula watched in amazement as Tabitha matched the marilith blow for blow and kept up with her speed. Every so often, the marilith tries to change things up by using her serpent’s tail to trip or batter Tabitha. But the she-devil countered with her own tail, using as both a whip and a spear to keep the marilith off balance. Tabitha and the marilith seem to be evenly matched, even though the marilith is a general in demon armies and are superb strategists. Devils are cunning and powerful; their intelligence is a thing to be feared. Portioned wise, Tabitha was larger but the marilith was longer. While Tabitha was an impressive 15-foot-tall greater she-devil, the marilith from head to tail tip was 20-feet-long. She was able to slip in and out of Tabitha’s reach, using her lithe body to twist and turn to avoid the she-devil’s strikes.

But Tabitha was keeping up, Zula had the distinct impression that Tabitha was withholding her true strength. Testing the marilith and studying her combat capabilities, it was strange and exciting watching them fight. It was almost like a dance the way they moved. The marilith was darting and twisting back and forth like a viper, trying but failing to land a blow. Tabitha struck back with her talons and used kicks and her tail to keep the marilith on the defensive.

“Wow, this is a great fight. I wish I had popcorn for the show.”

The comment came from Balca who was watching the fight with great interest.

“Yeah, the girl may be big, but she sure knows how to move.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Talin said with appreciation. Zula nodded in agreement; Tabitha was a newcomer but she fights like she has been doing it for countless lifetimes. Zula remembered what Tabitha said about something inside her acting on instinct. There is more to Tabitha than meets the eyes. Why was she a former human transformed into a she-devil instead of a she-demon? I feel as if Tabitha is a mystery to be solved, I think sticking with her will be fun. I just hope she will be able to defeat the marilith.

………………………………..

Tabitha was in a state of instinctual automatic conscious calculation, observation, and reaction. Her other self that part of her that is so different yet familiar emerged as soon as the fight began with the marilith. But unlike before where she was just a passenger looking from the inside out. This time, both she and that other self-inside her are partners. While fighting the marilith that other self gave her knowledge of the opponent. It was not as if Tabitha was hearing another voice in her head. No, it was more like images were being placed in her mind. Pictures of places and beings Tabitha had never seen before appeared in her thoughts. And the strangest thing about the whole thing is that she understood what each image meant. Images of the mariliths came to her mind and immediately Tabitha understood what they are and how to deal with them. During the fight, Tabitha has been studying her opponent. The illusion magic was a surprise, but she found a way around it. The marilith’s combat skills are amazing, she no doubt has centuries of experience. But I have learned all I needed to know about this marilith. It’s time to end this fight.

The marilith swung all six swords one after the other at Tabitha’s defenses. The marilith used her rapid-fire attacks to bat away Tabitha’s talons to the sides. Tabitha’s arms were forced to the sides, she was spread out before the marilith. Leaving her vital points wide open for the marilith’s six sword attack. The marilith immediately launch all her swords at Tabitha points first. Tabitha stuck her tail in the ground behind her, so that she would have a firm balance and used her right leg for a side kick. The kick landed hard on the marilith’s rib cage, and she let out a gasp of pain. Tabitha felt a few ribs break as she powered through with her kick, throwing the marilith to the ground where the snake woman rolled several times before stopping on her back.

Tabitha pounced after the prone marilith, she was wide open, and Tabitha thrust forward with both her ten talon blades. The marilith had one more trick up her sleeve before Tabitha could pin her down to the cavern floor. The marilith teleported, as her talons struck into the ground instead of the serpent demoness. Tabitha was not surprised at the marilith teleporting. Even though mariliths are wingless snake she-demons, they make up for it with their ability to teleport almost anywhere on the realm they are in at the time.

The mariliths can move quickly on the battlefield with their serpent grace, but they can move even faster when they teleport. The range of their teleportation varies from 100 feet to 120 feet. For long distant teleportation, the mariliths must know the area they want to teleport to or if they have a link with other demons. They can teleport to those demons’ locations. Tabitha fleet an intense pain to her left and then her right, and then her back erupted in flames of pain. The marilith had teleported right behind Tabitha and attacked. First cutting her wings and slashing her back four times. The marilith would have continued to take advantage of her position when Tabitha transformed her body into the elemental form of fire.

When the marilith attacked once again, her swords went through the fire. She was so surprised that she did not have time to dodge the flaming kick which connected right in her face. The marilith flew back and skidded across on the cavern ground followed by dust and debris. Tabitha returned to her original form fully regenerated, her back and wings were already healed. I’m starting to like being a devil, it’s like being a superhero. I have all these powers. Super strength, speed, flight, and able to regenerate injuries. It’s like I’m a Final Fantasy character. The marilith was back up with a bloody and bruised face. Tabitha watched in fascination as the blood stopped flowing and her face healed. Yeah, that’s right, she has the same power too. But I’ve already learned much, now it’s time to end this.

The marilith teleported once again, this time right in front of Tabitha. She ducked and sidestepped a sword swing and a thrust, then jumped into the air to gain some distance. The marilith teleported behind Tabitha, but she was expecting that move. Tabitha flipped forward head over tail, avoiding several slashing attacks from the marilith. Using her tail, Tabitha wrapped it twice around the slender waist of the marilith. The marilith did not have enough time to slash at the tail before she was brought forward and flung down to the ground. Before the marilith hit the ground, Tabitha summoned a fire spear in her right hand and threw it after the marilith. The flaming spear struck the marilith in the center of her stomach and surrounded the snake demoness in fire.

Like most demons in the Nether Realm, the mariliths are resistant to fire. But she still felt some pain

all over her body. Ignoring the discomfort of being on fire, the marilith located Tabitha who was still hovering in the air and teleported. Or tried to, the marilith was shocked and tried to teleport once again, and once again it failed. Something was blocking her magic and that is when she realized that the fire surrounding her body was not meant to burn her. It was meant to stop her from teleporting, the fire itself was a binding spell. The marilith was impressed that the she-devil was able to use a binding spell with elemental magic. That is a high-level skill for a magic user.

The greater she-devil dived to the ground like a fighter jet. Just before hitting the floor of the cavern, she pulled up and flew several feet above the cavern ground aiming straight at the marilith. The marilith slithered forward in a charge, deciding to meet the greater she-devil head on. Just before the two collided, Tabitha spun her body like a corkscrew with her talon blades out. The marilith saw the danger and stopped, she crossed all six swords together to create a shield of sharp edges for protection. It was useless, Tabitha’s speed and corkscrew maneuver were just too strong. She hit the marilith like a bullet train, and blasted right through her defenses.

The marilith opened her yellow eyes slowly, she was in pain, something was wrong. When her vision finally cleared, she found the greater she-devil standing over her. The marilith immediately tried to get up, but to her surprise, there was something missing because she was unable to right herself. When she looked at her arms, she was shocked to discover that all six of her sword arms were amputated. She searched around and found them scattered and in a bloody mess right behind the greater she-devil. The marilith had lost the battle in the blink of an eye, was this the end of the marilith?

………………………………..

Zula kept her eyes open the entire time, she did not blink and yet. She still did not see how the fight had ended. One moment Tabitha was corkscrewing through the air towards the marilith who took a defensive stance with her swords. The next thing she knew, she saw the marilith explode into severed arms and blood and the marilith flying back as if struck by something hard. Tabitha now stood over the marilith having retracted her talons back to their original length. The marilith was in bad shape but she would not surrender.

“What are you waiting for?”

Zula’s demonic hearing had no problem catching the marilith’s words.

“Finisssh me and be done with it.”

Tabitha shook her head, to Zula’s eyes her friend seems regretful.

“I never wanted to finish you, I just wanted my friend back.”

Tabitha went to one knee moving closer to the marilith.

“My name is Tabitha, I was once human and lived on earth. What is your name marilith?”

For a long time, the marilith did not respond. Tabitha waited, she was in no hurry she just stared at the serpent demon. Finally, the marilith replied.

“Kasca, my name is Kasca. I was onccce a general for my Lady’sss armiesss in the Courtsss. There was a battle and my Lady wasss defeated, I had lossst the battle, outmaneuvered and outsssmarted by the enemy general. My forcesss ssscattered to the nether windsss, and I became outlawed. Hunted by the victorsss, hounded by bounty huntersss, and alone. I am the defeated, but my head would fetch a prizzze for the demon princcce who vanquissshed my Lady and her armiesss.”

“Who was your Lady, and who was the demon prince who vanquished you?”

Tabitha demanded, she wanted to know for some reason. That other self wanted to know who was powerful and who had lost power. The marilith sighed in resignation as if accepting her fate.

“I onccce ssserved Lady Zagrebren, the Demon Princess of Sorrow. Ssshe wasss defeated by Mammon the Demon Prince of Greed.”

Tabitha nodded, she knew both names Zagrebren and Mammon were familiar to that other side of her. The one that was both familiar and at the same time unknown. Was this second self a product of the Nether Realm or was it something more? Tabitha did not know, it would be a mystery to solve at a later date. For now, she had to deal with this marilith.

“We are not bounty hunters nor are we here for you.”

“Yesss, I know.”

Kasca interrupted Tabitha.

“You flee from Eldessst the Demon Lord of Lussst. If he findsss me, he will take me. That one isss even worssse than Mammon. At leassst, the Demon Princcce has the excussse of hisss nature. Eldessst is jussst a prick who wantsss to grab every attractive female he can get hisss handsss on.”

Tabitha smiled at that, then she sobered up.

“I do not want to destroy you, but you have been broken.”

Tabitha did not know where the words came from, but they felt right.

“Both by the loss of your Lady and the defeat you suffered. Being hunted by your enemies did not help either. But my companion and I are not your enemies.”

Tabitha picked Kasca up by the waist with one hand, her hand was big enough to go around the marilith’s torso. Kasca did not resist. What was the point anyway? Yet again, she was defeated in battle by a stronger and clever opponent. She had failed her Lady, she has been defeated in this battle. It was all over, there was nothing left but to accept her fate. Tabitha walked over to the wall that held Zula and the other demonesses, she placed a hand on the wall. The imprisoning spell was intricate and complex, but something in Tabitha recognizes the spell. It was but a moment to undo the spell, freeing Zula and the two she-demons.

Then Tabitha placed Kasca into the wall, using the same spell to imprison her as she did to the others. Tabitha added a few extra layers into the spell, ones of her own design. Tabitha blinked. Where did that come from? Tabitha wondered if it would be more questions for her to find answers to. Tabitha allowed the severed arms to remain in the open air, they were regenerating. It would take a couple of hours, Kasca sank into the wall and was fixed in place.

“Once you are fully healed, I will decide what to do with you then.”

Kasca did not respond to Tabitha’s words, she just lowered her head. Looking defeated, Tabitha knew that look all too well. It was the look she had seen on the defeated military veterans of the former United States. They had lost their country, their way of life to the Romantians. The same thing happened to Tabitha when she had lost her parents.