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CHAPTER 16 THE HUNTERS

“If we act like prey, they’ll act like predators”

― Alyxandra Harvey, My Love Lies Bleeding

“You not only are hunted by others, you unknowingly hunt yourself.”

― Dejan Stojanovic, The Sun Watches the Sun

Getting to the Frost Back Mountains was easy, although, it had taken four days. Razor and his group had to wait a whole day for the demon Neelan, Eldest’s butler to not only summon Tombs. But to prepare the hunting party and some kind of special equipment for the greater she-devil. Razor would not have minded the wait if Eldest was an accommodating host. The Demon Lord did not offer Razor or his partners any comforts, nor would the bastard allow any of his succubi to entertain them. I heard when Asmodeus had the mantle, he was a Demon Lord who would wine and dine you to get what he wants. If you didn’t cooperate, only then would Asmodeus us force. Eldest is nothing but a brute. How he became the Demon Lord of Lust I can’t figure it out.

“Is our quarry close?”

Razor turned towards the greater demon who had asked the question. Tombs was a greater demon like no other, standing well over 13 feet. He wore obsidian black armor over his scaled body, and he had ivory horns like a Mexican bull. His wings and tail like most demons are red. Razor held up the black strip of fabric.

“No, we need to go deeper into the mountains. They’re probably in a cave somewhere.”

Tombs nodded and said no more. He got what he wanted, there was no need to go on with a lengthy conversation. Razor was in two minds about Tombs. On one hand, Tombs cut an impressive and intimidating figure. On the other hand, he doesn’t feel as cold and heartless like the other greater demons in Eldest’s service. Razor would like to know Tombs’ story, but he would not ask the greater demon anything. There were too many eyes and ears around them, no doubt Eldest has spies in his group reporting every word he says and every action he takes. Razor did not want to give Eldest any reason to get rid of him and his boys.

Eldest is a problem to deal with later, right now, the succubus is my target. The problem will be the greater she-devil. Eldest wants her but she is powerful. Even though there are twenty greater demons and twenty magic casters. The greater she-devil is just too strong, whatever Tomb’s plans on neutralizing the greater she-devil are. I hope it works.

“Razor, when we find them. How are we going to deal with the greater she-devil? I mean, we didn’t fare too well against her the last time.”

Crank said, and Razor agreed with his friend.

“Don’t worry, our job is to find them.”

Razor pointed a finger over his shoulder.

“It’s their job to fight and subdue the greater she-devil. So long as we bring her and the succubus back to Eldest, the Demon Lord of Lust should have no issue giving us our reward.”

“I just hope your right bro.”

Block said from Razor’s other side.

“I don’t like being cut apart like the last time. It’s a bitch to regenerate severed limbs and body parts. I rather not go through that again.”

All three demons laughed at that, even though it was not a laughing matter. Forty-three demons flew deeper into the Frost Back Mountains, following the trail of the succubus. The black fabric that Razor holds is a piece of Zula’s black dress that he had ripped off when they first captured her. Clothing worn by demons and devils are made by them magically. In other words, the clothing is essentially a piece of the demon or devil. So if a demon or devil were to strip naked leave their clothing, the clothes would fade away in a few minutes and the magical energy would return to that demon or devil. No matter how far they are or which realm they are in.

Razor has a very rare ability among tracking demons, he can take a piece of a demon and surround it with his own form of damping magic. Preventing the fabric of Zula’s black dress from fading away and the magical energy returning to its rightful owner. There is a link between the torn fabric and the succubus. Razor can establish a tracking spell inside the link to discover where the succubus is hiding.

The group of forty-three demons traveled deep into the heart of the Frost Back Mountains for almost the entire day. They went passed cave after cave, some were empty and others were occupied but the link from the black dress fabric did not lead into any of them. Finally, Razor found the cave the greater she-devil and succubus are hiding in. Razor had pointed to the cave and said.

“There, that’s the one. They’re in that cave.”

“Are you sure?”

Tombs asked he did not sound doubtful or unsure of Razor’s conclusion. He was just verifying the information.

“I am one hundred percent positive.”

That was all Tombs needed to hear.

“Then we go in and get them.”

Tombs faced the demons behind them.

“Get ready to move in!”

“Wait a minute.”

Razor said quickly causing the greater demon to pause and look at him expectantly. Tombs did not look annoyed or angry, he just waited for Razor to say more. This guy acts like a machine. He must have been some kind of military guy back in the mortal realms. Of course, Razor did not say any of that to the greater demon’s face. Instead, he said.

“We want to approach the cave entrance with caution. Who knows what traps the greater she-devil has laid?”

Tombs nodded in understanding which surprised Razor. Normally, greater demons and higher ups do not like to take advice from lesser demons. Razor’s opinion of Tombs just went up a few notches, this greater demon is something else.

“Understood, I will make sure that the others are wary of booby traps or alarms.”

Tombs turned back to his troops and gave them orders. Razor turned his attention back to the mouth of the cave, Crank was staring at the cave intently.

“What can you see with those eyes of yours Crank?”

Razor asked. While he was able to track any prey by holding on to something belonging to them. Crank has the ability to spot traps, either magical or mundane. It is a good ability to have in his party, Crank has proven his skills many times over the decades.

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“I see three magical traps at the cave entrance. Each with a different function. One trap alerts the occupant about intruders, the second trap cast a binding spell, and the third trap cast an explosive spell thus sealing the cave entrance and crushing the invaders. I would not be surprised to discover that there are several exits on the other side of the mountain.”

Crank’s explanation was precise and to the point, he once had a military career back when he was human. Razor does not know all the details of Crank’s human life. The demon would say.

“My past as a human is over, I look to the future as a demon.”

That is all Crank would say. Razor spoke to Tombs and gave him the information Crank had discovered.

“What course of action would you recommend?”

Tombs asked and Razor blinked once in surprise.

“Excuse me for asking this, but you are a greater demon. Why would you ask me for advice?”

Tombs sighed as if in exasperation.

“Listen…Razor, that’s your name, right?”

Razor nodded and Tombs continued.

“You ever heard the term ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’?”

Razor nodded again; Tombs went on.

“Some demons are arrogant fools who look down on lesser demons because they are lesser demons. Not realizing that demons lesser or greater could contain knowledge and power they don’t understand. I ask you for your advice because I have witnessed your skills during this campaign. You and your comrades are capable, and I will not look down on that.”

Razor just shrugged and spoke.

“No problem, man, anyway, Block will take care of the traps. His has the ability to nullify traps and defuse them. So, he’ll take care of them.”

Tombs nodded his agreement and for Razor to proceed. Razor turned towards Block and spoke.

“Okay bro, you’re on.”

Block nodded and moved towards the cave entrance cautiously. He began scanning the mouth of the cave with his magic, locating the various traps. Block began to nullify and defuse the traps. It took Block ten minutes to nullify, defuse, and dispel all three traps safely.

“Okay, that’s the last trap. It’s all clear.”

Block declared.

“Good, into the cave but be on alert. We face a greater she-devil.”

Forty plus demons moved into the cave, there were forward scouts and Tombs was right behind the demons. Being trackers Razor and his party followed Tombs as they moved in. The tunnel was wide enough, and the ceiling was high enough for four greater demons to walk side by side.

“Wait! Stop!”

The warning came from Crank but too late. One of the greater demons stepped on the invisible trap posted a few dozen feet away from the cave entrance. Razor, Tombs, and everyone else not caught in the explosion were thrown back from the blast. The explosive trap caused a cave in, rubble and debris fell from the ceiling blocking the tunnel. Burying the four greater demons that had took point, they were not dead but trapped under tons of rock.

“What the hell happened!?”

Tombs demanded rushing towards the blocked tunnel and started to dig his men out. The other demons began to follow their commander’s example.

“There was another trap not too far from the cave entrance! This trap was layered with even more spells and enchantments! The greater she-devil was clever, the three traps at the entrance were not so well hidden! But this trap was invisible to my senses, it was completely untraceable! It only activated as soon as one of the demons came into its range! It was only then that I saw it and it was too late!”

Crank explained all this while shifting rocks and stones helping to dig the four greater demons out. He felt responsible for not seeing the trap, he had underestimated the greater she-devil. The last trap had two functions. One was the explosive force that caused the cave in and trapped a few demons under tons of rock. The other was to alert the caster that there are intruders inside the tunnels.

………………………………..

Tabitha stared at her reflection in the two-foot tall mirror she had created with fire and earth. After she had learned to create clothing for herself which only took a mere thirty minutes. Zula taught Tabitha how to cast enchantment and illusion spells, Talin taught her about elemental magic such as fire. Zula and Talin were surprised to discover that Tabitha had three elemental magic. Not only is she a being of fire, but she also can summon lightning and earth magic. Tabitha with the help of Balca and Talin used fire and earth to create the mirror. Now, for the first time, Tabitha saw her reflection. Her devil face looked exactly the same as her human face once did.

Tabitha studied the nearly invisible carvings on her curved blue horns, and she examined her blue wings by moving them about. Her tail looked like it had a mind of its own, but she liked how it looked. Her tail was of a darker blue and she discovered through experimentation with Balca that she could make her tail as soft as velvet or as hard as steel. And through some clever magic manipulation, Tabitha was able to cast lightning from her tail. Tabitha thought it awesome to cast bolts and streams of lightning. Her skin color was another thing, it was blood red to her eyes. And her eyes, this was her first time seeing her own eyes.

When she was human, her right eye was amber, and her left eye was grey. Now as a devil, her right eye is gold and her left eye is silver. One looks like the sun and the other looks like the moon. Tabitha found them stunning, but it was her size that surprise her most of all. Not how tall she is, but how well portioned her body is despite her size. It was like Tabitha’s human size went from five foot five inches to fifteen feet. Now, she went from studying her features to examining her new attire. Zula, Talin, and Balca showed her how to create her own clothes. Zula used her very skin to create a black strapless dress that was sinfully thin and hugged her body like a second skin. Her skin had rippled and shuddered, creating the dress. Talin created an all-red fitness outfit, a red sports bra, a red fitness pants, and a red pair of sneakers. Between her red skin and red outfit, the complexions were the same. Balca on the other hand created a biker chick outfit. A black leather vest with a black leather jacket covered her torso, and a black leather pair of shorts that exposed her slender green legs. Balca’s attire was covered in silver spikes and chains. Tabitha had to admit they all looked good, Balca with her short demeanor was absolutely breath taking. Balca grinned at Tabitha as if she knew what the she-devil was thinking. They told Tabitha it was all about having a picture of what she wants to wear in her mind. Tabitha with her magic, she imagined armor of gold and a red dress. The results were amazing.

Tabitha now wore a gold breastplate with golden forearm braces and one gold shoulder armor on her left shoulder. Letterings were carved on her armor. Her right shoulder was bare, it made for ease of movement. Her mid-section was exposed and at the waist, Tabitha wore a flowing long red dress with splits down the sides. And one in the back so that her tail can move freely. Her legs were not constraint either. She could kick and jump with an easy motion, it was like her dress was made for battle. As Tabitha looked closer at her dress, studying the magical material. She noticed small golden letterings on her dress as if they were stitched to the fabric. Finally, no outfit for a woman is complete without her footwear. Tabitha wore knee-high gold armor and red leather combat high heel boots. They too were marked with letterings. When Tabitha imagines creating her armor and clothing, she did not imagine any writings on them.

The letterings on my dress is the same on my horns and armor breastplate, those are runes. Tabitha blinked in surprise. How did I know that? Before Tabitha could examine herself and her thoughts, a shock went down her spine. She snapped her head to the cavern ceiling, and one thought came to mind. INTRUDERS!! Tabitha whirled around saying.

“We have company and not the friendly kind!”

Zula and Talin who were having a conversation from a few feet away stopped talking and looked at Tabitha. Balca was not too far away from the females, she was jumping up and down for some reason. She had been doing that for hours and Tabitha stopped wondering about her odd behavior long before that. Tabitha walked over to Kasca who was still being held in the cavern wall by her binding spell. Although it has been four days, Kasca had only needed a few hours to regenerate all six of her arms. Tabitha sank her hand into the wall and grabbed Kasca by her torso. She canceled the binding spell holding Kasca and pulled her out of the wall. Tabitha placed Kasca gently on the ground and released her.

“Listen Kasca, we’re about to have some uninvited guests. I don’t know this for sure, but I would bet that the intruders work for this Demon Lord Eldest. Since you don’t want to be captured by any demon lord, I suggest you make haste and escape.”

“You’re letting me go?”

Kasca asked warily. Tabitha nodded.

“You better go now.”

“What will you do, how will you get away?”

Kasca asked, hesitating to take flight. Tabitha gave her a smile.

“Don’t worry, I’ve spent the past few days exploring the tunnel system. I have found several cave exits, my friends and I will be taking one of them. Now go Kasca.”

Kasca looked at Tabitha for a moment, as if she was seeking something in her eyes. What? Does Kasca think I am lying? Does she believe this is some kind of trick? Tabitha really did not care if Kasca took her words at face value or not. Whatever Kasca was looking for she must have found it. Because Kasca gave Tabitha a nod and then slithered away in one of the three tunnels faster than the eye could blink. The marilith was gone and it was Tabitha and the others who needed to leave as soon as possible.