“Heresy is the eternal dawn, the morning star, the glittering herald of the day. Heresy is the last and best thought. It is the perpetual New World, the unknown sea, toward which the brave all sail. It is the eternal horizon of progress. Heresy extends the hospitalities of the brain to a new thought. Heresy is a cradle; orthodoxy, a coffin.”
― Robert G. Ingersoll, Heretics and Heresies: From 'The Gods and Other Lectures'
As the red fires died away, Tabitha’s vision was no longer impaired. She found herself looking at a rectangular grey stone alter with four gold stands around it. There were black candles at the top and they were unlit, as Tabitha studied the room, they emerged in. The room was big, big enough for a greater she-devil and five she-demons to stand comfortably in. The room itself was 12 meters by 10 meters in size, the ceiling was a good 15 meters above the floor. Everything was either black or dark grey, but she saw more black candles attached to walls or on top of more stands.
“This is a summoning chamber.”
Talin said.
“But where exactly are we?”
Zula asked.
“That is a good question.”
Malice stated. Tabitha was listening to the others, but she was watching Kasca. Who was sniffing the air scenting it with her forked tongue? Then she said to Tabitha and the others.
“We are underground, thisss mussst be the basssement level. Or we could be inssside of a cave.”
“Makes sense.”
Balca shrugged and everyone looked at her.
“When summoning demons, you want to do it someplace hidden and secret.”
“There isss a ssstructure above usss, sssome kind of temple or church.”
“How can you tell?”
Zula asked amazed at Kasca’s sensory capabilities.
“The ssscent of the wallsss here are damp and moissst. We are underground beneath the earth, the sssoil, I can tassste the sssoil beyond thessse wallsss. The ssstonesss above sssmell of fresssh air and water. And I sssmell plenty of ssstonesss above.”
“Kasca is right.”
Tabitha declared; she too was using her own magical sensory capabilities. It was a tall building but…
“We are in the middle of nowhere. Beyond the building are fields of grass, and there is a forest a few miles away.”
Tabitha realized then that everyone was looking at her. Everyone except for Balca and Malice who both had looks of pride and smugness on their faces.
“What?”
Tabitha asked.
“You can sense all of that down here?”
Talin asked and Tabitha just nodded.
“Yes, I can project and amplify my magical senses for miles around. All I have to do is concentrate and I can gain data on my surroundings.”
“That’s useful.”
Zula stated and Kasca said.
“My Lady, you are a wonder. I wisssh to ssserve you.”
Tabitha was taken aback by the marilith’s declaration. But before she could respond, she heard breathing from above. Tabitha put a finger to her lips telling the others to remain silent. Then she said in a whisper.
“There is a human above us, a mortal man. I can hear and smell him.”
Tabitha’s next words were for Kasca.
“Kasca, you are the stealthiest next to me. Go up and capture, not kill, capture. I need him alive; I have questions about that pentagram.”
Tabitha pointed to the realm gate on the floor. Kasca nodded and slithered silently through the door and up the stairs. Tabitha was surprised that the marilith did not hesitate or resist her orders. Maybe she does want to serve me. But I’ll be cautious until I know for sure. Tabitha moved to the center of the pentagram.
“What are you going to do?”
Zula asked watching her friend.
“I’m going to make sure no one else can follow us through the realm gate.”
At those words, Tabitha’s right fist pulsed with power. With three quick strikes, Tabitha slammed her fist into the floor. Sending that pulse of power through the realm gate. The floor cracked creating web-like fissures, and with that damage the realm gate was no longer operational.
“Yeah, with the realm gate destroyed. Eldest can’t send his goons after us.”
Balca said as she brightens.
“And to make matters more advantageous, we are in the mortal realm.”
Rubbing her hands together in expectation, Balca continued.
“I haven’t been to the mortal realms in a while. Oh boy, I can’t wait to explore this world, this is going to be epic.”
“First things first.”
Tabitha said as she walked up the stairs leading to the structure above.
“The name of this world and…”
As Tabitha entered the building she saw pews, two long rows of them. Above the door leading out of the church, Tabitha snarled inwardly when she saw a window glass mural, and the image of the mural is a large golden sun with a silver broadsword going through it. Tabitha saw red, she was furious.
“My Lady.”
Kasca’s voice brought Tabitha back, she controlled her rage. Tamping it down, and then leashed it tightly. Tabitha turned to face Kasca who had a human male restrained. Her tail wrapped around him thrice, the man was terrified. He wore robes of white and gold, the colors associated with his god. The man looked to be in his early thirties, with dull brown hair and dark green eyes. The man was clean shaven and was sweating with fear. Kasca said with evident pleasure.
“You were correct, thisss priessst wasss tending to the church. I have verified that he isss the only one here alone. There isss no one elssse.”
Tabitha approached them slowly, and the priest seems to have all the blood from his face drain the moment he saw the she-devil coming towards him.
“M-my…Lord R-Romanto…please protect me from evil. I am…your humble…servant.”
The man began to pray, but Tabitha heard the name of the god she hated most of all. The god who ruined her life well before she was born.
“Why would you have a realm gate leading to the Nether Realm inside your hidden summoning chamber? More importantly, why would you have a realm gate that leads to the Palace of Lust in the Nether Realm?”
The priest ignored Tabitha’s questions and continue to pray.
“Lord R-Romanto, be my sword and shield. Protect and defend my soul. I am your servant.”
The priest stopped talking abruptly when he found black talons close to his face and throat.
“Listen to me very closely priest, for this is what will happen to you if my questions are not answered.”
Tabitha’s words were growled out with menace.
“Frist, I will rip your soul from your body. Trust me, it will be painful. Then, I will cast your soul into the deepest darkest pits of the Nether Realm. There demons will torture you for all eternity.”
As Tabitha described what she would do to the priest, the man first pissed himself and then relieved his bowels. Being creatures from the Nether Realm, Tabitha and the others could smell the awful with their supernatural senses. Zula, Balca, Talin, and Malice all moved further away. Both Tabitha and Kasca ignored the man’s uncontrolled bodily functions. As if they had done this numerous times before.
………………………………..
Albedo thought tonight would be a typical night, attending the church and cleaning the holy relics. And more importantly guarding the hidden chamber and awaiting any messages from the foul Demon Lord Eldest. He did not expect to be accosted by a serpent demon when the realm gate was activated. He was about to go down to the hidden chamber in order to hear what any messenger from the Demon Lord had to say. The door leading down to the basement level had burst open at his approach, and the serpent demon came out. The she-demon was so quick, Albedo did not have a chance to scream out in terror before she wrapped her tail around him. Albedo could not move out of fear now, here was the serpent demon’s mistress. A she-devil of great size and power, threatening to take his soul and cast it into the Nether Realm. The home of demons and devils, Albedo would say anything to avoid such a fate.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“P-please no, I will answer all your questions. Just please don’t take my soul.”
………………………………..
Tabitha smiled in satisfaction, of course, she had no intention of ripping the man’s soul from his body. She could do it, the knowledge is there deep in her mind. Ready and waiting to be used, but Tabitha would not use it. Even if the priest serves Romanto, she will not destroy the soul of a man who believes in the God of Deceit and Treachery.
“Now, how long has Romanto and Eldest been allies?”
Tabitha demanded and the priest eyes widen in shock.
“Answer now or suffer the consequences!”
Tabitha snapped and the priest was so fearful that he answered.
“According to the…holy scriptures. Lord Romanto bound Eldest and several other demons to him. They are his spies and informants, by using evil demons they serve the greater good.”
Tabitha just looked at the priest and then laughed.
“Is that what you tell yourselves to justify all the ill that you do to others? Religion is such a funny thing, a man can do any evil thing so long as it is in the name of some god.”
Tabitha spat out the last sentence and then asked.
“So, Romanto has his hands in the affairs of the Nether Realm. This church is a drop point for messengers and spies, correct?”
The priest nodded saying.
“Yes, when we receive information about the going ons in the Nether Realm. We send the information to the archbishop, who informs the Archangels.”
Tabitha thought about what the priest had just said. This might not be the only drop point, there could be many others on different mortal realms. Romanto has created an information surveillance network. Tabitha smiled sweetly at the priest who cringed in fear of seeing her white fangs.
“One last question.”
Tabitha said.
“What is the name of this world?”
The priest swallowed and said.
“A-Avalon, the name of this world is Avalon.”
“Thank you.”
Tabitha said and cast two spells, one was a sleep spell and the other was a binding spell. The priest fell asleep immediately and then black ropes wrapped around him out of thin air.
“Kasca, put the priest in a room and lock the door. By the time morning comes he will wake, and his bonds shall disappear. We will be gone well before then.”
“Yesss Lady Tabitha, it ssshall be done.”
As Kasca left with the sleeping priest to carry out her orders, Tabitha turned to the others and asked.
“Does anyone know about Avalon? The type of people who live here or their level of technology?”
“I’ve never left the Nether Realm before, so I don’t have any experience with other realms. Mortals or otherwise.”
Zula shrugged in apology.
“I’ve been to a few mortal realms but never Avalon, and I haven’t heard much about it. Sorry mate.”
Talin said.
“Avalon, this is the place where King Arthur and Merlin use to live. I wonder how far away we are from Camelot?”
Tabitha snapped her head towards Balca.
“You mean King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin and Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake and all of it. I thought Avalon was a mystical island somewhere of the coast of Britain.”
Malice shook her head.
“No darling, Avalon is an entire world that has been in a state of medieval age for thousands of years. There are humans, elves, fey, dwarves, and other races. More importantly, Avalon is brimming with magical particles. It is in everything, even the food you eat and the water you drink.”
Tabitha nodded in understanding, Avalon is a world in which the real King Arthur and Wizard Merlin once lived. Could the realms have been connected to each other long ago? How else would stories of Arthur and Merlin reach earth otherwise? At the moment it did not matter, first things first.
“We need a map; we know the realm now we have to know where exactly we are. Afterwards, we can plan accordingly. Also, this is the mortal realm. We may need money, so if you can find anything that could help us in the long run.”
Balca, Talin, and Zula left to find a map and any money laying around. Malice on the other hand stayed with Tabitha and asked.
“Why spare the priest?”
“I know what you’re thinking Malice. When the priest wakes up, he will inform his superiors of what has happened this night. They’ll probably send a force after us.”
Tabitha said resignedly. Malice nodded saying.
“Yes, and not just any force of mortals. I imagine that Paladins, and Holy Knights, as well as Battle Priests will be coming after us. Most mortals tend to believe that all demons and devils are evil incarnate. Dedicated to eradicating all life and goodness in the world.”
Malice rolled her eyes at her last statement and spoke.
“Mortals can barely understand each other let alone the true nature of demons and devils. So why Tabitha, why did you leave the priest alive.”
Tabitha sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, making sure not to stab her eyes out with her sharp talons.
“Let me tell you a little bit of my history. I was born in a world where the rich and powerful lorded and terrorize the poor and weak. I was one of those poor and weak, I had lost everything. But I still tried to take my fate into my own hands, in the end, it did not work out for me. My point is Malice, I may have the power of life and death over others. But I will not terrorize or kill anyone unless I need to. I threaten the priest to gain information, but I will not kill him just because it would be convenient for us. I would need a better reason than that to murder a mortal.”
Tabitha expected Malice to give her a look which says, ‘don’t be so naive’. Instead, Malice gave her an approving smile saying.
“Too many of those in power such as gods, devils, and mortals would not have thought twice of killing that mortal if it was convenient for them. I am glad that you do not think as they. This will indeed cause us problems in the end, letting that man live. But we will deal with it together.”
Malice’s approving and understanding statement touched Tabitha’s heart. It felt like a parent understanding the feelings of a child, before Tabitha could respond with a thank you. Someone yelled.
“Found it!”
Balca came hovering forward with a rolled-up map in her hands. Soon after, Talin and Zula came back with pouches full of coins. And not long after, Kasca had returned having accomplished her task. The map was placed flat on the floor, and everyone studied it for a few minutes. Finally, Tabitha pointed to one part of the map and said.
“We are here, the church is on a hill half a mile away from the town called Green Brook. To the east is the Dark Forest, but according to this map it’s three days away.”
“By foot, it would take days to reach the forest. But we can fly so, it will only take a few hours to reach this Dark Forest.”
Talin said.
“Not all of us can fly though.”
Balca motioned her head towards Kasca who was listening. She nodded as everyone looked at her.
“Do not worry, I have ways of moving fast a cross long terrain.”
Kasca sounded confident.
“Look to the north from the Dark Forest.”
Zula said.
“That is Camelot, built by Uther Pendragon and ruled by his son Arthur Pendragon. I would love to visit that city.”
Talin cocked her head to the side saying.
“I don’t know if that would be a good idea. We should avoid large concentrations of mortal populations. Tabitha may have destroyed the realm gate, but I don’t doubt that Eldest has other means of getting to Avalon. It won’t be long before someone comes after us.”
“Exactly.”
Balca soothed with a grin.
“What better place to hide than in a city filled with mortals. It would be the last thing Eldest would expect.”
“What do you think Kasca?”
Tabitha asked and the marilith looked at her in surprise.
“Me my Lady? You wisssh to know my opinion?”
“Just call me Tabitha and yes, I would like to know your thoughts. Even if you no longer serve a demon princess, you are still a demon general. You know about planning, tactics, and strategies.”
Kasca bowed deeply to Tabitha before she said.
“Talin’sss concccernsss are valid, ssstaying in a cccity full of mortalsss isss risssky. If there are holy warriorsss or priessstsss and we’re dissscovered. The sssituation will become difficult for usss. But Balca hasss a point, a cccity filled with mortalsss isss the bessst placcce to hide. The only problemsss isss that I cannot change my true form.”
Tabitha nodded.
“Thanks to Zula’s lessons I can change my form to that of the human I once was. I assume Malice has the same ability.”
Malice nodded and Tabitha turned to Talin and Balca.
“How about you guys.”
Both she-demons shook their heads.
“Sorry dear, we are minor demons. We just don’t have the magic to shapeshift.”
Talin sounded regretful.
“Yeah babe, we would need a strong source of magic in order to shapeshift.”
Zula proclaims and Tabitha cursed, if half their party could not change their shape then they would have to think of something else. Malice cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention.
“There is a resolution to this issue.”
Malice than looked at Tabitha and spoke.
“Ever since you came to the Nether Realm, your power has grown. Even now, you power is still growing, your magical reservoir has not even reached half its potential. Yet, you are stronger than all of us combined. If we all swear fealty to you, a link would be created between us. Talin, Balca, and Kasca would have access to your magical reservoir. They would be capable of shape changing.”
Tabitha was taken aback by Malice’s suggestion; she understood what Malice had planned. The others had taught her about oaths and links between demons and devils. Yes, if all of them swore fealty to her. They would gain her powers in shapeshifting, but…
“Do you really want to chain yourselves to me? I understand the benefits that Talin, Balca, and Kasca would gain. But Malice and Zula, you both have the power to shape change. You both have regain your freedom, do you really want to throw that away by tying yourselves to me?”
The succubi laughed, and then Zula came and hugged Tabitha.
“My dear sweet friend, that is why it is a good idea to swear fealty to you. Your concerns for our freedom and welfare are heartwarming. But I don’t see it as enslaving myself to you, I see it as gaining both a friend and mistress. Besides, I don’t need to tap into your reservoir. Being a succubus, I was born with the ability to shapeshift. All succubi can, it is how we seduce mortals.”
“Tabitha, you are a devil the godess of demons. Eventually, you will form a horde. You will have armies of demons at your command. It is only a matter of time. Why not start now?”
Malice was smiling as she said this. Tabitha looked to Kasca and spoke.
“What about you? You’ve spent this whole time hiding from the Courts. Do you really want to bind yourself to me?”
Kasca lowered her serpent body since she does not have legs. Tabitha guesses it was equal to kneeling.
“Tabitha, you defeated me in sssingle combat. You could have put an end to me, but inssstead, you allowed me to regenerate. And when the time came, you allowed me to go free. You could have usssed me to essscape, but you did not. Your actionsss on the way you treat your defeated foe hasss made you worthy. Worthy of ressspect and worthy to ssserve. I hope to prove to you of my worthinessss, I wisssh to ssserve you.”
Tabitha nodded and then she asked Talin and Balca.
“What about you guys, how do you feel about this?”
“Count me in.”
Balca was the first to speak.
“Right O, you are a good lass. I would pledge myself to you.”
Talin confirmed. Tabitha nodded once again, then she asked Malice.
“Okay, how do we do this?”
“It is quite simple really. We pledge oaths of fealty to you, and you accept, but all our words will be laced with magic creating the links between us and you.”
And so, they began. Malice, Zula, Talin, Balca, and Kasca all pledge themselves to Tabitha in that order. Their words laced with magic, and Tabitha accepted but she also swore to protect them to the best of her abilities. Tabitha could feel the links forming between her and each of them. She saw how they had become stronger, but to Tabitha’s surprise she could feel herself becoming stronger too. Huh, Malice did not say anything about this. Or maybe, she kept that information to herself so that I could be pleasantly surprised. This means once I form links with others, they not only get stronger but so do I. It is a mutually beneficial relationship.
Through the links Tabitha, Zula, and Malice showed Balca, Talin, and Kasca how to shape change. They learned quick and before they left. Tabitha taught Kasca how to sprout wings from her back. Before the sun rose to the west, they were flying to the Dark Forest to the east.