“Highly sensitive people are too often perceived as weaklings or damaged goods. To feel intensely is not a symptom of weakness, it is the trademark of the truly alive and compassionate. It is not the empath who is broken, it is society that has become dysfunctional and emotionally disabled. There is no shame in expressing your authentic feelings. Those who are at times described as being a 'hot mess' or having 'too many issues' are the very fabric of what keeps the dream alive for a more caring, humane world. Never be ashamed to let your tears shine a light in this world.”

― Anthon St. Maarten

“First though, I think we should be on the move.”

Zula suggested, Tabitha, cocked her head to the side waiting for the succubus to explain.

“I’m on the run, and I don’t want to stay in one place for too long.”

Tabitha got her meaning, Zula wanted to be on the move. She did not want another group of bounty hunters catching up with her. Tabitha nodded.

“Okay, where should we fly to?”

“Follow me, I’ll tell you on the way.”

Zula spread her wings then, Tabitha saw that she had an impressive wingspan of around 15 feet. With one big flap, the succubus was in the air in no time. Tabitha was quick to follow, Zula was already 30 yards away when Tabitha took to the skies. In just a few quick flaps, Tabitha had already caught up to Zula and matched her speed. Zula gave Tabitha an approving smile.

“We can fly and talk without issue.”

Tabitha nodded in agreement. With their supernatural hearing they can hold conversations as if they were taking a stroll in a park.

“So, who are you running from and why?”

Tabitha asked.

“Well, my story is kinda complicated. Remember I was telling you how demons are rarely born in the Nether Realm.”

Tabitha nodded.

“I was the last demon born a century ago. But I was born to a Demon Lord who thinks his daughter is his personal plaything.”

At first, Tabitha thought she had miss heard. Then, her face scowled. As a human on earth under the shadow of the Holy Church of Romanto. Rapes, pedophilia, and sexual abuse and harassment were not only tolerated but allowed. It was seen as normal by the church hierarchy. Women were there to be used but not heard. Tabitha never understood such hypocrisy by the church with all their talk about justice and truth. Zula was still speaking, and Tabitha went back to paying attention.

“Needless to say, I lived in a prison my whole life. My bastard of a father kept me in a gilded cage. He got jealous if another male ever gave me a look of admiration. Truth be told Tabitha, I escaped from my father’s palace yesterday. This is the first time I have ever been outside at all. And I don’t want to go back. If I do, my so-called father will make certain I never ever have another chance to escape again.”

Tabitha thought for a moment and then asked.

“What about your mother?”

Zula sighed before saying.

“My mother is a succubus, a very powerful succubus. But she too is a prisoner, and she was powerless to protect me. She tried, boy, did she try. But you don’t know my father, he is a Demon Lord and nearly no one can deny him. If I could have escaped with my mother, I would have in a second. But there was no way I could get to her. I hope that one day I would find the means to free my mother. Until then, I must secure my own freedom first.”

When Zula fell silent, Tabitha did not ask another question for a while. She decided to change topics.

“Where exactly are we going? I don’t know the Nether Realm, so its geography is a mystery to me.”

Zula was quiet for a time. She was thinking about the best way to answer Tabitha’s questions. Finally, she shrugged which is a funny thing to do while flying.

“On the few occasions, my mother and I were allowed to spend any time together. She taught me a little about the lands outside of the Courts. Where you just rescued me was the Badlands, that’s where rogue demons and barbarians dwell. Off in the distance where we are heading to, are the Frost Back Mountains. The only place in the Nether Realm where you can find snow. If we were to turn around and fly through the Badlands, we would reach the Courts. That’s where the highest of the Nether Lords play their games of politics and power. That’s where my father is. The Courts are like a combination of cities, villages, and towns. It is the biggest settlement in the Nether Realm, but not the only one.”

Tabitha was intrigued, she would not mind visiting the Courts. She imagined she would find all kinds of things. But she did not like the sound of the Nether Lords which she assumes are the demons and devils of royalty.

“Over to our right.”

Zula was pointing to their right.

“About a week’s flight, you would reach Damns Town. Despite the name, it is merely a merchant town. They sell and trade all sorts of things. To the left of us.”

Zula now pointed her finger to the left.

“Are the Beast Caves, there are demons of alien origins there. The caves are filled with tunnel systems of mazes and labyrinths. No one knows who created them, some say it was the Nether Realm itself. But the Nether Realm is beyond ancient.”

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Zula faced forward in the direction they were flying.

“Beyond the Frost Back Mountains, a day may be two days travel is Olana’s fortress.”

“Olana’s fortress?”

Tabitha asked and Zula nodded.

“Yes, Olana’s fortress, the Great Crystal Pyramid of the Nether Realm. Legend has it that it was built by Olana herself. Olana was somehow connected to the Crystal Pyramid at a magical and physical level. They say with the power of the Crystal Pyramid, Olana’s own powers rivaled even the gods themselves. That’s the reason why the gods attacked Olana, they feared her power. But she never troubled the gods or their domain. I think they killed her out of jealousy, they didn’t like the thought of a devil as their equal on any plain of existence.”

“Gods say that they want the best for everyone, but they turn around and order their followers to kill anyone who does not bow down and worship them.”

Tabitha vented her feelings on the gods, well actually on one particular god. Romanto had turned the earth upside down. Launching his worshippers to conquer country after country and ruling over them with an iron fist. No, Tabitha did not think too highly of the gods.

“Why are we heading to the Frost Back Mountains?”

Tabitha decided to get back on topic.

“The Frost Back Mountains have huge peaks. So high, at the very top is covered in snow. But what we want is at the base of the mountains.”

Tabitha eyed Zula questioningly, the succubus smiled and continued.

“There are cave systems in the mountains, not as extensive as the Beast Caves. But they will do for a hiding place for the time being. Once we find ourselves a cave, I can start teaching you about how to use magic.”

Tabitha’s eyes widen at that, it would be a good idea. When she was fighting those demons, she was going on instinct. She felt like a passenger in her own body. As if Zula was reading her mind, the succubus said.

“Tabitha, you did well against those demons, but they were no match for you. And you fought on instinct, which may work for a time. But if you face a more experienced opponent, it may mean defeat for you. And there are some demons and devils who love to torture and do all sorts of things to you. They’re like my father, evil bastards the lot of them.”

“How does magic work? Are all demons and devils able to use magic? Is there some kind of restriction based on levels?”

Zula could tell based on the questions that Tabitha was asking that this is a smart she-devil. She must have been brilliant as a human, but from what she has told me. Her life on earth wasn’t a good one, it must have been hard to have her genius chocked to death. Zula thought carefully on how to answer Tabitha’s questions.

“Well, let me ask you a question. Tabitha, have you noticed that you do not get tired or hungry or thirsty?”

Tabitha blinked at that and then nodded.

“I was wondering about that. It has been 6 hours since I got here. Yet, I don’t feel any of that. In fact, I feel as if I’m growing stronger by the seconds.”

Zula nodded and chuckled.

“Yes, you’ll continue to grow stronger as the hours, days, weeks, months, and years pass. In a year, I dear say your power will rival that of any prince or princess, demon or devil. All of this, the strength, the lack of need for food, drink, and rest is a result of the Nether Realm. You see we demons and devils naturally absorb magical energy from the Nether Realm itself. Magic is all around us, and our bodies which were created by the Nether Realm are efficiently capable of harnessing the magic within ourselves and without. The very acidic air we breathe is tinged with magic. The land, geysers, lava, floating rocks, and everything else in the Nether Realm is tinged with magic.”

Tabitha thought about that.

“Magic is the source of our strength. Our bodies absorb this magic. In return, we do not need to eat, drink, or sleep. When we are injured, our natural healing abilities come from the magic in our very bodies. It’s in our blood, our very cells.”

Zula nodded in appreciation, glad to see that Tabitha understood.

“This is one of the many reasons why there are barely any supernatural beings on the earthly realms. Without a large supply of natural magic, demons and devils will not have the power to incarnate a body upon the mortal earth. But my mother told me that it was not so. Long ago, all the earthly realms were filled with natural magic. But since the War for Armageddon, a lot of the earth’s natural magic was used up.”

Tabitha was surprised.

“Wait a minute, isn’t Armageddon the final battle of the Forever War? The final conflict between good and evil to decide the fate of the universe?”

Zula laughed at that, she laughed long and hard. Tabitha waited, and Zula finally got herself under control after a few more laughs.

“Is that what they taught you in school?”

Zula shook her head in disbelief.

“Mortals never get it right. They like to turn history into myths and legends. Or use it to further their own religious beliefs. Tabitha, Armageddon is a world in the multiverse in a galaxy filled with abundant life. Armageddon was so filled with natural magical energy, that a low-level demon could have spent a few centuries there and become a devil king in time. The Gods of Chaos wanted the world for themselves, and naturally, the Gods of Order did not think this a good idea. Needless to say, both sets of gods went to war over Armageddon. Both sides used everyone and everything at their disposal. Mortals, magical weapons, spells, angels, monsters, all forms of supernatural beings, and if you can believe it both sides employed demons and a devil or two.”

Tabitha let out a bark of laughter.

“Oh, how wonderful. The gods and their worshippers talk about smiting evil and helping the weak. But in the end, the gods are as fallible and flawed as any mortal man or woman.”

Zula nodded in total agreement.

“To make a long story short, the Gods of Order defeated the Gods of Chaos by using the combined magical energy of the earthly realms. This, of course, allowed all the natural magical energy of the earth realms to be drained to near nonexistence. Thus, all the gods and every other supernatural beings lost access to the earthly realms. Armageddon became a lifeless wasteland after a thousand years of constant war. It was no use to anyone.”

“What a waste.”

Tabitha said with feeling.

“Agreed, luckily, many of the inhabitants of Armageddon saw the writing on the wall. They got the hell out of there while the getting out was good. Sadly, billions of souls were lost in the gods’ war. To this day Armageddon is seen as the end war. But it was simply the end of a beautiful world.”

Zula went silent then, and Tabitha followed suit. Both women were thinking, one was thinking about the cost of war. How it had robbed her of her country, parents, and in the end her human life. All because a god desires power and would use his followers to achieve it. The other thought about the greed of those in power, and how they are willing to use it to get what they want. No matter the cost to others, or the worlds. Tabitha was thinking about what Zula had told her about getting stronger in the Nether Realm.

She never had any power to change her circumstances. But now if what Zula said is true. Tabitha would become more powerful than any of the archbishops back on earth. But how would I use that power? I don’t want to be like them or their god Romanto. But power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I don’t want to be like those other gods who destroyed Armageddon because they wanted its natural magical energy. But without power, there are those who would take advantage of me.

Tabitha thought hard. I need to find a balance, where I can use my powers and not be corrupted. Well, we will see how things go. Tabitha and Zula flew on to the Frost Back Mountains, both hoping for a better and brighter future.