“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
Moments before Tabitha had placed the Rod of Olana in the port compartment on the armrest of the Crystal Throne. A thousand or more kilometers away a ship sailed across the sky, using the nether winds to push the sails forward. The ship looked like an English ship, a man-of-war vessel. But on each side were large whale like fins, two on both sides. At the bow of the ship was an actual mouth with razor sharp teeth. The demons on board were pirates or you could call them demon pirates. Three days before, they had captured a merchant cargo vessel. Now, they not only have cargo. They also have prisoners to sell at the slave markets.
As the demon ship sailed across the barren desert sky of the Nether Realm. That was the time when Tabitha secured the Rod of Olana on the armrest of the Crystal Throne. The moment she did that, the topmost crystal of the Crystal Pyramid shot out a beam of bright blue light into the sky. Those demons who saw the light pointed at it and alerted the rest of their crewmembers. The beam of light lasted for exactly 30 seconds, and then it disappeared as if it was never there. Most of the demon crew on board the ship were centuries old. They are lesser, minor, and major demons. So, none of them knew what was in the direction of the light.
None of them, except for their captain. The captain was an Archdemon who has lived for tens of thousands of years. He knew what lay in that direction, and it did not bode well. Two days later, the ship arrived at the Courts. The pirate demons sold their ill-gotten gains and their prisoners into slavery. Making a healthy profit, later that evening. The captain and most of his crew were at the local bar, having drinks and talking about the light they saw. After a few potent drinks, drinks that would kill any mortal but all it does to demons is get them drunk. The pirate demons told the patrons of the bar all about the light shooting up into the sky. Many speculated on what might have caused the light, but the captain, after having a bit too many drinks roared out the answer.
“IT WAS THE LIGHT FROM THE GREAT CRYSTAL PYRAMID OF THE NETHER REALM!!”
The entire bar went silent, and the Archdemon captain took another drink. After the captain emptied his mug, he demanded another drink. When he got it, he drank the mug dry, all the while everyone in the bar waited for him to speak. Finally, the captain said.
“Long ago when I was a mere lesser demon, I was the messenger of a demon prince. He wanted to form an alliance with Olana, the Devil Queen of the Crystal Pyramid. I remember seeing the Crystal Pyramid for the first time. Nothing in the Nether Realm could compare to it, not even anything the Courts had to offer. The Crystal Pyramid is surrounded by a demon city made out of crystals, the residence use to call it Crystal City or CC for short.”
The captain took another drink from his mug, the crowd was captivated by his words.
“When the Crystal Pyramid was first discovered by the Nether Lords. They thought it was Olana’s boondoggle, something to stroke her ego. But no, the Crystal Pyramid was power made manifest in a fortress. Its very surface sparkled like millions upon millions of diamonds. It was a treasure that all the Nether Lords greatly desired, including the demon prince I served. His offer for an alliance was a lie, he wanted to get close to Olana. To learn her secrets and in time usurp her mantle. But Olana was no fool, she knew the demon prince coveted her mantle. When she refused his offer of an alliance, the demon prince tried force.”
The captain took another long drink, and then said out loud.
“My fool of a prince was defeated! Olana completely crushed him! His armies were a joke to her, I should know. I was on the battlefield when the Devil Queen decimated our ranks.”
The Archdemon captain slammed his empty mug on the table, all the demons nearby jumped out of their seats.
“Among all the Nether Lords, Olana is the only one deserving the title of Ruler of the Nether Realm. Even the gods feared her power, and that is why they conspired to murder her. But now, the Crystal Pyramid has awoken and that could only mean two things. A new she-devil has managed to take the mantle of Olana, or Olana has somehow returned from the dead and reassumed her rightful place. If it is the former, then things might not be so bad. But, if it’s the latter.”
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The captain shook his head, as if he could not imagine what would happen next.
“Let’s just say Olana will be pissed, and a pissed off Olana is not someone you want to meet.”
The captain demanded another drink and said no more, the crowd began to talk among themselves. The possibility that Olana might have returned from the dead was a deeply contested topic. In the bar, there were four individuals who were more interested in the captain’s theory than all the other patrons. Three major demons who were sitting in a corner of the bar had listened to the captain’s words.
“Did you hear that, Razor? It sounds too coincidental to me.”
“Yeah, you’re right Block. Weeks ago, Tabitha the greater she-devil appeared out of nowhere. And from what we have discovered, no one has ever seen or heard of a greater she-devil of her description. Either she has come from somewhere deep in the Nether Realm.”
“Or she was hiding in the Crystal Pyramid all this time, regaining her full powers.”
Crank finished for Razor. All three demons Razor, Crank, and Block are rogue demons from the Badlands. They know Tabitha very well, at their first meeting. Tabitha had ripped them apart, afterwards, it took a long time for Razor and the others to fully regenerate. It took some clever talking, but they managed to gain the aid of the Demon Lord of Lust Eldest. They tracked down Tabitha and captured her, but that was weeks ago. Since then, a whole lot of things have changed.
“Well, it no longer matters. We need to get the hell out of the Courts. Eldest blames us for Tabitha’s escape, even though we had nothing to do with it.”
Razor pulled the hood over his fur cloak further covering more of his face.
“Those wanted posters don’t help either, or who would have guessed Eldest could get all the exits blocked off. Check points everywhere, it’s only a matter of time before we are found.”
Crank whispered nervously while shifting his eyes back and forth, scanning the crowd. Razor got up.
“Let’s go boys, we have things to discuss.”
The three demons left the bar through the front door, fully cloaked and hooded. But no one gave them a second glance, it was not uncommon for demons to walk around in the Courts hiding their identities. Even so, the three rogue demons were still being watched. As they walked down the avenue, Razor could feel eyes on their backs. Razor was a tracker type demon if he has something tangible from the target. He can track them anywhere in the multiverse. Those same traits make him such a good tracker also allows him to tell when he himself is being tracked.
“Boys, we’ve got company.”
Razor whispered to his friends.
“What do we do bro?”
Crank asked in an equal whisper.
“There’s an alley after this next block. We go in and make a run for it. With some luck, we’ll get a head start before they even realize we’d made a break for it.”
It was not the best plan Razor could come up with, but they did not have a lot of options. As soon as they turned into the alleyway, Razor and his friends spread their wings. But before they could take flight, a familiar voice said.
“Hello Razor, I see you’re still hanging out with those two warts Crank and Block.”
Razor knew that voice, and when the demon stepped out of the shadows it was confirmed. The demon was a major demon like Razor and the others, he was just as tall as Razor too. With a single horn protruding out of his forehead. The demon was red skinned, bald, and wore leather armor of green and brown.
“Bobby! How’s it goin’?”
Razor said in a jovial tone, he spread his arms wide as if in welcome. But his thoughts were very different. This is the absolute worse possibility; Bobby the Bounty Hunter is here!
“You know why I’m here Razor.”
As Bobby said this, other demons emerged out of the shadows. Razor spotted lesser, minor, and major demons. They were surrounded, their escape route cut off from behind and in the air.
“You have a huge bounty on all three of your heads. Demon Lord Eldest wants you badly.”
Razor shrugged nonchalantly.
“I don’t know why he has his panties in a twist. We did the job he wanted us to do, and in the end, he cheated us out of our reward. If anyone should be pissed off it should be us.”
Bobby shook his head in sorrow.
“That doesn’t matter to me old buddy, who’s in the right or wrong has no bearing on the job I do. There is a bounty on your heads, and I will collect that bounty. It’s as simple as that.”
Bobby gave them a wicked smile, showing off his brilliant white fangs. Damn, Bobby was never the reasonable type.
“We don’t feel like spending countless centuries in a demon lord’s dungeon to be tortured day and night.”
Razor took a fighting stance and so did Crank and Block. All three demons were back-to-back, covering each other’s blind spots.
“If you and your boys want this bounty, you’re all going to have to work for it.”
Razor declared. Bobby’s smile grew even wider.
“I was hoping you’d put up a fight, otherwise it’s no fun going after bounties.”
Bobby crouched like a cat ready to spring at its prey. The other demons prepared to pounce on the three rogues. Razor knew unless something changed, he and his friends were not going to make it out of this.