“Where do we find allies?"

Father Yarvi smiled. "Among our enemies, where else?”

― Joe Abercrombie, Half the World

As Razor and his pals prepared for the onslaught, there was a click, click sound that echoed through the walls of the alleyway. Everyone looked around, searching for the source of the noise.

“Good evening gentlemen.”

Everybody snapped their heads in the direction of the voice. A major demon dressed in a dark blue suit stepped forward. The clicking sound came from when the bottom of his shoes hit the concrete ground of the alley. The demon was your typical pretty boy, for a moment, Razor thought he might be an incubus. But he was not getting that vibe when in the presence of incubi or succubi. His black eyes reminded Razor of the deepest darkest depth of a pit. His short curly black hair looked almost wind-blown and complimented his red skin. His wings, horns, and tail was also black. The demon surveyed the scene before saying.

“If I may intrude, I wish to speak with these three gentlemen. It will only be a moment.”

The demon pointed a finger at Razor’s group, who looked none plus. After a moment, Bobby shook his head as if trying to dispel an illusion, then he said.

“Bugger off, this here is our bounty, and we will not share them with anyone.”

“I assure you I have no interest in your bounty. I only seek to ask these gentlemen a few questions, they have information I need to acquire.”

The demon stated as diplomatically as possible, but Bobby was having none of it.

“I told you to get lost! Now!”

The demon took a deep breath and spoke.

“Very well, I was hoping to avoid any…unpleasantness.”

Before anyone could say or do anything, the demon raised a hand and a beam of black energy shot out and headed straight for Bobby. But the bounty hunter was ready for such an attack. As fast as the beam of black energy was, Bobby was able to jump out of the way. One of his demons who was directly behind him was not so fortunate. The attack struck the demon in the forehead, and the demon’s head blew up in a shower of blood, gore, and grey matter. Then, all hell broke loose literally. Razor and his group took the initiative, as soon as the stranger had launched his attack. Razor shot out bone spikes from his forearms. Three demons got hit by the bone spikes, one spike went through a demon’s left eye and out the back of his head. Another demon got hit with three spikes, one through the temple, the second through the right shoulder, and the last through the abdomen. The last demon was struck in both legs and the throat.

Crank and Block managed to take down three demons between them. But now, the bounty hunters were on them. Razor ducked a hammer swing from a tough looking minor demon who was quick on his feet despite his size. Razor was about to counter with a claw swipe to the throat, but step back quickly to avoid a hit from a spiked whip. Razor turned his attention to the major demon wielding the whip, but he had to dodge another swing from the demon with the hammer. The two demons worked together like a well-oiled machine. One distracting Razor, the other coming for the kill and then they would switch it up. If only I could use fire on these bastards but being demons fire wouldn’t work on them. It would just be a waste of energy. While Razor was thinking of a way to beat the two demons attacking him. He used his sensory perception to see how his boys were doing. Block had already managed to take down three more demons and was grappling with a fourth. Crank was taking on half a dozen demons and was holding his own against them. But the battle between Bobby and the stranger was something to behold.

Bobby was using his massive meat cleaver sword and deflecting the other demon’s black energy magic. Bobby would either dodge or beat the magic aside, and then he would dart forward at incredible speeds. Getting in close Bobby struck at the demon with a downward slash, trying to cut the demon in half. However, the demon would avoid the attack by shifting to the side, the meat cleaver barely missing him by a hair’s breadth. The demon moved like the wind, dodging all of Bobby’s attacks. It was almost like a dance. Razor would have loved to see more, but the demon with the hammer nicked his shoulder. It was barely a touch, but it told him he needed to pay attention to his own fight. And he needed to end his fight now. Razor had just thought up a strategy to defeat these two eyesores.

As the little demon with the hammer tried to step back so his partner could attack with the whip. Razor took a big step forward, opened his mouth, and sprayed a jet of green acid in the other demon’s face. The demon screamed in agony, dropping his hammer he reached for his face. Razor took the opportunity, sensing the other demon from behind casting his whip. Razor darted forward catching the hammer in mid-air, placing his left hand on the demon’s shoulder and jumped over the man still trying to wipe the acid from his face. As soon as Razor’s feet touched the ground, he pushed the other demon roughly forward. Right into the path of the spiked whip, the whip wrapped around the demon plunging its spiked tips deep inside the demon’s flesh.

Before the demon could unwrap the whip from around his comrade, Razor threw the hammer right at the demon’s head. The demon moved his head out of the way, the hammer missing him by about an inch of space. But the hammer was a distraction, before the demon knew it. Razor was slicing through the demon’s throat with his claws. As the demon grabbed his throat trying to stop the flow of blood, Razor kicked the demon in the chest sending the man flying. Then Razor turned his attention to the bound demon. Lengthening his claws, Razor cut off the demon’s head. Razor then spread his wings and took to the air. The other demon was flat on his back still holding his throat, it was only a matter of time before he regenerated. But it was time the demon did not have. Razor folded his wings and dropped like a stone foot first. The demon’s head exploded as it was crushed beneath Razor’s feet.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Razor looked around to check on his boys and saw to his relief that Crank and Block had finished their fights. However, Bobby and the stranger were still going at it. Yet, Bobby was not looking too good. His single horn was broken, there was a hole in the middle of his chest, and his left arm was dangling. Broken in several places, but Bobby still held his meat cleaver, pointing the blade at the stranger.

“Damn you, you bastard! I won’t let you have our bounty.”

The stranger shook his head as if disappointed.

“As I have stated before, I just wanted to ask the rogue demons a few questions, nothing more. Blame yourself for being difficult.”

With that said, the stranger held out both his hands and a portal of black ink emerged from behind the demon. Before anyone could understand what, the demon had just done, the inky black portal shot out dozens of black energy beams. Bobby had no time to react to the sudden attack. Before he knew it his arms, legs, torso, and head were sliced off by black beams of magical energy. Bobby fell to pieces, his meat cleaver still gripped by his severed hand. The demon who started the whole battle straightened up and flattened the creases on his dark blue suit. When he was finished, he looked at Razor and his group and spoke.

“Now that those ruffians have been taken care of, I have questions only you three can answer.”

“Oh, really?”

Razor said with a cocky grin now that Bobby and his goons were disabled. He could negotiate with this strangely dressed demon.

“We still need to get out of here.”

Block whispered to Razor, who nodded in agreement.

“Leaving is our top priority, and this guy could be our ticket to freedom.”

Razor whispered back, and then he said aloud.

“I would be more than happy to answer any questions I can answer. But I am afraid time is not on our side. As we speak bounty hunters like these guys, we just dealt with are searching everywhere for us. It’s only a matter of time until we come across another group of morons.”

The demon did not take too long to see where Razor was going.

“You wish me to aid in your escape from the Courts?”

Razor nodded.

“Exactly, get us out of here and we will have plenty of time to talk. I’m Razor. This here is my buddies Crank and Block. What might your name be?”

“Call me, Balocustos and you have yourself a deal. I will get you out of the Courts, I know people who are good at not asking questions.”

Balocustos stepped closer to the three rogue demons, the darkness in his black eyes seemed to swirl and spin. It was eerie to the rogues.

“Be forewarned gentlemen if you seek to deceive me. Then you will pay, and I will torture the information I need out of you.”

Razor’s smile grew even wider, showing off his fangs. His eyes were bright with anticipation.

“When we make a bargain Balocustos, we keep our word. Unlike a certain demon lord, we do not renege on an agreement.”

Balocustos nodded.

“Then, let us leave the Courts.”

The four demons took flight, heading for a location known by their new ally.

………………………………..

Sometime later, Balocustos along with the three rogues stood on top of a building with statues of gargoyles. They hid themselves in the shadows while watching the scene down below. They were in a town with 20th century style buildings. There were shops and warehouses, and the demons present were very rare. It was the end of the workday, and demons were going home or hanging out at bars or clubs. After what felt like forever, the area was clear.

“Follow me.”

But before Balocustos could move, Razor grabbed his arms.

“Wait.”

“What is it?”

Balocustos demanded.

“Can we trust your contacts?”

Razor demanded.

“No.”

Was Balocustos’s simple reply.

“What the hell man? Then why did we come here?”

Crank demand, he was not happy with the situation.

“Because even though they are not trustworthy. They are good at what they do. Just keep your faces hidden underneath those hoods, and we may get out of this without any more trouble.”

Before any of the rogues could retort, Balocustos spread his wings wide and jumped down to the street. Cursing, Razor, and the others followed. Using his wings to glide down, Balocustos landed on the ground gently barely uttering a sound. However, Razor and the others were not so graceful. But Balocustos was on the move as soon as his feet touched the ground. The rogues were hard pressed to keep up with the strangely dressed demon. In no time, the four demons stood before the door of a warehouse. Balocustos knocked on the iron door five times, and then twice more. The small slider in the door slid open and two brown eyes with vertical slits looked back at them.

“We’re closssed.”

The demon on the other side of the door had a hissing speech. Razor could tell he was a snake demon, not on the level of the marilith he helped get into the Palace of Lust. A lesser type of snake demon.

“I am here to speak with your master.”

Balocustos stated, his voice was normal. Neither submissive nor aggressive.

“He’sss busssy, come back later.”

The snake demon hissed back, but Balocustos would not be deterred.

“We need to leave the Courts by the means your master can provide. Tell him we have adequate payment.”

The eyes of the snake demon stared daggers at Balocustos, and then his eyes shifted colors. It went from brown to milky white. Razor recognized the look when demons are bound to a master. Whether they be princes, queens, etc. Bound demons form links with their masters, with those links they can communicate with their master no matter the distance or where in the multiverse they are. The snake demon’s eyes went back to their original color.

“You may come in. But, if the massster doesss not like your offer. You might not come back out again.”

Balocustos nodded his understanding, and the snake demon closed the slide. The door opened, and Balocustos stepped through. Razor shrugged his shoulders and said in a whisper that only Crank and Block could here.

“Okay boys, is do or die time.”

Then Razor stepped through the door with his friends right behind him.