“Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your savior, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security.”
― Elisabeth Elliot
16 DAYS EARLIER
Deep down within a chamber inside an ancient fortress, a bright flash of golden light appeared at the center of the chamber’s realm gate. The runes on the circular pentagram flared bright gold before dimming to a darker gold again. When the light vanished, nine beings stood in the center of the realm gate. One of them immediately fell to her knees, her skin was turning red as if she were burning up or being boiled alive. She could not breathe, there was no oxygen in the air. In fact, the air itself was both toxic and acidic. Her internal organs were beginning to deteriorate. And the temperature was over 200 degrees Celsius, a temperature no mortal could survive without a special enviro-suit.
“Ah hell! I forgot about the environment here.”
Tabitha watched as Sandra was dying, her body was on the ground now and she was writhing in pain and agony. Tabitha was thinking what to do to help the War Leader survive in the climate of the Nether Realm. A thought came to her mind of an object for mortals to wear. Again, that other side of her, the part with knowledge about the Nether Realm and magic showed her what she needed. Tabitha immediately held out her right hand with palm open and cast both creation and elemental magic. The magical particles which are so plentiful in the Nether Realm gathered in the palm of Tabitha’s hand to form a necklace with a green diamond at the center. The diamond was no bigger than a human thumbnail, but it was very powerful. With another quick flicker of her magic, Tabitha teleported the necklace. It appeared around Sandra’s neck, and as soon as it was in place the emerald diamond activated.
An invisible haze of aura surrounded the Arcadian War Leader, the effects were instant. Sandra could breathe again, and her skin was no longer on fire or felt as if it were melting from her bones. After a minute, Sandra stood up. She turned to face the greater she-devil and glared at her. Before Sandra could utter a word, Balca cut in.
“Hey, I know what ya thinking.”
The green she-demon with the shaven head flew right in front of Sandra. Her four wings flapped as fast as a hummingbird’s. She was wearing all black leather, a vest with a jacket over it, and small shorts that hugged her hips firmly. Sandra stepped back, not wanting to get too close to the demoness.
“Now, Tabitha forgot about mortals not being able to survive in the Nether Realm. In fact, you should be honored. You’re the first mortal Tabitha has dragged down to hell.”
“Oh really!”
Sandra snapped at the small she-demon.
“Should I bow my head and thank her so graciously for her consideration.”
Balca looked at Sandra impressed; she nodded her head saying.
“Ya, you should be thankful.”
The she-demon’s comment was completely serious, absolutely missing Sandra’s sarcastic remarks. Sandra looked at Balca, wondering if this demon was insane or not.
“Balca please stop.”
Talin rolled her eyes at her friend’s antics.
“Or the mortal will think that we are all two cards short of a full deck.”
Sandra shook her head slowly at the red she-demon’s strange words. Two cards short of a full deck? What does that even mean?
“I am sorry.”
The words came from the greater she-devil Tabitha, Sandra focused her attention on her. At least she seems more reasonable, the others I have no idea about.
“I did not mean for you to be harmed; my negligence caused you pain. For that I am sorry.”
With Tabitha’s apology, Sandra’s anger at nearly dying in this place cooled a little. It was not gone but losing her temper would not help in the present situation. Sandra sighed and spoke.
“Alright, I’m still alive thanks to you. But looking at it another way. I would not have nearly died if you had not brought me here.”
Sandra glared at the greater she-devil who shrugged and nodded as if to say ‘yeah, you got a point.’ But Tabitha did not seem guilty at what she had done. Sandra took a deep breath and looked around the chamber, the entire room was in semi-darkness. She could barely see three meters in front of her. What she saw could not tell her if the chamber was old or not, because the structure from floor, walls, and ceiling seems to have seamless surfaces. There was not even a crack, the room may have been ancient, but it looked newly built. Sandra wondered what type of building material was used to construct this place. The other demons were walking about, investigating the darkness.
“Where are we?”
Sandra asked Balca who gave her a look of disbelief.
“Come on, you should know right away where we are. I mean you should know where demons go when they’re not in the mortal realms.”
“I know we are in the Nether Realm!”
Sandra snapped.
“I just meant to ask where exactly we are in the Nether Realm.”
It was Lydia, one of the Cambion twins who answered the question, walking closer towards the group.
“We are in an ancient fortress once ruled by a powerful and great Nether Lord.”
Lydia addressed Tabitha then.
“I’ve confirmed it. This chamber belongs to the fortress, and we are at the bottom level.”
“Isss that good?”
Kasca asked as she slithered out of the darkness to position herself right beside Tabitha. Sandra was frightened, one moment the marilith was nowhere to be seen, the next, she appeared out of nowhere. Sandra kept her reactions under tight control, but the snake demoness seems to have picked up on her emotions. Her serpent yellow eyes darted towards Sandra for a split second, and then settled back on Tabitha.
“Yes, definitely.”
Lydia said with relief.
“This chamber is practically a secret chamber, only a handful of individuals actually know about it.”
“Yeah, I think the old Nether Lord wanted this room kept off the beaten track. Good thing for us too.”
Balca clapped her hands saying.
“Okay, what’s next?”
Sandra asked, looking around at the darkness.
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“Well, the exit’s this way. Now we go up to the fortress.”
Nanina came out of the darkness without a sound, this time Sandra could not prevent herself from jerking her body in surprise.
“To the depths of the Nether Realm with you! Could all of you stop doing that!?”
Tabitha, Lydia, Balca, Kasca, and Nanina gave the mortal Arcadian questioning looks.
“Stop doing…what?”
Tabitha asked innocently.
“All of you keep sneaking up on me, I am a warrior. If I still had my sword, I would have drawn it out by now.”
“Speaking of your weapons.”
Tabitha cut in, and with a wave of her hand. She sent Sandra’s gladius and round shield floating towards her. Sandra did not hesitate, as soon as her weapons were within range. She grabbed them, and after a few seconds Sandra sheathed her sword and strapped her shield on her back. Attacking any of these demons would be futile, even if by some miracle she manages to be victorious. Sandra would be stranded in the Nether Realm, without any way of returning to Avalon. Sandra sighed and asked.
“Why did you bring me here? What purpose does it serve you?”
She directed her questions to Tabitha who looked back for a long while before saying.
“I don’t know.”
Sandra blinked once; not sure she had heard correctly.
“Did you just say…you don’t know? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Sandra was on the verge of becoming verbally hostile, but Tabitha was calm with her reply.
“Something inside me said that I should take you with me. I don’t know why, but you are somehow… important to me.”
“Important to you?”
Sandra was taken aback by that statement. Why would I be important to a greater she-devil? I’ve only barely met her today; we don’t even know each other. Sandra decided to ask more questions about that at a later date, she changed the subject.
“This necklace…”
Sandra touched the diamond on the necklace around her neck.
“…the moment it went around my neck. I felt cool air covering my body, I could breathe again. What kind of magical object is this?”
“That necklace is specifically made for mortals who come to the Nether Realm.”
Tabitha began.
“The Nether Realm itself is the harshest environment in all the multiverse. Only devils and demons can live here. Or damned souls.”
“The only exceptions are gods, angels, and rare few supernatural beings.”
Talin cut in, walking out of the darkness suddenly. This time Sandra was able to control her reactions, all her attention was on Tabitha who nodded at Talin’s statement.
“That’s right. Anyway, mortals cannot survive in the Nether Realm without certain spells or specific magical devices. The diamond necklace I made for you creates a thin layer of atmosphere around your body. Giving you oxygen, cool air, and regulates your body temperature. The very environment of the Nether Realm is not fit for mortal habitation. The air is both toxic and acidic, the temperature is a little over 200 degrees Celsius, and the landscape is filled with rivers of lava, geysers of flames, and a barren desert with no vegetation in sight.”
Sandra’s heart sank just listening to the many dangers of the Nether Realm. And here I thought the demons would be my greatest threat. Even if I somehow escaped them, I would have no way to survive here. The very land itself is my enemy.
“So, what you’re saying is that the Nether Realm has no food or water. Which means I’m going to starve and die here. HA! So instead of dying in battle with sword in hand, I’m going to die a slow and humiliating death.”
Talin sighed, putting a hand over her face and making certain not to injure herself with her long sharp claws.
“Mortals always jump to that conclusion.”
“Meaning?”
Sandra demanded.
“Meaning, that the Nether Realm has different rules than other realms out in the multiverse.”
When Sandra gave Talin a questioning look, the she-demon continued.
“Mortals who are able to survive in the Nether Realm will never die. Basically, the Nether Realm treats them like demons. Your body will operate at its most efficient capacity, it’s quite simple. Your body will become younger and stronger, any wounds or diseases you are suffering will heal, you’ll never grow hungry or thirsty, and if you do suffer any injuries here. Your body will regenerate like that of demons. In other words, here in the Nether Realm, you are immortal. You’ll never grow old here and die, but if a demon really wants to kill you permanently. They can do it if they have the time and power. The really sick demons will torture a mortal who can regenerate body parts.”
Sandra listened to Talin’s explanation and was speechless. If the demoness was not lying, and there was a strong possibility that she was. But if she wasn’t, then Sandra could survive here indefinitely, but it would mean outliving all her family, friends, and comrades. No, Sandra wanted to go home.
“How long will you keep me here, Tabitha?”
She asked.
“Not long, but you won’t be going home soon. However, you will see your family sooner rather than later. This I promise.”
What is her promise worth? Can I truly trust the word of a devil?
Someone cleared her throat, and then Malice came into view out of the darkness. Because she had made her presence known, Sandra was not surprised at her appearance.
“I know what you are thinking War Leader.”
The succubus began to say.
“You can trust Tabitha’s words; you will see your home again.”
Sandra said nothing, she had no reason to trust any of them. But so far, no one has tried to harm her. Even though she is a prisoner.
“Okay, everyone!”
Tabitha ended the silence when she spoke.
“According to Lydia, this is the bottom level of the fortress. We are going to make our way up with the twins leading the way.”
Tabitha addressed the twins.
“Guys, I know I didn’t ask you this before. At the time we needed to get back to the Nether Realm by other means and not the normal way. But is this fortress occupied?”
The twins looked at each other, and then Nanina replied.
“It’s hard to say, it has been over 3,000 years since we were last here.”
“Yeah.”
Lydia cut in.
“The Nether Lord did have many followers, and a lot of them died with their leader. The rest may have left when the Nether Lord died, but we do not know.”
“In other words, the fortress could be occupied by the old Nether Lord’s followers, or it could be completely abandoned.”
Nanina finished and Tabitha nodded in understanding of the situation.
“Okay then, we treat this place as if the residents are still at home and hostile. Until we can verify otherwise, be on your guard.”
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, even Sandra thought it was a wise order to give. Even if these demons are dangerous, at least they do not want to harm her…not yet. Other demons would not be so hesitant to capture her and do all kinds of things to her.
“Alright ladies, let’s get going.”
With those words from Tabitha, everyone moved towards the exit of the chamber. Lydia and Nanina were first to reach the exit, but the exit was sealed off by a solid wall. Zula was already at the wall, casting spells and trying to get through. Zula stomped her feet in frustration, allowing the skirts of her black dress to flare up.
“Dammit, why can’t I get through?”
She demanded to no one in particular, yet it was Nanina who answered the question.
“The Nether Lord intended for this chamber to be used only once. And sealed the exit with a powerful spell, only another Nether Lord or greater can break this seal.”
“Oh, is that all.”
Zula replied with a bit of sarcasm.
“Well, why don’t I reach into my back pocket and take out my spare Nether Lord.”
Malice and Talin chuckled, Balca looked a bit confused asking.
“How do you keep a Nether Lord in your back pocket? Can anyone do it, or do you need some kind of spell?”
Zula rolled her eyes, but Sandra looked at the green she-demon trying to figure out if she was serious or not. Lydia on the other hand sighed and spoke.
“No need to go find a Nether Lord, we have one right here with us.”
She waved her hand towards Tabitha who shrugged before saying.
“I may be counted among the Nether Lords, but this ancient Nether Lord sounds to have been very powerful. I doubt that I could break the seal.”
“Don’t worry about it Tabitha, give it a try. Besides, if you fail, we’ll just be trapped here for a while.”
Balca said offhandedly. Talin shook her head saying.
“Nice Balca, you are a wonderful motivational speaker.”
“You think so?”
Balca asked, completely missing Talin’s sarcastic tone. The little demoness looked thoughtful.
“Maybe I should get my own show and give instructions to audiences on how to motivate others. What do you think?”
Talin just shook her head, shrugging. The others just ignored Balca’s weirdness, but Sandra was wondering what the hell a show is? Is it like a troupe show or the theatre? No, I need to focus. The crazy she-demon is just a distraction, I need to concentrate on the greater she-devil. She is the leader. I must study her, learn her weaknesses, and prepare. As if hearing Sandra’s thoughts, Tabitha turned her heterochromatic eyes to the Arcadian War Leader giving her a smile before walking to the sealed wall of the exit. Placing a hand on the wall, Tabitha spoke a single word.
“Dispel.”
It was a simple word, but it held so much power. As soon as she uttered it, a red six-pointed star pentagram in a circle with runes flared to life on the wall. In the blink of an eye, the pentagram broke apart and disappeared. Then the smooth solid wall over the exit crumbled to dust, and the dust vanished into thin air.
“Excellent.”
Lydia exclaimed.
“Wow, that was quicker than I thought.”
Yet again, Nanina was impressed by Tabitha’s share magical prowess. Even if she and Lydia were to combine their powers, it would take hours just to break through. It only took Tabitha a mere two seconds to dispel the seal. The twins moved to either side of the now opened exit out of the chamber and into the corridors of the fortress. They stretched their hands out to the interior of the fortress and said at the same time.
“Welcome to our home.”