Chapter 12

Avernus: One day ago.

____________________________

Delvia was conscious again but found her surroundings to be unfamiliar and quite troubling. She was trapped inside a magic circle, her massive body filling it completely as she pressed her hands against the curves of the magical wall of force testing the strength of her invisible prison. Soon her attention sifted as she was not alone. In front of her was a horned devil his prominent horns and clawed hands baring many rings and bracelets. There were several torches on the wall illuminating the obsidian cave. The dark, shiny surface seemed to absorb much of the light but she could still see him in great detail. He was a devil and she expected him to work his magic to enslave her. The fool would soon find out that she could not be manipulated or turned. She needed nothing from him and her master would come looking for her sooner or later. Delvia didn’t know where she was on Avernus but she sure that she would be there for a long time.

So she began to shift and move, making herself more comfortable as she watched her jailer move and sort items from a leather bag.

Eventually the devil pulled out a stone from his pocket and began talking to someone. She could only hear half the conversation but it seemed to be some type of negotiation. The devil then turned back towards her and moved closer to the magic circle his eyes still not leaving the surface of the stone as he concentrated on it. He then looked up at her coming to a stop some 15’ away as he continued to speak into the stone. “Then the terms of the pact are set. The demon will be there shortly. She is quite intelligent and very friendly as far as demons go.” The devil smiled as he said this looking directly at Delvia.

Delvia knew he was lying to the poor mortal on the other end. She was persistent viscous deceitful and hungry for human flesh. She was also as dumb as a box of rocks. But Delvia did not know this. She was full of pride. Pride in her strength and her power. She was chosen to help attack the planes of Avernus as part of the blood wars. She commanded a legion of demons and soon she would be free on the mortal world.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

The devil threw the stone to the side and began chanting rune words. Much of his rings and bracelets glowed and melted away consumed as a cost for what he was doing. The spell completed and magic swirled in the air between her and the devil. Delvia’s body was gripped by some kind of spell and her world went black for a second. And then her eyes were open and she was looking at herself her massive body was free and moving. It looked at her and said “Be still” Delvia was frozen she couldn’t move.

The devil now in Delvia’s body began chanting more rune words but this time with her voice. Delvia could only watch as energy swirled where the magic circle had once been. The purple and blue mist swelled as Delvia’s massive body began to shrink and devolve. Eventually settling down to one quarter of her original size. Then the ball of magic and her former body disappeared with a flash of light and a loud pop.

Delvia was suddenly alone in the cave and couldn’t move. She called out but only heard the devil’s deep voice echo in the cave. Then after 4 minutes of paralysis and silence she could move. She stumbled around the cave and began to take stock of her oddly shaped legs and what jewelry was left on the devil’s body. There was just a single ring whose function she could not understand and a necklace containing a single human toe.

Wanting to get her bearings, she ran out of the cave and looked around hoping to see something familiar. Luckily it seemed she was still on the plains of Avernus. There were craggy mountains, fireballs in the sky and a distinct slant to the rocky field before her. She proceeded down the slope as it was both easier going and hopefully would lead her to the river Styx. Delvia wanted to rejoin her demonic brethren and continue the fight now that she had her freedom once again. ‘Damn and I thought I was going to get to feast on mortals’ she cursed internally.

Going down the slope and across the rocky field she traveled for hours, the weak body she was in could not run very fast and she could not teleport over large distances like she was used to. After what seemed like half a day she arrived at the river and began traveling down it’s shores. Delvia could hear the moaning and wailing from the river of souls as it flowed towards its inevitable destination at the bottom of the Abyss. As she went along walking slowly she noticed a shadow flutter across the ground getting closer to her from the distance. Looking up, there was a dark shape silhouetted against the burning sky. The shape grew larger in her field of vision two wings now visible. The demonic form suddenly lander on her with a crack and a thud as a massive hooved foot stood on her arm and shoulder breaking bone and flesh.

Delvia was pinned to the ground and cried out in pain. “No stop I am one of” Her words were cut short as a massive blade sunk into her skull severing the top of her head from her nose and mouth. The Balor looked down and retrieved the top half of the devils skull as a trophy. As it bent over it took notice of the necklace around the neck of the now very dead horned devil. It pulled the toe loose from the chain, stuck it in its mouth and consumed it. The Balor then stood up to his full height and extended his wings. A deep raspy voice called out a single word.

“Delicious!”