31. All Hail Hell
All Hail Hell
Ryker
During the next thirty minutes, while we gather the dead, I run through everything that happened and how we were about to turn that ambush into a win. The fact that Conquest was freezing time was definitely our wild card.
“I can’t wait to hear the story,” Knox whispers as he helps me drag the last warrior over to the pile. “Because whatever you did, I’m grateful, you were the real MVP today,” Knox admits. “Thanks.”
I nod back and wipe the sweat from my forehead.
“Which one do you think would be better?” Zeke asks, eyeing the massacre that’s before us.
It’s not as bad as it could have been. A decent number of contenders ran away once I pulled their confidence, but looking at the bodies lying before me, we killed at least twenty.
“Burn or bury? Burning would be faster,” Zeke points out.
“True, but then their families can’t take their bodies if they want,” Moni says, floating next to me.
In one swift move with her hands, the ground below the bodies shifts out from underneath them. The bodies lower into the ground, and the loose dirt transfers back over the top of them, efficiently burying them within a few minutes.
“Now that’s my woman!” Chester whoops, grabbing her and pulling her into his embrace. “Your powers are growing every moment, babe,” he whispers into her hair before kissing her forehead, turning her bark a bright pink.
“Thanks,” she squeaks.
“There’s something kicking up dust coming this way,” Zeke calls out, grabbing our attention.
Sure enough, there’s dust flying up into the sky coming from the direction of the buildings I saw earlier.
“Can you make out anything?” Knots asks, already reaching for his sword.
“No.” Zeke rubs the back of his neck as his voice drops. “The dust obscures everything. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Knots reassures him before turning to the rest of us. “Guys, we don’t have much of a defense, but let’s use the trees that we do have. Moni, get high and ready to use your boom. The rest of you, use your talents where you can.”
Talents? What kind of pep talk is that? The only talents I have are my damn weapons and pulling confidence away from whatever is coming right now, so there’s no point in hiding. Instead, I walk to the front of the line. Zeke gives me a toothy grin and holds out a fist.
Fist bumping, we turn and wait for the dust to advance closer.
Two hundred yards.
“Do you hear that?” Zeke asks.
“The wind?”
“No, words…almost like a beat,” he admits.
A red paper magically appears in front of JP as he steps up next to me.
“Oh, I got a note,” he calls out.
Gaining our hospitality and trust is rare,
But nothing is impossible for Hell’s new heirs.
The unwanted and unwashed are vivacious to the core,
So sit back, relax, and enjoy all the gore.
-L.A.M.B.
“What the fuck does that mean?” JP asks, looking at me, but all I can do is snort. Sit back and relax? Pfft. It seems like someone missed that message.
A hundred yards.
A loud banging sound roars in the distance. Is that what Zeke was talking about?
Twenty yards, and a monstrous black motorized vehicle screeches to a halt, its back tires spinning around, kicking up dust, rocks, and sending sand flying at our faces before we can take cover.
“Fuck!” I turn, trying to protect my head as I’m pelted by sharp stones. A door opens, and music turns off before someone clicks their tongue as I cough the dust from my lungs.
“Don’t tell me a few rocks can take you out now. Our weapons trainer would be so disappointed in you,” a familiar sultry voice rings out.
“Yeah, well, he would be equally disappointed in whoever takes care of this hunk of junk,” I call back, smiling at my old friend and mentor.
“Zissa!” Moni yells, flying over.
“Hello, Princess.” Zissa nods her head, opting out of bowing.
“Pfft. You’d better just call me Moni, since we’re friends and all.” Moni cycles between a pastel yellow and pink, which is kinda cute.
“Noted.”
“How did you know we were here?” Knots’ eyes squint as he questions her.
“Oh, that’s easy.” She cocks her head and points over to the tree behind me, straight to a knot holding a camera lens.
“Figures,” Lynx grumbles. “They should really tell us where those are. I want to make sure they get my good side,” he says, while striking a seductive pose for the camera.
“Well, it didn’t show anyone’s good side in the cave, but it’s how I knew you were here.
Besides, your father would have me skinned alive and made into a sheath for a new weapon for Bez if I didn’t come out here and pick you up.
” She winks and turns back to her black wagon of death.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Let’s go.
I want to be inside before the real monsters are let loose. ”
“Real monsters?” Chester squeaks. “That doesn’t sound good at all.”
“Neither does leaving here without Rez. How will she know where we went if we leave?” Zeke questions, giving the cave a longing glance.
“I agree. I don’t feel comfortable leaving Rez behind,” I admit.
“Already have that settled. When I realized that Rez wasn’t with you as you exited the cave, I called ahead for another car.
” Zissa smiles and points to another vehicle heading our way in a plume of dirt.
“It’s a smaller envoy, but when Rez shows up, she’ll be set.
” She walks around to her side of her vehicle and looks over the top at us.
“So, are you good with that plan, or would you rather hang out with the real monsters of Hell?”
“I suggest we listen to the warrior and depart this area,” Knots agrees.
You don’t have to tell me twice. We get a safe passage through Hell and the obstacles we were supposed to face. Knox can feel Rez, and she’s close, safe, yet annoyed. Zissa has an escort waiting to bring her to us safely, and I’m sure we won’t leave this plane until we are reunited.
I quickly step up and notice the vehicle is an old military Kenworth T370 Armor personnel carrier. A thrill goes through me as I take in the beauty before me, even though it looks modified. I’ve never been this close to a military beast of this magnitude, and I’m about to hop in one myself.
Everyone jumps into the contraption through the back door as I quickly take shotgun to check out the console and dash, letting out a long whistle.
Wow, talk about an upgrade. Turning to look at the back, I take in the bucket seats everyone has pulled down along the walls and have fastened in, and notice there’s enough for everyone.
Even Knots has put Reaper in his own seat next to him.
I’m surprised he’s not burning through the restraints, but then again, this is a modified military vehicle; I shouldn’t be surprised.
“Nice wheels.” The outside isn’t anything to look at, but the inside is fancy as hell with a GPS, spell-integrated system, aftermarket sound system, de-cursing list, a knowledge tab on the screen, phone system, and even a translator program.
“Thanks.” Zissa smirks. “I stole it.”
“Sounds about right. I’m guessing 2017?” With my love of history, I know I’m in the ballpark as I touch the bullet-resistant glass and riot-mesh-lined window.
“Spot on, they were gonna decommission it and scrap it. Can you believe that? Pfft. Humans.” She winks. “Hold on tight. We’re on a deadline,” she warns, slamming her foot down, causing me to slam and sink into my seat as we leap forward.
“This isn’t equipped with one of those cameras for the Gauntlet, right?” I ask, before peering over my shoulder back at my family.
“Ugh, in the famous words of Cher, ‘As if’” She wrinkles her nose, and I give her a strange look.
“Sorry, Clueless has been on a rerun lately, and I love that show.” Zissa smiles widely.
Since we’re flying down the barren landscape, kicking up dust as we go, I take the opportunity to explain to the others what I experienced during our fight.
“Damn, that's a handy tool to have, especially with some of the people it looks like we’re attracting,” Knox admits.
“I know,” I concur.
I turn around, and I spot the buildings I saw earlier become more prominent. Tall, desolate buildings with blown-out windows line a rocky and torn-up road. If I didn’t know better, I would swear we were in a dystopian movie set or worse, in the apocalypse.
“Where are we?” I ask, raising my voice to be heard over the motor.
“Death’s Window,” she replies. I look at her with my jaw dropped, and she gives me a cocky grin.
Death’s Window? I’ve heard of this place, but I never expected it to look like this.
I thought this place was supposed to be more of a battleground for the elite.
A battle royale, if anything. To teach demons how to navigate through Earth’s streets and fight among ourselves if need be in the night.
Think of it as survival grounds, and Hell’s version of the Blood matches wrapped up in one place.
I’m definitely glad we have an escort through here.
We continue down the road, passing a few groups of Gauntlet students fighting off little mobs of monsters as we zip around corners.
After a forty-five-minute drive, we pull up in front of a cathedral surrounded by a cast-iron gate.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Levi scoffs.
“Nope,” Zissa says with a snap as she gets out, and we all follow. She smiles as she opens the gate and ushers us through, locking it behind us. “Only the best for the heirs of Hell.”
An ominous howl ripples through the night, and the cathedral bells start ringing, startling me.
“Shit,” she says under her breath. “Quickly. Get inside,” she urges as a few demons inside the gate run past us and into the building. Without needing to be told twice, I follow them into the church with everyone following me, as the clock strikes the final bells signaling it’s now seven p.m.
“Well, you guys know how to cut it close,” Zissa chuckles as she walks to the front. “Come on, I’ll show you around for the night. In the morning, I’ll take you to the portal: it’s not safe tonight.”
“Why do you say that?” Chester asks, pushing up his glasses as Moni snuggles into his side.
“Lucifer has released the unwashed and unwanted, so they are out feeding tonight in Death’s Window for the trial.
Only the ones who know how to deal with the demons will know how to outsmart them or take them down.
That was the howl you heard. They were being released.
” She gives us a deadly look. “They are hunting.”
I can hear the audible gulp behind me, but I don’t look to see who it came from, being too focused on the decor in front of me.
“But my bestie!” Moni’s bark flashes a light teal as she darts in front of me and raises to Zissa’s eye level.
“Relax,” Zissa laughs. “Those guys should be scared of Rez. She’s a badass of her own accord, and she’s personally branded by L.A.M.B.,” she reminds us. “They will sense that mark a thousand miles away and steer clear of her. Besides, she has that escort waiting for her.”
I nod along as she explains, feeling my shoulders drop, not realizing I was as tense as a brick before.
It makes sense, even though Zissa doesn’t know about Rez’s lack of magic anymore, she is still carrying L.A.M.B.
’s mark, and that should still mean something.
Knowing Knox will be wolfing out if something is wrong with Rez, I try to focus on what’s before me.
“What is this place?” I asked, feeling slightly stupid. I know she said this was Death’s Window, but this cathedral definitely wasn’t a part of it. “This can’t be a part of Death’s Window,” I accuse.
“You’re right.” She turns and walks backward towards the open nave, her arms out, indicating the side aisles decorated with faces. I don’t recognize anyone, except for L.A.M.B. and Lilith. “This is the part of the Seven Seductive Sins Special Training Unit,” she admits.
“I thought your school specialized in subjects that supported the business and arts world,” Zeke inquires.
“Huh?” Moni asks. “I’m lost.”
“Think of lawyers, dancers, artists, and businessmen and women,” Zeke names a few.
“Ohhh!” Moni's eyes go wide with wonder.
“Oh, it does, but not every demon is qualified nor equipped for such…” Zissa searches for the right word, “delicate…handlings.”
“She means some of them are straight-up killers,” a feminine voice interrupts, calling it like it is.
A beautiful woman with round, brown eyes and shoulder-length blonde hair steps up with an easy smile and leans against Zissa.
“So, this is the famous group that runs with the next heirs?” Her eyes sweep over our group until she sees something that makes her expression freeze.
“Angelette?” Knots’s voice barely comes out as a whisper.
“Kanotiel?” The woman covers her mouth as her eyes fill with tears.
“Damn, and I thought this level was going to be an easy one,” Lynx comments.
“Same,” JP says.
Knots reaches out, taking the woman into his arms and holding her tight, making me feel a little uncomfortable.
I don’t know this lady, or why Knots feels so comfortable hugging her so intimately when he’s kinda with Rez.
Like, is he cheating in front of all of us, because if that really happens, he knows he’s not walking out of here, right?
It’s kinda guaranteed. I think we all know it’s an unspoken rule that if we cheat, we die.
Or maybe that’s how I take it and plan on dishing out. Maybe that’s something we should all talk about.
“Nah, Ryker. We all see it that way.” JP nods at me, agreeing that I’m about to kill Knots as soon as he lets go of this blonde.
They exchange a few words in a language I don’t understand before they pull away, but continue to hold hands.
Pain shoots up to my eye, telling me to unclench my jaw.
“Am I going to have to kill you for cheating?” I come straight out and ask. I don’t like beating around the bush, and I might as well get it over with so I can eat and get some sleep.
Knots just chuckles and plasters the biggest smile on his face as he shakes his head and looks over our group.
“Guys, this is my sister. We were born of the same flame. Angelette.” He turns and starts pointing us out with introductions, and I stand there flabbergasted.
Flame? Sister? There’s obviously a lot of shit I don’t know about angels, and more specifically about our angel.
“Kanotiel, why don’t you all get settled, clean up, and eat. Then, if you’d like, we can catch up, and I can answer any question you have. Plus, you might be able to answer a few of mine.” Angelette quirks an eyebrow at him.
“Sounds good.” He turns to Zissa. “Where can we crash?”
Zissa sucks on her bottom lip before looking at the two siblings and says this way with an indefinable smile.
“Something tells me this wasn’t expected,” Lynx says from next to me.
“Is anything we do actually expected?” I retort.
“Good point.” He sighs. “We’re so fucked.”
I have to agree.