Chapter 3 #3
The hound’s ear bent in her direction. He was listening, even if he refused to respond. She couldn’t blame him; he had no reason to trust any hunter, let alone her.
They came to the barrier, following it in a lap around the compound. She noted the moment he relaxed out of sheer boredom. Some of the tension in his muscles eased while his stride smoothed, his heavy steps lightening and going completely silent. Even his limp had evened out, becoming less evident.
“When we trust each other, I’ll take you outside the barrier on missions. It’ll give you time away from the compound. It’ll be nicer than the boredom of a stall or dealing with Clairemont all day,” she promised.
The hound lifted his lips in a snarl. Elsie nodded, misinterpreting his reasoning. “Yeah, I get it. I don’t like him either.”
They continued around the dome of the barrier. It was strong enough to be visible, but many nests were not as lucky. Created and maintained by witches, the barrier protected them from the demons running loose in the rest of the world.
Outside the barrier was chaotic, since the magical creatures of the world had risen to take their places at the top. When humanity had initially fallen, the vampires laid claim to what was left of them, keeping them on farms as blood slaves and sex toys for their amusement.
These days there were three human sects. The vampire slaves, the ferals who’d escaped and lived among the demons, and those living in the colonies, protected by the hunters.
Colonies and the nests within each had their own purpose, all working together as a cooperative. Currently, they were a few shy of one hundred nests, each with their own purpose, like raising crops to feed their colony, or forging weapons to supply the hunters who protected them.
Several colonies had a nest specifically for raising and training new hunters. The more advanced locations worked on new technology or worked to recreate tech from the past. Those nests were also where major training happened for the elites.
The Central Compound wasn’t a nest, and it wasn’t part of any colony. Elsie’s home was a military installation, and it existed solely for clan purposes. There were a few others like it, outliers with their own social structures and budgets, such as the handful of scientific research facilities.
Field teams like Elsie’s were often dispatched to nests to help out when needed, but keeping supply lines open kept them busy. They assisted wherever they were sent, sometimes even supporting the research teams.
Elsie grimaced, playing back her conversation with Cornick and Mordane. If they had their way, she would become part of their research. She couldn’t let that happen.
Voices carried from one of the buildings, and the hound growled, shrinking closer to the ground. Did those idiots expect this creature to be even remotely useful after they’d traumatized him into ingratiating himself?
“What they said about my sisters is partially true,” Elsie said, drawing his attention away from the voices.
“Reapers spend their lives alone, searching for damned souls in other dimensions. Centuries ago, one of my sisters befriended an injured hellhound. She stayed with him for weeks, and they bonded. According to my mother, he still goes everywhere with her. His ethereal magic allows them to travel together, so she’s no longer alone. ”
“Over time, hellhounds started seeking my sisters out. The pairings came together naturally; the bond was never forced. Those hounds are not my sisters’ property; they’re friends.
Family. What Cornick is attempting to force between us is a bastardization of tradition,” she said.
The hound’s ear cocked in her direction, listening.
“I don’t know where you came from, or how they captured you, but what they’ve done is wrong,” she affirmed.
They’d finished their loop, and Elsie glanced up at the sky with a frustrated sigh. She still wanted her shower, and breakfast would end in less than an hour. If she didn’t return soon, she wouldn’t get anything to eat until lunch, which was a sandwich or a protein bar.
“I have to take you back to your stall now,” she said, walking toward the barn.
Mentioning the stall was a mistake. The hound stopped in his tracks.
Elsie looked back and chewed the inside of her lip.
“I get it, but it won’t be horrible anymore.
Clairemont isn’t allowed to touch you, and you have my permission to eat him if he tries. ”
Her assurances weren’t enough. The demon stood his ground, sitting on his haunches. He didn’t growl or put up a fuss; he simply refused to comply.
“It’s that bad, huh?” she frowned. “What if we make a deal? I’ll come back for you after I eat and clean up. Does that sound fair?”
Nothing.
“Look, guy, I have important things to do, and showering and sleep are high on my priority list,” she said, starting to lose her patience.
He turned his head, pointedly looking away.
Elsie let out a sigh, then lunged forward, clicking the leash into place.
He jumped to his feet and barked at her, but Elsie gave it a tug.
“Calm down, fluffy.” His wiry hair was anything but fluffy. “I’m not bragging when I say I’ll kick your ass. Do as you’re told while I’m still asking you nicely. Go back to the barn and rest.”
The demon dragged his feet, determined to make her work for it.
Elsie struggled and pulled, but never did she feel the need to shock or harm him.
She’d reserve violence for any attempts he might make to attack her.
The demon was behaving himself now, but she fully expected he’d lash out at some point.
It’s what she would do if she were imprisoned against her will and given to the enemy as a gift.
“Stupid mutt!” she panted and wheezed. Sweat rolled down her temples, and she rushed at his hindquarters, pushing him to swing them around sideways to avoid her, gaining her several feet. “You’re being a big baby!”
He snarled, barked, and growled, but eventually Elsie got him back into the barn. Walking over the threshold was like night and day. His refusal to comply disappeared. He sank low, belly touching the ground, every muscle trembling with fear.
Elsie’s stomach twisted as she realized he wasn’t being stubborn about returning to the barn. He was terrified. Whatever horrors had happened to him here had left scars.
“Hey,” her voice dropped an octave as she struggled to catch her breath. “It’s only for a couple of hours. You’re going to be okay.”
There was no resistance. Elsie looked at each stall as they walked through the aisle, unease growing with every step.
There were no names, just species and identification numbers.
Each stall was a different size, modified to hold whatever was inside.
She rose onto her toes to peek at a gremlin but stopped herself, realizing she didn’t want to see what was inside these stalls.
If she knew, she might have to care.
They came to the hound’s stall, and Elsie’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Too narrow to turn around or lie down, each wall was covered in electrical wire.
The sloped floor was stark cement with a drainage hole in the middle.
Hanging from a hook outside the stall was the prod Clairemont had beaten the demon with earlier.
The only place this creature had to relax was this stall, and it was outfitted as a torture chamber. Anger burned in her throat, and it pissed her off that the only reason she cared was because this demon belonged to her. He was her responsibility, and that changed everything.
“Come on,” she said softly. “You’re not staying here.”