Chapter 57
Hellscapes
Elizabeth cringed as the black arrow sped towards her. Suddenly, it stopped an inch away from her, trembling in midair before simply dropping out of the sky.
The rest of the arrows halted three feet from them, and then fell, one by one, tumbling like rain—as if losing all motivation to fly.
Behind her, the old woman was muttering furiously under her breath. To still have this much power after such a long imprisonment meant that the woman must be a powerful witch indeed.
Elizabeth made a mental note to ask Risna what kind of spell could stop twenty arrows aimed directly at her.
Elizabeth gripped the dragon’s hide with her knees and peered over the dragon’s side at the demons drawing more arrows.
The dragon snarled and blew an inferno towards the armies as she flew out of range. She circled high overhead, irritation radiating through their mental link.
Chainbreaker, tell me where to go, or I will decide for us.
Elizabeth sought Asmodeus’s consciousness. ASMODEUS! HELP US!
Asmodeus broke from the fray and circled below them.
Where is it safe?
Go north, towards the seventh circle. Asmodeus sent a mental picture which she relayed to the dragon.
Only too happy to leave, the dragon snapped her wings out and fell into a glide.
On the ground, enemy demons manifested wings to follow them, but their allies rose to meet them. She turned to see Lucifer and the other demon princes signal their forces to attack. The two sides collided in midair, the clang of weapons echoing.
Soon, Asmodeus joined her, his wings beating furiously to match the dragon’s pace.
Elizabeth? Where did you learn mind speech? Asmodeus asked weakly.
Now is not the time. Where are we going? Where can we set him down safely?
A torrent of images flooded her mind, which she shared with the dragon.
My barnacle must come off soon. With her, we are heavier than I would like for such a long flight.
Barnacle? I’m impressed you know of creatures not borne of flesh and fire.
A dragon knows all, came the haughty reply.
Then rid yourself of your barnacle, however you see fit.
She felt approval radiate from the dragon that she had not voiced an opinion, but rather acknowledged that a dragon would know the wisest course of action.
I will drop her after we pass through the icy dark.
Elizabeth didn’t know what that meant, so she held on for dear life, wrapping her arm more snuggly around the demon in front of her.
Dragon wing beats would have unseated a less skilled rider.
Elizabeth gripped the dragon’s scaled hide with her inner thighs and leaned forward a fraction to balance her weight as they lurched forward into the skies.
Her scales chafed her legs raw, but she had no choice but to grip them tightly to hold on.
As they soared, she gazed at the Underworld’s landscape, fascinated.
They soared through jagged black mountain ranges, the dragon expertly riding the wind currents and soaring around peaks.
The air grew even hotter as they ascended, flying through a bright red sky with billowing orange clouds.
Below them, the ground was littered with small orange fires.
Ahead, the landscape changed dramatically. As if there were a barrier between worlds, the sky shifted abruptly from vibrant red to deep blue, with only a few inches of purple where the two connected. Under the blue realm, the gray cracked ground disappeared, swiftly replaced by inky black water.
They passed the invisible barrier, and the air turned cold as ice. The black water was dotted with small barren rocks and ice-covered mountains. The dragon flew lower, skimming a talon in the water.
Her nose numbed, and her fingers grew frigid. Below, strange shapes swam just below the water’s surface, creatures bigger than any fish she had ever seen.
This realm was dark and evil in a way that the fiery skies had not been. It was not burning rage and chaos; it was emptiness, solitude, and nothing but icy darkness. It felt bleak and hopeless in a way that she couldn’t explain.
They flew on, and the air grew, if possible, even colder.
Snowy valleys and ice-covered mountains stretched endlessly.
She shivered, teeth chattering uncontrollably.
Her fingers grew numb where they gripped the dragon’s neck.
But she knew that if she let go, they would all fall off the dragon and tumble into the sky.
The dragon snorted and turned her neck, blowing hot air towards her.
The sound of your chattering teeth irritates me. Mortals are not meant for such places.
“Th-thank you,” she managed.
The dragon rolled her eyes and blew hot air on her again. Elizabeth marvelled that the dragon could do such a thing while still flying.
It is the icy domain. Beware.
“Thanks!” she said brightly, as the dragon’s hot breath helped her to warm up a fraction. She wondered if she could make herself warmer using magic, but she didn’t know the words. She gritted her teeth and huddled against Caspian’s warm back, waiting for them to be out of the icy domain.
Up ahead, she saw the skies change again and hoped that the next circle they entered would be a little warmer.
The landscape morphed, the sky turning bright yellow. As they passed through the barrier, they were blasted with hot air. Elizabeth and Selena collectively sighed in relief.
This landscape looked more like the first realm she had seen, only with yellow skies and a heavier smell of sulfur in the air.
The dragon glided around short brown mountains and landed gently on top of a peak. Asmodeus hovered nearby, knees to his chest, looking curiously between them.
Selena climbed down the dragon’s hind leg, her shoulders slumping in relief as her feet touched the ground. She made a strange gesture on her chest and bowed deeply.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us, Selena?” Elizabeth called. “We are bound for Betsael’s castle, a demon prince. And then back to the mortal realm after. You would be safe there.”
The old woman shook her head fervently and spoke in a hoarse, raspy voice. “Thank you, but I have no wish to meet another demon prince for as long as I live.”
“Are you sure? It is not safe here.” Elizabeth worried over the woman.
I am not a packhorse, snapped the dragon. I have only agreed to ferry you and the demon prisoner.
Selena glanced at the dragon and smiled. “Fear not, dragon. Thank you for saving me. I can make my way from here.”
After conferring with Asmodeus, Elizabeth explained, “The portal to the mortal realms is hidden in the tallest mountain of the seventh circle, near the demon prince’s castle. We’re in the sixth circle now.”
“Thank you.” Selena bowed low once more and remained bent until the dragon picked up her wings and left in a flurry of dust.
Glancing back at the woman still bowed on the mountaintop, Elizabeth’s curiosity stirred.
Did she protect our exit?
The dragon replied haughtily, I did not get hit by any more arrows.
Elizabeth marvelled, wondering what crime had landed a witch in a demon’s dungeon.
For that matter, where were all the lost mortal souls? It was the Underworld. She’d expected to see ghosts or wandering spirits in the afterlife. I’ll have to ask Asmodeus later.
Caspian groaned and slipped forward, jerking her attention back to him. Worried, Elizabeth spoke with Asmodeus and told the dragon: If we follow Asmodeus, he will lead us to the castle.
The dragon relented and slowed, circling lazily above Asmodeus and often drifting back and forth to remain behind him.
Tell him he flies slowly.
If Caspian had not been hanging by a thread, she would have smiled at the grumbling dragon. As it was, she held him to her waist and hoped he would be alright.
Soon, they passed into another domain, a blood-red sky with jagged black mountains everywhere. The air grew impossibly hotter, and she was surprised to see rivers of molten red and orange moving sluggishly below.
Elizabeth looked up and gasped. What looked like shooting stars arced across the red skies—at least ten bright yellow trajectories filled with light.
“Asmodeus! Are those shooting stars?!” she shouted over the wind.
He cannot hear you over the wind. I, as a being of fire, can answer best. They are firebirds.
Birds? But they are shooting across the skies!
Yes.
But how can that be?
They just are. Here comes another.
Elizabeth turned her head and saw a bird covered in fire. The bird had long feathers on its head with a sharply curved orange beak. Its tail drifted majestically behind it as it flew, edged in brilliant yellow flame.
Another bird joined the first. They arced together and let out soft caws, appearing to glow from within, leaving a trail of flame.
They are … beautiful.
Hmm … they are not so bad. Nothing compared to dragon flame.
Elizabeth grinned. Yes, of course.
The dragon snatched at one of the firebirds.
The firebirds chattered angrily and sped away through the skies.
Hmmph … If I did not care about dropping you, I would eat them for that.
Oh! Please let them go. They are so beautiful. Look at the fire arcing across the skies—like something out of a dream.
The dragon slowed and took a large breath in, and as she exhaled, she unleashed a torrent of flame above them. The dragon ducked and swerved so the fire didn’t catch them.
Wow.
The dragon inhaled deeply—Elizabeth felt her belly bulge—then blew flames below them this time. The dragon breathed flame for nearly a full minute, fire ranging from bright yellow to flickering orange to blue.
That’s incredible!
The dragon did not deign to reply, but Elizabeth sensed she was pleased.
They reached an enormous black castle nestled in the middle of a molten orange river. Sharp jagged towers appeared to be made of the same shiny black stone as the surrounding mountains. Large torches and snarling gargoyles flanked the doors.
Thank you, Elizabeth said to the dragon.