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21
Jack and Creeper walked beside me while Chum and Bug took up the rear as my father led the way.
We’d left the cave behind and were now headed into a blackened forest with twisted, dead trees. Their limbs reached out for us, and we had to duck underneath their frail attempts to snag us. This whole place was creepy. It was awfully quiet here, and it unnerved me. No sound of wildlife or even a breeze, just nothingness and the soft footfalls of my hellhounds and I. My father’s footsteps were dead silent as he glided across the ashy earth, leading us deeper into the strange forest. He was like a silent ghost, which only made me more uneasy.
“I do not have the power to create a doorway like before. That used up all my power and could only pass the hellhounds, but I know of one nearby that should allow you all to slip through,” he said as he focused on the path ahead.
I was quiet, instead focusing on Jack’s hand in mine while Creeper’s arm bumped against mine with his closeness.
Despite being created in Hell, my hellhounds were uneasy here, their movements jarred while they remained on high alert. I didn’t blame them, I was just as tense and on edge.
“It’s not much further,” my father said softly, but Creeper growled beside me as he stiffened.
“We’re not alone,” Jack muttered as my father slowed.
“I know. I had a feeling one of my brothers would learn of Baal’s death and come immediately. They would have figured you’d head to the nearest rip to escape back to earth,” my father said as he glanced around us carefully.
“Is there another rip we can go to?” Bug spoke up from behind us.
“No, not nearby, this is the closest. If we detour, we risk running into more of my brothers. If one of them knows, I would believe they’d all know soon enough,” my father said as he started forward once more.
“So, what do we do?” I asked softly as Jack gave me a cautious look before we followed.
“I will deal with whichever brother it is. You will focus on getting through that rip and to safety. Baal used up a lot of power to get to the surface with his army, and he needed to siphon power from the kingdom to do so. None of my brothers would be able to follow after you for at least a day while the kingdom recharges,” my father said.
I stared at his back, my stomach churning. Would his brother try to kill him though?
“You said you’re fairly similar in strength to some of your brothers. What if it’s a stronger brother?” Jack asked the question I was thinking.
“Then I’ll do my best to just buy you time,” my father said without hesitation.
“Won’t they try to kill you?” I asked, the words heavy in my mouth.
“Most likely. Especially since I aided in the death of Baal to an extent,” he said, unfazed by the thought.
I gritted my teeth, unable to understand how he was so blasé about it all. Was he so willing to throw his life away for me?
Then again, I’d been willing to die for everyone too.
Jack gave my hand a squeeze as I eyed the twisted trees around us. I just wanted all of this to be over. Hell, a part of me even wanted to go back to the days of living in my shit apartment with my hellhounds, believing I was crazy.
It was easier than knowing the truth.
My father paused as we came to a clearing, and my hellhounds started to growl around me, the dark, deadly sound emanating from their chests as their eyes glowed with hellfire.
“Asmodeus! I’d hoped the rumors weren’t true that you stopped Baal’s attempt to open the gates, but it seems they were correct,” an oddly hollow voice called out that made my skin crawl.
I gazed past my father, shuddering at the demonic creature that resembled Baal’s other state, although this one had a green tinge to its skin, and its horns were straight and a sickly yellow-green in color. He had a set of bat-like wings that were folded on his back, and I wondered just which brother he was.
“Gorzaden, of course you’d come to stop me,” my father said as he dusted off his suit, as if the mere sight of his brother had tarnished it.
“I agreed with Baal that we’d be better off with you gone, but Mammom was against it, as was Abaddon. Something about not murdering our own blood,” Gorzaden snickered as his wings stretched out behind him. “Funny they chose those words, considering you’re the reason two of our brothers are now dead.”
“They brought it upon themselves,” my father shot back.
“Astaroth wanted to deal with your wretched abomination, but you protected that woman with wicked power. You killed him, and now, your offspring has murdered Baal,” Gorzaden spat.
So none of them knew the truth about my mother, and therefore what I was too. No wonder I’d been able to defeat Baal and kill him. He’d not suspected I was part angelic.
