AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Not to say that I haven’t been subtly angling for a romantic connection with Callie. I don’t want to push her away—look what that did for Lena!—but at the same time, I wish for more with this stunning young woman. I’m a demon possessed.
I start slow, taking walks with her from time to time when my duties allow for a small break from the routine. Sometimes we simply walk in silence, though often Callie uses these trips as a chance to converse.
“… So yeah, I totally stomped that greed demon yesterday. It thought it had the upper hand, but I nailed it. Fried the thing clear to next Tuesday.” She laughs, a musical sound. “It was so funny to watch the thing twitch. It really thought it had me. Demons are so weird that way. Like, do they not know humans can use magic, too?”
“It’s not common for humans to have enough magic power to affect us, much less annihilate us. You are more powerful than you realize, Callie. You have an amazing innate gift for both the arcane and infernal arts, something that I don’t think even Lena possesses.”
“Yeah?” She ponders this for a moment, then beams. “Cool.”
Her smile is infectious, and I can’t help but grin as well. “Indeed. If it came down to a magical fight between the two of you, I would place my wager on you.”
Callie opens her mouth to respond, but a deep, booming explosion drowns out anything she may have said.
The blast throws us through the air, separating us and slamming me into a nearby rock formation. I land hard on my side, wheezing from the impact. Thick, oily black blood oozes from dozens of gashes and abrasions. Ignoring my own wounds, I raise my head and search the area for Callie.
There! She lies several yards away, motionless save for the slow rise and fall of her chest as she breathes.
I scramble to my knees and shed my human glamour, along with the clothes, shifting into my larger, more powerful demonic form. Grey scales and leathery wings might not be attractive to Callie, but weak and injured as I am, I can’t protect her in human form.
Before I can rise to my hooved feet, another blast hits, sending me through the rock behind me. Bones break and skin tears, but I get back up. I can’t let whoever this is get Callie. This time, I cast an energy shield around myself before I risk taking a look around.
Callie and I are surrounded by envy demons. The wicked things all have magical attacks at the ready, and some stand disturbingly close to Callie’s still form.
Behind the ring of lesser demons stands My Brother, Leviathan.
Despite the human form he has taken, I’d recognize that jealous bastard anywhere. He has chosen a blonde male for his form, athletic and fit. Given what I know about his usual human glamour, I suspect this image is for Callie’s benefit. While I, as the Prince of Lust, always have an attractive glamour, My Brethren tend to choose ugly, loathsome humans to mimic. This no doubt is an attempt to woo Callie, to entice her with a pretty face.
The fool. When she wakes, her vengeance will be a sight to behold.
Leviathan steps between two of His Minions to stand inside the circle. His false lips spread in a wicked grin, bearing too-human teeth that I know are not his norm. “Well, well, what have we here? My illustrious Brother and his new pet, the infamous human witch, Calliope Galley. How are you doing, Brother? I hope our little attempt to grab your attention hasn’t caused any problems. You’ve certainly looked better. Still standing, yes?”
I grit my teeth against the pain surging through me with each labored breath. “Yes, Brother. Still standing.”
“But poor Calliope seems down for the count. Pity. I hadn’t intended for her to take any damage. I’ll have to better train My Troops.” He exaggerates a drawn-out sigh and waves a hand, and in that instant the two envy demons closest to him disintegrate. He turns in a slow circle, meeting each demon’s eyes with his human ones. “Let that be a lesson to the rest of you. Harm Calliope and reap the consequences.”
I suspect the demons he vanquished were chosen at random, as I quite doubt My Brother knows—or cares—which of His Children struck the blow that knocked Callie out.
Not that I think ration or logic play a part in Leviathan’s decision making, but I hope I can talk our way out of this before things get worse. “You are far from your designated home, Brother, as am I. Perhaps we should each go our separate ways before more damage is done.”
Leviathan’s gaze turns icy, and his fingers glow blue as he summons a ball of frost. “Perhaps you should go home, Asmodeus, yes. I, for one, have business with Your Lady here. I think I shall wait until she wakes.” When I don’t make a move to leave, he pours more energy into the frost-ball and scowls. “I wasn’t really requesting, Brother. Leave us.”
Rather than kowtow to his bullying, I shift the focus on my wards to have them generate heat, thus providing further protection from Leviathan’s ice-based powers. I want to cast wards around Callie as well, but I’m still too far away and too weak to reach her. I’ll have to rely on Leviathan’s word that he doesn’t wish her hurt.
Before My Brother can attack, Callie stirs. She groans and rolls over, pushing herself up to her knees. Her wild curls are tangled, but she seems unharmed. No blood that I can see or smell.
“What the fuck was that?” she asks as she rises to her feet. She turns around, looking at the demons surrounding us. Her eyes narrow when she reaches Leviathan, and the crackle of electricity hums through the air as she summons a lightning bolt. Her gaze flicks to me, and she doesn’t bat an eyelash at my monstrous form. “Let me guess: family dispute?”
“Something like that,” I reply. “He says he has business with you, my dear friend.”
Leviathan throws his head back in laughter. “Friend? Since when does one like us have need for friends?”
Callie takes a few cautious steps, placing herself between Leviathan and myself. “Everyone needs friends, idiot. Now, since I’m awake, state Your ‘business’ and be on Your way.”
She’s brave. Not many would stand up against a Prince of Hell, much less get between two Princes who are fighting. Brave, but foolish. She could get hurt if she doesn’t get away. I wish I could give her some kind of signal or warning, something to tell her to plane shift out of here before something happens, but we haven’t planned for such an occasion. We have no signal, no secret warning that I can give to ensure she escapes.
Leviathan does not seem to appreciate her bravery. He scowls, marring the perfect face he wears, and steps forward. “I wish to speak with you alone, little Calliope.”
Anger flashes in Callie’s eyes, and she unleashes her lightning bolt on the closest group of envy demons. They shriek and howl, but Leviathan doesn’t react.
