Evil - Chapter 42
I flung open the door to the building, and every sound that Araphel’s earphones had masked crashed into me at once and sent me collapsing to the ground.
This is a portal fantasy series with mythological roots and action-adventure tendencies. You can search through all my work on my website.
It's not easy being the Antichrist.
Anjelica’s mother never told her that she was a demon. Now, all she wants is her old life back, but that’s not possible for her. Not after what she’s seen.
Anjelica used to be a popular cheerleader with an awesome life, but that was before an evil cult of demons tried to use her blood to open a portal to Hell and start the Apocalypse.
She was rescued from that fate, barely, and because of the imminent threat to her life, her saviors ripped her from Los Angeles and brought her to a safe house in the middle of nowhere.
They said it was for her own good, but she would rather be dead than stuck in boring, old Bronard, Missouri. She was from the big city, so a sleepy, rural life wasn’t for her.
She longed for excitement.
So, when she met a young witch with a mysterious past who promised to show her everything she knew about opening portals and traveling between distant lands, they bonded immediately
I mean, what’s the worst that could happen, right?
It’s not like they would open an intergalactic gateway to another planet and get thrown into a brand, new world with no way to get back to Earth, right?
Join Anjelica in her own solo adventure and find out what happened to her immediately after the events in Magic.
I flung open the door to the building, and every sound that Araphel’s earphones had masked crashed into me at once and sent me collapsing to the ground. The unholy cries and unearthly shrieks bombarded my ears so viciously all I could do was let out a piteous wail as I writhed on the ground.
Several seconds later, Araphel placed a hand on my back, and the sounds fell away—not completely, but enough that I could think again, even if every cell in my body wanted to burst into flame.
“That was stupid,” Araphel said. “I can’t decide if it was brave, too, but it was certainly stupid.” He helped me to my feet and brushed me off before he spoke again. “Yes, I do know how bad it will be if King Ulthar completes his device, which is the only reason I have gone this far. If you are determined to go further, then I will go with you.” He pressed the earphones into my hand. “Wear these. They really help.”
I put the earphones in my ears and looped my hand in Araphel’s elbow as we walked down the street. I was surprised at how banal it was in the underworld once you got past the smells and the sounds. Demons and monsters walked down streets lined with stores and restaurants, just like humans did back home. It didn’t seem to have electricity, as gas lamps lit every block and bicycles whizzed past, along with carriages and monsters on horseback. It would have been beautiful if it hadn’t been so horrible.
“So, where is the baron’s castle?” I asked after we had walked for several minutes.
“Oh, he’s not so aristocratic as all that.” Araphel patted my hand. I could hear him perfectly through my earphones, though they drowned out everything else. “The underworld takes on the personality of the god, and Baron Samedi truly loves being among his subjects, singing the songs, watching the plays—” He stopped in front of a small bar. “—and drinking the drinks.”
He pointed through the window to a Black man in a red tailored suit and top hat. Half of the man’s face was painted white, and it was out of that side of his mouth that he hung a long cigar. A long boa constrictor coiled around his neck, and it caught my eyes before the baron did. When the man finally saw me, the white on the side of his face moved into a skull that overlaid his eyes and nose.
“Well, well, well,” he said as we walked in. “If this isn’t a surprise, Araphel. You aren’t usually so kind as to deliver souls to me personally. I am quite obliged.”
Baron Samedi slid out of his stool at the bar and reached toward me, but Araphel slapped his hand away. “It isn’t this girl’s time. She simply needs a favor from you.”
“A favor?” Baron Samedi said, eyebrows raised. “From moi? That is very, very interesting indeed. You know how much I love a tit for tat.” He emphasized “tit” and “tat,” then bit at the air when he was done. “I’m sure you have told her, though, that no favor comes free.”
“I’m right here,” I said, removing my earphones. Luckily, from where we were standing, the sound from the underworld was little more than a low din. “And he told me how much you like to play games.”
“Oooh, a feisty one,” Baron Samedi growled. “So much fun to break.”
“Better men than you have tried to break me.”
He winked at me, as did the snake on his shoulder. “I am no man, despite my appearance. Now, what is this favor you need from me?”
I looked over at Araphel, who nodded hesitantly at me to continue. “I need to speak to a soul who is condemned here. They can help me stop an evil man from destroying the world and possibly disrupting the universe.”
“It’s true, Baron. This man—”
But Baron Samedi didn’t want to hear it. He flicked his wrist at Araphel and went back to his drink, sucking it down with one sip. “Everyone thinks they are righteous, and their enemies are evil. It is so rarely so.” After he was done with his drink, he turned back to me. “Your favor isn’t a small one, you understand. There are processes in place here. Disturbing them is like throwing a wrench into an engine. On top of that, you come with another god to sully my kingdom. I don’t like any of this.” When Baron Samedi went to his drink again, it had been filled for him, and he took a long sip. “What do you think, pet?” He stared into the snake’s eyes for several seconds and then nodded. “Is it true you are a demon, girl?”
“Half demon,” I replied. “Half human, I think.”
Baron Samedi scratched his chin for a long time before finally saying, “Then I will help you if I have your service after your death.”
“I hate to tell you this,” I said. “But the Earth I’m from is a long way from here.”
He shrugged. “No matter. Your life will be long.” He squinted, studying me. “And filled with such wonders as I can’t even begin to enrapture you with. You will be a fearsome addition to my stable of warriors and lovers until the end of time.”
“How dare you!” I shouted. “I am nobody’s whore.”
He held up his hand. “You misunderstand me. Nobody is forced to do anything in my stable. They come because they agree to and for no other reason. But I am all ears if you have a compromise worth the baron’s time.”
“I will bring you a king. If you send me back with the information I need, I will send you one king—an arrogant one, blood-hungry and strong-willed.” I took a step closer and lowered my voice. “You must know the one. He has sent so many to you.”
“Yes, yes. He has been very good for business, but perhaps he has outlived his usefulness.” The baron thought for a moment. “And you guarantee me this king?”
I nodded. “Before the sun rises. If I don’t give him to you, then I will agree to bind my service to you for all of time.”
“That,” he said with a smile, “is a big promise, darling. I love your fire.” He held out his hand. “Very well. I agree.”
As he shook my hand, he snapped his fingers with his other hand. Out of the ether, a charred body appeared in one of the seats in the back of the bar, screaming bloody murder.
“One Giudal Tery, as you requested.”
“But I didn’t even tell you—”
Baron Samedi spun on his stool back to the bar. “In my realm, I know all, my dear. I look forward to your service when you fail, and I promise you will fail.”
“We’ll see about that.”
***
“I don’t think you quite understand what you just did,” Araphel said as we approached the screaming man at the back of the bar.
“No, I don’t, but I’m so sick of talking. You gods love your talking. We’re in the middle of a crisis, and in a crisis, you have to be willing to give up a lot to get a little better chance of winning. If we can get this information, maybe we can improve our odds from ‘not a chance in hell’ to ‘the slimmest of odds.’ If I have to give up eternity for it, then so be it.”
“You are quite a human,” Araphel said.
“Except I’m not a human. Not entirely at least.” I turned to Giudal, whose mouth was open, shrieking. “Giudal. We need your help.”
He didn’t listen to me. He faced forward, his features contorted in pain like he was still being tortured. Araphel held out his hands and touched the man, who visibly flinched, and then, after a moment, calmed down. He blinked, and then finally, he looked at me.
“Who…where am I?” He looked down at his charred hands. “Oh my god. It’s true. It’s all true, I’m—in—”
“Enough, Giudal,” I said. “Yes, you’re in Hell. If you want to know why, part of it might be because you helped King Ulthar build a weapon to destroy whole countries at his whim.”
“No—” he said. “I’m a good person. I’m—”
“Maybe,” I said, sliding in across from him. “Or you might kick puppies and burn ants for fun. I don’t know. I don’t care. What I do know is that right now, the king is readying a weapon that he says will destroy all of Risyl in an instant. Is that something he can do?” The man’s eyes were blank as they looked at me. “Giudal? Giudal!”
“I was a good person,” he whispered. “Wasn’t I a good person?”
“If you were a good person, then you’ll help me now and answer my question.”
Focus returned to his eyes, and they suddenly looked at me instead of through me. “The weapon? Yes, if we built it correctly, then it can destroy a city. Oh god, is that why I’m here? I thought…I thought…it was science…”
“How do we stop it?” I asked. “There has to be a kill switch somewhere.”
Giudal nodded. “There is…but…the doctor is the only person who knew about the kill switch. She insisted on it. She thought that if we didn’t know how to destroy the weapon, we would be safe.” He looked down at his hands. “I guess she was wrong.”
“Well, that sucks,” I said, pushing myself to stand. I walked over to Baron Samedi. “He doesn’t know. We need to see Doctor Jortensur.”
The baron finished his purple concoction and turned to me. “My, my, my, another favor. I don’t know what you could possibly have that I want anymore, my dear. I already have your eternity.”
I shook my head. “This is the same favor.”
“I’m afraid not.” He smiled smugly. “You said that if I brought old Giudal to you, then you would bring me a king or your eternal soul.”
“No, I said if you send me back to Earth with the information that I need, I would do those things. Giudal over there doesn’t have the information I need, so no deal. If you want my soul, bring me the doctor.”
“She’s right,” Araphel said, gliding toward us. “And more importantly, you know she’s right.” Baron Samedi’s face turned into a snarl, and the snake lunged at me. Araphel caught the snake in midair. “Don’t take it out on her because you’re a sore loser.”
Baron Samedi snapped his fingers, and Giudal Tery disintegrated. “Fine.”
In Giudal’s place, a calm and collected woman sat in the booth. She didn’t scream or whine. She just sat, stone-faced, as if she’d expected this eventuality.
“Ah,” she said. “Barkeep, can I get a Thungin’ Slammer?”
Baron Samedi growled at her. “Get it yourself.”
Doctor Jortensur stood up. “Don’t mind if I do.” She slid behind the bar and started pulling alcohol off the glass shelves, pouring what she needed into a cocktail glass and topping off the drink with an olive. When she finished and took a sip, she moaned.
“Ah yes, that’s the stuff.” Her eyes narrowed at us. “Now, which of you summoned me?” She pointed at the baron. “I think it was you.”
“Very good. You are taking this very well, your death,” Araphel said. “I have rarely seen one handle it better.”
She took another sip. “After being convinced that the gods existed, I made some rational leaps that the underworld existed as well, and that the stories I read as a child were probably more historical than mythological. I had hoped to earn my freedom from the goddess we captured, but clearly, the king had other plans.” She took a longer sip, finished the glass, and mixed another. “I assume it was the king that killed me?”
I nodded. “We’re not sure, but yes, I would assume the same. Giudal said there was a kill switch that only you knew how to work. Is that true?”
Doctor Jortensur downed her drink in one sip and started on a third. “This is probably the last drink I will ever have for a long time. I want to make the most of it. Now, Giudal, you say. The poor dear, how is he holding up?”
“Not well,” Baron Samedi said. “Which is to be expected.”
“Poor chap. He was sweet but not very strong of will.” She snapped her fingers after tasting the drink. “Bitters. That’s what we’re missing.” She grabbed a small bottle and poured some of its contents into her drink, then took another sip. “Much better.”
“I’m glad you’re having a pleasant time,” I said, growing impatient. “We’re in a bit of a rush with the whole end of the world and everything.”
She nodded. “Oh yes, I know.”
I slammed my hands on the bar. “And you don’t even care, do you? The world is going to end, and it doesn’t even bother you. How can I care about your planet more than you do?”
She gave me a level look. “Because you are a child, and you haven’t seen the world. Now, I am very sure that I’ve overstayed my welcome. I know I have talked you into circles, but I was just trying to prolong my stay. Torture isn’t my bag.” She turned to Baron Samedi. “Before I go, I must ask, do you need a brilliant scientist for any purpose in this dank, dark place?”
Baron Samedi thought for a moment and consulted with his snake. “You do have a certain flare to you, don’t you? There might be a position for you, but only if the world doesn’t end. If this world ends, then I’m off to the next one, and there is nothing for you there.”
“Fair enough.” She turned to me. “When you get to the device, there is a circular base, which binds the god into place. Search the control panel for a button called ‘unberiler,’ a word I made up. Lift the panel. Inside the chassis, there are three wires. Cut the blue, then the yellow, then the black. Once you cut them in that order, slam the unberiler button, and the entire thing will fizzle and die.” She finished her drink. “I can’t wait to see what a god will do to that heathen of a king.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Don’t mention it.” She waved her arm before turning to Baron Samedi. “Now, let’s talk about a team. I happen to have a great one already put together. Best in the world.”
“My, my,” Baron Samedi said with a chuckle. “You really are a cheeky little devil.”
I couldn’t listen to any more of her prattle. I gave Araphel a pleading look.
“It is time you get back,” he said. “I do hope you win.”
“Me too.”
A rush of wind filled my lungs, and I opened my eyes in my room in the rebellion base. I caught my breath, trying to put everything I saw out of my mind because right now, I only had one mission: Save the world.
This is a portal fantasy series with mythological roots and action-adventure tendencies. You can search through all my work on my website.