Evil - Chapter 44
Prince Yimnit was under heavy guard. Two soldiers stood outside the brig, and two more were directly in front of his cell.
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.
Prince Yimnit was under heavy guard. Two soldiers stood outside the brig, and two more were directly in front of his cell. Luckily, we were known members of the director’s inner circle, so the worst we got was an icy glance from the guards as we entered the room.
“We need to see Prince Yimnit,” Kimberly said to one of them. “Alone.”
They looked at each other, nodded, and stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind them.
For our plan to work, we had to get Prince Yimnit out of his cell and somewhere that magic worked. Kimberly had done a good job warding up the brig. So good, in fact, that even her magic didn’t work there.
“Nice trick,” Prince Yimnit said. “It’s lovely to have power, isn’t it?”
“Only if you use it to help the powerless,” I spat back.
“That’s what you think you are doing? Helping the powerless?” His sarcasm dripped over each syllable and made me want to punch him.
“Absolutely,” I said. “Helping them get rid of you and achieve freedom.”
Prince Yimnit laughed. “Do you think people want freedom?”
“Of course,” I said.
“What a dumb question,” Kimberly added.
He smiled with one corner of his mouth. “Tell me, on the planet where you are from, do they have freedom?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“And are they any happier than the people you have seen here? The everyday people—the ones who sell your paper or make your food—do you think they are happier on your planet than they are here?”
“I…do?” I said, confused. “Is that a trick question?”
Prince Yimnit shook his head. “It’s not, but it proves you are naïve. People do not want freedom. They want justice. They want safety. They want a good job for themselves and their family. People care less about freedom than you believe when you weigh it against those things.”
“We have both in America.”
He let out a laugh. “I’m sure you believe that. I’ve seen democracy in action in Risyl. Their government is at a standstill while their people die in the streets. We have no such barriers to our justice. My father says the word, and his word is the law.”
“And yet…you’re working with us to build a democracy. Why?”
Prince Yimnit was quiet for a few moments before he responded. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Every word my father says is dissected; every dictum analyzed. He takes all the blame and receives very little glory for it. I have no wish to lead my father’s life. With this rebellion, I see a way out. Give the people freedom—as you like to call it—while achieving freedom for myself. All the glamour of royalty with none of the trappings.”
“I don’t believe you,” Kimberly said. “I want you to know that. I think you’re walking them all into a trap.”
“Prove it,” the prince growled.
“I don’t have the time.” Kimberly pulled one of her runed strips of cloth from her pocket. “Hold out your hands.” He did, and Kimberly moved into the cell to wrap his wrists in them before clipping a pair of shackles above the cloth. “Guards, open this door.”
One of the guards reentered the room and looked at the scene. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t do that. The director was quite explicit that we aren’t to move the prisoner.”
Kimberly extended her wings behind her and walked toward the guard. “This man has information in his brain vital to the survival of this mission. Do you want to be the one who made us fail tonight’s mission, killing so many of our men and women because you were just following orders?”
“I—I—I—I can’t, ma’am.”
Kimberly pointed to the key ring on the man’s belt. “Are those the keys?” He didn’t say another word. “Then you don’t have to help me. Just don’t stop me.” Kimberly reached forward and grabbed the keys without breaking eye contact with the guard. “We’re not going far, just out into the hallway. Prepare your men. If he moves a muscle, shoot him.”
“Y—yes, ma’am,” he saluted and turned away, scooting out the door like a frightened child.
“I thought for sure he wasn’t going to let me have the keys,” she said with a smile. She opened the door and pulled Prince Yimnit out of the cell. “This can go one of two ways. You can show me what you know about the layout of the castle—rooms, hallways, nooks, secret passages, anywhere I could hide easily from your guards—or I can take the information by force and leave you a muttering husk of a person. You’ll be alive, but you will wish for death.”
“You wouldn’t dare disturb the tenuous peace my father has brokered.”
“Wouldn’t we?” I said. “We’re not from here, and our number one priority is finding a way home. The rest of this is just a bonus.”
Kimberly pushed Prince Yimnit out into the hall and forced him down on his knees. She beckoned the guards close, and they all took positions around the prisoner, guns drawn, ready to fire at the smallest sign of distress.
Kimberly placed her hands firmly on Prince Yimnit’s head. “Now, show me every room of the castle. Make it as vivid as you can, down to the last detail.”
There was nothing for a moment, and then Kimberly’s head jerked back violently. The guards raised their weapons.
“Wait!” I shouted and held my breath. A moment later, Kimberly’s head jerked again, and then a third time, before Prince Yimnit opened his eyes.
“That’s everything I know,” he grumbled.
“Perfect,” Kimberly said. She patted her hair back into place. “Guards, take this man back to his cell. Maybe give him an extra dessert for being so helpful.”
Director Frente stood at the entrance to the hall, hands on her hips. “What the hell is happening here?” Before we could answer, she threw her arms up in the air. “You know what, I don’t want to know. Just tell me you didn’t hurt him.”
Kimberly shrugged. “He’s fine.”
Director Frente shook her head slowly. “Just…come on. We’re about to get started.”
***
The director led us back into the main room with all the computers and screens, where it looked like the entire base, save for those guarding Prince Yimnit, had gathered.
She indicated a spot in the back near Margaret, where she wanted us to stand. Meanwhile, she stalked to the front of the room and stood before the bank of monitors, where tactical plans were being projected.
“This is it,” Director Frente started. “This is the pinnacle of everything we’ve built with this organization over the past—forever. The entirety of this rebellion comes down to tonight’s strike on the palace. If we succeed, we can bring freedom to this entire planet. If we fail, we doom Risyl and the rest of the planet to servitude. I don’t want to put too fine a point on it but rest assured: The future rests on our shoulders.”
Director Frente cleared her throat. “Alpha team will infiltrate the tunnels beneath the castle from the east.” As she spoke, the monitors flipped to blueprints of the castle, marked with red lines. “According to Prince Yimnit, these will lead into the main chambers. Infrared scans of the palace confirm the tunnels exist.” She snapped her fingers, and a blue line appeared, crosscutting the red line. “Beta team will come from the west, making their way to the throne room.”
A third image, this one of an orange dot placed behind what appeared to be the throne room. “Our intel shows that the hottest signature is coming from here, which we presume is where the device is located.” She snapped her fingers again, and an orange line overlaid atop the blue line and a green line overlaid atop the red line. “Charlie and Delta teams will make their way from the north and south of the tunnel to meet up in the center, and all four teams make your way to the throne room. Each of you is outfitted with explosives, but that is a last resort.”
She turned to Jasper. “We have the greatest technological minds in the world in this room, and all of them will be here to help with the safe disassembly of the device. However, if we cannot disarm it safely, then you will be tasked with blowing it up.”
“Wait!” one of the men said. “That much energy could destroy five city blocks.”
Director Frente gulped. “That is the price of freedom. I pray it does not come to that, though.” She pointed to her chest. “We live as one.”
Everyone else pounded their chests. “We die as o—”
A sudden quake rattled the whole base and sent us all falling to the floor, including the director. She righted herself first and barked at the men and women around her. “What was that?”
“I don’t—”
Before anyone else could say anything, the monitors turned on. It was the king. He stood in front of a long, cylindrical device that glowed white and pulsated like a heartbeat. The light gave the power-hungry king an eerie pall.
“My people,” he said. “Moments ago, we made a metalogical breakthrough for the ages.” He swept his arm toward the cylinder. “Behold, for we have captured a GOD!” The white light dissipated as worried mumbles flew through the room. As the being behind the glass returned to normal, I recognized the face of Baron Samedi. He screamed at the glass and pounded on it fruitlessly.
The king turned back to the camera. “Yes, my children, gods are real, and we have captured one. Now, we will show you what it means to go against my chosen people!”
The image changed, showing the outside of the castle. A white light exploded out of one of the many spires of the palace and shot high into the air. The screen went black for a moment.
My heart dropped because I knew what was coming next. When the screen came up again, it showed the capital of Risyl. One moment, it stood untouched, and in the next instant, a white light washed over it. The camera shook on the image of an explosion and then cut to black.
“Oh my god!” Director Frente said. “Somebody try the president. Find out what just happened.”
“It’s—we’re getting nothing—” one of the techs said. “It’s like…they all vanished—the whole country.”
“A massive heat signature just appeared on the ground in Risyl right now,” another called out. “It matches the one coming from the palace. I’m afraid—it looks they have leveled the capital…oh my god…what kind of power could do that?”
A moment later, the king appeared on the screen again. “It brings me no joy to destroy Risyl. They were a great foe, proud and noble. Let this be a warning to those who oppose us. Surrender, and you will be embraced with warmth. Otherwise, come morning, you will be destroyed. You have twelve hours to make your decision.”
The king paused, tapping his lips with the tip of his scepter. “Oh, yes…and Madam President, if you are relying on the rebellion to save you, rest assured that while it was difficult to track them down…we have found them now.”
An explosion rang out from the brig, and when we turned, Prince Yimnit rushed out of the smoke-filled hallway, hands unbound, and the four guards tasked with restraining him now pointed guns at us. The lights turned out, replaced by the red emergency backups, and the sprinklers rained down. A scream rang out, and the elevators all opened at once. Jackboots stormed into the base like a raging river, firing on everyone in their wake.
This is a portal fantasy series with mythological roots and action-adventure tendencies. You can search through all my work on my website.