Race: Demon
Class: ??
Level: ??
Name: Mammon
Race: Demon
Class: ??
Level: ??
17
Black roses for the wicked one
The two demons looked like polar opposites. Astaroth stood on goat-like hooves, at least ten feet tall, with huge ram's horns protruding from his completely bald head. His skin was red and he was extremely muscular, his topless body revealing two enormous leathery wings on his back. He looked like a horrific renaissance painting of the devil.
Mammon, on the other hand, was pale and sitting on a floating throne. His face looked almost human, save for the tiny triangular horns and his elongated nails. His dark hair was greasy and messy and he was munching on a piece of meat, the juices dripping onto his over-sized, exposed belly. Regardless of how bad his physical condition looked though, there was no doubt that he could be as deadly as Astaroth.
"Fucking hells, lad," Rory said, and looked at Leo. "Why are there demons here?"
"I don't know," Leo replied.
I could see that even Rory had lost his cool now.
"Are these two strong?" I asked.
"Let's just say that most of the stories that have seeped into Cosmos mythology about these two are true," Leo replied.
"You made a pact with us," said a terrifying voice, that sounded as if it was two people speaking at once. "You were paid a great deal to steal the book and bring it to us."
"And I assure you, procuring the artifact from the estate of Thanatos was no easy undertaking," Abrathion replied, his hands moving around as if to accentuate his point. "And might I add that we caused quite a disturbance over there. There is no way any of this can lead back to you."
"Are you trying to thay..." Mammon's voice sounded weak and it had a strong lisp. "...that you are the only one who can bring uth trouble by making it known?"
"No, no, of course not," Abrathion replied and this time brought his palms forward defensively. "I am merely pointing out the fact that--"
"For the last time," Astaroth cut him off, "where is the book?"
"As I said, we retrieved it and brought it to this realm," Abrathion hurried to reply. "It was stored in one of my operating facilities, which was recently raided."
"Thomeone robbed you of it?" Mammon asked between bites.
"Yes. But not to worry," Abrathion continued, and I tried to focus on what he was saying next since the clacking noises of the monsters passing outside of our room were getting louder. "I know exactly who has stolen it and will have it back any day now."
"That, you've told us already," Mammon replied. "Then one night went by. And another. And another. Yet you tell uth the thame thing again. You know why we came here, Abrathion Halciu?"
"I apologize for bringing you such discomfort but I promise you--"
"Enough with the promises," Astaroth commanded and the oversized insects stirred and moved a step forward. "The Nine Hells do not barter with tricksters."
"Kill," Mammon whispered.
In a single instant, all of the hikshors charged Abrathion and his two brutes. The spellcaster was overrun before he even had the chance to cast a single spell, the rapid attacks of the monsters interrupting any spell he tried to cast thereafter. The warrior was slashing and parrying, but the enemies were just too numerous.
Seeing that words would not get him out of trouble, Abrathion stepped back and retrieved a spherical vial from a pocket. A purple liquid swirled inside of it and the moment he threw it on the floor, a swirling purple light enveloped him before he disappeared.
"Find him," Astaroth said.
The monsters continued past the fighter, who was still alive, not caring that he was slashing them as they retreated. A couple of them stepped over the now lifeless body of the mage. In a final act of defiance, the fighter held his sword in front of him, pointing it at the towering demon who was casually approaching him. Astaroth extended his arm and the man struck it with all his might, holding the sword with both hands.
It struck the demon's forearm and the blade lodged itself there, but Astaroth did not even flinch. He clenched the man's head in his palm as easily as a human would hold a tennis ball.
And he crushed it.
A sickening crunch was followed by the splatter of blood and brain matter on the ground.
"We should leave," Leo said, terror on his face.
"I'm not leaving without my wife," Viki said and placed her ear against the door.
"This is too fucking dangerous, lass," Rory agreed.
Without waiting for any further deliberation, Viki pushed the button and sprinted out as soon as the door opened.
"God damn it," I said and crawled my way to the door and after her.
Leo, Rory, and Louie followed me to the door of the next room that Viki was now trying to open.
"Wait, let me try with the card that--" I said as I patted my pockets, not able to find it.
"I tried it," she said and threw the card on the floor. "It's busted. Lend me a hand."
"You just took it from me?" I asked as Rory stepped up next to me to help push the door back.
"You were gonna leave," she said and pushed even harder.
"I wasn't gonna..." I gave up explaining and pushed the door with all I had.
The combined strength of all three of us was enough to make the door budge enough for Viki and me to fit in. There was a barricade of chairs and closets set against the door, which was the reason why it had been so hard to open it. The room was filled with human bodies bearing huge gashes on the sides of their necks and their exposed arms. All of their heads were smashed or pierced except for one female body that was simply lying face-down unmoving.
"Yelena!" Viki shouted and rushed to the woman.
Name: Yelena Anthur
Race: Doppelgänger
Class: Diamond Knight
Level: 27
"My love, my love, my love," Viki said and
