When we reached the wooden stairwell, it was only wide enough for us to go in a single-file line. Raven led the way, with Bash in the rear in case I stumbled or fell.
The higher we went, the harder it became to breathe. The altitude changed rapidly. Even though fire writhed below, it became colder the further we ascended. My breathing became labored and I slowed my steps, falling behind Raven and Fenrir.
“Don’t worry, Mackenzie, take your time,” Bash coached from behind.
I grabbed the railing and tried to haul myself up to the next step, but when I grabbed the wooden rail, it snapped in my hands, tearing from the foundations and bringing me off balance.
“Bash!” I yelled a split second before I tipped over and fell off the mountainside.
The air whooshed past my face as I free fell, my arms scrabbling up and to the side as if I could catch purchase in a rocky crag and cease my plummet to certain death. A scream lodged in my throat. I felt the simmering heat beneath me and all I could do was close my eyes and wait for the end.
An instant before death’s door, I was yanked from my descent and slowly raised back into the air. I kept my eyes closed and breathed a sigh of relief. I gripped the shoulders of my savior, whom I assumed was Raven, but my heart stuttered in my chest when I felt leathery, slippery skin. I opened my eyes slowly and the scream that had been lodged in my throat burst forth.
“Oh my God!” I wriggled and tried to get out of its arms, but the creature held me tighter.
It was a monster. A demon’s true form. Or hell, maybe the devil himself.
It had red leathery skin, a deformed face that was twice as large as my own, and four horns that jutted from the top of its head. It was grotesque and monstrous, with bat-like wings flapping from its back.
“For fuck’s sake, I’m about to piss myself, please set me down somewhere safely,” I whispered, trying to keep as far away from its bare chest as possible.
When we reached the top of the mountain, the thing didn’t immediately release me. I squirmed my way out of its grip and clambered as far away from it as possible. Now that I was standing, I could see just how large the creature was; built like a tree trunk and at least ten feet tall.
“What the fuck are you?” I held out a hand as if that could stop it from coming toward me.
His leathery, bat-like wings twitched behind him and he took a step toward me, making me stumble back.
“Easy there, batman. Names first,” I said shakily.
“I am Belphegor.” His voice reverberated throughout the mountaintop like a thunderclap. “One of the princes of Hell.”
“Ah,” I chuckled awkwardly. “Of course you are. Mackenzie; a pleasure.” I grimaced as I sized him up.
“Why are you on my mountain, human?” he asked, taking another menacing step toward me.
“Well … you see what had happened was … I took a wrong turn in Albuquerque—” I jabbed my thumb behind me and made moves to jet when I heard several approaching footsteps. I looked over my shoulder and saw Bash running up the stairs and onto the mountaintop with Raven and Fenrir close on his heels.
He rushed toward me and pulled me into his chest, his heart beating like a drum. “You scared me half to death,” he muttered. “God, Mackenzie, you have to be more careful!”
“Long time no see, Belly,” Raven greeted the demon. I turned around to face them with wide eyes.
“It’s been centuries, Valkyrie. What brings you to my mountaintop?” Belphegor asked, tilting his massive head in Raven’s direction.
“I thought this was Abaddon’s territory?” she asked. The old man had said so himself.
“It used to be, but in his absence, it’s mine.”
Raven nodded. “We’re here because of Abaddon. We want to know why he’s in the human realm.”
Although the old man pretty much told us everything we needed to know, there might be something else the demon could tell us. It was worth a shot.
“What will you give in exchange for this information?” Belphegor asked shrewdly.
Raven looked to Fenrir, who only glared at her. “Seriously?” he groaned.
“Seriously,” she said.
He rolled his eyes, then sighed before holding up his right hand and extending his claws. One by one, he ripped each clawed fingernail from his right hand and handed them over to Raven, then tucked his bloodied hand into his pocket.
“The claws of the first wolf.” Raven offered them to the demon. “These are one of a kind, and you’ll never be able to get them anywhere again.”
Belphegor’s eyes widened. “My, oh my, you drive a hard bargain.” He held out a stretched hand and received the claws, counting all five of them greedily. “What do you want to know?”
“We know Abaddon is looking for a human shell, which is why he’s in the human realm. How did he learn of such a thing?” Fenrir asked.
“There have always been rumors of a human hybrid being born one day that could sustain the life force of a demon. Many years ago, a lycan family was blessed by the fae and the lycan called upon Abaddon for his aid. He struck a bargain with them in hopes that one day they would produce a hybrid.”
Fenrir turned to look at me. “Let me guess … this was your family?”
I nodded.
“Why would he want to go into the human realm? Why wouldn’t other demons try to do the same thing as him?” Raven asked.
“We demons don’t typically desire to leave the Underworld,” Belphegor said. “We have all the power we need here. Abaddon wants more. If he obtains the rumored hybrid shell, he’ll have power over the Underworld, the human realm, and
