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Leviathan
Even the eternal optimist Aubrey could admit their chances looked grim. They were being chased by a colossal desert snake and they only had one dune buggy. They couldn’t hope to outrun the Leviathan but standing still and letting it devour them was not an option either. Callie tried to think of anything she’d heard about the Leviathan from Lilith and the other demons.
"That is terrifying," Nadia pointed out, her brown eyes wide with fear. "How are we going to take that on?"Matthias asked, "It has to have a weak spot, right?"Callie replied, "Not really.""It’s still a demon," Nicholas pointed out. "And demons have weaknesses.""Even if you could hit it with the spear, you would need to get close enough first and it could easily crush you or swallow you. Its venom would kill you in minutes."She went to Nadia and handed her Lucifer’s Grace. "You stay here with the familiars. I’m driving the dune buggy."Aubrey protesteKaugnay na kabanata
Simmer Perdition
The Blood Road wasn’t really a road. There was no pavement or stone. It was a trail of dried black blood that stained the ground. It was made from the blood of Lucifer after God had ripped his wings from him and he had been forced to walk through Hell to his cage. It had not faded over time. The black blood was still stark as the day Lucifer staggered then crawled through the realm. Demons had been known to kneel and pray to the Devil on the blood road. Lilith and the witches would light black candles on Samhain and walk on the blood road, following the path Lucifer had walked.They walked closely together in case of an attack. Nicholas tried to hide how vulnerable he felt without the Holy Lance but Callie could see through him. He still had the use of holy fire but the spear had been an ace that was difficult to lose. They only had one weapon to fight with and Lucifer’s Grace would attract more attention than they wanted.Callie clutched the blade closer
Simmer Paradise
Much to Callie’s relief, her friends followed her advice and stayed on the Blood Road. They didn’t run into more lost souls or demons as they continued on their journey. Their only concern were the ravens that followed them, circling above like an omen. Callie kept Lucifer’s Grace in hand lest one of the birds swooped down and tried to peck at them.The ravens flew away when they reached the edge of the city. Paradise was a small city with a population of more than fifty-thousand demons. It was the oldest city in Hell and was created by the Fallen when they were banished from Heaven. It started off as a small village and expanded over the years as more demons populated the realm.Callie could have gone unnoticed if she had been alone. She had enough demon blood for the city residents not to bother with her. Her human companions would be like fresh blood to a shiver of sharks. They would sniff them out within minutes.Callie borrowed the small knife A
Simmer Penance
Demons used Hellhound venom for torture. While it couldn’t kill a demon, it took a while to heal and it was painful. Callie had firsthand experience and Matthias hadn't said a word despite being in excruciating pain. She didn’t know if it was a guy thing or a human thing to be that proud or stupid.Nicholas, Aubrey, and Nadia carried the unconscious Matthias into Morgan’s house. It looked like a Victorian style home with ivy growing on the walls outside. Callie had always thought Morgan purposely tried to make her house more appealing as if to hide the terrors from within. The house looked the same since the last time she’d been there except for the overwhelming powerful cloaking spell around it.As formidable as Morgan was, wards and invisibility spells weren’t her expertise. The answer came when Callie saw Batibat was sitting by the fireplace wearing a plain black dress and her dark hair in a severe bun. The Great demon followed them as they
Simmer Atonement
Callie was surprised that Morgan didn’t throw them out into the street empty(-)handed. The Great demon weighed the odds of them actually defeating Allocen and decided to assist with the bare minimum. The only weapon she had in the house was an old battle axe Baba Yaga stole from the time of the Vikings. Nicholas didn’t complain and picked up the axe which looked heavier than it actually was."Don’t fail," Morgan reminded, glancing to where Aubrey was fussing over Matthias. "The consequences could be dire."Callie didn’t miss the less than subtle threat and glared at her. "It could be dire for all of us."Morgan gave Nadia one of the knives from her collection. The blade was dipped in a potent poison of Morgan’s own recipe. She handed them a few more potions that might be useful for the fight before declaring them ready. Aubrey gave them hugs and wished them luck.Enoch didn’t get up from where he was seated on the couch. Helena
Simmer Wrath
They found a sack to put Belphegor’s head in from one of the rooms and they left it in alley on the opposite end of Fallen’s Nest. The more time the Demon Lord had to put himself back together the better it was for them. They had to rush back to get their friends. The ravens all circled over the Duke’s Mansion, slamming into the windows to get in and help their master. Ravens flew down and tried to peck and scratch at them. Nadia knocked a few back with her defensive magic, blasting the birds several feet into the air. They burned the more determined ones. The ravens did not relent the whole way back to Witch Village.They found Aubrey outside the house with three camels and helping Matthias unto one. He still looked pale and sickly but was at least conscious. Enoch was sitting on the steps of the house and talking to Helena. Aubrey ran to them and hugged them each, relieved they were okay. Morgan walked over and demanded, "Is he dead?""Yes,"
Simmer Redemption
Mammon towered over Callie at nearly seven feet tall. He was muscled and strong and he swung his sword like a hammer. Callie was lighter and faster and had to dodge his blows as they came right after another. He gave chase like an angry dog trying to take a big bite out of her.She wasn’t fast enough to dodge one blow and his golden sword sliced her in the side. She ignored the sting and the blood wetting her dress and dodged another blow. His next blow nearly got her in the head. He growled in frustration."Fight me properly!" he roared. "Stop dancing around!""Make me!"He growled and lunged at her and she sidestepped a blow that would’ve sliced her throat. He elbowed her in the side where she was wounded and the pain made her stop. It was a mistake as he swung at her and she had to twist away to avoid getting hit. She tripped and landed on the sand, the air knocked out of her.She tried to get to her feet quickly but Mammon kicked her and forc
Simmer Baptism
The dust clouds dissipated. Callie couldn’t look away from the pile of ashes that used to be Finnegan. It was difficult to process that he was truly gone and she could never have him back. It was a new kind of pain she hadn’t felt before. It threatened to overwhelm her.Nicholas touched her shoulder gently and asked, "Are you going to be okay?"She wanted to scream from the cocktail of emotions running through her. The loudest was anger. It beat like war drums in her mind, wanting to be unleashed. She felt restless."His death wasn’t your fault.""Don’t lie to me," she snapped. "He wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for me.""He made a choice and he knew the risks. We all did."She shook her head. "I’m not worth the risks. None of you should’ve come here.""You don’t get to decide that," he countered. "Only we can and we all decided that saving you is worth any danger.""You really believ
Simmer Genesis
Callie didn’t know what would happen to her once they left Hell. She expected to be thrown back into prison or she would have to disappear into the world and never return. She hadn’t counted on Frederick Wood to be her protector. The uncle she’d never known defended her against the Council and the police. She had been a minor arrested and acquitted without trial. They never contacted her legal guardian which should’ve been him. All her actions were made under duress after years of abuse and trauma. It was a case the Magical World had never seen before and it would’ve become bigger than what it was if Head Warlock Castillo didn’t want to keep things quiet.He had a lifetime of secrets he did not want to get out to the public. Frederick did not hesitate to use this leverage to his advantage. Callie could admit she was lucky she got off on probation and half a year in house arrest. Maybe all those years of terrible luck were finally turnin
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