Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Pool of Terrors

I was falling… or floating… or both. It felt like both, especially since I wasn’t picking up speed. My descent meandered through the thick mist that smelled of deep earth and decaying worms and when I finally landed it was like landing on soft pillows.

By the time I stood upright the mist dissipated giving me a clear view of my surroundings, which consisted of very little. Ruddy rocks that looked like giant anthills protruded from the ground and sides of the chasm. In the center of the room stood a compilation of black pillars shaped into an oversized throne. It was shiny yet crude and dark. Jagged edges pierced the air, its points glistened in the non-light. Sitting on the throne was a being, elegant and cold. He radiated evil. It rolled off him in droves. In a strange way he was beautiful.

my mind said. And it was true. He looked more or less like a man with dark hair and skin so white it could’ve been snow. He reminded me of a demon who’d taken on human form. Dressed head to toe in red, he stood out against the dark rock. Worst of all were his eyes. The way he studied me, inquisitive, his blue eyes exactly the same color as mine.

The white rabbit hopped into my line of sight and approached the man. “See, my liege. I did as you asked and brought her.” He bowed slightly. The rabbit looked ridiculous in a charming way. His vest nearly matched the color of his fur, except his collar, which was red like the monster’s suit.

The being turned his gaze onto the rabbit. “You did very well, Bleach. Thank you. You may go.” He dismissed the rabbit with the wave of his hand. I couldn’t help but notice his fingers. They appeared to be mostly bone and very little flesh.

Bleach wriggled his nose, causing his whiskers to bounce around. “Good. Good.” He took his watch from his pocket and checked the time before glancing at me. “Very good.” The rabbit hopped away, disappearing behind the throne.

“Now it’s just you and me, Alice.” The pretend man grinned, his lips shaping a smile with oily clarity.

“Who are you? How do you know me?” Something told me I didn’t want to know the answers to my questions. Even as I had the thought, my body lost its strength and I crumpled to the ground. It happened in an instant and I had no control, like a puppet without strings. “I don’t want to be here.” The words came out softly.

“Oh, but you do.” The ground came up around me, bending me into a sitting position facing the man. “You see, Alice Blackburn, I have your answers.” He steepled his fingers in front of his face and waited.

“No.” That was all I could utter because speaking proved difficult. I’d lost nearly all power over my body. Fear is an emotion, one that is all in the mind. But it’s a weakness that can strangle a person physically and I was feeling the effects. It was so strong all I could think was that I wished I’d never been born.

“Don’t play coy. I sense you’ve already guessed the answer—at least to a degree.” One side of his thin, red lips lifted.

I closed my eyes and wished I could cover my ears, desperate to disappear. “Who are you?” I finally struggled out.

“A decent first question, but I must admit I’m a little disappointed.”

I cracked open one eye and saw he’d left his perch on the throne and stood in front of me. Had I the faculties I would’ve screamed. As it was I pushed against the chair that held me fast.

“Still, I’ll answer. My name is Deckland Friche.” He smiled, his putrid breath burning my nose. “Better known as the Devil. I am the ruler over all demons.” As he spoke the ruddy chasm around us vanished and was replaced by millions upon millions of demons, their bodies twisted and hairy, an evil kaleidoscope of claws and teeth. An incomprehensible force of pain washed over me. Like an ocean wave, it struck my body. My mind wanted to explode at the idea that I stood in front of the Devil himself—the most powerful demon known to exist. But I couldn’t get further than that. My mind seemed to be shutting down.

“What do you think?” He lifted his arms, sweeping them from side to side. “The world will be ours. Not just the Demon Realm, but all of the realms. After eons, we deserve it. No more living in the shadows or sleeping in the dirt.” His smile grew. “Of course, you’ll need to die first. That’s a given.”

My bottom lip quivered. I clamped down on it with my teeth desperate not to let him see I was afraid.

“But first,” he continued. “Let’s have a little fun.” He snapped his fingers and a large metal cage appeared beside the throne.

The demons around the room cackled and gnashed their teeth at the sight of the metal enclosure, but didn’t come forward, seemingly trapped behind an invisible barrier.

The cage was made of tarnished silver. It hung from a long chain that attached to something above I couldn’t see. Green sparks swirled around the bars, like an electric current. But that was nothing compared to what the cage contained. And I sucked in a breath. “Wendy? Is that you?” For the second time I questioned whether this was real or just in my mind. Was I awake?

The Dark Moth trainee looked up at the sound of her name. Blood dripped from a gash on the side of her head, running between her eyes and down her nose and cheeks. “Alice.” She shook the bars. “Help me.” Her marks flashed red as she tried to pull apart the bars. They wouldn’t budge. Not even the power of her wrath could break them.

My capabilities returned at the sight of Wendy. With little effort, I pushed out of the chair and scrambled forward to help, breaking the lock. But before I could open it, Wendy vanished.

“Over here, Alice. Look what we have.” The Devil indicated a point behind me as he moved toward it.

I turned, following him with my eyes. All of the trainees hung upside down by their ankles, including Wendy. Except Eric who’d died. Of course. Their legs were held together by thick chains that went up into the endless gray sky and kept going until I couldn’t see them any longer. “What are you—”

“It’s simple, Alice. You must choose which of them you’re going to save?” He gave Wendy a little push so that her body began to swing, then he moved on.

Wendy cried softly, but I saw her frustration too. She ached to get at him.

“I know they call you the Queen of Hearts,” the Devil said. “And I respect your decision not to get attached to anyone. It’s smart. It’s what I’d do in your situation.” He grinned as a beautiful woman in a red dress appeared in front of him. He took her in his arms and kissed her passionately before letting go, spinning her away from him. She giggled before she burst into fiery pieces.

I stood there, shocked. What had he done? Who was she?

The Devil faced me. “If you allow yourself to let go, you will see we are alike, you and I. And we can take what we want when we want it.” He tucked his hands into his front pockets like he was just sharing a story about the weather.

“I’m nothing like you,” I said, gritting my teeth.

“Right.” He gave me a look that said he didn’t agree. “But hey, the situation I’ve placed before you should be easy since you really don’t care about any of them.”

“I won’t choose,” I growled.

As I spoke six royal demons appeared, surrounding me. They were in their true form—large, slimy, hairy creatures that oozed with open sores. I glanced from one to another, turning slowly, studying each of them. “What’s this?”

The Devil laughed and the demons joined in.

“These are the demon sires of your companions.” He indicated the dangling trainees. “For each one you kill, that trainee gets to live.”

My heart picked up speed. I felt physically ill. I couldn’t fight all of these demons. There were too many. I wasn’t strong enough. My throat felt dry.

“Rules,” the Devil went on.

The room erupted with raucous laughter. Tracker demons shouted obscenities as well as other things.

“Break the rules,” one of them said.

“We don’t need them,” another added.

“No rules.”

“Bloody stupid.”

The Devil’s smile grew. “My trackers have a point. But…” He tapped his chin. “For you, there are rules. Number one. You have twenty-four hours to kill each demon. If you fail, the Dark Moth trainee will die. Rule number two…” He trailed off.

“But you can’t kill the Dark Moth trainees until they turn eighteen. That’s one and only rule. It’s been that way for thousands of years. You can’t change that.” I wanted to gloat, to grin like a Cheshire cat, but I couldn’t.

The Devil raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Is that so?” He addressed the gallery of demons. “Alice is telling me, the first and oldest demon what my one rule is. Isn’t she cute?”

They cackled, their jubilation so loud it hurt my ears.

My paralyzing fright rose. He had probably crafted the one rule the demons possessed regarding the creation of Dark Moths.

The Devil wiped his eyes. “Oh, Alice. You’re a funny girl.”

I swallowed.

“I put the rule into play and now I’m removing it.” He shrugged casually. “They are all nearly eighteen anyway. And it isn’t like anyone is going to miss them.” He came forward and touched my shoulder.

Immense depression seeped through my skin and into my bones. It seemed to eat away at my insides. “I-I’ll miss them,” I said. “And I won’t let them die.”

“Ohhhh, did you hear that?” He spoke to the group. “She’s fiery. I like it.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Your time starts now.” He snapped his fingers.

I was back on the stone slab deep below in Demonland.