Hell Hath No Fury: Hellscourge, #8

By J.C. Diem

Without her soul to balance her opposing natures, Violet's transformation into a demon is nearing completion. The evil that resides inside her is becoming harder to contain. If she doesn't find her essence soon, the balance could be permanently tipped towards the darkness.

Sophia foresaw that someone close to Violet would betray her. Already edging towards the dark side, when she learns the details of the treachery, she is sent teetering to the brink of no return. 

Fleeing from her betrayer, Violet seeks refuge only to be caught by her enemies. With only two Demon Princes left to defeat, she is nearing the end of the mission that Fate burdened her with. She will need to call on the help of an unusual ally to be able to survive the trials ahead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seize The Night Agency
• Release date: Dec 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540157720

Book preview

Chapter One

HIDING IN THE SHADOWS, I kept watch on the warehouse where Nathan was being held captive. Leo had chosen a vacant suite of offices on the second floor of a building across the street to be our temporary lair. We were close enough to spy on our enemies, but not close enough to set off their wards.

Ingesting Raziel’s essence had given me the ability to see the angelic spells that surrounded the property. They were similar to demonic runes, but had been created using words and faith rather than blood. They’d been placed on the low concrete wall that surrounded the property and on the warehouse itself. I only had a small amount of angelic grace inside me, so their blue glow was faint to me. I had to concentrate to be able to see them. Ordinary humans couldn’t see them at all.

Standing at the other window, Leo pointed at the door on the right side of the warehouse as it opened. Ten angels emerged and split into pairs. I studied them before they teleported away. My shoulders sagged when I didn’t recognize any of their faces. We’d been watching the building for three days now in the hopes that we would see Brie, Domiel or Jeduthun. They were our only allies in the host of angels who had made the warehouse their headquarters.

How long are we going to have to wait? I complained as ten more angels appeared next to the warehouse. They were returning from their patrol to report in to their leaders, Hag and Orifice. Surely they have to leave the building sooner or later? I didn’t bother to whisper. I’d created a silence rune in the room so our enemies couldn’t overhear us.

They cannot exactly sneak out without being noticed, Leo replied. They have to remain under the radar. If Hagith or Orifiel discover that they are spies, they will join Nathan in the cells.

I know, I said wearily. He and Sophia had talked me out of summoning Brie, Dom or Jed to my side. They were rarely alone and it would be highly suspicious if they suddenly disappeared while they were in the middle of a conversation. Besides, their base was now so heavily warded that I couldn’t magically squirrel our allies away from the building. If that had been possible, I would have rescued Nathan days ago.

During our vigil, I’d noticed that Hag and Orifice kept a strict schedule for their lackeys. They were probably using the excuse that the Collectors might kidnap and harvest anyone who strayed from the fold. I was pretty sure the real reason for their tight control was that they didn’t fully trust their minions. Hagith and Orifiel were from the Dominion order, which meant they were used to giving orders to lesser angels. But they weren’t used to being in charge like this. They’d had a taste of real power and they didn’t want to give it up now.

Dom and Jed will have their turn to patrol the city, Leo said, bringing me back to the matter at hand. We just have to be patient.

Patience wasn’t my strong suit these days. Nathan had been captured a week and a half ago. He was being tortured because he’d refused to bow to Hag and Orifice’s will. Before he’d been banished from heaven, he’d been a Seraph. The Seraphim was the highest of the angelic orders. His rank had been stripped away, leaving him an outcast. He now lacked the authority to take charge of the displaced angels as should have been his right. Now that the gates to heaven were locked, the angels who had been on Earth at the time were now stuck here. They were gathering in New York for the showdown that would happen once the demons broke free from hell.

Do you think Brie is okay? I asked.

Leo’s narrow shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. I hope so.

Brie had been on our team before she’d defected to the other side. She’d switched back a while ago when she’d realized Hagith was becoming power mad. Hag was hoarding the tarnished silver metal objects I brought back from each trip that I took to hell. I’d gathered seven pieces so far, but she had only six of them in her possession. We’d made a deal that she and Orifice would stop trying to kidnap me if I handed the objects over to them. Now that they’d taken Nathan captive, that deal was off.

I would have been willing to offer Hag the next piece in exchange for Nathan, but I doubted she would agree to it. She wanted to take all of us captive and my guardian was the lure. She knew we would try to break him free. The warehouse had to be trapped in anticipation of our rescue attempt. That was why Leo and I were watching the place from concealment, hoping to speak to Brie, Dom or Jed. We needed inside information before we could come up with a plan. Maybe they’d been relegated to guarding their base instead of being sent out to search the city.

We had an hour before the angels would return and another ten would go out on a patrol. There were over a hundred in their host now and they were regularly sent out to look for us. Some of the more trusted guards stood watch over our base night and day. Sy’s runes kept them from invading us, but they couldn’t stop them from spying on us from afar.

Stepping away from the window, I staggered with fatigue and almost went down. Leo was beside me in an instant to catch me before I could fall. He helped me over to one of the two cheap plastic chairs in the otherwise empty room. Examining my face, he frowned. You do not look well.

I’d like to see how good you’d look with two infusions of demonic toxins in your system, I said sourly. I was well aware that my face was covered in sweat and my hair was dull and lifeless. The smudges beneath my eyes had grown darker and my skin had a gray tinge to it. I’d lost weight and I couldn’t put it back on no matter how much food I forced myself to eat.

Sitting on the chair next to mine, Leo stared at the windows in silence. He knew what he needed to do, but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Being purged with holy fire was the only thing that was keeping me going. He’d reluctantly zapped me when I’d returned from the third realm of hell and only because I’d been on the verge of death. He wanted to make contact with our allies to hand the task of causing me pain over to them.

Leaning forward, I picked up a thermos of tea that Sophia had made for me and poured some into a plastic cup. My hands were shaking as I sipped the lukewarm brew. She’d packed some cookies for me as well, but I wasn’t hungry. As the toxin grew stronger, my sense of taste and smell faded. Eating wasn’t pleasant when everything tasted like sawdust.

Glancing at the sleeping bag that was spread out in a corner of the small room, I looked away before I could be tempted to lie down. I was perpetually tired, yet I avoided sleep whenever I could. I was afraid that I would end up in the shadowlands of my mind once I succumbed to my weariness. Since I’d come back from the underworld, I’d only caught snatches of sleep here and there. Eventually, I would sleep more deeply and then I was bound to see Sam. I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing my best friend as a disembodied spirit. I’d gotten him killed and now he was trapped inside me along with Heather, Raziel and the legion of demons.

You have to face him sooner or later, Leo told me sadly. He knew me well enough to be able to read my expression. Why are you so afraid to see Sam?

Because he’ll hate me now, I replied miserably.

He shook his head in something close to annoyance. Sam could never hate you. He loved you like a sister.

I gulped down a sob at his usage of the past tense. I still hadn’t gotten used to my best friend being dead. I ruined his only chance to go to heaven, I reminded him.

You will find a way to release the souls from inside you. He will have another chance to ascend to heaven.

He spoke with quiet confidence that I wished I possessed. Will I? I said bitterly. When is that going to happen? I only have a short time left now before the toxin will kill me. What do you think will happen to the souls that are caught inside me when I die?

His expression was just as miserable as mine at that question. I didn’t have a soul of my own. When I died, I’d become just a lump of meat. The souls that were held captive inside me would probably fade away to nothing, along with my rotting flesh.

That was why I couldn’t face Sam. I’d known he would be doomed if I consumed his soul, but I’d done it anyway. If I were him, I’d never forgive me for that betrayal.

Chapter Two

A COUPLE OF HOURS PASSED and I was on the verge of dozing when Leo spoke. Dom and Jed just stepped outside. Now is your chance to grab them."

Scrambling out of the chair, I rushed over to the window to see our allies walking away from the warehouse with eight other angels. Once they were clear of the spells that prevented anyone from teleporting in or out, they all disappeared.

I’d never tried to summon two angels to me before. I took both of their rune stones out of my pocket and decided to try it. Moments later, they both appeared in front of us. Jed called on her sword and spun around to confront us, thinking she’d been kidnapped by a demon. Dom merely turned, already suspecting that I was behind their sudden change in location.

Hi, I said lamely. Sorry to kidnap you like that without any warning.

Tall and slender, Jeduthun had long black hair and brown eyes. Dom was shorter, stocky and had blond hair a few shades darker than mine and pretty green eyes. Jed’s sword disappeared and she glanced around worriedly. Where are we?

We’re across the street from your base, Leo replied and pointed at the windows. They exchanged a startled glance and looked outside to verify the truth of his statement.

It is dangerous for you to be so close to Hagith and Orifiel, Dom told us in a hushed whisper.

No one can hear us, I replied. I’ve cast a silence rune in this room. I’d also created the spell that locked the door so only Leo or I could open it. We couldn’t afford to let a human stumble across us while we were performing surveillance on our enemies. I hadn’t bothered to create the spell that would prevent anyone from teleporting in or out. Our allies would need to be able to come and go freely. Besides, I doubted they would be happy about donating their blood for me to create a demonic rune.

How is Brie? Leo asked before I could launch into my questions about Nathan. He sent me an apologetic look, but I couldn’t blame him for wanting to know how his partner was. They’d been paired up for tens of thousands of years and were as close as real siblings.

Briathos is well, Jed replied and slid an uneasy look at me. She knew I’d be asking the same question about Nathan. She has ingratiated herself into Hagith’s and Orifiel’s inner circle. They believe she is firmly on their side. Her hatred of Violet is quite convincing. That was because it had once been real. I doubted Brie would ever trust me completely.

Leo sighed in relief. That is good. Hopefully, she will not come under suspicion when we are ready to launch our plan to break Nathan free.

The look they exchanged lasted longer this time. That will not be easy, Dom said at last. Nathanael is being watched constantly. He is never alone, not even for a moment.

How is he? I asked.

His health is poor, Jed said bluntly. Hagith has ordered for him to be punished almost constantly until you hand yourself over to her.

My gut clenched and the Wraith Warrior shifted inside me as though she could feel my anguish. Maybe she could. She’d told me she knew it made me uneasy whenever she stretched her limbs. For all I knew, she could be attuned to my moods as well. I kept my face blank so they couldn’t see my discomfort at her movements. What sort of punishment is he suffering?

It would not do you any good to hear the details, Dom told me. You cannot surrender to our leaders. It they have you in their custody, it will be difficult for you to fulfil the mission that Fate gave you.

Don’t they want me to stop the apocalypse?

We have heard only snippets of their plan, Jed replied. We cannot be sure what their real intentions are.

Will they exchange Nathan for the next piece of the object of power? Leo asked.

They shook their heads. Hagith has called off the truce with the rebels, Dom informed us. I rolled my eyes at the term Hag had come up with to describe us. You are all to be taken captive and to be brought to our base immediately. She knows that Violet will have found the next piece of the object by now.

I’ve only found seven pieces out of the nine, I reminded him. It won’t work unless all of them are brought together. How does she expect me to be able to find the last two pieces if I’m stuck in one of their cells?

Orifiel has spoken to her about this, Jed replied. He has talked her into agreeing to allow you to continue to search for the portals to the underworld. You will not be kept in the cell indefinitely.

At least Orifiel has not completely abandoned his duty, Leo said.

Hagith is cunning and persuasive, Dom told us. She has convinced her followers that Violet is evil and that she plans on unleashing demonkind on the Earth. Hagith intends to wield the object of power against the armies of darkness through the very being who will bring devastation to this world.

He was talking about me, of course. She’s crazy, I said and uttered a harsh laugh. I’m not the one who’ll be unleashing the demons. I’m the one who is supposed to be stopping them.

Jed just shrugged. Rational angels are aware of this. She has turned our kin into fanatics.

Fabulous, I said with a groan. That’s just what I need. A hundred fanatical angels all out to get me.

You are not the only one they are searching for, Leo reminded me. Sophia and I are also on their list.

If they caught us, Sophia and Leo would also be locked in a cell and would suffer the same punishment as Nathan. I couldn’t let that happen to them. At least they didn’t know about Elijah yet. The priest might be able to escape from their brand of justice. What are we going to do? I said forlornly. How are we going to break Nathan free if he’s being watched constantly?

Jed sent a cautioning look at Dom when he spoke. I have been thinking about that and I may have a way to help you.

It is too risky, Jed said in disapproval. You cannot even be sure it will work.

If it was you locked in the cell being punished, would you not want me to attempt to free you?

They locked eyes in a silent battle of wills. In the end, she gave in. Fine, she said curtly. Show them your special talent.

Dom concentrated and the room was suddenly full of demons in their natural forms. Leo stumbled back a step and called on his sword. My dagger appeared in my hand, called to me by my panic. I realized my blade wasn’t glowing at the same time that I saw the demons weren’t moving.

This is incredible, Leo said and made his sword disappear again. Stepping forward, he examined them closely. Apart from the corpse of a servant that I’d brought back from the ninth realm of hell, he’d never seen a demon in the flesh before. Angels and demons could only appear on Earth in their spirit forms.

Life sized, most were soldiers. They were dressed in plain black leather armor. Their skin was just as inky as their clothing, but their eyes blazed scarlet. A few were captains. They were a head taller and had stubby horns growing out of their foreheads. Their armor was slightly more ornate and they wore metal braces on their wrists.

One demon stood head and shoulders above the rest. Her features were feminine, which told me she was a female Demon Lord. Her horns curved halfway to the back of her head. Her armor and metal braces were better quality. I recognized her from the memories I’d seen through Hannah’s eyes when Fate had sent me a dream of my ancestor. Do you know who that is? I asked and pointed at the lord. They were just illusions, but they were incredibly lifelike.

Dom shook his head. I have no idea who they are. I am simply able to conjure up their images.

Who is he? Leo asked.

It isn’t a he, it’s a she. That’s Lord Vepar.

Leo wrinkled his nose. It is hard to believe that she is the same Vepar we were kin to. She was so beautiful when she was an angel and now she is hideous.

All demons were ugly, but lords were even more repulsive than most. You should see a Demon Prince if you think she’s bad, I said.

Dom concentrated again and the prince of the eighth realm suddenly appeared. I took a step back out of reflex even though I’d already killed him. Twelve feet tall, he dwarfed even the lord. His leathery black wings were furled against his back. His armor was made of metal. The center of his chest was exposed to reveal strange markings on his inky flesh. His horns rose up and swept all the way to the back of his head where the tips almost met. Instead of feet, he had cloven hooves.

"Now that is unsightly," Leo said with a shudder.

I conjured up a weak smile and was glad when the illusion faded. None of my friends or allies were aware of what I changed into whenever I went to hell. At first, I thought I was going to become a lord. After my last trip to the underworld, I now knew better. I was turning into something that had never existed before; a Demon Princess. Shaking off my dread, I focused on our task. These illusions are awesome, but can you make them do anything?

The look Dom gave me was almost insulted. Of course. They would not be of much use if they remained frozen. With a look of deep concentration, he made scarlet weapons appear in the demons’ hands. Then they surged to life and came rushing at Leo and me. Only the dull silver blade of my dagger made me refrain from defending myself. It only glowed crimson when I was in danger and it wasn’t showing any signs of it right now.

Their blades passed through me without leaving any damage. I was close enough to Vepar to see the glint in her eye as she targeted Leo. He looked a bit spooked and was on the verge of calling for his sword again. Her weapon swung at him and he flinched as it seemed to slice into him.

Dom made the images disappear and I could see that it had taken effort out of him. How many demons can you conjure up? I asked.

A hundred at the most.

Creating so many illusions will tax Domiel, Jed warned us. He will not be able to maintain the ruse for long.

How many angels know of this ability?

Just the two of us, Dom replied almost bashfully. I fear our kin would not be happy if they discovered that I have this talent.

My Mom could do something similar, I told him. She could send visions of hell to people to scare them into being good. He seemed relieved that he wasn’t the only one who could create images of evil beings.

Leo’s expression turned thoughtful as he spoke. "We will need help if we are going to save Nathan. I think it is time