The Dragon Witch Read online

  Ready to leave at last, Brandon jumped up and landed on a tree branch above him. He continued up until he was high in the treetops, and then hopped into the next tree effortlessly. He couldn’t fly, but this was a close alternative as he quickly made his way through the forest, hidden from prying eyes and still sensing the indescribable evil emanating from the temple.

  Demun once again found himself in a bar fight. He sighed as he looked around him, surrounded by twelve demons that apparently couldn’t hold their liquor at all. He’d been in this situation often since he’d arrived in Shevat and from what he could gather from the demons around him, they just didn’t like the way he looked.

  I guess humans aren’t the only ones that judge by appearances, he thought.

  He heard a few growls that made him want to laugh.

  “Is that a kitty or do you all just sound like pussies?” he taunted.

  That succeeded in making the group charge in. Demun smirked and held up both his hands, his power catching all twelve demons and hurling them backwards. They broke through tables and chairs as they landed, and several groaned in pain.

  “Really? That’s all you’ve got?” Demun looked down in disgust. “I didn’t even strain myself. Worthless excuses for demons.”

  He walked over to the bar, where the bartender stood with a smirk while cleaning a glass. “This is getting to be a habit for you. Do you not know how to lay low?”

  Demun smiled. “Nope, Krazas, I don’t believe in laying low. I learned early it’s better to be feared here. No point in my trying to blend in when I’ll always stand out.”

  Krazas was a large, blue skinned demon with long darker blue hair. His eyes were similar to that of a cat except they too were a dark blue. He was also a fairly muscular being, which was clear because he never wore a shirt. His chest had several scars, clearly from battles over the years, and when he opened his mouth he had small sharp fangs. His nails were actually black, and just as sharp as his fangs. He wasn’t ugly, as one might think. Demun actually found him quite appealing, especially when he smiled. Then again, Demun was a little off-kilter. But looking at Krazas, his skin was smooth and had a slight sheen to it almost as if there was a spell around him to draw others in.

  “So, how long are you going to stay around here?” Krazas asked. “You’ve stayed here for the better part of this year. Aren’t you going to have to return home soon?”

  Demun snorted. “I’m supposed to, but my darling grandmother has yet to release me. Until she lets me out, I’m stuck here. I’m hoping my brother will one day make his way here.”

  “You’re twins, right? Maybe he’s been here early on and we just didn’t notice him. Maybe we thought he was you.”

  “There’s a difference between us. My eyes are red, like our grandmother’s. His are brown. Plus, his hair is straight while I have dreadlocks. You’d know the difference.”

  “Oh. Well, I guess he hasn’t been here. But is your brother on the move, or would he do the same thing you’re doing?” Krazas asked.

  Demun frowned. “I think he’d come looking for me. I wasn’t the most stable minded person when we came here. I’ve always needed to be in contact with him. And frankly, I really still do. It’s just not as bad here as it is at home.”

  Krazas nodded. “If that’s the case, would he be going towards that temple? The demons are gathering there and even from here I can feel an ancient evil residing there. According to your grandfather’s laws, wouldn’t you be bound to investigate it?”

  Demun thought this over. “It’s highly likely if he knows about it, he’d go for it.”

  “So, maybe we should meet him there,” Krazas suggested.

  “Are you sure about that?” Demun gave him a quizzical look. “Wouldn’t you get drawn into the aura there and perhaps turn against me? That aura is turning demons here into mindless puppets, more so than they were before.”

  “If I can resist actually falling under Desdemona’s influence, then I can resist whatever this is. And knowing her, this is something she’s allowing to take place. She’s helping whoever it is. And since I’m stuck in this hellhole because of her, I feel honor bound to screw up her plans.”

  “Ok, then I guess we can go in and hope we meet up with my brother there.” Demun held out his hand for a drink. “How long will it take you to get ready?”

  Krazas smirked as he handed him a soda. “I’ll be ready as soon as you finish that drink. I keep my weapons under the bar and frankly, I don’t care about getting more customers. It’s been too long since I’ve done more than break up a bar fight.”

  Demun downed the drink and then sat the empty glass on the bar. “Hope you’re not rusty. I can’t promise I’ll be able to keep you safe.”

  Krazas laughed. “You’re cute, kid, real cute. Don’t worry about me. I can more than keep pace with a teenager.”

  Demun stood up. “Let’s get out of here then, old man. That evil aura is growing stronger as we speak.”

  Victoria had arrived in Shevat and was already at the temple, having sensed the evil coming from it that actually didn’t actually belong there. She reached out mentally to her mother for perspective.

  Mother, do you have any idea what this could be that I’m sensing here?

  Hecate’s response was brief. That evil you sense is none other than Lucifer, the Prince of Darkness.

  Oh great. Is there any chance that I can take him?

  Jarel actually reached in to join the conversation. No, child, you cannot take him. Desdemona, you could technically defeat, just not kill. Lucifer, however, is in a league of his own. To my knowledge, no one short of me or Zeus could actually take him.

  So, what do I do? I can’t just let it pass.

  There was silence for several moments as if Jarel and Hecate were arguing, which Victoria knew they probably were.

  Knowing Lucifer, he’s up to something devious. It’s not often he ventures into Desdemona’s realm. As a matter of fact, they haven’t been together in ages. This means they’re cooperating again, and planning something destructive. I have my suspicions, but there’s nothing I can do so long as the old agreement is honored to keep the gods out.

  Victoria cursed under her breath. So that still leaves me with no real options.

  So long as you remember who you are, you can channel my power. I can stand against Lucifer, but so long as I’m unable to be there physically, I have to do it through you, Hecate told her.

  Victoria heard her father’s sigh in her mind. I hate to allow this, but I have no choice. You are a witch, a direct descendant of the goddess of witchcraft. You can channel your mother’s power like no one else. And that should allow you to stand up against him if you must fight him. But you need the boys to take on Desdemona. They’re the only ones in that realm that stand a chance against her.

  Kazarian said they couldn’t take her now, Victoria commented.

  Her father’s impatience came through clearly. The hell he did. He wouldn’t know that for sure. He said at the level they were when they left they couldn’t. I guarantee you now that the two of them can take that bitch out. Unfortunately, one of them will have to in order to give you a fighting chance against Lucifer. And frankly, if they don’t struggle too much with her, they might be able to help you with him. Now do what I say and find those boys. They’ll be on their way to you.

  Cast a spell, child, to draw the boys to you, Hecate advised her.

  It was fortunate that Victoria had thought to bring along materials for this mission to help with spell casting. She had no idea where the boys could be, so she’d need to amplify her power in order to find draw them to her. Hopefully, she could cast her power out and be noticed over the evil aura emitted by Lucifer to reach the boys. Otherwise, life was seriously going to suck soon.

  Three

  Brandon was now at the edge of the forest surrounding the temple, looking down as demons continued to venture inside. From where he stood, he could see that most of these were common demons a
nd they were not of their own minds. The evil pouring from the place was drawing them in against their will.

  There’s nothing worse than a weak demon.

  Brandon recognized the voice of his own inner demon, Id. What’s your issue with these demons? They’re somewhat like humans.

  Id snorted. They’re a bit better than humans. At least they make it known that they do evil. They’re petty and cruel, and they’re not ashamed of it. But still, they’re weak and cowardly, and I despise cowards. Their self-control was overridden so easily.

  Do you know what’s drawing them in? Brandon asked.

  Oh, yeah. Any demon can recognize that pull; it’s the evil that helped birth us. It’s Lucifer, the Prince of Darkness, and the estranged husband of our grandmother.

  Brandon couldn’t hide his surprise. He hadn’t known Lucifer truly existed, thinking he was merely a product of human imagination seeking a source to blame for all that they do wrong. Clearly this, like most myths, had some basis in reality.

  So how do we proceed from here? Brandon asked. I know we’re strong, but can we stand up to him?

  No, not alone, Id answered. We cannot go in without back up. Unfortunately, our grandfather can’t come here to help, so we need Demun. If he’s still even with us in power, we stand a chance.

  Together, we could take out our grandmother, but if Lucifer is stronger, we need more help than that. Brandon sighed. Too bad Andreas isn’t here.

  Hmm, I think someone else is here that can even the odds. Look down.

  Brandon looked down below him, spotting a familiar form.

  “Aunt Victoria,” he called down.

  Victoria looked up, waving him down as if she’d expected to see him. Brandon jumped down to land beside her.

  “Well, half of my mission is complete,” she told him.

  Brandon raised an eyebrow. “You were sent here to rescue us?”

  Victoria nodded. “All I need now is your brother, and then we can get out of here or fight the spawn of darkness. You know, whichever feels like we’ll have the most fun.”

  Brandon shook his head with a smirk. “So you already know we’re up against Lucifer. Did Gramps give any instructions on what to do to take him down, or at least survive this?”

  “I can channel my mother’s power for a time to stand against him, but if he’s fighting with your grandmother, you two have to take her out first. If you can take her out fast, then we stand a chance. If they’re allowed to attack together, then we’re pretty much screwed.”

  “Gee, Auntie, just go ahead and spread more cheerful thoughts,” Brandon said sarcastically.

  “She’s got a point, brother.”

  Demun came down beside them, followed by Krazas. Victoria and Brandon tensed, until Demun held up a hand.

  “He’s a friend.”

  “You make weird friends, kid,” Victoria told him.

  Demun ignored her and locked eyes with his twin brother. They’d been apart since their grandmother brought them into Shevat, and the sense of relief they felt at seeing each other again was overwhelming. Victoria stepped aside as the two rushed forward, catching each other in a tight embrace. Their minds connected instantly, saying everything they didn’t have time to say at the moment. Victoria turned to Krazas.

  “You aren’t an average demon, are you?” she asked.

  Krazas raised a thin eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”

  “For one, I can hear the power in your voice and you aren’t being drawn in by Lucifer. Plus, you clearly didn’t try to kill my nephew.”

  Krazas smiled. “How can you be so sure I never tried to kill him?”

  “You’re still alive.”

  Demun and Brandon broke apart but Demun kept his arm around his brother’s shoulders. Victoria turned to the boys.

  “So, I’m guessing this lucky demon is going in with us. I think we’d better plan out a course of action.”

  “Desdemona is mine,” Demun declared forcefully.

  Even Brandon gave him a surprised look.

  “Do you know what you’re implying?” Victoria asked.

  “That I want to commit grand matricide?” Demun suggested.

  “No, my poor nephew, that’s not all.” Victoria sighed. “In all of Shevat, only two beings have the potential to kill your grandmother, you and your twin brother. Whichever one of you kills her must take her place atop the throne of demonkind. If you kill her, you will become a god to the demons, a ruling god, and sovereign of Shevat. And your place will be here, not in the mortal world.”

  Demun’s face hardened. “I can live with that. Desdemona is free to move out of this realm as she pleases. I can do the same.”

  Krazas cleared his throat. “That’s not entirely true. She is only allowed to leave here in her astral form. The price she paid for Uranus banning all gods from this realm is that she cannot physically enter their realms. She can move from here to the realm of another god, if that god allows. But never can she enter the realm of humanity as long as the gods are not allowed to enter Shevat.”

  Demun’s face never changed. “Well, guess it’ll suck to be me. But I’m still taking her out. I can’t let Brandon be stuck here.”

  Brandon scowled. “Why not?”

  Demun looked him in the eyes. “Because you have someone on earth waiting for you and if you get stuck here, you’ll never get to see him again. I don’t have anything waiting for me there.”

  Victoria ran a hand through her hair. “Boys, we’re not sure if the two of you together can stand up to a goddess. We’re more or less just hoping you can best her. If Desdemona is as powerful as rumors say, then both of you will have to do this together. You can’t worry about who strikes the final blow.”

  “She’s got a point. We’re going in completely outnumbered,” Krazas pointed out.

  Brandon and Demun grinned.

  “I’m pretty sure we can even out the odds before we go in,” Brandon told him.

  “We’ve picked up some new tricks in our visit here,” Demun added.

  I look forward to seeing what you’ve learned.

  The group stopped and looked around.

  “Gramps?” Brandon ventured.

  Yes, at long last I can speak to you, you just had to be reunited and reconcile your own link to be connected to me once again. There is no more time to delay. The gods can see into Shevat, though we cannot yet enter it. You must act now. Lucifer is gathering demons just to become an even bigger pain in my ass.

  Victoria rolled her eyes. “You could clarify that a bit more, Father.”

  Two years ago, Andreas stopped Eris from resurrecting Cronus. But as I told him, Eris was not alone in this foolish quest. Lucifer has now taken up the mantle and it is far easier for him to pull off. He and Desdemona have banded together for the sake of this goal, and I’m sure the plot doesn’t end there. With the resurrection of Cronus must come the resurrection of the Titans. You need to get in there and stop that at all costs.

  “Well, that means we have no time to plan this. What tricks do you have, boys?” Victoria asked.

  “Better to show you than to tell you,” Demun answered. “We’ll head in first. Just follow our lead.”

  Four

  Inside the temple, the goddess Desdemona sat on her throne, watching in boredom as demons shuffled about. Her long orange hair lay across the left side of the throne, nearly touching the floor. Her blazing red eyes were watching all that went on, taking in every detail. She’d chosen to dress in mortal attire, black leather pants and a matching halter top. She especially liked the black boots that almost came up to her knees. Mortals had made some very delightful attire, perfect for showing off a woman’s figure. And when dealing with her husband, it never hurt to have added ammunition.

  Lucifer was quite addicted to the female form. The countless children she’d produced with him more than proved that. And recently she’d found it quite easy to entice him. Perhaps if she were lucky he’d take her again before the big event too
k place. Just the thought of it got her excited. And the feeling intensified as Lucifer appeared on the throne positioned next to hers.

  Lucifer was quite simply beautiful. His beauty struck everyone the moment they gazed upon him. His was a strange beauty. His skin was pale, unlike any of the other gods. His hair was long and silver, though quite a bit shorter than hers. His eyes were pitch black, with just a hint of gold and they gazed down at her with no evident emotion. He sat on the throne with no shirt on, leaving his completely white chest out in the open. His nipples were the palest of pink, and she had quite the urge to bite them. She’d done so earlier, not that she could see the signs of it now. Still, she knew and was satisfied. He too wore black leather pants and black boots, though his boots were nothing like hers. His lips were the same shade of pink as his nipples and his nails, currently very short, were black. He was a piece of perfection, at least to Desdemona and she almost forgot why they’d become estranged all those ages ago. Almost was the operative word. She’d never really forget. The only reason he was here now was to help her stick it to the gods. Maybe she’d keep him around afterwards. He did have his uses, after all.

  “I hope your children are ready. I grow weary of sitting here idly.”

  Desdemona smiled. “We were merely awaiting your arrival to begin the bloodletting. We should have more than enough for his resurrection. Perhaps we could even squeeze in one or two of the other Titans.”

  Lucifer gave a smile filled with all the malice imaginable. “It’s high time someone knocked Zeus from his perch. Cronus is just the being to do it, and finally, we can be out of this wretched realm.”

  Desdemona’s smile faded. “As if you’d know anything about this realm. You left eons ago and haven’t been back since. You’ve been gone so long most of your children think you’re a myth, just something that humans thought up to blame their sins on.”