Kasadya (Hellhound Awakened) (18 page)

At the thought of him, guilt took the place of anger. Yeah, I was making out with him while his girlfriend was being tormented by a demon, oh that’s low Kas. Damn, now I feel real guilty about the kiss, but I won’t lie, it was phenomenal; no dream could ever beat it. But no more, maybe this is my punishment for kissing another girl’s boyfriend?

Holding my legs and bracing my head on them, my mind ran through everything. I was so tired I drifted off to sleep, only to come awake shaking. No, I can’t fall asleep, I’ll let my guard down
.
“Don’t fall asleep,” I repeated over and over to myself. It felt like hours had passed. Because of the dark cell I was unable to tell if it’s day or night, all I know is that I am cold, hungry, and running low on hope.

The air around me moved, and I knew someone was shifting in. I jumped up, weak or not, I’ll give them all I have left; I am not going down without a fight. The demon shifted in just in front of me, still in a black suit, but with a red shirt this time.

“Greetings, my little hellhound, have you changed your mind yet? Are you going to play nice?” He asked, walking slowly in front of me, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“I don’t play nice, ever,” I said coldly. If he wants a fight I’ll give him one.

“If you behave I’ll take you to see your harpy friend,” he offered, smiling at me. Arrogant prick.

“What have you done with Kali?”

“She’s safe and enjoying her new found surroundings. You can join her to see for yourself, all you have to do is take my hand,” he replied, offering his hand. Warning bells went off inside me. “
Don’t trust
,” they said. But I need to know if Kali is still okay, and I need to get to her to find a way out for both of us.

Moving slowly, I placed my hand in his. The moment we touched he shifted. The next thing I knew two other guys were grabbing me and holding me down against the floor. I struggled and fought as hard as I could, but they were strong and held me in place; one taking my arm and holding it in the air.

“I have great plans for you my little hellhound. Before I give you the pleasure of being my consort, you’re going to give me power,” he said, and clamped a bronze cuff around my wrist. OMG, the same freaking cuff Vulcan had in the class! My other arm was forced out, and the same was done again. The two guys released me after the second cuff was on, and shifted out, leaving me with the demon.

I jumped up and moved back away from him. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted him, but no, freaking Kali was still stuck in my conscience. He went over to a chair and table and sat down in the chair, looking at me.

“According to our sources a hellhound is unbeatable; He created you to destroy anything. Well, seeing that you are the first hellhound to make it into our world, we should test that theory.”

“Whatever you have in mind I won’t do it,” I replied, contemplating his words. So I’m the first hellhound to end up in such mess, well done Kas, you idiot!

“Not even if your friend’s life depended on it?”

Okay that got my attention. Yeah, I know there is no love and joy between Kali and I, but I can’t leave her to this thing’s mercy. And the kiss was also hanging over my head. Having another internal battle, I just looked at him in silence.

“If you behave and do what I say, I will not harm her. But if you refuse I will take her head and bring it to you to look at for days,” he went on, evil written all over his face; no joking about that part I see. Crap! If we get out of here, I’m kicking the first fallen’s butt I see.

“Come eat, I have arranged for human food. I know your kind doesn’t indulgence in our food preference” He said, and gestured to a plate of food on the table. My stomach rolled when my eyes spotted it, but I remained still.

“You’re going to need your strength little hound, believe me you don’t want to be weak later on today,” he told me, crossing his legs and sitting back to look at me.

“Why would I need my strength?” I asked, wondering what great plans this ass has for me.

“You will battle other champions in our domain, you win, and I get more power. If you’re good enough, you’ll defeat Thalia’s pet and become the
Bellator.
”

“You want me to engage in combat with other demons to gain you power? Forget it, I won’t do it.”

“Then your harpy friend dies,” he replied, as if it’s nothing to take a life. I just remained silent. Crap!

“I’ll leave you to think about it; maybe some time will bring some perspective,” he said, and shifted out of the room, leaving me alone.

I looked around the room taking in the place; a small room with a bed, and a table with two chairs. My eyes caught the bathroom in the corner and I rushed over to it, my bladder already in pain from the lack of facilities in the cell. Afterwards, I walked back into the room and raised my hands to look at the bronze cuffs around my wrists. Why on earth put them on me? I moved a hand over one and felt a tingle from them; of course they are enchanted, the question is for what purpose? Will another body and cuffs be on their way for Vulcan to add to his collection?

I smelled the food, and decided to move to the table to get some food in my system. One thing he’s right about is that I need my strength to get us out of here, so I took a fork and scooped some up. The moment I tasted the food my stomach went haywire; I dug into the plate finishing it off in minutes. Grabbing the glass of juice, I gulped down the huge bites I was taking.

Stuffed and my stomach content, I got up and checked out the room. The only door in the room opened up a closet filled with clothes; black, red, and purple of course. Yeah, this guy needs to check out a fashion book. I picked out a black leather thing and opened it to find a pair of leather pants. Silver studs in the sides, and moving it up I saw small slits in it; this must be some kind of kinky outfit, no way in hell. I placed the pants back and closed the closet.

Turning around and looking at the room again, I went over to the bed and planted myself on it. Except for the closet door, the room had no other doors, not even a window. It was just another version of a cell, just freaking great. I looked at the black bed covers and then laid back on them, the demons words flashing through my brain.

If I don’t fight, Kali will be killed. If I fight, then I’m sure I would be killed. I haven’t even had a month’s training behind me, how the hell would I survive a fight with a demon. Yip we’re pretty much dead, either way. I laid there for an hour, thinking about possible solutions. Maybe try and seduce the demon and then kill it some way, then we will at least have one less problem. But still I don’t know where Kali is, how will I get to her, and get us out?

I wondered what the demon did with her; his comment about his consort earlier had me very worried. Was that the fate Kali had met? Oh my soul, I just hope I never have to face that. I’ll take on a million demons before I get into bed with him. No way in hell, will my first time be with a demon, no way. I must have drifted off while still thinking because the next thing I heard was the freaking demon just above my head.

“Wake up my little hellhound, its time.” My eyes flew open, and I found him looming over me. I pushed him off me and jumped off the bed, backtracking to a safe distance. Laughing he just sat on the bed and looked at me.

“You touch me again and I will kill you!” I yelled at him, furious that I let my guard down and fell asleep, giving this ass an opportunity to sneak up on me.
Get your act together Kas or you’re going to regret it
, I scolded myself.

“In time my dear, in time. But now we start our journey to great power,” he said, standing up and walking to me; I just kept backing up, staying away from him.

“If you refuse, I’ll kill her,” he strung out, pissed off at me for backing away from him. His words stopped me, damn Kali, I can’t do that to her. He then walked to me, his hand in offering
.
“Take my hand,” he demanded and I did.

We shifted into another cell, iron bars coming into my view. The next thing I knew, something snorted on my left and rammed into the bars. I jumped back and looked at my new problem. Standing in the cell next to me was a cross between a bull, dragon, and man; and it was snorting like mad, smoke coming out of its nostrils. I kept my distance while looking at the thing. Holy crap, I really hope that this is not the demon I need to fight. It was freaking huge, reaching the ceiling of the cell, and man it looked deadly.

“You’re opponent for today, my little hellhound,” the demon said, and I looked at him in total shock.

“Are you mad, I’ll die? I don’t even have a month’s training! I will be killed the first moment we step into the fight,” I screeched at the demon, returning my eyes to the bull guy; who now walked up and down the bars like a caged lion, his eyes on me.

“You are a hellhound born; killing demons is your destiny. It’s time to embrace it,” he replied, and shifted out leaving me with the thing. Crap, I’m so freaking dead!

I kept my eyes on the demon; it slammed into the bars over and over, trying to get to me. A mixture of fear and adrenalin started to pump through me. How the hell am I going to reach its freaking head? And even if I do get there, how the hell will I take it? No way in hell will I be able to take its head off by just using my hands. I stood there looking at my own death, feeling my end for the first time in my short life, this is so unfair.

The Armani demon shifted back into the cell and walked over to me. In the bull demon’s cell another guy shifted in. I watched as the bull demon was shifted out, and looked at the demon that brought me to my own death.

“Come, little hellhound, it begins,” he said, holding his hand for me to take. Well to death I walk, or shift in this case, and I took his hand.

We were standing in the middle of what looked like a battle arena of sorts. Thousands of demons stood on the side growling, shouting and stuff. I looked at the crowd, and all I could see was demons. Then my eyes drifted in front of me, where the bull demon was standing with the demon that shifted him out, smoke pouring out of its nostrils.

“Your weapons, my little hellhound,” my demon announced next to me, and I turned to look at him. In his hand he held two swords, not as beautiful as Chax’s, but hell who’s going to be picky in a situation like this. I walked to stand in front of him. Taking the swords the moment I touched it I felt a tingle again. Okay so they are also enchanted, wonder why.

“To new power,” my demon toasted and shifted away. I turned around, moving the swords to get a feeling for them. They were the same weight as Chax’s swords, so I got them under control very fast. I lifted my head to look at the bull demon, which now also held two swords in his hands. Oh I’m so dead.

Transforming into my fallen body, I said a prayer hoping God would help me through this. The bull demon stormed forward, the crowd going wild. He moved fast, too fast, and the moment he was two steps from me, he raised one sword ready to kill. Using my wings I moved out of its way, at his side I raised my swords and swiped them over his side. It growled and turned to me, I took a few steps back, waiting for the next attack. He stormed again and I repeated the action, this time bending down and going for its legs. It fell to the ground howling. Seeing the opportunity I swiped my right hand down trying to take its head, but only caught his shoulder.

Using his tail he had me on my butt, and was on me. Keeping his huge head away from my face with my hands, my swords bypassing his face, I tried to get him off but he weighed a ton. Panicked, I pulled back my left hand and cut him in the neck. He flew off me holding his neck, giving me a chance to get up and compose myself.

If I thought it was pissed before, I was wrong, now it’s totally pissed off. Storming forward it swung both swords trying to cut me. I circled him, trying to keep the space between us, but he got me over my arm. I screamed and moved away from him, looking down to my arm to see the damage; and then was slammed with brutal force. I felt a rib or two break, and landed on the ground. Ouch that hurts; I looked up to see it moving towards me again. Did it just head butt me with its freaking head?

Using my wings I pushed myself up and readied myself, my torso pounding from the impact; breathing hurt like crap. The moment he was in reach, I swiped both swords over him, hitting him in the face and over the chest. He punched me with a fist and I flew back again, but this time I used my wings to steady myself and bring me down with grace. Then something clicked in me. The same strange feeling, like yesterday, but this time I opened up and let it take over completely.

Looking at the creature, I felt power course through me. I felt stronger, faster, and my fallen body felt indestructible. The bull demon came at me again, storming full force. This time I could see him move,
like slow motion on a video
, I watched him come closer. I saw him lift his head with every step, using it to gain speed. Calculating my attack, I moved forward and sliced my sword below his neck. I landed a few feet away and turned to look at it. He was lying on the ground, his head a few meters away.

Straightening up, I looked at the demon. Now I didn’t feel like an
Apprendo
. I was calm, in control, and collected; I felt like a
Custos
. I looked up at the crowd, which was silent. They just looked at me; no sound, no growl or scream, just silence. I felt the air at my back move, and turned ready to take the next head; which was the Armani demon. The moment my sword was almost at his neck they stopped in midair. Looking at the swords and then him, I knew now why they were enchanted; to keep him alive.

“Well done, my little hellhound, well done,” he said smiling at me, knowing fully well the swords won’t kill him. I pulled down my hand and looked at him; the ass knew it, that’s why he’s standing there all defiant.

“I’ll take them back now, little hellhound,” he instructed and opened both his hands. My swords went flying out of my hands straight into his. Angry that I was without a weapon, in a place packed with demons, I folded my hands into fists my nails piercing my skin. But I stayed cool and collected; my confidence got a boost from the fight, my fear lessened.