The Seeker, Chapter 15
My stories are copyrighted, so NO takee!
** The Seeker, Chapter 15**
** By William W. Kelso**
Vulva tapped on the keys in frustration, how she hated these infernal computers! It had been so much easier when you just wrote everything down and only had to turn a few pages to find it. She just didn't understand this new magic. Plus her claws were Hell on keyboards, especially when she was mad like she was now. Finally she gave a frustrated screech and threw the keyboard across the room and it bounced off her Pet who was sleeping in the corner.
I opened one eye when I felt the keyboard bounce off my back and clatter against the wall. The man-eating plant grabbed it and swallowed it, then spit it out with an offended "bleah!", the stupid thing had thought it was a treat. My Mistress was obviously in a bad mood, but I decided to see if I could help. Probably a bad move, but I hated to see her distressed.
"Mistress, can I do anything to help?" I asked quietly. And getting up I walked over and rubbed my head against her leg.
"Yes, you can fry this stupid computer, HISS!" she hissed.
"Really?" If she really did want me too I'd do it, I'm an obedient slave when I'm not hosing everything up. Plus it's not like I didn't destroy her PC anyway at least once a week, but I never meant too, really!
"No, I guess not Pet. But it was, hiss, nice of you to offer. I HATE these damned machines, and they hate me as well. Hiss!"
*I didn't much care for inanimate objects that were smarter then I was; like computers and rocks, but I probably knew more about them then most demonkind. Problem is I'm hard on electronics, if my body heat didn't melt them my clumsy hands/paws really tore up keyboards, even worse than My Mistress's did. So she didn't let me play with them much. I do know all of her passwords though, which usually just got me in trouble, but I had fun doing it. *
"Mistress, they don't hate you, they hate everybody. They really aren't aware though you know, they're just things. Hiss."
Vulva gave an angry hiss, and replied, "Pet, run down to supply and get another keyboard. Hiss. The old one is toast."
Yeah, I thought, throwing it at fire dragons and bouncing it off the wall is pretty hard on them, and it was only three days old. But I had been given an order and must obey, but at least it got me out her line of fire for awhile. She'd been a real grouch all day.
*"Yes Mistress, right away." I said. *
*But before I left I rubbed my head against her stomach, which was just starting to show her pregnancy. My children, I thought, how I love My Mistress. I made a soft crooning hissing sound and Vulva rubbed and scratched my snout and I gave a moan of pleasure. *
Vulva reached down and rubbed her stomach while her Pet rubbed his head against it in adoration. He is such a dear creature she thought, as she rubbed his snout. Most demons could care less about their offspring; they left all the work to the demoness's. Which was fine with most demoness's as most males weren't worth the space they took up. But he was so very different, he had kept up with all the young he'd sired on the demoness's she'd rented his stud services to. And more than one had found that very endearing, and he often had repeat customers. He was one virile little beast, which in itself was rare. He had even knocked her up, and was looking forward to her giving birth as much as she was. Yes, she thought as she rubbed his snout, she did love her little dragon very much.
*"Pet, Vulva said, please go and get the keyboard now. Hiss, I'm expecting some important h-mails from Great Lord Ba'al and some other important personages. Hiss. We mustn't keep him waiting. And stay OUT of the ammonia and cleaning chemicals! Hiss!" *
*Rats, I'd been hoping for a snack. "Yes Mistress", I said as I gave her stomach one more rub with my eyes closed. I can get as close as a fire demon can to being drunk on ammonia. Or Tears of the Damned, but I stay clear of that nasty stuff; it's the demonic version of LSD, and talk about bad trips. You think YOU have nightmares? You have NO idea what nightmares really are. She was right about one thing though, you do NOT want to keep the big guy waiting; it could be bad for your health. His favorite form of discipline is skinning you alive and using your living hide for a rug. WAY down low on my list of "Things to Experience While in Hell". *
Vulva watched as her Pet left the office, then with a smile reached down and rubbed her stomach again. Then she got up and went into the break room to fix some green sulphur tea, and threw the man-eating plant a brimstone cookie on the way, which he snatched out of the air with an appreciative hiss. He wasn't really a plant, but was a demon himself. He left his pot at night and patrolled the tunnels for vermin, or really slow Imps. Every pit had a few of them, between them and the tunnel lizards they kept the vermin controllable.
I trotted down the hall towards the supply level at a leisurely pace, in other words, I took my own sweet time. Getting to roam freely about was rare, my Mistress usually knew better. But lately I have been trying to be more responsible and try to be bad less often. I usually don't mean to be bad; I just have shit for luck with a capital "S". I exchanged pleasantries with a few of my fellow demonkind; all slaves like me, as we passed one another. Ever since I started taking an interest in what they did; and had built up a reputation as a good (or badass, depending on your point of view) Seeker, my stock had gone up in their eyes. Before they'd just seen me as mainly a moocher and big pain in the ass, but I'd been around long enough to finally start to fit in. And being our Mistress's familiar carried a lot of weight as well. But it was nice to actually earn some of their respect, instead of just having it reflect off of My Mistress.
I entered the supply clerk's office and he bowed politely, and said,
*"How may I be of service Master?" *
"Knock it off Bernard, I said, Hiss, I'm just a slave too. Mistress needs another keyboard, as usual. Hiss."
"Again? Baa-aa, what does she do with them? Eat'em?" Bernard replied in consternation.
*"Nope, she lets the plant do that. She just gets mad and throws them at things, usually me. Hiss." I said. At least she hasn't started throwing the tower yet, that could hurt, I thought. *
Bernard looked worried when he replied, "We're running low you know, central supply only allows us so many every cycle. We're down to less than fifty, at this rate we'll be out before the next supply shipment. Baa-aaa! Then there will be Hell to pay."
*"Well, nothing I can do about it, just give me one for now. Hiss. I'll see if I can get her to be a little more tolerant." *
Yeah, right, I thought, but I'd try. Maybe I can get her to whale on me a little more than usual to work out her frustrations, I'm more durable.
"OK Seeker, said Bernard. Oh, and the night shift says thanks for the treats."
*I'd sent a case of urinal cakes to the night shift, with Mistress Vulva's approval of course, for doing an outstanding job on renovating some of the offices and the break room (which I'd trashed again). They'd earned a bonus, and Mistress does reward good work. *
"Just tell them Mistress was pleased, hiss." I said as I left with the keyboard; in a fireproof asbestos bag. They'd get a kick out of that.
Since I'm a slave I have no name, My Mistress calls me Pet which is just fine by me. She calls me other things too, but I won't repeat them in polite company. In fact no slaves in Hell have names, only the Lords and other "nobility". But we do have names we call each other, otherwise it would be impossible to get anything done. I mean; think about it, just go down to personnel sometime and say "I need the goat-lizard demon that works in the breeding pits to report to The Mistress right away. It usually causes a stampede, and talk about mass confusion. So we have "secret" names for one another. They call me Seeker, which is the type of demon I am, but we're so rare everybody knows who they mean. They also have names for me, but I can't repeat them in polite company. They're still sore about the hand grenade in the mess hall joke. Hey, at least I took the powder out! I admit it, my sense of humor leaves a lot to be desired. But honestly most demonkind have fucked up senses of humor, the ones that even have a sense of humor that is.
"Mistress!" I called as I entered the office. "Got the keyboard!"
*"I'm in the break room pet, Vulva hissed. Come here, the stupid samovar is on the blink AGAIN! Hiss!" *
*Oh great, I thought. Knew I should have tried to mooch some ammonia off of Bernard. *
*"Coming Mistress!" I replied. *
*Laying the keyboard on the desk I headed for the break room. She could install it herself, last time I tried the PC blew up. Maybe she's right, maybe it does hate us. The break room was a statement in a complete lack of taste, which meant by demonic standards it was pretty nice. It looked like a combination of a New Orleans whore house and Al Capone's rec room. I did like the huge old bar with all the mirrors and the painting of an ugly (to me) naked human female over the top. It even had bullet holes in it, and was little charred in spots from the last time I set it on fire. It was also a great place to take cover when she was throwing stuff at me. Fortunately we have a crack fire brigade; I give them lots of practice. They call me the Infernotater, which I consider kind of a compliment. *
*As I walked through the door I had just enough time to duck as the samovar went flying over my head, out the office door, and knocked out a goat Imp cold. Not a good sign. So I turned around and went to retrieve the samovar, which was a good excuse as being a target when My Mistress has a tantrum is not fun, not even if you are as good at dodging as I am. *
Finally I worked up my courage, and sticking my head around the edge of the door I said,
"Mistress, are you OK? Hissss?"
"I'm sorry Pet; I didn't mean to scare you like that. Hiss. I just got mad at the stupid thing; all I wanted was some tea. Maybe you're right, hiss, maybe it is possessed."
"It's not possessed Mistress; it's just a piece of junk. Here, let me look at it. But you might want to take cover behind the bar. Hiss."
Which was good advice, about half the time I overheat the samovar and it takes off like a rocket. But this time I found out what the problem was, and soon had it working fine, using my fire flux to carefully heat it."
"All clear Mistress, I said, it was just clogged up. I need to clean it more often, it was my fault." It was too, making tea was one of my favorite chores.
Vulva went to her favorite overstuffed chair and sat down. She watched as her Pet tinkered with the samovar, then poured a large mug of tea and brought it, and a plate of brimstone cookies over to her, and served her like an English butler complete with fireproof towel draped over one arm. He liked to do that, thought it was classy, and it was. It always impressed guests. She reached over and ran her hand along his snout.
"You are good to your Mistress, my Pet" she said affectionately.
*"I live for it Mistress" I replied, truthfully. "But not as good as you are to me." *
I laid down next to her while she drank the tea and tossed me a cookie every now and then and thought about how lucky I was to have her for My Mistress. She's all I've ever had, and is all I'll ever want. She reached down and scratched my ears, and I started licking her hooves and shins. I didn't see it as groveling or gross, I love to do it; it's a privilege as far as I'm concerned. She smells like burnt cinnamon and tastes like salty brimstone, delicious.
*"Mmm, Pet, Vulva said, I think it's time for a massage, but just a quick one. Hiss. We have a lot to do, but I do need to unwind a little. Hiss." *
My ears perked up at that. "Massage" is our secret code word for a good shag, and I do so love to pleasure My Mistress. Oh, indeed my goodness yes! With a happy hiss I raised my head higher and she spread her legs so I could put my head between them, and with a another happy hiss I began to lick her mound, and soon was running my tongue inside her vagina. I do so love to eat My Mistress too, and from the sounds she makes she enjoys it as much as I do.
*"Ummm, ohh, Pet, that is nice, you do know, hiissss, what your, ugh, Mistress likes!" Vulva said happily as she held her Pets horns as he worked on her, he does know how to use his tongue, she thought in delight. She'd enjoyed teaching him; he had been such a fast learner! *
*I didn't say anything as my mouth was full, but did give a happy hiss at the compliment. My Mistress is a Carnal; or sex, Demoness, and because I am bound to her as her creation and familiar I am a sex demon too, in addition to being a Seeker. And if she thinks I do a good job of pleasuring her that's one Hell of a compliment. And I do my best because it's part of my job, but mostly because I love her with all that's left of my twisted soul. *
"Umm, OK Pet, Hisssss, time to, ugggh, mount your Mistress, hisss!"
*Her Pet gave one more long leisurely lick, and then backed away so she could get up. She dropped down on all fours, and few seconds later gave a hiss of pleasure as he straddled and mounted her. She closed her eyes and hissed in pleasure as he filled her. He didn't waste time, but started to hump her energetically right from the start. The feeling of his hardness sliding in and out of her and his belly bands slapping against her rump was devine. *
I closed my eyes in pleasure as I mounted my Mistress, and penetrated her to the hilt with one powerful lunge, and she gripped my front legs with her arms as I serviced her. It was wonderful, it always was. I have lots of sexual partners, quite often several a day, but she has always been my favorite. She taught me what pleasure was, what it meant to be male, and it's one of the many reasons I love her. I'm almost twice her size now, but she's one strong lady. Size in Hell is relative; some of the smallest demonkind are the most powerful. And while I'm one powerful demon she can whup my ass anytime she wants to, with one arm or just her tail. I lowered and turned my head on my long neck and gently licked her face and we locked jaws and "kissed" demonic style, which would scare the crap out of a human. But for us it was tender and loving. She grunted and hissed as I thrust into her as hard as I could, and my own sounds of pleasure mixed with hers. Our tails wrapped around one another's and that was nice too as our tails are erogenous zones. I'm very well endowed, but she never has a problem in taking every inch of me; including my now very busy nether tongue, in her to the hilt. She is after all a Patroness of Carnal Pleasure, and she can accommodate partners much larger then I am. It's what she does best, and I have no problems about her numerous other sexual partners, in fact I love to watch her having fun, she loves gang bangs with herself as the center of attention. I'm just glad she wants me as often as she does. I'm one happy little demon.
Vulva gasped as her Pet picked up the speed of his thrusts, snarling softly as he ran his tongue deep into her throat. She hissed in pleasure through their locked jaws as she felt his nether tongue sliding around inside of her, not may demons had one and he was the best lover she'd ever had that did. Ohhhhh, he always did make her feel so very good, so very, well, loved. With most demonkind sex was just pleasure and/or business, with him it was something special. She shrieked as a massive orgasm racked her body, and he bellowed into her mouth with his eyes squeezed shut, his whole body shuddering. Oh yes, he knew what she liked, and she knew what he liked. She was disappointed when he finished and dismounted, but they had work to do.
As we broke our "kiss" I licked my Mistress's face for awhile before dismounting, just enjoying being inside of her. We could have coupled for hours as we're insatiable, but she had said to make it a "quickie", but I'd still taken over an hour.
*Vulva stayed on all fours after her Pet's weight slid off her back and his hardness slid from her, and waited while he cleaned her inside and out with his tongue, and then standing up she stretched and then turned and hugged him. Then dropping down again she cleaned him off as well before his penis slid back inside his vent, and he gave her a loving licks with his nether tongue. Oh, she just loved that thing! Then the enjoyable post-mating grooming done it was time to get back to business. But he'd just whet her appetite, and she knew he was disappointed too it had been such a short mating. She smiled thinking about how they'd make for that later. *
"That was very nice Pet, your Mistress is pleased, Hiss. If we have time later we'll make a little trip to the baths."
*I gave a squeal of delight when she hugged me; and another when she mentioned the baths. The baths almost always meant one thing, more sex! It's where demonkind go to wind down, take it easy, and fuck their brains out, which to us IS taking it easy. I just love to fuck My Mistress's brains out, and she returns the favor, not that I have much in the way of brains. *
Quite happy about the turn of events I plopped down by her desk on my favorite asbestos rug, and she hooked up the new keyboard and got back to work. Poor Mistress, she works so hard. You'd think she'd get a secretary, but oh no, she had to do everything herself. Didn't trust anyone else, not that I blame her for that. With a happy hiss I dozed off.
Vulva opened up her h-mail and took a quick look. Junk, junk, spam galore. Wait a second, this one is interesting! Hmm, she thought as she read it, then she smiled an evil little smile.
"Ohh Pet, hiisss, she said."
I opened one eye; I knew that tone of voice. Someone was in for it, but I'd been good! Oh wait, had she found out where I'd hidden the fireproof phone? I hate answering the phone! Crap.
"Yeess Mistress, hiss?" I replied, gathering my legs under me to make a break for the door if I had to.
"Guess who's coming to visit my little jelly bean." Vulva hissed in glee.
"It's not the Great Lord is it?" I asked in terror. He's our boss, and scares the living Hell out of me.
"Oh no, Pet, even better. Hiss, hiss, hiss. It's the missus and the kiddies." Vulva snickered. "Vulkna and the hatchlings will be here in an hour."
"Mistress, HISS, I'd like to volunteer for a suicide mission to Heaven. Please?"
Vuvla snorted, "Oh come now Pet, they're not THAT bad! They love to do things with their daddy. Hiss."
*"Mistress, you're got to be, hiss, joking! They love to DO things to their daddy! The last time they were here they nailed my tongue to the floor! With pitons! Then they stapled my wings to the desk! They're horrible! They burned down the last day care center Vulkna left them at and ate the teacher! And remember what they did to that bath attendant, they still haven't found all the pieces! Why don't you let me go to the Great Lords fortress of doom and I'll tweak his nose, it would be safer and I'd have a better, hiss, chance of surviving." *
Vulva smothered a laugh, yes they were pretty horrible. "What do you expect Pet, they're baby demonkind. Besides, you'll only have to watch them for a couple of hours while Vulkna and I take care of a little business. Hiss."
*Vulkna was the first demoness I'd had sex with; other then My Mistress, after Mistress Vulva dragged me down to Hell (not as bad as it sounds). I was horribly shy and scared, and she'd been a good teacher and lover, and next to my Mistress I love her best out of all my mates. She laid fifteen eggs, and our clutch included seven male fire dragons, seven females, and a little female Seeker. I was so proud, but I swear the kids hate my guts. Every time they visit they figure out some horrible thing to do to me which usually involves attempted dismemberment, maiming, and cannibalism. So far I'd survived, but I figured it was only a matter of time. My usual strategy was to lock myself in the Supply Closet of Certain and Terrible Death, but lately they'd been following me and ganged up on me along with the cleaning supplies and Mistress's rotten shrunken heads collection. By Big "L" I hate those things! But I don't hate my kids, in a way I'm kind of proud of them, they're tough little brutes, and they have to be. That doesn't mean I enjoy having them around though. *
"PET! Said Vulva, where do you think you're going?"
"Just in the break room Mistress, I need to clean up before our "guests" arrive. Hiss."
"Well, OK Pet." Vulva said a little uncertainly, she thought he'd make a break for it for sure. But she was pleased he was behaving himself, she wasn't really in the mood to have to chase him down and drag him back kicking and squealing, it was embarrassing.
*A little while later she looked up briefly as her Pet came by caring something under one leg. *
"Pet, Vulva asked curiously, what do you have?" Her Pet, who had gone out in the tunnel, replied,
"Just a sign Mistress, I'm putting it up. Hiss."
"What sign, hiss?" Vulva asked, a little perplexed.
"Oh, hiss, nothing much." Her Pet replied.
"PET, bring it here, NOW!" Vulva said in her "I don't know what you're up to, but I bet I won't like it" tone of voice.
"But Mistress, hiss, I just finished putting it up!" I whined.
"PET, SIGN, HERE, NOW! HIISS!" Vulva hissed in that, "OK, now you've gone too far" tone of voice.
*Rats, I thought. So, moping, I took my lovely handmade sign down, and walking over to her huge impressive desk I handed it to her, and then ducked down in front out of harm's way. I used to be able to crawl under the desk, but no such luck anymore. I wondered if I could make to the bedroom and get under the bed before she caught me. *
Vulva looked at the sign with her mouth open, and then said, "Pet! That's horrible! HISS! What a MEAN thing, even for a demon! I'm shocked at you! Now you take this and destroy it! HISSS!!"
She threw the sign back at me and I caught it. With a whine I took it back in the break room and started tearing it up, but before I did I looked at it. Darn, it might have worked. The sign read,
"Free to Lousy Home, Large Vicious Baby Demonkind, Bring own cage and baseball bat, Inquire Within."
What a shame, it was a lovely sign; I thought as I tore it up and ate it. I like to eat asbestos; it makes my fire plume all sparkly.
*Still sulking I slinked back into the office; and hissing lay down in the corner. *
Vulva just ignored me at first, but finally said,
"Pet, that wasn't nice at all. It would have broken Vulkna's heart."
Rats, I hadn't thought about that. I gave a little whine, and said, "I just thought they'd take the hint, I didn't want to hurt them. You won't tell, will you? Hiss. I love Vulkna."
Vulva said in a softer voice "I know you do Pet, hiss, and I know you love the hatchlings too, I've seen the way you look at them. Hiss. You can't fool me."
*And she's right, I can't fool her, not ever. In a way I'm part of her, and she's part of me. She not only used her powers to create me through sex magic, but I am also bound to her as her familiar. She made her offer, I accepted, and I have never regretted it. *
*About this time we both suddenly sat up as we heard a shrieking roar from down the tunnel. I recognized that roar, it was Vulkna, but it was a roar of rage and distress. *
"Pet, that doesn't sound right, something's wrong! HISS!" said Vulva as she humped to her hooves.
But I was faster, and was already out the door and running down the tunnel at breakneck speed. My mate had called for me, and I was coming! And anything that got in my way just got trampled. The guards already had the portals to My Mistress's domain open, so I just plunged through with a roar to let Vulkna know her mate was coming.
*Vulkna was crouched in front of the entrance keening and bellowing in distressed anguish. With a snarl I ignited my fire flux and looked for the source of my mate's discomfort. The hatchlings were darting through the air like a flock of large red bats, shrieking their own fear and distress. *
"Vulkna, I roared, what's wrong!?!"
She was wringing her hands, and wailed, "Something took Radford, one minute he was playing with the other hatchlings, the next he, he was gone! We looked and looked, but couldn't find him!"
"WHERE!" I shrieked.
"By the old temple with the great pentagram, HISS, the children wanted to explore it on the way here; I didn't think there would be any trouble. Oh, my baby!" she howled.
*I knew the area well; it was where Mistress brought all her "Pets" when she dragged them down to Hell. With a quick run I leaped into the air, and with powerful strokes of my wings headed there as fast as I could, and flat out I'm very fast. *
"Pet, said My Mistress in my mind, where are you going!"
"Mistress, something took one of my baby's, I'm going to find it and kill it!" I replied.
"Pet, if you find it you wait for me and backup, there's no telling what it could be!"
But I didn't answer; I just kept winging towards the temple at my best speed, following the old stone road partially sunken in the sands of Hell's central desert. It was a fair distance, but I was moving fast.
*Vulva tried to calm the frantic dragoness and her hatchlings, and issued orders for a search party of winged demonkind to be followed up by a force on foot. She hoped her Pet would wait until she got there; if he found the little one, but she had a feeling it might be too late. There were things in the desert that would happily devour a young demonkind, or even an adult given the chance. Then with a roaring bellow Vulkna took off to follow her Pet, their children swarming after her. *
"Oh double crap, hiss!" snarled Vulva. She turned to the dozen or so winged demonkind who had assembled so far even as more poured out of the portals, and hissed "UP! Follow me, a young one is in danger!" Then she added in her mind, "Pet, we're coming!"
*Brax was in a good mood for a change. It wasn't every day he got a chance to add a fire dragon to his retinue of slaves. He'd caught the feisty little hatchling near the old temple, and despite some nasty bites had quickly subdued the little beast. He'd had to break a wing so it couldn't try and fly away, but that would heal. He carried the whining youngster under one huge arm, and held its mouth shut with the other. If it started to struggle too much he just twisted the broken wing and it would shriek and settle down. As soon as he got back to his domain he'd brand the little dragon and it would be his legally. *
*As I cut through the air a smaller bat demon pulled in next to me and screeched, *
"What's the hurry Seeker?"
"Someone took my baby; I screeched back, I'm searching for it!"
"WHAT!?!? The other demon screeched back, I'll help! What can I do?"
"Look for anything with a fire dragon hatchling! I replied, I owe you a debt! HISS!"
"Only if I find them!" The bat said, and then peeled off to start his own hunt.
As I neared the temple I dropped in altitude and used my binocular vision to scan the area. I saw the wake from a sand demonkind crossing the sand, and dropping lower I roared to get its attention, and the sand erupted in a huge geyser as the great sand worm reared up. I recognized him!
"Lord Grishnik! I roared, I request your help!"
The sand demon, its huge maw full of gnashing teeth, replied in his deep gravely baritone voice.
"I know you; you are Mistress Vulva's Seeker, are you not? What is your request? I will consider it."
"My thanks Lord, I replied, my child has been taken, a fire dragon hatchling. All I ask is that you inform My Mistress; or myself, if you see anything with one."
"A CHILD?" The great sand demon roared, spewing sand hundreds of feet into the air. "You are in luck, just recently I saw a behemoth name Brax with such a young one, I thought it strange, but am sorry to say I also did nothing as I knew not the circumstances."
"WHERE!" I screeched, "WHERE LORD?"
"Just down the old military road, but he nears his domain, you must hurry Seeker" Grishnik roared, and then plunged into the sand, his wake turning to follow me.
"Mistress, Lord Grishnik says a demon named Brax has my hatchling. I am going after him!" I called in my mind.
"Pet, Vulva answered. Be careful, he is a behemoth, very large, very powerful. Hold him until we arrive. But you know if he reaches his domain there is nothing we can do."
*"Yes Mistress" I replied. *
I flew faster than I ever had before, cutting through the air with brisk strokes of my wings. It would tire me out sooner, but speed was the most important thing now. One of the Laws of Hell is that if a demonkind can catch another demonkind who has not been branded and sworn to the service of a Lord, and then get them to their domain and brand them, then the unfortunate one becomes their slave. It's perfectly legal, perfectly fucked up, but we ARE in Hell. But until then anything goes, which gives the parent; or parents, time to retrieve their wayward spawn. And then THERE! A huge lumbering figure on the old road, approaching the portals to a domain. He was a behemoth and looked something like an oversized Minotaur, but with scaly red skin, black horns, and fangs. And he was more than six times my size. With a hissing snarl I climbed for altitude, and then I stood on my nose, closed my wings, and dropped like a stone.
Brax stumbled and almost dropped the small dragon when something landed on the back of his neck and head and savagely mauled him. With a bellow he reached behind him, but nothing was there. He pulled his hand back and it was slick with his black blood. He gave another bellow of rage, and looked for his attacker. And there it was, a rather small fire dragon climbing away from him with flaps of its wings. With a roar he pointed his open palm at the dragon and blasted a spell at it, but the little dragon dipped to one side and the bolt missed.
I dodged the bolt, and with a shrieking roar turned back to attack again, my claws dripping with blood. This time I raked the hulking demon with my fire plume, and while it bellowed in pain it didn't do much damage. Most demonkind are fairly resistant to fire, but it DID hurt, and distracted him long enough for me to land on the back of his head and go for the eyes. Roaring and snarling I raked my claws over his head and face, and bit him on his neck as hard as I could, and as I have three to five inch razor sharp fangs he definitely felt that. But my luck ran out, and as I tried to break off the attack he grabbed one of my hind legs and slammed me against the ground on my back, and I screamed as I felt a wing snap. I managed to lunge and sink my fangs into his hand, and he let me go with a bellow of pain. I quickly scampered out of reach and turned to face him, hissing and snarling.
"Who the fuck are you?" He roared at me as he shook his bleeding hand.
I screeched back at him "Let my child go you ugly piece of shit! I challenge!"
"You mean this?" Brax said with a laugh, and held up the hatchling by his broken wing and shook him, and it gave a shriek of agony and feebly kicked.
*With my own shriek of utter rage I charged the huge demon, and before he could respond ran up his legs and chest and sank my fangs into his neck again, and shook my head back and forth as blood sprayed in the air. He dropped the hatchling and pulled me off of his with both hands and threw me as far away as he could. I landed on my broken wing and almost passed out from the pain. But I got back up and crouching and snaking my neck back and forth I snarled and started for him again. *
By now the sentries at the portals to his domain had seen their Master was in danger and had called for help, and Imps and demonkind were pouring out of the tunnels armed with all manner of weapons. But I had challenged, so the fight was between me and him. But even though I'd savaged him badly I'd been hurt too. The pain in my shattered wing was so bad I could hardly see straight, and my wing dragged on the ground. But he had my baby, and I wasn't going to let him keep him, at least not while I lived. Radford was the meanest most obnoxious of the hatchlings, but he was the one most like me, and he was my favorite. I loved the little shit.
With a laugh Brax gave the hatchling a kick and it let out a high pitched squeal of pain, and that was his BIG mistake.
*This time I used the last of my fire flux to temporarily blind the behemoth, and running up his front again I dug my fangs into the already gaping wound in his neck and clamped down as hard as I could, and he fell over taking me with him. But I held on and bit deeper, at the same time I was tearing at his head and torso with my talons, tearing great gouges in his tough hide. My talons can tear through steel. And unseen by me Radford got into the fight, and crawling between the behemoths kicking legs got a hold of his testicles. That's my boy. *
*Brax lay on his back gasping, he tried to throw the dragon off again, but he could feel its fangs deep in his throat. Then he froze when he felt sharp little fangs sink into his privates. He knew he might very well rip out his own jugular vein if he tore the enraged beast off of him, and he could feel its claws tearing open his abdomen, and the fangs and claws gnawing on his balls also got his attention. So he did the only thing he could, and yielded. *
"I, I yield! Brax grunted, get off of me! You win!"
It took a few moments for what he said to kick in, I was in a pure demonic rage and it was hard to concentrate. But finally, with a last snarl and shake of my head, I let him go and dragged myself off of him. Then I had to lie on my side and gasp for air, the taste of his blood bitter in my mouth. I won, I thought, my baby is safe.
There are rules in Hell that we live by, but that doesn't mean they don't get broken at times. I heard Radford squeal, and looked up as the behemoth picked him up and carried him towards the portals to his domain. With a roar I got up and started towards the behemoth again, and he turned and said,
"Come closer and I'll have my slaves blast you."
"HIIIISSSSSSSS!!! I screeched, YOU YEILDED!" I roared.
"I lied" the great beast snickered, "What are you going to do about it? I have a hundred witnesses who will say I beat you. And your brat is mine now, I'll cut off his wings and make him into a tunnel lizard. Hur-hur-hur!"
Dragging my wing I started towards him again; and some of his slaves raised their weapons. Then there was the sound of wings, and My Mistress and about twenty winged demonkind landed next to me and aimed their own weapons at Brax's forces.
Vulva gave a deep hiss, and said "Brax you obnoxious cretin, I saw the whole fight through my familiars eyes and you were fairly beaten, I name you oath breaker! HISSS. NOW RELEASE THE CHILD!"
Brax didn't care for the new development, but said "I don't think so bitch, as far as I can see I still outnumber you. If you want a fight I think I'll win."
Bitch? I thought, and my rage grew even more, how DARE he insult My Mistress! With a deep rumbling hiss I started towards him again.
Vulva just smiled an evil smile, and said "Think again dumbass, hiss!"
I suddenly realized that for a short while I'd heard a loud roaring clattering noise, and it suddenly got louder, and everyone, including Brax, turned and looked as something huge slowly climbed over the crest of a nearby sand dune. I think everyone's mouths were open in astonishment as the King Tiger tank came to a stop and the turret rotated to point an artillery grade power lance right at the behemoths chest, and with a loud hum energy waves visibly crackled across the three tines; two for power and one to aim, as the weapon powered up. At the same time a platoon of Imps with demonkind officers in WWII vintage German uniforms were deploying along the crest of the ridge and setting up crew served power lances in addition to the regular ones the infantry carried. There was no doubt these were crack troops. Things got quiet for a few seconds, then the commanders hatch opened and a lizard demon dressed in a Waffen-SS officers uniform popped up, and said,
"Hallo mein kleiner Eidechsenfreund, I thought you might could use a little help, denken Sie nicht? I hope I am in time for der Spaß."
*"Carl! I croaked, where did you come from you crazy kraut!" *
It was my part time friend & full time pain in the butt SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Carl Bruckmann, who was still fighting WWII. I was actually glad to see him for a change, which was a new experience. He actually likes me for some reason.
"Ach, sagte mir eine kleine Fledermaus. Replied Carl. My unit was on maneuvers nearby, so just thought I would drop in for a little moral support, um so zu sagen. You want I should blast this Schwein?"
Then all of a sudden the sand on the other side of the road churned, and Lord Grishnak reared out of the sand and turned his great churning maw towards Brax and his slaves. A couple of Brax's slaves dropped their weapons and ran for the safety of their domain. Can't say I blame them, Grishnak is one mean looking demon. He's also about sixty feet long, intimidating to say the least.
Vulva looked at Brax, still smiling her evil smile, and asked "Well?"
*Brax was mad, he didn't like being beaten. "Very well, if you want this little brat then take him!" And he stomped on the hatchling with a huge hoof several times till it stopped shrieking, and then kicked it far out into the sands where it landed in a limp heap. *
There was a sound like a bolt of lightning, and a power blast from the tanks power lance blew the huge demon back twenty feet and he landed in on his back.
"Nicht nett, Schweinehund!" Carl hissed angrily.
About this time there were two more developments. Vulkna finally arrived with the rest of her hatchings; she'd had to wait for them to keep up or would have been there sooner. And there was crack of thunder and a billow of smoke as Great Lord Ba'al arrived in his usual spectacular manner, complete with his throne. Dude has style.
But I wasn't paying any attention as I dragged myself over to the limp little form lying in the sand. Lord Grishnik dived into the sand to drive off any hydras that might have been attracted by the ruckus and hopes of easy prey. Radford's wings were both broken and there was molten blood dripping from his mouth and nostrils and he wasn't moving. Whimpering I nudged him with my snout and licked him, and then picking him up gently with my mouth I crawled over to the foot of Great Lord Ba'al's throne and laid him down at his feet.
"Please, I asked, hiss, please help him Great Lord."
Ba'al's voice was almost gentle as he said, "I am sorry Seeker, if I could I would, but he is beyond my power to help. I am truly sorry, would that I had arrived sooner."
I looked at Radford and he was starting to dissipate, his skin turning pale and starting to flake off. When demonkind die we just cease to exist, no place will take our souls so it's the darkness of total oblivion. Heaven won't have us, and Hell is as low as you can go, so there's nowhere for us to go. We're immortal, but can be killed. But it shouldn't happen to a child, no matter how damned just by being born a demon.
There was only one other place I could try. So I gathered the small body to my chest and climbed to the crest of a dune, and sitting up I held it up in my hands and roared as loud as I could "PLEASE!"
I had no idea if it would work, I had no reason to even expect it to, but my baby was dying and I was desperate. So I did the unthinkable for one of my kind and called heaven for help, and was answered.
There was a loud ripping sound and a brilliant beam of silver blue light came lancing down out of the burning sky, and when my eyes had adjusted a man in a white suit was standing in the beam looking at me. He didn't have wings or a halo, but there was no doubt what he was
*In the meantime everyone else was panicking. Brax's slaves dropped their weapons and ran for the safely of their domain, Carl and Vulva's troops either cringed or aimed their weapons at the angel, Carl said "Scheiss!" and swung the turret around to point at the angel too. *
"Peace" said the angel.
"HOLD!" Bellowed Ba'al, and he stood up and motioned for the demonkind to lower their weapons. "Rafael, what do you want here?"
"I believe I was called", said the angel. And then he looked down at the two badly injured fire dragons, the large one holding a small one cradled in his arms. "Hello again little one."
*"Please, I said, please help my baby." And I lifted up Radford again with tears in my eyes. "Please, he's just a child." *
Rafael looked at Ba'al and raised an eyebrow. "Well? I am in your domain, so cannot act without permission. I know the rules."
Great Lord Ba'al looked at the grieving fire dragon, and then at the angel. He sighed, and said,
"Very well Rafe, go ahead. Even one such as I does not care to see one so young suffer needlessly. He fought well for his child, and deserves to be rewarded for that devotion."
With a smile Rafael reached down and touched the small body, which gave a squeal of pain and clutched at the arms holding it. "It is done." He said.
I looked up, still crying molten tears, and softly said "Thank you." And then hugged the little dragon close to my chest and nuzzled him.
Rafael started to leave, then hesitated. "Demon, this is the second time you have asked for something for someone else despite being sorely injured yourself. For the second time I offer you salvation. I do not make this offer lightly, or often."
I looked at the little dragon clutching my arms and staring up at me and the angel with wide staring eyes; I turned and looked at My Mistress and Great Lord Ba'al. To my surprise Great Lord Ba'al nodded his head giving me permission. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done in my life.
"Thank you, I said, but no. I remain here, it's where I belong."
"But why?" the angel asked in genuine surprise.
*"Because my family is here, the only family I've ever had. I love my mates, I love my children, and I have a Great Lord I owe my allegiance too. To accept your offer would betray all of that. Can't you understand that?" *
*"Yes" the angel said, with a smile, and disappeared. *
I was surprised, but grateful to find he had healed me too. I folded my wing, and still carrying Radford I approached Great Lord Ba'al's throne. Holding the hatchling with one arm I got down on all fours and crawling to the base of the throne laid down, and taking one his hooves I placed it on my neck. For a demonkind to do so is an oath of absolute fealty and allegiance unto death. Even slaves don't have to do it, it must be freely given.
** Great Lord Ba'al thought to himself, the little Seeker was always so respectful, and now this? **
"Of course I accept your Oath of Fealty young demon, Ba'al said, but I must ask why you offer it? I did not heal your child."
*"But you gave permission when you did not have to Great Lord, not once, but twice. Hiss. It is for those kindnesses to your slave that I give my oath." I replied respectfully. *
Keeping my head bowed I backed away from the throne. Then hearing a commotion I raised my head to see Vulkna and the hatchlings advancing on the still prone behemoth. Their hisses and snarls were terrible to hear, their tails whipping back and forth and flaming saliva dripping from their bared fangs.
Brax stared at the huge dragoness and her hatchings in terror. He was still badly stunned and weak from the lance blast and mauling the other dragon had given him. There was no way he could fight off so many attackers.
"Great Lord, Brax cried, help me!"
Great Lord Ba'al said, "Do not dare to address me oath breaker. I will not condone such conduct." Then the Great Lord smiled, and said "Tear him up!"
With a huge bellowing roar Vulkna leaped onto the fallen demon, followed by her hatchlings. The screaming didn't last long, and when the heap of snarling screeching fire drakes finally separated the only thing remaining of the behemoth was dust and a few small stains. It would be a very long time before another demonkind would dare to mess with Vulva or her family. Seeing that made me really glad My Mistress made me take down my stupid sign.
Great Lord Ba'al had watched the whole thing with a satisfied smile on his face, and looking at the Seeker had winked his eye, and the Seeker had grinned at him with a truly demonic smile. Justice in Hell can be swift, usually brutal, and always final.
Finished with her motherly task Vulkna quickly came running over to her mate and confused child, and bending over hugged them both and nuzzled them with gentle loving strokes of her snout, which they returned hissing their love. The hatchlings flew in a spiral around them,
"Daddy!, Daddy kicked the bad demons' big butt, Daddy!, Daddy saved brother, Daddy, Daddy!" They shrieked in glee.
Vulva looked up at Great Lord Ba'al, and asked,
"Great Lord, hiss, did I hear right? Did he turn down salvation?" she asked in wonder.
"Yes, Ba'al replied, not once, but twice. He is special; keep him close to you Mistress Vulva. I am half tempted to take him from you, but he would be useless to me as he would never forgive me. Oh, and I award you Brax's domain on behalf of your slave who defeated him in honorable challenge. Less my 50% cut of course. I will give you thirty days to get settled, then will send my auditors for my share. Oh, and this time no exploding boxes please, my tax collectors were not amused even though I was. And you will not believe the paperwork I'll have to fill out to explain an angelic intervention in my territory; I'll probably have to make a report personally to the boss."
Vulva laughed, "It shall be as you command Great Lord. Oh, and Great Lord? Don't be a stranger."
"Well, Mistress, I do have some time off next Wednesday, maybe I'll drop by for a visit."
"My bed is you bed, Great Lord" Vulva said in her sultriest voice.
Ba'al just laughed as he and his throne vanished as impressively as they had come. Dude has style.
I left Radford with my mate and walked over to Carl's tank. I stood at attention and gave him the old Nazi salute, and he just smiled and returned it. Then he yelled at his troops,
*"Schnell, Sie slackers! Wir arbeiten zu machen! Wir marschieren!" And he and his troops disappeared in a cloud of dust as the roar of the King Tiger tanks engines faded. *
Vulva came over and approached the happy dragon family a little hesitantly. She really didn't know what to think. She loved her Pet, and knew he loved her, but to give up salvation, not once, but twice?? She had never heard of such a thing in the thousands of years of her existence. No one in Hell had.
I was so busy being nuzzled by my mate and hatchlings I had almost forgotten about My Mistress. When I saw her standing nearby with a kind of lost look on her muzzle I felt guilty. I gave Vulkna one more nuzzle, then turned and ran to My Mistress and rubbed my head against her leg and crooned.
Vulva scratched her remarkable Pet's ears and said, "Well Pet, you've really gotten us in it this time."
"I'm sorry Mistress, I replied, a little surprised, is the Great Lord pissed off or something?"
"Oh, not at all my little jelly bean, hiss, in fact he was, let us say, most impressed. That Oath of Fealty was a nice gesture, he appreciates things like that. Hiss."
"I meant it Mistress, I replied, hiss, I wasn't sucking up. And don't call me that in front of the kiddies" I added in a lower voice.
Too late, I heard a couple of hissing snickers, and little voices saying "jelly bean! Jelly bean!" Oh, just great.
"Oh, believe me Pet, he knows that. Hiss. That's why it impressed him so much. Hiss. Even I haven't done that." Vulva said.
"You don't think he was mad about the, you know, guy in the white suit? Hiss."
"Rafael? No, well, maybe a little. He and Great Lord Ba'al go way back. Hiss. But he wasn't upset about the outcome, and that's the main thing. In fact he even gave me a new domain, thanks to your beating Brax in a challenge."
*"Really?" I said in amazement, well this was an interesting development. *
"Really, Pet. You made your Mistress proud, and Great Lord Ba'al too I think."
I just dipped my head and rubbed her stomach. Her being proud of me; and having my hatchling back, was all the reward I needed.
About then I felt small arms grab my leg, and turning my head found Radford hugging my leg. I lowered my head and looked at him, and he licked my snout and said "I love you Daddy." And the next thing I knew I was covered in shrieking hatchlings, and fell over and rolled over on my back as they nipped and nibbled at me while I squealed for mercy.
"Ahhheeeiiihissss! I wailed, Help Mistress, they've got me! Owooo! Neeiigghh! I'm doomed! Heellpp! Have mercy! Oh the agony! Aiiieee, someone please, hiss, save me from the fierce fire drakes! HISSSSS!"
Vulkna looked at the pile of screeching giggling fire dragons, and said "We're lucky you know".
*"Yes indeed." replied Vulva. "Very lucky. Hiss." *
** The End**
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