ate, they paid for goods, and lived in dwellings. They were part of armies that too had to be fed from those that farmed the land or kept livestock. Many were master builders and beings of craftsmanship just like the rest. Hell even had a workforce known as Ukobachs. These dwarf sized demons were usually stationed in heated environments due to their preference for the hotter temperatures, which was usually why they were found working in the boiler rooms in places big enough to need them. If not put to work, then they became scavenger type creatures that could always be found close to the flaming rivers in Hell. But a subspecies of these creatures were also known as grafters, and under strict guidance could build almost anything, for working in large groups were what they were best known for.
After all, not all castles like mine were built off the back of a mage or a witch. Which meant that not every soul that ended up in Hell was cast into a forgotten oblivion, forever doomed to a torturous life. Some were chosen for more, depending of course what level of evils brought you a one-way ticket to an eternity in Hell. In short there was a place for every type of soul that ended up here and speaking of Hellish souls, mention of the witch most certainly caught my attention.
“The witch?!” I snapped out my question,
“We believe she was the cause of the diversion and the one to create the army. Carn’reau found her fleeing into the Echoing Forest soon after it was discovered.”
“Nero, whaur is she?!” The angry Scottish voice came from behind us and at the same time my men all drew their weapons and pointed them at the furious shifter. One who had now lost all that easy-going manner and replaced it with a shifter’s rage…interesting.
I turned to the side to watch as his brothers followed seconds later in their landing, doing so as men after changing back into their human looking vessels whilst still in the air. From below it had ended up looking like two tornados not connected with the ground had consumed their bodies, as the power of their shift created a vortex of air to be sucked in around them.
This was because of the power they each held in any realm they were in, being one of the elements. The land would crack at a mere touch from a Gryphon shifter’s hand and that same land would be scorched with just the click of fingers from a Wyvern. And as for Trice, who was still uncertain just how much power he had, what I did know of him he could freeze that land at just a thought or whisper of breath. Naturally then the air around them was attracted to such a living force of nature and shifting took a lot of power and strength for such a creature as big as each of them. It was also why when combined into one it took even more and wasn’t a power that could last as long.
I watched as the army started to close in around them and knew I didn’t have time for this shit, which was why I snapped at who I knew Carn’reau had appointed leader in his place,
“They are not the enemy, have your men lower their weapons!” His slight frown in confusion was the only answer I received before he barked orders in his own tongue, commanding them to do my bidding. Just then a woman’s terrified scream was heard above and was one that was quickly drowned out by the sound of a Zilant’s roar. This was no doubt in response to Carn’reau’s beast as it swooped down and landed in the spot his men had cleared for him.
It quickly became clear that the witch Alvaro had spoken of, combined with that of Vern’s worry was none other than the witch I had encountered back in that shit stain of a town that was closest to the wastelands. So, she was the one who had been tasked with creating the diversion. I shook my head a little and looked down at the sleeping beauty in my arms and knew the depths a person would go to for love. And well, from the looks of things, the Wyvern and the witch were travelling that depth together.
The moment Carn’reau’s beast calmed he swung his legs from the saddle and dragged the bent form of a struggling Nero with him.