Chapter 10

Wakingup to find myself hog-tied didn't bode well, and panic immediately welled, as did a strident need to get free. I struggled against the rope binding me, pulling apart my wrists and ankles in the hopes of loosening the knots. It only served to make them tighter, which led to a stream of cursing.

"Fucking bitch tying me up." I used the heat of my anger to keep at bay the cold fear creeping in my veins. Since the ropes refused to loosen or snap, I turned to bellowing. "Mom! Where are you? What the fuck kind of bullshit is this? Untie me this instant."

To my surprise, the door to my room swung open immediately, but Mom didn't enter. Instead, Dad walked in, wearing one of the robes I'd seen in my dream, the dark fabric voluminous on his barrel-chested body while the cowl lay in folds around his neck.

It suddenly occurred to me that what I'd just dreamt might have been real. If true, then my parents worshipped Moloch and I'd just handed myself over to them for sacrifice.

Dumb. So dumb. Then again, how could I have known?

Growing up, my parents showed no sign of being religious, nor atheist for that matter. The words god, demon, even magic never got spoken in our house. How could I have been so blind to not see what happened literally under my feet in the basement? Had they been worshipping Moloch and abetting his evil this entire time?

Guess I'd soon find out. Problem being, I might not survive the truth.

"The sacrifice awakens," he announced, rubbing his hands in glee. His cheeks had drooped since I'd last seen him, his jowls on par with a hound. His nose was an even brighter red and more bulbous. Blame his evening whiskey. He liked a few glasses after dinner.

Seeing him so excited had me narrowing my gaze to give him the evil eye, which had no effect due to him being a zillion times more evil than me. "What's going on? Why am I tied like a pig ready for roasting?"

"Couldn't have you leaving before the festivities," Dad explained, which didn't ease my mind one fucking bit.

"I don't know what you have planned, but I don't want any part of it." I bucked on the bed and growled, "Untie me at once."

"You're not in a position to make demands."

"This is forcible confinement. There are laws against it," I feebly argued.

He snorted. "And who's going to tell the cops? After tonight, petty things like laws won't apply to me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I still held a faint—very faint—hope that this was just some sick joke. That Mom, peeved I'd dare to come home, had done this to scare me off.

"The time has finally come for you to fulfill your fate and free the Dark Lord."

"I wouldn't call the murder of your only daughter fate," I spat.

"It's a sacrifice for something greater. If it helps, you're not my daughter."

I'll admit I'd not expected that answer. I blinked. "Er, what?"

A cruel smile stretched his lips. "Your true parents are dead. Their throats slit only moments after your birth."

"You lie. Mom told me about the night I was born with the storm and power failure."

"Both of which did happen, but the latter we caused. We cut the electricity to the hospital to sow chaos, enabling us to get in, handle your parents, and abscond with you."

My mouth rounded, and I might have sounded a tad too cheerful as I exclaimed, "Praise be, we're not fucking related." Some might have called me cold for being happy about finding out my real parents died. Hard to mourn people I didn't know. But it relieved me immensely to know I wasn't related to the assholes who raised me.

The glee in my tone made him frown. "Ungrateful cunt."

"Stuff it, fat ass. The only thing I'm grateful for is knowing I don't carry any of your genetics." But I did wonder. "Why did you steal me?"

"Because you are the one we've been waiting for. The Dark Lord sent us word of your impending birth, stressed your importance to the cause. Given our loyalty to the Dark Lord, Michelle and I were chosen to be your guardians."

"Wow. Did Moloch ever choose wrong. You were shitty parents."

"Which is exactly what our Dark Lord wanted. The last thing we needed was a strong-minded, independent woman. Your childhood was carefully cultivated to make you the person you are today. A weak and sniveling coward."

"I'm not a coward," I huffed with way more bravery than I felt.

"So you say, and yet you shied away from every challenge tossed your way."

I had, and it suddenly burned that I'd been raised like that on purpose. "I'm braver now."

"Doesn't matter. The time is almost nigh. Your blood is finally ripe enough. Soon, we will open the gate to free the Dark Lord and we will be rewarded."

"More like eaten and dismembered. You do know Moloch is intent on destroying the world, right? He's told me his plan, and it involves killing everyone."

"Only those who refuse to serve. As his loyal servants, we will be part of his court." Dad—I mean Larry—lifted his chin and spoke with pride.

"You're an idiot. Moloch is a lying demon who is going to kill you."

"You're the liar. Don't think I don't see what you're doing, trying to save your worthless skin. It won't work." Larry reached for me with big meaty hands, and I flinched. It didn't stop Larry from grabbing me by the forearms. I couldn't even fight, not with my arms bound together. With a firm grip, he yanked me roughly from the bed. I hit the floor hard and took a moment to suck in a breath.

"Let's go. It's almost time." Larry didn't wait for a reply but dug his fingers into my hair and proceeded to drag me out of my room, down the short hall, and then down the stairs.

Thump.

Thump.

I felt each and every step. I'd have bruises later for sure.

If I had a later…

As I bit back my cries of pain—because I wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction—Michelle appeared at the bottom of the stairs, also wearing a robe. "What took you so long? Our guests are about to arrive," she chided.

"Must you nag, woman? I had to take a shit."

Michelle pursed her lips, but before she could reply, the doorbell rang. She clapped her hands and sang, "They're here!" With a brighter smile than I'd ever seen on her face, she answered the door. "Come in. Come in. You're just in time to give Larry a hand with the blood key."

Blood key? Not exactly the kind of nickname a girl wants. In better news, the extra set of hands—which belonged to a skinny gent about my dad's age, judging by the wrinkles and gray hair—meant I didn't get thumped down the basement stairs. Nope, instead I got carried like a pig about to get slaughtered. From the pan to the fire. I'd thought my life with the guild was dangerous. Turned out I'd worried about the wrong people.

The basement appeared the same as in my dream, from the washer and dryer at the bottom of the steps to the wall and door that led to the Satanic worshipping chamber. Knowing my dream of the basement proved accurate didn't gratify one bit. I'd have preferred to see a dusty space full of crap and not the upside-down cross, which now sported manacles. Being held in their metallic grip, the woman I'd seen earlier hung upside down and completely naked. About the only surprising thing? She didn't look terrified. The glaze in her eyes seemed to indicate she'd been drugged. Probably explained why she smiled instead of screaming at the sight of us.

I got tossed to the rug, smack dab in the middle of the pentagram. I did a worm wiggle to try and escape, only to get hauled back to the center. Before I could try and futilely escape again, someone sat on me, squashing me flat.

"Get your fat ass off me," I huffed.

Rather than reply to me, the woman who'd chosen to use me as a chair said, "Should we gag her?"

Larry was the one to reply. "The Dark Lord prefers to hear her begging."

And beg I would. I'd probably plead and promise anything as I snotted and cried. Judge all you want. I didn't want to die.

I couldn't see much from my spot, just feet as folks moved around. I counted seven pairs in total, including Larry and Michelle. Seven people who seemed unbothered by the woman bound to the cross or the one on the floor.

"Flip her over so she can watch," a man suggested, leading to the woman rising from my torso and rough hands gripping me to flip me onto my back.

Larry stood at my feet and clasped his hands as he announced, "Now that we're here. Let the ceremony begin." Apparently, that acted as a signal for them to get naked.

I shut my eyes, just not quick enough to avoid the sudden schlongs, beer bellies, boobs, and pussies that popped into view. If they had an orgy, I'd probably puke. If they tried to involve me, I'd hopefully choke on it. In good news, I remained clothed.

The seven held hands in a semi-circle around me, facing the cross with the woman. They began to chant.

"Dark Lord, oh mightiest of demons, hear us. We gather to pay you homage. We praise your mightiness. We pray for your release. Through this vessel we offer, speak to us."

They stopped talking. In that silence the woman on the wall finally roused enough to say, "What's going on?"

"You will be the conduit to our Dark Lord. Prepare to be anointed," Larry announced, heading for her with a dick that pointed the way.

Ew! I shut my eyes but couldn't close my ears.

The captive woman huffed, "Get that away from me. Don't you—" A garbled, choking sound followed the abrupt cessation of her words.

I really didn't want to see what was happening, but I still opened my eyes and got a repugnant view of Larry's ass—flabby, white, and hairy—flexing as he thrust. That explained the gagging.

Michelle had a stony face as she stood by his side, her tits not as saggy as expected, probably because she'd never had a kid after all. In her hand, she held a dagger, and I wondered for a second if she'd plunge it into her cheating husband.

Nope. She nodded in approval as Larry grunted and thrust one last time before holding up his arms and exclaiming. "The vessel is anointed."

He was only the first.

The three other men then took a turn while the women watched, each holding a blade I noticed.

One by one, the dudes finished, and when they moved away, the woman on the wall smiled even as cum drooled from her mouth. My stomach heaved.

"Who's next?" the woman purred.

Her strange pleasure didn't last long as the women moved in. She began screaming as Michelle slashed her blade across the captive woman's thigh while a tan-skinned woman cut the other. The third female of the group, younger than the rest, did an X on the victim's belly.

Blood began to flow, rolling down—or was that up?—her torso, given she dangled upside down? The red fluid mixed with the semen seeping from her lips and dripped right into the bowl positioned under her. The lit brazier emitted a faint hint of something I couldn't identify.

More cuts appeared, increasing the flow of blood, and I had to wonder, would this be my fate?

As the blood trickle slowed, the contents in the bowl heated, and a wisp of smoke rose and spread. To my disbelieving eyes, it took a shape, a form I'd seen before with a hulking body and horns.

Moloch.

I didn't realize I'd whispered his name until Michelle turned on me to snap, "Silence."

Excuse me? I would not be silent. "Fuck you, Michelle."

"You insolent bitch." She raised the dagger, only to have Larry grab her wrist.

"You can't kill her. Moloch needs her alive for the unlocking ceremony."

Michelle glared and spat, "She can't die soon enough."

Her hatred made no sense, and I blurted out, "Why didn't you kill me when you first kidnapped me if this was your plan all along?"

"Because Moloch told us to wait for the right moment when the planetary alignment would be most conducive for the ritual," replied the tanned woman.

"Pretty sure you missed that window. Didn't Moloch tell you? A demon wizard tried to set the devil free and failed." I doubted I'd change their minds, but I had to try.

"There is yet time, as the planets will be aligned for several more months, and as the ones to free the Dark Lord, we shall reap the rewards," Larry announced, and I grimaced to see his flaccid cock rising with excitement.

The smoke finished forming, and a whispery yet thunderous voice emerged from it. "You have captured the messovenata. I am most pleased."

At the statement, all of the acolytes threw themselves to the floor. Larry spoke with his forehead pressed to the carpet. "Oh, mighty Dark Lord, we are humbled before your greatness."

"You have not harmed the messovenata?" the shadow monster asked.

"Of course not," Michelle quickly reassured.

I countered her claim with, "Larry dragged me down the stairs."

Smoke Moloch turned his head to fix Larry with a glare and growled. "I said she wasn't to be injured."

"Nothing's broken," whined the suddenly pale and shaking man. "Just a few bruises. She was too heavy for me to carry."

"Pathetic," grumbled Moloch. "One job and you failed."

"How can you say that? She is here." Larry pointed.

"Only by happenstance." Moloch swung to eye Michelle. "You tried to turn her away."

She didn't cower like her husband. "You told us to show her no warmth, no succor so that she'd have no one to rely on. I did as told."

Moloch inclined his head. "I did, and yet you failed at that too. She has spirit within her. It will have to be broken."

"What next, Dark Lord?" Eager, Michelle held the bloody knife to her chest, between her tits. "Shall I cut her open and set you free?"

"No. You've played your role. The next part requires someone with magic. They will be here shortly to fetch the messovenata."

"Is it time for our prize?" Larry eagerly asked.

"Oh yes. Your reward is almost here." Did they not hear the hint of mockery in Moloch's tone? His gaze fell upon me, and the smoky version of the demon lord smiled. "Soon, messovenata. Before this night ends, you will bow before your master."

With that, Moloch suddenly vanished. The acolytes slapped each other and beamed.

"You heard him. We're about to get paid for our loyalty," Larry crowed.

"Why is it suddenly so smoky in here?" asked Michelle. "Larry, put out the brazier."

I didn't see any smoke, which could only mean one thing.

Demons.