Chapter 9

9

It took me a second to orient myself. For one, while the sun in the sky looked normal, the grass underfoot? A light purple. The tree closest to me? Had a rubbery-looking bark of deep orange with leaves a dark red.

Where the fuck had the voice sent me? Was I on an alien planet? In good news, I could breathe. In bad news, shrieks of terror drew my attention to some people, a family it would appear. An older woman hugged two children as she stood behind a man brandishing an axe against a demon who confronted them in broad daylight.

The monster hissed and swiped, narrowly missing the man's leg. The man, to his credit, swung that axe. However, he lacked the speed to connect.

Just past the attacking demon, another pair knelt on the ground, feeding from a body they'd gutted. They'd soon be feasting on the whole family if I didn't help.

I strode with cocky assurance towards the altercation, uttering a piercing whistle that drew everyone's gaze.

"Hey ugly." I waved. "Here I am. Easy pickings. See, no weapon." I held up my empty hands.

The demon accepted my challenge, given it barreled for me, slavering and grunting.

I extended my hand in a stop position and the monster abruptly halted as it slammed into the invisible wall I'd conjured. It fell backwards and hit the ground, whereupon the man swung his axe and took its head then tossed me a grin.

One down, but the two that were eating glanced over, bared their teeth, and abandoned their lunch to spring into attack mode.

Despite not needing movement to cast spells, I found it helped my focus and aim when I pointed a finger. One demon grabbed its neck, the other snarled and kept running for me on all fours. I flung an electrical ball at it which sizzled on contact and the demon kept coming. It took me a moment to realize it wore some kind of defense, a shitty looking breastplate with a tiny rock embedded in it.

Fucker repelled magic. Unexpected. No matter. I still wore my coat. I dug into my pocket and pulled free my scythe. I snapped it to full length, and I ran to meet the demon, uttering an incoherent battle cry.

It opened its maw wide to show off its jagged teeth. The last thing it did, as my first swing took off its head. The one I'd put in a choke hold also lay dead courtesy of the man with the axe. Before I could celebrate our victory, an ululation arose from the thick forest that lay beyond the path.

I glanced at the man. "Take your family to cover."

His reply emerged melodic and lovely, also completely incomprehensible. I shooed him, a universal sign that he understood. As he ushered his family away, I braced myself. Scythe at the ready, my feet planted on the ground, expression grim. Would these new demons also be wearing magic repelling armor? I hoped not as I did have my limits when it came to hand-to-claw combat.

"Let's go," I muttered. As the demons emerged from the forest—two, three, shit, six, make that eight—I wondered what the voice was thinking sending me here. Did she want me to die?

I didn't have much time to ponder because I had to fight. I flung magic, and while some of the demons screeched and writhed in pain as electricity jolted their systems, too many continued to charge. The fuckers wore the magic repelling chest plates.

I took a few measured breaths before they got in range. I could do this. One reaper was worth a dozen demons, or so Cain used to say.

Whirl, slice, dip, pivot, sweep. The training exercises brought flow to my motion, and I spun elegantly—or so it felt—amongst the demons. Parts of them flew off. Arms, legs, a head.

My personal shield kept me from getting scratched. A good thing given how many times claws scraped across it rather than my flesh. The lack of grievous injury allowed me the time to handle the situation. By the time the last demon lay on the ground, the first corpse had vanished. Apparently, some things remained the same even in this alien place.

To my delight—and relief—I emerged unscathed, and victorious, but still confused as to why the voice brought me here.

"Xusnertdssdw."

The odd syllables had me turning to see the man had returned. He grinned at me and gestured.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand."

He nodded and made a beckoning motion. Apparently, he wanted me to follow him.

Might as well. I didn't sense any danger from him, but I kept my scythe in hand as I followed. The path we took ran a short distance through the strange forest with its jarring-colored foliage before emerging into a clearing with signs of civilization. A tended garden filled most of the space. The neat rows of growing plants showed apple-sized bulbs of blue, and grape-shaped ones in orange. Past the garden, I spotted a really fat tree. I mean, the trunk would have taken a dozen people to hug at the very least, but at the same time, I doubted anyone would, given the ugly spikes jutting from the bark. Great at preventing people—and I'd bet demons—from climbing. Its boughs had been weaved together to form sphere-like wicker balls. From the opening of one peeked the face of a child. Out of the largest exited the woman, who climbed down a rope ladder, chattering excitedly. The man replied and gestured wildly. It took me a second to realize he was recreating the battle scene, telling the wife what I'd done. Cute.

She clapped and beamed, and the children emerged to add to the chorus. Despite the strange locale, they appeared one hundred percent human with brown hair, lightly tanned skin, and bright eyes that varied from green to hazel. No horns or tails. Nothing that made me think alien or otherwise.

The man eyed me and spoke, but I shrugged. "Sorry, dude. I don't understand."

He held up a finger, and I had to wonder if it meant the same thing here as on Earth. The woman disappeared up the ladder only to emerge seconds later with a basket. She went into the garden and picked fat fruit—or could have been veggies—from the plants and put them in the basket. By the time she handed it to me, it overflowed with goodies and dragged down my hand.

The man put an arm around his wife as they spoke and smiled.

I smiled back. "Thank you."

It led to them nodding. I waved goodbye and headed away from them before using my talisman.

To my relief, I entered the cold place.

Congratulations on your victory.

I could have called the voice out on putting me in danger, but honestly, I rode high from the win. It had been my first battle relying on pretty much only myself. And I prevailed.

What was that place? I asked.

It is called Topiia. It is much like Earth in many respects, but not as technologically advanced. As you no doubt remarked, they have issues with demons.

No shit. I killed a bunch for a family, and they gave me a basket of food in thanks. I assume it's safe to eat?

Yes. Their world does not use this cash so popular on Earth. I knew you'd be able to barter your services for supplies.

Don't the Topians have reapers and witches to protect them?

Unfortunately, the genetics that allow the magic to flourish on Earth did not occur within the Topians, despite the fact they are human, imported by the demons to that world.

Why would the demons do that?

Because they could? Because they wished to ensure a food supply and sport?

You don't sound sure, I said.

I can't tell you what goes through their minds. Topiia existed long before my time. I only discovered its existence when I was lost inside the Continuum.

The Continuum?

The place we are currently in, the voice replied.

I didn't know it had a name.

Few do and the Continuum isn't its original title but a translation to English.

Is English your native tongue?

No. Laughter hued her reply.

How many languages do you know? And yes, I realized the oddity of talking to a disembodied voice in a place with no actual physical presence. So sue me, I was curious.

I have learned many in my time here. Some of which no longer exist.

Her reply made me think of the books and I had a sudden hunch. The place you sent me, was that your home?

Yes.

Why did you live so remotely?

Because in my time, I preferred solitude.

I understood that completely. So you can read the stuff in that library?

Yes.

The single syllables had me grinding non-existent teeth. What do they say? Looks like some talk about the demons.

Most of them deal with Inferis and magic. A few are accounts from other worlds that I brought back from my travels.

I'd like to read them. What language are they in?

A dead one.

But you know it, I insisted.

I do, but without a body I cannot assist you in translating.

Well, that was a bummer. Did you live there alone?

I don't wish to discuss my past. An abrupt statement. You have the sustenance you requested. I shall return you now.

Wait, one last thing. How come the dais inside the cave doesn't seem to work? Is it broken?

It is locked as it is a portal to Inferis.

Wait, you had a doorway to Hell in your cave? Why?

Because there was a time when our worlds thought we could negotiate for peace.

I assume that failed.

It was a foolish dream. Never make the mistake of trusting a demon. They only know how to lie.

With that final warning, I found myself on the mountain in front of the door, basket in hand. I was enlightened and confused by what happened. Also, hungry.

That night, Clover and I feasted, my dog ecstatic over the hunk of meat wrapped in a waxed cloth at the bottom of the basket. Delicious and filling. I blamed the food for my dream.