She edged nervously across the walkway while Asmodeus looked exasperated from the other side. “Could you walkanyslower?”
She gritted her teeth. “Sorry, I don’t have wings. If I fall into that, I die.”
When she reached the other side, sighing in relief at making it across the narrow walkway, Asmodeus snorted. “Ayearlater.”
Not deigning to reply, she followed him through the rough-hewn iron gates.
They beheld the dragon, and Asmodeus twitched. His eyes widened as he took a nervous step forward, and she realized he was afraid.
The dragon lounged against the mountainside, warming herself against the stone. From snout to tail, the dragon was monstrous, stretching over fifty feet long. Seeing them, she lifted her head and fixed her orange slit-pupiled eyes on them, appearing both magnificent and terrifying.
Smoke curled at her nostrils.
Hello, Chainbreaker.
A small demon nervously came up to them, holding a rope with strange ram-like creatures with black horns and sheep-like bodies, but with forked tongues and serpentine eyes.
“Those are ammons,” Asmodeus explained hastily. “Small dwellers of the volcanic mountains of this region, hunted for blood and meat.”
Asmodeus took the rope and brought the ammons within biting distance of the dragon, half-dragging them.
The dragon looked snobbishly down at them, waiting.
When neither of them spoke, she brought her great orange and gold-flecked eyes near. Each eye was the size of a dinner plate.
Elizabeth curtseyed low and held it. She coughed slightly, and Asmodeus bowed beside her.
The dragon said haughtily,Rise, Chainbreaker and demon princeling.
What’s your name, so I can greet you properly?Elizabeth asked.
Gehenna, daughter of Vyrrenu.
That’s a lovely name. Pleased to meet you more formally, Gehenna.
The dragon bared her teeth.Gehenna means misery.
Oh. Er. A good name.Elizabeth said awkwardly, curtseying again out of politeness.This is Asmodeus. He has offered to help find you something to eat.
To his credit, Asmodeus bowed gallantly, eyes fixed warily on her claws.I would be pleased to accommodate you, fair Gehenna.
Asmodeus gently urged the four ammons towards the dragon. They did not want to go any nearer, however, bleating their concern.
He swallowed, looking up as an evil smile graced the dragon’s lips.
Asmodeus swallowed again, then lobbed the first sheep at the dragon.
Gehenna snapped it up and chewed, swallowing it whole, bones and all.
Asmodeus tossed the other ammons, and Elizabeth forced herself to watch with a neutral expression as the dragon ate. The creatures wriggled and struggled but were no match for the dragon that snapped them up with ease.
Gehenna let the last sheep-like creature amble away, allowing it to think it might escape, before flying overhead, banking into a sharp dive, and snatching it up with her talons.
Returning to her original spot against the mountainside, the creature bleated frantically in her clutches. She bared her teeth and tore off its head, downing it in two bites.
Finished, Gehenna lifted her head and fixed them with a stare, snout smeared with blood. She crouched, looking ready to pounce.
Where do I go now?the dragon asked snobbishly.
