Of course, it would be. What else would stalk her here in this realm?
Those evil little trolls were ever about to tempt and torment those who lived here. But she wasn’t so stupid, and she’d never fall for their tricks.
She would never forsake her oath or her station.
“Leave me in peace. I’ve no use for you.”
It moved forward. With each step, its form changed until it became a winged shadow creature. One that smelled as foul as its deeds. Only the glowing red eyes remained the same. “You are no longer in my world. Or yours. You are intheirworld. They will fear you. Beat you. Destroy you. Then where will you be?”
Ariel lifted her chin with a confidence she didn’t feel. “If they kill me here, I’ll return to where I belong. If I surrender myself to the curse, you’ll drag me to your master. I don’t belong to your infernal prison, and I refuse to damn myself. You’llneverown any part of me.”
Too many of her kind had fallen to them. She refused to become a member of the Irin. To be marked and hunted by her own brethren while she fought for the dark lords who would abuse her for their own sick amusement.
That wasn’t her way. She would never succumb. Not for anything.
His evil laugh rang out. He touched her chin with his icy, chafed fingers. The coldness burned her skin, causing her to flinch. “My master will give me much for the soul of a Nasaru warrior, especially one who serves Michael. Come, pet, be nice and sacrifice yourself for me. I promise you a cooler spot to bathe in if you surrender now.”
She glared at him, her new body trembling in fear and fury over his offer.
Belial.
The name flashed through her mind and she realized some of her powers still remained. But not enough to combat this particular demon, whodelighted in mischief and discord, whose evil power was second only to that of Kadar, the king of all evil.
A cold tremor of panic swept through her.
She clenched her shaking hands together, knowing her fear gave him strength.
And that, too, she would never do.
Standing strong, she glared at him. “I deny your call. Leave me and return to your hole where you kneel in servitude.”
His eyes flashed, radiating heat and malice. “You will be mine, fair one. And I will gladly serve you to my master.” He curled his shadowed form up into a ball and drifted around her head. The rancid odor of burning flesh and sulfur choked her. “How long can you remain true to your cause now that you’re corrupted by human flesh and emotion?”
She opened her mouth to deny him, but as soon as she did, the demon encompassed her head, choking her with its stench. The black thickness filled her body.
Ariel fought for breath. Her lungs burning, she fell to her knees.
Still the demon remained inside her, blotting her thoughts, her will.
“You’ll be ours, Nasaru.” Belial laughed. “And with you, I will earn my freedom and burn this fucking world to the ground!”
CHAPTER2
Disgusted that he was still here and had yet to be relieved of his station by his idiot brother, Valteri watched his men training in the list. The sound of clashing steel rang in his ears, making him yearn to leave this place far behind and yield to the familiar call of battle and war.
To what he knew best.
Blood. Gore. Entrails of his enemies on the ground at his feet.
Thatwas home.
Not this rancid country he hated so much.
Battle was his mother. It was the only thing that had ever succored him.
But could he leave?
Nay.
