Void Domain, Book 04 полностью

My gift will prove deadly enough against lesser demons. Yet it will not suffice against anything especially powerful, including the dolls.

There was reluctance in his voice that might have made Shalise smile had she not been heading deeper into the prison. She did not miss the fact that they were heading in the same direction that they had been moving in before returning to Prax’s cell.

“All the other d-demons came this way,” Shalise said.

That could prove to be to our advantage, if we can convince them to work with us. We will need equipment from the doll armory to facilitate our escape. Entering will be difficult with just us.

“Won’t the doll armory be guarded by dolls? The ones that you just said we wouldn’t be able to fight?”

As you said, all the other demons were heading in this direction. For the same purpose. We shall slip by. If that is even needed. It is entirely possible that the dolls will have been defeated by our predecessors.

As nice as that sounded, she doubted it would work out so cleanly. Not if this prison had any sort of decent security. And they could wind up caught between demons if there was another earthquake.

Sighing, Shalise picked up her pace as much as she was able without jostling Juliana too much.

—

Shalise slowed to a careful crawl and barely dared to breathe. Her eyes scanned over every inch of the hallway, looking for anything that might be a threat.

Anything that escaped.

Half the wall was destroyed around two cells. Neither had red barriers blocking the way in. Or out.

“This is where we found those imps,” Shalise whispered. “They were breaking away the wall when we got here.”

Looks like they finished.

Shalise tightened her grip on Juliana, readying herself in case she needed to run. It was a good thing she had armor on. There might have been some accidental crushing of limbs otherwise.

Pressing herself against the wall as much as she was able, Shalise peeked around the corner.

Empty.

Shalise took a deep breath of air.

Unlike Prax’s simply empty restraints, both occupants of these cells had been far more destructive during their escape. The binding rings were bent outwards on one side. The other had broken the chain but, based on the lack of rings lying around, had kept the actual bindings.

Hmph. Seems like someone still has loyal minions. I wonder if I know who resided within these cells.

“Would it matter if you knew them?”

Perhaps, he mused. They could be old comrades.

“They didn’t come back for you.”

Watching out for themselves first. That or enemies.

“Great. Just what we need.”

Do not mention me. And keep your chest covered.

Shalise actually rolled her eyes at that. Keeping the remains of her shirt closed enough to hide the brand was an impossible order even discounting Juliana’s presence tying up her hands.

She was about to continue down the hall when a thought struck her. “Wait a minute,” she said slowly. “Arachne once said that she could sense other demons. Can’t they do that to you?”

Not as I am. Much like we can pass through the barriers, we can pass by other demons without them detecting my presence.

Shrugging Juliana into a more comfortable position, she started off down the hall once again, keeping an eye out for any more broken cells.

And demons.

Couldn’t forget about them.

Who is this Arachne? Prax asked after a moment or two.

“A friend of mine,” Shalise said. “She comes from here.” Frowning, Shalise added, “well, not here here. But Hell in gen–”

A demon? And you think you’re her friend?

His raucous laughter sent a chill down her spine. An involuntary shudder worked its way up her spine, nearly dislodging Juliana from her spot.

“N-no. More of a friend of a friend.”

That only made him laugh harder.

“Stop laughing,” Shalise said. “Arachne is way–”

She cut herself off. Better not to antagonize the person she was sharing a mind with. Even if he couldn’t actually do anything to her–something Shalise wasn’t entirely certain was correct–he could definitely make himself annoying.