Page 64 of Endless Terrors
By the time we arrived at the tower, it felt like I was in a glittering metropolis … if a metropolis usually had scaly creatures and bloodthirsty cats walking around. In this part of the city, I even saw a machine that resembled a car. As my gray friend drew to a stop, I didn’t need to ask if this was the tower he had mentioned. I arched my head back, looking up at the intimidating structure.
It was like something out of a dark fairy tale.
There were no buildings on either side of the tower because it took up the entire block. Its sides were made of sharp-edged, gleaming black surfaces that looked like marble. The doors reminded me of the entrance of a church. They were shaped in a pointed arch, and the surface of each one was covered in markings and symbols I didn’t recognize. As I stared at Lucifer’s giant monstrosity, I finally put my finger on why his tower was so menacing.
There wasn’t a single green or growing thing in sight.
The creature with no name carried me up the stairs, and soon we entered a gleaming lobby. Once again, I thought of a church. The floor was made of black tile and the ceiling was far, far above our heads. I raised my gaze, then did a double take. I registered what I was seeing, and it felt like the air froze in my lungs.
The lobby wasn’t empty.
On the far side of the space, there was a single elevator. Standing in front of the doors were three enormous creatures. I might’ve compared them to dogs or wolves, but each of them had what looked like a serpent’s tail, a mane of snakes, and feline paws. Thankfully, the beasts didn’t seem to find us a threat. All three of them were lying down, watching us from between slitted eyes. One was even sleeping.
Cerberus, a voice in my head whispered. The mythology from my world must’ve gotten some of the details wrong.
It made me wonder what else we’d gotten wrong.
I was stiff, anticipating that these … things would still try to eat us. My mind was already assessing the distance between us and them, trying to figure out if we could reach the doors faster than the dogs.
“They will not harm you as long as you don’t press the button,” the creature holding me said, nodding toward the small, hand-sized square beside the elevator. It glowed like a normal elevator button from home.
Hearing this, I relaxed a little. But not much. “Will you put me down?” I asked. “I’d like to try walking again.”
He heeded the request instantly, and I used one of his thick arms for balance as he set me upright. I released him to see if I could stand on my own. My legs were shaky, but at least they supported my weight now. I turned to thank my gray-skinned friend and found the space beside me empty. He was gone.
A few seconds after I noticed this, a low-toned ding echoed through the room. The elevator opened, and a woman came out. Or at least, she looked like a woman. She was tall and willowy, dressed in black clothing that clung to every curve, and her platinum blond hair gleamed in an elegant updo. She walked past the three beasts as if they were nothing more than chihuahuas, and one of them gave her a half-hearted growl. She ignored it, her focus trained solely on me. Her heels clipped against the tile. Then she got close enough for me to see her face, and I realized this was no woman.
Her eyes were white. Completely, creepily white. Where an iris and pupils should’ve been was an empty space, like someone had sucked all the color out.
“Welcome, Lady Sworn,” the stranger said in accented English. She drew to a halt, keeping a healthy distance between us, and I wondered if some of the city’s stench lingered on me. Her expression revealed nothing as she added, “Please, come this way.”
The beautiful blond made a gesture that indicated the elevator, and I just nodded. My mouth tasted like ash and my stomach had started churning. Was it possible to vomit in this dimension, considering I’d left my real body back on Earth?
Oblivious to the danger, Lucifer’s lackey turned and strode away without waiting to see if I could keep up. I hurried after her, relieved to find my legs were a little stronger now. It took us several seconds to cross the vast room. Compared to the noise of her heels, my bare feet were soundless on the gleaming floor. I was still wearing nothing except the scratchy blanket, and I held it tighter around me as we passed the three beasts. Their black eyes followed our progress, their heads turning slowly.
My new guide didn’t offer any comfort or reassurance. She pressed the button with black-tipped fingernails, and the doors opened immediately. We got on without a word, and the blond passed her hand over a screen. It came awake, white symbols racing over the dark surface. I recognized Enochian, but my grasp of the angelic tongue was still rudimentary, at best. The words also moved too quickly. Blondie pressed something at the top of the screen and stepped back. Still silent, she folded her hands in front of her and raised her pale gaze. While she focused on the glowing number above the doors, my gaze flicked around, noting the floor-to-ceiling window behind us and a camera tucked in one of the corners overhead.
A moment later, the elevator shot into the sky like a bullet, and I almost lost my balance. As I stumbled, I glanced over at Blondie, expecting to see a smirk. She just stared at the symbols changing over the doors. I wanted to ask her if the person who’d taken her eyes had also taken her personality. Self-preservation stopped me—I didn’t know what this creature was capable of, or whether she had a temper. My instincts said she was a demon, and I knew better than anyone what demons were capable of.
Remembering that night hardened something inside me. And my legs finally stopped shaking.
A second later, I heard that ding again, and the doors slid open. A long walkway loomed ahead. The left side was made of normal walls and doors. The right was made of arches, a low wall, and pillars. There was no glass in the openings, and in a way, the result reminded me of the Colosseum in Rome. But the Colosseum probably didn’t have as many cameras as this place, I thought as I noted more of them, tucked into shadows and pockets. Were the cameras a security measure? Did that mean the King of Hell could actually be harmed?
We hadn’t gone very far down the walkway when Blondie opened one of the doors. She stood to the side, waiting for me to go in first. My focus sharpened, and my heart kicked into overdrive.
This was it. This was the moment I would come face-to-face with the Dark Prince.
And all I was wearing was a smelly blanket.
There was no time to panic, because in the next moment, we entered a room that could only be Lucifer’s office. It seemed strange that the devil even had one. For some reason, I’d always imagined him in an empty world of fire and eternal suffering. Not this normal-looking space that could be from my own world.
To my relief, its owner was nowhere to be seen. But the relief was immediately followed by a burst of impatience. I just wanted to get this meeting over with so Damon would be awoken and I could start the process of returning home.
“There’s some clothing on the sofa. It should be your size. Would you like any refreshments while you wait?” Blondie’s tone was bland, her eyes flat. She hadn’t moved from the doorway.
“There’s food in Hell?” I asked, darting a glance toward the sofa. Just as Blondie had said, there was a folded pile resting on one of the cushions. I turned back to her, but the demon just looked at me. Waiting. I knew it was probably safe, since Lucifer needed me alive for his nefarious purposes, but the thought of eating made my stomach roll. I shook my head. “No, thanks.”
Without another word, Blondie retreated and closed the door.
