CHAPTER 8

 

 

THE UNDERWORLD was just as magnificent as when Sabnock had last seen it, perhaps more so since it had grown over the millennia. Walking to the Tower of Souls, she attracted several strange glances. It had been thousands of years since the warrior demon had appeared on the streets of their realm. Something important was up and the minions wondered if Dis was planning some sort of attack on his Twin. They hoped not. It would mean fighting another great war and no one was eager to go through that again.

Pushing the huge doors open, she walked up to Soulkeeper.

"I'm here to retrieve a soul," she stated, giving him no option for debate.

"Certainly, Sabnock. It's good to see you again. It's been a long time. What soul are you looking for this time?"

"Constance Loh Rehn. She just arrived."

"Loh Rehn? Haven't you found her yet?"

Soulkeeper never forgot a name and Sabnock had returned several times looking for this particular soul. When the demoness stopped coming to the keeper's vault, Soulkeeper assumed she had finally found who she was looking for. Apparently she hadn't.

"I wouldn't be here if I had," growled Sabnock.

Signaling for a small minion to approach, Soulkeeper ordered it to find the soul and bring it to them. Scurrying off, it disappeared into another room. Minutes later, it came scrambling back, wringing its hands nervously.

"No soul, master," it squeaked.

"What do you mean, no soul, you moron? Of course she's here," Soulkeeper yelled. "Sabnock says she is. Now go back and look again."

"Yes, master. I go," the minion cried, not wanting to anger its owner.

"It's hard to find good help nowadays," Soulkeeper grumbled, shaking his head.

Minutes later the minion crept back, trembling. "I no find," it sobbed, tears streaming down its cheeks.

"What's the problem?" Sabnock demanded.

"Umm, Rastis can't find Loh Rehn. Are you sure she's dead?"

"Would I be here if she wasn't?"

"Well, ummm..." the Soulkeeper shrugged, not wanting to remind the demoness of her previous inquiries — two-hundred forty-three to be exact.

"Where else could she be? This is where mortal souls come."

"I know. Maybe she's gone to the Overworld. Some do manage to meet the Twin's requirements. Was she that type?"

"No, she belongs here. Is it possible someone captured her soul before it got here?"

"Only if she was scheduled for punishment. Then she'd go directly to the assigned demon. Let me check the records."

Pulling out a large, brown book, Soulkeeper flipped through the pages.

"She's not listed anywhere in the Necronomicon. At the moment, all of the demons have received their latest assignments and there's no Loh Rehn."

"I didn't realize you still used that thing to keep track of the demons and their charges," Sabnock said, studying the yellowed pages. "You don't have computers down here?"

Soulkeeper snickered.

"I wouldn't have one of those things in here if Dis ordered me to. They're way too unreliable. Besides, I heard they carry viruses."

The demoness shook her head. Soulkeeper was one of those demons who preferred to live in the past. In a way, though, Sabnock found it comforting. The old ways weren't all bad.

"Could she have done something to attract the attention of the Tribunal?"

"No. She wasn't evil."

"Hmmm. I wonder..." Soulkeeper hesitated.

"What?" Sabnock growled impatiently.

"Well, Dis might have taken her. He has rights to every soul, but it would be highly unusual to do so without my knowledge."

"Not if he wanted me back!" Sabnock said angrily and stormed off.

"This isn't good." Soulkeeper mumbled, looking at the little minion hiding behind a small statue.

"No good, master, no good," it echoed, bobbing its head up and down.

*  *  *

Dis was enjoying a few minutes of peace away from his guests. There were moments when even he grew weary of the orgies. Coke in hand, he stood on the balcony looking at the ever-present fires burning throughout the realm. Orange and red flames danced seductively as they flared high into the blue and silver sky. The contrasting colors made the Underworld feel wild and vibrant. He reveled in its beauty and the fact that all of it belonged to him.

Returning to his chamber, he settled in his recliner, closed his eyes and thought about the Child. In time, she was going to cause him a great deal of trouble. She was ambitious and powerful, a potent combination. He would have to make sure his spies kept a close watch on her. It was going to be interesting from now on.

A loud disturbance in the next room caught his attention. Three minions came scurrying in, highly agitated, followed by a tall demoness; one he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Sabnock!" he bellowed, surprised at her bravado.

"Lord Dis," she acknowledged, an old habit too deeply ingrained to forget.

"You didn't announce yourself. Have you forgotten your place?"

"No, I haven't, but perhaps you've forgotten I no longer serve you."

"All demons serve me at my leisure, Sabnock. Releasing you from your obligations may give you some sense of freedom, but don't think it grants you immunity against my wrath, or from conscripting you back into my Legion."

"I'm no longer yours to command or threaten, Dis. You may ask me to serve you, and I will if you do so if the cause is just, but I won't be ordered or intimidated by you or your threats."

"You've grown impudent during your absence. Freedom has spoiled you, but I'll overlook it since you served me well in the past. Don't take it for a weakness, though. Now, what do you want?"

"I'm looking for a soul. Soulkeeper doesn't have her and neither do any of the torturers. You're the only other one capable of retrieving her."

Throwing back his head, Dis laughed so hard it almost hurt. To think that one of his demons dared to intrude on his privacy, and then have the nerve to want what was his, was priceless.

"I have many souls, but what makes you think I would release one of them to you?" he asked and then motioned to his minions to leave them. "Sit, Sabnock. Fortunately for you, you now have me curious. Whose soul is so valuable you would chance my anger to retrieve it?"

"Her name is Constance Loh Rehn."

"A human? You disturb my peace for a human?"

"No. She calls her people Gebians."

"Ah! Them! Worshippers of Isis and Geb."

"You know of them?"

"Of course. They were minor gods," Dis replied, waving his hand dismissively. "They passed a long time ago."

"Passed? Passed where?"

Dis shrugged.

"Who knows? The same place the others went, I suppose. They were never a threat to me so I had no reason to think about them."

"Like the other gods and goddesses who were."

"They disrupted my plans. Don't tell me you've grown a conscience after all this time?"

"I could care less about them. All I want is the soul."

Snapping his fingers, Dis leaned back in his chair. A small deformed minion with tiny horns and dark red skin scurried in, his hooves clicking on the polished floors.

"Grasrak, do we have the soul of a Constance Loh Rehn?"

"No, master. We no have souls now."

"None?" Dis asked, surprised. "Why not?"

"You no choose now. No interest, you say."

"What about the ones we had?"

"All gone... all gone."

"Gone where?"

"Brimstone Abyss," the minion replied, nervously.

"Hmmm. I must be getting a little absent-minded." Dis said, stroking his chin. "Oh well, it's not like there's a shortage. You can go now, Grasrak."

The minion disappeared as quickly as he came.

"Looks like you're going to have to look elsewhere. She's definitely not here."

Sabnock had no choice but to accept his word. Dis was many things, but he would never lie to her. Power was a strong incentive to keep his demons and minions in check, but the Underlord knew the wisdom of keeping them loyal. Lying to them would compromise his authority and ultimately make his job as ruler harder.

"Where else could she be?" she wondered out loud, frustrated.

"Not with my Twin. He would never accept anyone from that race. They would be too deviant for his taste," Dis offered. "Why is this soul so important to you? There are plenty here to choose from."

"That's not your concern," Sabnock snapped.

"Careful, demoness," he warned, his body stiffening angrily. "There is a limit to my patience and my generosity. You come here wanting something that would be mine and then behave in this manner?"

The demoness realized she was pushing her luck. It was true she took her freedom seriously, but she knew that Dis was very capable of imprisoning her if he decided to; besides, he was right. All souls in the Underworld were his.

"You're right, of course. I apologize, my lord."

Nodding, Dis relaxed.

"Good. You haven't forgotten your place."

Sabnock was about to object when he held up his hand.

"Enough. Arguing serves no purpose. I don't have the soul and I know my Twin doesn't. I suggest you look elsewhere, maybe where the lesser gods disappeared to."

"And where is that? You've already said you don't know where they went."

"I don't, but I can think of a good possibility. It's the one place that makes sense: The Great Beyond."

"I thought that was just a concept, something to explain the mystery behind the disappearance of angels and demons."

"It's real, but not easily found. Even I'm not sure where to begin."

"Someone must know."

Feeling her frustration, Dis frowned.

"This soul, it's that important?"

"More than life itself," Sabnock vowed, her voice reflecting a longing he understood but would never reveal.

"You love this Gebian?"

The demoness looked into the chocolate-brown eyes, expecting to see amusement. Instead, she saw curiosity and maybe something more.

"Yes."

Remembering back to a time when the human, Lilith, had been his wife, he nodded his understanding. Even after all this time, she still had a special place in his heart, but it was a weakness he never dared reveal.

"There may be a way, but I can't promise anything."

"I'll be in your debt if you can help me," Sabnock said reluctantly, knowing what he could demand.

"Be careful, Sabnock. I may collect that debt."

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it," she replied stiffly.

"You must love her a great deal. Now go. Grasrak will let you know if I find out anything."

Knowing there was nothing else she could do, Sabnock left.

Maybe I should have said thank you, she thought.

Not even a thank you, Dis thought and then laughed. A good thing, too. I'd hate to think one of my best commanders has grown weak from love. Now I wonder where I can find the Traveler. I'm surprised she hasn't popped in uninvited by now. That's definitely a female trait. Most undesirable.