The Zodiac Books 1-3: An Urban Fantasy Boxed Set by Paul Sating

Author:Paul Sating [Sating, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paul Sating Productions
Published: 2021-01-20T22:00:00+00:00

15 - Underworld, Eighth Circle

"We don't have kings in the Underworld," Bilba said, his face as readable as a public Luciferitarian proclamation by the Circle Squire. It was an expression that said he was getting into something he wanted no part of playing. And I knew why.

Bilba was still thinking about the woman who might be his mother. And if Taurus was as powerful as Marijon made him sound, if he was willing to kidnap and assault demons to discourage and manipulate them, we were not the ones in control of the situation.

Seraph wasn't helping. With each admission and description from Marijon, the Founder's frustration grew, like the younger succubus's involvement was an irritant.

"We do here," Marijon answered Bilba before looking at Seraph from the corner of her eye. "The Council's reach might make it to the Eighth Circle, but there are shadows everywhere where they can't touch us. You don't know what it's like, you couldn't if you don't live here. Here, demons live on-edge. Walk around the neighborhoods and pay attention and you'll see. When you're from the Eighth, you learn early to fight to survive. While implings in your Circle might be taught to add or read, ours are taught life skills like how to snatch purses undetected, how to pick locks, and how to mutate their Abilities. That's our reality."

"We get it, your streets are tough," Ralrek said. "But, come on, your fighters aren't. Look at those bodyguards at Taurus's fortress. We subdued them in minutes. It wasn't even a fight." He finished with a cocky laugh, the type used to cover up insecurities.

"We only did because Marijon knocked two out of the fight right away with her, her ice thing," I countered.

"Water magic," Marijon said.

"But that was ice."

She shrugged as if the topic wasn't interesting to her in the least. Reminding myself that she was sore, groggy, and likely still traumatized, I figured talking about her Abilities was one of the last things she wanted to do at the moment. After all, I had not just eaten a meat fist, so I had no place to set her priorities. We could pursue her interesting new—to me—Abilities after we took care of this problem.

"I've got a couple variations on spells," Marijon said, a steeliness returning to her words. "In the Eighth, demons will catch on to your tricks if you don't. Our kind take advantage of anyone who doesn't learn and evolve, because if we don't, they will do the same to us. If they don't know what might come next, you have the advantage. And we need any and all advantages we can get if we want to make it another day."

"I'm sorry this happened to you," I said. "I'm sorry I asked you to be involved. If I had just kept my mouth shut, you wouldn't have gotten wrapped up in this. His guys wouldn't have hurt you, and you wouldn't have gotten wrapped up in Lucifer knows what will follow." I stopped, thinking about the ramifications for the long-term.

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