Caged by Damnation (Caged #2)(77)

I chimed in. "They were showing me some moves. I wanted to learn. The falling was my own fault."

The Hellhounds nodded in agreement and Aria backed Rafe's comment with one of her own. "It's okay. We asked for their help."

"In the meantime, we have civilians upstairs, who could be attacked anytime now. From now on, if you want to mess around down here, some have to remain on duty."

Aria looked as if Hell were brandishing a sword through her chest, straining to decapitate Nicolai for his demeaning words. "Of course. Willow and Kali can stay down here. The rest of us will be upstairs, protecting the charges." She nodded and walked from the room with the rest of the pack following.

Nicolai addressed his brothers. "Wolfe, you can stay down here to help out. The rest of you get upstairs, now."

The Draconians filed out of the room. Staying back, Aidan nudged my shoulder. "It was a good fight. You have raw potential." He smiled, skipped in reverse, and left with the rest of the Draconians.

Wolfe and Kali remained with pained expressions.

Grabbing a sword from a shelf, Wolfe handed it to me. It was heavier than it looked. "Wow, you really don't know how to fight at all, do you? Don't worry, I'll fix that."

Wolfe and Kali put me through the ringer, causing aches and pains in areas I didn't think could hurt. I thought becoming a Hellhound would change me into a lethal amazon, but I was the same old klutzy Willow I had always been.

I was sure that Scrye had been mistaken when she said that my true name was Fury, because it implies skills and emotions that I did not possess. Wimp, clumsy, or inept were more fitting true names for me. I would have to ask Scrye to look again.

Rounding the last stretch of tunnels, I ran directly into Liam and instinctively slammed my fist into his nose. The action was a matter of reflex after training to do just that. I had been so deep in thought that I had begun to walk on autopilot.

"What the hell was that for?" Liam bent back, holding his bleeding nose. His voice was garbled, but I detected anger in it. He was already showing signs of bruising around both of his eyes.

"Sorry!" I reached out to prod the area, wanting to know if I broke anything, but he quickly moved away from my touch.

"Don't touch me." In a gentler voice, Liam said, "I guess you really are turning into a Hellhound, if you've resorted to punching first and asking questions later." He smiled, putting me at ease.

"Nope, still the same Willow. I must be the worst Hellhound ever, and that's saying a lot since they are immortal. I don't feel all that different." Nodding to his nose, I said, "The punch was a reflex since I was just training with Wolfe and Kali."

Liam snorted. "Ow, damn! That was my fault." As if I would think any differently when I hadn't moved a muscle. He held his sleeve his nose and tipped it back. "It's just the idea of a Hellhound and a Draconian teaching you together is a little volatile... especially if that Hellhound is Vixen."

It felt weird to be talking one-on-one with Liam. I never knew how to act around him. Technically he had dated Savannah, but since he was possessed throughout the entire ordeal, was it really dating? Then there was the whole factor that his mother had originally put him up to it to lure Savannah away from us. He was originally worst enemies with Ash since they both wanted the same girl, but were now best friends. Under normal circumstances, I would avoid him, but seeing as this wasn't the usual routine, I didn't have much choice.

"I think they're putting their personal feelings aside for now... wait, you know her true name? How?" I had been under the impression that our Hellhound names were sacred. I hadn't even told Savannah or Izzy. It threw me off, knowing that Liam knew Kali's. Why did he?

"Kali and I have an... um, complicated relationship. She trusts me." Then he dismissed the topic, as though carrying sensitive knowledge was the norm. "Anyways, you can't be that bad, as a Hellhound. Besides, the way I understand it, it should take you a while to tap into your real power." He shrugged. "Just give it time."

"I don't feel like I have time..." I grumbled, thinking of the approaching danger. Liam and I stood in awkward silence before parting in opposite directions.

I thought of my new life, changes, and surprisingly, of Death. My domain tender embrace became a succubus, caressing my will and feeding off of it. The sense grew until I was devoid of me. A wail burst forth from my lungs, searing and gnawing away at my core. It was as though someone was pouring bleach down my airway. The burning liquid built, expanded and finally, lingered in my womb. The pain collapsed, removing itself and I birthed a bright red orb, the size of a basketball.

As a mother, I looked upon my energy child, as it matured, spreading to the size of a full-grown man and creating a vortex. Too soon, my young was fully grown, beckoning me to walk with it through ages and dimensions. Eventually we would part, as I reached the Hellhounds’ lair and my child, now an old man, was ready to pass on.

This child was not human, but a specter of life with an expiration date. It had limited purpose and now that it had served its part. It was ready to be extinguished once it had fulfilled its final purpose as my escort into the Hellhounds lair. I let the cord between us be severed, aching with the absence, and came through the other side of the threshold.

I quickly checked on Nyx, making certain that she was comfortable and well fed. The reason behind my unintentional visit done, I lingered, drawn to the common room. I wasn't anxious to enter reality and the precarious cliff that the lives of my loved ones stood on.