The Deceiver's Path - Chapter 141 - The Symbol of Infernus (Patreon)

Piper drifted through a vast expanse of stars as a dragon with glowing red eyes and a spiky mane pursued her endlessly. She tried to lose it by darting around a fiery sun, only to watch with growing horror as it drew ever closer. Just when she thought the dragon would claim her, a tear opened in the void's fabric and swallowed her whole.

Her momentum hurled her through the portal and slammed her into a patch of scorched mud. She lay there for a moment, the air knocked from her lungs. Finally, she drew a ragged breath and rolled onto her side.

As she moved, every part of her body screamed with pain. She fought down the urge to cry out as agony assailed her limbs, seeping down to her very bones. She barely had the strength to turn her head to the side at the sound of rustling robes.

As she looked over, a pair of feet hovering slightly above the mud greeted her. When she glanced up, she saw the familiar face of her demonic guide, Astaroth.

“How disappointing,” the eyeless demon said, the stretched skin around his mouth tightening. “Have you died already?”

“What?” Piper exclaimed before wincing in pain. “I didn’t die.”

Astaroth extended a single bony finger in her direction, and his brow rose slightly. “Suprisingly enough, you are correct. However, your soul drifts on the very edge of eternity. What has happened to you?”

With a supreme effort, Piper pushed herself into a sitting position. The pain intensified until she nearly cried out. But she wouldn’t show any weakness in front of Astaroth. That would only incur even more ridicule.

“I… don’t know,” she muttered. Her thoughts returned to the meal and the sudden pain in her chest. She vaguely remembered the sounds of the others falling and then the darkness claiming her. Had she been poisoned?

“How unsurprising,” Astaroth said drolly. “The human has no clue why she hovers on the edge of life and death. Perhaps you were fighting something powerful, and you are currently being digested in its stomach?”

“I’m pretty sure I would remember being eaten,” she said with sarcasm dripping from her words. “I think I was poisoned.”

Astaroth shook his head. “No poison on its own can bring a demon low. While it’s understandable that someone as uneducated as yourself would believe such a thing, the truth must lie in the realm of magic.”

“Magic?”

“Yes. There are certain magical compounds that can increase the potency of poisons. Even the simplest of demons know of such things.”

Staggering to her feet, she shielded her eyes from the two blazing suns overhead. “I see that we’re back to you insulting me.”

Astaroth’s bloodless lips twitched up into a slight smile. “Does this not feel like a more natural interaction between us?”

Piper shrugged in reply and immediately regretted the gesture. The movement sent excruciating pain shooting down her spine. She leaned forward, taking deep breaths to steady herself until the waves of agony receded slightly. Nothing had ever hurt as much as what she was experiencing right now. Not even being burned by the ooze had come close to this level of pain.

Turning to peer at Astaroth, she bluntly asked, “Am I going to die?”

“Unlikely,” he replied. “Should this have been a true emergency, then I imagine that Malkazar would have made an appearance to apply his impressive skills to the situation. However, those tasked with protecting you will be severely punished.”

“Wait, don’t punish anyone,” she said quickly, thinking of Selene. “This wasn’t their fault.”

“Does your tiny human brain not comprehend the gravity of the situation? At this moment, your soul teeters between the Mortal and the Infernal Realm. The lightest of pushes from your enemies is all it would take to end the hope that we have placed in you.”

“It’s that bad?”

Astaroth nodded.

“Who the heck would want to poison me?” she murmured to herself. Wasn’t it bad enough that she’d had to deal with slavers and a wyvern on the same day? She had to get poisoned as well?

I seriously have the worst luck.

“I must admit that we are all disappointed in you,” Astaroth said, turning to gaze across the sun-blasted plain. “To squander a year and a half indulging in petty mortal concerns is far beneath someone of your station.”

“I had a hard time in Kalmyros,” she said defensively. “And the training has helped me a lot.”

“What would have helped you more would have been increasing your power. Many will seek your downfall in the coming years. If you cannot stand against them, then all will be lost.”

The memory of a similar disappointed voice in her mind returned unbidden. “Do I have a sister?”

“Who told you such a thing?” Astaroth asked sharply.

“I… sort of have a voice in my head.”

“When did this begin?” Astaroth floated over to her, his voice rising slightly. “Tell me everything.”

“I’m not really sure when it began. I think it started in Kalmyros. At first, I thought it was just my demon side. But last time it spoke about my half-sister slaying its followers like fatted calves. Does that make any sense to you?”

“The Fallen One,” Astaroth snarled. He raised his hand, and darkness wreathed his fingers. The magic coalesced into a ball before shooting out and splashing against her chest.

She stumbled back and desperately tried to pat out the shadowy flames with her hands. But after a second, she realized that the flames weren’t consuming her clothing. Instead, they formed around the pendant hanging from her neck.

“Why do you carry the symbol of Infernus on you?” Astaroth demanded.

“It was a gift from Ethel.” She continued to watch the flames as they writhed on her shirt. “Why?”

“There is a powerful enchantment on the medallion to hide it from our sight. The only thing more dangerous than saying the Fallen One’s name is to wear his symbol. Based on your origin in the Bloodveil Empire, I should have inquired if you carried anything from their cursed god.”

“I thought Infernus was a good guy?”

“Do not say his name!” Astaroth thundered. As he spoke, the light from the twin suns dimmed, and a heavy presence descended around them like a leaden cloak. “We must depart immediately. Toss the medallion away and destroy it the moment you return to the mortal realm.”

Reaching down to clasp the bronze medallion, she shook her head. “This was a gift from Ethel. I’m not going to throw it away until you explain why.”

“Not here,” Astaroth replied stiffly. “We must depart from this place immediately.”

The thought of moving filled her with dread, but around them, the sun continued to dim. Something was coming, and she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like it when it arrived. She pushed down the pain and lurched after the floating demon.

After only a few steps, the world again lightened, and the oppressive sensation hanging in the air eased slightly. As she continued onward, the aura faded completely, and she kept her gaze focused on the slumbering dragon in the distance. Each step brought with it searing agony, but anything that made the bony demon worried must be bad.

Nearly an hour had passed before Astaroth finally slowed. Turning to face her, his face softened as he saw the state she was in. “I apologize for forcing you to endure more discomfort. Had I the ability to soothe your pain, I would do so. Now, please discard your medallion.”

Piper reached down the front of her dress and pulled out the medallion to examine it. The flaming symbol of Infernus didn’t seem overly ominous to her. However, she doubted that her demonic guide had any reason to lie to her about this. For all his failings, he seemed to have genuine concern for her well-being.

Hesitating for a moment, she finally reared back and threw the medallion with all her strength. It landed on the ground a short distance away, sending up a puff of dust from the cracked mud. She felt a deep sense of loss at discarding the only gift she had from her adoptive mother.

Spinning around to face Astaroth, she glowered at him. “Now tell me why I had to do that.”

Astaroth sighed before continuing. “The act of granting you a legendary class has left Elaraxa greatly weakened. Until now, it was likely that she was protecting you from the Fallen One’s influence. The medallion pressed against your skin grants him a conduit into your soul. Should you wear it long enough, he may even take control of you. At the very least, you would be warped into something unrecognizable to your old self.”

A chill passed up her spine as she thought back to the voice pushing her to commit terrible acts in Kalmyros. What would have happened to her if she’d given in to the voice? Would she have become twisted and evil, like a demon?

“None of this makes any sense. Everyone worships Infer… I mean the Fallen One back in The Bloodveil Empire.”

“Do you mean the empire where vampires feed on humans? Surely their god must be good and just.”

Piper’s mouth twisted into a frown. “You don’t have to say it that way. So, who’s the Fallen One then?”

Astaroth tilted his head to the side as though considering her words. Finally, he exhaled and crossed his arms. “Such things are normally not spoken of here. However, your lack of knowledge is becoming deleterious to your survival.”

“What does deleterious even mean?”

“Do they not have learning centers in your world?”

“I’m sure they do, but it’s hard to study at one when everyone is trying to kill you.”

After sighing deeply again, Astaroth continued. “Deleterious means something that is causing harm in unexpected ways.”

Piper placed her hands on her hips. “Why not just say that then?

“Because I am not an unlearned pink ape.”

“I know that you stole that from Gorebark.” A slight smile confirmed her suspicions. Were all her demons just hanging out together in the Infernal Realm when they weren’t with her? What else had they told Astaroth and Malkazar?

“I am one of the oldest demons in the realm, preceding even the disastrous events of Thronefall. However, the Fallen One is far older than myself and is from a time when the Dragon Aegis was first forged by Oros, the creator of all things. It is said that after countless eons, the Fallen One became consumed with arrogance and believed he should rule all the realms.”

Piper fought down the urge to interrupt, as everything that her demonic guide was saying raised more questions. Who was Oros and why had no one mentioned him in the past? And the revelation that Astaroth had been present at Thronefall almost made her itch to ask him questions about the event.

The skinny demon gazed into the distance. “A great war in heaven followed, nearly shattering the realms holding back Delphine the Devourer. At that time, your mother, Elaraxa, sought out Oros beyond the Dragon Aegis. No one knows what occurred in that meeting, but when she returned, she possessed power beyond description. It is said that she defeated the Fallen One and cast him out beyond the Dragon Aegis, where he resided in exile until Thronefall.”

“Why the heck do the vampires worship someone so nasty?”

“The Fallen One granted them aid during the Doom in their homeland.” He paused, his face crinkling with worry. “Before long, you will probably have to confront the Doom yourself.”

“Oh, good, something else to worry about.”

Piper felt a tug on her soul. Her eyes widened as she realized she was being called back to the Mortal Realm. But she had so many questions left to ask. She had to learn about Thronefall before she went back to her world.

Astaroth must have noticed the change as well and held up his hand to prevent her from speaking. “I must impart advice before you depart. Give up the life you have chosen and instead head to the Kingdoms in the north or to the Beastmen in the west. Do not linger in the Empire, as powerful forces are currently hunting you. If you heed only a single thing I say to you, then do not cross the mountains. Death awaits you in the Bloodveil Empire.”

She tried to speak, but before a single word could leave her mouth, she was sucked through a shimmering portal. A moment later, she blinked and smacked her lips, a terrible thirst assailing her body. The pain she’d felt in the Infernal Realm intensified until she gasped and clawed at the bedsheets.

“Piper?” Ophelia asked, leaning over the bed. “Piper! You’re awake!”

The villa’s healer bustled over to her bed and looked down, surprise etched into her ancient features. “By the Emperor, you’re alive? How do you feel? And what was your skill that kept scorching my blankets?”

Piper barely heard the woman droning on as she thought about Astaroth’s words. The first thing she needed to do was to bury the medallion somewhere safe. Once she’d done that, she’d have to talk to Ophelia about leaving.

If Astaroth said she shouldn’t linger, then she had to make plans to leave. Even if it meant giving up the wonderful life that she’d been building here.