Page 6 of Mated to Monsters

“It reeks of magic, but there’s something wrong. You must come see.”

Gidresu throws me an irritated glance. “We’re not finished here,” he says, then follows after his guards in a rush.

I can hardly breathe a sigh of relief as a mighty crash of thunder shakes the air again, and I leap to my feet to see what all the fuss is about.

4

GIROTH

There are more demons assembled here in the courtyard of the King’s residence than I have seen in a long time, my preference being to avoid others at all costs and spend my time amongst the hounds. If I am to go to Protheka then I am well prepared—at least I hope that is the case.

“So, what are we up against?” I ask the Soz’garoth who has also been provided to me by Asmodeus. His gaze remains cast down at the pool of dark water, his long white hair dropping over his shoulders as some disappears beneath it.

His silence tells me he has found what was needed, as if that would ever be in doubt. The Soz’garoth are skilled and adept sorcerers, and as this one scries for me, I know I can rest assured that he can help me in this endeavor.

“The area that we have chosen—it is the right place to collect the humans,” he says, his voice a rasp. “They gather together in a settlement and are largely unprotected.”

I place my hands on my hips and nod. “Then this should be quick and easy,” I reply, glad that if I have to undertake this journey then at least I will be back soon enough.

He dips a finger into the water and looks up at me, tipping his head to the side. “Maybe,” he says, his eyes still cloudy but returning slowly to their natural yellow state. “But there are dark elves, around a hundred of them. Some of their finest fighters.”

I bare my pointed teeth at him as he looks up at me, the Soz’garoth noticeably smaller than us Volvath. “They will still be no match for us,” I growl, my previous hope of a quick mission diminishing. All I want is to get this over with and return to the kennels with my hounds.

“Now, now, do not get your horns in a twist, Kennel Boy. I am merely pointing out the fact that while humans may be easy to harvest, there are others that will not be willing to give up them quite as easily as you may like.”

My claws dig into my palms as I ball my hands into fists. “What is it that I need to know about them?” I ask, reluctantly, aware that though I am charged with this mission, I am still of low rank, and only here because of my skill with beasts.

“These ones are powerful,” he rasps, “but I would have to agree with you. Though there is a darkness that runs through their strong bodies and blackened souls, they are no match for us. They have magic, but we have chaos. And chaos always wins.”

The look on his face is dark and triumphant and I can’t help but get swept up in his enthusiasm. The dark elves on Ti’Lith are the lowest of the low—used as slaves. The chaos magic stifles their ability to cast spells, and without them they are weak.

The collars they wear keep them chained to their masters, both in terms of the body and the mind which has been wiped of all knowledge of their former lives. These are the dark elves that I have known, but it seems there are others that have forgotten their place also. Now I look forward to slaying them. It has been a long time since I had the chance to exercise such instincts.

“You have a contingent of fifty here, all ready to do battle for you so that you may please the King and bring back the humans. Are you quite capable, Giroth?”

His words hit me somewhere that feels uncomfortable. Because this is not what I am used to, and hardly what I was made for. There are many who are far more willing when it comes to the battlefield, though I can hold my own.

But I have never sought the glory and honor that many of my kind have coveted. To me this has always been a worthless and thankless task. I am eager to serve, but never had my sights set on such missions, preferring to see to my hounds. It is them that I was made for. They make more sense to me than any other demon, and I am the one able to breed them, tame them, control them.

“Perhaps you can take to ur’gins?” says the Soz’Gorath, as if reading my mind. “They would help with the hunting down and rounding up of the humans. And for protection of course.”

“No,” I reply, firmly. As much as I would like to bring them with me, they are the only companions I have, but they are expendable down there. Losing them is not something I am willing to risk. I would rather not come back than return without one of them.

His head straightens, his wide horns taking up the space around him, though it does little to make our size difference more equal. He and his kind will always be more skilled than the likes of me, but I will always be bigger, stronger.

Though he riles me now, there is unwritten agreement between the Volvath and the sorcerers. They provide the magic; we provide the muscle. That is what will happen when we get down there.

“Very well. It is not as if you will be acting alone,” he says, once again as if he has read my mind. “Take a look around you and prepare to visit the world below. Let us hope that we all return and that the King is pleased with your efforts.”

His words send panic shooting through me, there are not many things that I am fearful of, but Asmodeus would be one of them. Disappointing him, would be another. Whatever happens, I must return with those human females. It is not just our species that may depend on it, but also my life as well.

Turning to the gathering of demons I narrow my eyes and rake them over those that will help me achieve my goal. The King has indeed been generous with his provisions. There are sword-wielding Volvath, jackal-headed Trolvor’s, their teeth already on display as they prepare themselves for battle and, of course, a Gilak, bred for war and hungry for it by the look of this one. He roars as his horns spew fire and beats at his naturally armored chest.

In the corner are the Soz’Gorath, their eyes closed in deep contemplation as they focus on and prepare the chaos. We will surely need them if, as this sorcerer says, the dark elves are able to use their magic against us.

“So, are you ready?” he whispers, the magic in the air beginning to crackle, my skin tingling with the charge.

I take one last look around me, hoping this will not be the last time I see this place. The others, even the Gilak, now become quiet, the eyes of my brethren glowering as they clutch their swords. The arms of the Soz’Gorath stretch out.

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