Underside Chapter 24

When Mitch woke up, he felt something soft under him. He let out a groan as he attempted to sit up, but a hand touched his chest and forced him to stay down.

“Stay there.” John said.

Mitch let the air out. He didn’t know where he was, but knowing John was there, and the quiet, made him more comfortable. He laid back and let relief wash over him. There was a long moment before either of them spoke. Mitch broke the silence.

“Where are we?” Mitch asked.

“We’re in the library.” John said.

“The what?”

“It’s the Library. This is where all the books regarding any living being are found. They’re written at the first sign of life, and it details everything until the day they die.” John said.

“Are these books of fate like mine?”

“Yes.” John said, his voice flat.

Mitch thought this over. He tried again to sit up. This time, John allowed him to. As he got into the sitting position, he looked around the room and felt his breath catch.

The room was at least ten feet tall, and it stretched on further than Mitch could see. Black metal shelves filled every inch of the space, rising all the way to the top of the room. Only a few feet stood between each row of shelving. Mitch stared at this site for a little while before John spoke again.

“I told you, the Library.” He said.

“I guess I didn’t expect that literally.” Mitch said.

John let out a laugh. “That’s fair.”

“Do you work with the Fates?”

John looked down, pondering the question for a while, before deciding on an answer.

“That’s a complicated relationship. We’re extensions of the same entity of sorts. However, I wouldn’t say that I work with them.”

“I…” Mitch started.

“In due time,” John said. “I’ll answer everything you need to know once we’ve put this threat to bed.”

Mitch let the question go before turning to something else. “How’s Alexis?”

“She’ll make it.” John told him.

“Great.” Mitch said. He let out the breath he’d been holding since before asking. “How did you get her out of there?”

“Boba sent out the communication. Stil got back there before I did. When I assessed what was happening, I took the chance to get in and grab her.”

“Ganith let you?” Mitch asked.

“Let is a strong word. It wasn’t without a fight.” John rolled up his sleeve and showed Mitch the massive gash that was running down his arm from the shoulder. Mitch noticed the dark splotches that were shooting down both sides of the wound.

“What is that?” Mitch asked, reaching forward to touch the black spots out of reflex. John withdrew his arm quickly and rolled his sleeve down.

“Ganith wounded me. In the process, he infused the wound with a type of darkness.”

“What’s going to happen?” Mitch asked.

“I don’t know. The rules of the Underside have been broken. All of this has never happened before.”

Mitch thought about the battle that had led him here. “There are still some things that don’t add up.”

“Okay?” John said.

“Those blades that your reapers were using?” Mitch asked.

“Those are called Blades of Light. They’re forged from the essence of angelic grace, and they’re one of the few weapons that can truly kill a demon. It’s why they say only angels can kill demons. Until this whole thing happened, angels were the only one who could wield the blades.”

“Demons could also kill demons you had said.” Mitch reminded him.

“Yes, they used the Blades of Darkness. They are the counter to the light. These blades are forged from the tortured souls of demons and are created by the knights of hell.”

“I can kill them too.” Mitch said, more to himself than anyone else.

“You’re also a unique case. You’ve become part demon, while remaining part human, considering what I’ve seen. It’s safe to say, you’re a rare breed known as a Domigords.”

Mitch felt his eyebrows lift. “Domigords?”

“The union of Demons and Humans. It mostly occurs when a demon gets a human pregnant. Almost no human lives through that birth, and as such, most of the babies also die. However, there is the strange case like yours where a demon and human share a vessel for so long that they intertwine. Especially if the human gets control back like you have.”

“Has that happened before?” Mitch asked.

“It has, but it was lifetimes ago.” John said.

Mitch let this new information hang in the air. He’d studied things in the paranormal most of his life, but everything he knew seemed to be child’s play. His head was throbbing, and he laid his head back against the wall.

“It’s a lot to take in.” John said.

“Yeah.” Mitch said. There was another long moment between them before he moved on.

“How did your reapers get the blades of light?” Mitch asked.

“I called in some favors with some angels I’ve met over the years. They were willing to help. They knew what was at stake and wanted to make sure that things stayed even. We want the same thing, balance.”

“Balance between angels and demons?” Mitch asked.

“Amongst everything. Balance is the only thing that keeps the universes rolling on track. Without it, everything collapses.”

“What’s our next step?”

“We need to figure out where Ganith will strike next, and I need to figure this out.” John said, waving his bad arm. “As far as you and Alexis, you’ll stay here until you get better.”

John got off a chair and walked away.

“When can I see her?” Mitch asked.

“Give it a couple of days. She was in pretty bad shape. They’re working on her, but it will take a little time.” John said. Without another word, he walked away. His footsteps echoing back toward Mitch, who laid his head back on the bed.

It took two days before Mitch could visit Alexis. As he arrived, someone turned to greet him.

“Mr. Benton, I’m glad you’re doing well.” The figure’s voice came out smooth and sweet.

“I am too. Are you her doctor?”

“I’m no doctor Mr. Benton. I’m merely here to monitor Ms. Marie. It’s up to her if she pulls through. I’m also checking her for signs of possession or residual evil energy.”

“Have you seen anything?” Mitch asked.

“We haven’t, which is a good sign.” The figure told him.

“What happens if you find it?”

“We’d have to get rid of the demon, especially if we have any chance of preserving Ms. Marie’s life.”

Mitch thought about the hell that could go on inside her head right now. It made him sick to his stomach.

“Are you okay, Mr. Benton?” He asked.

Mitch shook his head. “I’ll be fine. Can I sit with her for a while?”

“I think that would be fine.” The figure turned and walked out of the room, leaving Mitch alone. He walked over and sat down by the bed, leaning on his elbows.

Mitch sat that way for a while in silence. He reached out and grasped her hand and stared.

“I’m sorry.” Mitch said. “You’re in this mess because of me. Hell, if it hadn’t been for me, you would probably have never even ended up in this business.”

He felt the tears well in his eyes, debated looking around to see if he was still alone, and realized he didn’t care. Mitch let the tears fall out of his eyes and run down his cheek. Once the dam had broken, he couldn’t stop them. The sob built up in his chest, and burst from his mouth. He sat this way for a while, rocking back and forth in the chair. This went on for long enough that Mitch lost track of time. When he got himself under control. He started thinking about his situation and how things had changed. He remembered his father’s death.

At his death, his funeral, none of it caused me to cry. Mitch thought. I saw him today, and I broke. I broke the way I should have back then, but I didn’t. When Alexis was in the hospital the first time, I had no reaction. Now, I’m worried, I’m scared of what could happen, I’m guilty. Emotions, the walls broke and all of my emotions flooded out.

The pieces slid into place and he realized the walls were holding back his emotions all these years. It set in just how ingrained in him the demon was. His soul felt heavy at the realization. He went to stand, but as he went to pull his hand away, Alexis held on. Mitch felt his heart stutter for just a second before he looked at her. She blinked twice before turning her head toward Mitch.

“Where am I?” she asked.

“It’s a long story.” Mitch said. “You’re safe, that’s what matters.”

At that moment, the man returned to the room. As he walked in, he looked between them before settling on.

“Ms. Marie, I’m pleased to see you’re awake. Mr. Benton, if you can give us the room so we can conduct some test.”

Mitch glanced to Alexis, whose face turned to one of sheer terror. He had never seen such a look at her before.

“It’s okay Alexis, you’ll be fine.” Mitch said. He reached down with his other hand and cupped hers, feeling the surge of a spark. Another new emotion that he’d never felt before. This was a ferocious feeling of protection. It came in a fierceness he’d never expected. He leaned down and tenderly grabbed her on both sides of her head.

“You’re okay, I swear.” Mitch told her. He waited for a moment. Her face eased and she let some of the tension out. After a few moments, he let her face go and she laid back on the mattress. Mitch stared at her for just a moment longer before turning and leaving the room.

A reaper had teleported him to Alexis’ room, left him alone to enter, and waited outside. When Mitch left the room, the reaper looked over at him.

“Where to now?” He asked.

“I need to speak with John.” Mitch said.

The reaper nodded, turned, formed a portal, and turned back to Mitch.

“John will be on the other side.”

Mitch turned and walked into the portal, leaving the reaper behind. A second later, he was standing in an office. In front of him was a small desk, John set behind it. He motioned for Mitch to take a seat.

“I take Alexis is awake?” John asked.

“Yeah.” Mitch said.

“That’s good to hear.”

Mitch thought this over. “She won’t be the same, will she?”

“Probably not.” John said.

“She was so scared when I was leaving the room.” Mitch said.

John stood and walked around the desk. He put a hand on Mitch’s shoulder. “She’s going to be fine, especially here. For now, we have to focus on finding Ganith. Him and Tiffany are building an army and the longer we wait, the worse it’s going to get.”

“There’s no way to stop what’s coming, is there?” Mitch asked. A pit opened in his stomach as he said it. There was a pause before John spoke.

“No.” He finally said.

As he stood there, he ran his mind back over the memories that he had experienced. “He wanted to break me down. Why?”

“He never expected you to escape. If he could break you, but not kill you, it allowed him to have you as a puppet. That stuff in your mind was your own personal hell. He never wanted you to escape, but I have a theory.” John said.

“Okay.”

“I think Ganith made the switch at the last minute because he knew you were getting close. He knew the power that you were building and he wasn’t positive that he could contain it. He didn’t want to risk dying before he could complete what he was out to do. By switching places with Okos, he could ensure that he made it out in one piece. In the interim, he also got to test you, to see where you stacked up.”

At that moment, the door burst open. Mitch snapped his head and saw Boba and Stil carrying a battered and bloodied corpse with them. They tossed the corpse to the floor, where it laughed. It stopped and then looked over at John.

“Reaper.” The thing said, spitting the word onto the floor.

“Stand him up.” John told them. Boba and Stil reached down and hauled the demon up to his feet. When it stood, it looked eye to eye with John. Mitch saw the ink-colored darkness swallow almost everything around the demon, and its eyes peered out almost through John. John reached into his coat and pulled out a blade and played with it in his palm.

“You’re going to answer a few things for us?” John said flatly.

The demon laughed again. “You think so.”

John slid the blade across the demon’s chest. The thing let out a scream that reverberated around the room. A bright light shone out of the slit for a moment before the black goo leaked onto the floor.

“As a matter of fact, I do. You either communicate, and I’ll kill you quickly. Or, you can decide not to talk and I’ll carve you up. I’ll take my time and I’ll enjoy every moment.”

Mitch watched the exchange and couldn’t stop the involuntary shiver that washed over him as John spoke. He felt the power in the words. More than the power, though, Mitch felt the intent, and that scared him.

“Do either.” The demon said. “When I’m gone, there will be more to take my place. Ganith is close to ascending as the king, and there’s nothing you can do to stop him.”

“King?” Mitch asked.

The demon laughed. “You know nothing of what’s coming.”

John slid in and drove the blade to the hilt into the demon’s chest. The black goo rushed out before being replaced by a brilliant light. The light faded out, leaving them in the dark. Mitch turned his attention to John.

“What was he talking about?”

“Come with me,” John said, turning the blade, now covered in the black blood of the demon in his hands. “We’re going to find Ganith, and I’ll explain everything else.”