Abode of the Damned: A Dark Supernatural Fantasy Read Free

may be our portal; it may not. We’ll surely find
out on our next outing, Child,” Clancy said with a reassuring
smile. “As for the light-“
    “Gaaahg!” one fiend screeched from above as
he struck the side of the carriage with a spiked flail.
    * * * * *
    As the molten river of Acheron and the golden palace,
Pandemonium, came into view, a collective wailing rose from the
depths of the valley – the agonizing cries of thousands. Below,
these dammed were bound to stakes row upon row as far as the eye
could see.
    “Jesus,” Cole muttered peering down into the
valley.
    “ What are those things moving
among them?”
    “Rycans, horrible things,” Lucy said, “they devour
the poor souls by day-“
    “By day - every day?”
    “Quite right, Clancy interjected. “They are doomed to
relive the same fate, a ghastly fate at that.”
    “Well, remind me not to get in line for
that,” Cole said shooting Lucy a smirk.
    * * * * *
    At the shore of the river Acheron, the charred
demi-demons pulled their captives from the carriage and forced them
to their knees, facing the golden fortress. There, they awaited the
ferry.
    Pandemonium stood far from shore, surrounded on all
sides by the slow orange-black current of Acheron. Domed and
gleaming amber towers stood at three corners of the original
stronghold; a great rectangular edifice with a flat fortified roof
deck loomed over the fourth. Between these towers laid thick walls
ornamented with the likenesses of the celebrated champions of Hell.
Situated behind these walls, massive in circumference, was a domed
building. An opulent and spacious balcony wrapped around its upper
level, which showcased immense columns. Later additions of towers
and other structures - a magnificent fusion of architectural styles
- adjoined the golden walls on three sides via bridged passageways.
On the fourth side of Pandemonium, that which Cole and his
companions now looked upon, three gated tunnel entrances lay
beneath the wall accessing the molten river. Over the centre
tunnel, a lesser peaked structure stood and extended outward,
flying the banners of Hell. And there, before Pandenomium itself
and arising from the depths of Acheron, was the golden likeness of
the patriarch of all Hell. Held in its outstretched arm was the
captured sword of the archangel, Michael.
    Cole could see some activity: creatures above the
palace, moving against the crimson sky, flying to and from this
tower and that building, while others walked the terraces and
causeways as if human.
    “Our host’s residence,” Clancy said, “ever
transforming.”
    “Nice – a little showy, but–“ a blow thundered down
on Cole, collapsing his chest to the ground.
    Spitting dry dirt from his mouth and not returning to
his knees too soon, Cole watched as the gate to the middle tunnel
slowly rose and as the ferry emerged from the demonic fortress.
Lucy and Clancy took notice as well and exchanged a look of
foreboding, the elation of spotting the cave now evaporated in the
face of agonizing sentence.
    Cole cautiously surveyed the scorched creatures
towering behind him: wiry, slick and black. With each hiss of
expiration, their mouths opened, lips curled back, exposing their
tiny sharp teeth. Their luminescent eyes fixed on Pandemonium and
the approaching ferry. The flail twirled by the side of one
fiend.
    “Clancy,” Cole said under her breath, “where
will-“
    Suddenly, from above, a high pitched resonance
flooded the atmosphere as a purple vortex formed in the gory
sky.
    The fiends were immediately unnerved - the demonic
horses startled. The vortex quickly grew. Then, a blinding flash of
white light and a swarm of thousands of demons poured out of the
vortex and descended upon the golden fortress. A fireball struck
the ferry as Pandemonium’s inhabitants took to the sky to meet
their attackers. Two monstrous roars ripped into the sky as several
black winged beasts approached to join the battle – the sky ablaze
in fire and