Abode of the Damned: A Dark Supernatural Fantasy Read Free Page A

blood!
    The scorched fiends, unable to defend themselves,
abandoned their captives and fled toward the mountains, but were
quickly consumed by a fireball from the sky. “It’s Dregan’s army!
Quickly to the carriage!” Clancy called to Cole, scooping up Lucy
in his arms. “They won’t attack us.”
    Cole made it to the carriage and atop, took
hold of the reigns. A flaming fiend fell from the sky and struck
the ground only yards way. Two others entwined in mortal combat
spiraled into Acheron. A great winged black beast torched a half
dozen of Dregan’s faithful in a single breath while fending off a
half dozen more who hacked and pierced the beast with sword and
lance. Clancy and Lucy scrambled atop of the carriage with Cole,
and the battle for all Hell at their backs, they raced for the
Black Mountains.
    * * * * *
    The carriage took Cole, Clancy, and Lucy well into
the Black Mountains, but when the terrain became too steep and
cumbersome, they abandoned it. From there, they climbed slowly and
methodically over the stone and lava rock, edging their way toward
the peak that housed the cave. At times their ascent became
inaccessible and they were forced to inch around the mountain face
until they could ascend once more. Several times they had to
backtrack and search for another route.
    “There!” Cole said as he pulled Lucy up onto the crag
he was standing. The cave was now back in view, about seventy
meters above and to the right of them. A cave which otherwise would
have been nearly undetectable save for the blue-white sheen
emanating from it.
    Clancy followed up onto the crag just as the sky
trembled with two monstrous roars. “Get down” Cole said as he
crouched down, his arms over Lucy. He then peered upward and
watched as two of the black winged beasts flew overhead toward
Pandemonium.
    “They’re gone?” Clancy asked.
    “Yes” Cole answered, rising and again taking Lucy’s
hand – then suddenly dropping to a crouched position once more.
“Wait.”
    A demon had come out of the cave and stood at its
entrance. The thing stood upright and fanned its wings, then with
two powerful steps propelled itself into the sky and took after the
black winged beasts.
    “The sentinel’s gone. We must hurry,” Lucy
exclaimed.
    “Could there be another?” Cole asked, taking the lead
once again.
    “It matters not. There’s nothing left to lose – go!”
Clancy said, giving Lucy a boost ahead of him.
    They moved quickly, there eyes on the golden light
above them. Suddenly - a nose from below.
    Clancy paused and looked beneath him and spotted two
creatures climbing up the face after them – the red exoskeletons
unmistakable. “Rycans” he called out, “hurry.”
    They hastened themselves, scrambling to broaden their
distance from the advancing creatures. Cole reached the ledge at
the cave’s entrance and pulled himself overtop, then quickly spun
round on his belly and reached over for Lucy. Below, white fingers
and cherry hair, but still out of reach.
    Well beneath Lucy, Cole saw Clancy ascending quickly,
frequently turning to gage the rycans’ distance.
    “Take my hand,” Cole said as Lucy approached. And as
she grasped his hand, he heaved her up onto the stony ledge.
    “The portal,” Lucy said as they both stood and looked
back into the cavern. A pool of azure light lay surrounded by a
short barrier of polished granite blocks.
    Just then, Clancy’s right hand reached the lip of the
ledge. “Clancy,” Cole called as he lunged for the ledge and
extended a hand. Clancy’s head emerged.
    “Hurry, they’re right-“ Blood spewed from Clancy’s
mouth in one powerful torrent.
    Lucy grabbed Cole’s hand and pulled him back.
“Quickly, we must-”
    Cole quickly turned and scooped Lucy up and ran
toward the portal. In one quick instant, looking back at the cave’s
entrance, Cole saw a rycan tail extend above Clancy, thrust down
and pierce his skull, and fling his head from his shoulders.
Clancy’s