To Hell and Back Again Ch. 05

"I... remember food."

He made an effort not to wince at the plaintive tone of loss in her voice. "That's an... interesting response. Do you not eat? Out there?"

"The dead do not eat."

"I see." Logan nodded. "Good to know. Well, there is more than enough for two. If you want."

"Why am I here? What do you want?"

Tension thrummed in her voice. Logan feared she might bolt for the exit at any moment. He pointed at the meat, cooking on a spit and dripping sizzling fat into the flames. "My name is Logan, and I want to eat dinner. Would you like to come sit by the fire and join me?"

She looked around, peering into the shadows. "There was someone else. I remember..." A hand drifted up to brush against her breast. The gesture seemed to startle her.

"That would be Beauty." He replied as casually as possible. "She's out hunting. I think. It's kind of her form of aerobics."

"A demon." Her tone could have been a statement or accusation.

"Yep." He nodded and turned the spit over the flames. "That too."

"She is your Master?"

Logan found it interesting that Karen framed the question as if it were almost a foregone conclusion. The implications chilled him to the bone. He looked her in the eye. "No, Karen. Beauty is my... she is a friend. I call no one Master. Never have. Never will."

"I don't understand," she muttered.

"That makes two of us." Logan sighed. "But I want to understand, and I'm really hoping you can help me do that." Logan smiled at her to lighten the mood. "But not on an empty stomach."

Logan heard the sound of slow, uncertain footsteps approaching. By the time he had the meat off the spit and cooling on a rock, she had come close enough to stand in his peripheral vision. He pretended as if he was unaware of her presence, afraid to move too swiftly and accidentally startle her into flight.

One small step at a time, she drew closer, drawn to the warmth and light of the fire. Logan cut a bit of meat off, placed it on a smaller rock, and set it off to one side before tucking into his meal. Eventually, she mustered the courage to sit by the fire. It was longer still before she reached for the food.

Karen held the small strip of meat as if struggling to remember what to do with it. She sniffed at it, then took a small bite. As she chewed, her lips trembled, and a tear spilled from her eye, as if it were the finest cut of steak and not half-burnt bristle pig.

"This is meat." She whispered.

"It is, yes." Logan nodded, but inside he fought to keep the astonishment off of his face at her over-the-top reaction to food. Did she not even remember the taste of food? What kind of horrid zombie condition had she been suffering before now?

"I remember this now." Karen offered a faint smile of gratitude and took another small bite, slowly savoring each greasy morsel.

They ate in peaceful silence for a time. After a time, Logan could feel her eyes on him. He looked up at the confusion casting a shadow across her pretty features and dark, liquid eyes.

"You look like you want to ask a question," he prodded ever so gently. "It's OK. Ask away."

Karen chewed at her lower lip, obviously struggling to summon the courage to speak up. "I don't understand at all. The Succubus you call Beauty... she fucked me, yet did not feed. You look human and wear the clothes of the Masters, but have declared that you are free. Instead, you claim friendship... to a demon. You have carried me to this place but have not had your way with me yet. You only show me kindness. Why?"

"That is... a lot to unpack." Logan admitted. "Just for the record, when you say "Masters," I assume you are talking about demons in general and not some specific niche group, yeah?"

To his surprise, she shook her head. "Not exactly. The Masters are older, more powerful, and far more dangerous. Some call them Elder demons. I have heard that they do not simply feed on the damned. They capture and enslave. We want nothing to do with their kind."

"So, the big demon we saved you from, he was a master, an Elder demon?"

"No." Karen pointed at the striking snake design stamped into the leather shoulder guard Logan had taken for his use. "But he served one. That is the emblem of a Master. Wearing it marks you as his or her servant."

He touched the snake design on his shoulder. "Interesting. Probably some kind of military rank or mark of fealty." Logan shrugged. "Well, it's mine now. Spoils of war and finder's keepers. He wasn't the first. Beauty and I have terminated three so far, including the big bastard that attacked you."

"That's not possible." She looked at Logan as if he had suddenly begun to speak in a foreign language.

"Of course it's possible." Logan paused to gather his thoughts. "Karen, do humans not fight back? Resist the demons... er, the Masters?"

"No."

Logan could hear the deeper truth ringing in that one word answer like a bell. He might as well have asked, "Can the humans not grow wings out of their butts and fly around upside down?" In her mind, it would have been no more ridiculous a question.

"Karen..." Logan thought carefully about how to phrase his next words. "Do you know where you are? What this place is, outside of this cavern, I mean?"

She nodded and stared at her food. "Hell." She whispered. "This is Hell, and we are damned."

There it was. The soldier in him understood and despaired. Resistance required more than just weapons and courage. More than anything, it required hope to make it a struggle worth fighting. In Karen's graceful, Asian eyes, Logan saw none.

He sighed, poked at the fire, and stared into the dancing flames. "I hate this miserable, fucking place."

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing." He pretended to smile. "More meat?"

A companionable silence settled between them. The crackle and pop of the flames was the only sound until the soft tread of feet drew Logan's attention. Beauty stepped into the cave and the radiance of the flames, holding a fat little bristle pig slung over one shoulder. Her cat eyes glowed like golden lanterns in the firelight. Dancing shadows highlighted her taut muscles and generous curves.

Logan thought she looked like an amazon, fierce and beautiful. Karen had an entirely different reaction. She stared at the Succubus, wide-eyed and frozen with fear.

"Karen, it's OK." Carefully, he rose to his feet and stepped toward the frightened woman. "As I said, Beauty is a friend. No one is going to hurt you."

She offered no response. Karen did not indicate being aware of anything or anyone except Beauty. Logan moved over to her side. "Karen, look at me. Look at me."

The tendons in her neck stood out like steel cables as her head twitched and slowly turned to see him. Karen's eyes were wild. Yet, her nipples had grown taught. Logan caught the faint scent of her arousal on the air.

Even now, fear and lust battled for supremacy in the poor woman. Perhaps it was the lingering effects of the demon venom that caused such a reaction. Then again, maybe it was just in the air of this twisted, terrible realm.

"Karen, this is Beauty. She saved you. Don't you remember?"

The woman's eyes moved back to the Succubus, standing at the entrance to the cave. Beauty watched the exchange with a tilt of her snow-crested head.

"I don't... I can't..."

"Karen." Logan tried speaking on a soothing voice. "You're safe. She won't hurt you. Swear to God."

An angry shriek nearly made Logan jump out of his skin. It had not been Karen. Logan turned to see Beauty looking at him with a shocked expression. Then, in response to the demon's sudden outburst and already on the ragged edge of panic, Karen screamed and fled toward the back of the cavern.

"No, Logan." The Succubus violently shook her head. "No! Weird!"

"What the hell..." He looked back and forth in complete bafflement from one female to the other. One was glaring at him and the other vanishing into darkness in mindless terror. "...just happened?"

Beauty looked angry. "Not say that word, Logan. Weird!"

"What word?" He could almost hear the click as pieces fell into place. "Oh." He said. "Oh!" Logan leaped to his feet and walked over to Beauty. "So, that's what passes for foul language down here? I'm sorry. I didn't know. OK, no more references to the big G upstairs, I promise."

"Weird, Logan." Beauty chastised in a gentler voice.

"Got it." He scowled, pinched the bridge of his nose against the first dull throb of a headache, and looked around for Karen. "Now it seems that I need to go convince our guest that you are not going to eat her. Be right back."

Logan fished a stick from the fire and coaxed it to life as a torch to light his way. The back of the cavern continued beyond the large chamber they called home, twisting and tunneling deeper into the earth. Once again, he considered exploring further, but, as always, there were more important things to be done.

Navigating around twists of rock and tall stalagmites, he found Karen curled up in an alcove, shivering with fright, and wide-eyed. Eventually, time and gentle words coaxed her back into the firelight until he finally had the demon girl and the human woman facing each other across the fire pit. Logan stood between them, swallowing his frustration and reminding himself to suck it up and handle it. That this was all his bright idea and, thus, his responsibility.

He walked over, slid his arm around Beauty's waist in a gesture of solidarity, and tried not to think too much on how awkward it now felt to touch her. When he spoke, Logan's tone was kind but firm. "One more time, this is Beauty. Yes, she is a demon. She also saved you from a bad end. Feel free to say thank you."

"Thank you?" Karen gasped.

"Your welcome." Logan shot back. "See? All best buds now."

The two females looked at each other. Somehow, Logan didn't think they agreed with his assessment of the situation. This is going to be a long night. He thought.

*****

"Now, let's all just sit down, talk like civilized people, and figure out our next steps. Karen, I still have questions. I hope you will have some answers."

So saying, Logan took a seat on a rock he had rolled over to the fire as an impromptu chair. Beauty did the same, settling into her accustomed place on their moss bed by the fire. Both of them pretended that there was not an awkward silence still hanging between them. Reluctantly, Karen shuffled over and lowered her bum to an outcropping of rock.

"I'm so confused." She mumbled.

"Then, you are in good company," Logan replied. "Because I have been in a constant state of confusion since waking up in this nightmare. Maybe together we can clear some of that up."

Karen nodded. "I'll try."

"Good." He smiled. "That's all we can expect. What do you remember of your life from... before all of this?"

"Just bits and pieces." She shrugged. "I remember a tree that makes me feel safe. The smell of grass. A child's toy for riding on. Green with yellow stripes and two wheels."

"Sounds like a bicycle." He replied.

"Bicycle!" Karen smiled. "Yes, that's it."

Logan nodded. "Interesting. Something very similar happened to me. It would seem that crossing over from the land of the living comes with a free memory wipe. The good news is that I remember more every day. I suspect you probably will as well. Alright then. Let's talk about the present situation. What can you tell me about Hell itself? It's inhabitants? The geography? Cities or towns? I know almost nothing, so anything helps."

Karen stared into the fire and shrugged. "I have heard rumors. Two cities, both enormous, vile nests where the Masters live in luxury and slaves service their every depraved desire. The nearest is called Gomorrah; only a few days travel from here."

"Ah." He replied. "Let me guess. The other city must be Sodom."

"Yes. How did you know?"

"Lucky guess. How very Biblical."

"It is said that male slaves are sent to Sodom. Gomorrah trades in female souls. Or so I have heard."

"That sounds about right," Logan said. "That was what you thought we were doing to you, yes? Capturing you to be a slave?"

Karen nodded. "I met another soul once who claimed to have escaped from Gomorrah. He said he was captured and sold to a Master as a sex slave. He also said..." Karen huddled into herself and rubbed at her arms as if suddenly chilled. "He said that he was one of the lucky ones. That there was a worse fate than slavery."

"What does that mean?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I don't know."

"No worries." Logan smiled gently. "Believe it or not, you have been very helpful. I'm just sorry you have had to suffer so much pain."

"Our fate is to suffer for our sins." Karen sighed.

A hot, surge of primal fury took his breath away."I am disinclined to acquiesce to that request."

"I don't understand."

Logan offered a grim smile. "It means the "Masters" can fuck right off."

Karen looked at him as if seeing Logan for the first time. "Who are you?"

He shook his head. "No one of consequence."

"I don't believe that." She looked him up and down, especially at the weapons and armor he wore. "You are as strong as one of them. Strong enough to fight them and win. Yet, you know almost nothing of the world outside this cave. How is that possible?"

"I honestly do not know." He replied. "That is just one of the things I hope you can help me understand... eventually. For now, let's talk about something else."

"Alright." She sighed. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You," Logan answered. "Karen, I need your help. There is so much I need to know. About Hell. About the human souls trapped here and about the Masters ruling over them. Can you explain these things to me?"

She nodded. "I can try."

"Atta girl." Logan winked.

"Although I'm not sure where to even begin." Karen frowned.

He settled back against the wall, laced his fingers together, and crossed his ankles. "Let's start with something you said earlier. You made a curious comment about the Masters. You said, "We want nothing to do with their kind." instead of saying, "We want nothing to do with demons of any kind." Why did you make that distinction? It almost sounded like there are some demons you don't try to avoid. Am I mistaken?"

Karen gave him an odd look. "Have you never tried to pet the Hell Hound?"

Logan blinked at her in surprise. "I... no. Explain it to me like I have no idea what you are talking about, please."

"You ask the strangest questions!" Karen shook her head, clearly baffled by the topic. "Alright, then. The sexual hunger all damned souls feel, it never ends, as you well know. That hunger can drive you crazy. Most, not you apparently, but most of us eventually become desperate enough to seek relief, however, and wherever we can find it."

"Demons?" Logan asked.

Karen nodded. "Young ones." She gestured at Beauty. "Like her. Yes, they feed on us but, if we are lucky, they don't take too much.

"Wait." Logan held a hand up. "Didn't you say that being fed on was agony?"

"Yes, and no." Karen shrugged. "It is an agony of intense pleasure. So intense, it hurts, but still better than the alternative, such as if an Elder demon catches you. Like the one you saved me from."

"What is worse than excruciating agony?" Logan asked.

"Pain eventually ends," Karen replied. "Enslavement is forever. That is why we damned souls called it "petting the Hell Hound" because it is an act of desperation, a great risk, and sometimes the Hound bites."

*****

Logan lay on the moss, in the silence, and watched the shadows creep in as the fire continued to flicker and die. Even the ever-present Hellwind had ceased to moan and scratch at the rock outside. The cluster of crystals was a steady, orange glow against the back cavern wall. Karen slept awkwardly on the far side of the fire, on the unyielding ground, with her back to him. A small pile of animal hides to rest her head on had been the only comfort he could offer.

Beauty was curled up almost in her accustomed place, on her side with her back to him. They did not spoon, did not touch as they normally would. Only a few scant inches between them, but it felt much farther.

Perhaps she slept; perhaps she merely lay still. Like so many things where the Succubus was concerned, he could not know for certain. Despite the luscious curves of her naked body, it had never been more clear that she was not human. To judge her by human standards had been a painful mistake that he did not intend to repeat. What that meant in practical terms remained to be seen. The current status of their relationship remained... undetermined.

That would have to be addressed, and sooner rather than later. He could not afford to alienate his only ally. Now that Karen's recovery seemed well underway, Logan had to find a way to set things right with the Succubus. How he was going to do that also remained a mystery.

Like his future.

Be careful what you wish for. He quoted. You just might get it. It was a thought that tasted of bitter irony, one that circled in his brain like a vulture over fresh roadkill, ugly and persistent.

He had wanted to understand Beauty better. He had wanted answers from Karen. Now Logan had both.

Goddammit. He thought.

Long after the conversation was over, Karen's words still haunted his every thought. The picture she had painted of life in Hell was all he feared and more. Human souls, wandering naked and helpless across a nightmare landscape. Sometimes in small tribes but more often alone because large numbers drew unwanted attention. Tortured by their own unending, insatiable sexual hunger. Aching for a release that could only bring greater suffering. Endlessly hunted by demonic overlords, for sport, or profit, or just for amusement.

All his life, Hell had been nothing more than a children's cautionary tale. Be good, or you will go to Hell. Even experiencing it first hand had not revealed the sublime horror of what it truly meant to be a damned soul, forever trapped, forever suffering. And for what? Was this part of some grand plan from a cosmic being that he didn't even believe was real?

It made no sense! An eternity of pain, prison without hope of parole, for the sin of being human? A starving person steals a loaf of bread and gets to pay penance until the end of time? How was that fair? How in the fuck was that a plan, divine or otherwise?

The very idea was twisted and sadistic. It was wrong. It was evil, and he wanted no part of it.

Not my god. Not my afterlife. I don't belong here.

Logan went very still as an idea took root in his mind. A seemingly impossible idea but under the circumstances...

Queen Maeve put me here. She claimed she could take me back out again if I just called her name. That means there is a way out. It can be done. I can find a way out!

To escape Hell itself. How such a thing could be accomplished, he could not begin to imagine. It didn't matter. He had to try. Find a way out or die trying. Either option was preferable to where he was now.

Even a desperate plan was better than no plan at all. For the first time since descending into Hell, Logan fell into a peaceful sleep and dreamed of blue skies, fresh bread, and laughter.