Dark Souls Academy: The Sacrifice (Hell Dimension #4)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

T he plush carpet in Lilah's apartment hugged my feet the next instant. I couldn't wait to take off my boots to enjoy its softness. Lilah had it good here.

Demarcus might have had a smaller place than mine, but it was more luxurious. The marble walls, brown leather couches, and pristine lamps created an inviting atmosphere. Every pillow and candle matched perfectly, adding to the overall aesthetic. The walls were covered in cheerful photos of Demarcus’s family, making the space feel warm and homey. I’d been crashing here for over a week now, trying to distance myself from my mates.

The assholes thought they could gang up on me for wanting to fight in this battle. Basically, for everything to stay the same, and since they rudely mated to me when I told them not to, they became overbearing dickheads. They stole my potion that would have allowed me to visit the Fae realm that my uncle gave me because they didn’t trust me. I was their mate, I wasn’t going to run from them. I only chose to leave before the mating because it’d keep everyone safe.

Trigger, Kain, and Bones took it personally. Alaric and Dex weren’t as vocal about things, but they never stopped the others from locking me in a damn room. Images of them speaking to the Headmaster through their communicators to get me out of all my obligations, so I’d stay in the fucking prison, turned my eyes red. My demon demanding retribution, and that was why I couldn’t forgive them, even if I wanted to. My demon and Fae agreed our mates couldn’t treat us like a child.

I had been running from Lucifer my whole life to stay out of a cage, the people I loved weren’t putting me in one. I’d fight them just as hard for my freedom. The pricks had to ruin a good thing.

I showed them that they could kiss my toned ass. I was no one’s bitch. Five against one did not give me good odds in this relationship, so I had to nip it in the bud. If they didn’t learn, then maybe I didn’t need them. I was building my faction and working with several slaves outside of the academy.

It wasn’t just the academy students who either wanted to follow me or kill me. Hell, once known as the Underworld, had been waiting for a powerful Succubus for a while apparently. They wanted me as their savior. I could barely keep my small group of friends safe. How was I supposed to save everyone? Killing Lucifer would be a start… a big fucking start. It was the only start, or idea, I had. Good thing others thought it was the right way to go because I couldn’t do it alone.

Maybe I couldn’t do it at all, but I told that negative voice in my head to shut the fuck up. I had too much to do to let worry take over.

At least inside of these walls I had a chance. Hell was a mirror image of Earth. Literally, a world that copied Earth if it went through an apocalypse and was put through a red filter. The sky, sand, and most of the buildings were crimson. Talk about camouflage. Lucifer would use it against us, but if he brought the fight to me, we could hide.

I handed Lilah the energy balm so she could put it on when she got out of the shower. Refilling a demon’s magic was like filling up a water balloon. If they had a slow steady flow of water, the balloon would fill perfectly. If she forced the process, the balloon would break. Which meant, she would have to relax or sleep to heal. Running around with the balm on wouldn’t do anything.

Just as I settled into the chair in Lilah’s room, ready to take off my boots, my mind buzzed. Someone high up in my faction was reaching out through our bond. Whatever it was, they didn’t want to risk being overheard, or they would have used the communicator.

Demarcus’s name flashed in my mind. I groaned. This wasn’t going to be a fun chat. I could sense his anger already leaking into me. I wouldn’t ignore him. Lilah was his and I would respect that.

Yes?

You let that fucker put his mouth on my woman’s pussy?

I jerked away from nothing as if I had a phone to my ear, but his shout had caught me off guard. My nostrils flared, but I stayed calm.

Hey, I didn’t tell her to sit on an angry demon’s face, but I think she used it as a distraction. The Minotaur wanted to fuck her after all.

His growl was filled with murder.

Look, she was having trouble killing him. We need her to figure shit out on her own. When this war begins, we may not be there to save her. I get it. You don’t want her hurt, but we can’t stop it from happening.

He grumbled in my head, Why’d she have to be friends with a Succubus? Of course, she’d use her pussy as a weapon .

All I could do was snort because he wasn’t wrong.

He sighed. The sound of his breath in my head was like someone blowing into a paper towel roll while it was pushed to my ear. You’re right. I’m sorry for yelling at you. It’s no way to treat my faction leader and ? —

It’s all good. I understand. You’re allowed to be mad. She means more to you than a lower. I promise she’ll be healed by morning. Get some rest, I have a feeling tomorrow will be a busy day.

He scoffed. Every day is busy with you. I’m not sure you even sleep.

What’s that saying, oh, I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Night.

The next few minutes went by in auto mode. I undressed, showered in the main bathroom, brushed and cleaned, then redressed. Whatever this new thing was within me, it made everything numb. I could feel the anger still floating nearby, but only if I sought it out would I feel it. It was kind of nice. There was no worry or stress.

At some point, my communicator vibrated on my wrist. It forced the sensation away slightly, so I could function normally. Stress seeped back into me. Great.

The hologram of the Headmaster’s red face popped up into the air. Double great. This was never good news.

“I’m getting tired of seeing your ugly mug,” I said with a smirk.

He snorted. “I’d be prettier if fucking Nati Demons weren’t breaking into the damn academy every night to get to you. I’m ready to throw you out woman, so don’t give me sass.” His words might have been hard, but his tone was cheeky.

I smiled as I sat on Lilah’s bed. “Oh, no mister red dude, don’t make me leave my prison. I so want to stay.”

He rolled his eyes. “Maybe, I’ll just kill you then.”

“Naw, you’d miss my sparkling personality too much.” I gave him a smile showing all my teeth. I knew I looked psychotic.

The Headmaster was also fully Team Succubus. Our relationship had become one I was fond of. Even so, I dreaded seeing his face.

“Ha! Sparkling. I’ll remind you of that in the morning.”

My heart skipped a beat. These past few weeks, my nights were spent hunting. I killed anyone and everyone who was a threat. My hands and soul were covered in crimson and black goo most days, but I did what I had to. Mornings before classes, though, were meant for interrogations. He must have gotten someone good tonight for him to be calling me.

“Who do we have?” My playful manner vanished as I eagerly waited for his answer.

“We got one of the seven Sins. Not sure which one. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them. Lucifer usually has them locked up tight.”

His words were like a bomb to my senses. I twitched and moved, not knowing what to do.

“Do you need me to come tonight? Should I, I don’t know… How’d we catch him?” I was ready to finally get some real answers about Lucifer. I needed recent and relevant information to be able to take him down.

“Whoa, calm that sparkling sass of yours. No. We gave him a heavy hit of a sedative potion. He’ll be out until morning. We’ll talk then. In the meantime, get some rest.” I laid down with a huff. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

When his face disappeared, I groaned. Rest? What was that? I still had a few more things to do before I could rest . I absently went through my messages and updates from my faction. They were all the same memos as I always got.

Attacks on the wall. If I was lucky, they’d break the wall, and I could escape.

Lowers and weak Masters being kidnapped. Thank goodness we always recovered them in time, so the death rates had been mostly from higher Masters fights. I could live with that.

Nar is getting out of hand. He kidnapped another person. We found her dead body in the lounge. I really did need to deal with that dumpster-fuck of a demon. Tila’s mate was evil as Lucifer himself.

Another check was sent to the slaves Haven. We also bought tons of the supplies needed for the potions. They’ll be delivered to your house. That one was from my brother, Zar, since Vivian couldn’t message me, he did. Thank goodness for those two. They always did the little things that my mind forgot. I used my winnings from the Night Duty to help the Haven and to get spell ingredients. We would need a shit ton to defeat Lucifer’s army.

Ugh, would Trigger still make them, if we were fighting? That was a question for another day. I continued.

The dungeons are getting full. I just rolled my eyes. I knew that. I was the one putting most of the demons in there.

More Nati Demons spotted. They all had the same message, “We’ll be together soon my Queen.” A chill ran up my spine. Lucifer could go fuck himself. I’d never be his Queen.

I closed my communicator, wishing I could take the red thing off, but everyone had these monstrosities magickly glued to them. Even the professors had to have them. They held our livelihoods in here. Everything from money to class schedules were kept at your fingertips. Yet, they could also be used to punish us. The zap of electricity could kill a lesser demon.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten, taking deep breaths to hopefully feel my body relax. After the tenth time, I stopped and just laid there.

This was when I missed my mates. They made things like sleeping easier. If only they weren’t being assholes. Did it make me weak for missing them? Who the fuck knew, but I did which only fueled my anger. I hoped they struggled as much as I did without me.

The bathroom door clicked open. “Your thoughts are really loud, Ivy. If you didn’t have the mate bonds tied down so tight, all your men would be here in a second to help and to set you straight.” Lilah’s tone had harshness to it.

She clearly wanted me to get over my pettiness, but my anger didn’t want to subside. I hated feeling like the people I cared about were ganging up against me. It felt like all of Hell was doing that in one way or another. They weren’t supposed to do the same. Relationships were meant to be equal between partners.

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that yet.” She rolled her eyes at my answer and plopped down next to me on the bed. I kept my eyes on the ceiling. Its blank, white surface was safer at the moment.

Her hand rested gently on my arm. “Just give them a chance. The Headmaster hasn’t involved them in things because you asked him not to but working as a team makes everything easier.” When I didn’t say anything, she sighed, gave me another reassuring pat, and then stood. “Think about it. I’m starving, so I’ll make us some food, okay?”

I nodded in response.

She limped her way out to go cook.

My jaw clenched. I didn’t want to give in, and I didn’t like seeing her hurt, but she was right. I was running myself ragged. It would take a team to help me, but I didn’t trust people enough to have one.

My resolve wavered. Maybe, if I still kept my distance from my mates, but let them in, I could get a break.

I was their mate after all. We needed each other. The image of the day we became one played in my sleep-deprived mind. Me floating in the air as power consumed me the moment, Nyx linked all my mates to me. The Goddess Nyx had blessed Alaric and Dex as my mates as well, and something inside of me snapped. She clapped before disappearing, the power making my eyes shine bright, and gravity disappear. All six of our jeweled weapons had glittered brightly and sung in harmony, celebrating our deeper connection. Even as Tila screamed and slapped at my new mates for them leaving her, I stayed frozen, until energy burst from me in all directions, illuminating the world with my pinkish, gold glittery magic. I floated back down to the ground.

After that, I spent a week in bed, drained. All the voices and thoughts that bounced around in my mind like a taunting cat crippled me. I didn’t go through all that for nothing.

When I recovered, however, my men had changed. They wanted to keep me locked away, to control me. I got that they were scared, but my demon wouldn’t stand for their control. The brothers had been the powerful ones before our mating. Now, I was, and they needed to understand that things had changed. I needed kings at my side, not parents. I might still have parents out there, according to my uncle. I didn’t need more.

I took a deep breath, letting those memories go and slowly opened the fucking bonds. They were like tethers to my heart. Each of them was a string that had a different vibration inside of me. They sang to my soul like nothing else I had ever felt. Goddess Nyx’s blessing had intensified even Dex’s and Alaric’s songs. I always knew where they were at.

Right now, they were pacing around my apartment. Well, it was technically theirs too, but my anger demanded pettiness. I wanted to show them my power and kick them out, but my heart wouldn’t let me. Each of my men was scarred in some way, and I refused to be another source of their pain, which was why I had left instead.

As each of them opened, my mates perked up like little puppies. Then, their voices bombarded my mind.

Succy, where are you so I can prove to you how sorry I am on my knees? I know you’re hungry because I’m starving for you. Dex was my Incubus mate. He knew exactly how I felt.

Since I was fully mated, I didn’t get hungry like I used to. Thank goodness. Yet, my body craved them in a different way. I could survive without them, but my soul didn’t sing. I felt dead inside, and feeding would give me life again, but I had to make my point.

Poison, you’re being ridiculous. Kain’s asshole voice made me growl. He was the biggest obstacle in our conflicts. As the eldest and leader of the brothers, he struggled with letting me take charge. My demon was now the strongest in our group and at the academy, and his resented being ranked second. His constant challenges were a reminder of his struggle.

I’m going to spank your ass raw if you keep running from me. Trigger was the only mate that took my side, but he still stood with his brothers out of habit. I got it. This was new, but it was why I walked away instead of lashing out at them.

Are you feeding? It’s been over a week since Dex fed you. I’m going to slaughter anyone you feed from, know that. Mates only. Bones had hurt me when he defended Kain over me, but I knew he just wanted me safe.

Alaric was the last to speak, but his words were the ones that broke through my wall of anger. We know you've been keeping your distance but we have a real problem. It’s about Lucifer.

And just like that, I stood and jogged for the door. I’ll be there soon . I cut off the bonds abruptly, like hanging up a phone. As the center of our mate bond, I controlled our connection, ensuring they couldn’t reach me further. They had piqued my interest, but I wasn’t ready to relinquish my anger. At this point, it was the only thing keeping me going.