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

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

KAIN

“ D id you hear that patches of Hell are healing? The red sand vanished and the crazy ass plants started to grow? Do you think it’s true? I haven’t heard of anything growing near here in forever,” one professor whispered to another, their attempt at secrecy failing. No one else cared enough to listen outside of class.

Inside the classroom, the professors were notorious for punishing students who didn’t listen, often with brutal methods, so everyone paid attention. Outside that environment, however, they preferred to be left alone. Most of the staff were here as punishment from Lucifer, who ensured they taught their students but couldn’t harm anyone without cause. If they broke even a small rule, their curses would cause them harm. They avoided messing with more powerful demons, but everyone else was fair game. So, grades and attendance mattered here.

The fact that Ivy didn’t make it to her classes, again, worried me. My senses were in overdrive to hopefully pick up her trail. I hated when she did shit like this. Couldn’t she just let me know she was safe?

“Meet you at the lockers, again,” Alaric said. Dex followed him. Those two were hungry today. Probably because they were happy again after tasting our mate last night. I’d barely had a kiss from Ivy’s plush lips, but I understood how she made everything in the world feel right. I didn’t blame them. Food probably tasted better now.

I was fucking jealous, though. Would that ever be me? Would I ever be that happy where food tasted mouthwateringly delicious?

All these changes were happening, and I felt like I was getting left behind. Why? I had no idea because I knew my bond group would never abandon me, especially my brothers, but I couldn’t stop the feeling eating away inside of me.

I didn’t use my stone locker, but Trigger kept a lot of potions in there, so he loaded up as we waited. The clanging of bottles as Trigger shoved them in his special bag—one that would protect the glass of the vials—had my eyebrow twitching. I leaned against my locker and shut my eyes.

My deep breath was cut off by a burgundy skinned man with a nose almost as wide as his lips, screaming. He ran toward me his demon making his five seven hight into at least six two, but I was taller than his demon as well at six foot six. I sighed.

The only thing that made me hesitate about calling a shadow was the fight going on inside of him which was evident on his strained face.

Trigger didn’t have any such hesitation. He flipped a blade in his hand ready to throw it, but I lifted mine to stop him. He gave me an irritated scoff.

Don’t kill him. He can’t help it. His demon is forcing him to attack because he senses my strength. Look at his face.

Trigger heard me, but his desire to throw the blade had him shifting his target and flinging it at a Master demons hand that was resting on the wall. I ignored the demon’s shouts. He was one of the male demons who made his slave eat dog food. I didn't care if he got hurt.

The man who charged me met the back of my hand. He crashed to the floor. When his eyes narrowed, ready to attack again, I let my magic hit him this time. He stammered and instantly relax. His demon recognized its superior.

Others gave me a wide berth in fear. I really hoped this wasn't an indication of how today would go. Because it sucked.

The hallway buzzed with life, but everyone’s distance made waiting bearable. I should do this more often. Why suffer when I could force people to stay away?

Because you aren’t your father, a voice in the back of my mind whispered. True. The Devil rule by forcing his will onto everyone. I didn’t want to do that.

A familiar scream caught my attention. This one made me smile. Seemed like today would be a good day after all.

Her long blonde hair swung around her as she rounded the corner. She moved quickly like wild, snarling beasts were chasing her. Depending on who it was, that description could be accurate.

Everyone moved out of the way, chuckling. She had been cruel to so many people, it wasn’t a surprise to see the excitement on everyone’s faces.

Even Tila’s old friends clapped in glee when Tila fell. She got back up, though which made the green skinned girls start to whisper with each other. I never liked them, so I couldn’t remember their names, but I listened to them now.

“She’s no longer Lucifer’s pet. I wonder if he stole her power?”

“Nope. Her power came from the brothers. They aren’t hers anymore, her status has dropped.”

“It serves her right. Did I tell you she forced me to blow one of the teachers to help with her grade? Ugh, I can’t believe I did it. At least karma finally arrived. The academy has turned on her. They even kicked her out of her faction. Pathetic.”

Wherever her three mates were, they weren’t close by. She was being chased. The look of terror in her eyes pleased me. Maybe, if she wasn’t such a horrible person, I’d help her, but my demon wouldn’t let me even if I wanted to. It was why she came to the closest crowded area, because sometimes, there were people willing to help.

Not often, though.

She moved to my side of the hallway. I’d kill her if she ran my way. It’d be a huge disrespect to Ivy.

Her blue eyes locked onto mine, pleading for help. Mine turned black, and a snarl escaped me. One of my larger, menacing shadows shimmered out of me to make it extra clear to stay away. It was ready to chomp her head off if she even dared to get close to me or my brothers.

“I have a few potions that will help with tonight’s plan in here,” Trigger whispered, chuckling at the look on Tila’s face.

“Good,” I grunted.

Our slippery mate was done with this invisible act she was playing. Since the Headmaster was practically kissing her feet these days, all her missing classes were excused. She got him to stop updating us about what was happening at the academy, and I was supposed to be its protector. This was my domain.

I was going to make her ass extra red for being such an efficient Queen.

Tila deftly avoided us at the last moment. Smart choice.

Nar’s laughter echoed through the halls. The men chasing my ex, Fray and Burnell, were dangerous. They were savage demons who delighted in hunting and torturing their prey. Their last victim had landed them a stay in the dungeons for months. It didn’t look like it help them change their ways.

Her screams were a haunting reminder of home. The thought just made me want to leave the area. This would being back too many flashbacks.

My worried gaze moved to Trigger. His jaw twitched as he turned away from the fight. He mumbled about how an evil woman couldn't be raped. She had told him, when she was our mate, that men couldn't really be sexually assaulted, so to him, that was his retribution.

We had to get Trigger out of here. He may hate Tila, but it would still mess with his head to watch the attack.

“Get away from her!” Balthazar roared, but Nar restrained him while Stanine got tackled by two large demons, preventing any rescue. So, her three mates were here, but Nar was one of the men cheering her attackers on.

He was disgusting.

His rank of number five most powerful in the academy would keep Tila safe, but he clearly didn’t care. The excitement in his dark gaze said, he could have ordered the men to attack her.

The sound of clothes ripping made Trigger flinch, but he refused to move when I pulled on his arm. Her other two men were too exhausted from their ongoing fights to put up much of a struggle. I didn’t like them, but they seemed to care for Tila. No one should have to watch a loved one be assaulted.

The smell of blood permeated the air. My jaw tightened. Fuck. I was going to help her after everything she had done to us, wasn’t I? I sighed and turned to stop the fuckers before they could really hurt the bitch.

“Ivvyyy!” A rush of power blew warm air all around the hall, forcing everyone to freeze.

No way. My head snapped in his direction. The desperate gleam to his tired eyes was one I recognized. But Stanine wouldn’t…

“I call for sanctuary! I hear by devote my life to your faction!” His voice echoed off the walls. This was ancient magic and, if he did it right, Ivy would be forced here any moment. Both Trigger and Bones perked up.

However, I gasped at Stain’s actions. Devotions were serious demon contracts. He had just bound his life to my mate. Well, if she heard him and agreed. Only a powerful demon could use a piece of their soul and blood to summon another powerful demon. Their intentions had to be pure, or their soul would be forfeited to the Goddess Nyx.

In a storm of movement, that had flashes of light and huge gusts of wind flinging demons away, the area got ready for her to materialize in a designated spot. A binding, white circle shimmered onto the floor. It would trap her to the spot until she answered Stanine.

The moment her shadow appeared, magic froze the people closest from the spot. We were across the way but slightly left to her, so the magic didn’t hit us as hard. Ivy finally emerged, covered in blood and gore.

I straightened and my nostrils flared. A growl was loud in the silences. Whose black blood was that? What had she been up too?

The walls rippled, and every door opened and shut as if the souls were angry that someone caused Ivy pain, because any type of summoning was painful. The thought irked me as well but having her so close to me settled the anger slightly. I still wanted to rage, demand answers, and serve up punishments, but I wasn’t the head of the faction. So, I couldn’t. If I did, I’d be challenging Ivy, and every faction challenge was to the death.

Ivy stood there, her beautiful fangs bared and ready to strike at anyone who dared to look at her the wrong way. Her deadly claws dug into the wood of the doorframe, her anger radiating like a steaming kettle. Even in her fury, she stole my breath away. I could hardly believe she was mine.

“Who the fuck summoned me?” Her voice boomed as if rippling with magic. Yet her tone was what made other demons flinch away. It was as harsh as the darkest shadow that covered her eyes. The way the shadow moved reminded me of my own magic but, with her black veins traveling down her cheeks she even scared me slightly. Which just thrilled me even more. Her black horns vibrated as lust filtered in the air threatening to drop everyone to their knees if she didn’t get answers.

My head cocked to the side as I studied her. Her mannerism seemed off, harsher than my mate had ever sported. My brothers saw it as well because they stiffened with me.

What’s wrong with Dreamgirl? She’s…

Bones gasped. Her demon is taking over.

How the fuck can that happen? I asked as my gaze snapped to his for a second before they were zeroed in on Ivy again. It’s not possible. She wouldn’t let it. Not after what we went through with Tila.

Trigger grunted. She may not even know what’s going on. She hasn’t truly fed for weeks and by the looks of it, she left off where we ended, torturing Lucifer’s subjects for answers.

How would she even know how… The Headmaster. That prick has a hard on for our girl, he’d do anything for her.

Trigger shrugged as Bones seethed behind him. She’s keeping Lucifer from torturing him again by claiming the school as hers. He might consider her a goddess at this point. I’d probably have a crush too. It doesn’t matter, though. She’s ours and we aren’t fucking losing her over a dumb argument. The whole point was to keep her safe and we’re doing the opposite. We need to suck up any issues we have and get our girl back before it’s too late.

Agreed. I’d do anything to keep her from turning into just another mindless demon. I’d fucking bow at her feet if I had to, pride be damned.

My mind was still whirling as Stanine stood. The two men who held him down were dead on the ground. The dash of power that Nyx gave him for offering himself up to a stronger demon wouldn’t last, but I had to give it to him. He loved Tila enough to sacrifice himself for her, using the biggest loophole for summoning a demon was a rare but a powerful gesture. He could only do it once in his life.

Tila didn’t deserve his loyalty, but I understood the feeling of wanting to protect your mate. It was how I felt with Ivy and why I started the argument between us in the first place. All I wanted was to keep her safe, but I ended up pushing her away instead.

“You?” Ivy questioned with a cocked hip that gave me a glimpse of her old self. Good, we still had time to change her back before all her emotions were turned off. “You’re pledging your life to me? I’m pretty sure you tried to kill me once.”

He winced. “I didn’t understand things then. I see where I need to align myself now. Please forgive me.” He knelt, but he stood again when she didn’t say anything.

Ivy's brows wrinkled in confusion. When her gaze caught on Tila, and why he would sacrifice his soul to her, she let out a fierce growl. My cock twitched in my pants. She was magnificent. Without hesitation her mouth opened, and a dark cloud shot from Fray and Burnell to land in Ivy's mouth. They both dropped to the floor like discarded garbage, drained of life.

Alaric and Dex made it through the crowd just in time to watch the dark clouds disappear inside of our mate, but that didn’t stop them from going to Ivy’s side. She stiffened but wouldn’t dare make them an even bigger targets by fighting their nearness. Our enemies would pounce on any weaknesses that we had and, even worse, tell the Devil that we were not united.

Dex took advantage of the situation and kissed Ivy with so much heat that Trigger moaned. We had all missed her more than she realized. Just being this close to her made me feel whole again. He was hungry and Ivy was full to the brim of his only source of food, so she let him feed off her. The moan that escaped her had Trigger and Bones moving closer to her as well.

Feeling the charge through the bond between them made my demon rip at my insides, reminding me of my own hunger. I took advantage of the crowd around me, sucking in the pride and gluttony others were giving off. Pride that they weren’t a part of the drama but able to watch it. Another demon feeding and his desire to have more. The constant hunger in his belly. I’d need blood as well, but my demon wouldn’t eat from anyone but his mate. That was out of the question right now. She wouldn’t let me sink my fangs into her even if I let myself. My shadows only wanted her.

As if on cue, Smokey burst from my chest with a powerful howl, sending a wave of fear rippling through the air. The shadows rolled over him like oil. Despite the chaos, Ivy opened her arms with a wide smile, welcoming my beast. Others around us moved away and a few even flinched at the sight of him. His bear and wolf mixed form was creepy to see for the first time.

A wave of jealousy surged through me, irrational and fierce. How could I be envious of something that was a part of me? It might sound absurd, but Smokey wasn’t me. I wanted my mate to embrace me as she did my shadow. Even my other creatures inside me whimpered for that same affection.

After a few seconds, she stopped petting Smokey and turned to Stanine. “I’ll accept your proposal, but you and your mate group will have to pledge an oath as well. A binding oath.” Slight pink filtered through the darkness of her eyes as they snapped to Tila. My mate was smart for not trusting Tila. Yet, whatever she saw in the evil bitch’s eyes made her shoulders relax.

Whispers spread through the crowd as Ivy's terms settled in. I didn’t blame her for demanding the rest of Stanine’s group pledge an oath. However, having the top six in the academy join her faction might cause riots. It meant she officially had the strongest faction. But she’d be pulling Nar into our fold. I barely trusted Tila not to find a way to break the oath. Nar would never stop trying to break it himself.

“Agreed,” Stanine shouted just as Nar shouted, “Not fucking happening.” But the only response that was binding was Stanine’s agreement to Ivy’s term since he gave a piece of his soul to make the deal. Nar couldn’t say no. Neither could Balthazar or Tila.

A pink band of Ivy’s magic wrapped around their necks like a leash and disappeared. They didn’t even have to say anything to complete the oath.

“Holy shit,” Trigger whispered, and I had to agree.

What was happening right now? How did Ivy just bind four people? Two of them strong demons. Nar was fifth, Stanine was sixth, and Balthazar was in the top twenty strongest in the academy. How strong was my mate to wield that kind of control? I didn’t know, but fuck was I hard for my mate. She had turned into a fucking wicked Queen.

Nar roared his anger out like a true beast. “I challenge Ivy for top spot in the faction!”

More gasps and several students backed away.

Me, I forced myself to not move. How dare that fucking weasel challenge my mate?! I was going to have my shadows devour every part of him slowly.

You will do no such thing. This is my challenge. Ivy’s voice sounded different in my head. The harsh tones were prominent there.

She would accept his fucking challenge, but I had to stop her before she said the words. I couldn’t bare it if I lost her. My demon thrashed around inside of me, demanding I protect her.

“Please don’t,” Bones whispered, agreeing with me, but we didn’t move. There were too many people around. These assholes needed to go somewhere.

He has caused enough problems. People will never get in line if a top five doesn’t follow the rules. He killed seven people this week in the worst ways. Whoever is giving him the new curses and aide is too strong. Most likely Lucifer. Regardless it's time to end it. Demons fight in blood, so all of you stay out of this, or I'll consider it another challenge.

All her mates jerked at her last words. Did she just say, she'd kill us? This wasn’t Ivy. We needed to stop her from changing completely. I just hoped it wasn’t too late.