Earth to Hell. Kylie Chan

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      I stood behind Simone but didn’t attempt to call my weapon; she was doing quite nicely by herself.

      Simone quivered with rage but her voice was soft and icy and the tip of the sword didn’t move from Martin’s throat. ‘You disgusting piece of scum-sucking pond slime. You lied to Leo, you kidnapped me, you killed a demon child that was used to nearly kill our father, and in the end you did kill our father because you took me to One Two Two and Daddy had to trade his head for my safety.’

      ‘This really is not necessary, Princess,’ the King said. ‘He is here as my emissary and right now you cannot harm him.’

      ‘It’s true, Simone,’ Meredith said. ‘Don’t try anything, it’s a waste of time. As an emissary he has protection.’

      Simone barked with frustration and swung Dark Heavens to take Martin’s head off. The sword passed through without hurting him.

      ‘Didn’t know you had it in you, Simone, well done,’ Martin said, still smiling slightly. ‘There is hope for you after all.’

      Michael put the White Tiger away but his gaze didn’t shift from Martin. ‘You will pay for what you did, Ming Gui,’ he said, his voice a rasping growl. ‘You’d better not leave Hell because if you do —’

      ‘We … will … find … you,’ Simone finished with him.

      She held out her hand and Dark Heavens’ scabbard flew into it. She sheathed the sword, raised her hand and dismissed it. ‘I swear that you will taste my blade, betrayer of my father,’ she said softly.

      ‘If it means anything at all, I was honestly misled and thought that we’d be going somewhere safe to spend some more time together,’ Martin said. ‘I didn’t know that the demon child wasn’t you — I really did think I’d managed to get you out. That’s why I fought alongside you, Simone.’ He nodded to me. ‘Emma. And my feelings for Leo were genuine.’

      ‘Then what are you doing here with him?’ I said, gesturing towards the Demon King.

      ‘I have my reasons,’ Martin said, the smile fading. ‘I have dug my grave and now I must lie in it.’

      ‘He’s all mine, and a most desirable trophy,’ the Demon King said. ‘The Mothers adore him.’

      Martin winced.

      ‘You give him to the Mothers?’ Simone said.

      The King spread his hands and shrugged. ‘When I’m not using him. Have to keep him busy, you know. Come, little Simone, sit. Let’s see what we can do about finding your pet lion.’

      The Demon King and Martin moved to the conference table, saluting Yanluo Wang as they sat. Yanluo Wang saluted back. Simone hesitated, then she and Michael sat at the table as well, and I joined them.

      ‘Okay,’ the Demon King said, leaning on the table. ‘I hear that Leo was replaced. This probably happened while those kids were guarding him and got lured away. Did you destroy them when I sent them to you, Emma?’

      I remembered the three demons who had come to the offices a few days before. ‘Two ran, but I tamed one.’

      ‘Bring it, I’ll have a look inside,’ the King said. ‘It may have some information for us.’

      ‘Don’t destroy it,’ I said.

      ‘It will look bad if I don’t destroy a demon that’s been tamed, you know that.’ He smiled slightly. ‘But for you, anything.’

      Nigel tapped on the door and poked his head around. ‘The demon, ma’am.’

      ‘Bring him in, Nigel.’

      Nigel opened the door and Four Seven Three, still appearing as a teenager, entered. The demon saw the King and froze. It changed into True Form: a green humanoid of about three metres tall, with scales, tusks and bulging eyes. Red tufts of hair sprouted from its head. It stood frozen in front of the King for a moment, then scurried around the opposite side of the table and crouched behind me.

      ‘Come here, little one,’ the King said kindly.

      The demon made a small keening sound of terror and slowly rose. It moved like a puppet towards the King, still making the keening sound. ‘Protect me, Lady,’ the demon said, its voice pitched high with terror.

      ‘It’s all right, I won’t let him hurt you,’ I said.

      The King swivelled in his chair and raised one hand towards the demon. ‘Take human form and come sit in my lap.’

      The demon didn’t stop its quiet wail of fear, but it changed back into a teenager and lurched to the King. It flopped into his lap and he wrapped his arms around its waist and spoke into its ear.

      ‘Emma told me not to destroy you, child. We need some information. Where is Leo?’

      The King tightened his grip and the demon threw its head back and screamed.

      ‘Where’s Leo?’ the King said, his eyes bright with pleasure as he held the writhing demon. ‘Where did they take him?’

      ‘I don’t know,’ the demon wailed. ‘Stop. Stop. Make it stop. Lady, please, make it stop.’

      ‘Emma, you only asked him not to destroy it. He can still hurt it if he likes,’ Simone said urgently.

      I didn’t reply; I was engrossed in the demon’s agony. It was fascinating.

      Simone turned to see me. ‘Emma?’

      ‘Emma’s enjoying the show,’ the King said. ‘Look at her face.’

      ‘Emma!’ Simone shouted.

      Something inside me clicked and I realised what was happening. ‘Stop hurting it! There’s no need for this, just get the information.’ I ran my hands through my hair. ‘God.’

      The demon’s screams turned into gasping sobs.

      The King turned his attention back to it and spoke into its ear. ‘The look on your face is something that will keep me going for a long time, dear Emma.’ He glanced at me, his eyes full of sly amusement. ‘We could have so much fun together, you and I.’

      ‘Geez, Emma,’ Simone said softly.

      ‘What the hell?’ Michael said.

      ‘Does it know where Leo is?’ I said.

      The King concentrated. ‘Nope.’

      He released the demon and it fell off his lap to lie unconscious on the floor. Simone, Michael and myself all jumped up and ran to it.

      ‘Let me,’ Meredith said, and we moved away to give her room. She touched the demon, then glared up at the Demon King. ‘That was totally unnecessary.’

      ‘I know,’ he said, his voice mild. ‘But it was so much fun!’ He gestured towards me. ‘Don’t you agree, Emma?’

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