Page 55 of Demanding Discord
I threw a fist, clocking Mayhem in the jaw before he could turn to smoke. He lashed back, his arm turning demonic, his talons screeching across the wall as I ducked and lunged left.
“You talk of fairness.” He spat at my feet. “You filled my pockets with hellhound treats and challenged me to a wrestling match with Cerberus to win the amulet. Does Lucifer know of your deceit?”
I clamped my mouth closed. No, Lucifer did not know I’d rigged the fight when I’d wagered the amulet, and I planned to keep it that way. The knowledge that I’d cheated would only add fuel to the hatred burning in his heart. And now that Ruin knew of my trickery, my desire to annihilate him compounded.
“Lucifer knows far more than you think,” I lied. “Deceit is his favorite game, after all.”
I’d dealt with many demons over the centuries, who’d aspired to usurp me and take my place by the king’s side. When Mayhem, my own brother, became so disgruntled that he challenged me weekly, I’d put a stop to his nonsense, making him appear weak, while obtaining the amulet had secured my place in the court.
But I’d grown too powerful, unmatched by all except Lucifer and the goddess. Magic had aided my every whim until I no longer had to fight for anything. Perhaps that was why I’d allowed Isabel to seduce me, to trick me. I’d longed for something other than absolute power.
And in doing so, I had lost it all. Cinder was right. It was time I took it back. Not the amulet’s false amplification, but my own power within. The devil may have stripped my magic, but I would never allow anyone to take my mind.
Still, my heart pounded, doubt worming through my resolve. I tried to focus, recalling Cinder’s words. The reality Ruin had created here was merely a suggestion.
I drew in a ragged breath, the ache of every blow I’d received settling into my bones. But beneath the pain, a spark ignited—a reminder of who I was before the amulet’s allure, and I refused to let Ruin see doubt flicker in my eyes.
Instead, I straightened my shoulders, letting defiance hold my posture steady. Power was more than magic and trinkets, and I had survived worse than this. If I was to reclaim my strength, I would have to start here, with nothing but grit and resolve.
“You will never make it out of this alive, brother,” the Chaos tulpa said. “Surrender now and save yourself the humiliation of pleading for your life in front of your little witch.”
I glanced at Cinder in the distance. She stood near the pool alone, watching me, already triumphant over Ruin’s creations. Lifting her palms toward me, she mouthed the words they’re not real.
But she was, as was I, and I would never succumb to defeat as long as my witch needed me.
I narrowed my eyes, my nostrils flaring. “You are no brother to me, Ruin. And your creations aren’t real.”
The Chaos tulpa laughed. “No? This isn’t real?”
Mayhem struck from behind, jabbing his talons into my back and twisting them, puncturing my lung. I gasped and sputtered as sharp, electrical pain ricocheted through my body, and I cut my gaze to Cinder. Concern furrowed her brow, and she shook her head, but she offered no assistance.
Mayhem removed his claws from my abdomen, and Chaos landed another punch to my gut. I dragged in another breath, focusing on the pain in my lung, willing my body to heal.
“You’re a coward,” I rasped. “Even Bedlam had the boldness to fight me himself.”
I lashed out an arm, but it passed through smoke. Mayhem backhanded the side of my skull, knocking me off my feet. Chaos lunged, dropping to his knees and gripping my throat, pinning me to the floor. His other hand morphed, talons extending from his fingertips as he raised his arm, ready to take out my heart. Mayhem loomed behind him, his sinister smile revealing too many teeth.
“Now is not the time for a nap, silly.” Cinder’s voice cut through the madness, and I focused my wavering vision on her silhouette moving toward me. “Are you going to lie there all day, or can we get moving?”
“I’m a bit preoccupied.” I forced the words through my crushed throat.
“With what? A bedtime story?” She rested her hands on her hips, shifting her weight to one leg. “Get up.”
“I can’t.” Chaos gripped me harder, his muscles coiling in his arm.
“Why not?” She looked at me as if I’d grown a second set of horns. “There’s nothing holding you down. Nothing real.”
Nothing… I looked at Chaos. “You can’t hurt me.”
“Watch me.” He plunged his talons toward my heart. The tips pierced my skin.
I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply and focusing on Cinder’s words. These tulpas were not my brothers. Chaos, as ornery as he was, would never wish me dead, so this being was simply a fabrication.
And I refused to give it any more power.
I opened my eyes to find confusion morphing both their faces. The Chaos tulpa’s talons should have been embedded in my heart, yet only a whisp of smoke floated atop my chest.
Cinder stretched out her arm, and I accepted the gesture, allowing her to help me to my feet. I passed through the tulpa as if walking through a fog and took my witch into my arms.
