A Different Kind of Despair by Nicole Martinsen Page B

enables me to sap the strength of
spirits." A wicked smirk spread across her lips. "Suffice to say
living in Nethermountain has given me plenty of practice. Like
this, you should be able to assimilate with him for at least an
hour without breaking your Overflow threshold."
    Marvin grimaced at the idea. "Miraj, fuse
herself with Koronos? What part of this idea is good?"
    "It'll prevent him from reporting our actions
to the Crone, as a start," Formosa explained. "Secondly, Miraj
acquires skills she would normally have no access to. We will need
all the power we can get if we ever want to leave Nethermountain
alive."
    I swallowed nervously, but approached the
struggling demon by stepping into the Grey. I set a hand on his
temple, and I could sense pure, unbridled evil just beneath the
surface of his skin. If wandering in the realm of spirits was like
moving through water, his being was like molasses. Thick and sticky
and capable of murder with a single misstep.
    But, at the very least, we had to get Will and
Leo out of harm's way.
    "You're smarter than this, little Shaman," he
growled as I felt his essence mingle with mine. "You're far too
young to meddle with me."
    Koronos faded, and I felt his being lock into
my own. I released a painful screech as the power burned through my
veins. It felt as though it lasted days, but I knew it couldn't
have been more than a few seconds.
    By the time I felt reasonably
stable I opened my eyes to discover a set of newly cloven feet. A
spiked tail twice the length of my legs, lashed around like an
angry rattlesnake. The quartz walls, a convenient mirror if there
ever was one, revealed a pair of ram-like horns spouting off the
sides of my head. My eyes were the devil's limey, glowing green,
and the kauna across my cheeks steamed like the acidic geysers of
the Moor of Souls.
    "Very impressive," Formosa approved. "How do
you feel, Miraj?"
    "Nauseous," I struggled. "But... stronger.
Much, much stronger."
    "Excellent. You and I will raid House
Astheneia in a frontal assault. In the confusion I would like
Marvin to rally the other necromancers and retreat to the Hall of
Six Houses."
    "Frontal assault? Miraj hasn't killed anyone
in her life; you can't just ask her to do something like
that."
    "But Koronos has ," Formosa sighed.
"She'll feel it as soon as she's there. A devil's bloodlust is
nothing to scoff at. We have no more time for arguing. If we want
to take down the Crone then we'll have to do it
now."
    At the prospect of fighting I felt a surge of
adrenaline. My hands, now two great red maws, twitched in
anticipation. However weakened by Formosa's skills, the true nature
of evil was ever-present.
    I ran a forked tongue across my
newly sharpened teeth.
    "Let's go."

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
11: Grave Tidings
    Marvin, Formosa and Diana
struggled to keep up with me. I could sense a torrent of fear, and
it guided my feet through the halls of Nethermountain without a
doubt in my step. It was... delicious, like a banquet of savory
meats and rare spices. My mouth watered. Violent images filled my
thoughts with the same ecstasy I might acquire from listening to a
symphony of the most heavenly music.
    Oh no wonder devils adored suffering! It
was more addicting than I could fathom, and truthfully, the part of
me bound to Koronos didn't care for the particulars. Blood.
Screams. Fire. Agony. My heart fluttered with euphoria at the
notion of what lied ahead.
    Enjoying yourself, little
Shaman? I heard Koronos' voice in my mind.
He didn't seem upset now that we were fused together. I'm not surprised. You're more sinister than you
realize.
    The part of me that was still human came to a
screeching halt. I waited for the others to catch up, using it as
an excuse to argue with the demon.
    "Don't pretend that you know a thing about
me."
    Pretend? He laughed. My Lady, you said so
yourself -you'd slice the throats of those who killed your tribe.
Now