Piper’s soul plunged into the void before a glowing blue portal split open in her path. She shot through the opening, and remembering her last visit, twisted around in midair to skid forward on her feet. The impact jarred her down to her bones, but at least she hadn’t face-planted this time.

  She took a deep breath and immediately regretted it as acrid smoke filled her lungs. She descended into a coughing fit and winced at the terrible smell. Where she’d landed smelled like burning socks mixed with rubber.

  Glancing around, she took in her surroundings. She’d found herself standing on the deck of a demonic ship in the middle of a roiling black sea. Steam rose from the dark waves, and bubbles continued to form and pop on the surface, almost as if the liquid were boiling.

  Piper turned to inspect the ship. Massive bones, some far larger than even a dinosaur’s, had been used to form the masts, railings, and doorways. Between the skeletal frame, black leather had been stretched to fashion the deck and walls of the vessel.

  “This is new,” she muttered to herself. “I didn’t see anything like this in the Black Pyramid.”

  “There are many areas of the Infernal Realm you didn’t witness during your brief visit,” a voice said from directly behind Piper.

  Piper spun around and scowled at the sight of her guide, Astaroth. “If you don’t stop sneaking up on me, I’m putting a bell around your neck.”

  “What a wonderfully amusing idea,” Astaroth said, his bloodless lips curling up into a horrifying grin. “Such a thing would be most humorous.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Piper narrowed her eyes. “Did you hit your head or something?”

  “I assure you nothing is wrong with me. I simply enjoyed your jest.”

  “I’m really not in the mood for your weirdness today,” she said. “Just offer me the classes so I can get out of here.”

  “Has something unpleasant happened to you in the mortal realm?”

  “What do you care?”

  “I care most deeply about your well-being.”

  “Alright,” Piper exclaimed. “Tell me what’s going on? Why are you being so nice to me?”

  “I’ve simply come to believe that you’re truly a demon,” Astaroth said, steepling his fingers. “Regardless of how much the stench of humanity lingers on your soul. As such, I plan to be far more helpful during your stay this time.”

  “That’s good… I guess.” Piper steadied herself as the ship rocked violently from side to side. “What the heck was that?”

  Astaroth floated over to the railing and peered down. “I believe a brinefiend is attacking the ship.”

  “A brinefiend?

  “They are powerful demons and rulers of the Blightwake Ocean.”

  Another impact shook the ship, almost sending Piper to her knees. The sound of cracking bones followed. The ship wouldn’t last long under the assault. And even if she could swim, which she couldn’t, she’d probably be boiled alive within seconds in the bubbling sea.

  Piper rushed over the edge and grabbed the railing. The ship’s leathery skin felt uncomfortably warm in her grip, almost as if it were alive. And knowing this place, it probably was in some way.

  Piper activated [Infernal Recall], and her bow reappeared in her hand. A moment later, her quiver popped into existence on her belt. Once she had her bow and quiver, she cast [Infernal Bowstring].

  Gorebark’s eyes widened as it took in the expansive sea. “The Blightwake Ocean? Whelp, you’re screwed. Who’d you piss off to send you here?”

  “I didn’t piss anyone off.” Piper peered down at the roiling black pitch, trying to get a glimpse of the brinefiend. “At least I don’t think I did.”

  Astaroth leaned back and regarded her with his eyeless face. “I’m afraid that’s not quite true.”

  “It’s not?”

  “No, your mere existence has ruffled quite a few feathers. Someone quite powerful has intervened to send you to this place. Most likely in the hope that you die a rather unpleasant death here.”

  “Can’t you take me somewhere else?”

  “I’m afraid not. My powers are limited compared to the person who sent you here.”

  Before she could respond, another portal tore open, and a young man in peasant garb appeared high above the boat. He let out a yelp as he plummeted downwards. At the last second, Astaroth shot forward and plucked the man out of the air.

  Piper hurried over to check on the new arrival. She shooed off Astaroth, who was still holding the man by the back of his shirt. The demon let out a weary sigh before gently depositing the new arrival on the deck.

  The young man retrieved his hat from the deck and placed it back on his head. “Thanks for catching me, skinny.” He then turned toward Piper. “By Infernus’s beard, is this the Infernal Realm?”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Piper opened her mouth to reply, but another impact almost capsized the ship. As the deck tilted to the side, she barely managed to remain upright while the young man slammed face-first into the deck.

  Astaroth floated over to the edge. “I’m afraid we’re taking on water. Or should I say burning pitch?”

  “That’s not good,” Piper said with rising alarm. “What happens if the ship sinks?”

  The towering guide shrugged his bony shoulders. “I assume you would burn for eternity in the depths of the ocean.”

  Piper took a deep breath. The last thing she needed was to face a life-or-death struggle after everything that had happened. However, the demonic realm didn’t care about her feelings. She could grieve for her friends later—right now she needed to keep the ship afloat. And that meant taking out the creature attacking it.

  Clambering up the tilted deck, she grabbed the railing with one hand. Then she braced herself against the bones as she drew an arrow. Surveying the boiling ocean, she watched for any sign of movement beneath its dark surface. After a few minutes, she spotted a massive shape speeding towards the ship like a torpedo.

  Piper rapidly drew and loosed her arrow. The missile soared forward and pierced the tarry liquid. Something thrashed under the surface, letting out a terrible, piercing wail. Without hesitation, she shot again, the second one striking the submerged creature dead center. Both of her arrows stuck up above the black pitch like a dorsal fin as the creature surged toward the ship.

  Loosing her third shot, she cursed as the brinefiend dove into the roiling pitch. The shot struck the viscous surface before sinking into the black morass.

  “Was that a monster?” the young man asked with wide eyes. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

  Piper didn’t respond as her gaze continued to sweep the boiling ocean. She doubted the ship would survive another impact from the creature, so she had to be ready if it reappeared. However, after a few minutes, there was no sign of the brinefiend. Had it somehow sensed the power of her bow?

  Relaxing slightly, she stuffed the arrow back into her quiver and turned to the young man. “What’s your name?”

  “I’m Azra,” the man replied. “Azra Malk. May I ask your name?”

  “I’m Piper.”

  He looked her up and down. “And… you’re a real demon? I’ve only heard stories about your kind. I can’t believe I’m really in the Infernal Realm.”

  She nodded wearily, realizing her demonic form was on full display. Since arriving in this world, she hadn’t bothered casting [False Face]. Not that she could likely afford to waste the mana.

  “What am I supposed to do to get an amazing infernal class?” Azra said excitedly. “You’re my guide, right?”

  Piper pointed at Astaroth, watching the exchange from a short distance away. “I’m pretty sure he’s your guide. But just to warn you, he’s not a big fan of humans.”

  “Wow, you’re popular,” Gorebark said. “How come weirdos like this guy always find you? If I were you, I’d toss him in the sea.”

  Azra glared at Gorebark. “Is your bow always this annoying? It really should learn to mind its own business.”

  Piper nodded. “Actually, this is pretty tame for it.”

  Gorebark grinned. “Doesn’t he look familiar to you? I think he sort of resembles another weirdo we met in the past.”

  Piper froze and turned her gaze toward Azra. In fact, he did seem vaguely familiar, though she couldn’t quite place him. Suddenly she remembered someone else calling Astaroth ‘Skinny’—or at least a demon who looked remarkably like her guide.

  “Raz?” Her eyes widened. “Raz Kalma?”

  “Well, you’ve completely ruined my fun,” Azra said, pulling off his hat and hurling it against the deck. “And entertainment is so hard to come by in this dreary place. I’ll be sure to remember your betrayal when you return, Gorebark. If you thought an eternity inside of Nharldress, the Everhungering, was bad, I have news for you—your life here can get so much worse.

  “Do you think I’m scared of you, Malkazar?” Gorebark shot back. “The world is changing, and your kind is doomed.”

  Piper held out her hand. “Does anyone want to tell me what’s going on here? Why is Raz Kalma here? Is this all some sort of trick?”

  When no one answered, she stomped up to Astaroth and thrust a finger toward him. “I’m having a terrible day, and I don’t want to put up with any of your nonsense. Now, tell me what’s going on!”

  Astaroth glanced over at Malkazar, who had moved to stand near the railing, looking very much like a petulant child. With a deep sigh, the towering demon began to speak. “Several of the demonic nobles have formed a coalition to depose you. Malkazar wishes for you to remain alive.”

  “They want to depose me?” Piper’s eyes widened. “Why? I didn’t do anything to them!” She pushed back a stray strand of silver hair. “Is it because I’m human?”

  “Not at all,” Astaroth said. “Many humans have arrived in the Infernal Realm over the last year. In fact, several have even found demon patrons.”

  “So why are they trying to take me out?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  “Then who is?”

  “If you wish to ask any further questions, please direct them toward Malkazar.”

  “You know you’re the worst guide in the world, right?”

  Astaroth sniffed. “Many others have praised my guidance before departing to wreak havoc on the mortal realm.”

  “If you say so.”

  Piper cautiously approached the form of Malkazar standing near the railing. The deck had evened out slightly, which she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

  As she approached the demon standing near the railing, she recalled Gorebark saying something about a noble before Raz Kalma had shown up in the Black Pyramid. If that were true, then this demon’s power must dwarf anything she’d ever encountered before. Which meant she needed to tread carefully.

  “So, you saved me in the Black Pyramid?”

  “I had an entire adventure planned out,” Malkazar said without turning to look at her. “But then one of the other nobles had to intervene and send you to this dreadful place. Who wants to have an adventure on a stinking sea of boiling pitch? I suppose I could have added some demonic pirates. Would you have enjoyed some swashbuckling?”

  “I think so?”

  “There’s no use now.” Malkazar sighed. “Your cursed bow ruined everything. We should just move along with finding a class for you.”

  “What about the ship?”

  “The ship?” Malkazar glanced down at the deck beneath your feet. “That’s odd. Why isn’t it healing itself? Maybe not all is lost. Will you accompany me into the bowels of our transport to discover what is happening?”

  “Is this another trick?”

  “Not at all.” Malkazar tapped his foot against the leathery skin of the ship. “Many of these vessels ply the waters of the Blightwake Ocean. Yet for some reason this one isn’t healing with [Demonic Regeneration]. This might be fun after all.”

  Malkazar snapped his fingers, and his peasant garb was instantly replaced with luxuriant black robes. Then a wide-brimmed black hat appeared on top of his head. He ran his fingers along the brim before setting out toward a hatch in the middle of the ship.

  “Come along, Piper!” he shouted. “We’re going to fix this problem and discover what my fellow nobles have done to the ship.”

  Piper stared after Malkazar until Astaroth appeared at his side.

  “I would recommend that you humor him,” the gaunt demon said. “His moods can be quite… mercurial.”

  “Good to know,” Piper muttered under her breath. She set out at a jog after the demonic noble. She didn’t know what they would encounter in the interior of the ship, but she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good.