First Demonic Dragon

Chapter 1230: The Apocalypse IV

Abaddon felt his jaw tighten.

Lucifer’s casual, mocking smile was the most infuriating thing that Abaddon had seen in years.

His attempt to hold Abaddon’s family out of reach nearly got the best of him. It was clearly beginning to get the better of some of his wives.

But it was all just a part of Lucifer’s game. They couldn’t fall into his goading at the first provocation.

“It is unfortunate, but your refusal does not actually mean anything.” Abaddon folds his hands together. “No one is forced to stand underneath any banner at the war’s beginning.”

“Oh, but it does.” Lucifer whistled. “See, you’re forgetting… Hell is not a normal pantheon. It is a prison. And these…” Lucifer points to the army of demons behind him. “Are my inmates. As the warden, I can’t just let them go run off anytime I feel like it, can I?”

Abaddon’s claws reflexively sharpen.

Tatiana looks towards the podium. “Asherah, this cannot be allowed!”

Asherah is silent for a while, and Tatiana’s face darkens.

“…Technically, Samael is correct.”

“’Technically’ doesn’t sound the same as ’completely’ but I’ll take what I can get.” Lucifer shrugs.

Abaddon leans forward. “I will not allow members of my house to be debased and tortured by you.”

“I have no interest in repeating any of the grotesque acts my bastard son committed.” Lucifer shrugs. “I have a good relationship with my wives. I’m grateful to you for keeping them company while I was busy, but it’s best that they come back home now, don’t you think?”

“No.”

“Oh well. Them’s the breaks, I’m afraid.”

The shit-eating grin on Lucifer’s face turns Abaddon’s blood to magma. Yet he doesn’t allow himself to react any more than he already has.

“You’re dancing around again. Speak plainly.”

Lucifer grins. “Well… I don’t know if you follow human football at all.”

“…I dabble.”

“Good, so you should understand the concept of trading one star player for another. I won’t be unreasonable, you see, but if you want to keep my wives with you… I’m afraid I’ll need something of equal or greater value. This way, I know for sure that you won’t be letting my little inmates run wild and do whatever they want.”

Lucifer looks up into the stands with a smile.

“The lovely Karliah seems like an adequate trade, wouldn’t you say?”

’No!’

In the stands, Odessa clutches her grandmother’s bicep for dear life.

“How dare you lay claim to my mother!”

Bekka is a horrific hound.

Her three eyes are akin to the moon as she looms over the stadium grounds.

The bright white of her fangs shines with the gleam of drool dripping from her maw.

Her black fur bristles sharply like barbs of obsidian.

Abaddon and the others cannot control their wife. Nor do they wish to at this point.

If the End War is to begin early, then so be it. They would swallow any penalty that arose from their actions.

“Bekka Tathamet. Quell yourself.” Asherah demands.

Bekka’s sharp claws begin to tear up the marble underneath her.

She does not back down.

“Are these proceedings a game to you, Prince?”

Buddha finally speaks up, and when he does, Lucifer is aptly annoyed.

“This doesn’t concern you, old hermit. This business is between me and the dragons.”

“Please.” Shiva snorts. “We are all aware that this is nothing more than you exacting a personal vendetta against Abaddon! And here of all places!”

For the first time, Abaddon wanted to tell his friend that he was wrong.

Lucifer’s desire for Karliah was much more sinister than simple pettiness.

“How can you allow this blatant underhandedness in a respectable court??” Shiva turns to Asherah.

“I do not make the rules, Destroyer. I am merely making sure that they stay upheld.” Asherah turns to Lucifer, and her displeasure is apparent. “I am no more a fan of my son’s antics than anyone here. But he has a right to say them.”

“The law is hard, but it is the law.” Lucifer shakes his head while smiling smugly. “What else can we do?”

“I can tear the skin from your hide, boy!” Bekka barks in Lucifer’s face.

The angel stands up, his eyes filled with rage.

“I will not let you continue to insult me, beast! My request was made fairly, and you have no room for complaint! Either your family can accept my terms or not!”

Lucifer turns to the crowd of assembled gods.

“My peers, have I not been fair? Is my request not weighted in favor of the dragons?? I ask for but one body, while they demand all of my brides! The ones with whom I have made a sacred covenant! Ask yourselves, is my request unfair!?”

“Do not attempt to ply us with your propaganda, Lightbringer.” Nyx growls. “We are all aware you have no fetish for altruism. If you desire but one body, it must be because you see it’s value as something that dwarfs that of your women.”

Lucifer smiles bitterly, then holds up his hands. “I will admit… Karliah is one of a kind. So is it not fair to request a single one-of-a-kind existence in exchange for three?”

“All of this bellyaching is so nauseating…” Karliah sighs.

Suddenly, she stands up, pushing her hair out of her face.

“I accept the damn trade. Give us the demon whores back.”

There is an instant protest in the Nevi’im pantheon.

Nearly everyone stands up to berate Karliah and call her some variation of a big, stupid beast.

Ordinarily, Karliah would bite back with her own insults, but this time, she does not.

Instead, she smiles without showing her teeth.

She hugs her grandchildren one by one.

She then goes to her friends and her in-laws. The way she tells them goodbye is a little more crude.

Butt and boob-groping for the women. Penis grabbing and quick kisses for the men.

Several of them try to stop Karliah and hold her in place, but the woman has a grip like nothing in the world. It is easy for her to break free without hurting anyone.

As she starts to descend the staircase, she faces one final obstacle.

“I am not playing with you, you old bitch. Sit back down right now..!”

Karliah stares at Bekka for a long time. Her eyes begin to water, and her smile does not waver.

She takes Bekka in her arms and pulls her in, burying her face in her neck.

“My beautiful girl… If I do not tell you enough, I want you to know that I am proud of you. You’ve cranked out some great kids and given me a family I’ll always be grateful for.”

Bekka’s eyes tremble.

She pulls away from her mother abruptly and slams her forehead into the bridge of her nose.

“I said sit back down! You are duty-bound to obey my commands, woman!”

Bekka wraps her hand around her mother’s neck.

“If you don’t listen to me… I will put you down right here and now..!”

Bekka’s outward demeanor was fierce. Authoritarian.

But on the inside, she was frightful.

She was on the verge of begging.

’Mom… please..’

Karliah gently wrapped her hand around Bekka’s forearm.

Slowly, she removed her daughter’s hand from her neck and leaned in to kiss her on the forehead.

’Trust your mommy, girlie. Give me the chance to make you proud for once.’

This time, when Karliah pulls away, Bekka makes no move to stop her.

She swallows the lump of bile in her throat and buries her claws into the beds of her palms.

Suddenly, she wipes her face aggressively, the fire in her stomach returning.

’…You old bitch… you better have an actual plan.’

When Bekka turns around, she finds her mother beside her husband and wives. She is hugging them goodbye as well.

Suddenly, Karliah looks up at her daughter with eyes begging for permission.

“Hey… just this once?”

Bekka almost rips out her hair. “…Fuck, fine, but only TWO!”

Karliah grins madly.

She grabs Lisa and Abaddon and pulls them side by side.

Like a bandit, she slips a finger into their waistbands and pulls them back to peer at the treasures inside.

Her tongue darts across her lips. “Mmh, mmh, mmmh… Mama likey.”

“Mom!”

“Listen here, you two. If you ever want a taste of the original version, you just come find me and-”

“MOM!”

“Alright, alright, I’m going…”

Karliah lets Abaddon and Lisa go with a final hug.

She starts to walk away from them when suddenly she pauses and begins pulling out her phone.

After a second, Abaddon and his wives feel their phones vibrate.

“We’re not looking at that.” They all say at once.

“Your loss.” She shrugs.

Lucifer summons the demon queens down from the stands.

With a flick of his hands, he dismisses them towards Abaddon’s side while holding his arms out for Karliah.

“Now this is a queen..! What a beautiful specimen you are!”

“Yeah, yeah. Be sure to zip me up when you’re done, okay?”

“…I do not understand the phrase, but sure.”

Lucifer holds out his hand, welcoming Karliah into Hell’s stands.

She begins walking towards the steps slowly.

But as she moves, Kaliah shoots a glance into the crowd.

Her eyes meet Nyx’s. And in those eyes, she sees an immense concern for her old friend.

Karliah had never thought of herself as someone who was exceedingly loved, but… today had opened her eyes a bit.

The strangest feeling of catharsis settled in his chest.

Suddenly, Karliah gives Nyx a deep, flirty wink.

It surprises Nyx to her core. Karliah hadn’t sexually harassed her in months. Not since she…

Nyx’s eyes shine with light. Karliah smiles.

Before the abyss walker can take a step into the stands of Hell, a portal opens at her feet, and she falls through without warning.

“NO!”

Lucifer tries to pursue her, but it is of no use.

The portal closes, and Karliah is gone.