Demon Games [4] by Steve Feasey Read Free Book Online Page B

ground its foot into his cheekbone.
    The voice was clear and loud, cutting across the screeching laughter of the demons. ‘That’s enough,’ it said. ‘Let him up.’
    There was something about the voice that struck a chord with Trey, but he was unable to work out what it was.
    The laughter died away, but the foot stayed firmly planted where it was.
    ‘Stay out of this,’ the Shadow Demon hissed. ‘This is none of your business. He’s ours.’
    ‘Actually he’s mine. Now let him up.’
    Trey could feel the spinning world begin to slow down. His equilibrium began slowly to return, and he took a deep breath, grimacing at the stink that filled his nostrils. He composed himself, thankful for the respite that he had been afforded by the arrival of the newcomer.
    ‘And what are you going to do, hmmm?’ snarled the creature with its foot on him. ‘You fancy your chances, do you? Two against one?’
    Trey let out the breath he’d been holding and opened one eye, thankful that the world had finally stopped its helter-skelter antics.
    The werewolf’s transformation took the demon by surprise. It shouted out in astonishment as the head beneath its foot suddenly and dramatically changed in size. The demon stepped back, its eyes widening as it watched the huge seven-foot werewolf leap to its feet. The lycanthrope shot out a great clawed hand, which encircled the demon’s throat in a vice-like grip, the nether-creature managing a strangled, ‘Glerph!’ as its feet left the floor.
    Out of the corner of his eye Trey saw the Shadow Demon move off at incredible speed. He turned his head to see it charging a small creature, no bigger than a child, and was surprised to see the diminutive nether-creature standing its ground, planting its feet and eyeing the onrushing attacker calmly. Trey knew that it was Dreck.
    In this world Dreck was small and chubby. Short legs and a pot belly, together with a moon-face, made Trey think of Buddha sculptures he’d seen in oriental gift shops. The large round eyes set in the front of Dreck’s face never wavered as the much larger Shadow Demon crossed the ground towards him. But something was happening to Dreck: he appeared to be holding his breath, concentrating hard and straining, the veins at his temples bulging with the effort. Trey was reminded of a boy at his old school who would do something similar – hold his breath and strain until his face was a livid shade of purple. And sure enough Dreck’s skin was also changing colour; from the dull pumice grey that Trey had first seen, it was turning red – a deep fiery red that made the creature seem to glow.
    Shadow Demons move with incredible speed. They are feared throughout the Netherworld as ruthless killers, and very few nether-creatures would choose to go up against one in single combat. This one was almost upon Dreck when the smaller demon opened his mouth and spat a glowing white sphere, about the size of a tennis ball, in its direction. The fireball hit the Shadow Demon and spread across its body like liquid fire. The Shadow Demon screamed as it beat at the conflagration, but only succeeded in spreading the flames until it was a living thing of fire. It fell to the floor, still shrieking and thrashing around, the flames not spreading out to the surrounding ground but remaining on its body.
    Eventually the demon’s howls ceased and it lay still.
    Dreck walked towards Trey, his skin slowly turning back to a less alarming, dull grey colour. Trey watched the demon approach, unable to believe what he had just witnessed – it had been David and Goliath stuff, and he was filled with a new respect for his guide.
    Dreck looked up at Trey and nodded, glancing across at the other demon as he did so. Realizing that he still held his own adversary up in the air by its throat, Trey turned to look at the creature, slowly lowering his arm and releasing his grip.
    The demon fell to its knees, clutching at its throat with two hands and sucking in