Into Hell (The Road to Hell Series, Book 4) Read online

  INTO HELL

  Brenda K. Davies

  Copyright © 2017 Brenda K. Davies

  All rights reserved.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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  BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

  The Alliance

  Eternally Bound (Book 1)

  The Hell on Earth Series

  Hell on Earth (Book 1) Coming Fall 2017

  The Road to Hell Series

  Good Intentions (Book 1)

  Carved (Book 2)

  The Road (Book 3)

  Into Hell (Book 4)

  The Vampire Awakenings Series

  Awakened (Book 1)

  Destined (Book 2)

  Untamed (Book 3)

  Enraptured (Book 4)

  Undone (Book 5)

  Fractured (Book 6)

  Historical Romance

  A Stolen Heart

  Books written under the penname Erica Stevens

  The Captive Series

  Captured (Book 1)

  Renegade (Book 2)

  Refugee (Book 3)

  Salvation (Book 4)

  Redemption (Book 5)

  Broken (The Captive Series prequel)

  Vengeance (Book 6)

  Unbound (Book 7)

  The Fire & Ice Series

  Frost Burn (Book 1)

  Arctic Fire (Book 2)

  Scorched Ice (Book 3)

  The Kindred Series

  Kindred (Book 1)

  Ashes (Book 2)

  Kindled (Book 3)

  Inferno (Book 4)

  Phoenix Rising (Book 5)

  The Ravening Series

  Ravenous (Book 1)

  Taken Over (Book 2)

  Reclamation (Book 3)

  The Survivor Chronicles

  Book 1: The Upheaval

  Book 2: The Divide

  Book 3: The Forsaken

  Book 4: The Risen

  DEDICATION

  To Jamie.

  Thank you so much for all your help and for my sanity!

  GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

  Adhene demon - Mischievous elf-like demon.

  Akalia Vine - Purple black flowers, orange berries. Draws in victims & drains their blood slowly. Red leaves. Sharp, needle-like suckers under leaves.

  Barta demons - Locked behind the 55th seal. Animal of Hell. Now part of Lucifer’s guard.

  Calamut Trees - Live in the Forest of Prurience.

  Canagh demon - Male Incubus, Female Succubus. Power thrives on sex but feed on souls on a less regular basis than the other demons. Their kiss enslaves another.

  Carrou Vines - Thick black vines. 6-inch-long thorns. Grow around Canagh demon nests.

  Craetons - Lucifer’s followers.

  Drakón - 101st seal. Skeletal, fire breathing dragons.

  Erinyes (furies) - demons of vengeance and justice. 78th Seal.

  Fires of Creation - Where the varcolac is born.

  Forest of Prurience - Where the tree nymphs reside. Was also the original home of the canaghs and wood nymphs.

  The Gates - Varcolac demon has always been the ruler of the guardians of the gates that were used to travel to earth before Lucifer entered Hell.

  Gargoyle - Claws contain a paralyzing agent they use on their prey. When victim is paralyzed, they peel away their skin one strip at a time and eat it.

  Ghosts - Souls can balk against entering Heaven, they have no choice when it comes to Hell.

  Gobalinus (goblins) - Lower level demons, feed on flesh as well as souls. 79th seal.

  Hellhounds - The first pair of Hellhounds also born of the Fires of Creation, with the first varcolac who rose. They share a kindred spirit and are controlled by the varcolac.

  Jinn - 90th seal. Can grant wishes.

  Lanavour demon -The 3rd seal. Can speak telepathically and know people’s inner most secrets and fears.

  Leporcháin - Leprechaun looking creatures. Half on Kobal’s side, the other half are on Lucifer’s. Only ten in existence.

  Madagan - A beast from Hell. Resembles a boar with a giant tusk in the center of forehead. Mottled red and black skin, plumes of smoke from a blowhole in top of head. Extended, round skulls, cloven hooves.

  Manticore - 46th seal. Body of a red lion, human/demon head.

  Ogre - 33rd seal.

  Ouroboros - 82nd seal. Massive, green serpent.

  Palitons - Kobal’s followers.

  Púca - 80th seal. Shape changers which can take on animal or human form. Could also be the source of vampires as they drain their victim’s blood.

  Revenirs - Mummy-like skeletons. Debilitating cry. Suck life from victims with “kiss.”

  The River Asharún - River in Hell.

  Rokh - 81st seal. Large birds of prey.

  Skelleins - Guardians of the Gates.

  Tahanusi - Sea creatures that reside in the Asharún river.

  Tree Nymphs - Live in the Forest of Prurience. Men and women. Striking and very free sexually. Smaller than wood nymphs and live in the trees.

  The Wall - Blocks off all of Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Blocks parts of Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas. Similar wall blocks off parts of Europe.

  Wood Nymphs - Resided in the forest before they were locked behind the 77th seal for drinking the blood of demons while they were having sex with them. May be the source of vampirism in human mythology.

  Wraith - A twisted and malevolent spirit that the demons feed from. On earth they only come out at night.

  Varcolac demon - Born from the fires of Hell. Only one can exist at a time. When that one dies another rises from the Fires of Creation. Fastest and most brutal of all the demons. They are the only kind that can create and open natural gateways within Hell as well as close them. They control the hellhounds.

  DEMON WORDS:

  Achó - Attack.

  Ainka - Easy.

  Crahán - Looney

  Gallha - Go.

  Harga - Here.

  Helka - Hell king.

  Mah Kush-la ˈMɑ: - My Heart.

  Mjéod - Mead or a demon drink.

  Partka - Stay.

  Rhála — King

  Rejant —Queen

  Senché — Silence.

  GLOSSARY OF SYMBOLS: -

  Humans took some of them and turned them into what became known as the Elder Futhark, also known as runes.

  Eiaz - (Tilted Z) - Speed, heightened senses, and protection.

  Risaz - (Straight line with a triangle attached to the middle) - Force of destruction.

  Sowa - (Backwards E with sword piercing the center) - Blade of fire.

  Zenak - (Three wavy lines) - Eternal fire and life.

  Ziwa - (Two V’s with a line connecting the top,
like fangs) - Guardian of the hellhounds. Mark is considered gift of strength, endurance, and virility. Considered a blessing and a curse as well as marks bearer as having a piece of the hellhound’s soul within them.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Other books by the Author

  Glossary of terms, demon words, and symbols

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Hell on Earth (Hell On Earth, Book 1)

  Where to Find the Author

  CHAPTER 1

  Kobal

  “What is this?” River inquired.

  Her amethyst eyes widened as she gazed at the river of red Hell water winding before us. Jagged black rocks stuck up from the middle of it, forcing the water to flow around them and creating strong currents. Those currents were capable of smashing to pieces anything caught within them. A few feet away from us, calmer water lapped against the rocky shoreline of the pathway we traversed. The color faded from River’s face, her head tilted back, and she blinked at the sharp rocks jutting from the ceiling.

  “The River Asharún,” I replied. This place had never bothered me before, but seeing the dread in her eyes and knowing her reaction to wraiths, I didn’t intend for her to be here any longer than necessary.

  “Are we here to travel on the river?” First Sergeant Sue Hawkson asked from beside her as he ran a hand through his short, dark brown hair. He stood with his broad shoulders thrust back, and his blue eyes filled with determination as he gazed at the Asharún.

  “The Asharún is the quickest and safest route,” Corson replied.

  “We will not be traveling on the Asharún,” I said and clasped River’s elbow. “There are other ways to my chambers. Come.”

  Her eyes swung toward me. “Why aren’t we going to travel it?”

  I pulled her a step closer and cupped her cheek tenderly in my hand as I studied her. She tried to hide it, but I knew being in Hell tired her. As Lucifer’s only living descendent, and with her angelic and demonic abilities, she had been able to make it this far into Hell. However, sweat beaded her forehead and stuck her dress to her body. Her flushed skin warmed my hand, and her exhaustion beat against me, yet she refused to let me carry her as we made our way to my private chambers—chambers where I had once slept and lived when I resided in Hell, but I hadn’t been to them in years. I had no doubt they would still be secure, as few others had known where they were located. Those who had known of them wouldn’t have dared to enter them while I was away.

  We’d done nothing but walk since leaving the chamber housing the Fires of Creation behind hours, if not days, ago. I had no way of knowing how much time had passed. Before I’d left Hell, it wouldn’t have bothered me. There was no concept of time in Hell, no sun to mark the passing hours, but now that I’d lived on Earth, I wondered about the time of day.

  There were only the constant fires in Hell, and I found myself missing the sun. That was something I never would have believed possible months ago. Then River had walked into my life, changed my perspective on things, and become my home. Before, I had always planned to return to Hell to reign, but now I would take my throne from Lucifer and leave this place behind to live on Earth with her.

  I brushed back a strand of River’s raven-colored hair from her cheek. Her eyes closed as she turned into the palm of my hand, her full lips brushing over my skin. The scar at the corner of her right eyebrow was more visible against her flushed skin, as were the freckles on her slender nose. Her sweeping black lashes fell to shadow her eyes as her inherent scent of earth, fresh spring rain, and flowers assailed me.

  My gaze latched onto my marks on her neck. The evidence of my four fangs piercing her skin was unmistakable to everyone standing with us and all those we encountered. Even if she didn’t bear my marks right now, every demon would know she was my Chosen. I had claimed her, and I was never going to let her go.

  I would keep her protected from the countless things looking to tear us apart and her weaknesses. Unfortunately, that included the Asharún river. Reluctantly releasing her, I lowered my hand to my side again.

  “Why aren’t we going to travel it?” she asked again.

  “Because, Mah Kush-la, the Asharún is a place for the damned spirits who enter Hell. Some of the souls we feed on become so weakened that they are ensnared by the currents of the water.”

  Her full mouth parted on a breath of realization. Goose bumps broke out on her tanned arms before she ran her hands over them to ease the chill. “Wraiths,” she murmured.

  “Yes. Countless numbers of them are trapped in the water.” And wraiths weakened her, something we couldn’t afford to let happen now.

  “So is this like the River Styx?” Hawk asked.

  “Human mythology twisted the Asharún some. It’s not the boundary between Hell and Earth, but basically yes, the humans who glimpsed the Asharún river through veils separating Hell and Earth called it the River Styx,” Magnus replied.

  Hawk frowned at the water. “Why did they call it Styx if it’s Asharún?”

  “In the human’s Greek mythology there are five rivers separating Hell from the living. They were wrong about there being five of them. There is only the Asharún. However, the Greeks did name one of the five rivers the Acheron, the river of woe,” Magnus said. “But to many humans, Styx became the most popular and well known of the rivers. Probably because it was easier for them to pronounce, and we all know humans don’t like to tax their tiny brains.”

  Though River wasn’t entirely human, and Hawk no longer was, they both scowled at Magnus. His eyes shone with amusement when he smiled back at them.

  River glowered at him for a minute more before focusing on me. “Okay, so it’s the river of woe—”

  “And of anger, forgetfulness, hatred, and hostility, amongst numerous other things,” Magnus interjected.

  “Enough,” I growled at him, and his mouth clamped shut.

  “But it’s the safest and fastest way for us to reach your chambers?” River asked me.

  I lifted my head to glare at Corson for mentioning it in the first place. Corson’s citrine eyes warily held mine as he stepped away from me. Magnus and Bale inspected the ceiling while the skelleins all studied the blades of their swords and the hellhounds padded away to explore the water.

  Corson had nowhere else to look as I pinned him to the spot with my stare. In the dim light playing over this part of the river, Corson’s hair appeared midnight blue. His poi
nted ears stood out from the curls falling over them. Thankfully, since we’d entered Hell again, he no longer had the earrings of the human women he’d slept with dangling from his ears.

  At six foot four, Corson’s lithe build and usually easygoing demeanor often caused others to underestimate him, but as an adhene demon, he was one of the deadliest creatures I’d ever encountered. He was also one of my most loyal followers and closest advisors.

  “The Asharún is full of wraiths,” I said to River. “I’d prefer not expose you to them any more than necessary. We will stay on land.”

  She glanced back at the swirling water as a wraith broke the surface. A hand rose into the air, its fingers opening and closing as it sought to grasp something. The shifting currents of water spun the wraith around before sucking it under once more. Trapped by the flowing waters, some of the wraiths took on their human form again, while others remained the twisted spirits they became after demons fed on them for long periods of time.

  When River started rubbing her arms again, I knew she recalled how cold the wraiths made her feel. I knew she was remembering discovering that her father, a man she’d never known when he’d been alive, had been sent to Hell when he died. In his wraith form, her father had used his abilities to help Lucifer bring down the seals one at a time.

  “I’d prefer not to be around the wraiths, but if it’s going to be quicker and safer to travel the Asharún, then we should,” she stated. “Are we supposed to swim it?”

  “No.” The tips of my claws dug into my palms as I glanced from her to the water and back again. “We don’t swim. The ferrymen are called to take travelers on their journey.”

  “Call them then.”

  “River, the Asharún is not a good place to be.”

  “Kobal, we are literally standing in Hell. I don’t think anywhere is a good place to be.”

  “No, it’s not,” I grated through my teeth. “Can you handle being that close to so many wraiths?”