Spurned Queen

Chapter 41: Morning Gone Bad

Lexi

Days slipped by without event. The next noteworthy occurrence happened right after a battle with the wielders.

We were exhausted after conducting a skirmish on the only wielder base on the island continent. Upon returning to our own base, it was declared that we were out of food. Hunting parties were sent out to catch and kill any sizeable prey. We handled it in the manner of the Native Americans: the main hunters went forward, leaving a trail of dead prey in their wake, while someone else followed, collecting it.

And though I whined about it to Tyler, on this particular morning, I was the someone else.

Traipsing through a field of tall grass flecked with dandelions, I was actually having a very fun time. The sun was warm on my back. There was green all around and blue above. A light breeze bent the grass.

I found another deer and loaded it up onto the very stupid, inconvenient cart, humming a tune as I went. When I decided the cart was full, I dragged it out of the clearing and into the forest, where the wheels became a serious menace. Nevertheless, I powered through, humming my tune and fantasizing about chocolate ice cream. Just as I put the finishing touches on my imaginary sundae, I imagined Colette grinning at me from behind it.

Seriously, it was hard to think morbid thoughts during a beautiful morning in Australia.

Immediately after I passed that thought, I caught the smell of smoke, like a mockery. I frowned, continuing to shove the stupid cart through the bush. The smoke did not smell nice, like burning pine. It smelled horrible, like burning chemicals.

Smoke didn't necessarily mean something bad. The way my intuition was suddenly screeching at me, however, did.

I abandoned the [stupid] cart in favour of racing through the forest as fast as I could go. The wind felt amazing and the forest was silent. I could have been able to convince myself that nothing was amiss, if it wasn't for the smoke.

But as soon as I was within range, I was accosted with such a cacophony of voices over the pack link that I had to block it momentarily. I lowered my body to a crouch and opened it up again, slowly.

"Third class warriors left and rear! Second class and first class together in front and center!"

"Where the hell is Trish?!"

"Yes Alpha!"

"Yes Alpha!"

"Where is—?"

"Where is—?"

"I can't find—!"

"Rhea, Fiona, Carol. Go find everyone and tell them to get their asses here yesterday!"

"Yes Alpha."

And the actual noise, the one that couldn't be blocked out, was a hundred times worse. Alphas barked orders, Betas organized the people to the best of their ability. People ran around frantic and terrorized. Screams cut in every now and then.

Visibility was reduced to near zero by the stinking smog that hung over the base like a blanket. It was as bad as a snowstorm, only hot and reeking of sulfur.

What is this?

This? This was an archdemon. The equivalent of an archangel. I had only ever read of them, but they could recreate an environment similar to Hell, their home.

This was, literally, hell on earth.

I glanced around nervously. Of course, there was nearly nothing to be seen. I heard another scream of fear.