The Electric Archipelago (WIP)

Chapter 12: Demonic Delights

When I wake, I find myself handcuffed to a chair, a fact that doesn't surprise me in the least.

Where am I? Stacks of chairs and tables. Strange decorations, not put on display, but placed in storage. If I had to guess, I am in one of the backrooms of The Demon's Den, that Satanic themed night club on Canal Street.

I messed up big time. I should have known that I would let that girl get to me; should have brought up a virtual world and gotten it out of my system. I will the thoughts away, I need to focus on getting myself out of this situation.

There is someone else in the room, he is sitting behind me, leaning his chair up against the wall. My movements have alerted him to the fact that I have woken up, "He's awake," he calls out as he stands up.

He has the body of a demon. A set of majestic horns adorn his head. His torso is all red skinned muscles. The devil's eyes are twisted splotches of orange and yellow. I'm sure that when he is working, he wears leather and spikes, but right now he is wearing a t-shirt and jeans, which I find to be surreal and comical.

He speaks, revealing a snake's tongue, "Okay, all we want to know is why everybody is so interested in that girl."

The door opens, Myra and another woman enter, followed by a few men. The men are all demons, same as my guard; their attire varies, ranging from intimidating to ridiculous. The other woman is also playing at being a demon, judging by the shape of her voluptuous body I would say that she is trying to be a succubus. She also sports a pair of horns, but they are smaller and sleeker than those of her coworkers. The imitation succubus is dressed in some kind of black leather dominatrix outfit, which is all belts and shiny metal studs. She is barefoot, but is walking like she is in high heels, thanks to the metal stilettos that protrude from her feet.

"I told you not to talk to him," she hisses at the guy that was guarding me.

"I was just..."

She cuts him off, "Just screwing everything up! Get out! Go help the cleaning drones get the place ready for tonight!"

The other devils laugh. He walks away with is head held low, it is strange and amusing to see a demonic creature act like a dog that has been kicked. No matter how strange they look, no matter how much they pretend, there will always be a human being buried deep under the false flesh.

The succubus gets up close to me. She is curvy in all of the right places.

"My name is Baara. I just want to ask you a few questions."

"Okay, shoot."

"Why are you after the girl? Why is Jill Winters so important?"

I can finally tell someone the unvarnished truth, "To be completely honest, I have no idea."

"How can you have no idea?"

"Someone asked me for a favor."

"So, you went after her without even knowing why, just because someone asked you. That must be one hell of a friend. Or maybe you owed them one."

"Money was also involved."

"Isn't it always," she lifts her leg, high enough that I can see the flat bottom of the spike. She brings it down onto the chair, just in front of my groin, it digs deep into the plastic. "Again," she says, her voice dripping with brimstone and hate, "but this time I want the truth."

The problem with threatening a man's genitals is he can just get new ones, he can even get improved ones while he is at it. But still.

"It is the truth."