Read Online Kingdom of Lies (Imp Series Book 7) by Debra Dunbar - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Debra Dunbar
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to do with the price on my head?
As the larger cities came into view, I flew higher, rising above the elven-made clouds and into the blistering atmosphere. Better to sweat a bit than be detected by those who might have the magical ability to bring me down.
I flew for hours before the cloud cover broke and I could see the edge of the elven kingdoms—lines of green and gold against the white sands that marked this section of the demon lands. Diving low, I spiraled to scout the borders before committing to a northern course.
There were no landmarks for nearly a hundred miles, just endless white sand. Eventually bits of black dotted the white—lava from a long-dead volcano. Shards of glass joined the black as I drew closer to the city. The eruption had ended with explosive force, heat fusing the sand and melting it to glittering, clear crystal. These grew in size as I traveled north, translucent ponds that weren’t water, monoliths whose facets reflected the setting sun, casting a brilliant rainbow of colors onto the white sands.
Eresh was the largest of all, a cluster of glass and onyx in the distance. Shadows stretched long upon the ground when I landed and concealed my wings. Word had gotten around about them, but it was best to be safe and keep the feathers hidden from prying eyes and grasping claws. I strode into the city, ignored by all but a few Lows, and headed to Zalanes’ house. I was exhausted from my trip, and I had no idea where Swifty would be holed up. It was a big city, just as large as Dis but with unfamiliar alleyways, nooks and crannies. The buildings extended far underground, connected beneath the surface by a network of tunnels and passageways that defied logic and ran completely opposite to the streets on the surface. Looking around at the evening hustle and bustle, I decided it would be better to conduct my search after a few hours of rest.
As the sun set, the scorching temperature dropped dramatically. Eresh had day dwellers who relished the heat intensified by the glass buildings. They were heading for the warmth and shelter of their homes and the radiant heat of lava rocks. Others emerged from underground, stretching in the cool air and blinking their giant, pale eyes. Yes, we could all change forms, but we had preferences, and a city like this allowed us the luxury of indulging them.
I made my way to Zalanes’ house and stood outside the onyx gate, pulling the long furry tail that triggered the demon equivalent of a doorbell. Shadows moved behind the opaque glass, but no one appeared. There were no reputable inns in Eresh, and I wasn’t comfortable taking a nap out in the open. There was a good chance that Zalanes wasn’t home and that his household was reluctant to open the gate to a demon they didn’t recognize, but I didn’t exactly have any alternative. So I did what I do best—made a complete pest of myself until they reached the end of their patience and came out to deal with me.
“Hey!” I screamed. Several passing demons turned to see if I was addressing them, turning away when they realized I was shouting at the building behind the gate. “Zalanes! It’s me, Az. Open the fuck up. Come on, let me in, you troll spawn.”
I shouted until I was nearly hoarse. There was increased movement inside the house but no sign I was going to be allowed entrance. Time to pull out the big guns. I searched around the white sand until I found what I was looking for. Then I threw the baseball-sized chunk of onyx as hard as I could.
The glass splintered with a musical crack. There was a flurry of activity from the shadows inside, and then the door flung open and Zalanes barreled out, steam curling from his nose.
“What the fuck are you doing, Az? You’re paying for that.”
“Your doorbell doesn’t work.” I gave it a few tugs to demonstrate. “And your house is amazingly soundproof. I shouted and shouted, but no one seemed to hear me.”
“Go away.” He’d come right up to the
As the larger cities came into view, I flew higher, rising above the elven-made clouds and into the blistering atmosphere. Better to sweat a bit than be detected by those who might have the magical ability to bring me down.
I flew for hours before the cloud cover broke and I could see the edge of the elven kingdoms—lines of green and gold against the white sands that marked this section of the demon lands. Diving low, I spiraled to scout the borders before committing to a northern course.
There were no landmarks for nearly a hundred miles, just endless white sand. Eventually bits of black dotted the white—lava from a long-dead volcano. Shards of glass joined the black as I drew closer to the city. The eruption had ended with explosive force, heat fusing the sand and melting it to glittering, clear crystal. These grew in size as I traveled north, translucent ponds that weren’t water, monoliths whose facets reflected the setting sun, casting a brilliant rainbow of colors onto the white sands.
Eresh was the largest of all, a cluster of glass and onyx in the distance. Shadows stretched long upon the ground when I landed and concealed my wings. Word had gotten around about them, but it was best to be safe and keep the feathers hidden from prying eyes and grasping claws. I strode into the city, ignored by all but a few Lows, and headed to Zalanes’ house. I was exhausted from my trip, and I had no idea where Swifty would be holed up. It was a big city, just as large as Dis but with unfamiliar alleyways, nooks and crannies. The buildings extended far underground, connected beneath the surface by a network of tunnels and passageways that defied logic and ran completely opposite to the streets on the surface. Looking around at the evening hustle and bustle, I decided it would be better to conduct my search after a few hours of rest.
As the sun set, the scorching temperature dropped dramatically. Eresh had day dwellers who relished the heat intensified by the glass buildings. They were heading for the warmth and shelter of their homes and the radiant heat of lava rocks. Others emerged from underground, stretching in the cool air and blinking their giant, pale eyes. Yes, we could all change forms, but we had preferences, and a city like this allowed us the luxury of indulging them.
I made my way to Zalanes’ house and stood outside the onyx gate, pulling the long furry tail that triggered the demon equivalent of a doorbell. Shadows moved behind the opaque glass, but no one appeared. There were no reputable inns in Eresh, and I wasn’t comfortable taking a nap out in the open. There was a good chance that Zalanes wasn’t home and that his household was reluctant to open the gate to a demon they didn’t recognize, but I didn’t exactly have any alternative. So I did what I do best—made a complete pest of myself until they reached the end of their patience and came out to deal with me.
“Hey!” I screamed. Several passing demons turned to see if I was addressing them, turning away when they realized I was shouting at the building behind the gate. “Zalanes! It’s me, Az. Open the fuck up. Come on, let me in, you troll spawn.”
I shouted until I was nearly hoarse. There was increased movement inside the house but no sign I was going to be allowed entrance. Time to pull out the big guns. I searched around the white sand until I found what I was looking for. Then I threw the baseball-sized chunk of onyx as hard as I could.
The glass splintered with a musical crack. There was a flurry of activity from the shadows inside, and then the door flung open and Zalanes barreled out, steam curling from his nose.
“What the fuck are you doing, Az? You’re paying for that.”
“Your doorbell doesn’t work.” I gave it a few tugs to demonstrate. “And your house is amazingly soundproof. I shouted and shouted, but no one seemed to hear me.”
“Go away.” He’d come right up to the