Read Online The Deal by David Gallie - Free Book Online Page A

asked,
noticing that there seemed to be no signs of life beyond the
windows of the buildings we passed. No shadows, no lights, and more
disturbingly no signs that they had ever been lived in, despite how
ancient the buildings looked.
    ‘ Grimoyle’s are the demon
creatures you witnessed torturing that lady you wanted to save before I put you wise to her past. They are powerful guardian
demons supplied by our master to help the overlords maintain their
control over each part of the kingdom they are allowed to rule.
They’re not the smartest of our lords’ creations but they have
enough intelligence to perform their duties without
failing.’
    I tried to soak in what the big monk was
telling me as we continued down the cobblestone road which I
noticed was beginning to widen into a kind of village square. I
could see a fountain in the centre of the clearing, but I couldn’t
tell if water still flowed through it, or perhaps, since I was in
Hell, something a bit more gruesome like crimson blood.
    Trying to remember all the
different names given to the Hellspawn was a task in of
itself for me, but I was trying to remember just in case there was
ever a pop quiz at the end of my deal with the devil.
    ‘ I’m assuming there are stronger
versions of these demons you call the Grimoyle’s?’ I asked,
noticing that as we neared the fountain, no liquid of any kind was
flowing through it. It looked like it had run dry centuries ago,
during a time when lack of water was the least of your day to day
worries.
    ‘ Yes. There are many different
types of creatures in Hell. Some have been specifically born from
the great fires to serve a well-defined purpose while others have
been born from the wickedness of men’s souls.’
    The big monk came to a stop a few feet away
from the fountain. I followed his gaze as he looked beyond the
grotesque sculpture of screaming bodies meshed together, and at the
huge stone wall which barricaded the great hall from the rest of
what I assumed must be a village.
    ‘ Samuel, this is the point where I
must leave you. I am not able to protect you from this point
forward. However, if you can reach the Monastery with the scroll
you will be granted protection from anything in this
region.’
    ‘ Where is this monastery you are
talking about?’ I asked, actually feeling a little sad that we were
about to part ways. Somehow the big monk felt familiar. I couldn’t
put my finger on what it was about him that would stir up that kind
of emotion but there was definitely something about him that I had
encountered before.
    I followed a long languid finger as it pointed
beyond the wall.
    ‘ It lays north beyond the great
hall. There is a secret passage below Hermetia’s chamber
which will get you there but again there is no promise of
protection unless you have that scroll.’
    ‘ I understand. And your promise to
help me break the devil's deal still stands if I bring
you what you want?’ I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to
back out once I turned up at his front door with a scroll that
could cause no end of chaos on Earth.
    ‘ I swear I will help you break
your deal. Now please hurry. Hermetia holds his counsel in
the throne room of the great hall around this time each day. If he
learns of Argol’s fire then he will not waste any time in
destroying the scroll.’ And with that, the monk disappeared
into a wisp of black smoke.
    I was now on my own and suddenly I
felt very exposed. I had not noticed any signs of life on our
journey to this point in the town but suddenly I felt like
there were a million eyes on me. Watching, waiting and ready
to pounce in a heartbeat.
    I started towards the huge wood
and metal doors which marked the entrance into the lawns of the
great hall. I noted that there was no way in Hell I was going to be
able to get those doors open by myself, and after frantically
searching around for some sort of hidden lever, I noticed that
there was a smaller service door, further along,