The demons led Marcus and the others through various passages to the throne room. Marcus was going to see the throne room for the first time. The adventurers had seen it during the negotiations that took place earlier and Marcus was not sure Tasha had seen it or not. They had not been allowed in the throne room normally.

  As the demons led Marcus through the palace, Marcus wondered how Rauros and Leyda would react seeing Tasha captured. He was sure that they would not be concerned about him, but they would be concerned about Tasha. She was their daughter after all.

  It took them about ten minutes but they finally reached the throne room. There was an atrium before the large doors of the throne room. The doors were closed at the moment and Marcus wondered why. The demon lord who escorted them went up to the closed doors and knocked on them.

  Without any sound, the doors started to swing inwards. The demons prodded them to enter the throne room and they complied. When they had entered, the large doors swung noiselessly behind them shut.

  Marcus looked at the throne room with wide eyes. Huge could not even describe the room. It was clearly over a hundred feet tall with pillars at regular intervals. The pillars had carvings which Marcus found a bit horrifying. The throne room was easily over hundred metres long and about fifty metres wide. Marcus could only guess, he was not sure.

  Large windows of over twenty feet adorned the left and the right walls of the room. They had translucent grass and faint red light came into the room through the windows. Chandeliers on the ceiling were additional sources of light.

  There was a long black carpet which led from the entrance to the throne. The throne was on a platform, which could be reached by climbing about ten steps. The throne itself was plain looking and made up of a scaly leathery material and a shining material which Marcus knew nothing about.

  On either side of the throne, were a row of chairs. Marcus counted about twenty on each side. The demons and the adventurers made their way towards the throne where Lucifer Morningstar, the King of the Demons sat with a bored expression on his goat-like face.

  Everyone stopped in front of Lucifer and the demons bowed down before him. Marcus and the others did not. Marcus could feel the demons bristling because of the insult but Lucifer did not seem to care.

  “You are finally here”, said Lucifer in a soft voice, “You took your time.”

  And Lucifer released his aura. Marcus fell to his knees. He gritted his teeth as the force of Lucifer’s aura fell on him. He did not know how others were faring as he was struggling to fight the pressure building inside him, around him, suffocating him.

  After what felt like an eternity, the pressure vanished. Marcus looked up. The others seemed to have passed out. Tasha was half standing and looking at Lucifer with fury on her face. Marcus found himself on the ground and slowly stood up.

  “It seems that the two of you have not learned your lesson”, said Lucifer, “Nevermind. I am impressed by your willpower and persistence. You may have a seat.” Lucifer gestured at a couple of seats to his right. Tasha went up to them and sat down. Marcus followed suit. They both were still looking at Lucifer cautiously, waiting if he would again release his aura.

  The demons picked the other adventurers and propped them on seats to the left of Lucifer. The demons arranged the adventurers carefully, ensuring that none of them would fall down.

  Marcus wondered how the adventurers were awake during the last negotiations. Then, one of the demons untopped a bottle cork and the smell of the contents hit Marcus even from afar. It was horrible. The demon grinned and put the bottle beneath each adventurer's nose. They woke up with a start cursing out loud.

  Marcus gave a sigh of relief to find that they were okay.

  “Calm down”, commanded Lucifer. His voice was not loud but held enough force to stiffen the adventurers and make them sit calmly on their seats.

  “You are not to move. You are not to speak. You are not to communicate with Game Masters of Una in any way possible. Do you understand me?” asked Lucifer.

  When they nodded he waved his hand and they were all enveloped in a giant bubble. Marcus and Tasha were in one bubble while Tamara, Thalia, Shania, Selena and Tim were in the other bubble. Marcus put out his hand to find the bubble was solid. Air was still circulating properly and he could still hear outside sound, but it seemed that he would not be able to get out.

  Lucifer said to the demon lord, “Are they here yet?”

  “No, my lord”, came the reply.

  “Then we wait.”

  And they waited. No one said anything. After a few minutes two chairs appeared in the area in front of the throne. The next moment the doors to the throne room opened and in walked Rauros and Leyda. They were both walking with purpose and looked regal to Marcus.

  The two Game Masters kept their eyes on Lucifer as they walked up to him. They did not look at the adventurers nor at Marcus and Tasha when they came up to the two chairs that had appeared recently. It was only then Marcus observed the chairs. They did not seem to be the work of Lucifer. One of the Game Masters perhaps.

  “We meet again, Lucifer”, said Rauros.

  Rauros and Leyda were still looking at Lucifer who was still looking bored.

  “Yes, you are here. Now can we get on with it? Have you thought about what I said the last time we met?”

  “Yes.”

  “And your answer is?”

  “We cannot do that. It has not changed since the last time.”

  “The circumstances have changed though”, said Lucifer waving his right hand lazily at Tasha and Marcus, “And so has the price.”

  Rauros and Leyda briefly looked at Marcus and Tasha and then focused their attention back on Lucifer.

  “So, you got two new prisoners”, said Rauros, “Wonderful. However, we will negotiate for the release of these five adventurers only. Our concern is not for these two.”

  Lucifer blinked with surprise and started to laugh.

  “Oh Rauros! What an act you put. No problem. We negotiate for the adventurers. You know my price. It has not changed and will never change.”

  Rauros grinned, “Yes I know. But you see, things have changed from our end too. We got in touch with some Game Masters. They are willing to help us. However, I still want to resolve this before things get out. Imagine how severe your punishment would be when the other Game Masters found out that you tried to escape Twarftha. I wonder. Would you survive the next level of restrictions that would be imposed on you.”

  There was a loud crack as the throne handle in Lucifer’s left hand shattered. The next moment it was repaired.

  “You would not dare. You have much more to lose than me.”

  “No, I don’t. You do.”

  “Give me some time. I need to think about it.”

  “No. You decide now. You release the adventurers now or the next time we come, we come with the full might of the Game Masters. And that, Lucifer is non negotiable.”

  Lucifer gritted his teeth. He was silent for some time. Thinking about what to do. Leyda had not said anything the entire time. Marcus looked at Tasha who simply looked frozen in place. Then she looked at Leyda and for some reason he connected the dots.

  Tasha was communicating with Leyda telepathically somehow and Lucifer seemed to be not aware of it. Marcus masked his face to a more neutral expression as he shifted in his seat.

  Lucifer turned to him, “You see. They do not care about you. They sent you here to die. Tell me what shall I do? Shall I release your friends for free and torture the both of you till you die? I will rather enjoy it.”

  Marcus shrugged noncommittally, “Your choice.”

  Lucifer gave a smile which chilled Marcus down to his bones. Lucifer looked at Rauros and said, “No deal. I am calling onto your bluff. If you want the adventurers then you will release five demon lords of my choosing and that is that.”

  Rauros looked at Leyda who nodded at her husband.

  “Then we are done here, Lucifer”, said Rauros, “The next time we meet, the severity of your sentence would be increased. I bid you farewell.”

  Rauros and Leyda swept out of the throne room. When they were gone and the door closed after them Lucifer got up and disappeared. The bubbles also disappeared.

  “Now what?” asked Marcus.

  “Now, we escort you back to your rooms and then you can spend your day as per your wish”, said the demon lord.

  As Marcus walked with the others back to the room, he was feeling confused. It seemed that these negotiations had a different purpose and he had missed it completely. Something was not right. And he needed to get everyone together. Marcus had a feeling. They needed to get out of the demon city as soon as possible.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  ***

  Tamara looked at everyone gathered in the common room. Marcus had called for a meeting. Tamara somehow knew what he wanted. It was going to be about the escape. She was sure of it. Looking at Marcus’ expression, Tamara felt that something had changed. Marcus was looking worried. What had he learnt in the negotiations that had made him like this?

  Today’s negotiations seemed almost the same to Tamara as what had happened last time. The indifference of both the Game Masters and the bored expression of Lucifer. The denial of demands in both the cases. It felt as if a separate power game was being played that they were not aware and they were not even pawns on the board.

  Marcus started to speak and Tamara focused her attention on him.

  Marcus said, “I believe you are all wondering why I had called you here. The reason is simple. We need to get the hell out of here. I know. I know. You all know that. But the last negotiations. Something has changed with Lucifer and Game Masters. I don’t know what it is. However, something is coming. Something big and I don’t know what it is. My instincts tell me we need to escape before the situation worsens. And believe me, they will worsen.”

  “We have been complacent till now, not putting much effort in getting out of here. I am not blaming anyone. I am simply stating things as they are. Some of you have gotten comfortable and given up the idea of escaping this place. Hey, even I got fucking comfortable in the library.”

  “However, this all has to stop. From today, we need to get together and get out of here. I can help us with a starting point.”

  Marcus held up a book. Tamara could easily read the title from where she was standing. Portals. She could not read the name of the author though.

  Marcus leaned forwards as he said, “We need access to sewers and we need to find a portal spell that would safely see us out of the planet.”

  “So, then”, Marcus clapped his hands, “Who the fuck is ready to get the fuck out of here?”

  Tamara could see that somehow everyone was charged up now. Even Tim and Shania, who had given up. Thalia was also nodding with Marcus. Selena had never given up and there was a fire in her eyes which Tamara was glad to see. Tasha’s face was impassive but Tamara was sure that she was the most invested in getting all of them out of here.

  Tamara finally decided to speak, “It seems that we are all in. What is the plan, Marcus Blank?”

  Marcus grinned. And they all came together to plan.

  ***

  Lucifer Morningstar was looking at the book in front of him. He was not actually reading it. His mind was someplace else. Focused on one person. A person who had recently come into his life and intrigued him.

  Marcus Blank.

  Marcus was an enigma that Lucifer had decided that he needed to solve. Marcus was powerful. Lucifer was sure that he was even more powerful than Lucifer but he did not act that way. He acted weak. But Marcus still found ways to surprise Lucifer.

  Like today. The last time Lucifer had released his aura upon Marcus, he had passed out. However, today, Marcus did not pass out. He got simply crushed to the ground. To train a resistance against something by just experiencing it once. Now, that was a feat which Lucifer could appreciate.

  Lucifer wondered what Marcus Blank was. Lucifer had had a chat with Marbas about Marcus. Marbas had met Marcus before on Una. Marbas, as usual, had been his perplexing self. He left Lucifer with more questions than answers.

  Yes. Marcus Blank was an enigma he was going to solve. He was going to find out what Marcus was and use it against the Game Masters. Then he would finally have his revenge.

  Lucifer smiled as he leaned back, a plan forming in his head. A plan that would definitely benefit him and not Marcus Blank.

  ***

  Leyda and Rauros were in their private room in their palace on Una. Both were sitting there, deep in thought.

  “Your plan failed”, said Rauros softly.

  Leyda snorted, “She simply got captured. It is not the end of the world. She has her instructions. She will follow them. She knows it.”

  “And what if she cannot get them out of Twarftha?”

  “Then she escapes alone. And we get rid of the anomaly. Problem solved. And it will take the sacrifice of only five adventurers to do so.”

  Rauros slapped his hand on the bed, cracking it, “I refuse to sacrifice anyone.”

  Leyda took Rauros’ hand in her hands and kissed it softly, “Necessary sacrifice has not affected you before. What has changed this time?”

  “I don’t know love. I am not sure. This demon invasion. My decisions lately. Am I losing it?”

  Leyda’s gaze hardened, “You are a Game Master Rauros Shadowfang. You should not be having such doubts. Are you okay?”

  “I will say it again. I don’t know love. However, I refuse to sacrifice anyone. We will find a way. We will get them all home to Una.”

  It seemed that Rauros was consoling himself more than he was ensuring Leyda. A flicker of doubt passed Leyda’s mind. The symptoms of a disease passed through her mind but her mind dismissed it.

  Rauros was alright. They were alright. And all was going to be well.

  ***

  Marcus woke up the next day to find the others were already up. Someone had already made breakfast and people were already finishing eating and leaving. They had come up with a plan yesterday and they were going to follow through.

  Marcus’ part of the plan was simplest currently. He just had to go through the book, Portals. He needed to find a way out of planet Twarftha. Tasha was going to help. She believed that this could not be the only book that would help. She was going to the library to find out more. Tim would be accompanying her.

  Tamara, Shania and Thalia were going to scout exits out of the palace and see how they could escape effectively. Selena was given the duty of the messenger. She would be helping whosoever required help and passing messages between different groups.

  Marcus finished his breakfast and started to read the book. Selena sat beside him. The others left their apartment. They would all meet in the evening to talk about how their day went.

  Selena said, “I want to talk with you, Marcus.”

  Marcus remembered the page he was on and closed the book. He looked up to see Selena looking at him with a serious expression.

  “Yes?”

  Selena took a deep breath and said, “How serious of a shit are we in? None of your instinct bullshit. I want the truth. Do you think we can escape from this planet alive? Do you think the Game Masters will actually come through with their threat and involve other Game Masters?”

  Marcus looked at Selena for sometime. He wondered how best to answer her. She had been asking questions that he had asked himself after the negotiations and had come to a conclusion.

  Marcus said, “We are on our own. If we do not get out on our own we are fucked. Tasha is the key. This book is a secondary way of escaping. And yes, it is highly possible that we may all die here.”

  Selena blinked. Marcus waited for her. Then she launched herself at him. Marcus found that she was not attacking him but actually kissing him. He was surprised first but then kissed back.

  After they broke the kiss Selena said softly, “I like you.”

  Marcus replied in a whisper, “I like you too Selena. But now is not the time. We need to get back to Una.”

  “I trust you Marcus Blank. More than I gorking trust Tasha. I believe you will get us out of here.”

  Selena kissed him again and stood up, “Would you like to go out with me some time, Marcus?”

  Marcus grinned, “On Una. When we get there.”

  Selena nodded and exited the apartment saying, “I am going to the library. Will be back soon.”

  Marcus stared at the closed door for a long time. He was awoken from his reverie by Memory, She is a distraction. On fucking Twarftha and on fucking Una. Forget about her.

  I am going to ignore you, Memory. Fuck you.

  Marcus opened the book and continued reading about Portals. Some time later Marcus felt a shift in the air. Without a sound Lucifer appeared seated on the sofa in front of Marcus.

  Marcus did not react even though he was panicking internally. He calmly closed the book with a sigh and raised an inquiring brow at the King of Demons.

  “Impressive control”, said Lucifer with a tilt of his head.

  “Thank you”, said Marcus.

  “You must be wondering as to why I am here.”

  “That thought did cross my mind, yes.”

  “I have a proposition for you, Marcus Blank.”

  “What sort of a proposition?”

  Lucifer leaned forward, a predatory grin on his face. Marcus shuddered inwardly. Lucifer was looking terrifying.

  Lucifer said, “You intrigue me Marcus Blank. I have had a chat with Marbas about you. You are not weak, but you appear weak. You are not a Game Master. Neither you are a Game Destroyer. Yet, here you are sitting in front of me, independent of the two factions and possessing a power that you somehow cannot fathom because for some unknown reason, you are behaving weak.”

  “So, tell me Marcus Blank, what is your story? Why are you here? Why do you have power strong enough to challenge a Game Master but you are pretending to be a player for one of their worlds? What is inside you, Marcus Blank, waiting to come out and play.”

  Marcus paled. This was not good. He had no idea how to respond to this and asked Memory for help. Lucifer was asking questions, questions that he himself had been asking Memory and had got no clear answers. He did not know how to get out of this mess.

  Let me take control of your body. Don’t worry. You will still be aware of what is going on. This is way above your fucking paygrade. If you want to fucking live, then for the love of fucking everything, let me take control.

  Marcus made a split second decision and relinquished control to Memory. It was a strange sensation. He was still there but it felt as if he was spectating himself.

  “You are treading dangerous waters, Lucifer Morningstar”, said Memory using Marcus’ body.

  Lucifer’s grin widened, “Ah! There you are. The true power behind Marcus Blank. Why were you hiding?”

  “I have my reasons. What is your proposition Lucifer? I am listening.”

  “You know what I want.”

  Memory nodded, “Freedom for all the demons.”

  Lucifer snorted, “Nothing of the sort. I just want freedom for myself and a few of the demons of my choosing. I don’t care about the welfare of the rest of my species.”

  “Not a healthy approach, you know.”

  “Yes. But that is not your concern. I know you are up to something on Una. I don’t care. What I am proposing is this. When you are finished doing whatever you are doing on Una, you come help me escape this goddamn planet. Me and a few other demons of my choosing. In return, I will open the sacrificial portal again and send you back to Una. What do you say? Interested?”

  Memory pretended that he was thinking. Meanwhile, Marcus was panicking. Would Memory really abandon the rest of the adventures and Tasha so that he could get back to Una to do what he had said he had to do. Marcus was sure he would agree. After all, Memory did not care about the others. Marcus did. Memory only cared about his mission.

  “I came here to get all of the adventurers out. If I were to accept your deal, then all of the adventurers and Tasha need to be with me. Not just me alone.”

  “Come now. Don’t tell me you care about them. I mean Marcus, the boy you are possessing definitely does. But not you.”

  “It would look extremely suspicious if I go back without them. How did I alone escape from Twarftha?”

  “I am sure someone as intelligent as you could make up something.”

  “I can. But I will not be in control when I get back. Marcus will be.”

  Lucifer gritted his teeth, “Can you not do whatever you want to do yourself? Why do you need this stupid moniker of Marcus Blank.”

  The temperature of the room dropped as Memory glared at Lucifer. Lucifer held his gaze in defiance. No one looked away from each other for some time.

  Lucifer broke his gaze first, “Fine. Think about it. I can only allow you to pass through the portal. No one else. I will give you some time. Meet me when you have made a decision.”

  Lucifer disappeared. Memory went back and Marcus got control of his body. He stared in terror where Lucifer had been sitting.

  WHAT THE FUCK!