The next few days yielded no result. They still did not have a plan to get to the sewers and they had not found any teleportation spells other than the sacrificial portal spell. The book Portals did not have any other interplanetary portal spells. But it did explain, great in theory, how to teleport across the planet. The mana cost was huge though.

  Tasha’s search had also yielded no result. Marcus had asked her when they were alone as to why she was searching for an interplanetary teleportation spell if they could use the realm out of time and space for travelling back to Una. Tasha agreed that it had indeed been her initial plan but she was hopeful that she would not have to use the realm again. Sneaking with so many people would be difficult after all.

  However, all that was secondary if they did not find a way out of the city. Marcus still believed that the sewers were their best bet. Tim suggested that they could find a way over the wall surrounding the city and jump down from it. He believed Tasha’s magic could help break the fall and they could escape easily.

  Tasha had shot down the idea. Just because the demons could not escape the city, that did not mean their ranged attacks could not. And jumping down the walls would require going through many demons and creating quite a ruckus. They wanted to do this as quietly as possible. As the days passed, no solution was presented to prisoners and they seemed to be considering creating a ruckus.

  Marcus seemed to consider asking Linguis for help but everyone shot his idea down. Considering the vehement opposition from everyone, Marcus did not even consider going behind their backs and asking Linguis for help.

  Marcus was alone on the training grounds today. He was not training, simply thinking. He was looking down at the ground, intently. Someone appeared beside him and he looked up.

  “Hello Marcus”, said Linguis.

  Marcus was surprised to see Linguis out of the library but gave her a nod of acknowledgement.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “Thinking.”

  “About?”

  “I think you know.”

  Linguis nodded. She did not say anything but stood with Marcus in silence for some time.

  Then Linguis said, “I can help you. You know that, right?”

  Marcus gave a short laugh, “Yes, I know. And I also know the price of your help. You know, your father also wants to help me too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  And Marcus told her an abridged version of his meeting with Lucifer. Linguis had gone pale after hearing it. She excused herself and got out of there.

  “Well that was not nice”, said a voice behind Marcus.

  Marcus turned to see Lucifer behind him.

  “What do you want now?” said Marcus, “Lord Morningstar.”

  Lucifer smiled, giving his face a creepy effect.

  “I made the offer in confidence, Marcus Blank.”

  “The offer was not given to me.”

  “Yes, it was given to the one actually in control. The one who is pulling your strings.”

  Marcus was sure that Memory was not completely pulling his strings but refrained from commenting on that. Let Lucifer think whatever he wants to think.

  “Well, you still have not told me what you want, Lord Morningstar.”

  “I am interested in knowing why my daughter is spending so much time with you. And I find that she wants to escape this place with you lot. Such a precious thought. I wonder what made her think she could escape even if you guys could.”

  Lucifer was looking pointedly at Marcus.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” asked Marcus, “If I knew how to get out of this fucking city, do you think I would even be here?”

  “Fair enough. I am keeping an eye on you Marcus Blank. Tell your friend to make his decision fast. My patience is running thin.”

  Lucifer vanished leaving Marcus alone and he heaved a sigh of relief. He started going back to the others hoping that they would have a way out.

  ***

  Marcus was shaken awake by Tim.

  “Get up”, said Tim in an eager voice, “There is some good news.”

  Marcus woke up groggily. How long had he been asleep? It would not have been more than a couple of hours. He groaned as he got out of the bed. He shook the sleep out of him as he exited the room to go into the common room.

  Everyone was present. It seemed that they were waiting for him. Marcus sat beside Selena who gave him a small smile. The others seemed to be looking at Tasha, waiting for her to start.

  “I got in touch with Harados”, said Tasha.

  There was a string of questions from everyone and Tasha raised her hand to quieten everyone down.

  “Do not ask how I did it but I did”, said Tasha, “He has a plan. There is a sewer access beneath the training grounds which was closed by Lucifer. Harados will open it. We can escape that way.”

  “What’s the catch?” asked Tamara.

  “When he opens the way, it will be noisy. Harados wants our help in killing Lucifer.”

  Everyone started talking at once and Tasha had to raise her hands again to get everyone to settle.

  Selena said, “That’s foolish.”

  Tasha shook her head. She said, “I know. But we have no choice. I do have a plan though. For disabling Lucifer. We will not be able to kill him though.”

  “What’s that?” asked Thalia.

  Tasha had gotten a bottle of crystal clear liquid out of her pocket.

  Tasha said, “A paralyzing potion. I had it in my inventory when I came to Twarftha. It will help knock Lucifer out for several hours. That way Harados and his group can go kill Lucifer and we can get out of the sewers. I have already talked with Harados regarding this. He is okay with that.”

  “And who is going to poison Lucifer?” asked Tamara.

  Tasha looked at Marcus. Everyone looked at Marcus, surprised.

  Marcus was surprised too but asked calmly, “And how do you expect me to do that?”

  Tasha smiled sweetly but there was nothing sweet about that smile, “You don’t think I know about the offer Lucifer has made you?”

  “What offer?” was the question on almost everyone’s lips.

  Marcus sighed and gave them an abridged version of Lucifer’s offer. There was a string of questions and Marcus answered them briefly and to the best of what he knew.

  “So, you want me to pretend to accept his offer and drug him?” asked Marcus.

  “Yes.”

  “You do know my sleight of hand proficiency sucks.”

  “Something tells me you will be alright.”

  “You do know that you suck right?”

  Tasha laughed at that. Then she asked, “Is everyone on board with this?”

  “Wait, what will all you be doing while I am drugging Lucifer?” asked Marcus.

  “Why”, said Tasha, “Helping Harados and other rebels create chaos.”

  They discussed some more. It seemed that everyone was indeed onboard with this plan because of the lack of any other plan. They had to try. Marcus frowned as Tasha gave him the potion. Harados was going to attack in two days from now. They had to be ready for him.

  ***

  Marcus walked up to the throne room where his entry was barred. There were a group of soldiers and a demon lord guarding the entrance to the throne room.

  The demon lord said, “You are not allowed without permission of Lord Morningstar.”

  “I wish to talk with him”, said Marcus slowly, licking his lips, “It would be in his best interests to meet me. Tell him I have decided to accept his offer.”

  The demon lord gestured to one of the demons to go inside and pass the message. The demon went in from a door to the side of the throne room door. He was gone for a few minutes and the door to the throne room opened. The demon was trembling a bit as he said that Marcus needed to go in alone.

  Marcus entered the throne room and the door closed behind him with what Marcus felt an ominous thud. Marcus took a deep breath. Everything was going to be alright. Today was D-day. Today they will be getting out of the city. Getting out of Twarftha. They would be going back to Una. Marcus reassured himself by repeating these statements in his mind.

  Marcus walked up to the throne where Lucifer was sitting with a bored expression on his face.

  As Marcus approached him, Lucifer said, “What are you up to now, Marcus Blank?”

  Marcus blinked and said, “As I told your guards outside, I am here to accept your offer.”

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  “Do you take me to be a fool?”

  “No?”

  “Then why are you lying to me?”

  Marcus gave a resigned sigh and said, “I told Tasha this would not work.”

  Lucifer suddenly sat up, alert and looking down on Marcus with an expression of interest on his terrifying face.

  “What would not work?”

  “The distraction.”

  There was an explosion. It seemed that Harados had kept his word. But he was early. Lucifer looked in the direction of the training grounds. Of course Lucifer would have figured out where the explosion had come from.

  “Well. Well. Well. What are you lot planning, Marcus Blank? Do you think siding with the rebels would help you escape me easily?” said Lucifer with venom in his voice.

  “Well, not me. I am the distraction.”

  Lucifer started to laugh, “And do you think I cannot catch the others who are waiting for you. I can feel them, fighting against the demons who are loyal to me.”

  Marcus frowned, “That was not the plan.”

  “You mean you really were going to sacrifice yourself to let the others out?”

  “Yes?”

  There was no warning. Lucifer was upon Marcus. He did not even have a weapon. He punched Marcus with such force that Marcus was sure would have killed him. However, Marcus stopped Lucifer’s punch without effort.

  Now Memory, shouted Marcus in his mind.

  Memory took over. Memory grinned as he punched Lucifer back. Lucifer flew back and crashed into his throne. Memory was upon Lucifer the next second, raining the demon king with punches. Memory had the upper hand but Marcus knew that they did not have much time.

  Two minutes. That was all Memory had given Marcus. That was all Marcus was going to get. In those two minutes, Memory was going to make mincemeat of Lucifer. Or that is what Marcus had hoped.

  Lucifer roared and released his aura, throwing Memory off him and at quite a distance from him. Lucifer summoned his sword, a one handed scimitar which was flaming. Memory gritted his teeth. He had no weapon. He knew that.

  Lucifer charged while Memory cast a spell to form a blue translucent magic longsword infused with ice magic in his hand. The flaming scimitar met the icy longsword and there was a hiss and an explosion of magic.

  Memory’s longsword shattered in just a hit but he did not let Lucifer take advantage of this opportunity. He grabbed Lucifer’s wrist making him drop his scimitar and bashed his head in Lucifer’s snout.

  This staggered Lucifer. Memory took this opportunity to grab Lucifer by the throat. He cast [Magic Hands] making two hands appear in front of him. He directed them to open Lucifer’s mouth. Memory quickly got the bottle Tasha had given her and poured the poison down Lucifer’s throat.

  When the last drop had disappeared down Lucifer’s gullet, Memory closed Lucifer’s mouth with such force that Marcus could hear the demon king’s teeth crack. Then Memory punched Lucifer making him fly away from him and crash into the far end wall of the throne room.

  It was at that time the two minutes was up. Marcus felt the weight of Memory’s magic usage on him and he crashed down on the ground. With blurry vision he got on to his knees to look at Lucifer.

  Lucifer had unleashed his aura to the max extent and was now walking towards Marcus, seething in a rage which Marcus had not seen on anyone till date.

  As Lucifer walked towards Marcus, Marcus wondered whether the potion was working or not. Will it work on time or will Lucifer get close to Marcus and kill him?

  Lucifer suddenly staggered while walking towards Marcus. Then suddenly, he dropped down flat on the ground, passed out. Marcus stared at the fallen figure for some time. Then with a groan, he got up. His whole body was hurting.

  It would heal. He knew that. But that would take a few hours. Few hours that he did not have. He needed to get out of here now.

  Marcus tried to run but he mostly staggered, swaying from side to side as he made towards the doors of the throne room. He reached them and leaned on them. They did not open. Of course they did not.

  Marcus walked towards the side entrance and opened it. He stepped forwards and tripped. He fell but was caught by someone.

  “I got you”, said his catcher. Marcus identified her.

  “Thank the fuck you are here, Linguis”, said Marcus.

  “Are you alright?” asked Linguis with concern in her voice.

  “Ah! I am fine. You should see the other guy.”

  Panic flitted across Linguis’ face as Marcus hastily added, “Your father is alive. He has only passed out. Don’t worry. I told you I will not kill him.”

  “Can you walk?” asked Linguis, nodding at what Marcus had said.

  “I will require a bit of help.”

  “Fuck. Lean on me. Come now.”

  Marcus and Linguis started making their way towards the training grounds. The guards that were initially present guarding the throne room seemed to have disappeared. It meant that Linguis had done her job.

  Marcus had not liked Tasha’s plan from the beginning. There was no way that he would have been able to fool Lucifer. That meant Tasha and others would be escaping soon, leaving Marcus to his fate. He was sure of it. Tasha would convince them somehow in the chaos of what was happening.

  So, Marcus had made his own plan. To ensure his survival. That meant making a deal with two people, Memory and Linguis. And it seemed to have worked till now. Sort of.

  Marcus and Linguis made their way to the training grounds with ease. Linguis knew hidden passages in the castle and they made it to the training grounds safely and fast even with Marcus leaning on Linguis.

  The fighting seemed to have moved from training grounds to inside the palace. As Marcus and Linguis looked out of their hiding place and into the grounds, there seemed to be no one in sight. There were a lot of bodies though, a lot of demon bodies.

  Marcus could see the large hole to the right side of the training ground. It seemed Harados and other demons would have made their way through that hole. Marcus and Linguis started towards the hole. Marcus was not leaning on Linguis anymore. He felt much better than before and was now jogging besides Linguis.

  They were a few metres away from the hole when Marcus felt the magical attack. He tackled Linguis to the ground as a wave of green magical energy passed over them. They both turned around from the ground to look at who had attacked them.

  Standing at one of the entrances to the training ground was a large humanoid red rat. Marcus blinked and rubbed his eyes. He was not hallucinating. There was indeed a large red rat that he was seeing.

  Linguis muttered, “Sanguine. Demon Lord. I will take care of it.”

  Linguis stepped a few paces forward as Marcus took a step back cautiously.

  “What brings you here Sanguine?”

  The rat demon lord replied in quite a chittering voice, “I followed you Linguis. Wondering what you were up to with the human. Did not quite expect you to be the traitor. I mean, Lord Lucifer is your father after all. I did not expect you to take part in killing him.”

  Linguis gritted her teeth as she said, “I am taking no part in killing him, Sanguine. I am simply trying to get out of here.”

  “And the human? The prisoner?”

  “He is my way out.”

  Sanguine started to laugh, “You are so naive Linguis.”

  Sanguine took a katana out of the scabbard on his waist and got into a stance, “I am afraid your escape ends now. Come quietly and I will not hurt you, much. The human dies though.”

  Marcus started to look around and luckily found a longsword near one of the fallen demons. He picked it up and readied himself to defend against Sanguine. Linguis looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. Then she shook her head indicating him not to do anything.

  Marcus nodded and sat down. If Linguis was going to take care of this, he might rest a bit.

  Linguis stepped forward, a pair of chakrams appearing in her hand, “You do not want to do this, Sanguine.”

  “Oh! But I fucking do.”

  Sanguine charged towards Linguis. Linguis threw her chakrams on either side and shot a pure bolt of magic towards Sanguine. Sanguine deflected the magic bolt and was immediately attacked with the oncoming chakrams from each side. He jumped up to avoid them.

  Linguis cast a mage hand to catch him and then recalled a chakram. She caught Sanguine by his tail and threw the chakram which he deflected. He could not deflect another bolt of magic which Linguis had thrown immediately after the chakram and it hit him full on his head, disorienting him. Immediately Linguis directed her second chakram.

  Sanguine’s head dropped down, followed by his body. Linquis recalled both of her chakrams and they disappeared once she had caught them. She turned to Marcus.

  “Wow. That was impressive.”

  “Are you mocking me, Marcus?”

  “No. I have never seen a demon lord go down that fast before.”

  “You forget. I am a daughter of Lucifer after all.”

  Marcus gulped as he said, “Yes you are.”

  They started walking towards the hole when another voice interrupted them.

  “Going somewhere?”

  They both turned to see Harados jogging towards them. Marcus readied his longsword while Linguis resummoned her chakrams.

  “Whoa there”, said Harados stopping and raising his hands, “I am not here to fight you. I am coming with you.”

  Marcus looked at Linguis who simply shrugged and then said to Harados, “Keep up then.”

  The three of them walked to the hole. The hole was at least twenty feet wide and looked as if it was about fifty feet in depth. Marcus could hear the sound of water below and could see up to some feet down. He whistled.

  “That is quite the hole”, said Marcus.

  “Thank you”, said Harados.

  Harados jumped down followed by Linguis. Marcus jumped down and softened his fall down with a spell. Still he stumbled and fell down. When he got up Linguis was asking Harados about the escape route.

  Harados said, “We follow this guy. He got in through the sewers. He will know a way out.”

  “Really! Really?”, said Marcus as both the demon lords looked at him.

  Marcus looked around and picked a direction by instinct. He hoped it would lead them out. The other two started to follow him.

  As they were walking, Linguis asked Harados, “I thought you were going to try and kill my father.”

  Harados shook his head, “Not me. Her. She plans on doing it.”

  Linguis shuddered, “Will She be able to do it?”

  “It depends”, said Harados with a shrug, “For how long Lord Lucifer remains unconscious. If he wakes up before She reaches him then there is going to be a fight. A loud and destructive fight.”

  They fell silent after that. Marcus wondered who She was that Harados and Linguis were talking about. They walked for some time when Marcus saw it, a faint glimmer of sunlight. Marcus started running towards it. The others followed.

  They finally came to a grate which was open. Marcus stepped out of it into the small rivulet which was flowing left and right after coming out of the grate. Marcus looked back to see Linguis and Harados not moving. Linguis had her hand in front of her and it seemed to be stopped at an invisible barrier at the grate.

  “We can’t get out”, said Linguis sadly.

  “Is there a way?” asked Marcus, “You wouldn’t have come this far Linguis if there was no way.”

  “You need to pull us.”

  “What?”

  “You have magic Marcus Blank. I have sensed it. If you call upon your magic and pull us, we will be able to get out.”

  Marcus thought, Memory. What is she saying?

  There was a sigh as Memory’s answer came, Just pull them. I shall do the rest.

  Our deal was for Linguis only. Do we want Harados out too?

  I don’t mind. Do you?

  Marcus nodded as he put his hands inside the entrance and grabbed both their hands.

  “Ready?” asked Marcus and got a nod in return from both of them.

  Marcus pulled. He felt something shift in the magic and both Linquis and Harados came out of the invisible barrier that was not allowing them earlier to pass through.

  All three of them fell down. Marcus stood up but the two demon lords stayed down. Marcus could see that they were clear in shock.

  “We actually got out”, muttered Harados, “We fucking actually fucking got out.”

  Linguis seemed to be shaking. Were those tears? And she seemed to be laughing too. Marcus decided to look straight ahead. It was not his time. Let the demon lords celebrate.

  Marcus looked towards the forest and looked back at the opening of the sewers. It seemed that they had exited from the same grate they had entered the city from all those days ago. Marcus looked at Harados and Linguis who seemed to have stopped celebrating and were now looking at him.

  “So, what now?” asked Marcus.

  “Are you not going to join the others who were with you?” asked Linguis.

  Marcus nodded, “I am, but I am also pretty sure that they will not be happy to see you. Tasha especially.”

  Linguis looked back at the city and then focused on Marcus, “How did you get to Twarftha, Marcus?”

  Marcus shrugged, “Not my secret to tell.”

  “I am assuming it is Tasha’s?” said Harados.

  Marcus did not say anything but simply smiled back. Harados shook his head while Linguis sighed.

  Linguis said, “Well. It seems that we-”

  She was interrupted when a bolt of dark pink light shot in the sky. The sky was blotted with darkness for a couple of seconds after which the darkness and the light disappeared. There was a loud scream when the darkness had spread but it disappeared with the darkness.

  Marcus looked at Linguis and Harados. They both seemed to have paled.

  “What the fuck was that?” asked Marcus.

  “The pink light was the activation of the portal that we had used to send the demons to Una”, said Linguis.

  “And the darkness was the leader of the rebellion”, said Harados, “This is not good. It seems that Lucifer is awake and has somehow sent her to fuck knows where.”

  Linguis shook her head, “I can guess where he has sent her.”

  Marcus realized something, “Una. Lucifer has sent the shadow to Una.”

  “You need to get back fast Marcus Blank”, said Linguis in a dead serious voice, “Else Una is fucked.”