Free Caged by Damnation by J. D. Stroube

drizzle that cleansed the Divine.

 
    CHAPTER 5
     
    WILLOW
    Death was the first to enter the vortex. The other Hellhounds followed until I was left with Kali and Aria. I had absolutely no desire to walk into the chaotic world that lay before me. I had never been this close to the Hellhounds’ door, but staring it down somehow made it more terrifying. I couldn't imagine stepping forward into the churning liquid mechanics before me.
    The inner vortex was a jumbled mess of scenes within scenes, each dimension coexisting and battling for their right to the space. The worlds were at war and I worried that I might become a casualty.
    Aria squeezed my shoulder before going forth into what I now considered a death trap. Once Aria disappeared, Kali wrapped her arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer in reassurance. "Don't worry. You'll be fine."
    I plunged forward into the icy chaos. The worlds continued to battle around me, but I remained untouched. While it was comforting that the worlds didn't flatten me like a pancake, I was terrified of the tunnel. It seemed that I descended, while my consciousness ascended. I knew they still had to be attached, because I could feel the ice merge with my bones, leaving behind a tingling numbness. My ears were assaulted by a bizarre mixture of nails on a chalkboard and the whistling sound of the air beating against the side of a building. Finally, everything stopped.
    Nauseated, I squeezed my eyes closed, and gave in to my fear. I stood still, trembling and afraid to peek, but my efforts were useless. The loss of sight forced me to rely on my other senses, which was nearly as bad as seeing. I smelled the conflicting scents of lilacs, coal, and apples. I heard the shuffling of feet, and the sound of a leather as it brushed against an object. Ivy had worn a leather jacket in the clearing, which clued me in to where the sound of leather came from. A collage of throat clearing and a high-pitched laugh slipped through the cracks of the Hellhounds’ circle.
    Opening my eyes, I saw that the Hellhounds were arranged in front of me. Three held patient and understanding expressions, but Ivy's contained irritation, and Bay seemed amused.
    "Are you okay?"
    My head snapped to look at Kali, forgetting for a moment that we had gone through the portal together. I was still in shock; my vision zoomed in and out, while my ears sang like a pod of whales.
    "It takes some getting used to. The first few times are the hardest, but once your body has grown accustomed to the travel, you will hardly be aware of it." Kali smiled, and nodded towards the hallway behind her sisters. It was roughly ten feet high and seven feet across. The walls reminded me of a coal mine. Parts were smooth as stone, while other sections seemed fragile, crumbling at the slightest touch. The ceiling looked sturdier, and a bit like hardened lava.
    Aria took my hand to pull me forward and Kali remained attached to my side, while the others parted for us to pass. The tunnel branched off into various sections, each with their own essence.
    The opening to the first passage on the right was framed with a garland of flowers. Lustrous gold beading swayed through the ivy, connecting the various plants into a unified piece. As I approached the opening, the scent of lilacs opened into a warm caress, covering my body in the intoxicating aroma.
    "This is my domain," Kali said with a proud expression. "We each have our own."
    My brow furrowed. "Don't you mean bedroom?"
    Aria laughed, "No, domain is a more ... let's just say that bedroom would not be adequate due to the size. You'll see."
    After that, I walked the passage in silence, the Hellhounds pulled back to allow me the freedom to explore, going their separate ways down individual passages. My new home brought overwhelming feelings and a sense of relief. While I wouldn't call it ideal, the Hellhounds’ lair was more than I had expected. The lack of fire and demons made it seem heavenly.
    I