Piper crept forward, shrouded by her [Wraithskin] spell. Her plan to deal with the armored skeleton and necromancer was simple—she would find a safe place to launch a barrage of arrows, and watch as the bag of bones exploded from [Demonic Mark]. Then she could easily finish off the necromancer.

  It probably wasn’t the most ingenious plan she’d ever come up with. But she was almost out of mana after the battle with the zombies, and her body was battered. She just wanted to end this fight and go home.

  As she reached a building on the far side of the square, she used [Identify] on the undead creature.

  Skeleton, Level ???

  Piper wasn’t particularly surprised at the level. The power radiating off the creature felt even more oppressive than the Crimson Guard. Still, she knew high-level creatures weren’t invulnerable to her bow. If she could catch it by surprise, then she had a chance of winning.

  Lifting her bow slightly, she quietly nocked an arrow. But before she could fire, the skeleton unleashed its true aura. A wave of dreadful power washed over her, nearly driving her to her knees. A feeling of despair settled into her bones, and it took everything she had not to flee.

  This undead creature was far more powerful than anything she’d encountered in the past. Even the demons she’d fought in the Black Pyramid paled in comparison to this monster. She was like a gnat facing the power of a dragon.

  As the aura receded, the undead creature strolled over to the unconscious form of Basil and reversed its axe. Holding the hilt with both hands, it plunged the spike down toward the man’s head.

  “No!” she screamed out reflexively as the axe descended. She hurriedly released her arrow, striking the weapon and deflecting its path just enough to miss her group member. The spiked end of the weapon dug into the earth beside Basil’s head.

  “No mortal can stand against the power of a bone monarch!” the necromancer cried out, flecks of spittle forming at the sides of his mouth. “My lord will consume your soul!”

  The skeleton held up a bony hand to silence the necromancer. Then, the undead creature turned to peer with gaping eye sockets in Piper’s direction. “Reveal yourself, or I will slay every last one of your companions.”

  Piper hesitated, unsure of what she should do. Her plan had been dashed by the skeleton approaching the unconscious bodies of her party. She couldn’t use [Demonic Mark] with them so close by. At best, they’d be severely injured by the subsequent explosion. At worst, she’d kill them all.

  But if she revealed herself, she’d just end up dead as well. She had no idea what to do.

  “I will not ask again.” The skeleton wrenched its axe free from the ground and positioned it above Basil’s nose.

  “Alright!” Piper cried out. She let her [Wraithskin] spell drop and stepped out from cover. Holding her bow out to the side, she walked forward slowly.

  Gorebark twisted slightly in her grip. “Don’t tell me you’re going to surrender to that bony bastard.”

  “I have a plan,” she whispered. Though being honest, she really didn’t. Right now, all she wanted to do was keep the others alive until she came up with one. But Gorebark didn’t need to know that.

  Assuming she could actually think of one. Because she had no idea how to combat a high-level skeleton and a necromancer.

  “I said reveal yourself,” the skeleton commanded, staring at her with hollow sockets.

  Her brow furrowed with confusion. “I did?”

  “I will see your true form… demon.”

  Piper’s heart skipped a beat at those words. Not that she should be surprised that the skeleton had sensed her magic. During the battle, she’d been using some pretty powerful infernal spells. Anyone high level should be able to sense them without difficulty. At least that’s what she’d gathered from Raz Kalma, back at the Black Pyramid.

  “This is who I really am,” Piper said, her eyes flicking over to the necromancer. The man was staring at her with wide eyes.

  “How amusing,” the skeleton said. “Even when discovered, you cannot admit the truth.” It raised its axe, letting the tip hover above Basil’s eye. “I will not ask you a third time.”

  With a deep breath, Piper allowed her [False Face] to fall away. As her skin transformed to bone white, and her tail and horns appeared, she heard an audible gasp from Lukas hiding behind the house. Clearly, he’d been watching the unfolding events. Which meant she’d have a major problem to deal with after this was over.

  “Excellent.” The undead creature shouldered its axe and walked forward. “Now I must ask—why have you inserted yourself into the battle between mortal races and the undead? My realm plans to claim Kalmyros in the near future.” It waved a skeletal hand at the unconscious aspirants. “Are these members of your cult?”

  “Yes,” she said, thinking quickly. “And I need them for my… cult stuff.”

  “Interesting.” The creature prodded the spellcaster, Sophie, with its toe. “I had heard rumbling from others that the Veil between the mortal and ascendant realms was weakening. However, I did not expect any demons to cross for centuries yet.”

  “There are far more than you realize,” she said with false bravado. “A demon noble awaits my return. Now, I’d appreciate it if you could give me my cult back. Unharmed.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Appreciate?” The skeleton chortled. “I never thought to hear such words from a demon. However, I suspect you’re only playing a role for your audience. Are you feigning concern for your cult to gain loyalty? Someday you will learn an offer of power is all you need for devotion.”

  “She’s really a terrible demon,” Gorebark quipped from her hand. “You wouldn’t believe it.”

  “What about my people?” Piper asked, ignoring her weapon.

  “A demonic weapon? How unusual.” The undead warrior stroked its chin, an odd affectation for someone with only bone features. “My empress would be most displeased if I started a conflict with the Infernal Realm. However, this city is claimed by the Death Realm. Do you plan to dispute our claim? Know we have no plans to move into your kind’s ancient home in the mountains. We still honor the accord.”

  “I’m not planning on staying here,” Piper said truthfully. “As soon as I accomplish what I need to do, I’m leaving.”

  “Don’t listen to her!” Gorebark cried out. “We’re going to conquer the world together!”

  “But not this place,” she grated. “Right?”

  “Well, maybe not right away…”

  “I shall inform my empress of your plans.” The skeleton strolled back to take a position next to the necromancer. “Gather up your things, warmflesh. We are departing from this place.”

  Stavros let out a strangled reply. “What of our plans for conquest? And what of my assistant she murdered? I want her dead!”

  Faster than the eye could follow, the skeleton swung its massive axe at the necromancer. The sharp edge stopped a hair’s breadth from the man’s neck. “Are you questioning my orders, warmflesh?”

  Stavros licked his lips. “No. Of course not, my liege. As you command.”

  Piper watched with disbelief as the necromancer hurried around, gathering up the glowing skulls and other arcane items. Everything disappeared into the green sack he held. It must be another item similar to a Bag of Holding. She really wanted to get a bag like that someday.

  For the next few minutes, she watched warily as the necromancer stripped the village of its magical items. At any second, she expected them to change their minds and attack her. But the skeleton simply regarded her with gaping sockets.

  When Stavros was done, the skeleton waved its hand, and a portal tore open in the middle of the square. The two figures stepped through before the swirling circle of magic closed behind them.

  Immediately, she recast [False Face], feeling incredibly exposed in her demon form. She already had a lot to explain to Lukas. And it would be easier with a friendly face.

  But before she could try to explain herself, she took a minute to stop and check on the others. After checking their pulses, she was relieved to note they were all alive. Though she imagined without the benefit of [Demonic Blood], they would all feel terrible once they awoke.

  Steeling herself, she jogged over to the building that concealed Lukas and Ophelia, only to find it empty. Confused, she searched the surrounding area until she spotted them hurrying away on the road. She squinted her eyes and was surprised to see Lukas was dragging her friend along behind him.

  “Darn it,” she said under her breath. Of all things, she hadn’t expected Lukas to run away. Most people tended to attack her when they learned her secret. But then again, he wasn’t some high-level who could deal with a demon.

  Piper broke into a jog and then rapidly increased her pace to a sprint. She wanted to catch up with them before they encountered anyone else. The last thing she wanted was word of her being a demon to get around.

  “Wait!” she cried out as she neared them. “I only want to talk.”

  “Demons lie!” Lukas called back.

  Piper frowned as he repeated the phrase she seemed to hear so often. If she ever found the person who had created that saying, she was going to have some harsh words for them.

  “It’s true,” Ophelia said, tugging at his grip. But she was simply dragged along at a faster pace. “She just wants to talk. I told you that she’s not evil.”

  “Please,” Piper said, slowing to a walk. “Let me explain.”

  Lukas lifted his staff and planted himself between Piper and Ophelia. Even facing down a demon, he remained unflappable. At his side, a portal to the Earth Realm tore open. At any second, a Mud Elemental would stomp out.

  “Put down your weapon,” Piper said, rolling her eyes. “I could have just shot you with my bow if I wanted to hurt you.”

  But Lukas didn’t seem keen to listen to her, and an elemental emerged from the portal. Meanwhile, a swirling circle of mud appeared in his hand. Most likely, he planned to stop her arrows with his shield spell.

  “Really?” Piper fought down the urge to roll her eyes again. “You’re going to try to fight me?”

  As the elemental approached, she activated [Tail Strike]. Her barbed tail, concealed by the illusion, shot forward, and tore through the summoned creature’s head. The tip burst out on the other side in a rain of mud. A second later, the elemental collapsed to the ground into a pile of goo.

  Lukas’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he pushed Ophelia back. “When did you replace Piper?” he growled. “When we separated at the Black Pyramid? Is the poor girl dead?”

  “I’m really Piper!” she said, growing exasperated. “I was always a demoness. Well, sort of. I was born a human and ended up in this body somehow. I’m still not really sure about the details…”

  “It’s true,” Ophelia added. “She showed up on my farm as this horrifying horned monster. But she turned out to be pretty nice for a demon.”

  Piper glared at her friend for describing her as horrifying. She thought she at least looked mildly cute as a demon. Certainly not something that would terrify children.

  “She… always was a demon?” He furrowed his brow and frowned. “What is your plan for Kalmyros? Does your kind plan to conquer it? I will not allow that to happen.”

  Piper’s eyes darted down to the remains of the mud elemental. If she wanted to conquer the city, then Lukas really wasn’t in any position to stop her. Not that she would say that and hurt his feelings.

  She shrugged slightly. “I just want to become a wayfarer.”

  “And then?” he insisted. “What nefarious plans do you have after that? Do you plan to murder the residents until blood flows up to a horse’s bridle?”

  “What?” she exclaimed. “No! Why would you even say that? I’ve tried to help everyone I’ve met. Why can’t you see that?”

  “Because demons lie,” he said flatly. “If you’re doing something nice, then it’s only to further your own agenda. I will stop you or die trying—” His words cut off as Ophelia beaned him from behind with the log she was holding.

  “Ophelia!” Piper gasped, looking down at Lukas on his knees. “Why did you do that?”

  Her friend shrugged. “I thought it might knock some sense into him.”

  “Are you out of your mind? You probably gave the poor guy a concussion.” She hurried forward and placed a hand on Lukas’s shoulder. He tried to push her away weakly, but she resisted his efforts and held him steady.

  “I really don’t want to hurt anyone,” she said. “Why don’t we see if Althea has woken up? If so, she can heal your wound.”

  Reaching around his head, she felt a rising lump and a gash near the top of his skull. A stream of blood was pouring out of the wound. She took a moment to glare at Piper. Hitting him on the head wasn’t going to help her win him over.

  “Just kill me,” Lukas mumbled. “I’ll never help a demon.”

  Ophelia grinned. “You’ll come around. I used to try to slay her all the time. Now I only do it occasionally.”

  Piper sighed and helped Lukas up onto his feet. “I honestly used to be human like you.” She chewed on her lower lip before continuing. “Are you going to tell anyone about me?”

  “I… don’t know.”

  For now, she supposed that would have to do. Because she needed to get back to her group and check on them. Then she would have to make up a story to explain everything that had happened. Which was probably going to be even harder than convincing Lukas she wasn’t some kitten-eating monster.