Once I finished putting on my armor, I checked the guards for any valuables. The only useful things I found were a few low-level healing pills and about twenty silver coins.
"We should really start paying the guards more, this is just sad." I said to myself while popping a healing pill into my mouth. With the pill being of such low quality, it would be about ten minutes before it took effect.
"Marcus put the man's head down, and let's go."
He looked at me with his usual smile while he tossed the demon's head back and forward between his hands like a basketball.
He allowed the head to roll from his fingertips but right before it hit the ground, he kicked it. The head flew about forty feet in the air before landing in the swamp with a splash.
"GOALLLLLLLL!" He yelled while running in a circle with both hands in the air. I couldn't help but laugh at his childish antics.
"Alright, let's go." I repeated while walking to the platform where the teleportation pad resided.
The pad was circular and about ten feet tall with ancient demonic writing spirling all around it. A podium was placed in the center where one would put their hand to activate it. I wasn't exactly sure what it was made from but when turned on it would glow a blinding sky blue.
"We should be able to teleport to the blacksmith's location, but if I use my handprint my father will know exactly where I'm at."
"I can use mine, but it wouldn't take him long to figure out that I was the one who broke you out." Marcus said.
I thought about it for a moment and then said.
"Since you like to play with body parts so much bring me the guard's hands."
"Wouldn't they still figure out where your at?" Marcus asked.
"Not if I send each guard to a different location." Giving him a half-smile while tapping my temple with my right index finger.
"I don't think you're giving your father enough credit, but it's not a bad idea."
With that said we proceeded with the plan, sending three of the guards to random locations before using the final guard's hand to send us the blacksmith.
As the sky blue light swirled around our bodies we were forced to close our eyes for the fourth time. Within a fraction of a second, I felt my body being pulled as if I were being quartered by horses.
After about five seconds I found myself standing on an identical platform with Marcus still at my side. No guards, thank all that is unholy I thought to myself.
Marcus looked at me before raising the severed hand in the air as if he wanted to ask a question.
I smacked the hand and said. "No, you can not go to the restroom."
"That's not it Mr. Teacher sir. I want to know who came up with that torture device because they need their ass whipped."
"You do realize this is Hell right?" I said sarcastically.
"Touché." He said.
As we stepped off the platform into the blacksmith's forge. I could see him hard at work and not paying us any mind.
The blacksmith's name was Patxi. My father, King Belial dragged him to hell about thirty years ago after a contract they made had ended. He was the most accomplished blacksmith on earth at the time due to my father's interference. When he was brought here my father had Patxi's bloodline changed so that he could serve him longer.
The room was a sight to behold. Weapons lined the shelves and walls and weird contraptions were scattered all around the floor.
Within a brick furnace, a bright blue fire could be seen burning calmly but the scorching heat could be felt across the room.
"If it isn't two of Hell's High Prince's. What can this unworthy one do for such estimated guests?" Patxi said followed by a sarcastic bow.
"Greetings Patxi, I'm here to cash in on that favor." Marcus said while ignoring his blatant disrespect.
"Favor?" He asked while rubbing his long beard with his thick calloused hands as if trying to recall what Marcus was referring to.
"Don't fuck with me Patxi! You know very well your daughter committed suicide after King Belial dragged you to hell. You begged me for years to pull her from the depths of sector seven so you two can be together again. I can always toss her ass back and allow the Harpies to feed on her rotten flesh again. It's all up to you." Finishing with a sarcastic bow of his own.
I was at a loss for words. First off, if this was ever discovered, Marcus would be in a load of shit. Second, the risk of going into sector seven alone was beyond measure. Why would he do something so foolish?
Patxi's brown face turned a burning red before he wobbled around his anvil to stand in front of Marcus.
"My prince..."
"Drop the formalities, I know you don't give a damn about the natives of Hell. Look, all I need for you to do is remove the collar that's around Damian's neck. Can you do that?"
Patxi turned to look at me confused. He hadn't even noticed the collar around my neck. He stepped closer to get a better view before saying.
"A simple matter, follow me."
No one said another word as we walked to a back room that was littered with junk. Patxi opened a small box and pulled out a key.
"What the hell? How do you have a key to my collar?" I asked, confused at how that was possible.
"Who do you think made it? The forging fairy? I thought you were the smart one."
This guy is a dick I thought to myself, but at least Marcus was right about him solving my problem.
"Turn around." He said while stepping on a small stool to compensate for his lack of height.
I did as instructed and a moment later, I felt more than just the physical weight lifted as the collar fell to the floor.
I looked at my reflection in a mirror I found laying in a pile of junk. My eye had fully healed revealing my two blue eyes, but my face was still covered in blood from the guard I had killed. My short black hair was covered in dirt from sleeping on the ground while my neck had a red mark left by the collar. I look horrible, to say the least.
"Do you have a washroom I can utilize?" I asked
Patxi looked at my appearance and without any dispute pointed to the room adjacent to the one we were in.
About fifteen minutes later I met Marcus and Patxi back in the forge room where they were talking like old friends and drinking ale.
"Did I interrupt your date?" I asked while putting four fingers over my mouth.
"Shut up Damien. I was talking to Patxi about our current predicament. Speaking of which, what is the plan now?"