<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0023</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0024.txt">Next (Page 24)</A><BR><P><P>The central figure raised its hand and pointed a leather-clad finger toward Sleap.<P><P>"Filthmate. I accuse you of heresy."<P><P>Sleap looked up at the ridiculous creature, biting her tongue to keep herself from laughing.<P><P>"Who... who are you?" she said, wishing it sounded more convincing.<P><P>"I am Infernal Accuser Zefzec. You will accompany Infernal Hosts Slarb and Winti to Hell."<P><P>"No!" she wailed out.<P><P>But she let the Infernal Hosts approach her, each taking an arm. They lifted her up, and they all started hovering back into the rotten orange light. She felt exhilarated.<P><P>As they drifted lightward, one of the hosts looked over at her. Yeah, maybe she had stopped her "being-frightened" act too soon, but it was too late for them. And she could have just gone into shock or something, that could explain to them her lack of fright. Going to Hell would be somewhat overwhelming for a normal person. But wasn't she normal? No.<P><P>The special effects of the transfer to Hell were pretty good. Horrible sights, smells, and feelings. Pretty bad. Meant to beat even the most stalwart humans into senselessness and submissiveness. Sleap hardly batted an eyelash. To her, it was pathetic.<P><P>Finally, they approached a plateau, where Infernal Jailors were waiting to take her into custody. She only had to be transferred into their hands and she could stop the charade. But she had to remain convincing until then, because the Hosts still had the power to take her back. Once in the hands of the Jailors, though, she could cut loose.<P><P>This was a part of her that had been suppressed for a long time. But it felt good to have her true nature back. And she knew she'd enjoy her stay in Hell.<P><P>The Accuser drifted to the Jailor and began conversing with him in an Infernal tongue. The hosts stopped well back, waiting for the sign. After a minute of two, the Accuser wiggled his thumb, and the Hosts approached.<P><P>The Accuser turned.<P><P>"Filthmate, you are hereby placed into the custody of Infernal Jailor Hamt."<P><P>The Accuser drifted away, and the Hosts took Sleap forward to face the Jailor.<P><P>The Jailor, a huge, horned monstrosity, grabbed Sleap's arms with two hands and slapped on restraints with two more. The hosts drifted away.<P><P>Sleap was looking down, and felt the gaze of the Jailor upon her. Suddenly without warning, she looked up at the creature--a crazy, intense smile on her face. <P><P>"Hey there Jailor Hamt! How ya doin' today!"<P><P>The Jailor grunted and moved back. <P><P>"Oh no ya don't!" Sleap said, walking forward, her bonds dropping to the ground with a clank. "I'm your charge. You're responsible for me. Right, boy?"<P><P>"Emergency!" the Jailor bellowed.<P><P>Sleap gestured with her right hand and the Jailor doubled over in pain.<P><P>"You're correct, you little shit. I am a Looter. And I intend to suck this Hell dry before I'm done!"<P><P>"E... emer... emergency..." the Jailor wailed with some effort.<P><P>Sleap stretched her arms out and yawned a satisfying sigh. She thought of how glorious it would be dismantling this Hell piece by piece, packing it up, and selling it to the highest bidders.<P><P>"Damn, this is fun!" she yelled.<P><P>Forty-eight devils surrounded Sleap Drassy, forming the dread Unknowable Curse, a force beyond all reckoning. Sleap was bored. There was work to be done.<P><P>"Don't feel bad," she said. "I've done a lot of Hells, and your powers are pretty impressive. You should be proud of yourselves."<P><P>Suddenly, 18 satans hovered in a chaos-drive above Sleap, attempting to cut away her identity from 804 levels of existence deep. She felt it, but barely. This got her mad.<P><P>"You fellows are quite talented, but this isn't a contest, it's a slaughter. Now be good little farm animals and learn!"<P><P>With this, Sleap swung her left arm upward.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0024.txt">Next (Page 24)</A>