Hellbound Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book Five) Read Online Free Page B

for them must be a special kind of torment. Do you think these gardens grow actual food that they can eat?” Rhys asked, thinking of the gruel slaves were fed in other circles. There wasn’t much edible food in the bowels of Hell and was never fed to the slaves. Rhys had to wonder if it was different in Limbo because it was the only place in Hell that was green and healthy.
    “I know it’s difficult, but you need to look past the suffering or we will never succeed. We can’t do anything to help and if we try we risk bringing attention to us,” Dante warned, slipping by a group of souls that looked like they were related. They all had the same facial structure and frames. What stood out most to Rhys were eyes full of sorrow.
    As they made their way through the crowd, souls began clawing at their sleeves, seeking an escape. Lacking substance, their hands slid through Rhys’ body, leaving ice in his veins. Rhys shivered, forcing himself to focus on the trellis across the grass. If he paid attention to the plight of these unfortunate souls, he’d never make it past the first level. Besides, he told himself, these souls had done something in their lives to land in Limbo rather than Annwyn .
    Finally reaching the portal, he paused to make sure Dante and Kellen were right behind him. Seeing that they were, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and stepped through to his father’s realm.
    Flames immediately licked across his skin. His body and soul were being pulled in different directions while the flames attempted to sever the connection between the two. One circle was trying to hold tight to the soul while the body fought to get through to the next plane. The sensation was not as physically painful as it was emotionally.
    Asmodeus ruled the Second Circle, but his father, Lemuel, was the second in command and held a high level of power. Keeping his identity hidden from his father was going to be a challenge for Rhys.
    Rhys felt the give of the veil and the flames disappeared as suddenly as they had formed. Patting his arms, Rhys was glad to see the flames hadn’t damaged his clothing, which was good because the violent windstorms of the Second Circle immediately battered them.
    Rhys pulled out a leather tie to bind his long locks that were whipping against his face. Glancing at Dante with his buzz-cut, Rhys momentarily wished he kept his shorter, but then again, the females loved his long hair which was the reason he kept it long. Kellen ran a hand over his bald scalp and tilted his head against the winds, “Where to now?”
    Rhys squinted, taking in the familiar dens of iniquity. The Second Circle was where those ruled by lust were sent. It was a vast city of bars, casinos and strip clubs, but the streets weren’t anything like what was found on earth. They were hard-packed dirt that was kicked up every once in a while by the winds and the buildings were made from black stone harvested from the cliffs of the Eighth Circle.
    Calling them buildings was a misnomer, Rhys thought. They were huge, multi-level structures, but there were no windows or electricity in Hell. Inside, the lighting was provided by candles made from the fat of humans, which added to the already putrid stench of the realm.
    Putting their heads down to block the strong force of the winds, they walked down the street. “Do you know how to get from here to the Third Circle?” Kellen called out.
    Rhys had never traveled deeper into Hell when he’d been there before. Who in their right mind would want to? “I’ve heard the rumors, but I’m not certain,” he responded.
    “Let’s head into one of these bars and see if we can learn anything about the portal or news on Lucifer. We need more information and that’s the only way we are going to get it,” Dante added, pointing to one of the buildings.
    Rhys could hear the catcalling even through the whipping winds and he cringed wondering what kind of show was going on inside. In Asmodeus’ realm, it