The Underworld was nothing like I’d imagined. Fire and brimstone would’ve been too clichéd, but office buildings, courtyards with gazebos, and demons wearing jumpsuits hadn’t been anywhere near my radar. It would’ve been nice if this place had been a little more predictable, because as I thought about escaping, I realized I had no idea how to do it or what I would encounter. It made it hard to prepare.
I sat down in the middle of the room and wrapped my arms around my knees. We have to be thoughtful about this, I told my wolf. We’re probably being monitored right now. I peered into all the corners, trying to locate anyplace they could’ve mounted a camera, as one hand wandered to my chest to rub the small ache that still lingered. We should’ve been able to take on the Prince’s magic. I was having trouble letting it go. My wolf growled in agreement. We went down too quickly. And I wonder if Tyler tried to defend us? I’m sure he did and they better not have hurt him.
I hated not knowing.
There was no doubt in my mind Tyler had tried to protect me, but how much had they punished him for it? Before I could formulate a new plan, a ding sounding like a doorbell sounded and a voice rang out in passable English: “Prisoner, you will stand trial in three hours. You must prepare yourself.”
Prepare myself? “And how am I supposed to do that?” I called. “Shouldn’t I be meeting with a lawyer?” Did they have demon lawyers in Hell? “Or see someone who is going to try my case?”
No response.
Instead a drawer slid open on the far wall.
I jumped up and went over to investigate. Inside lay a single jumpsuit, neatly folded. I glanced around me, hands on my hips. “I’m not wearing that, so you can forget it,” I called. There was no way I was putting on something they could control me in. I still wore the witches’ hemp fatigues and they’d proven to be very durable and flexible—even after all the blood and guts, and subsequent water dump baths I’d taken.
“You must wear the appropriate garments,” the voice stated in an even tone.
“I’m not putting them on,” I insisted. “You can tell whoever’s in charge they can go to Hell.” Then I laughed a tiny bit maniacally because we were in Hell. How many times in your life can you say that while you’re actually standing in Hell? Never.
Or almost never, in my case.
Instead of my donning the required garments, my leg shot out and connected with the drawer, slamming it back in the wall so hard it cracked the facing. I began to bend over to investigate the damage when a blast of something shot straight into my chest. It was so strong it tossed me back against the far wall, knocking me silly and pinning me there.
But what had hit me wasn’t magic.
It was air.
The fire hose of wind held me for a few moments, and then abruptly shut off. I dropped to my knees. Do you see where the air jets are coming from? I asked my wolf. She growled, but shook her head. “You’re going to try to take me down with air?” I shouted into the room. “I don’t think so!”
I made a move to step forward and another blast shot into my abdomen. Before I knew what had happened I was plastered up against the wall once again.
The pressure was intense.
At this rate it would bore a hole through me. We need to stop it. I gritted my teeth. My wolf shot power through us and I managed to angle my hand in front of the brunt of the jet. I was in my Lycan form and as I cupped the air into my hands. Fighting it with all my strength, I managed to direct it away from my body. It took both my hands and all my strength.
Using the power of straight-line winds, clocking in at easily a hundred miles per hour, was actually brilliant on the demons’ part. Air wasn’t magic. I couldn’t combat it with anything except pure force. I took a step forward, gnashing my teeth, my hands still shielding the blast away from me.
This might be able to stop a lesser demon in its tracks, but not a pissed-off werewolf.
Power tingled in my hand as my strength beat back the airflow. I continued to push forward, searching for where it was coming from. Let’s make it look like we’re struggling more, I told my wolf as I took another small step forward and staggered a bit. We need to find the source so we can destroy it, but we can’t move too quickly or they’ll amp up the flow. The room was obviously rigged with things, like drawers and air jets, so it wasn’t completely sealed, which was great news.
I continued forward, making each step appear like a feat of mankind. My magic helped ward off the impact and damage to my body. The stream suddenly jumped a few more miles per hour and I was forced to take a step backward.
They were testing me.
Okay, new plan. We rush the jet and crack through the wall. Everything in here is seamless, so we need to act fast while the air is still flowing. My wolf agreed by sending a huge jolt of adrenaline washing through us. It jumped in my veins as I dashed forward, one hand and my chest pushing the air back with all my might, the other fisted above me, ready to pound the wall.
I reached the source in a few seconds, ramming my fist into a place that appeared completely unmarred. The white wall exploded around me, revealing a rocky surface where three small air jets were embedded. How the air came through the wall was a complete mystery, but demon technology was crazy like that. The air jets immediately turned off and a bell pinged in the air.
“Cease and desist, prisoner. You will don the proper attire and await your trial.”
“Or what?” I shouted, moving quickly toward the drawer. It had to be set in the same rocky wall, and they had to be able to fill it from the other side. If I destroyed it completely, I might be able to crawl through. I smashed my foot into the broken face and the rest of the components flew apart, scattering through the small space like Tinkertoys across an icy expanse. I ripped the remaining pieces out and tossed them behind me as I squatted in front of it. The jumpsuit lay at the bottom and I bunched it up and threw it to the side. I crouched low, peering into the darkness of the small hole. I couldn’t tell where it led, but it was out of here and that was all that mattered. It wasn’t quite big enough for me to get through, but I could kick more of the stone out of the away to make it bigger.
“Stop!” The intercom crackled.
“Sorry, too late,” I called as I positioned myself on the floor in front of it to do some serious damage. “I’m not staying in here any longer than necessary, and I don’t see anyone here to stop me.” I brought my knees up and kicked one side of the hole. My feet encountered rock, but it broke easily, crumbling around me.
A few more kicks and I would be free.