charge down the stone steps. His normally quiet feet sounded like a bear barreling through the forest. He tried to lighten each footfall, but the pain arching through his shoulder distracted from nearly everything else.
The door at the bottom was slightly ajar and the stench of brimstone coming from inside floored him. Gently, he pushed the panel open and glanced back at Zander who nodded in response. Dante blasted through the door, no longer bothering to try with a stealthy approach. The second he got a better look, it became obvious there would be little cover for them.
A much bigger staircase led down into a main room. There were metal shelves off to the right with boxes on them. Dante braced one hand on the rail and jumped over the edge to land next to the shelving unit.
In front of him there was a table with candles and jars. There were organs and intestines hanging off the side. A massive Behemoth demon prowled from an alcove set off to the side. It wasn’t until the big gray body shifted that he saw the smaller table behind him.
It was difficult to look away from the sharp black horns and red eyes. This one reminded him of Kadir, but unlike that archdemon, this one had less power and shorter bright red hair. Dante was certain this was a middle range demon and not a higher level one.
The Behemoth snarled, revealing knife-sized fangs. “So nice of you to join us and to bring the angel, as well. I’m going to enjoy this.”
Zander laughed and joined Dante. Seeing the glint in the Vampire King’s hands, Dante retrieved his sgian dubh and bladed his hands in front of his body. Skirm came pouring in from the other side of the room and a couple stumbled out of the alcove.
“You willna live long enough to enjoy anything.” Zander growled more than spoke the words.
The Dark Warriors charged past them and ducked around the Behemoth to head for the minions that looked like they were newborn colts. Their movements were broken and clumsy.
Dante knew the second Chloe stepped off the stairs. His body tingled with awareness at the same time the Behemoth ran toward her. “Diaz is going to be pissed he went out in search of you when I’m the one to free Lucifer and reap the reward.”
Dante reacted without thinking. His right arm was swinging in an arc the second he jumped into the air. Flesh sizzled and the smell of rotting meat being cooked filled his nostrils. His gag reflex was doing pushups in the back of his throat. Any second now he was going to lose his lunch.
A skirm rammed into his back and forced him to land on the floor in sprawl of arms and legs. A large hoof connected with his skull and stomped on his left thigh with a crack before he managed to roll away.
He was jumping to his feet a second later when Chloe’s shout echoed through the basement. She was fighting off a skirm, but Dante had bigger fish to fry at the moment. Massive black horns were heading for his face.
Shifting to the left, Dante brought both titanium weapons together. The Behemoth was heading right for him and couldn’t dodge in time. Both knives slammed into the demon’s skull with an echo. He knew these fuckers were brainless. Dante kicked the fucker to help the body in its fall to the ground.
Leaving the blades in place, Dante turned to help Chloe. She’d called her angel blade and sliced the skirm’s arm off. As the limb was falling to the floor, the minion flashed on fire and turned into ash.
“I am going to be the one to free Lucifer,” the Behemoth warbled.
Dante gaped at Chloe. There was a cut on her arm and a bruise to one of her cheeks. Her short brown hair was a mess around her heart-shaped face. She was the most stunning sight he’d ever seen.
Her smile fed him more energy than he’d ever received from foreplay. It gave him enough energy to shrug off his pain, so he could turn his attention back to the demon. The Behemoth had managed to lever himself to his knees.
Dante kicked the hand the beast had clutching a metal shelf. Izzy joined the fight and raced for the Behemoth. Chloe watched with wide eyes as Izzy laid her hand on the demon.
Problem was, nothing happened this time. “Get away from him,” Chloe shouted at the Princess