Katie's Hope

Very fitting. He opened a portal, mind racing with how to keep the demons from getting the vial. Darkyn had said to dump them in the sea. He lugged the coffin through the portal into the shadow world and then paused to think.

Sanctuary. All of them were located in the middle of a sea. If he tossed Sasha's body close enough to one of them, the vial would be safe.

He concentrated on which Sanctuary he wanted, the farthest from the castle, and lifted Sasha's body. He crossed to the glowing portal and threw Sasha's body through it, satisfied when he heard a splash. He turned back to the coffin, not nearly as concerned about the dead- dead Immortal he'd never met but who'd fathered at least two fucked-up sons-- three, if he counted Rhyn.

The Immortal should've died in Hell, where he probably belonged. Jade focused on another part of the ocean, Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean. Maybe the depth of the sea would crush this Immortal's perfectly preserved body. If nothing else, the father of the Council would never again be found.

He lugged the coffin to the new portal and shoved it through. He didn't stay to hear the splash this time but walked through the shadow world toward the only portal that glowed black, the portal to Hell.

While feeling vindicated that Kris might already be dead, he couldn't help the growing guilt at hurting so many other Immortals. Nursing a cratered heart, he stepped into Hell, well aware he had nowhere else to go.

* * *

It had been an hour, and Hannah hadn't appeared. She didn't know if there was a second gym where other Immortal mates were, but Kris had said Hannah would be down. She waited another few minutes and then headed to the bathrooms. Women were packed even in the luxurious bathrooms with their sitting areas decorated with couches and a gilded fountain. She crossed to a stall and closed the door, focusing on a portal to the shadow world. She envisioned Kris's chamber on one of the upper floors and emerged from the shadow world into the chamber.

The door was open, and she ducked down as a furry shape rushed by.

Some of the demons had made it into the castle. She drew a deep breath, terrified of running into one of those creatures alone, then crept to the door. When she heard nothing in the hallway, she eased out of the safety of his room.