“Deidre’s okay,” Toby said.

“The trees got her?”

“More or less.”

Katie rolled onto her stomach, almost too tired to get up. The sky and jungle were growing dark. Through the bramble, she saw the marble palace. Death’s palace. Katie’s heart beat harder as she looked at her destination, not at all certain this was where she should’ve gone but not knowing where else to go.

The sound of the demons’ pursuit reached her again. She stood on wobbly legs and all but dragged Toby to his feet.

“Toby, come on.”

The angel found his footing and took her hand. They raced through the last of the jungle and across the expanse of grassless yard between the jungle and the palace. The sounds of demons grew louder.

Katie sought an entrance into the palatial estate, not seeing one along this side. She ran alongside the marble structure. It was well over quarter mile in length. Toby pulled away from her suddenly, and she stopped so fast, she tripped.

“Dammit, Toby, come on!” she yelled.

He faced the jungle. The trees were battling demons, but one then a few then a dozen of the creatures escaped the jungle’s grip to pursue.

“You know any more tricks?” she asked him, taking his hand again.

“I’m a failure!” he wailed.

“Jesus, Toby, it’s no time for a fucking meltdown. Come on.” She pulled, and he ran.

Katie felt the ground shake beneath them as the demons pursued. Several flew overhead and dropped directly in their path. She stopped and shoved Toby behind her, drawing the knife Gabe had given her. Before long, they were surrounded.

“Toby!” a male voice yelled.

“Gabe!” the angel cried.

Katie pressed back against the wall of the palace. The demons gathered around them, and she saw the flash of Gabe’s weapons as he tried to cut a path through the creatures towards them. The death-dealer went down as three demons dog-piled him.

“Gabe!” Katie shouted. He reappeared, blood flying with his weapons.

“Oh, no.” Toby tugged at her arm.

Katie tore her eyes away from Gabe to follow where Toby was pointing, hoping to see Rhyn. It wasn’t Rhyn or anyone else she expected to see, and she gasped.

“She’ll be killed!” she exclaimed, watching a disheveled Deidre march from the forest towards them.




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