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He thought it was a fair question, but apparently not since the absurdly annoying demon was rolling his eyes at his expense.

“She’ll show you.”

“B-but… Weren’t you all pissed yesterday because someone wanted me inside the cave?”

“Yeah.” Melchom crouched down until he could bite down on Dave’s jaw. “It was Gaz. She just wanted her human.”

“Really? But she’d never seen me.”

“She recognized your scent. Now, go.”

“Abrupt much?” Dave nearly squealed.

But fine. Dave would do it, and cross fingers that his new dog didn’t get him killed or traumatized him.

“Still not a dog.”

“A dog at heart, and that’s what matters.”

Thankfully, Gaz hadn’t moved from her spot. Dave would have to figure out treats to reward her with. For now, though, he patted his thigh and gave her a few scritches behind her ears. She liked those, he could tell.

“Okay, come on, girl.”

Gaz all but ran the second the main gate to the chambers opened.

Of course.

Why didn’t Melchom grab a leash from the caves?

“Gaz!” he scrambled, running in her direction— and right into her. The gray hellhound stared at him, blinking as if she was questioning how stupid her human could be.

Dave couldn’t blame her.

“Sorry, girl.” His heart still had to recover, though. “But try to stay close, okay?”

The creature that wasn’t a dog but totally was tilted her head to the side. She really had to be questioning his sanity, but she obeyed. Dave could feel her vibrate with the urge to run around and exercise, but she stuck to his side.

“You’re the best hellhound ever, you know that?”

“Woof!”

He took that as a yes—again—and let her lead him through a part of the… castle—was it a castle?—he didn’t think he’d seen yet. One thing that stuck was how eerily quiet everything was. There were no cracking flames, or minions’ voices or… anything.

“All because they’re scared of you?” Dave asked her, because being quiet was not something he was good at. “But you’re the sweetest, aren’t you?”

Gaz only panted and kept a light trot down the hall. They soon found stairs. These didn’t look as terrifying as the others, at least.

“Okay, you’d better know where you’re taking us.”

“Woof!”

“Fine.”

They descended four more flights before Gaz started scratching her talons against a wide door.

“Is that outside?”

“Woof! Woof, woof, woof!”