Page 82 of Hell-Bound

“Oh, thank The Almighty.”

“Get your lock-pick, Elfy!” Jester said as he stood up, shaking the locking mechanism.

Ren straightened and pulled out her picks, expertly inserting them into the cylinder. This lock, not magical and therefore more primitive, unlatched almost immediately.

Jester lifted the bar lock and pushed on the door as it stiffly opened.

Gabriela was clasping her hands in front of her in thanks, yellow skin stained with ash and blood. She threw herself on Jester and broke into shaky sobs.

Jester immediately wrapped his arms around her.

“It’s okay, Gabriela. We are getting you out of here.”

Unsure of their next move, Ren sidled up to Jester.

“What now? Do we just portal away?”

Jester shook his head, stroking the female’s hair which was as yellow as her skin.

“We have to be outside of the wards. Like at Xarek’s. This one has wards up until past where the sleepers are.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Gabriela, but we must get going,” Jestersaid gently, pulling her away and looking kindly into the female’s eyes.

Gabriela bobbed her head and hiccupped. She seemed so much younger than Jester despite his childlike disposition.

The two led a trembling Gabriela up the clumsy stairs and through the cavernous room where the two Lesser Devils still snoozed peacefully. Finally arriving in the small sitting room, Ren noticed several more sleepers had joined the depressing gathering.

With the final room in sight, the three walked gingerly around any sleepers in their way.

“I’ll go to the next room first,” Jester said, still in a whisper. “I can open the portal, and then you two can run in.”

Ren tilted her head in approval before Jester blinked out and came to view in the doorway in the middle of the next room, barely visible from their position.

“Aaaaaaah!”

Ren whipped her head around. Towering over her, was a giant beast of a Devil—wings unfurled and clutching Gabriela by the arm, lifting her high off the ground.

“Who do you think you are?” he growled. “Trying to steal my personalproperty!” he bellowed at Ren.

His voice was gruff and grating like a hammer slamming against a stone.

“Oh, I see. Little Mortal came to save her friend? Even better. I get two wenches for the price of one.” He trailed his tongue across jagged yellowed teeth. “I’ve never fucked an Elf before. I wonder if they scream for mercy like Devils do?” He grabbed Ren’s upper arm painfully. “I hope you enjoyed your little outing, Gabs! I’ll be taking the time out of your perky little ass.”

Ren unsheathed a dagger with her second hand and thrust it towards the Devil’s arm. The dagger glanced off—a spark of light emanating off Evernight’s body.

“Let. Them. Go,” she heard a thunderous voice rumble from the room.

All their heads, and even some singers, turned towards the imposing sound.

The previously scorching atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Jester stood in the doorway, eyes black, fangs bared. His dark hair was floating around his head as a sudden torment of wind blasted through the room. Veins of smoke were pulsing from every pore of his tall, red body.

Ren watched the lord’s face drop, panic overtaking every feature. Ren felt the Devil release her arm, and Gabriela landed with an, “uff,” on wobbly legs.

The Devil hit his knees, shaking.

“Please. I didn’t know,” he said, putting up his hands in supplication.