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“We need to get out of this cell,” I say. “Any ideas?” I ask Grimlet.

“Yes, Grimlet will get us out.”

I turn to look at him. “Are you just trying to make me feel better or can you actually do that?”

“Grimlet can do magic.”

“How much magic? Can you get this collar off me?”

“Only stone magic.”

Damn. “What exactly is stone magic?”

“I can break stone.”

I glance around at the stone walls. That sounds useful. Then I frown. “Does Lucifer know about this?” It seems odd that he’s put me in here with something capable of moving stone.

“The devil has forgotten Grimlet. Grimlet is beneath his notice. Grimlet used his magic to get things for the Lady Ravenna.”

“You couldn’t use it to set her free?”

He blinks. “She did not want to be free.”

Shit. I wish I hadn’t asked now. That makes it all so much worse. Then again, she couldn’t have left Hell. There were no mirrors remaining, and her magic was spent. Where would she have gone? Maybe Lucifer did know about Grimlet, but it didn’t matter.

Can he really get me out?

I know it’s only step one, but it’s something. I lick my lips and swallow. “Go on then.”

He jumps up and peers around the cell. Then hops across to stand in front of the wall opposite where I’m sitting. I think for a moment. “Grimlet, can you do this wall instead?”

He scowls then hops over to me and presses his little hand against the wall. He mutters under his breath. There’s a groan and a crack and a Grimlet size hole appears in the stone.

He turns toward me with a grin.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m impressed. But there’s no way I’m fitting through that hole, even if I haven’t been fed recently. He’s looking so proud of himself that I hate to burst his little bubble but… “Can you make it a bit…bigger?”

His eyes narrow in concentration, then he goes through the process again. The hole doubles in size. I get down on my belly and peer through. I can see feet. They’re not moving. “Khaos?” I call softly.

He doesn’t move. “Khaos! Wake up!”

The foot jerks and a moment later I see his eyes. “Amber?”

A mad grin spreads across my face. He’s alive. I hadn’t really believed Hecate. But he’s actually alive. “Don’t go anywhere,” I say. “I’m coming.”

Except not quite yet. “Grimlet, can you make it big enough for me to get through?”

He frowns. But then he does his spell, three times more, until his shoulders sag with exhaustion.

“I’m sorry, just one more?”

He rubs his eyes and looks at me with this hurt expression but then reaches for the wall and the hole gets a little bigger, enough that I can probably squeeze through. He doesn’t look like he’s got any more in him. Something occurs to me. I can get into Khaosti’s cell but we’re still locked in. Unless Grimlet can do more magic. But he looks all done in.

“Why don’t you take a rest,” I say to him. “I’m going to go next door and talk to Khaosti, but I’ll be back.”

“Grimlet come?”

“No, you stay here.”