“I’m going to be gracious,” Zach said, ignoring that comment. “I’m going to give you one chance to get the fuck out of here. You take it and live to see another day. You choose to continue this conversation, and the true death starts for you right now.”
The demon’s dark eyes narrowed. “Who are you to come intomyrealm and make threats? It is not I who will see the true death today, but the both of you.”
Zach sighed. Why was it never fucking easy? “Okay, let’s do this.” He didn’t bother to give the demon any further warning, he simply jumped forward and attacked.
The beast obviously wasn’t expecting Zach to be a man of his word. Perhaps they assumed there’d be more posturing, more threatening, and more beating their chests in a display of dominance? Whatever it was they were expecting, even after Zach had been very clear in his promise, it wasn’t this.
Zach’s first blow collided with the demon’s cheek and sent its head snapping backward. They stumbled, and their four arms windmilled tokeep themselves upright. Zach didn’t hesitate but followed through with an uppercut that sent the beast crashing to the dirt. He pounced, pinning the demon down with his knees and began pummeling their face with his fists.
“What the fuck?” the demon bellowed between broken teeth after they finally managed to block a punch and get enough momentum to shove Zach off them.
“I warned you,” Zach growled, leaping to his feet immediately. “You didn’t listen.”
“I didn’t think you were serious!” they cried, their once hoarse and gravelly voice going up several octaves.
Zach’s boot connected with the demon’s hairy ribs, causing them to cry out in pain. “No, you’re only reconsidering now because I’m kicking your ass,” he snapped, kicking out again but missing as the beast scrambled backwards.
“Okay, so maybe you’re right,” the demon admitted, their black eyes wide with true fear. “But give me a break, man. It’s not like I really have a choice, you know? You two clearly don’t belong here, so I gotta confront you.”
Zach knew this was true. He knew the bottom feeders had shitty lives that were an almost constant fight for survival. If they put one toe, hoof, or claw out of line, they were severely punished. His sympathy welled up, but he quickly put a lid on it. He’d been generous by even giving the demon a warning. If he didn’t follow through, he may as well make a giant fucking neon sign to carry over their heads that said “Easy pickings.”
He was just about to advance for another round, to finish it once and for all, when Drew’s quiet voice stopped him. “Zach, please don’t do this.”
He angled his body so he could look at Drew but also keep an eye on the demon. “Sweetness, if we don’t put them down now, they’ll dog our steps the entire way to the borderlands. I gotta keep you safe, and I’ll do whatever it takes to do that.”
“You’re going to the borderlands?” the demon exclaimed, a glimmer of hope flickering in their eyes.
“Yes,” Zach said curtly.
“Oh, well, that changeseverything!”they cried. “If you’re on your way out of here, I’m not gonna stop you from leaving!”
Zach regarded them for a long moment, but eventually shook his head. “I can’t trust you.”
“I swear I won’t follow you,” the demon vowed. “I’ll even show you a shortcut! It’ll save you a whole day!”
Drew stepped up beside Zach and touched his arm. “I really don’t want you to have to kill anyone,” he said. “Can’t we give them a chance? They might surprise you.”
The demon began nodding vigorously. “Yes, yes, I’m full of surprises. In fact, surprise is my middle name! It’s definitely a good idea to give me a chance.”
Zach raised a brow in disbelief. “Demons don’thavemiddle names.”
“My mother was very alternative,” the demon said quickly. “She was a very trustworthy demon.”
Zach snorted. He knew he’d regret this, but Drew was giving him a bad case of the big doe eyes, pleading with him to show mercy. “Fine,” he snapped. “But this is the only chance you get. If you go back on your word and come after us again, or send anyone else after us, I will not hesitate to rip all four of your arms off and shove them so far up your ass you’ll be able to tickle your tonsils with your claws.”
“Yes, yes, understood,” the demon agreed, nodding manically once more. “I have places to be, things to do. You won’t see or hear from me again.”
“I better not.”
The beast scrambled to its hooves and began to back away.
“Not so fast,” Zach said, stopping them before they could get more than a few feet away.
The demon turned back to look at him almost comically slowly, their eyes wide and round as if expecting to have the rug pulled out from under them. “Yes?”
Zach ignored the look Drew was giving him. “So, you said something about a shortcut?”
1. 'There's no place like home'
