“Do any of you know about the ants?” Drew had joined several older demons in a circle in front of the fire, and he thought they looked like they might know of them.
One demon raised his talons and scratched at his head before shaking it. “Can’t say that I do.”
“What are ants?” another asked.
“They’re like tiny insect things,” Drew said, holding up his thumb and pointer finger so they almost touched. “Tricksy things.”
“What do they do?” the first demon asked.
“They dance under my skin,” Drew told them solemnly.
“Hmmm. Can you show us this dance?”
Andras raised his head as he heard a commotion and saw Drew marching on the spot.
“The ants go marching one by one, hoorah! Hoorah!” he sang at the top of his lungs. “The ants go marching one by one, hoorah! Hoorah!”
“For fuck’s sake,” Andras whispered, and thunked his head down on the table.
“And there’s a green monster who lives in a trashcan,” Drew explained.
The front doors of the inn burst open, and several figures stormed inside. At the same time, the door to the kitchen was flung open, and a tall, imposing figure entered. The light from the fire reflected off the silver hoops in his ears and eyebrow.
“By order of Lucifer Morningstar, Prince of Hell,” Orias said into the sudden silence that had fallen over the inn. “This tavern is now closed.” He gestured at Andras and Drew, and several Shadow Bladesmoved in to grab them and drag them before him. Orias looked down at them on their knees before him and shook his head. “You should have known you couldn’t run forever. You’re under arrest.”
Chapter 19
By our powers combined . . .
“That’s completely out of the question!” Tremblay declared, crossing his arms and looking angry.
“Oh?” Kensington said, his eyes flashing.
They were almost ready to start the process of channeling their magic into the crystal so they could open a portal to Hell. The original plan was for Zach and Kensington to go, but then Zeng had raised a pertinent point. “If you don’t find Mr. Phillips before he returns home, how will the both of you return? Will you have enough power between you to open a portal back?”
It had been determined that theyprobablydid, but just to be certain, Kensington had asked Cavendish to accompany them. The young sorcerer had been amenable, but Tremblay was dead set against it.
“It’s too dangerous,” Tremblay insisted. “I cannot allow it.”
Kensington narrowed his eyes. “You are in no position to allow anything, Tremblay,” he said dangerously.
Tremblay, to his credit, stood his ground. “Alastair is young and inexperienced. As his mentor, I do not believe it is safe for him to go to such a realm as Hell.”
Clenching his jaw, Kensington gave a short nod. “I concede you have a right as his mentor to voice your concerns. However, Mr. Cavendish will not be going alone. He will have both myself and Zachariel with him.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe that’s good enough, Grand Master,” Tremblay said with a hint of a sneer. “Considering you yourself do not believe you and this angel are powerful enough to return under your own steam, it does not fill me with confidence.”
“Marcus!” Cavendish said with a gasp. “You’re being disrespectful to the Grand Master!”
“I am looking out for your best interests, Alastair,” Tremblay retorted. “Something that I don’t believe Kensington is doing.”
“You question the Grand Master’s ability?” Zeng asked, giving him an arch look.
“I do,” Tremblay said, doubling down.
“There’s an easy solution to this,” Bhati interjected.
“We’re all ears,” Kensington told him.
