“But not the Dark-Hunters.” He remembered that much from the Eye.
“No. They stayed so that they could ride herd on the demons who just kept cropping up to add to the madness. They’re still fighting to save what little bit of humanity exists.”
Caleb scowled. “What about the Daimons?” They were the soul-stealing demons the Dark-Hunters had originally been created to police.
She slid her gaze to Nick, then finally answered. “After the Daimons regained their ability to walk in daylight and formed an alliance with the Dark-Hunters—”
“They what?” Nick was stunned by that.
Kody held her hand up and chuckled over the amazing turnaround. “Long story, but they became allies and fought with us.” She toed at a piece of broken masonry. “They’re still here. Or at least some of them are.”
Nick struggled to digest that. “Enemies become friends and friends become enemies.”
“Nature of the beast.” Caleb looked poignantly at Xev, who nodded in agreement. “Why I don’t make friends and kill my enemies.”
Xev cracked a wry grin. “You never know what will change your heart toward someone. All it took for me was one sight of Myone. She changed my entire world and point of view on most everything.”
Caleb nodded. “It took a bit longer for me, but Liliana did the same. I saw the world through her eyes, and I liked her perspective a lot more than mine. All I wanted was to be the human she thought I was.”
Which said a lot, given that he was a demon through and through.
“And here we are.” Nick stared out at the waste and destruction all around them.
“Picking up the pieces of the past, and trying to make a better future.” Kody moved to stand next to him.
“How far is Cyprian’s lair?”
Before Kody could respond, a loud screech sounded.
Nick’s eyes widened. “Hell monkeys?”
A burst of fire came out of nowhere, so close that it singed hair on Nick’s arm.
Caleb threw up a shield to protect them as the flames danced outside his invisible wall. While it was pretty, the heat was almost as excruciating as being burned alive.
Almost.
This was why he didn’t want to go to hell. Heat like this was utter misery. Like New Orleans in August … only hotter and more biting.
Nick wiped at the sweat on his brow. “Not to be a downer, but anyone have an idea on how to get out of this one?”
Vawn’s eyes turned a vibrant orange that reminded Nick of Caleb’s when he was in demon form. “Hold your ears.”
Before Nick could ask what Vawn had planned, she shifted into a whiff of smoke to drift out of the bubble.
Then it came, that soul-shattering banshee scream.
The fire diminished. Nick’s eardrums were on the verge of bursting when the fire stopped and blood splashed over the shield.
Vawn approached them with a wide grin. “Path cleared. Demon exploded. Hope your ears aren’t ringing too much.”
Nick’s were howling, but he knew from experience that they would stop eventually. Or his head would explode much the same way the demon’s had. At the moment, he wasn’t sure if that wouldn’t be better than the pain shooting through him.
Shaking his head, he smirked at Vawn. “You enjoy your evil way too much.”
“And you don’t enjoy yours nearly enough. Embrace the inner demon, lad. Makes life much more interesting.”
So said Vawn. But Nick totally disagreed. “Yeah, no. That just seems like a frightening way to live.”
