Page 53 of Hell’s Half Acre

“He’s pissed. Run!”

“Freedom!”

“Help, I’m melting!” That from a demon who crouched down by a pub-style bar.

“No! I need more cookies.” The purple-fleshed demon ran to one of the brick walls where bags of cookies were hanging.

“Freedom!” That seemed to be a thing. Or a theme. In human form, the demon ran for the door.

Luke caught him with his powers and pulled him back into the store where he was slammed down next to the crouching demon.

Amused, Sorcha relaxed.

Until a giant hole opened up under Luke’s feet. He fell through it.

Gasping, she started forward until Simi mom-checked her by putting her arm out to keep Sorcha in place.

“Just wait,” Simi said.

An instant later, Luke came out of the hole with his set of fiery wings extended. Before he could completely clear the hole, a huge charred hand with flames wrapped around Luke’s booted foot and tried to pull him back into the pit.

With a feral hellhound growl, Luke reached down and took the hand in his. He yanked the beast from the hole and slammed him against the floor.

Twice.

Sorcha immediately stumbled back. At least ten feet tall, this wasn’t one of the cute closet demons she was used to.

This was exactly what she expected from a hellbeast. Charred skin, red eyes, and hair made of fire, he was something straight out of a horror movie. Flames rippled over him as he turned to Luke who appeared unfazed by the creature.

“Really? We’re doing this?”

The demon laughed. “Thanks for the hand.”

Luke returned that laughter. “Oh, that wasn’t a hand up.” He backhanded the much taller creature. “I’m sending you back to Hell. I just wanted something I could knock around for a bit with impunity. C’mon, douche. Hit me!”

Simi’s eyes widened as much as Sorcha’s at those words. Covering her lips with her hand, Simi pulled Sorcha farther into the store.

“What’s going to—” Her words broke off as Luke and the demon began to pummel each other.

The other demons ran for the door. But as soon as they tried to cross the threshold, something she assumed was Luke’s power caught their bodies like a rubber band and slammed them into the brick wall where the cookie racks were set.

Like two gladiators, Luke and the demon faced off. The demon knocked Luke back, but Luke caught himself with his wings and returned the blow with one of his own. It was so fierce that Sorcha ached in sympathy.

Yet as strong as it was, the demon took it, shook it off, and lunged toward Luke again.

Simi grabbed a bag of cookies from the floor, opened it, and offered some to Sorcha.

“No, thank you. How can you eat with this going on?”

She shrugged. “It’s a fight. Reminds me of when akri and akri-Styxx get together. About half the time, theys end up in a nasty brawl. Sometimes with weapons. Most times not. Still, gets so bad, akri’s horns come out.”

Sorcha was horrified by the thought. “Styxx is Acheron’s twin?”

Swallowing her cookie, Simi nodded. “Theys don’t always gets along. Akra-Bethany says that sometimes you just gots to put your foot up someone’s ass.” She jerked her chin toward Luke. “Akri-Luke is making a point.”

Yes, he was.

The demon was trying to beat him, but Luke wasn’t having it.