Page 113 of Viktor

“She knows we’ll bring it back to her…to him. Maybe it’s got value in Hell. Even if it has no value, it lured us into the game. It took Waverly into a different realm, gave them our location.” Viktor shook his head, his eyes intense. “Look what she’s done. From the beginning she’s caused confusion. Chaos. Fear. This game is his.”

“I’m never gonna ever say he’s alive, but it’s kind of hard not to think of him when you look at that bloodletter. It’s his fucking initials,” Greyson said.

“Théa’s taken the only person I’ve ever…” Loved. “It’s all about fear, humiliation, pain. Even if he’s in Hell he knows this. And Théa knows it. She’s felt it to the core of her existence. We all have.”

The room fell silent. The fear that Baxter generated had once fueled his days. Hundreds of years ago, he’d stopped looking over his shoulder, and he’d buried the fear so deep he’d forgotten the emotion. But since Théa had now kidnapped the only woman he’d ever loved, the darkness had returned, the terror of losing her churning in his gut like a ticking time bomb.

“We need to find her. Now.” Viktor told them, determined. “Waverly saw a demon when she touched that fleam. We must kill Théa before she has a chance to bring it to this realm. We have to stop all of it.”

“Okay let’s talk about where they are. What did Théa say again about the location?” Quintus asked him.

“She said to meet her where Satan lives.” Viktor walked to the table and took a seat, looking at the food. Waverly. Everything reminded him of her.

“That sounds so familiar,” Quintus replied.

“Revelation 2:12-17” Greyson held a piece of bread up in the air, staring at Viktor.

“Pergamum,” Viktor replied, his eyes lit with excitement.

“Turkey?” Rafe asked.

Quintus nodded. “Though he hated the Goddess, he studied all religions. Hence Revelation 2:12-17.”

“Bastard loved a riddle.” Viktor recalled the Bible verse from long ago. “‘And to the angel of the church in Pergamum…The one who has the sharp, two-edged sword…I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.’”

“And you hold fast my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas, my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells,’” Greyson finished the verse.

“She will go to where the veil is the thinnest. She won’t kill Waverly yet because she wants me to suffer. This is about watching her inflict the most pain on me. To show him I’m not his favorite.” Viktor’s face flattened, regret threading through him.

“You did what you did to survive. We all did,” Quintus told him.

“I’m not that person anymore. That empty soul he created. Waverly changed that. She’s given me back my life. Reminded me of the man I can be. The man I never was.”

“Remember that Viktor,” Quintus told him. “Because you don’t know what she may have done to Waverly by the time you get there. No matter what, don’t lose control. It’s what she wants.”

“Keep it together,” Greyson seconded. “Show no weakness.”

“Where are we going?” Rafe asked.

“Pergamon Altar. The Altar of Zeus. The throne of Satan. Most of the actual structure is now in Berlin but the land that holds the energy…where the veil is thin, we go to Pergamum. Where Satan lives.” Viktor’s anger simmered. His beast would have justice. “Théa wants a fight? She wants death? Tonight, I’m bringing it to her, and it will be her last day in this realm. She’s right about one thing. She’s going to see Baxter again, all right. Because I’m sending her straight to Hell.”

In the distance a lightning bolt struck the Aegean Sea. Several seconds passed before thunder rumbled in the distance. From the valley, Viktor took a deep breath and looked up to the ancient ruins. Wearing Kevlar, guns and other weapons, Quintus, Rafe and Greyson stood ready behind him.

“Are you sure she’ll come here?” Rafe asked. “Looks pretty quiet up there.”

“I guarantee she’ll be there.” Viktor knelt and took the earth into his fingers, sensing the sting of evil in its energy.

“I searched online and got recent specs. There’s hardly anything there now,” Rafe told him. “Couple of trees. A few steps.”

“I’m telling you, she’s there. Don’t underestimate her. She’s vampire so knows all the ways we die. If she managed to tunnel a line to Hell, she’ll have more surprises. But we’ll have one of our own.” Viktor smiled as their old friend appeared. Sebastian Loubeteux.

“Brothers.” The tall, handsome vampire materialized next to Viktor and hugged him.

“Yo, brother.” Quintus extended his hand and brought him into a hug. “Glad you made it.”

Greyson crossed his arms and shook his head, staring at Sebastian. “You seriously brought him into this?”

“All hands on deck,” Quintus commented.