“If we’re in his quarters, and the Prince comes back, how do we flee?” Tyler asked. “I’m not letting my sister in there if there’s no way out.”

“There’s a secret passageway, known only to me and very few others. It will keep us concealed if need be,” the demoness assured us. She stopped, glancing around the group. “You’re going to have to trust me or this is never going to work.”

“Lili,” I said patiently. “Trust is earned and you aren’t there yet.” Everyone’s face was set. “But we don’t have another choice at the moment, so we will follow you. But be warned, if you’re leading us into danger we will retaliate.”

“I have no doubt you will.” She eyed Ray specifically. “But the warning is unnecessary. I’m not about to screw this up.” She started to move again, this time she began to jog.

We followed. The tunnels kept meandering. How did the demons ever remember how to get from one place to the next?

The last tunnel we turned down abruptly changed scenery about halfway through. Ray was ahead of me, his head swiveling. “What is this? Some kind of funhouse? One minute you have rock and the next it looks like we’re walking through a tree?” It did look like we were in a tree, if bark grew on the inside.

“We are passing through the living parts of Hell,” Lili said as she ran. “They are scattered within the demon-made parts. There are a number of levels and areas that grow organically and this is one of them.” She made a quick turn at the end. “We just need to go about five hundred yards more—”

The demoness stopped in her tracks so abruptly we all had to pull up so we didn’t crash into her. Once I saw the reason we’d stopped, I gaped.

There, standing at attention at the end of the hallway, was the biggest dog I’d ever seen.

It had two heads and a tail that hissed.

17

“What in the good goddamn is that?” Ray bellowed as we all peered at it. “And whatever it is, it’s blocking our path.”

“That is an orthrus,” Lili answered calmly. “And it was left to guard the Prince’s chambers.”

The thing growled at us, swishing its snaky tail around in circles. The tail actually flicked its tongue, arching over the dog’s back to stare at us.

“So,” I said. “This plan is turning out to be awesome. You guys have a run on scary beasts here, but this takes the cake as far as I’ve seen. That thing is huge.”

“I can take care of an orthrus,” Lili said firmly. “I just need a few things first.”

“Like what?” Tyler asked. “A one-way ticket out of here? Or a rocket launcher? That beast looks like it can tear us apart by breathing on us. It’s as tall as the damn hallway and just as wide.”

“It won’t attack unless we move forward and try to gain entrance,” she assured us.

Which was exactly what we were trying to do. “Well, that’s comforting,” Ray retorted. “I’m sure we can just stay here for a while and nobody will notice. And why wouldn’t that thing charging us? We’re an obvious threat. This place is backwards.”

“It’s trained to guard the entrance to the Prince’s private rooms and nothing more. It actually can’t see very well,” the demoness replied. “Which is why I need something like a blanket to cover its eyes.”

“A what?” I cackled. “You’re going to bring the scariest beast I’ve ever seen to its knees by covering its eyes with a blanket? It looks like Cujo there could eat us all for a bedtime snack.”

The thing paced back and forth and huffed out of its double snouts. My wolf had her muzzle open and a snarl on her lips. My fingertips tingled. I was close to changing.

Lili glanced at me like I was clueless. “A blanket and this.” She pulled a tiny vial out of her pocket. Her latex jumpsuit apparently had pockets.

“Is that a spell?” Ray asked.

“It is indeed a spell,” she answered. “It’s a special concoction I made long ago for some of the beasts here, including the orthrus. It will put it to sleep, but it needs to be ingested.”

“And how exactly are you going to get that thing down its gullet?” Ray asked.

“It’s a curious beast,” she answered. “If I can get close enough I can toss it, and then follow with the blanket to subdue it before the dose takes effect.”

“I don’t like the sound of that. Why does it need to be subdued?” Rourke asked. “Shouldn’t the spell take effect immediately?”

“They are very large creatures,” Lili said. “It must absorb the entire spell… and before the potion takes effect there may be a few… complications.”

“Just spit it out already,” Tyler insisted. “What complications? What happens to it when it ingests the spell?”

“It will go a little crazy for a while,” Lili admitted with a sigh. “Which is also why we need something to shield both sets of its eyes. It can become quite… rambunctious.”

“Rambunctious in a small hallway isn’t going to work. Is it venomous?” I asked.

“Only the tail,” she warned. “Stay clear of it.”

“That sounds easy enough,” Ray snorted. “You’ve got to be kidding us, lady. There has to be someplace else to go.”

“There is no other place in all of Hell to go,” Lili countered. “This is it. We are in a secluded hallway that most don’t know exists. This orthrus has been stationed here likely since my first arrest. The Prince thinks even I cannot best it. But he is wrong, as usual.” Her voice was bitter. “He underestimates me at every turn and it will cost him dearly.”

The orthrus stamped its huge clawed feet and let out a dangerous howl. Its tail was as thick as my thigh and slashed back and forth over its shoulder. It truly was an awful monster.

“I shouldn’t have to mention this, but we don’t have a blanket,” I said, glancing around the group. “I mean, who really carries a blanket around anyway? Unless you have some demon ultra throw in your jumpsuit, Lili, you’re out of luck.”

Rourke moved between us, tugging off his shirt in one motion. “We’re getting this over with now,” he declared. “Not only are you going to get that vial in its mouth”—motioning to Lili and the potion—“but we’re going to hold that thing down until it goes to sleep. I’m not going to risk it damaging us. None of us have time to heal.” He glanced at Ray and Tyler. “Are you with me?”