We start to haul ass, but the tunnel closes almost as quickly as it opens. The demons don’t come any closer, but we aren’t getting out, either.
“Damn,” says Nefer. “There are too many of them, and my powers are so new.” She kicks at the ground with her sandal. The marble shimmies, groans and crackles from her touch.
Anubis looks at her, his face brightening with a ten-thousand watt smile. “Want some help getting rid of these three? Gateways are my specialty, you know.”
“I did know that.” She steps closer to him. “And then?”
“We’re getting married.”
Nefer positively beams. “Right now, we’ve a demon horde to fight, and that’s what you want to talk about?”
“Actually, it’s what I’ve wanted to discuss for two hundred years.” He winks. “Besides, you don’t want to be sitting all alone when you have two thrones in here, do you?”
“No, I don’t, as a matter of fact.” Her voice cracks. “I never want to be without you again.”
As touching as this scene is, we need out of Hell already. “Can we move this along, guys?”
Anubis nods, turns to face the hallway, and raises his arms parallel with the floor. From his outstretched hands, vines curl into a corkscrew shape that grinds through anything before it. The slithering cords drill through the demon horde, leaving behind a green, shifting tunnel in their wake.
“Goodbye, little Scala,” says Anubis. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want to see either of you for a very long time.” Anubis chuckles, and Lincoln and I don’t need to share any further goodbyes.
Gripping Maxon to my chest, I haul ass toward the tunnel, Lincoln at my side. Together, we race down the shifting channel of snake-like cords. Every so often, demonic arms break through the vines, grabbing at whatever they can get their hands on.
We’re about halfway through when the snake-like head of a Viperon demon bursts into our makeshift tunnel, flashing its long fangs. My tail tightens protectively around Maxon. Viperon are incredibly toxic. Fast as lightning, Lincoln wraps his right arm around the creature’s thick neck. The long demon writhes and snaps in his grip. Twisting his body to the right, Lincoln cracks the demon’s spine with one quick motion.
“Keep running!” he cries.
I don’t need to be told twice. Gripping Maxon ever tighter, I haul ass toward the exit. I’m pretty sure I lose a chunk of hair and Lincoln adds a sprained ankle to his list of injures, but the adrenaline keeps pushing us forward.
There’s no time to think or worry, there’s only me, Maxon, Lincoln, and the red landscape that grows larger and larger before us. With one final burst of effort, we rush through the last steps in the dark, slithering tunnel, emerging onto the dusty heat of the Plains of Fire.
We collapse onto the ground, panting for breath. There we lie for who knows how long, half-conscious and almost entirely out of our minds. I barely notice the wall of vines closing up behind us, sealing my family away from Hell, at last.
“We did it, Lincoln,” I say in a low voice as I kiss Maxon head.
“That we did.”
And those are the only words either of us can say for a very long time.
Chapter Twenty-Two
As soon as I catch my breath, I climb to my feet again. We might be out of Hell, but we’re certainly not out of danger.
“No more dark, Mommy.” Maxon burrows into my shoulder, shivering.
“Shh, baby.” I run my fingers through his hair. “Everything’s going to be alright.”
That’s a major Mommy-lie if I ever told one.
Every demon in Hell probably knows that we’re out here. Nefer’s holding them back, but how long can she keep doing that with untested powers? And even then, how in blazes are we getting home? Walker said he’d keep a look-out, but we also stowed some flares in our backpacks to signal him. Those are long gone now.
My adrenaline high starts to wane. All of a sudden, I want a pass out like it’s my job. My mouth turns dry as sandpaper. Every pulled muscle and scratched patch of skin starts complaining for attention. A stinging sensation prickles on my neck.
Lincoln sets his hand gently on my shoulder. “You alright?”
“As good as can be expected.” I lean over, craning for a look at Lincoln’s back. His gashes are still open and bleeding. “How about you?”
“I’ve had worse on demon patrol.”
“Wish we still had our first aid kit.”
“If we can get out of here, there’s a whole palace infirmary waiting for us.” He eyes my throat. “What about that bite form the Leech Guard?”
“I think I got all the venom out.” I pat my neck.
“Let me know if you feel dizzy at all. Leech Demons have a sting that can hit with a wallop.”
“Sure will.”
Lincoln takes a few hobbling steps away from the wall. “I’ll scope out the perimeter.”