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“Of course I am, Small.” He leaned back in his chair, scowling. “No use in worrying. We’ll go get whatever this thing is. Easy, right?”
A muscle on Abacus’s face twitched. “Rumor has it that no one comes out of Mount Skull alive, Tiny Dick.”
Markane waved a hand. “The rumor is to keep others from taking this key. What’s it used for?”
Abacus clenched his jaw. “They’re not just rumors, or Asmodeus would have gotten it himself.”
Markane scowled and huffed out air. “So, what should we do, Victus?”
Victus said nothing as he glared at Kara. Nadira getting kidnapped wasn’t her fault. His daughter was stubborn and she could be very persuasive. She never listened to rules, especially those that meant to keep her safe. But he still blamed Kara. She should have watched Nadira like a hawk.
No use making Kara feel intimidated and incompetent, so he said. “I’ll go get the Gate Key. You two stay here and protect our home.”
“You can’t go alone.” Markane’s irises turned red as the ruby on the table Victus had tossed.
“There’s no other way.” Victus picked up the gemstone and dropped it into the chest. “Have Nina find out what we can do to counteract its power. And do not fear for me, but be ready with our army. Asmodeus would not send me into a cave if I couldn’t make it out. He wants that key bad enough to threaten me with the one person that means the world to me. He’ll soon learn he made a grave mistake. I’ll show him the true nature of a vampire.”
Abacus and Markane bared their fangs, and dark tendrils slithered beneath their eyes in agreement and support.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Mount Stones
Michael
Tank, Otis, Gorgo and his crew, and I scaled the craggy rock face of Mount Stone with ease in the dead of night, aided by the light of the full moon.
Asmodeus had built a roadway for wagons and people alike to go up and down the mountain. Good idea, but for a horrible cause.
We slipped around boulders and ducked behind clusters of dense foliage to avoid detection from the patrolling guards—demons that remained in human form. Gorgo dispersed his soldiers behind us to keep watch.
On our climb, Gorgo had informed us of the layout of the cavern but it had been relayed to him by a soldier he somewhat trusted. Somewhat. Good enough. I never trusted any supernatural being a hundred percent anyway, not even my childhood best friend.
Four guards patrolled the top of the cavern, while four soldiers secured the entrance. The lantern’s glow illuminated our path into the cave. Our main concern was getting all of us inside without being detected.
“I have an idea.” Otis ruffled his wings halfway out, then tucked them back in.
“Are you going to do what I think you’re going to do?” Tank glanced behind him to the clusters of trees where something had scurried up the trunk.
“What are you saying?” Asher waved a hand, swatting at a bug. “Talk in a language I can understand. Our lives are at stake.”
“Apples.” Otis waggled his eyebrows.
Tank peeked over the boulder toward the guards. “The rest of you wait here. Michael, Otis, and I will go in first.”
“You’re calling the shots now, are you, big guy?” Asher ducked lower when the guards on the top of the entrance glanced our way.
Tank schooled his features, looking offended. “Listen, demon. We’re faster. Stealthier. And if worse comes to worst, we can fly.”
“I’m not going to argue with him.” Sam gripped Asher’s shoulder. “He’s right.”
“But …” I rubbed my chin. “If we can knock out the soldiers without drawing attention, then Gorgo can have his men replace the guards and we can all go in together.”
“Good plan.” Gorgo smacked my back. I hated when he did that. “Michael, let’s find your family and give Asmodeus’s soldiers what they deserve.”
I had no idea what Otis meant to do with apples, but the strategy must be effective for none of them had disagreed. Otis moved from bushes to tree trunks, and we trailed behind. Then he told Tank and me to stay by the boulder near the entrance.
“Here.” Otis’s wings expanded halfway and he handed a couple of apples to Tank and me.
