“Don’t move,” he said. We clutched each other as the creatures approached. Finally I could see them clearly; six huge, hulking black dogs stood before us, poised to attack. They were big as wolves, slag dripping from their fangs and a demented look in their eyes. Their faces were mutilated with scars, but their bodies were robust and strong and their claws looked sharp as knives. Their muzzles were stained with blood and the stench of their shaggy fur was overwhelming.
Tucker and I stood frozen on the spot, the portal abandoned. “Beth …,” he said in a shaky voice. “Remember the Trackers I was telling you about?”
“Yeah?” I fought to keep my voice from cracking.
“They’re here.”
“Hellhounds,” I whispered. “Perfect.”
The lupine creatures knew they had us trapped and circled us leisurely, enjoying their power. When they pounced, I knew they’d move so fast they’d appear only as a blur tearing us to pieces.
The pack closed in, snarling viciously. I saw how rough and matted their coats were, how yellow their eyes. Gusts of dry wind carried their foul odor across to us.
There wasn’t much we could do; if we tried to run they would catch us in an instant. We had no weapons, no defense, and nowhere to hide. I wanted to unfurl my wings and carry us both to safety, but they felt like a dead weight on my back — the Wasteland robbing them of their power.
I closed my eyes as the dogs dropped to their haunches in a low crouch, then arched through the air toward us. At the same time, there came a cry from behind and a moment later Taylah appeared, standing between the hellhounds and us. The dogs were confused and landed with a thud.
“What are you doing?” I cried, trying to clutch at her insubstantial form. “Go back!”
To my despair, I watched the portal close behind her, the glimpses of Venus Cove replaced by nothing but a harsh tangle of weeds. Taylah looked over her shoulder at me, her blue eyes bright with tears. She was so small compared with the hellhounds, her limbs frail, her once-beautiful hair matted and blowing across her face. She gave a small, sad smile and shook her head. “Taylah, I mean it!” I yelled. “Don’t do this. You have a chance to be free. Take it.”
“I want to make things right,” she said.
“No.” I shook my head vehemently. “Not like this.”
“Please,” she said. “Let me, for once in my life, do the right thing.”
The hellhounds gnashed their teeth, saliva pooling on the ground. Tucker and I were forgotten as they concentrated on their new target. After all, they were trained to search out souls who had fled into the Wasteland, hoping for escape. Their natural instinct drew them to Taylah.
She spoke quickly. There wasn’t much time. “If I go back I’ll only wander the earth for the rest of eternity. But you …” She fixed me with her intense gaze. “You can make a difference and the world needs all the help it can get. I have to play my part. Besides,” she gave a casual laugh, “what can they do to me?”
Before I could object further, Taylah turned to face the creatures.
“Hey, you!” The dogs cocked their heads, grizzly fangs glinting in the dull light. “Yeah, you, ugly mutts,” she continued. “Catch me if you can!”
And then she sprinted. It was the signal the hellhounds had been waiting for. All six bolted after her, completely forgetting our presence. I watched in horror as one caught the pocket of her shorts in his muzzle and dragged her through the dirt like a rag doll. Taylah wasn’t flesh and blood but that didn’t stop the dogs’ jaws snapping as they clamored over her lifeless form like vultures. Then the leader of the pack secured her in his teeth before bounding away, Taylah’s blond hair trailing in the dust. The pack followed close behind.
I felt my chest heave with violent sobs. Taylah was gone and the portal was already drifting away, no use to us anymore. Then Tucker grabbed my arm so hard it hurt.
“Run!” he said, tearing his gaze away from the bloodied rags on the ground. “We have to run.”
And so we did.
WHEN we got back to Club Hex we were so disheveled and out of breath that the bouncer took one look at us and refused us entry. We had to call Asia to vouch for us. When she came to the door she couldn’t hide her shock at our return.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she growled between clenched teeth. The bouncer shot her a strange look and she ushered us quickly inside. When the darkness and the pulse of the music enveloped us, she spun around again. “The hounds should have ripped you to shreds.”
I looked at Asia closely, the savage look in her black eyes, the hostile, clenched shoulders and realized what she’d wanted all along. She had sent us out into the Wasteland knowing the hellhounds would drag Tuck into the pit and probably dismember me. What she hadn’t counted on was Taylah showing up and saving both our skins.
“You really should have mentioned them,” I said as breezily as I could. All I wanted to do was cry, but I refused to give Asia the satisfaction. “Running into the hounds kind of tripped us up.”
“Why aren’t you dead?” Asia stepped forward like she wanted to rip my throat out.
“I guess I’m just lucky,” I said defiantly.
“Stop it,” Tucker interrupted, too shaken by what’d happened to remember his place. “Let me just take Beth home.”
“No.” Asia grabbed my arm, digging her talon-like nails into me. “I want you gone.”
“Don’t touch her.” Tucker shook me free and flashed Asia a dark look. She narrowed her eyes viciously.
“Who do you think you’re talking to, boy?” she snarled. “Maybe I should mention to Jake the little expedition you just went on.”
“Go ahead.” Tucker shrugged his broad shoulders. “He’ll probably be kinda pissed when he finds out you helped us. I’m just a farm boy, but he really thought he could trust you.”
Asia drew back, fury spreading across her feline features.
“C’mon, Beth,” Tucker said. “We’re leaving.”
“Don’t think I won’t find another way to dispose of you,” Asia called after my retreating back. “This isn’t over!”
I couldn’t worry about Asia’s jealousy or her animosity toward me. I couldn’t shake the image of Taylah’s soul clenched between the jaws of the hellhounds. She was somewhere in the pit right now enduring untold horrors on my account.
Whatever happened from here I would have to make her sacrifice count for something.
WHEN we got back to Hotel Ambrosia I had one objective; get back to the room and talk through my next move with Tucker. If Asia had been prepared to help us once, she might be persuaded into doing it again. I knew how badly she wanted me out of the picture and she’d be willing to do just about anything to make that happen. Asia was well connected and motivated entirely by self-interest.
In the lobby I looked down one of the plush carpeted hallways and caught a glimpse of the boardroom. The door was open just a crack and I couldn’t help wondering what was so important that Jake hadn’t been able to tear himself away to see me. Normally he leapt at the chance to spend time together. I crept a little closer, despite Tucker’s apprehension.
Through the crack I could see the shadows of about half a dozen demons illuminated by the fire burning in the grate. They were sitting around a long table with a decanter of whiskey and empty glasses scattered in front of them. They all had notepads except for one who was standing and presiding over the meeting. A PowerPoint presentation was in progress; its images drawn from the most catastrophic events in human history. I only caught a few as they flashed by; Hiroshima, Adolf Hitler standing at a podium, war tanks, wailing civilians, homes reduced to rubble after natural disasters.
I could make out only a fraction of the presenter, but it was enough to see how different he was from the others. For a start he was much older and wore a white linen suit while the others were in black. On his feet were cowboy boots, the kind with decorative stitching. I couldn’t see his face clearly, but I could hear snatches of what he was saying to the group. His voice was gravely and seemed to fill every inch of the room.
“This world is ripe for the taking,” he said. “People have never been more in doubt of their faith, more uncertain of God’s existence.” He seized a fistful of air to emphasize his point. “This is our time. I want to see multitudes falling into the Pit. Remember that human weakness is your greatest asset; ambition, love of money,
